Ha, so the past couple days I haven't written anything because it's been really busy. We drove from Tegucigalpa to Choluteca, a city that's about 2 hours away. The road to Choluteca reminds me of the road to Canyon Lake in AZ. Yeah, except for imagine this..... Those windy roads on hills, in a bus, with a driver on crack, power sliding around the corners, and passing people up on the blind turns. Scariest thing EVER!!! And I don't get scared easily. These people are the craziest drivers I have ever seen! But it makes it so fun haha. I was expecting Choluteca to be a dirtier, less developed city, only to find that it is cleaner and at about the same level as Tegucigalpa. The clinics have been great here so far. Very organized, we're in an air conditioned room, nothing to complain about. I have to admit that today I didn't really feel like doing my job all day, but I'm seeing it in everyone at this point. We just always have to remember that it's not about us, it's about showing Him through our work with the people. Oh! Today, I was on the case of the 1st seargent of Choluteca, who is a member of the Church of God 7th day here, by the way. He's a cool guy, lots of interesting stories, and generally a cool guy. He's gonna have a bunch of his guys patrol the area we're gonna be in when we wrap up the mission at a soccer stadium on Saturday.
Oh, another interesting thing. The local news channels showed up today and interviewed a bunch of us and did a whole piece on the mission on the evening news, and yes, yours truly was on Honduran television!!! hahaha
One patient today really got to me. A 19 year old guy, came in and looked really lethargic the whole time. When we asked about his symptoms he would give short yes and no answers and wouldn't look up at us. He showed signs of depression and of defensiveness (hand close to his waist, etc). So I finally asked him what was wrong. I knew something was wrong. So he began to cry and opened up a bit about his situation at home. without going into much detail, I can tell you that his situation at home is not at all good. The kid is very depressed and lives a miserable situation, and his situation just really touched me. I felt so much for him because that could be ME. A 19 year old guy, and at such a young age to live so sad, with no enthusiasm, no responsiveness, is so... I don't even know the word. It just made me put myself in his situation. He has no future because he works constantly, and his life is a mess. It puts things into perspective and let me realize that I am so overwhelmingly blessed to be where I am. That even when life seems hard to deal with at home, it's nothing compared to the lives of others like me. Remember that people, that we are fortunate and need to thank God for what we have, the family we have, and everything that He's given us.
Well I gotta do some homework now, but see ya guys soon! I'll be home on Monday!
-Jake
well,
16 April 2009
12 April 2009
Easter Sunday!
haha, yeah right, Easter sunday pshhhhh
So today was the first day of the actual medical work on the mission site. We began at the central church and were met with a line 300 people long. They say the first day is always the toughest, but I'm pretty sure the worst is yet to come. ay ay ay!!! Again the ladies from the church fed us lunch and dinner, after which the team had a vision meeting during which lots of ideas came up concerning expanding the team and it's objectives. One of the things they finally realized is essential, is YOUTH! That's right, we need everyone and anyone that can support in any way possible to start signing up. Things to come: international logo design competition, blogs, new website, new mission site plans (Europe, here we come!), and lots more!
But I want to go back to the medical work we did. First thing that comes to mind is when Dr. Espino busted out his plastic surgery moves and removed like 20 skin tags (verrugas for all my mexicans out there, I didn't know that's what they're called in English, who decided to call them skin tags? weird) and the guy was bleeding all over the place. His translator was helping him hold gauzes over the wounds and when I walked in he had a face of disgust/hopelessness that was absolutely priceless. hahaha. A lady walked in with varicose veins that paralleled the Rocky Mountains. Oh and there was a kid that looked like he's 7 but was actually 12. I guess he doesn't like eating (Pablo, calm down, we don't all like the same things).
