Heart for the Nations

Marriage vs. Singleness

2012-01-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

I can say there are advantages to both lives but I will share from my personal experience so please anyone feel free to share that is married or just your personal experience as a single.

I love my job and would not trade it for anything in this world so know I am content in where I am at now but I just want to remain open to what God wants for me. I can say living overseas as a single is much tougher than being at home as a single. I have lived in Mozambique, Africa and now live in Senegal, Africa which are very different in themselves but with similarities. I can say in Mozambique as we traveled to South Africa more there was much more opportunities for singles to fellowship even though it was just on certain occassions but here in Senegal or West Africa there more girls and a small number of guys on the field. We are more spread out here also. When it comes to doing things together it seems the girls/women do their own thing while the guys are left to do theirs which for me that is like no other guys here in my area that like do vacations. If I want to do a vacation I end up doing it by myself and trust me I can and do vacations on my own I just tend to make friends along the way. Families do vacations here and are special because they invite you along but you know there is still that awkward feeling when you do things here when everyone is married but you. I am in no way bashing the single girls/women here but I tend to get the feeling from some of them if you are nice to them then you are automatically interested in them which for me is the opposite I am just a country boy from the South so being friendly is who I am.

The good part though of being single is we can travel where families can't afford it but we can also spend more time with the people here. We can have more time to devote to ministry so I enjoy this. As I say this remember this is not directed at anyone who is reading this just a true statement in general. There have been times when single missionaries feel as more is expected from them than someone who has a family because we have more free time. This could be something that is not intended to be made.

The drawback of being single is holidays and birthdays it is tough but I am thankful for my family I been given here. I appreciate the families who make me part of them home for holidays or do something for my birthday but not hearing from all my family and friends is tough. I think for me I am still just dealing with the awkwardness part when I may be at a family which is not my own for the holidays or my birthday. One last thing as a single is we go out just like the married couples but whether we have a good day or a real bad day when we come home we have no one to share that with which is very hard because as for me I am a talker. I am thankful for my heavenly Father that is always there for me whom I can go to. I can see being a single right now He is teaching me more dependance on Him. Again I am not blasting nobody here and love you all but I enjoy writing what is on my heart so this is something I wanted to share! I AM SO CONTENT WITH WHOM I AM ANDWHERE I AM AT!

Musical Trucks!

2012-01-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

This will be short and sweet but well as you know I started off with Betsy whom I loved dearly then I was given Rusty whom I was starting get use to until I was given a Toyota Hilux 4 wheel drive. It is newer and better looking but oh yeal looks can be decieving. diablo is exactly that I had no longer left my capitol city and my a/c died, then the dome lights stopped working, then yesterday I had filled up with gas when all the sudden gas started puring from the bottom of my truck. I am thankful a friend lived nearby so Diablo made it to a local mechanic so hopefully no major problems.

Lost Sheep!

2011-10-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

As you know the people I work with are shepherds so I was on my roof yesterday just looking in front of my house. I noticed this shepherd who dad four sheep out allowing them to feed but my eye became fixed on the shepherd and his sheep! The shepherd did not stay right next to his sheep but he keep his distance from them but his eye never left those sheep! There was this younger sheep who kept straying from the flock so this shepherd would walk up to it. Immediately the young sheep would return to flock but this young sheep strayed about three times but each time the shepherd would walk up to it and immediately it return to the flock.

This quickly reminded me of Luke 15 and how Jesus cares for all of sheep. He is our Shepherd that has to come to us from time to time when we stray from the flock. I also noticed this shepherd spoke softly to this young sheep when it strayed away. Jeus as our Shepherd speaks to us in a same way. The problem is we want that loud audible voice from our Shepherd but many times we need to be still and listen to Him when he speaks in a soft gentle voice.. God allows us to make choices even if they are not the right ones but know our Shepherd never takes his eyes off us.He will never leave us or forsake us.

Invasion of Privacy!

2011-09-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

I lived in Mozambique three years before coming to Senegal so I knew what living in Africa was like but that does not mean you get anymore used to some things you deal with here. I live in a decent place here but I do not have a wall around my house which means there is no property boundries. This past Saturday night I was happy because we had got a good rain which had cooled things off. About midnight danger arose as I could see about 25 feet in front of me a party was starting so okay all is good. Wrong because of the rains that day the road in from of my house was completely covered by water. Being in Africa I should have saw this coming but I thought no worries but because of the water across the road the people going to the party used my tiled crosswalk to get to the party. along with that my bedroom window is at the front of the house so as the people were going to the party with the help of my tiled crosswalk they were also talking at the top of their voices here which is normal so at first I was not saying anything but by 1am I was getting ticked off so I asked those walking by to be respectful. i might as well been talking to a dog because that did not work so around 2am I caught the guy hosting the party to inform him of the problem so he said he would say something well it did help but it was 3am by the time I got to sleep!

I can't wait to move because I will have a wall around my house which will not eliminate the noise problem but it will eliminate the privacy problem. Anyone who comes over the wall well will have to deal with my guard dog along with my guard so they will not leave the same way they came in!

Changes!

2011-09-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

As most of you know when I came to Senegal I received Betsy to drive and I feel in love with her. I was spoiled by this little SUV even though she did not have the power to deal with sand that well she made up for it in every other way.

I was recently told I am getting something else so compared to Betsy I knew nothing could match up to her standards. I dropped Betsy off with a colleague then went to Dakar to drop Omar off for Rusty. His name fits him well but he drives goods and seems to have the horse power that Betsy did not but we shall see. Regardless I still miss Betsy so I may have to just run to my colleagues just to borrow her back from time to time!

adventures over the past month!

2011-06-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks I have been in Senegal to the Middle East but also got to enjoy a layover in Turkey. the adventures began in Dakar when i was leaving the people did not know the country in the Middle East so they left and came back with a book and were saying Jordan so I pointed out where I was going. after that they said okay and let me right through and so the flights going over were far from full but still I just do not sleep well on flights. I had a 9 hour layover in Istanbul but I was so tired from the flight I just did not feel up to seeing Istanbul. I finally arrived at my destination very tired and well as soon as I stepped off the plane at 3:00am the heat took my breath because it was still over 100 degree's.

Over the next 13 days I got to experience so many American restaurants as well as Dr. Pepper and mountain Dew it felt like I had died and gone to heaven. it was good to see how Dad was at work there also. The Middle Eastern culture is much different but you know I enjoyed the food, people,etc... I came back through Istanbul but this time I spent about 7 hours in the city which i am glad that I took the time so now I must go back.

It was good because I had an Omani outfit on which I was asked are you Arab and after my little bit of arabic I know I had to revert to English but it did allow me to share some truth with a guy. I also met a Brasilian in Istanbul go figure that but if you know me you would not be surprised but randomly ran into him on the tram.

You may ask why was I in the Middle East well it was a specific reason that I went there for not just a vacation! I really do not want to go into details or feel the need to about this . I do ask that you lift me up and ask Dad to show me the reasons for me being there as well He would teach me through this. Ask that my focus stay on Him and not the circumstance.

Unwanted Adventures!

2011-06-06T05:24:00.000-07:00

This past mont was a busy one with finishing up french language classes as well as helping with a vision team and just enjoying fellowship with another volunteer team who had a few folks from Kentucky. I also had a nasty run in with mango worms so after being diagnosed incorrectly twice I went to the capitol city and found out the root of my problem. I had five places on my arm and back which looked like pimples except they were bigger and hurt more. The doctor in Dakar told me he was going to have to push them out which he did but well it was extremely painful. The next time I know what to do without a doctor to avoid this problem again.

March 2011 Adventures!

2011-03-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

This past month has flown by with plenty of adventures and exploring. I was struggling with French but after a change of teachers my french is coming along well. I have also continued my transitions here with the culture and customs but they have been good. My team leader had a volunteer group in so one night went out as they did a film and met them. Most of you know my electricity has been very bad and last week I had no water on top of that. PTL this week I have had great electricity and plenty of water.Last week a friend and I overnighted in Dakar which was good to get away and to see the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Dakar. I enjoyed myself just with the sights along the coast but also the food. Driving here is just an adventure in itself no matter where you are at so well to get anywhere you must be an aggressive driver. I am back to my old bargaining ways in the market so whatever price they give me on items other than food I cut that half b/c when I do that I get a good deal but the owner still makes a profit. I am not into the owner making a ridiculous profit at the expense of a white man. Here they have a white man's price and the regular price.

