Chad and Leslie Jowers - The World Race 2009

Testimony of Les Jow

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I thought it would good to let everyone know where my story begins and why I would have decided to take this crazy race in life. I also want to mention that my daddy now is wonderful and this story speaks nothing ill of him. He has been there for me and has guided me the way a father should. I love you, dad.

MY STORY

Although my journey as a believer starts off the same as many others you've heard-it's just as miraculous and powerful. I grew up in church and colored pictures of a "Caucasian" Jesus, but I didn't have a relationship with Him.

At the age of eight I felt a strong and compelling love. I knew about Jesus and I had heard many stories and I wanted to be a part of Him and what He stood for. So I prayed for Him to encompass my life.

Years later, I began struggling. I was resentful; frustrated, hopeless, and all together felt no love---partially because I chose not to. My birth father had left when I was two and at this point in my life, I longed for his approval. Now in high school I yearned for a pursuit from a fatherly figure. Don't get me wrong, my mother had remarried and my now daddy was and is exceptional, but there was still a part of me that needed that original father's love. From the one who helped make me and like whom I look. Never did I receive a call, or letter, or birthday greeting.

I called out over and over, "God, where is my father?" and then one day I heard His reply. "Here I am, my child. You need not seek another aside from me." He was the love I needed. He was the father in pursuit of me. He was the one and only that could love me unconditionally. He was my Abba. He is my Abba-Daddy. If it hadn't been for that all clear moment in my life as a senior in high school-I'm not sure where I would be or what I would have become.

He saved me. He not only saved me eternally (which is the hugest blessing) but he saved me fro myself. He saved me from destroying His spirit that He had placed within me at the age of eight. I never struggled with drugs, alcohol, or sex. No, my addiction was to relentless hopelessness. I can now say that although I still have no contact with my father, that I no longer need it. God filled my void. My only regret is not listening to his loving whispers sooner. My wish now is to share that overflowing love with others. So they can experience his powerful grace, mercy, love and understanding through intimacy with a lover.

Wanok--Less of Les

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Wanok

In Uganda and most African countries, people have a difficult time trying to say my name. So, I shortened it to Les which is really my preference anyway (it makes me feel endeared ha-ha). People still had difficulties, calling me things that ranged from Celeste to Jelly. I finally explained it as "Not More?" and then the pastor began to introduce me as "Less" in Acholi (the mother tongue of Northern Uganda). That word is "Wanok".

The complicated pronunciation of my name made me think. Can I even really introduce myself as "Wanok" as less? How often do I live my life as Less of Les? We sing often in songs things like "less of me God, more of You," but how often do we LIVE it. How often do I put others before myself on a sacrificial level? It's like the woman with the two coins. People made fun of her because they thought they gave more but they gave our of their abundance-often Christians do "less" of themselves for self glory and gratification being blinded by their own self pursuits. How often do we live with more of those around us, and more of God? More of those people who really agitate us and make us frustrated. How often do we actually live out less of us and more of those people?

And most importantly how often do I truly put God first----not second place, not third and a half place, not last place, but first. How often do we live with more of God...? MOST of God. I know I'm not doing a great job but I hope to grow in it. I think just because we aren't doing well in something doesn't mean we should accept defeat. What's impossible with man is possible with God right? He can guide us to a more healthy level of us, others, and God.

So my goal is to live this new approach to my name "Less".

Adoption of Heart

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This month I met a beautiful, joyful, timid, unashamed, free, lovely, enchanting little girl named Olga Kidenia. She's the type of little girl that laughs, smiles, and sings with very few people. She's reserved and unsure of new people. Infact when asked if she wanted to be friends with a girl on our team she replied no. She changed her mind later of course.

She had a kind countenance. She took a lot of responsibility for her younger sister who was four. Kidenia herself was six. As the weeks progressed she moved from waving from afar to sitting in my lap in church.

One evening near the end of the month she's sitting in my lap and falls asleep. Her beautiful little face resting on my chest, eyes closed, and dreaming. I had fallen in love with this little girl and I started to tear up. Oh, no. It's going to be hard to leave her. I remembered when earlier in the month I had said to her "oh I could just take you home with me." Jokingly (kidenia doesn't speak English) and then one of the women replied, "You could, her mother wouldn't care." I remember staying up most of that night and in my lack of sleep thinking about that comment with indignant frustration. How? How could a mother not care? No. She must care. Of course, I have no control over whether the mother cares of not. I have a horrible tendency to care too much. Snapping back to the present with her cradled in my arms I just embrace her little body.

She wakes up when music starts playing and she instantly starts bobbing her head, doing a little wiggle, and clapping her hands. I laugh and think " a girl after my own heart". Even though it frustrated me and still frustrates me that she doesn't receive the love she deserves, doesn't have the nutrition she needs, and her education is last priority in her family, on a really true level I knew it was best for her to stay with her family. She was the one that took her sister to church even though her mother never went. If she's taken my heart, how many more can she soften for His kingdom?

In the end, the church is going to provide for her to begin school at once along with her sister Beatrice. I think she'll always have a little piece of my heart. Something about her loving grin just captured it. It hurt to give her that last hug, but I expect her future to be bright and I'll continue to pray for her as if she were flesh of my flesh.

The next destination...

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone!

Just a quick update. We are currently in Iringa, Tanzania working with a pastor and his family of Evangelical Assemblies of God Church of Tanzania. We are loving it here. The weather is great. The people are great. We are doing the norms: door-to-door evangelism, preaching/teaching, worship leading, teaching youth (college kids), teaching kids, etc...

We JUST found out where our next destination will be! We were scheduled to go to Vietnam BUT God always shows us somethign better. SOOOOO... we are now heading to .....

THE PHILIPPINES!!!! We are extremely excited about this move from God and AIM. We were excited about Vietnam but we are pleasantly surprised about the Philippines and what we'll be doing there. When we find out more of the specifics we will shoot out another blog.

Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers! We love you all! Continue to pray and support us. We could NOT do this without you and God's call on your hearts. We praise Him for all of you. Thank you so much!

Love,

chad & les

[P.S. - Les is really excited because she thinks she is going to her motherland... hehehehehe. Just kidding.]

Raising Victory :: Introduction

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Rarely has anyone seen such pride for a plot of land as was seen on the face of Pastor JJ's as he took Team Symphony (that is our new team name by the way... we changed from Team Unwritten in Uganda) to the sight of his new church. He pointed this way and that detailing where the church would start, where the pulpit would be. He showed them where he hoped to build his house on the church land, how close it was to his son Samuel's school. He told them how in a few years, with the way the town was expanding, it would be the very center of town with main roads on all sides. He bragged on this piece of property the way proud mothers and fathers do on their children.

Really though it was just a regular plot of land. Like almost any other in Africa. But what you must realize is that Pastor JJ is a man of vision. He sees what can be, and better yet what will be. He has only been in Pader, Uganda for 3 years but has already built up a church that is almost the largest in the town. And we do not mean a church building. We are talking about a church. A group of people who come together to worship the Lord. A group of people who are a light to the community, who are joyful because they have a reason to be joyful. However as most can attest churches need a place to operate.

We come to you on behalf of Pastor JJ and his church. They are in need of about $10,000 to build their new church. They have been meeting in a borrowed building which in the next month will be taken away from them. If there is one thing we have learned for certain these past 7 months it is that there is so much need in this world. It is everywhere, it does not matter what corner of the world we go to.