During lunch, we were sitting there after eating just kind of relaxing before four more hours of non stop work, when all of a sudden I hear some music coming from the second story of the church. I recognized the song, "Cuan Grande es El,"/"How Great Thou Art," but it seemed like the girl singing it was yelling the song more than singing it. So, curious Jacob, goes up to see what it is, only to find one of the greatest things he has ever heard. Ok, back to first person. I go up there, and I walk in to a group of about 20 people, ages 7ish to... the oldest guy must have been 30, singing that song in the most beautiful arrangement EVER. Seriously, I'm not a lenient music critic, and WOW that's all I can say. These kids LOVE doing this, they get together, and find their voice's place in a song and they sing their hearts out. I wish I had video to show of it. I'm gonna try to steal some from Athena ( the main camera lady with the mission). I had chills the entire time I was there. I kept thinking how amazingly cool it was that all of the kids/youth/young adults there want to sing. ALL of them, I mean, I heard some of them sing on their own, and well, not so great. But they are all so willing to put in what they have, that together, arranged how they do, they make beautiful music that just penetrates so deep that it's crazy. Incredibly moving to see kids in places less fortunate than my own get together and work so hard to make something so beautiful. I mean, they sounded professional. If I had the money I would sign them to a deal right now, start their tour and stuff. Yeah, good stuff. I really hope to get the video. They're supposed to be performing with an orchestra from the church on Saturday when all the churches in the area are gonna be getting together to wrap up the mission in a football (football, not soccer) stadium. Expected crowd: 2000. haha, sooo cool
Oh, one of the guys I met at the church yesterday, he came in to see a doctor today. His left eye is constantly, I mean constantly tearing and is swollen. Ever since he was a kid it's been happening. No pain, no irritation. Turns out he has a blocked tear duct (I still don't get how a blocked duct would produce MORE tears, but whatever I guess they know), and needs surgery. Every year they compile a list of the worst/interesting cases that we could potentially finance for long term treatment or surgery. He was put into the list and hopefully he can get helped.
Well I'm done for today
Have fun
-Jake
So today was the first day of the actual medical work on the mission site. We began at the central church and were met with a line 300 people long. They say the first day is always the toughest, but I'm pretty sure the worst is yet to come. ay ay ay!!! Again the ladies from the church fed us lunch and dinner, after which the team had a vision meeting during which lots of ideas came up concerning expanding the team and it's objectives. One of the things they finally realized is essential, is YOUTH! That's right, we need everyone and anyone that can support in any way possible to start signing up. Things to come: international logo design competition, blogs, new website, new mission site plans (Europe, here we come!), and lots more!
But I want to go back to the medical work we did. First thing that comes to mind is when Dr. Espino busted out his plastic surgery moves and removed like 20 skin tags (verrugas for all my mexicans out there, I didn't know that's what they're called in English, who decided to call them skin tags? weird) and the guy was bleeding all over the place. His translator was helping him hold gauzes over the wounds and when I walked in he had a face of disgust/hopelessness that was absolutely priceless. hahaha. A lady walked in with varicose veins that paralleled the Rocky Mountains. Oh and there was a kid that looked like he's 7 but was actually 12. I guess he doesn't like eating (Pablo, calm down, we don't all like the same things).
During lunch, we were sitting there after eating just kind of relaxing before four more hours of non stop work, when all of a sudden I hear some music coming from the second story of the church. I recognized the song, "Cuan Grande es El,"/"How Great Thou Art," but it seemed like the girl singing it was yelling the song more than singing it. So, curious Jacob, goes up to see what it is, only to find one of the greatest things he has ever heard. Ok, back to first person. I go up there, and I walk in to a group of about 20 people, ages 7ish to... the oldest guy must have been 30, singing that song in the most beautiful arrangement EVER. Seriously, I'm not a lenient music critic, and WOW that's all I can say. These kids LOVE doing this, they get together, and find their voice's place in a song and they sing their hearts out. I wish I had video to show of it. I'm gonna try to steal some from Athena ( the main camera lady with the mission). I had chills the entire time I was there. I kept thinking how amazingly cool it was that all of the kids/youth/young adults there want to sing. ALL of them, I mean, I heard some of them sing on their own, and well, not so great. But they are all so willing to put in what they have, that together, arranged how they do, they make beautiful music that just penetrates so deep that it's crazy. Incredibly moving to see kids in places less fortunate than my own get together and work so hard to make something so beautiful. I mean, they sounded professional. If I had the money I would sign them to a deal right now, start their tour and stuff. Yeah, good stuff. I really hope to get the video. They're supposed to be performing with an orchestra from the church on Saturday when all the churches in the area are gonna be getting together to wrap up the mission in a football (football, not soccer) stadium. Expected crowd: 2000. haha, sooo cool
Oh, one of the guys I met at the church yesterday, he came in to see a doctor today. His left eye is constantly, I mean constantly tearing and is swollen. Ever since he was a kid it's been happening. No pain, no irritation. Turns out he has a blocked tear duct (I still don't get how a blocked duct would produce MORE tears, but whatever I guess they know), and needs surgery. Every year they compile a list of the worst/interesting cases that we could potentially finance for long term treatment or surgery. He was put into the list and hopefully he can get helped.