I turn the big 40 tomorrow and well my team leader's wife made me some amazing brownies which I have already started on and another family will take me out for lunch tomorrow for my birthday. I am loving this even though it will be another birthday away from my family which I do miss dearly. I leave Sunday to go out with a volunteer team up north so I will be out of pocket a few days. We will work in the same village where I was offered a wife so I know there will be some adventures on this trip..

Praise God for good electricity and water this week as well as for all of His provisions.

Praise God for my continued progress in French.

Praise God for another single guy whom has the same interests as me so we can get out.

Pray for the Fulbe people that they know JC in his fullness.

Pray for this trip with the volunteer team that we would have many opportunities to share but also for safety in our travels.

Pray that I continue to progress in French.

First month in Senegal!

2011-03-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

It has been a month of transition but also my time of transition is not through. i have been in French class for almost a month and there are days I am not feeling it right now. i love the people and the food here. Yeah there are no drive thru's here much less any kind of american fast food... oh but we have some amazing French restaurants as well when I move to my future home all the fresh seafood I want. I have already began building relationships here more out in the villages than in the city but our work here is in the villages. I have been given one family's last name but here I am Djiby Ka. In another village i have been offered a home and wife had to turn that one down.. I am surrounded by Darkness but I am thankful I am surrounded by the Light (JC) who lets me know he is with me. My people are farmers/shepherds but also they are enslaved to Islam so just remember the village of Saul and read Matthew 9:36-38. The Father will lead you how to lift them up....

I know everyone has heard this saying be careful what you ask for and i am experiencing it now as in the states I was hating the cold weather and wanting heat well God has blessed me with an abundance of it as each day peaks at around 100 degrees. All I have is fans to keep me cool but when you have the random power I have that can mean hot nights but even hotter days. I am blessed with wireless internet when I have power so please it is always a blessing to hear from home so feel free to drop me a line...

Senegal for the most part is modern especially compared to Mozambique where I previously served other than the power issues here. We are not far from the Atlantic Ocean so all is well here! My new adventures have gotten off to a great start!

On another note I want everyone to know I am safe here so please do not worry b/c we have contacts on the ground closely monitoring everything going on around us and we even have an American military base here in our city.

Senegal Bound!

2011-01-07T07:55:00.000-08:00

In 25 days I will be moving to Senegal, West Africa for three to four years to serve in Thìes for two years where I will study French and Pulaar. I will work with the Fulbe Toro People but after language I will move to Mboro to start new CPM's but first I will go to Fulbe Toro villages to visit and build relationships. That will mean drinking lots of tea, listening to their stories as well i will learn the culture and customs. As I earn their trust I will be able to share stories from the Bible with them. :) I will also be involved in recruiting students for the Hands On program as well as j-men and j-girls.

Challenges of being in the USA!

2009-12-29T13:58:00.000-08:00

I can say being back home has been good but there are also challenges to being home. It is fun having good roads to drive on and as well as lots of good food to eat.It has been great seeing friends and family but at the same time it is hard when you constantly are on their cell phones talking,texting, or doing email. It is hard to even talk sometimes b/c they are on their phones while talking with you and I am wondering how much they are listening to what I say and i have seen many times not that close. Everyone is using a GPS to get one place to another anymore and I want to take them out and stomp them b/c I do not want to hear them anymore. When you go into Wal-Mart for instance you have so much to choose from you get overwhelmed. It is great to be able to worship in English but at times I do not even feel comfortable in the church here because you can see they are so inward focused. I am already thinking okay I have had enough of the states and ready to go back overseas. God's timing is perfect in all things though so I must wait upon him.

What is next?

2009-11-03T14:46:00.000-08:00

When you think that you actually have things figured out I am reminded I have no clue. I can rest in the fact that God does have a plan for my life and even though I am unsure. T he door was opened up for me to go back to Brasil but this past month things unexpectedly changed and I could not go and now I have been told Brasil is closed at least through the IMB. I am seeking god now to show me what is next b/c I have been told that there are many needs in other areas of the world in which I agree but God has placed Brasil on my heart so it would be disobedience to God just to accept another job somewhere else in this world.

I ask for your prayers for God to show me His will for my life next as I am willing to go anywhere as long as that is what God shows me. If He desires I serve in another part of the world then a big AMEN . I am not moving until the Lord says move. It is good that I have until March to make these decisions.

I can trust God is in complete control of my life and future even when the road seems unsure to me.

Brasil

2009-05-14T02:41:00.001-07:00

Season of changes!

2009-05-01T00:59:00.000-07:00

As most of you know my three year term in Mozambique will be up and well this three years has been a time of much learning as well as many trials but God has been there to walk beside me and taught me so much through this time. I am not saying that it has been easy but there has been some very hard challenges for me that I just had to follow God without knowing why. I could also ask that question for my whole three years here but I know in Cuamba after the accident Mussa the Muslim who helped me then later on accepted Christ as well as my time here with the Yao people is reason for God placing me here for three years. God has been daily teaching me patience since the day I have arrived along with many other lessons.

As I will leave Mozambique, Africa on August 20th I will not be returning to Mozambique or this part of Africa after my stateside assignment. I have asked to be transferred to Brasil after my stateside term in which many of you know that is where God has given me a passion for. I have a complete peace from God about this decision.

I have also told that a story I sent in will be published in Voices of the Faithful II which will be released in September of this year and my story will appear in the October stories. Beth Moore is the one who is writing this book which is a compiled list of missionaries and what God is doing around the world...

Renewal!

2008-10-06T22:42:00.000-07:00

It is that time of the year again I must go renw my DIRE which is my residence card here in Mozambique and I will be very honest too you I really do not look forward to this time of the year! It means I have to present proper documents to religious affairs then I get the honor of going to immigration to of course pay them and give them more paper work to renew my residence card for another year! Usually it is religious affairs who drags their feet in our eyes and takes their own sweet time well that is how we see it. Of course the Religious Affairs office just sees this as normal. I can say I am not the most patient person but one thing for sure my patience has been tried and is still being tried here every day. I can say that the Lord has grown my patience some but there is much more growth in that area needed but I am sure the Lord is not done yet. This year well immigration has been very slow also and well I can say last Friday my patience had been worn thin with them b/c I had been there every day over the last week and each day the same answer. Friday started off with them asking me like five or six times where my reciept was and each time me telling them that the other day their colleague took it to check on my DIRE and I left without it. Up until then that was not even questioned so this frustrated me like big time. They were telling me nothing so I just told them that you have a record that I paid with another reciept as well you have my DIRE which you would have not taken unless I had paid you first. So then they decided to ignore me but well I just sat down and decided I was not leaving until they did something well almost two hours later the woman came out with a copy of my reciept and said your DIRE is not ready yet. I said thank you vy much and that is all I wanted you to say and I could have left much earlier. So I am off to Immigration again today to see if my DIRE is ready or not! The good thing is that I was sitting next to a man who was from Zimbabwe but lived here now but his family was still in Zimbabwe so he was going to see them. He is a follower of Christ so we had a good chat.

This morning after my quite time God used that to open my eyes to a spiritual truth which He is doing in each one of us as followers of Christ but this is speaking directly at me. I only have to renew my residence card yearly but God is at work at renewing my heart daily and how many times must He be frustrated with me b/c I am taking my own sweet time to allow Him to renew my heart. I know many times His patience has been worn thin with me b/c of how slow I am in coming back to Him, then I also read this today Psalm 51 which once again has encouraged me so and that is my prayer for me as well as each and every follower of Jesus Christ!

Unexpected Move!

2008-09-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Sadly in August I left Cuamba b/c we could not in any way meet the expectations the church had for us there plus while I was gone the pastor had spread some lies about me so God saw fit to move me. I am still in the Niassa Province but about 4 hours north of Cuamba now in the provencial capitol (Lichinga) which is at a higher elevation than I thought. I have came here to work with teenagers, college students and young adults in the city. I have been here almost two months now and well I am figuring out some things that this city is much cooler than I am used too and plus it is constantly windy here. All this is due to my higher elevation level the city is at. I have found this city is full of young people with nothing too do but like any teenager, college student and young adult of the world they are not very interested in spiritual things.... PRAY for me to find creative ways to get them interested in spiritual things...