But to be able identify a need for a group of people and even begin to have the means to meet that - this is a blessing in itself.
Northern Uganda is an area that has experienced much darkness in the past 20 years. It is an area that has been plagued by wars and senseless death. Men our own age are haunted by the times that they were forced to serve in armies, that their fathers, mothers and sisters were killed, it is an area in recovery, and in need. What better to invest in than the church? We as Christians claim to know something that others do not. We claim to hold to a truth that is beyond us, and beyond this world. If ever darkness was in need of light it is surely here. If we are in Christ than it is our brothers and sisters in Uganda whom we are asking you to help.

We, the J Squad, have been given the opportunity to raise money for Victory Outreach Ministries in Pader, Uganda. They are in need of a church building. This is not a church building complete with bells and whistles and Sunday school rooms and gyms. This is a building, a one room building for God's people to meet. A building for God's people to come together and worship the lord. A group of people standing as a light to a community amongst much darkness.

Team Symphony had the opportunity to spend a month with Pastor JJ and according to the team they have rarely come across a man with such faith, with such blind obedience to the Lord. Pastor JJ moved his wife away from his and her family 3 years ago to start this church. His wife is the only one working to bring money for the family, she works at a NGO as a maid. The church can not afford to give Pastor JJ a salary. Any tithe or donation that the church is able to give goes to both paying for the church building/property and helping those who are in great need, and believe me there are plenty of these people.

Please help us help this man, this family, this church, and this community. There is a need to be met, please help us to meet it. We know many of you have already supported someone on this trip, but we have no one else to ask. We as a squad are coming together to raise money for this church. You who are reading this are our church, you are the people we stand with and so we ask you to help us. Please help us meet this need, this need which we are capable to meet. Even if we do not raise the complete $10,000, we can guarantee any amount will be a blessing to this church. Please seriously and prayerfully considering donating to a worthy cause, we only have until April, 24th 2010 to raise the money. PLEASE JOIN US!

(We're trying to publish a video of Victory Outreach Ministries but are having a difficult time publishing it with the slow internet, we will post it as soon as possible)

To donate via the internet click HERE.

Please select "Support a World Race Project" under Choose Program.

Please enter "2010 Feb J Squad" in the Project Field.

If you wish to send a donation by mail, please make your check payable to Adventures In Missions and mail it to:
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470

Atlanta, GA 303

Please indicate "World Race Project Fund - 2010 Feb J Squad" in the memo section of the check.
Your gift is tax-deductible.

a little more time...

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ok, everyone... sooo... we are REposting this again. PLEASE send this to everyone you know!!! We are currently in the HOMESTRETCH for the Race and we only have 4 months left to go!!

We still are in need of $8,225.00 left and we pretty much need $2,000.00 each month to complete this. If you have been feeling lead to give or if you know someone who would love to give, please pass us along!! As you can see, our work is NOT over.

SOOOO.... THANK YOU! to all of our current supporters and all of those who have ever given to us financially and prayer!!! We couldn't be here without you!!

Our squadmates and teammates helped in creating this video with us to show our journey so far and to show what we mean to them and that God has us on this Race for a reason. We have been very touched by each of these people who gave testimony to our presence and friendship with them thus far on the Race.

Not only have they mentioned that they have been influenced by us but we have been greatly influenced and blessed by them. We were unable to fit all of the videos in, so we are sorry about that, but know that there were many who testified about us being on this trip.

We love you all and are praying blessings and God's will sovereignly over your lives!

Soli Deo Gloria!

chad and les

P.S. - PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!!!!

[PLEASE WATCH THE "SUPPORT VIDEO" BELOW]

from being my roommate... to the land down under!

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone!!

Well, we are currently in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and we head to Iringa, Tanzania to do the usual things (evangelism, door-to-doors, and continuing to bring the Kingdom!)...

and we SOMEHOW got great internet and decided to look up someone's blog!

This someone isn't just any someone, however... he has been Chad's roommate, one of his best friends in life, and a great friend to Leslie as well. This guy is also a part of the Jowers family back home! He is Mark Schandel.

Look up his site at http://markschandel.theworldrace.org/

Right now, he is in need of $7,500.00 left to pay for his Squad leading position with AIM on the World Race. PLEASE support this awesome man of God who is doing so much for the Lord. He has not only been there for Chad and Les, but he has also been leading a Squad of 20-somethings who are desperate for the Lord's Kingdom to come. He is helping them usher that passion in.

So, please check out his site, pray for him, PAY for him, and please watch this video below of how things have been going for him and his squad in Australia!!!!

Love and blessings!

Chad and Les

the finish line...

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ok everyone... SOOOO... mark your calendars...

AIM and leadership has told us that we will be home on...

[drumroll please]

JULY 1ST!!!

So be prepared!! We can see the finish line...

so now, you might also be asking several questions in your minds... but the biggest one for you to consider is....

WHAT'S NEXT???

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH!!!!

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

THIS BLOG POST IS BEING POSTED EARLY BECAUSE WE WILL NOT HAVE INTERNET NEXT MONTH IN PODER, UGANDA!!!

SOOOO....

you guys remember Brooke and Nathan? well, they have the most awesome little sister and her name is Sarah! And, on February 16 (today), she gets another year older!!!

Soooo... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!! Sarah, you are soooo awesome. You are funny and witty and you always make the greatest of faces!!! And, you are one of our favorite girls in the whole world!!

We love you!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

White Wash

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last week I met a young girl. She couldn't have been any older than four or five. She had never seen a "white" person. This made for an interesting, and unique experience, which made me contemplate how we view race and how we should all approach it with the humor, compassion, and acceptance of a child.

While we were chatting with this young girl's grandfather (in Kenya) several things happen instantaneously; she plops down right next to me, grabs my hand, scrutinizes it like an unknown insect in the grass, and she makes a decision and theory about what's wrong with me. I'm dirty. I'm white. I'm a white washed African. She looks into my eyes imploring and then it changes to sympathy. She looks eager to fix me so I nod in agreement that it's worth a try.

First, she rubs my skin vigorously- like a carpet burn. She closes her eyes for affect and when she opens them a look of indignant surprise lingers on her face just moments before determination is newly etched in. She takes a new approach-wiping the top of her hand onto my arm as if to wipe the brown onto my desperately pale skin. My skin looks promisingly pinker. We meet eyes and snigger for a couple of minutes.

Her grandfather and my translator obviously missed the endeavor at hand: "cure my whiteness". They were not amused. We immediately stopped laughing out loud but our continued sloppy grins revealed the mischievous giggles we were hiding. Despite her efforts I'm still white although I have acquired a minor tan from hours of scuffling down the road in the sun.

God Can Heal

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I'm not a great writer and I get nervous when people read my thoughts. There is something vulnerable about it that makes me squirm but its unfair to leave things unsaid and unshared. Here are some new blogs from Kenya. Enjoy and feel free to comment or question. I know my words can go on and on or meander around the point so let me thank you in advance for your patience.

I'm sorry that I tend to write more about what God's teaching me than actual tangible events-So here are three stories from Kenya: Entitled "God Can Heal", "White Wash", and "Elementary My Dear Watson."

As Chad has mentioned, we worked this month evangelizing house to house. Our objective was to bring the kingdom whether that means salvation, healing, prayer and more. This particular story is emotional for me and I know I'm growing and learning through this situation.