Well I'm done for today
Have fun
-Jake
11 April 2009
Honduras........ yes, it's gonna be a series
HEY People!!! :)
So obviously some of you know I'm in Honduras right now, on a medical mission by the Church of God 7th Day. It's an amazing campaign that takes doctors, dentists, nurses, and lots of support staff from churches in the US, México, Nicaragua, to mission sites every year. Last year was Nicaragua, year before that it was Guatemala, and then the ones before that are too ancient for my knowledge. But the point is, it's an amazing work of organization that hopes to fulfill our God-given purpose using the skills He gave us. Remember, what we have is not ours to begin with! Isn't that a cool concept? So share it when you can!
So here we go....... STORY TIME!!!!!! hahahaha you're all mine for 5 minutes........ or however long it takes for you to read
So on the way over here, the first flight (PHX to Atlanta) was in a tiny airplane that didn't even have a first class. So I'm sitting next to a guy that was a bit heftier (is that a word?) than me and goodness..... not comfortable. It's like...... let's see......... Battle of the Bulge(s)
but whatever i got over it, watched Slumdog Millionaire and made it to Atlanta in one piece, which was great. 1st leg of the trip down. awesome! right?
Yeah except for the no sleeping part. Thursday night into Friday, I had forgotten to make a presentation for my Ritual, Symbol, and Myth class. So I didn't go to sleep until around 4 am. Got up at 10 on Friday. Spent the day writing an essay, then prepping some stuff, then class then go to the airport, then flight blah blah blah, so by the time I went to sleep on Friday night at the hotel I had been up for 25 hours. So POINT OF THE STORY.... I was tired and traveling just kind of drains you
But anyways....
Atlanta to Tegucigalpa flight was pretty good. I got the emergency seat because it has extra leg room, but then I kind of regretted it because they informed us that the emergency doors on those airplanes had been malfunctioning to where when people would open them they would fly off/eject so fast that the people would go flying with it into a fiery pit, or get their arms ripped off. hahaha. I was like "What? They're seriously saying that?" But it's ok, I know God works his stuff and keeps me.
OH! Freaky thing, I've never seen an airplane FROM an airplane. But I did and it was kind of scary because you realize just how fast you're going. When you are 39,938 feet in the air, and you're looking down it looks like you're moving slow, or at least not that fast. Ok so there was an airplane that i saw in the distance, like FAR out in the horizon, within 3 seconds (no exaggeration) it was past us. It seemed like a video game it just ZOOMED past us and very close, I'm not sure if it was supposed to be that close but it was. It was crazy to realize how fast we're going, it was averaging 600 miles/hour (sorry alex I think the plane beats the Evo).
Friday night, we had dinner at a local church, the one they call "La Central," because it's centrally located haha. I wish I could upload pictures to accompany all of this but they're so big that it would take forever. As soon as i figure something out for resizing them and posting them I'll get them in here. But yeah, the dinner was great! I actually don't remember what it was we ate, but I remeber it was good, and that it involved beans, and platanos machos!!!! haha love those things, and combined, YUMMY i know it sounds weird but it's excellent
Flash forward to Saturday morning (which is today in the morning). I didn't get up on time, so I missed breakfast. Oh well, not too bad, I heard they had omlettes or something like that. I can get those at home haha. After breakfast, half of us were sent to one church and half to another. I was sent to one they call "Las Brisas." SOOO NOT breezy AT ALL. Hot and moist. But we survived. First thing I noticed walking in was the guys on one side and the women on the other. Retarded, but that's another subject. They still have those old guatemalan style hymnals and sing out of them of course, so the first hour that I was there. it was constant flashbacks of church when I was younger. The sermon was great though! A pastor/doctor from Acapulco, whose name I still don't know talked about RECOGNIZING when God calls us and that once we recognize we must have an attitude change and great stuff about taking leadership and understanding when God is calling us. He linked it to the story of Elijah throwing his mantle on Elishah and Elishah taking charge (ask me if you want to know more about how he linked it, great stuff).