B/c well here while back I had a seizure well now I am not allowed to drive until March but again God is at work through this b/c my goal for these young adults is teach them that the Gospel will spread by foot. They do not need a car, motorcycle or bycycle just too good feet. Africans in general walk everywhere anyways or have a bycycle. PRAY for me to be completely cured of these seizures.

I do not care where you are at in Africa it is always a process and usually a long one. so well you may spend a half of a day in the bank and that is if you push your way through otherwise you will get nothing accomplished. There is not a line but five or six lines for you to pick from going to the same teller. Today I spent three hours in an goverment office just to get a piece of paper back but well patience paid off even though my patience was really, really tried.

PRAY for God to place a passion for His Word in the lives of these teenagers, college students and young adults but also that a desire be placed in their hearts to know their Creator. I have two groups I am storying with so we are still on the creation story but PRAY that God take that story to let them know how special they are to God and He desire s apersonal relationship with them...

Just be patient b/c I am sure that you will hear from "The Jimmy" very soon b/c I am always involved in some sort of an adventure here!

God took a totalled truck to restore a totalled life!

2008-09-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

In earlier blogs I have asked prayer for Mussa who was the Muslim guy who put me on the back of his motorcycle after I totalled my truck. I was white and bleeding everywhere but Mussa cared enough to help me. He took me to the hospital and after that I did not see him but a week later he showed up at the house to check on me so I again thanked him for his help. Well little did I know that God would take this accident and form a wonderful relationship with a Muslim, but God ways are not our nor is His way our way. Then I started going out weekly to his house and met his family as well as most the village. Mussa was my best friend outside Cuamba so I looked forward to seeing him each week. After about six months we started studying the Word weekly and each week there were many men who would always show up so I knew God was at work in Mussa which his name by the way in english is Moses. The end of June 2008 well Mussa now Moses as he says accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Pray for Mussa as I have now moved that a Godly person would disciple him and help him grow in Christ. More importantly He now has the Word in His heart language so just pray that Mussa will faitfully read that and the Spirit of God would grow him up as a strong man in Christ!

Have you ever had to pay a theif for your own phone?

2008-02-01T01:20:00.000-08:00

While in Nampula I was on a road to the airport and stopped to buy some things for my friend. As I was getting out of my car truck my cell phone fell to the ground. My guard did not lock his door so I reached over locked the door then got out and my phone was gone. I was less than a minute getting out of my truck but well apparently theives are quick on the draw here. Upon informing the guard at the store three workers went after him but I knew the phone was just gone. As I was inside the store one of the workers came in and said we have your phone. I asked them where it was and the worker said the other two workers are holding him. We went there and well there was a good thirty people already around. I asked where is my phone and this theif starting negotiating for my phone b/c he said they had beat him which is normal when a theif is caught. Well when my guard said he robbed me he took offense, go figure so I said to my guard let me handle this. Honestly I wanted to beat him myself or tell the workers to get my phone by force but I knew either way I would end up the bad guy and probably at the police station. My guard finally told me after talking to b/c I am white here well even if I get the police involved I will end up paying him money or p[aying the police money just b/c my skin color.

Now this is totally messed up but in the end and 500.00 MTS later which is about $21 I got my phone back.... I am very Thankful to have it back......

It seems my life is great big adventure and as soon as I finish one adventure I know another advemture is waiting around the corner for me.

My good friend Mussa!

2007-12-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

I know many of you had heard me talk about Mussa so much so here is Mussa. He is the one who put me on the back of his bike after my acident and brought me 50 k's to get me help! Mussa is Muslim so just saw him this week and sent some things home with him for Christmas (food). When I get back in Late January I will visit Mussa, his wife and five children in their village. Before he left he was so bothered that he had been to my house but I had never been to his so when I come back that is a must do thing. Pray for Mussa and his family to come into a real encounter with Isa (Jesus Christ) so that they may not only know but believe in Him!

Mt. Mulanje!

2007-12-19T12:27:00.000-08:00

Me and some friends climbed Mt. Mulanje which is a more technical climb than Mt. Kilimanjaro, this has been stated by others also. We mgot to the highest peak which is over 3000 meters or 10,000 feet. Once at the top the clouds came in along with the rain, wind and more rain. We made it down but coming down on our butts which I do not advise anyone to do this. I managed to get down with quite a few scratches and abrasions and a couple of holes in the bottom of my shorts!

I am back in business!

2007-10-17T23:43:00.000-07:00

It has been a little over a month since I have arrived in Cuamba which I like to call "the Mayberry of Africa" but well with a lot more dust and quite warmer. There is so much to tell that has happened this past month but I will keep it short and sweet.

Shortly after arriving here I was on my way to another town(Lichinga) which is about 4 hours from here. Well shortly after I started my trip I had a major accident in which my truck was totalled. I was able to get out of my truck but noticed immediately I was bleeding profusely so I am sure that scared the villagers alone as well as me being white.

Okay after the villager's finding my phone I found out there was no signal so I decided I must walk out until I reached a signal well the people of the village would not allow that. Then Mussa a Muslim told me to get on the back of his bike and we were on our way back to Cuamba which was a 50 kilometer ride which on these roads as well as on a motocycle was slow.

We stopped twice just to cypher gas from other peoples motorcycle with their approval of course. Then about 20 kilometers from town his Motorcycle died again so then he told me to get on his friend's motorcycle which was better. Okay well about 10 kilometers from town I got a signal so I informed a colleague of my accident. Upon arriving into town there is another mission agency who has three nurses so I stopped at their house first.I was not sure if I would be medivaced or not maybe was hoping. Either way they cleaned me up and said let us go to the hospital here. I already was thinking no way here b/c I have heard the horror stories but well in my shape could not argue too much.

Upon arriving at the hospital they took me right in and got some razor blades to shave my head around the open wounds. then they said they wanted to numb the areas where they were going to stitch. I thought that was a great idea until I saw the needles which it did hurt alot but they used clean needles. They stitched me up the best they could considering what with what they had. They give me another tetanus shot even though I did not need it as well took blood just in case I needed a blood transfusion which thankfully I did not. All that to say I am healing well with several beauty scars on my head now.

In all of this God showed Himself faithful to me and that He had spared my life. I have got to use this as a testimony of God's grace in my life with my church, Muslim guy (Mussa) as well as many others in my town. I did not plan for this accident so God would open the doors of ministry but God just worked it out that way!

Goodbye or Tchau!

2007-09-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

Well I actually still have web access so will have until at least Monday, so I am again letting you know for the next two years I will not be posting any more blogs. I might randomly get too if I am somewhere that has DSL service but that will be far and few in between. If you do wish to recieve my newsletters just email me at Africa35@gmail.com... Also please write from time to time b/c well all emails will be very welcome as I will be isolated on the edge of the bush...

This is the latest team photo(all of the Baptist missionaries in Mozambique) so please keep us in your prayers!

Time to move on!

2007-08-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

I have been in Mozambique, Africa for over a year now so my language study is over as far as studying where I am at now. In a little over two weeks I move to my new home and area of service. I have been ready to move for awhile now but now that means saying goodbyes to friends and collegues in Nampula. It also means some other changes will be taking place.

I will move from the second largest city in the country(do not get to excited it is still small) to a town where I can walk everywhere I go or ride my bike. This town in known as Cuamba which is located in the Niassa Province and has two B Fellowships in the whole province and well lots of pr points.... That is too say there is much work to be done there. I just got back today with some fellow collegues nationals and a fellow collegue to talk about my job there. It started off at 6AM this morning and it was a very bad start but with committed communication and patience in the end we were all in aggreement with some things.

I will not have any major shopping there but well until the rainy season I can drive here in about 6 hours or less or go to Blantyre, Malawi which is about 5 hours away to collect supplies and meet with fellow collegues... I will no longer have any Internet so I will now only be able to download things from my gmail account to Outlook....

Sothis means PROBALY NO MORE BLOGS, SKYPE, MSN OR ANY KIND OF INTERNET:(

PR hard for me as I will be very Isolated from from many things! I am thankful for Tally my faithful guard dog who will also be my best physical friend there for awhile until I can build some relationships there.The good thing is well I will be very busy... Keep me also lifted up that the fellowship and I keep the lines of communication going as well as patience with one another!

State of the Art traveling machine!

