People God Cares About
8:50 PM
You never realize how starving you are for true connection and authentic conversation until you finally have it. I was able to FaceTime my family for a good part of an evening and it absolutely changed my perspective, mentality, and even attitude. True connections with people who actually care about you can change your outlook on life — and it’s pretty amazing. I am so thankful for the insight my mom and dad continually offer me — helping me grow and learn even from miles and miles away! And being able to see my younger siblings and their cool welding projects or hear their plans for the fall also mean so much.
Last week we decided to walk through Montego Bay to get some jerk pork. I’m one of those people who soft-core wishes they were a vegetarian so I could be cool and more healthy. Maybe someday?
I think I learned too much from my Dad about just talking with people — even “weird” or “scary” ones. I was walking down the street and a guy approaches me and begins to sketch me on a little pad of paper. He keeps saying he is “looking at my essence.” I told him I had no money but he continued to draw so I stood still and watching him. It turns out this man’s name is “Fletcher the Sketcher” and he is really cool. He thanked me for helping “his” (Jamaica’s) kids and gave me this.
I think I learned too much from my Dad about just talking with people — even “weird” or “scary” ones. I was walking down the street and a guy approaches me and begins to sketch me on a little pad of paper. He keeps saying he is “looking at my essence.” I told him I had no money but he continued to draw so I stood still and watching him. It turns out this man’s name is “Fletcher the Sketcher” and he is really cool. He thanked me for helping “his” (Jamaica’s) kids and gave me this.
I also talked for about a half an hour to a man who was trying to sell me weed. He was a Rastafarian (a religion here) and once he figured out that I was a Christian, we had a long discussion about Jesus together. His name was Nikki.
It was a pretty cool Sunday meeting random people I don’t know but who God cares about.
Awhile ago we had a campout complete with a campfire, marshmallows, a tent, farts, and stars. That night was one of the coolest nights that comes immediately to memory. The eldest boy (why can’t I say his name??), who I have been struggling with lately as I try to push him to be a leader, offered to pray for all of us in the tent. Completely out of the blue. No one asked, no one mentioned prayer, many of the boys were actually already falling asleep, but he asked, “Jake, is it okay if I pray for us?”
It was the first prayer I have heard by a kid at the Nest which wasn’t a scripted and memorized chant-like recitation. He thanked God for “this family” — something which I have not heard one of the kids actually say before. It was a genuinely beautiful prayer and it meant a lot to hear it from this specific kid.
It was the first prayer I have heard by a kid at the Nest which wasn’t a scripted and memorized chant-like recitation. He thanked God for “this family” — something which I have not heard one of the kids actually say before. It was a genuinely beautiful prayer and it meant a lot to hear it from this specific kid.
Finally, let me talk a little bit about the Jake’s Boys Bible Study. This is part of my week which always leaves me with a little turmoil in my heart. On one hand, I get so excited to see the boys asking questions and (sometimes) showing interest. Yet on the other hand, many times I have boys falling asleep or sitting aloof and uninterested despite my best attempts at engaging them. I want these boy’s SPIRITUAL relationship with Christ to be strengthened more than ANYTHING. I see NOTHING as more important to give these boys. Yet at the end of many days, it is the things which suffers the most. However, recently I spoke to the boys about being role models, influences, and leaders to the younger kids at Main House. I told them a “secret” — that they have a “secret job” as role models to the younger kids. But I left the bible study feeling quite discouraged and doubting my impact on any of the boys. But just the next day, Kish — a big boy who likes food and whose eyes disappear when he smiles — pulls me close and whispers, “Jake, you know when we were talking about the little kids following us when we do things? Earlier I saw one of the little kids follow [another Jake’s House boy] when he went outside to leave. They really do watch what we do!”
Honestly, to many of you, you’re probably saying to yourself, “What? How does that have anything to do with anything?” But to me, it means that Kish is listening, that he is thinking, that he is watching. And that means the world to me.
Honestly, to many of you, you’re probably saying to yourself, “What? How does that have anything to do with anything?” But to me, it means that Kish is listening, that he is thinking, that he is watching. And that means the world to me.
Anyways, sorry for disorganized and random thoughts but honestly, that’s how I am. Thanks for reading and for continuing to pray for these boys and I.
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