The church has around 30 youth peoples. They're a cool bunch, really open and inviting, and I found that they have much of the same struggles, issues, hopes, dreams, and musical tastes that I do/we do in the US. I had a great time getting to know them, and their weird words. Haha, i.e. cool = MACIZO hahaha in reference to a cool idea "esta macizo." wow lol, but it's cool how they have their own things. Our bus took forever to pick us up from that church to go eat, but it was ok because it gave me time to get to know the people. OH! One of the kids, his name is.......... JOSUE CRUZ.
So we went to eat at another church. The ladies from the church made us tostadas with chicken, beans, rice, salad, and an amazing fruit salad. Then from there the two groups switched churches. The second church I went to was about an hour away, up the mountains and I forgot the name of the town but it was a tiny little thing. A cow showed up to church, it was so spiritual.
On the way up to the church we were dehydrating because there was no water around. Well there was, but if we drank it we would have to be missionarized because we'd be stuck on the porcelain for the next two days, further dehydrating ourselves. So we stopped at one convenience store and for some reason, they were completely out of water. We thought 1. Weird 2. Ok, let's look for another one. Took us about 10 minutes to find another one, ten more minutes of torture, but when we stopped we noticed a truck stopped behind us and a guy jumped out of the back of the truck and started walking toward our bus. So one of the guys in the bus does the mexican flip-of-the-head signifying "hey, how's it going," and the guy approaches the bus. He asks where we were going and we tell him where. He then asked for a ride and he came on board, after which he asks what church we're from. We answered, and he said "My wife goes to that church." So someone invited him but he wasn't too interested. Eventually we dropped him off where he needed and we went on to church. The pastor who gave the message was Daniel... don't know last name, he's from Texas, a youth pastor, that's all I know. So he's giving a sermon on how we run away from things, good and bad. Joseph ran away from temptation = good. Jonah ran away from God = no. I forgot how it was exactly that our hitchiker became part of his sermon, but he was mentioning him when all of a sudden we notice he was sitting in the front row, cleaned up, Bible in hand, listening.
It's just crazy, how God sets up the pieces of the puzzle and can use us to put them together to make an amazing image of his grace. It's no coincidence that there was absolutely no water at the first place, and that we stopped where that guy's first ride stopped. God had a purpose for everyone involved today, he was moving every part of us in even the smallest ways to do one of the greatest things ever: bring someone closer to HIM! wow. haha. chills. got them? yeah, it's sweet.
Sleepy time now
love you all
-Jake
So obviously some of you know I'm in Honduras right now, on a medical mission by the Church of God 7th Day. It's an amazing campaign that takes doctors, dentists, nurses, and lots of support staff from churches in the US, México, Nicaragua, to mission sites every year. Last year was Nicaragua, year before that it was Guatemala, and then the ones before that are too ancient for my knowledge. But the point is, it's an amazing work of organization that hopes to fulfill our God-given purpose using the skills He gave us. Remember, what we have is not ours to begin with! Isn't that a cool concept? So share it when you can!
So here we go....... STORY TIME!!!!!! hahahaha you're all mine for 5 minutes........ or however long it takes for you to read
So on the way over here, the first flight (PHX to Atlanta) was in a tiny airplane that didn't even have a first class. So I'm sitting next to a guy that was a bit heftier (is that a word?) than me and goodness..... not comfortable. It's like...... let's see......... Battle of the Bulge(s)
but whatever i got over it, watched Slumdog Millionaire and made it to Atlanta in one piece, which was great. 1st leg of the trip down. awesome! right?
Yeah except for the no sleeping part. Thursday night into Friday, I had forgotten to make a presentation for my Ritual, Symbol, and Myth class. So I didn't go to sleep until around 4 am. Got up at 10 on Friday. Spent the day writing an essay, then prepping some stuff, then class then go to the airport, then flight blah blah blah, so by the time I went to sleep on Friday night at the hotel I had been up for 25 hours. So POINT OF THE STORY.... I was tired and traveling just kind of drains you
But anyways....