2007-08-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

When I saw this well I knew I had to have some fun with this: As anyone who knows me and reads my blog well I have been in Mozambique, Africa for over one year. I just want to encourage the next luck person or unit who accepts the call to here this will be your transportation. I am only showing the outside pictures b/c well I cannot give everything away so if you really want to see the inside well "come on down" to Nampula, Mozambique Africa. Now as one cn see this can accomadate a big family so no worries big or small well the very lucky person or unit who recieves this well I stand in awe of. Remember first come first serve so do not waste in anytime!

chasing monkies!

2007-08-03T13:50:00.000-07:00

While at a tea plantation guest house they had this massive yard at the house. There were monkies out back always running around. They seemed a bit curious of us so I thought I would see how close I could get to them. I went and started climbing the tree where they were at. promise they got out of the area fast!

I am sure if I was a monkey and saw some white guy coming after me I would run too!

You never know who you may meet?

2007-07-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

The other day from Atlanta-Johannesburg South Africa I was on the plane with Jimmy Carter our former president back in the 1970's. He shook my hand as well as everyone else's on that plane. Since it was a 16 hour flight I spoke with a couple of his security guards. One of them we talked for a long time.

I am now going to bed as I am off to Malawi for our annual mission meeting so pray for safe travels to and from there as well as a great time of refreshment and encouragement!

Planned Adventure!

2007-06-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a friend of mine and myself climbed a mountain which I promise not easy when most of it is rock. There is vegatation that does very well there and some inhabitants like animals there. It was more than I planned for and took us a good bit to reach the top with only some minor falls which led to som scrapes and cuts for me. It was an amazing site to be above everyone and almost everything else around you and look over the horizon at God's beautiful creation. Believe the creation where we wre at did not come at the hand of any man!

It was quie an adventure dodging hornets on the way up and coming down was manauevering around grass loose rocks, thorn bushes, etc.. but it was not the easy path we had thought it would be but hey it was the harder path but definately something we will never forget. Then on the way down we run into monkey beans which causes you to itch like crazy and there is some pain so we danced our way down the mountain quickly.

Then we came upon this village and asked what we could do for this so they suggested dticking the powdery tobacco up our nose and when we sneeze it would be gone so sounded to much like the practice of a witchdoctor so we chose the latter. Which was too rub ourselves down with the fire ash so after that I was much whiter and looked like I had just come from a one on one session with a witchdoctor so we hiked out to the road then hitched a ride on a local minibus taxi to our car!

May Adventures!

2007-05-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

May Adventures

It has been a very busy month for me with hardly any rest. I have been on three two day bush trips here and have enjoyed them all over than being in several aka business meetings which I did not enjoy in English much less in another language, but I am understanding the meeting which part of the time wish I did not. Each trip has had its share of adventures. I mean the roads alone have been adventurous and well some are not even roads but we always made it to our destinations. At almost all the missions well I was the only single one there so they had some fun with that as in acting like they could find a wife for me. At one place we were serenaded all night by the African drums from people at the mission which is apparently normal here. Last night slept with the lights on all night so not sure why that happened other than they thought us Americans needed that. One night had a major mosquito army attack us but as of now no malaria. I have seen goats riding on top of trucks as well as people. People caring huge loads of things like water, firewood, bread, crushed corn, sugar cane, goats, manioc, dishes, furniture and etc…. Stopping along the road to eat which is always a big draw for crowds and of course being in the bush the bathroom is huge there just a little bit tricky at night so always carry a flashlight and toilet paper. I think we are going for a record to see how much stuff and people we can haul in one car. If any of you have been in Africa you have seen the overloaded vehicles that look like they are about to turn over on their side well we have not got near that yet. Weird but food is well one of the least adventurous things on all those trips and the food has been great and yes we had xema(en-cima) bu hey no problems.

Just a few things they can carry and balance on top of their heads!

What have I been doing other than that for this past month? I have shared the Message twice and taught twice all in Portuguese. I also helped a pastor plan for a church reunion which we had and I provided the transportation for. I also led some discussions on sex before marriage which is a huge issue with the teenagers here. As Americans we think this is a black & white issue well for Africans living in harmony is more important. This is Believer’s dealing with Biblical issues also so remember our fellowships here as they are in bondage to their own culture. They know what the Word says but that is far as it gets so Satan has got them in a literal death grip.

I study Portuguese from 9-12 M-F with two different professors and they have also become cultural informants for me. As well as my daily life here this can be an adventure on its own and always a process. Then there are thing unexpectedly that just comes up that you must deal with. I will visit a church tomorrow with a friend as well as finish this month up with language study but no other plans. I have already said no to a couple of pastors wanting things done which I did not have time for. That is right it is okay to say know and I am doing that here more because if I do not say no then well oh Jimmy Boy will not make it here!
I have been here over 10 months now but I will always be learning new things everyday about the culture, language, and life here! I am starting to pick up on some words and phrases in Makua now also! Please remember me as I have acquired a sore throat and some achy bones which people have said it is due to the recent drop in the temp here so I am in day three now so pray for quick healing on my body.

This is an normal Mozambique load!

how I love going to the bush in Africa!

2007-05-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

What more could a man or woman want other than a tent to sleep in which is vital take my word for that. My boss and I got to a place after dark and well slept on the floor not smart the mosquitoes ate good that night but as of right now no signs of malaria! Out in the bush usually very little noise well if we leave out the people the last time seranaded us the whole night luckily I got to sleep before he did which well he was up all night. There is fresh fruits and vegtables and plenty of shema or en-cima and always some kind of starnge things to eat. The people love on you so much and make you feel like a part of the family.

The bathrooms are the state of the art there I mean you have a huge bathroom literally the whole area so just take your pick where you want to go!

my internet has made miraclous recovery!

2007-05-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hello all aftera long time of complaining with my phone company and internet server we agred after talking to the boss at Teledata that it would be better to switch to a faster like DSL service here which I virtually got for free and once I move well it looks like I will get a period of free dial up email. PTL for this email it is much faster now and has improved my life here so much already. I will no longer have a phone bill but just a one time payment to the internet is 53 bucks a month no matter how much I use it!

Jimmy's daily life in Mozambique!

2007-05-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

I wish I could post more frequently but due to the bad condition of my internet service and server here I think it will soon be pronounced DOA. Is there going to be an improvement actually as of right now there will be an improvent once I move to my future home in an rural area up north go figure.

This past month I have been out to the bush again with my houseworker and well I know my heart is out in the bush. Maybe for some of you city slickers this seems crazy but life is so much easier and less complicated out in the bush. "A vida esta melhor la no mato"..... I do not have beggars coming at me left and right and the noise is almost non-existant. The people in the bush just are wanting someone to come and teach the Word of God to them which is exactly what I am here for. You have amazing fruits you do not have to buy as well as vegatables. Let me call it "The Simple Life" in which I am ready for..

While in the last bush town aka Molocue I found out the president of Mozambique was there but did not meet him but that did not hurt my feelings any now today the President is here in the city I live in I am beginning to think he is following me. I went to a Baptism at a Catholic church in which I was set up front with the padres. The padre that was over everyone had this cut off like torn and tattered leather vest which was quite amusing. The roads part of the way were like driving in the states again and the other part was quite bumpy due to the construction of a new road. It was quite hilarious to see signs saying work ahead in english.

I took my house worker to the Island of Mozambique for a couple of days which was nice. We were loving the history of this island so much. We wre at the Indian Ocean but did not go swimming b/c well most the beaches are public bathrooms if you get my drift so yeah better watch your step! The beach is usually beautiful but do to a cyclone earlier inthe year the beach was quite dirty still. Anyways I am out to the bush again Friday for two days with my boss then come back and share the message at our fellowship Sunday soafter the message the church will probaly not like me much but oh well I must share Him and nothing else!

Sorry would like to add pictures but as I said email is close to non-existant here but go to Facebook if you would like to see some updated pics there and I am creator of "to the nations" so go there and you shall find me!

My new toy!

2007-04-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

For those who already do not know my cell phone was stolen this weekend at the chappa central station which has plenty of thieves so even paying attention was not good enough. So since the stores had closed for the weekend I had to wait until Monday to purchase a new cell phone. In Africa well almost new in a store here is a better word. It is a nice Motorola phone which the characters are in Arabic and English!

Life in Mozambique!