My team, Jen, several churchwomen, and I, find ourselves in a mud-hut home. It is remarkably cooler than the sweltering sun of midday. The thatched roof creates this breezy atmosphere. After doing a tiny "Yay I'm cooler now" dance I look around to adjust to my surroundings. About ten women meet my gaze with a look of expectancy and await the words that we are going to share. I gulp. After some introductions we tell why we've come from America: to share the word of Christ, to invite people to have a relationship with Him, to encourage and pray for those who already do. They listen attentively and entrust us with prayer needs after assuring us that they were also believers. After several prayers are requested she gives us the big one. She drops the healing bomb.

My stomach leaps to my chest and begins thumping wildly off beat with my heart. I gulp again. You've got this God. I know you can do this. I push up my spiritual sleeves and walk hand in hand into the room where the daughter who needs healing is lying. I exhale. I didn't realize I had been holding my breath.

The woman had frail limbs, thin, and lacking muscle. Her arm was covering her eyes but I recognized the tear stains streaking her dirty cheeks. I feel really conscious of my breathing and how it breaks the silence. And then the issue at hand---My eyes linger on her cause for pain: a protruding belly. Her stomach was round and disturbing in contrast with her fragile body as delicate and breakable as porcelain. It looked as though if I touched her limbs that they would crumble like a relic or artifact discovered by an amateur archeologist.

I struggle between touching and not and then quickly decide that in laying hands I feel like God can use me better. Perhaps his power could drip from my fingertips. I know it sounds as if I was nervous and the truth was that I was nervous with expectancy and excitement not with doubt. I turn to Jen, my partner in crime and we begin praying. We don't know what is wrong aside from what we see. She's not pregnant because her belly is of a different type. As we pray there are about ten Africans praying aloud with us at the same time. It is very INTENSE in a great way.

It's obvious that everyone in that hut wanted her to be healed, and expected it to happen. Everyone was weeping and interceding on her behalf. I found myself with tears flowing freely on my own face. After what could have been anywhere from five minutes to five hours we stop praying.

During the prayer we could feel movement similar to an intense grumble dancing around. Surely, the Holy Spirit was moving within her body setting things straight and bringing kingdom into her body in ways of health, wholeness, and restoration. It's not that her stomach moved to normal size when we opened our eyes but I'm also suggesting that even though we couldn't see the healing manifested in front of us that He still did a redemptive work in her body.

This is one of many stories this month of praying for healing in a person. And it's not about receiving fame unto us and I frankly hope that they don't put weight in those two white girls but in their heavenly father with whom everything is possible. It's all about giving God the glory. Despite the fact that after praying for many people for different sicknesses and there wasn't an immediate result that was visible to us in the natural, I still believe that things are being done. I still believe that God is able and willing. I won't give up. God calls us to obedience in Him and faith in Him even when we can't see. I plan to keep praying with the expectancy of healing and to trust God because he's trustworthy.

Can't Get No Satisfaction?

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I encourage churches around the world to stop competing with one another for numbers and supposed holiness but work together hand in hand. Do we not have a common goal? Is not the purpose to raise the church and add to its numbers daily?

Why do we live with such low expectations? Are we not equipped with the same spirit who guided in healing, feeding the five thousand, casting out demons, and raising the dead? The spirit isn't absent. No, we are just stagnant. We have to release the spirit within. Are we trying to limit the spirit? Pressing it down unto submission by our flesh? Awake oh sleeper and engage in Him! He's what we need. He's all we need.

Do we really think there are things outside of him that can quench our thirst and satisfy our souls? That's like trying to feed a flame with water. It doesn't bring life it douses it. Draw near to Him. It's not too late. He weeps for his wayward brides. He wants true intimate relationships. And if you think for one pure moment that's all you want too. What does he offer? The question is what thing that is good does he NOT offer? He gives abundantly unwavering, unconditional love. He is consistent. He is perfect. He gives blessings and provision, peace and forgiveness.

Embrace them. Just step in and breathe. If you are empty allow the spirit of God to rush in and fill every space, every crevice, every molecule of you with Him. If you think on it... Haven't you heard His knock? It's somehow familiar? It's that whisper that comforts you when you're sad and presumably alone. He's the power that supports you when you think you can't make it any longer. What are you waiting for? Just jump into His arms and accept His embrace.

Elementary, My Dear Watson

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The last installment of the Kenyan stories---

The other morning we went to a school to encourage the students and teach them about Christ and also the importance of education (of course this is the plug that the teachers wanted us to make).

We walk on the grounds and hundreds of giggling elementary school children race by to catch a glimpse of the mzungus (white people). After the teachers gather them into an assembly outside then we traipse out in order to talk about education and our hearts. We introduce ourselves and sing some songs. Then, Chad teaches on wisdom and God while the children listen attentively.

After the scheduled events we asked the students if they had any questions. They asked about the burning bush and other bible knowledge. Then, the teachers asked their questions. They weren't as easy and lighthearted to answer as the ones that the children asked.

"What do you do with orphaned children in education?"

"How do you deal with the issue of AIDS in school?"

We answer the questions as best we can with the limited knowledge we have on these issues. And I'm disconcerted and they prompt me to ask questions. I ask one of the teachers in a whisper, "How many children are there at the school". "350" is the response. "How many of them are orphans", I ask. "Over 100", she replies. "And how many of them have AIDS?" "Many, many have AIDS", she says matter-of-factly with a frown.

Many have aids. Many are orphans.

So many children in the US deal with loads of issues daily as elementary school students, but how many deal with the reality of AIDS? How often do we complain about how our parents react to situations when we should be grateful that we have parents we can complain about?

I don't have a lot to vocalize on these issues. Just that I am astounded at the truth of the statistics and knowing that there needs to be a change. Am I willing to be the impetus that promotes the change if God calls me to?

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

These thoughts come from Christmas Eve and my journal and I think it's imperative that this comes before the blogs to come.

One of the best ways for me to get to an understanding is to write it and read it and work through my thoughts. Thus, this tangent is available for your reading pleasure.

I've been contemplating on who God says that I am. There has been some emphasis on embracing who God says that we are. I imagine the first step of embracing it would be to actually know what He says. So, what is my identity? Hmmm. Well, I can always glean some information of who His children are and who God is-considering we are made in His image-. Slowly I'm accepting those traits yet I also am thirsty to find in what ways I'm unique-in which ways am I special? Fundamentally we are all made of the same "stuff" as all snowflakes are made of snow. The substance is the same yet it's the fringes -the outer layers that expose the differences. Similarly with us, we have "fringes" which show our differences, our callings, our gifts, and our skills. So, I must ask myself-What does the outer layer of my being reveal? I don't mean human skin or looks which reveals only vain comparisons. No, something deeper.

God describes Himself as " I Am". Sometimes I think it would be funny to get to ask God twenty questions and include "Why do I look Asian?" among others and "Are you Awesome?" and have his reply be "I Am". Well, whether you laughed at that or not there is a lot of purpose in those two words. "I" is self explanatory-epitome of self. "Am" is present. "Alpha and Omega" covers the past and future. But I think even that is suggested because He wants to show Himself in terms that we can understand or grasp in our understanding of time. Could I squander a few moments of your time to suggest that God is present? God is simply "am". He "is" eternally. I can't even begin to contemplate the core of God, or how he comprehends time.