Atlanta to Tegucigalpa flight was pretty good. I got the emergency seat because it has extra leg room, but then I kind of regretted it because they informed us that the emergency doors on those airplanes had been malfunctioning to where when people would open them they would fly off/eject so fast that the people would go flying with it into a fiery pit, or get their arms ripped off. hahaha. I was like "What? They're seriously saying that?" But it's ok, I know God works his stuff and keeps me.
OH! Freaky thing, I've never seen an airplane FROM an airplane. But I did and it was kind of scary because you realize just how fast you're going. When you are 39,938 feet in the air, and you're looking down it looks like you're moving slow, or at least not that fast. Ok so there was an airplane that i saw in the distance, like FAR out in the horizon, within 3 seconds (no exaggeration) it was past us. It seemed like a video game it just ZOOMED past us and very close, I'm not sure if it was supposed to be that close but it was. It was crazy to realize how fast we're going, it was averaging 600 miles/hour (sorry alex I think the plane beats the Evo).
Friday night, we had dinner at a local church, the one they call "La Central," because it's centrally located haha. I wish I could upload pictures to accompany all of this but they're so big that it would take forever. As soon as i figure something out for resizing them and posting them I'll get them in here. But yeah, the dinner was great! I actually don't remember what it was we ate, but I remeber it was good, and that it involved beans, and platanos machos!!!! haha love those things, and combined, YUMMY i know it sounds weird but it's excellent
Flash forward to Saturday morning (which is today in the morning). I didn't get up on time, so I missed breakfast. Oh well, not too bad, I heard they had omlettes or something like that. I can get those at home haha. After breakfast, half of us were sent to one church and half to another. I was sent to one they call "Las Brisas." SOOO NOT breezy AT ALL. Hot and moist. But we survived. First thing I noticed walking in was the guys on one side and the women on the other. Retarded, but that's another subject. They still have those old guatemalan style hymnals and sing out of them of course, so the first hour that I was there. it was constant flashbacks of church when I was younger. The sermon was great though! A pastor/doctor from Acapulco, whose name I still don't know talked about RECOGNIZING when God calls us and that once we recognize we must have an attitude change and great stuff about taking leadership and understanding when God is calling us. He linked it to the story of Elijah throwing his mantle on Elishah and Elishah taking charge (ask me if you want to know more about how he linked it, great stuff).
The church has around 30 youth peoples. They're a cool bunch, really open and inviting, and I found that they have much of the same struggles, issues, hopes, dreams, and musical tastes that I do/we do in the US. I had a great time getting to know them, and their weird words. Haha, i.e. cool = MACIZO hahaha in reference to a cool idea "esta macizo." wow lol, but it's cool how they have their own things. Our bus took forever to pick us up from that church to go eat, but it was ok because it gave me time to get to know the people. OH! One of the kids, his name is.......... JOSUE CRUZ.
So we went to eat at another church. The ladies from the church made us tostadas with chicken, beans, rice, salad, and an amazing fruit salad. Then from there the two groups switched churches. The second church I went to was about an hour away, up the mountains and I forgot the name of the town but it was a tiny little thing. A cow showed up to church, it was so spiritual.
On the way up to the church we were dehydrating because there was no water around. Well there was, but if we drank it we would have to be missionarized because we'd be stuck on the porcelain for the next two days, further dehydrating ourselves. So we stopped at one convenience store and for some reason, they were completely out of water. We thought 1. Weird 2. Ok, let's look for another one. Took us about 10 minutes to find another one, ten more minutes of torture, but when we stopped we noticed a truck stopped behind us and a guy jumped out of the back of the truck and started walking toward our bus. So one of the guys in the bus does the mexican flip-of-the-head signifying "hey, how's it going," and the guy approaches the bus. He asks where we were going and we tell him where. He then asked for a ride and he came on board, after which he asks what church we're from. We answered, and he said "My wife goes to that church." So someone invited him but he wasn't too interested. Eventually we dropped him off where he needed and we went on to church. The pastor who gave the message was Daniel... don't know last name, he's from Texas, a youth pastor, that's all I know. So he's giving a sermon on how we run away from things, good and bad. Joseph ran away from temptation = good. Jonah ran away from God = no. I forgot how it was exactly that our hitchiker became part of his sermon, but he was mentioning him when all of a sudden we notice he was sitting in the front row, cleaned up, Bible in hand, listening.