2007-03-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

I have been dealing with the phone company and my internet server for the last three weeks, I have made trips to the offices and called them without much help. Eeach one blames the other for the problems with me not being able to call my family back home or my slow internet service. I got the phone company here yesterday to test my phone line and you gotta love it when they say it is operational b/c that means if it is working there is no problem in their eyes. So they are saying that it needs nothing else but from an American my thinking is b/c it works does not mean it cannot have a problem.

Also here when you go buy something well you think it is their responsibility to have adaquate change for you wrong it is the customer who should have the correct change!

Essential footwear!

2007-03-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

I wore flip flops in the states all the time when I could but now being overseas I only wear anything other than flip flops when I go to church. Today I went out with the youth and did evangelism in flip flops of course. Now there is a draw back to that here in Africa. Once you get tthe African dirt on your feet well it seems to stay with no matter how many times you wash and scrub your feet. Trust me I do and I have a rock which is the best thing in getting off the dirt is scrub your feet with this rock and it does work .

African Culture!

2007-03-15T04:06:00.000-07:00

This is not a 100% for all countries in Africa but it will be close. I have lived in Mozambique now for over 7 months so lots of this I have personally found out on my own. When it comes to money the Westerner is looked at as rich no matter what your social status is back home you will always be rich here. So as they look at it as a friend of the Westerner who has more they are to share with those who have less. Sometimes you win in this and sometimes you lose b/c of those who only want to be a friend just for your money and what they can get from you. This does not mean that you can be friends with anyone for fear of this. Accept it that you are in Africa and you must get used to idea and try to understand it.

Also in the borrowing of money that is a tricky situation b/c well many times it is much easier making money given a gift b/c you may never see it again. I will say I have found a couple of friends who have paid me back before. Also when they borrow money it seems many times it is rude to question them about it but usually in my experience they will share with you now is this true well you have to trust the Holy spirit to guide you in this,. Also when money is borrowed for a certain purpose it does not mean it will be used for that purpose more importantly what is the most pressing thing at the moment will be used for that cause.

African culture is all about being a community there is no such thing as an induvidual so if your are very independent as well as introverted life here in Africa will be very difficult, good thing I am very extraverted. This does not mean if you are an introvert you cannot survive in Africa b/c there are many here and it is harder for them but they survive here. In this comes the issue of borrowing thing: Personal story is I lent a dictionary to a friend for a couple of days well have yet to see it but if I want it back I must ask for it but this may be an awkward situation so I am thinking better to let that one go. Plus when they borrow something it may be returned in worse shape than when it left and may not work and guess what that is not their responsibility so as the owner you must still fix it.

Most Westerners are planners and well here there is no plans each day will happen so I somewhat have a schedule but also know that I will have to rearrange it b/c things that just happens such as a flat tire, unexpected visits happen everyday, sickness, helping friends and the lists goes on and on... Like yesterday I have a furnished home here I rent well the owner just suddenly decided to take this huge curio thing down and get a new one so I ended up a couple of hours helping the Mozambique guy tear down the curio and move it out of the house. Of course the new one has yet to arrive and I may be long gone before they buy it.

One last thing is Africans will never answer directly no matter what you ask about and many times tell you what you want to hear even if it is not true. For example I am having trouble calling my family back home so I cantact the Local Telphone company here and am told I need an International contract so walk to the office sign my name and told it will be working by the next day. The next day I was able to call a friend in Florida but not my family. I have since then called them several times and the last time they said it is fully functional but wiat till next week to be able to call home. We will see but I have my doubts!

There is much to tell but if interested in learning more get this book: African Friends and Money Matters by David Maranz!

You know you live in Africa when..........

2007-03-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

Today while I was helping Luis Antonio my house worker with Spring cleaning "limpeza total" I was asked by my Indian family if I could train their son to clean. In the Mozambique and Indian culture it is odd many times to see a man cleaning or cooking that is the womans job. Last night the Indian family and I were talking and they asked me if I knew how to cook which I do so not they want me to train their teenage son. We had quite a few laughs then well they are trying to tell me I need to get a girlfriend aka Pinky their daughter as a girlfriend to learn Portuguese well I blew that off and went back inside.

Today though back to the original story was we were doing our cleaning and got finished then all of the suddent the power went off which does not happen to often here, thanks be to Him for that. 8 hours later I have power but in the in between time it was too dark to read, my computer was dead and way to hot and sticky to nap so yeah it was a boring afternoon!

Mozambique Rock Quarry!

2007-03-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

You know you are from Mozambique when you go to a mountain and place brush and parts of tree on the area of a mountain and set it ablaze. The afterwards you will have maybe a small hammer and start breaking up the mountain with your hands and this is the finished product.

people of Mozambique!

2007-03-06T06:33:00.000-08:00

The children here well are absolutely adorable and this guy in the Nelly t-shirt is a bush church elder. By the way he has no clue who Nelly really is! This is at a celebration in Nampula where the women are in traditional dress.

God's beautiful creation!

2007-03-06T06:25:00.000-08:00

I think most of you now know how much I love taking pictures of God's marvelous creation! So here are some things just to remind you who is the Creator of all things big and small!That is right whther a huge mountain or this small flower God made them both by simply speaking them into creation!

preaching in Portuguese!

2007-03-06T06:19:00.000-08:00

I did it with much fear and trembling but it went well and well I went for about 20 minutes maybe but considering you have to have this translated into Makhuwa well closer to almost an hour. I shared with the church who I was and how Christ has came into my life and how He changed my life forever. I did this b/c we will work together so thought it was important they know my story in coming to Mozambique! The translator is actually the groom that was in the wedding the week before! He was awesome so he helped make my Portuguese flow smoothly!

guard dog!

2007-03-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

This is Tally who is owned by a j-man in Cuamba now but after he leaves I will keep her. I had said before meeting her I did not want her, well then I met her. Yes Tally is 100% mut but after spending two weeks with her have found out she is a great guard dog.

Cuamba Baptist church!

2007-03-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

This is the one and only baptist church in Cuamba in which I will work with. The other picture is the pastor, his wife and grandbaby!

mountains in Cuamba!

2007-03-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

As you can see these mountains are surrounded by clouds so they are quite impressive and all around you!

The mega city of Cuamba!

2007-03-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

As you will see from these pictures Cumba is this huge metropolis which well as you can see has lots of activity!

Bush church!

2007-03-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

Yes this is a church out in the bush so wow an awesome experience in worshipping God is such simplistic ways, so see we do not need the fancy building with all of these material things. All He desires is that we worship Him in truth and in Spirit. Let us stop going to church and be the church!

A wedding Mozambique style!

2007-03-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

Upon arriving in Cuamba the day after I was attending my first wedding in Mozambique.We showed up around 9:30am and of course nothing had started even though they said be there at 8:30am. The the wedding procession started with songs and dance with the couple coming in and having cuplanos laid in front of them until theu arrived at the front of the church. Then the Bride and groon got into a knee stance which they kept for the whole service. Their parents were standing behind them so at first I thought okay well then I saw why. To wipe all the sweat from their faces. The service continued with song and dance along with sharing words. After that we had a time of giving wedding presents and then the formal traditional wedding preformedby the pastor. Then there was more song and dance and another time of giving before the wedding procession resumed to the truck that would take them to their home. Okay as figured there were more people than cars well there was two trucks actually so yeah I ended up in the back of the cab covered pickup with other Mozambiqans. I thought this would be a quick trip to their home but guess what not happening we may have reached top speed of 5 mph b/c of the wedding procession in front of us as well as keeping children off the back of the truck. They were singing and dancing all the way to the house. Upon getting there I was soaking wet with sweat so if you want a quick way to lose wait come to Cuamba anytime and I will put you in the back of the truck. Now there is the Bride and groom being led to their house and finally seated. Shortly thereafter we were seated with the most important guests of course why not we are American missionaries. I do not like this but as of now still have to do that in any thing we do with most churches here. We had goat, chicken, shema, noodles and yes French fries along with a soft drink of course. 4-5 hours later we are on our way home!

God's covenant with His people!

2007-02-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

It is always good to remember what God has promised His children!

some Kenyan friends!

2007-02-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

This is George on the left and myself in the middle with Allan on the right!

Gaby and I on the Orange River!

2007-02-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

We had some fun with other missionaries on a sunset cruise!

New Year's Eve!

2007-02-01T05:38:00.000-08:00

Some friends and myself at a real nice mall in Johanesburg, South Africa!

Beinning a new year in a new country!