I find peace and a bit of relief in not knowing everything and knowing that it's not possible anyway. Besides, the God I long to follow, and to guide me, and to indwell within me-is HUGE. Not only large but deep, and vast, and multi-faceted. He is a prism of colors and depth of perception-not limited by our paper and pen, 2-D world like the books we try to bind Him to. No, He's multi-dimensional, a chasm of love like the absence of darkness.

So, if I am to live within, and around Him and He the "Great I Am" with me-then, "I am" shines through me like a star radiating in the night sky (ideally of course). So in these moments (As fleeting as those moments may be )"I am" too. I pray that God would reveal me through Him and that I would be ever long, everlasting in God and His will.

God, may I be a star that worships you by being who you've called me to be-a light to places of darkness-you through me. I love you abba, daddy, papa, and friend.

Keep an eye out for blogs that will follow and expound upon the new things that God is teaching me.

Promises to a Girl

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I'm in Africa! Wooo hooo! I'm flabbergasted to say the least and honestly Deja Vu finessed. I'll explain. Story time: me, age 8, hanging out in my bedroom. Here's how the story goes. It's not a tall tale but take it, as you will.

I'm a lanky little girl with knobby over-sized knees and the clumsiness to match my awkwardness (think baby camel taking it's first steps.). PS: This has nothing to do with the story, but it makes for a funny mental picture? So, there I am a fresh Christian (as far as my mind could grasp) and I'm flipping through the channels on the TV.

I'll add some background info so it makes more sense why I'm doing what I'm doing in this story. To be frank, I was a weird kid. I had been cooking on the stove since I was six. During the summers (when this story takes place), I would occupy myself with the usual reading and games but I also just as often used my creative gene. I liked to draw, paint, and make stuffed animals by sewing with scrap fabric I had found. I turned dryer lint into paper mache. I actually got into trouble a lot for using "trash" (It was clean, people) as an invention. All these projects usually began when my A.D.D., distractible mind would get off task (of cleaning something) and find something obscure to have fun with-thus my existence as a child.

All this to say, I was supposed to be dusting my room or something of the sort when I happened across the TV in my effort for background noise. It was probably some Martha-Stewartish (judge me later, and keep reading) tutorial on how to sew something so I naturally got distracted and went to work immediately on my project completely forgetting

the one I'd left behind. While working (here the REAL story begins) I glance up at the TV as it goes to a commercial. It's one of those commercials about helping children in Africa. It instantly breaks my emotional, tender, 8 year old heart. I literally hear-not audibly but in my being "One day you'll go there. If you'll go, I'll send you." The following sixteen years I waver from closeness to God in distancing myself because of broken promises and pain from people. Through it all, through my varied intimacy with my heavenly Daddy...He didn't give up.

Here I am. Right here in eastern Africa-Kenya. Where not only Swahili and giraffes are free but where those orphaned children I cried over could be adults as I am. God has commanded for us to take care of the widows and orphans and I intend to do so. As I ride to our location for the month I remember this promise God made me. Here I am in the fruition of that promise. Every time I think I can get my arms around how great God is He stretches me and I learn that I'll never know the vastness of His greatness, but I do know that I love and trust Him.

Noisy Celebrities in Kenya?

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jambo! Bwana asifiwe! Peace! Praise the Lord!

As I am sitting here writing this blog, I am watching two small Kenyan boys jumping off of a two foot little bank onto the ground while I'm eating sugar cane right off the cane and like a true Kenyan. I am truly in awe of how slow-paced the society is in Africa. I have found myself enjoying the days which seem longer, savoring the times with the new family and friends, and seeking more worship times when we have them each night.

Everywhere we go, the locals come up to us and ask us questions. Just yesterday, I was riding on a Boda-Boda (a bike driver where I sit on the back in order to travel from one destination to the next) and people were calling out my name as I was riding down the road. It was crazy how EVERYONE knew our names. You feel like a celebrity... a Jesus-loving celebrity, haha. That's how they know us. And they are so thankful that we are here to spread the love that we have from God.

We have even started training for future races with the locals. We run only about 5 km right now around Malanga with a couple of Kenyans. Sometimes we get stopped to be asked questions or sometimes children and others will just start running with us.

I love it when I get to play with the kids. One of the kids we live with is named George Malanga. He is the pastor's son and is hilarious, smart, and is going to be an awesome warrior of the Lord. He is incredible. Here we are "hanging out."

Kenya so far has been amazing. DAILY, we go out into the various villages in groups of two from the team and two from the church, called Truth Celebration Center. We have been going to people's homes and praying for them if they have prayer requests and know Jesus. If they do not know Jesus, then we witness to them and talk to them about who we are and why God called us to this place. Some have been very open. Some have some extensive questions which God has provided EVERY answer, miraculously, and then they will either come to know Christ or they consider it and we go and talk more later. We have also been going to every school in the area and leading worship and speaking to the youth and children. The teachers have been blessed by that as well. Just for them to see a white person that loves Jesus is a big deal and gives them so much hope.

So, with all of this, we have been getting very spiritually drained here because we constantly are in move with God and what He is asking of us. I know that I for a fact have just wanted to rest but God has kept me going.

Some major things to keep in mind about this area is that there are many types of religions here. They all claim to be part of Christianity, but just like in America there are problems with this. Anyone can claim to be a Christian but that does not mean that they have Jesus in their heart.

I have realized over the past few years since becoming a believer in Christ that I do not like the term Christian anymore. Now, this does not mean that I do not believe in Jesus or that I am actually not a Christian by the world's definition... what it simply means is that I like to be called something other than a Christian lately. Please, do NOT take me wrong in this point. Many people take the term "Christian" and use it and abuse it for whatever they want to now. We see cults and people claiming to know Jesus, but they show no fruits or Kingdom in their hearts or life, NOR do they truly have Him in their hearts. 1 John makes claim over and over again that those chosen in Christ must show fruits; otherwise, like in Matthew, they are not a part of God's vine. We were grafted into Jesus. Jesus came to break man of all of that he is. What Christ has asked us for is a personal relationship with Him, NOT a practice that we can stand by and wait for people to notice. Christ brought grace, not works. He wants us to DO works for Him, but not for salvation. He fulfilled the Law. He won!!! Now, I can surely go more into that later but for now I will just say that I like to go by the term "Jesus-lover." I am in love with a Man-God names Jesus. He saved me. So, now it's my turn to give up my life and show that love back.

So, how does that apply to Africa? As my new Kenyan friend Jefte Mwinesi told me the other night, "Jesus brought salvation, satan brought religion." Here in Africa, religion is a big deal. You cannot find people who are not religious. In fact, it is best to try and find people who aren't religious. Normally, those are the true Christians. Those are the ones who worship Jesus and not the concept. Christianity is a religion by what the world says, but Jesus is not. Jesus is not a concept. He is God. He died for us. He lived as us. He chose, adopted, sealed us with the Holy Spirit, and called us Heirs from that point on. Jesus is life!