It's just crazy, how God sets up the pieces of the puzzle and can use us to put them together to make an amazing image of his grace. It's no coincidence that there was absolutely no water at the first place, and that we stopped where that guy's first ride stopped. God had a purpose for everyone involved today, he was moving every part of us in even the smallest ways to do one of the greatest things ever: bring someone closer to HIM! wow. haha. chills. got them? yeah, it's sweet.
Sleepy time now
love you all
-Jake
13 March 2009
It feels like tonight...
could be the epitome of personal experiences. An awesome time with good friends full of the pure pain and suffering of the color-filled ball contacting bodies at ridiculous speeds for such a little object. haha. That was so over-wordy. In other words I went paintballing with some awesome kids I like to call bibi, boris, benjamin (say it in spanish haha), and jordan and had a blast. But yeah, then coming home to share with the family, followed by a healthy dose of a blast from the past. It's all good, and it's all there. And on top of that, I have this awesome feeling that God is here RIGHT NOW, guiding me in the right direction. People, this Guy is AMAZING, and the fact that he wants to know me MORE is just appalling to me. The person that made our world ABSOLUTELY PERFECT (Do you understand that? The notion and extent of perfection, a perfect synchronisation of absolutely everything ha, awesome), the way our bodies are in a relationship to the world and everything in it, the way He made it so that the foods we eat (or should eat at least) maintain our bodies at a constant level and work perfectly in us, providing what we need and eliminating what we don't. That's just one thing, I could go on and on (if you want me to please ask haha, I'd be delighted). It's just amazing how the more I learn the more I realize God's perfection and his love for his creation, and that I know nothing. Whatever I know is for, and by, His glory and purpose, and I'll never stop saying that!
Anyways, I think I completely rambled, but hey that's what I do.
i think like 2 people are gonna read this anyways so have fun people, and GBY'all.
-Jake
Anyways, I think I completely rambled, but hey that's what I do.
i think like 2 people are gonna read this anyways so have fun people, and GBY'all.
-Jake
22 March 2007
Songs. . .
Periodically i'll post songs that i think are great. Here's a great example:
"Kill" - Jimmy Eat World
Well, you're just across the street
Looks a mile to my feet I want to go to you
Funny how I'm nervous still I've always been the easy kill
I guess I always will
Could it be that everything goes 'round by chance?
Or only one way that it was always meant to be
You kill me, you always know the perfect thing to say
know what I should do, but I just can't walk away
I can picture your face well
From the bar in my hotel
I wish I'd go to you
I pick up put down the phone Like your favorite Heatmeiser song goes
It's just like being alone
Oh God, please don't tell me this has been in vain
I need answers for what all the waiting I've done means
You kill me, you've got some nerve, but can't face your mistakes
I know what I should do, but I just can't turn away
So go on love
Leave while there's still hope for escape
Got to take what you can these days
There's so much ahead So much regret
I know what you want to say I know it but can't help feeling differently
I loved you, and I should have said it
But tell me just what has it ever meant
I can't help it baby, this is who I am
Sorry, but I can't just go turn off how I feel
You kill me, you build me up, but just to watch me break
I know what I should do, but I just can't walk away
"Kill" - Jimmy Eat World
Well, you're just across the street
Looks a mile to my feet I want to go to you
Funny how I'm nervous still I've always been the easy kill
I guess I always will
Could it be that everything goes 'round by chance?
Or only one way that it was always meant to be
You kill me, you always know the perfect thing to say
know what I should do, but I just can't walk away
I can picture your face well
From the bar in my hotel
I wish I'd go to you
I pick up put down the phone Like your favorite Heatmeiser song goes
It's just like being alone
Oh God, please don't tell me this has been in vain
I need answers for what all the waiting I've done means
You kill me, you've got some nerve, but can't face your mistakes
I know what I should do, but I just can't turn away
So go on love
Leave while there's still hope for escape
Got to take what you can these days
There's so much ahead So much regret
I know what you want to say I know it but can't help feeling differently
I loved you, and I should have said it
But tell me just what has it ever meant
I can't help it baby, this is who I am
Sorry, but I can't just go turn off how I feel
You kill me, you build me up, but just to watch me break
I know what I should do, but I just can't walk away
Today
was AMAZING!! Wasn't it? I mean, just yesterday it was hot as heck, and now it's raining, the clouds create a perfect canopy that casts a shadow on our little valley! Wow
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