2007-02-01T02:07:00.000-08:00

I am sorry but well my last three months has been in three different countries in Africa and if you include my home in Mozambique 4! I am doing well and you know me always having adventures.

I was in South Africa for a prayer retreat right after Christmas and during New Year's so that was a good break and got some gifts from home which was like when I was a kid at Christmas back home. I then went to Upington South Africa to spend a week hanging out with a friend and do a little ministry also there. I came home for a week and then I was off to Kenya for training for two weeks plus some needed shopping for a guy who lives in a place that has got to much when it comes to electronic needs and stuff.

I am now home and have our team meeting aka Super Bowl Party this weekend , then go to Cuamba where I will serve for a two week vision trip then I will come back home. I know it seems I com home take a shower and change clothes and I leave again, but after this trip I will not travel again until July well as of right now that is the plan!

Happy Holidays from Mozambique!

2006-12-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Mozambique, Africa. It definately does not feel like Christmas here b/c it is very hot and well the rainy season has just begun!

I want to catch you up b/c this last month I have been out of the country and in Zambia for a month of training. I went in skeptical but came out very pleased with my time there. I was taught what a typical day is for an African and some of the things they deal with daily. Our training was more time being out with the Africans than it was actually on lectures about what we needed to do!
We started in the Baptist Seminary in Lusaka and I ended my time in Livingstone Zambia!

In Lusaka we had Zambian assistants we went out with daily to meet people and that I did. Everyone from a former Portuguese Embassy guy, to a village headman, and a simplecommon everyday person and a few drunks. Lusaka was a very nice town and we did internet there and I actually ate at a western style reastraunt more than once and went to an actual mall...I also encounter how real Satan is here in Africa. It is normal for people here to be demon possessed or go to a witch doctor. There is a Zion Spiritist church which uses the Bible but believe me when they started calling spirits into themselves that was freaky. There is also many people looked at that is demon possessed. Satan keeps people in fear here through Healer's andthe Spiritist church. PTL I saw God cast a demon out of a young girl which well not something to go inot without much prayer!

We went out to a more rural place and stayed for two weeks in a tent with no electricity plus we had to pump shower water from a well. It was literally a bucket that we filled with water then we pulled it up on a pulley then turned the water on. We had cho's sort of make shift squatty potties. Then we finished with our three day village stay in which I helped thatch a roof, plow a field with oxen among many other meetings. It was awesome. I have ate termites, catepillar's as well as shema or en-cima once a day. Our food was great though. We even had dressing among other things for Thanksgiving! Travelling was always an adventure so well had two flats on our way to the village each time stopping calling the other bus b/c we either did not have a spare or jack. We only had one flat on the way back but of course we had no jack so another waiting process.

I ended my journey in Livingstone, Zambia at Victoria Falls which was amazing. I saw monkey's daily around the hotel as well as Giraffe, Elephants, Hippo's, Rhino's, wildabeast, Cape Buffalo, croc's, impala's, many birds, zebra's, and etc..... I also bungi jumped from a bridge there 111 meter's which is the second highest in the world then did a 53 meter free fall also. Other than that well I think for now that is more than enough!

more adventures from Mozambique Africa!

2006-10-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Well you got it more adventures that is my middle name! It seems whether I am in class or just walkinging or eatinging well there is an adventure about to happen!

These past few weeks I have been to a village to meet a family in which is actually in the city but only accessible by foot, bycyvle or possibly a small motorcycle where the familt lived! I was the star attraction wonder why I guess b/c I am the only tall skinny white boy there! Again many still think I am Brasilian until they actually ask where I am from and well that southern accent is still here but as times passes here it is decreasing! I was actually offered food well I really wanted to say no to but ate it and well God kept it down without ant severe after affects!

I have rented this home from an Indian family and well I have began building relationships there! I went out with their teenage son and his friend once in their car so please remind me never to do that again! It was an adventure that is for sure and now they are wanting me to go out with them just for an hour tommorrow night! Well an hour here is like actually two to three hours maybe more!

I head out tommorrow for my first drive alone so well pray for me and those people who are on the same road as me!
This pic is of me and another friend who lives behind me Mario so please pray for his salvation!

More adventure's from Jimmy!

2006-10-11T02:08:00.000-07:00

Where do I start there is so much that is going on with me here. I will start with something that unexpectedly happened Friday night. I had finished my day and well was ready to relax. So I went out to eat last night and the Chicken stir fry rice at an Indian restaurant was good. As I was coming home it was already dark but as I passed this one guard at a home he asked me how I was. So I stopped and asked him how he was, then we just started talking about life in general. This conversation went on for over 15 minutes in Portuguese. His name is Adriano and he is from Beira another city north of here where all his family is at. He does go to a fellowship here but after watching him trying to pick up a girl why I was talking with him I saw he was not very committed. We finally said our good-byes then I left. There is a little bar across from me where I can buy bottled cokes, so I bought a couple before coming into the house. I had intentionally bought a drink for my guard also. I knew my guard loved to talk but went out for a short conversation with him anyway. First we asked how each other was, and then I gave him a coke which he was very thankful for. Well we started out talking about differences between M?s and C?s and then Ramadan. Then he just started asking all these different questions concerning what the Word says so I ended up talking with him for over an hour in Portuguese. It was definitely Him working in me b/c there is no way I could have done that by myself. I asked him if he had any time to study but he did not, so guess what starting next Friday night starting at 12:00am we will start studying together.

During October I will be continuing to focus on Portuguese five days a week as well as my daily adventures that happen in between my language study. I will move into my new fully furnished home Sunday afternoon, so I am pretty much packed up and ready to go. I know that I will be doing at least two studies each week of this month and I am always open to whatever He gives me. I will be talking to my other teammates here about walking the city one day a week and pr for the people here. I will go out practicing driving a stick shift again this week as well as driving on the left side of the road. My obstacles will be bicycles, people, chickens, and goats so it should be interesting. I will be going out with Brian and maybe driving another guy this week to one area of the city to get information. I will be transporting a leader and a group of youth to an all night thing at another fellowship. I could stay but not sure b/c the leader has been told I am only transportation, but I already know if I stay I will be told at the exact time they do something, okay Jimmy do this for us. So yeah I am a little skittish of that so we shall see.

Hello From Mozambique , Africa!

2006-10-11T02:00:00.000-07:00

I am sorry it has been so long since my last update, but let me just say email here well is not the greatest.

I have been in Mozambique, Africa for two months and life is an daily adventure here.

September 2006 Update from Mozambique

I have been in Mozambique for a little over one month now but I am doing great here. I arrived in Maputo, Mozambique on August 5th and spent my first three days there where I was welcomed by friends there. I then arrived in Nampula on August 9th where I am doing my language studies. My first three weeks I stayed in the New Tribes guesthouse before moving in with a Wycliffe couple who are awesome. I have visited Nacala where my team leader is until they leave next month for some brief orientation on the Indian Ocean. I have seen the most amazing mountains here since arriving and of course the Indian Ocean is awesome. The culture here is similar to some things I have experienced but different in other ways.

I am adapting quite well to the food and the culture here though thanks be to my Father. I have made two new friends who I am dong Bible Studies with (Tomas and Marcos) so keep them lifted up! I am doing the study in Portuguese and well even a little Makhuwa so yeah that is a challenge that my Father is always up too. I found out this past week that the house I am living in while in Nampula, well will no longer be home. I am now in search for another house by next month.

Adventures this past month: We were stopped at a police checkpoint a few weeks ago only to be asked to giver an officer a ride into a community that we were going to, so an offer we could not turn down for more than one reason.

I was at a fellowship a few weeks ago and a group from another area was doing this song with dance which included five mice on a stick!

One final blog before I leave for Mozambique, Africa!

2006-08-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hmmnn, what to say, well I have been home almost 10 days and I have not slowed down yet! I did not realize how hard it was to say good-bye to everyone, but I will leave here and will not be able to see all my friends and family! I leave Saturday morning for Nashville and will arrive in Mozambique on August 7th that is if there are no futher delays or layovers! I can say I am ready to GO and get there so that I can start settling in to my new home for the next three years!

I am going on my faith in God fully knowing He has prepared the way before me as well as being there with me among the Makhuwa people. The next three years will be full of many stories and adventures. I praise God for this opportunity to be a small part of what He is doing in Mozambique, Africa! He constantly reminds me that that He is the One sending me as well as the One who has equipped me forHis service among the Makhuwa people!