Please be in prayer for the people here in Malanga Village and adjoining villages and all of Africa for these things:

1) First and foremost, for the hearts of these people. The cults are getting bigger and satan knows what he's doing around these parts. he has used and abused his power with the older generations and is now reaping what they are sowing. They believe in works and self-proclamation in order to be saved. They hold to a physicality of being saved rather than a GRACE for being saved. It truly is a horrific sight because they claim to know who Jesus is but not know Him in their hearts yet... especially when we thought we were coming into a generally Jesus believing continent. There is evil everywhere, of course... but we never expected it to be this bad here with the hearts... moreso with the physical needs. Most of them care not about the physicals but more on the cult practices.

2) Here is the kicker that REALLY got me a few days ago. We were sitting and praying for a young man named Solomon and his mother when he asked us to pray for something that the Government was doing to their church. He said that his pastor received a letter saying that they MUST cease all worship and loud noises and even loud preaching in the church from this point on or else pay a fine each month or so. The government is trying to make the churches stop singing and worshiping because they are saying it is a noise problem and they want to control it. It's just another thing from the enemy. Satan was created to worship God and bring music to God. What is he doing now? Taking that same music away from God by using the Kenyan Government to stop the music and praise to our awesome God. So we are praying that God will use this to glorify Him and turn this around. The churches have to pay fines if they go beyond a certain kilometer of noise. We are praying that if they do not stop this, then God will provide the amount of money for the fees so that they can praise and preach as loud as they want to. satan is good at what he does because he was once an angel of the most High God. But now, he is dealing with the Saints of God and satan cannot afford that.

3) For our team to not get physically or spiritually drained. I find myself constantly getting drained and just needing to be rejuvenated by the Lord. That's when we normally all go our separate ways and just read and soak up the Lord in our spare times.

4) For the orphanage that is about to be built for all of the children that have been left out there without anyone. This area, in each school, we have asked and been answered that MORE THAN HALF of the children in these schools (about 100-200 in each school) are orphans and have HIV/AIDS. We are praying for all of these children and for their lives and for God to raise them up and use them for His glory.

5) Our church here, Truth Celebration Center, is creating a school for children until they get to primary schools and they are needing funds and help to get it started. Our team is trying to help with this and create a beginning for the church while YOU out there can help after we leave, along with other churches and many other missionaries.

So we ask all of YOU! All of the Saints of God to pray! Pray because the enemy cannot stop ALL of us praying against him to God.

Soli Deo Gloria! Glory to God alone!!!

Bwana Asifiwe!!!!! That is Swahili for PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Selah,

chad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROOKE & NATHAN!!!

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

SOOOO....

January 14 & 15 are some of the coolest days of the year. Why, you ask? Because our niece and nephew were born on those days!!! Brooke and Nathan!!! WOO HOOO!!!

So, here is to you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!! CAN'T WAIT TO BE HOME AND CELEBRATE THE NEXT ONE!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Jambo, Mzungus a Malanga Village, Kenya!

Fri, 8 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jambo! This means Greetings in Kenyan!

We apologize that we have been unable to post blogs for the past couple of months about where we have been and what we have been doing. Not only has the internet been very hard to get for us since we are in more remote locations, but we also have had very secure ministries that we cannot give away what we have been doing much of or where we are specifically. The past 2 countries, Israel and Turkey, have been more difficult to write about since we have been unable to give much information about the ministries.

Also, know that in Africa there is nearly NO internet where we are, so we have had to travel to the closest city with our contact in order to find a place where we can plug in our computers to the internet. So we are going to try and type blogs up back in the village and then put them up when we can. Thank you for understanding!

So, we are just writing quickly to tell everyone that we made it to Kenya. It took a 6 hour plane ride along with a 7 hour bus ride to get into our village called Malanga Village, which is located just beside Malava Forest and is in the Kakamega Rain Forest!!! It is hot but beautiful here!!!

We are living with Pastor Malanga and his family and working with their recent church plant called "Waluchite" or "Potters Hand" or also known as Truth Celebration Center. It has been INCREDIBLE so far!!

The best part? We are the VERY FIRST people outside of Malanga to be allowed to stay and live with these people. The very first people ever!! And the Lord opened their hearts to allow us in so that we may evangelize and talk openly about Jesus to them!!

Please pray for the hearts of the people and that God will do a great work while we are here and that His Kingdom will come.

Our work here involves us doing daily door-to-door evangelism, preaching God's word in the church, reaching youth, leading worship with the church and with the family each night, and getting the daily sunburn from all of the outside work we are doing.

God is good. We are also trying to learn the local languages which are Swahili and Luya (the old African language that only the old people speak), so please pray for that as well.

We love you all and we hope to blog again soon with pictures!

Love, chad and les

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

We are extremely sad that we could not be home this Christmas with everyone to celebrate and love and be with you all, sooooo our team put together this video. It was quick and painless. This is our gift to you since we are unable to be there to give you one.

AND... if you are STILL scratching your head as to what you want to give US for Christmas, then think no more! Supporting us financially and in prayer would be a blessing and allow us to continue this wonderful adventure with our Savior. Thank you for getting us this far!

May you all have a wonderfully blessed day and season and we pray to see you soon!

We head to Kenya, Africa next so please be in prayer for our teams and time there.

We love you all! Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight, and Happy New Year!!

All I want for Christmas is....

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here is a video that five of our squadmates have been working for since we left. They are hilarious and we can't love them enough, haha.

If you would like to look for us then know we are in the video toward the end. Chad jumps into the arms of the team, so look for that one, hehe.

Love you all!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

a normal day with an ox goad, part III

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

PART III

Here is the final bit. This is what we are living with and living for. I love wise words from ordinary people listening to God's call. We are striving to do the most we can for God's Kingdom which means using our talents for all that we are. We are to love those that need love. We are to hug those that need the hugs. We are to play patty-cake with the dirtiest of the kids in the group so that we show how much we care for them. We are to die for those that are meant dying for... which means daily. And that means living for these people to know God's love and for us to glorify God in all that we do.

We are not striving and living to kill 600 men, haha. Please do not mistake my words. Life in the Kingdom is very much a battle in itself and our fight is for God by using all that we are to do good and to love the way He first loved us and to be who He is.

This is an excerpt from Matt Peters from the January 2008 team Open Road...

"As we draw closer to God, the bigger the target we have on our backs. Satan is trying everything he can to hinder our morale, our attitudes, and even our motives to strive forward on this journey. I've personally been hit hard at times with illness and even a negative attitude toward things. I'm not perfect. I'm learning what seeking the Kingdom first is all about daily."

This is from Victoria Skyvalidas from the October 2008 team Banah (also my roomie from colleges team, Mark Schandel):

We are under attack, and our natural reaction is to employ a defense mechanism.

I often try to protect myself by pretending. It takes courage to be real.

.
It takes courage because being a Christian is not popular, but
I am not ashamed of the gospel
because it is the power of God
for the salvation for everyone who believes.
Romans 1:16
.
It takes courage to intentionally choose to surrender my own will for HIS, but
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galations 2:20
.
I know and have experienced God's love, so now I must act and serve others because
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love."
Galatians 5:6
.
I must direct others to the Truth of the grace of our Lord.
Let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

a normal day with an ox goad, part II

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

[PLEASE READ THIS PART AS WELL AS IF I AM JUMPING UP AND DOWN REJOICING IN GOD AND SO HAPPY THAT HE IS IN MY HEART. PLEASE DO NOT READ AS IF I AM GOING CRAZY, HAHA.]

PART II

Why can the demons of Istanbul not get me down?

(Remember what this blog is about now... God does not call the equipped but rather He equips the called.)

