Karibu, everyone! Today (June 28, 2012) marks the one week since our return from Africa! The experiences and encounters of the trip have left me anxious to just spill it all out; however (though I’d love to tell every individual person every single detail) I’ve decided to talk to groupings of people instead. I miss Africa with my entire heart, but it’s great to be back home in Waverly, Iowa! However this blog post is [what I'm planning to be] my final one.

When Hannah and I flew in to Chicago, both my heart and mind were confronted with a lie: God is working much less here in America. At first, the only case built behind it was that Africa had blown my mind as to how many people each day were being healed, being rescued, and coming to know Jesus Christ as their King, Lord, God, Redeemer, and Savior. When I would only hear or read about it, I was able to grasp only so much, but [when I was there in the heart of it] it became a complete reality. And the lie was manifesting on the thought, “Jake, you’ve seen God’s work more in Africa than in America.” Ultimately, right then and there I felt the Holy Spirit rebuke the lie, reminding me of one simple truth: Jesus opens blind eyes to see. We see it in Scripture where this man is ecstatic and giving his testimony because after living his entire life being born blind, Jesus changed his life forever!

“But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”                        John 9:25b

Here in the States we have so much wealth (so much wealth that it is not only appealing but heavily distracting). Our culture is so materialist in such a way where we believe that, “The material universe rules over any and all things.” It’s already gotten so bad that some even believe that God is a myth [and in many other cases dead], and it’s not hard to slide into that mindset when we’re bombarded with the physical every moment of our lives.

Before I concluded on embarking on a trip to Africa, I had four very profound dreams; one of which I am about to share. There were two people: a wealthy and successful businessman and a poor, clothing-torn, African boy. The man was very dressed up, wearing a blazing [and very tasteful] red tie, holding a briefcase. The punch was there wasn’t even the slightest hint of emotion on this guy’s face; it was almost like he was stuck in depression. However, the boy (despite having every reason to be depressed, every reason to hate life, every reason to live with a heart full of sadness) was smiling, almost exploding with happiness. The boy then started running in the direction of the cross, bursting with joy.

To conclude in one final culmination, God is able! He is just as active here in cities of America as He is in the slums of Kenya! He is not dead or injured, for He is alive and well. His Kingdom is never stagnant nor retreating – it is always advancing. Jesus is the ruling and reigning King of all eternity! He loves each and every one of us because He is our heavenly Father, and [as Scripture reveals] nothing can separate us from His love! May Jesus reveal more and more of His glory to you as each day progresses!

Blessings,

Jake

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.                                                                                              Romans 8:38-39

It’s been a while since anything has been posted by me, and Hannah hasn’t been able to either; Nyanza isn’t known for Wi-Fi… at all. Right now, I’m sitting at my desk (laughter, chuckles, kicks and giggles) at the CMA compound in Nairobi while [I hope] Hannah is on her way back from filming in Nyanza. Now if you’re slightly skeptical on why Hannah and I aren’t just centimeters away from each other at the moment, I’ll gladly explain. While Hannah and I were in Nyanza, I was getting really worn out from all that had been going on: 8 hour drive, hotter than normal temperature, carrying equipment uphill, and (last but not least) dehydration. On Friday, during the filming of Christian Mission Aid’s “Goat Project”, I was feeling like a three-legged pack mule in the desert: exhausted. Not only was I fatigued, my forehead felt like a stove gradually heating up for a meal. I didn’t want to admit that I was feeling terrible. I mean, come on; I’M A MAN! Long story-short, I caught a flu bug. I slept, watched Chuck , took medication, ate little food, threw up, and slept some more… and threw up some more. In the morning, I was blessed to hear that Tabitha was also in Nyanza and offered to take me back to Nairobi; so here I am in Nairobi, feeling healthy!

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.     Matthew 11:28

Though from face value it seems like “pulling a Hannah” (ask her what it means; I’ll let her extrapolate), this occurrence also similarly mirrors the first steps of my walk Jesus Christ. I was sick with a disease called sin, and most of the time I was in denial, thinking, “Pssh! Come on; I’m tough! I can handle it! I can live with it! It’s not that big of a deal,” when I wasn’t really getting any better. Don’t we feel like that sometimes? We know there’s a cure, a doctor, and prescription ready to fix us up, but we stretch out our right hand and say, “No! I don’t want to!”‘ The next thing we know, we’re waking up in a sick-bed with a cast on our entire right arm, wondering, “How did I end up here?” Then we look in the opposite direction (notice how I didn’t say run) that we’ve been running, and there’s Jesus! He’s not standing there in scrubs, clipboard in hand, but He’s right next to us in all of His glory, honor, and power ready to heal us, ready to change and transform us. He’s waiting, and we just need to say, “Yes,” to Jesus, allow Him to make us new again, get out of bed, and walk with Him.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!                                                                                                         2 Corinthians 5:17