I am a real live missionary now!

2006-07-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

I officially am now done with my training to be a missionary now I am after over 7 weeks odf extensive traing. I am now finished and set to leave for Mozambique Africa on August 5th1

Here is a a pic of some real life missionaries!

I have my tickets!

2006-07-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Well our time here is about over but it has been fun for the most part, but I can say I am officially ready to GO! I have my tickets to Mozambique as well as my passport and visa. Oh yeah lets not forget my malaria medication as well as the other meds in case I get it!

I have over 40 hours flying whether it be in the actual plane or in a airport in between so yeah this should make for an interesting flight! Oh well PTL it is time to GO and I am excited what the Lord has ahead for me in Mocambique!

some more fireworks!

2006-07-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

More fireworks!

2006-07-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

Washington Momument!

2006-07-07T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yes another amazing pic from the Mall so well here you are and well it is hard to see but hope u like it!

Nation's Capitol!

2006-07-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

Just another pic from the top of a parking garage in Union Station!

Garfield!

2006-07-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

Yeah even Garfield made it to the nation's capitol!

Ethiopian Reastraunt!

2006-07-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ethiopian food is so awesome as well as their Culture!

Union Station!

2006-07-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

This was our best friend as we travelled and a day pass is just $6.50 so cannot beat that!

Lincoln Memorial!

2006-07-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

This is where we watched the fireworks from!

White House!

2006-07-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

Well this is where our President spends some of His time!

4th of July Parade in D.C.

2006-07-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

Our nations finest showing off their colors!

4th of July in Washington D.C.

2006-07-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

The 4th was an awesome time in our nation's capitol even though it was miserable hot we had a great time. We ate at a Ethiopian Reastraunt after watching the parade. After that off to the White House before coming back to Union station to catch the bus back to Va. Little did I know me and four other friends would end up renting a car and watching fireworks from the Steps of Lincoln Memorial!

Still In Virginia!

2006-06-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

It has been over four weeks now since coming to Virginia to prepare to move to Mozambique, Africa for three years in August! It has been an awesome time of learning but also just meeting new people. I have also ran into old friends while here.. We usaull y play soccer, Ultimate Frisbee or Volleyball here for fun or most importantly just hang out and worship Jesus together like like night just sing praise songs to the Lord just randomly until about 10:00pm ....... We have less than four weeks left before finishing so it is sad to know that all the friends I have made will be spread out all over the World come August. At the same time excited to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed to all the nations!

Preparing for Africa!

2006-06-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

I am now in Virginia preparing for the next seven weeks to go to Mozambique, Africa. I then will then travel to Charlotte, NC. to visita good friend before going back to Kentucky for a couple of weeks to say my final goodbyes to family and friends there before getting on a airplane for Africa. I will be there living in a rural are working with a people group there.

This has been about a 7 year process of me going but now the time has finially arrived for me to go. I am very excited about my three years there plus just to see what God is already doing there. I know these three years God will definately change me in many ways.

I am excited to be here with almost 200 people who are like minded in that they have a heart for the nations. So I will be back again in a month to update you on what is going on in Virginia!

Stand up for what you believe!

2006-05-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went to a high school graduation to see some friends graduate tonight. I was so impressed by my friend's speech tonight b/c she did not follow the teacher's guidelines or wishes but did what she felt God wanted her to do. As she shared do not climb the Cooperate ladder and step on or over everybody just to get what the world says you need such as money, popularity, nice home, new car and loads of debt that you will never pay off. Do not follow the world's standards in life but rather follow hard after God even when it is not logical or popular. Love when you should hate and when something makes no sense well still follow hard after God and trust Him alone. So when she finished her speech tonight she got a standing ovation from her fellow classmates as well as everyone else there. I am so tired of people and groups such as the ACLU telling us as Christians we cannot pray in public or mention the name of Jesus Christ b/c it offends them. We live in a free country who was founded by Christian principles but has now since far left them behind. So if you cry what is wrong with this world well first thing is you took prayer out of school, so want to see an improvement allow it back into school and our country. If you do not like it or feel it has infringed on your rights well get over it and move to another country. Just as you have freedom in what you believe so do we as Christians.

It is like if I moved to the Middle East, India, Brasil, China and many other places if I went there and told them they offened me and they could no longer pray to their God or gods. Their only reply if we are lucky if you do not like it leave. So to all you people in the United States from other countries and beliefs before you complain please thiink about where you are. If you do not like hearing a prayer with Jesus Christ in it go back home otherwise be quite!

John 3:16

Back from Brasil!

2006-05-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

I left on April 29th on a Greyhound bus from Bowling Green, Kentucky headed to Miami, Florida to catch a flight to Brasil Little did I know for what was ahead of me along the way. My first was the greyhound people losing my bag that I became aware of in Atlanta other than that sleep deprivation along the way. Then Finally I arrived in Miami and well was told to make a claim on my luggage at the airport greyhound terminal, well when I arrived I found out there was no terminal there. my hotel shuttle service finally arrived at almost 1o pm, so then I was finally in my room. I called the greyhound office in Miami and well I got the run around from every person I spoke with. At 1 am I just said forget it and went to bed. I flew out the next morning for Brasil and everything went great until Brasilia. There I apparently had a seizure which resulted in 8-10 hours sleep over four days. They made me go to the hospital and then put me up in a hotel for the afternoon and then got me on the next flight to Manaus. TAM took care of my hospital bill, my room and getting me to and from the airport. They are an awesome airline and I would reccommend them to anyone flying to South America. I arrived in Manuas during the rainy season so it rained almost everyday there but I had an awesome time. Just did not have enough time there with friends. I flew back home and had far less adventures along the way. My flights were great and I met a m team I went on my first trip with which was good. I was told to get off the plane in Brasilia b/c of the police and gangs fighting in Sao Paulo but I was fine there. I got back into Miami with no problems. Then I had to ride Greyhound again. I filed a baggage loss claim once I finally got to the station, but my impression was they could care less there about my luggage being gone. I had to have my card cancelled b/c of some issues and charges that were made on my card so my account was froze. Then Greyhound wants to charge me 10 dollars for a change of time fee well I had no cash available to me so asked them since they had lost my luggage they could cover the cost, well they were like no way, so I had to wait until the next morning when the manager arrived and he changed my ticket. I also was suppose to go to Charlotte but when I went to change my destination they would not do it after a greyhound represnitive said they would. After a day and a half of waiting I finally got started on my way home with no problems and meeting some blessed people along the way.

All this to say all in all my trip was awesome other than Greyhound so the next time you consider traveling with Greyhound well think about me and go another way!

Jimmy

Heart for the Nations: Going back to Brasil!

2006-03-31T18:27:00.000-08:00

Heart for the Nations: Going back to Brasil!

Going back to Brasil!

2006-03-31T18:20:00.000-08:00

It has been almost five years since I have been to Brasil but God has blessed with with another chance to see friends that I have there. I want to say see family b/c there are quite of few people there who are like family too me. I leave April 29th from Bowling Green, Ky. via Greyhound bus to Miami Florida where I will stayover night. The next afternoon I will depart for Brasil and arrive in Sao Paulo, Brasil for a day and a half then on to Manaus where I will spend a majority of my time. While there I will travel to Boa Vista for a few days. Then on May 15th depart for Sao paulo for an overnight layover then head back to USA. I will do an overnight in Miami before catching my bus back to Bowling Green, Ky. If you had not noticed I love adventure and well this trip will be filled with adventure...

Heart for the Nations: Forgiveness!

2006-02-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

Heart for the Nations: Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

2006-02-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

This morning my earthly dad who is not a Believer said something very hurtful too me and he always brings up my past now. This afternoon i was praying about getting my own place and just walk out on him. Through prayer and some great friends God has shown me Mark 11:25 which talks about Forgiveness, well after that well cannot argue with the Word. After I forgive my earthly father for today and realize this will be a daily process God's peace which comes only from Him swept over me. I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off of me.

God has shown me I am the one who needs to take the first step and forgive my dad!

So is there someone in your life you need to forgive even if you have not done anything?

2006-01-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

Jimmy in Oklahoma!