[CUE SHAMGAR]

Please turn with me to the book of Judges, Chapter 3, Verse 31.

"After him [Ehud- a crippled deliverer of Israel] was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel."

This is really the only verse in the entire Bible that talks about Shamgar. Other than this one is a mention in Judges 5:6 which only says, "in the days of Shamgar" which gives no other hint to the guy.

Is that all the credit he gets? I mean, come one. The guy saved Israel too! And what is an oxgoad?

So we are left to imagination control with this verse to be honest. We have no clue of the age of Shamgar or what he was like. We only know that he was the son of Anath and he saved Israel. You would think that if the guy saved Israel he would be given a little more credit. But God is doing something with this guy and this single verse.

Sometimes we come to a point in our lives where we just feel like we are not and just cannot make a difference where we are. We feel distraught because we feel useless. There has always been a part of me that has wanted to turn the world upside down. I want to be great and I want to do great things but satan has a way of taking me down and bringing who I am down with those dreams.

[Disclaimer - this idea of greatness and my introduction to Shamgar comes from a teaching I heard from Norris of Wayfarer Ministries back in 2008... I was inspired for that at that time and that is where we are now. So much credit goes to him and his inspiration and his wise words from God.]

All of the stories of greatness are highlighted in the Bible but then there was Shamgar. Shamgar, I am assuming, was just a normal guy with a normal life. Maybe a farmer? What else would you have done back then? Work at the Bank of Israel? Don't think so.

And what is an oxgoad?

An oxgoad is translated as a tool that was a learning instrument with farming. It was about 10 feet and had a spear-like metal pointer on one end and a metal rowing paddle-like handle on the other end. The sharp tip you poke the oxen to do their job and the handle end you use to clean the plow when it got dirty. (So, literally speaking from translation, Shamgar used the intrument to "teach" the Philistines a lesson. A pun if you will.)

So this is just an ordinary guy? I think this is normally where we come in and place ourselves in the ordinary person boat and think nothing of ourselves and start the apathy track.

Shamgar is a part of God's people at a very dangerous time (as seen in 5:6 because the roads were abandoned) when the Philistines and Israelites could not stand each other. Shamgar is a normal guy during a hard time with heavy enemies. Sounds familiar... a lot like all of us now. Normal people, hard times in the world, and satan and evil weigh down on us harder than we truly know with debts, wars, and poverty that is running the world. We know what it is like to live in a dangerous time. This is what happened to Shamgar. Just a normal guy.

The odds here are not that great. A farmer with 600 men coming at him and all he has is an oxgoad? A farmer versus 600 barbarians?

I am completely obsessed with knowing how Shamgar did what he did. I picture The Matrix scene where Neo just goes off on all of those guys and whips their tails. I believe that Shamgar went Old Testament on their butts! It's one of those things where you picture Braveheart moments or the movie 300 or something like those. You just get so encouraged. Did he pick them off one by one? Or did he slay them like 5 at a time?

Here's what we do know... a normal Joe took an oxgoad and said to God, "Lord, I give you my oxgoad, my only weapon... use me!"

Here is a HUGE MYTH that holds us back from believing these things = we could be greater than we are IF... we just had more talents, just had someone else's personality, was this tall, could sing like her, or if we had something that we really just wanted and thought we needed... THEN, yes THEN I could be great. This is crap. This is a myth from satan and he does a great job at pulling us down to want and think we need more than who we are in order to run this Kingdom here on Earth.

Shamgar took what he had, did the best he could with it, and look where it got him... 600 men slain.

It's weird how God does this. Takes just normal guys and gals and makes them use what they have and slay the Goliaths of their day.

What if we just woke up one morning and told God, "Okay, God, here I am. Here's what I have. I ONLY have an oxgoad but I'm going to try to change the world with an oxgoad." I don't know if there's anything more disgusting than to waste my life by doing nothing with what God's given me. I'm never going to have everything worked out or understood. I will always be fighting my internal battles and my self image until the day I die... BUT the longer I sit around and waste myself until the day I die and not do anything for God with the gifts He has given me, then that my friends is sin.

Everyone of us has been given something. I guarantee that you've been given something.

AND I AM JUST NOW REALIZING THAT THIS IS A PRIVILEGE AND NOT A SACRIFICE!!!!!! I have sacrificed NOTHING for this trip or this life. I have sacrificed no life back home. Why? Because Jesus sacrificed EVERYTHING ALREADY for me.

THIS TRIP AND THIS LIFE IS A PRIVILEGE, NO matter HOW hard it is to live here and dwell with situations that are way less than normal. If I am here praising MY Abba, using MY Abba-given gifts, and bring MY Kingdom then this is nothing more than a privilege. No sacrifice involved.

The key to being great in this world and realizing how to defeat the enemy is NOT searching and yearning for the things that we do not have, it is asking God for the supernatural gifts and wisdom to open our eyes to what He has given us and then start swinging that oxgoad, and go out and use and abuse those gifts for the Kingdom of God.

Sometimes with these tools, just like Shamgar, we will have to sit around and tap the oxen or clean the plow. But until we start using the tools that God gave us, we will never know what we can amount to in this world. Greatness is not by wanting more of ourselves, it is by using what we have and who we are for what problems are in the world right now.

It is stories, or verses, like this one of Shamgar that inspires me to go run 5 miles then come back panting and ready to wake up the next day and run into hell with a water pistol. If that is all I have, then by all means to hell I will go!

We cannot let the enemy win our everyday personal battles and minor things. God has already won the big picture.

Have you ever noticed about people who step out in faith that their lives are filled with some awesome things? The more we step out on faith, then the more "coincidences" we will see. It is when we say to God that we want to swing our oxgoads and see what we can take out next that God begins to dance around us and steps out there with us and off we go.

(And I am not talking just about the people who can speak or can play the guitar. Life is not just about preachers and teachers and worship leaders. We all have something that God has groomed inside of us.)

God LOVES to see people take great risks in order to do great things for Him with their lives.

So, go step out there and leave the enemy behind and take a risk with your oxgoad for the Kingdom of God. Stay stagnant no longer. We are to strive for greatness by fighting the evil by doing the good.

[Again, thank you Norris! You probably won't read this but if you do then know I love you and your inspiration lives on in the Engagers.]

(Here is an oil painting of Shamgar with his 10 foot ox goad and some slain Philistines around him. It may not be a perfect depiction but I truly do love this picture. It encourages me quite a bit.)

a normal day with an ox goad, part I

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

[PLEASE READ AS IF I AM JUMPING UP AND DOWN REJOICING IN GOD AND SO HAPPY THAT HE IS IN MY HEART. PLEASE DO NOT READ AS IF I AM GOING CRAZY, HAHA.]

Part I

I'm not really sure how to tell people this but... I'm not everything I'm cracked up to be. I'm actually a little less than I'm probably portraying myself most of the time. But to tell you the truth... I'm glad for that. Yes, it seems weird that someone like me, a child of the Most High God who has been given everything in heaven and earth and an inheritance to live up to, would say that I'm little to nothing and glad for it.

Truly weird.