2006-01-23T21:27:00.003-08:00

Testimony

2006-01-01T20:23:00.003-08:00

Well just a little bit about me so we are all on the same page! I am origianally from Kentucky and spent most my life here until 1997 when I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Before I became a follower of Jesus Christ though I was far from perfect b/c I partied all the time and that was my lifestyle! Praise God for coming into my life when He did! After that my life has never slowed down since. I started out with my youth group and was very happy there, but then God showed me He wanted more from me, but I needed to be willing to allow Him to use me. That started in North Carolina which led me to give my life to serve God in Brasil . First though I went to college in Eastern, Kentucky, then moved on to Fort Worth , Texas where I worked on my Master's degree. While in texas God took me back too Brasil, then to London, England, then Finially China. I was unsure why God wanted me to go to China. Foe six years I was preparing to move to Brasil as a Missionary, then God took me to China! I thought what's up with that? After coming back from China still I did not know the answer to that question until a few months later. God showed me that I wanted you to go to China just so that you would be willing to go somewhere besides Brasil! I questioned God b/c He gave me the ability to communicate in the Portuguese language where else would he want me? Well then He showed me Mozambique, Africa which is a Portuguese colony and the official language is Portuguese. So after that I asked God no more questions. Then I found out I would be working alongside Brasilians there as well and still staying with my Brasilians friends back in Brasil. The possibilities are endless in what God can do with a person if they are willing to be used.. How amazing is God? Too amazing for me to understand, so I have saw His faithfulness in every aspect of my life since 1997! I am going to get my Master's but this year will leave for Mozambique to serve three years, then come back and recieve my degree before going back! Never question what God can do through you b/c all He ask for is your willingness to be used by Him! Look at me just a simple country boy and now I have been on almost every major continen of the world. With God all things are possible!

World Traveler!

2006-01-01T20:23:00.001-08:00

Since April of 1999 I have travelled to Brasil five times spending two-six months each visit there. I have been to Rio de Janerio, Nova Friburgo, Cabo Frio, Buzios, Belo Horizante, Manaus and Boa Vista not including all the little towns too numerous to mention along the way. I can now speak Portuguese pretty good, plus since living in Texas my Spanish has improved. The crazy thing is I understand lots of Spanish but speak a little, but a Spanish speaker cannot understand my Portugues ,yeah real weird. I have also been to London, England for a week and also I spent a couple of weeks in China. This year I am headed to Mozambique , Africa. I think I have all the major continents covered, yet it seems there is much of the world I still have not seen, but I plan to change that over the next five years. I consider my self blessed to have been able to see all the places that I have saw up till this day. I also have studied Arabic in school which I consider the hardest language I have ever studied. I love learning new cultures and customs as well as new languages. I have saw lots of places and experienced many things but each time I have went overseas it has been as a servant of God.

Losing someone you love!

2006-01-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

It is hard when someone you care about dies, but it makes things so much easier when you know you love was a Believer in Jesus Christ and will spend eternity in Heaven now worshiping and praising God. I lost my grandma who was 85 years old this past week, but she had been so sick. Now there is no more suffering, so I find comfort in that, plus she made Jesus Christ her Lord and Savior several years ago. But she has left a legacy behind which is 15 children, 34grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren so yeah we have a large family. This is only on my dad's side of the family. So take advantage of the time you have with loved ones and tell them you love them. We never know when that may be our last time here on earth with them whether they are young or old b/c today may be the last time you see them!

2005-12-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Jimmy in London, England

What is Christmas?

2005-12-06T20:36:00.000-08:00

What does Christmas mean too you????? Well for many it is all about Santa Claus and getting presents, and lots of good food with family and friends and yes that does happen every Christmas. I would like everyone outside of the Western Hemisphere plus those who have never heard of the real reason to celebrate Christmas here in the Western Hemisphere. Until 8 years ago here in the USA I truly did not know or really thought of the real meaning behind Christmas. Then though Jeus Christ came into my life and I turned from my old lifestyle and now live my life for Jesus Christ and serve him however I can be best used. Yes that has took me to over 4 continents and soon to be five continents. 2000 years ago there was a baby born but this was no ordinary baby, but this was the birth of Jesus Christ who would later die on a wooden cross for the sins of the world that all could be reconciled to God through Him. How many people do you know that would give their life up for you much less the whole world? That is how much Jesus Christ loves you and desires to have a personal relationship with you.

I am alive and in the USA!

2005-11-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hello sorry for the long delay but have not been on my blogspot for a long time, so hear is an update. The last time you heard from me I was heading to Mozambique, Africa last August. Well lots has happened. I have delayed until next August in going to Mozambique because the burden of my dad(Charles) who does not know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior so please pray for him. Pray for me as he is very intolerant of my life as a Believer. I am living in Glasgow, Kentucky where I spend time with my dad, plus other family here. The holiday season is here and I am grateful for my time with my family which will be my last holiday seaso with them for quite a while. I work part time with the YMCA which has worked out great and looking for opportunities to share with my co-workers. I am also very involved with the student ministry in my home church as well as a bible study every Sunday night in which two people have come to Christ through this. I am also sharing about missions every chance I get, plus have more opportunities as we draw closer to the end of the year. I am also planning a trip to Brasil in May and a possible road trip out west next year before I leave as well as a trip back to Fort Worth, Texas to see some great friends there.

new job!

2005-07-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

In one month I will starting a new job, but techinally I have already started, but all of this is orientation right now though. Even though I know excatly what needs to be done to be considered successful there are some things that will challenge me. My new job is in Mozambique, Africa where I will have to learn two languages. Portuguese is the trade language in which I already can do conversational Portuguese. I thank God for that with my time in Brasil. I will also learn Makhuwa with is a Bantu language among my people group. In case you have not figured it out this is not your normal office job, but I will be out in the bush quite a bit! The most important thing to realize is this job was not my decision, but this has been picked by Jesus Christ. I know there is no way I could learn all I need to know and teach there, but only by through Jesus Christ can I complete the race He has set before me. There will be challenges, but most importantly is that I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me!

2005-06-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

The famous Anaconda and yes this is real!

2005-06-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

An amazing sunset along the Amazon!

2005-06-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

Christ the Redeemer statue is an awesome pic you can see in Rio de Janerio, Brasil!

2005-06-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

The picture speaks for itself!

2005-06-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

London is an amazing city!

2005-06-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

Beautiful place in south China !

2005-06-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

The operah house in Manaus, Brasil!

2005-06-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

Beautiful mountains of Kentucky, oh how I miss them!

2005-06-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

My friends in Boa Vista, Brasil!

2005-06-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Meu amor pais do Brasil!

2005-06-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

Jimmy In Brasil!

Transitioning!

2005-06-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

In the past three months I have moved from Fort Worth, Texas to Glasgow, Kentucky, now too Richmond, Virginia, so one more move left which is a biggy Mozambique, Africa. So i think of this and say what is home? Well I have found out no matter where in the world I live is temporary, but I have an eternal home in Heaven being prepared for me one day.

So no matter where you live now one day you will face a time in which you die. If you were to die today where would you go? Heaven or Hell. Everyone has an opinion, but I am glad I have accepted Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, so I have only to wait until one day I will go to Heaven when I die.

Friendship!

2005-05-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

I did not realize how hard it is to say goodbye to friends until the other day.Some I will see in the future, others who knows when I will see them again. I do know that I have one friend that is always with me wherever I go and His name is Jesus Christ. If you are looking for a friend who never lets you down, always willing to listen too you, and will be with you wherever you are at, well let me know and I can tell you more!

New Adventure!

2005-04-28T15:57:00.000-07:00

I am preparing for a new adventure in my life in the next few months. I am off to Mozambique, Africa for three years in which a tent will be my home part of the time. I asked my field leaders what kind of wild animals should I expect to see or need to watch out for? They told me Baboons, monkeys, snakes, and elephants the futher north I get, not to mention all kinds of bugs, etc.... The important thing is that I just did not dream this up in my head, but through much prayer and through God's Word (Bible) along with many Godly men and women, He confirmed to me that my life would be spent on the mission field. That was over 6 years ago and 7 mission trips later along with college and a Master's degree, I am leaving to go to a place I have never been, but the peace of God surpasses all my fears. I do not know exactly what this adventure holds for me, but one thing is God is faithful to His children, so just as He has called me, He is preparing the way before me! I cannot say to you How great is our God, because He is indescribable through just mere words. As God has sent me He will be with me and all I can say now is there is no greater joy than serving my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.