While I'm typing this I have to confess that I'm also reading an email from one of my greatest of friends, Matthew Sotelo. This guy has been of greatest inspiration to me over the past year and a half as I've known him. He is the most humble guy you will ever meet and one of the most convicting as well. We have been conversing as much as possible over the time we've been gone on the Race and he's been updating me on college plans (CIU next fall, baby!!), girls (or should I just say one really cool one from how I'm hearing it... hope she's not reading), God (that He is above all and continuing to lead more graciously than ever), and himself and how he's grown so much. One major thing about his growth is that he is truly becoming more of a man than most I've seen. He has told me that he is striving to become one but Sotelo I'm here to tell you that you are one and you know more about manhood than most dads these days.

No matter what has brought Sotelo (as I affectionately call him) down, he still sees God in all of it. He recently had some crazy health things go down on the way back from a Columbia International University weekend "get to know the college" type thing but did it get him down? Normally, for most people yes. For Sotelo? Nope! In this process of healing, God taught him humility and patience about life and to rest IN the God that gives peace and blessings and knows all. It has taken me years sometimes to figure these minor little things out.

I love you, Sotelo!!! "You my boy, blue!" Keep pressing in and I'll be home soon enough to take another frisbee golf round to chat about life and our Jesus.

What does this all mean right now for my and Leslie's life on the Race? Well... God has been teaching me, in particular, about community and what it means to have a role in the body of Christ.

Why does this even matter? Because many of us out there have many similar roles as well as gifts and even personalities... all in the same. This can be hard if there is a team of 6 people and 4 of the 6, if not 5, are close to the same and have nearly the same giftings and roles in our community. This creates division. It truly sucks if you do not get along with family much less even want to get along after a few issues.

So where does that leave us?

Trial # 3 - The Shamgar Effect

Before she left to venture out onto the Race this past August, one of my fellow racers named Halley Power wrote this:

"It's hard to believe I'm actually embarking on an adventure as big as the World Race. 11 countries in 11 months?! I still haven't been able to wrap my mind around the vastness of what this next year will entail. I've been called crazy for doing this, and there are some days that I believe it. However, it seems like God really enjoys using ordinary people with radical ideas of changing the world to be His hands and feet. My goal isn't to win a Nobel Peace Prize. It's not to be interviewed by Oprah when I return. My goal is to bring hope...to offer a smile...to share Christ with a spirit of love and equality, rather than pity. For me, changing just one life IS changing the world, and I'm crazy enough to believe we can do it."

When I read this, I knew that there would be a blog or two coming out of this one.

I canNOT save the world. Shocking? I know. That is hard for me to think about because from the moment that I became a regenerate soul and was adopted into the family of God, all I could think about was being a vessel used by God to save others and mold others, especially my friends and family.

This is also hard for me because one of my greatest heroes other than my biological father is none other than Clark "Kal-El" Kent, a.k.a. Superman.

I have always dreamed of being this strong, courageous, flying wonder-dude in spandex. I love all of the powers and responsibility he carries on his shoulders BUT I could do without the spandex and costume. Maybe some jeans, a pair of blue euro-Nike-futsol shoes, nice bright royal blue shirt, and a black leather jacket with a band-collar is more like it. I would fly all over the place at record speeds each time trying to beat the other time previous to it. And of course, I already have my Lois Lane (a.k.a. Leslie Jowers) AND my super villain (the one and only satan and his demons) AND my very own Jor-El who is not only my counselor, judge, and aid but also my dad (my Abba daddy known as God).

Apparently, I have thought of all of this a lot? Nah. Just on my times off and days that end in "y".

"So again, Chad, where are you going with this?" I'm not Superman. Nor do I have comic book superpowers.

I DO however have the one and only God that rescued me AND this same God has given me gifts for which I am to abuse heavily for the Kingdom of God.

When I read what Halley had written a while back, I realized that it takes the crazy ones who are sold-out to Abba (this is the term for "daddy" which is what Jesus called God the Father and what we are to call Him) who have nothing left on this earth but their gifts from God. Abba uses ordinary people. He does NOT call the equipped but rather He equips the called. Changing just ONE life is what I'm out here to do. Changing just ONE heart for Abba is what I long for.

Again I will say that I am tired of the life of a believer being portrayed as a low-risk, uninvolved, stuck-up Christian who is sold-out for himself/herself. Why is this the picture many people get? Because we have let them get this way. We have let ourselves get this way.

I am in Istanbul, Turkey right now where we have no heat in extremely cold weather, no hot water for showers or food, our ministry is walking 100 hours a day, we get $1.25-ish per meal (6 Turkish Liraya a day per person...NOT kidding!) to live on, and 5 out of the 6 of us have had diarrhea and vomiting for the past 5 days. This is the life of a World Racer.

Why is it not affecting me that badly though? Why am I not down in the dumps though? Why is it that life should suck to hell, yet I am rejoicing and singing like crazy to some worship music?? Am I really just that crazy???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Please stay tuned for the second part of this blog...

When DO the Saints go marching in?

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just re-sending this out...

Ok, so we haven't blogged about this in a while BUT it is that time. We need to get in ALL of the rest of our money in the next few weeks.

This is extremely difficult in our eyes seeing that we have no way to be at home support raising and we have no jobs of course. SOOO, it is up to you! Support us!! or Spread the word!! Go to the support page and click that you want to support us with whatever amount you can give.

I have come to the point now that I understand that asking for money for these type of things should not be hated. I am under the impression now that people want to invest in God's Kingdom.

So, it is now time to invest. We are in need of $12,000.00 in the next couple of weeks. Please support us!

Don't just sit there!!! DO something about it!

We love you all and thank you for your prayers and blessings.

chad and les

Lost? and 50 First Dates

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"We miss cereal. We often miss what normal life used to consist of for us...bath towels, cute shoes, normal-sized pillows, Starbucks, being able to go somewhere alone, laundry facilities (especially dryers!), having a place that feels like home, Internet access at any given place and time, snacks in the pantry, the ability to call someone when you are supposed to meet them and you can't find them, libraries, Halloween decorations, hot showers (or even just showers), football Sundays, clothes, coffee pots, ice cubes, running errands, choosing what you want to eat, clean water, hair cuts...again, I could go on (and, obviously, we so dearly miss our friends and family).

We are living in the constant contradiction of missing something, but also wanting more out of life.

And who knows, maybe this this how it will always be.

I suppose this is what we signed up for when we joined the World Race. Even more so, I suppose this is what we signed up for when we decided to follow Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ is forever asking us to give up our idea of what life should be like. He tells us to leave our tunics (or, in my case, my super cute green colored pea coat), and follow him to the ends of the Earth."

This was taken from Hope Mendola's blog not long ago. Leslie and I are having the pleasure of doing ministry with her team and I loved seeing this posted in the kitchen area in the place where we were blessed to stay.

Being back in Israel, I've realized a few things. 1) I absolutely love this place. I've always pictured myself living here one day. Not sure how that would all work out but God knows what He's doing. 2) This place was picked perfectly by God. This area is so in need of everything. When I was here last, I was not able to witness an Israel rain. Right when we got here with the Race, it began to rain. I wasn't thrilled about that but when the Israeli people were ecstatic about it I realized how much this land needed. There are also war threats constantly between Israel and surrounding countries. At any given moment, it would seem that one of them could wipe Israel out with a few bombs. Seems like there was always a stronger force involved in the history of Israel and current status. Seems like there is a force that has a hand over this place because they've never lost their land. They actually gained land not too long ago. Incredible. This land has always needed God... not in the witnessing way only though. Israel has always needed God's hand for rain, food, protection, and love. This place is blessed. 3) Here is the big one... I'm losing who I am here. No, it is not because of the land. It is not because of the people. It is not because of myself even. It is because God is wanting me to realize and do something new with who I am... or come back to who I was.

Not long ago, I began writing in my journal some things with which I have been frustrated. I have had sudden urges to hate myself because I have felt so out of place for so long. I have not felt like I can speak/teach anymore. I have not felt like I have been able to disciple younger or even equals in my generation. I have not felt like I have been a good husband. I have not felt even heard by God that much. This list actually goes on forever if you let me. I have just felt useless.

"This doesn't sound like Chad... what's going on here?" I know, I know. I am normally the one who gets people going and jump starts a supernatural reality. This is weird to hear but do know that God is doing something.

I remember waking up in college, reading a Psalm and then something of Paul's writings, eating breakfast, going to class so excited to learn something new about God's Word, and soaking in all that God would pour on me. I remember laughing with friends about stupid things and feeling God's presence overwhelming me with plain good ol' boy love. I remember kissing Leslie and having an abundance of God's compassion flow through her and into my heart about where we are to go and what we are to do and who we are to love... all knowing that we had to love... just love. I remember the passion. Where did this passion go?

If there was one thing that I had always felt so strongly about with my faith in Christ, it was that even though my passion for things in life in the past have dwindled down due to them being one time things, I still could never lose my passion for God and for Kingdom. I have not lost that passion yet but... where did it go? Who am I right now? What am I doing? Why is it that I cannot just turn back on the right feeling path?

Recently, another of these feelings crept in while we were transitioning in Istanbul, Turkey. For a time in Montenegro, I had felt God telling me several things about teams and people and ministries and who I am in Him. One thing about it all was when we got to Istanbul for our debrief, I had felt God telling me that our team was going to change and that He was going to take me and Leslie down a different path with new friends. I felt like God was preparing me with a peace that new things were to come, new people were to come, new places were to come, and a new passion was to come. When it came time to announce team change-ups, we sat there awaiting our new team and when it was announced I sat there for a second wondering what had gone wrong. Our team remained exactly the same. My immediate reaction was anger. I had felt a peace from God. I had received words from God. I had even seen visions from God about things to come. And now, with me not feeling like I was in God's will with the same team, I was going to go into the place I love the most with no revelation for them because something came between me and God.

I felt lied to. Had God lied to me? Had others lied in leadership by not listening to what God was saying? Had I even heard right from God? If I were not hearing rightly from God, then I guess I am continuing to lose who I am? So many questions ran through my head. So much inner turmoil began to eat at my relationship with God and others.

Now, I am NOT saying that God lies. He can't. NOR am I saying that leadership lied. Do not twist my words (like some have already). I am JUST stating how I have felt for the past several weeks and what I have been dealing with. I distanced myself from God and people. I felt the most out of place that I have ever felt in my life. And the answers that were given to me were nonetheless useless in my mind for seeming to be out of context and place for the time. For once, I had felt an absence from God. How could people do this to me? How could God do this to me? What was He wanting me to see? Where was He taking me? What was going on?

[END SCENE]

I was sitting in a small area in another teams place of dwelling typing this blog up before it will be posted days later, and I came across a journal entry from a girl named Audrey Assad who is a great singer/songwriter in Tennessee right now.

Here it goes:
"Dont you see Me watching you?" He asks, His laughter thinly veiled. I feel simultaneous terror, exhilaration, and amused. He is funny...and watchful. Something He once told me is ringing in my ears..."I've known you forever." Suddenly I feel so seen. He is a witness to my entire life, from the knitting of my bones to my tiniest discontentment, my most secret joy. How strange and beautiful to be seen, to be watched, to be witnessed.

I am more naked than I understand. Even my skin doesn't come between my God and me, nor does the rib cage around my heart. No. He is, I am, and we are. I am a pulsing vein, and He is lifegiving, oxygen-supplying Blood. I breathe the air of heaven in His whispers.

And everywhere I look He winks at me.

He is always with me. He wants me. He is my lover.

Every time I read this entry, I am filled with such "first date" attraction. I remember going on first dates when I was younger and feeling such a mystery wanting to be unveiled during the dates. I remember the first dates with Leslie as well where we were eagerly opening the Christmas gifts of our hearts to each other. That feeling is something to cherish and something that I can never let go.

This same feeling I have had for YEARS with God especially. I had felt so often that God would give me a new present in life and I was try to open it so quickly but He would slow me down and ask me to cherish the gift or time with Him. It was like having the movie 50 First Dates over and over again with God. He was always there. He always had something new. And He always knew what to do with me. Over and over again I would feel the attraction He has always had with me. I would feel the attraction I had felt with Him on our first "date" back at the beach in high school when He saved my soul.

This feeling went away in Turkey for a short time. Why? I have never lost the feeling before. What does that mean?

Yes, I am venting and just blabbing right now but this is often great for the soul and even greater for the lesson.

I miss so much about my past. I miss so much of the passion that I had. And now I am out traveling the world looking for opportunities to bring His Kingdom. Why is it that I'm not feeling that passion out here? I am in the depths of God's plans, I have seen spiritual warfare firsthand out here with demons and angels, I have seen people accept Christ, I have seen baptisms, I have seen healings more than I would have at home, and yet I feel so out of place with God.

What's the answer?

He still loves me. He still desires me. He still wants more first dates. And He still wants more of me.

There is a new song by Flyleaf called "Treasure" which is so beautiful about finding out who we are in God's eyes. We are His treasure. And He is ours. I wouldn't claim it to be the best song to live by in this setting BUT I was listening to it while writing this blog. And it spoke to me.

Please pray for me with my seeking for those first date feelings again with my Lover of all lovers. He's so good to me yet I take for granted every moment that He wants my eyes opened to. I trust my God. I love my God. So it's time that I feel and see my God again.

Thank you to those who actually read all of this.

chad

Faces of Niksic

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here is our ministry time we had in Niksick (pronounced NICK-SH-ITCH) with the family and kids and building a roof with the guys that we are not sure will truly hold up, haha.

Enjoy!

Faces of Romania

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This may be late (typical) but, I just had some time to reflect...

And this video (Sorry for another video, keep in mind this is the first video the female side has posted so, be kind haha) is the best representation I could make of the people of Romania---kind, gracious, genuinely happy, full of joy, and smiles. I hope that it gives you the teensiest of a glimpse into the wonderful people there.

"Facebook Friends"

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What you are about to see if something so stupid that words cannot describe it. The story behind the music video is one that will live forever. Please sit back and watch what happens when one of the Unwritten guys is made fun of for asking a girl to be friends with him on Facebook. Ok ok ok, so this is what happens when the Unwritten guys get bored and start playing around...

Enjoy!

(PS - mom, thanks for paying for all of those music lessons!! they really paid off!!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, mom & pop jow!

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! to you mom and dad!! Hope that you two have great birthdays!!!

Dad's birthday - Oct. 1

Mom's birthday - Oct. 6

So, everyone leave a comment and tell them Happy Birthday!!!!! They are both only 39 years old (with exaggeration added).

WOO HOO!!

cribs - Montenegro #2

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Aight everybody... here is the second place we are staying in the good ol' Monty! We have also discussed moving one more time to explore more contacts. So there might be a #3!!!

Here it is...