i'm not usain bolt

6/13/16

Where do you start?
Life feels like a muddled, jumbled, crazy, crazy, beautiful mess. I'm already more than halfway through "my year" here. What the heck?

So, so much happens, but I see it as "normal" or "mundane" and therefore never take the time to recount or rethink through it all. The fact is nothing is mundane or normal — even when I might be fully convinced it is. For instance, I leave the Nest for like two weeks to process visa stuff and hang/backpack with my family then suddenly there are new directors, two of my good friends are here with me, and one of the Jake's boys has been removed from the Nest. What in the world? Two weeks.

Today me and the guys napped (mostly because we stayed up till 3 A.M talking about struggles, girls, and Jesus), ate spaghetti, played with the Jake's House boys and their new Star Wars figurines, competed in some non-competitive ping pong, drove the golf cart full of boys down the hill, swam, wrestled, and broke up fights in the pool. Then we all watched the Fox and the Hound and prayed with the boys.

I can also drive here now. It's cool. Today I found my way through weird, tiny, city streets to pick up kids from the doctor. I was honestly more proud of myself than I should have been but hey, I love driving. This past Saturday I drove the Jake's House boys down to the river in the truck (it's a manual ladies) and I honestly think I may have finally figured the truck out. (kinda) I know there's a couple people reading this and laughing at me, but chill. This is a big deal to me.

The more time I spend around the boys — playing soccer, praying, laughing, hugging, teasing, pulling bricks out of their angry hands when they are trying to kill each other, and even crying, the more I fall in love.

I hate that I didn't even get to say goodbye to the boy who left. I hate that I can't even write his name in this post. The things that this boy was dealing with break my heart. And I didn't even know. I can't help but feel responsible in some small way for not realizing where he was at. All I know is that he needs Christ's love more than ever right now, but I cannot give it to him because he no longer lives at the Nest.

I don't have a "but" statement to add to that right now. I don't have the heart to say, "But God's plan is better!" at the moment. Even though I know that is the "right" answer, even though I know it to be true, I don't know how to say it right now.

Sometimes is that okay, God?

I want to see Fab and hug him.

I want to be good at yoga. Like real yoga.

I want to know how to write and speak French.

I want to serve at an AIDs home.

I want to look up at the crazy stars every night.

I want every young man battling porn to be freed.

I want to memorize the Bible more.

I want to live to see each of these boys fall in love with Jesus, be adopted, and maybe even get married.

I honestly and literally have no idea where or in which direction(s) my life will ever go in. Will I ever actually do these things? Where will God have me in 6 months? I have no clue. I hate it, yet I love it so, so much.

12:55 PM
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About Crazy Things

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Today I am overwhelmed with thankfulness at God and His timing, provision, and love. The ways God brings people into my life is such a marvelous mystery, and I am so blessed with family, friends, and those around me here at the Nest. Thank so much for your prayers. I want to rejoice with you at all He is doing here and in your lives.

Today was a special birthday. It started with some amazing waffles from my friends, working with Glaston and sweating to death with Nate, almost flying off a mountain and considering the possibility of death while trying to drive a manual truck, sleeping at a beach, coming back to the Nest, having the boys throw baby powder into my mouth and eyes, then pour water on me, and, after all that, I got to sit and talk with the boys for nearly forty-five minutes about God and who He is! This week we talked about Noah and there were so many random questions like, “Did sharks die in the flood?” “What if babies could fly?” “Does God drink water?” "What if Moses had 36 babies at one time?" “What will Heaven be like?” and other questions, some of which I didn’t have the answers to. However, these conversations and these boys asking questions (even some bizarre ones) about Jesus and His plan is something that I cannot stop thanking Jesus for. I love how honest they are, and these nights are as much a blessing to me as they are to them.

Keep doing this Jesus — keep softening their hearts, keep opening their minds, keep driving them and pulling them closer and closer and closer to you. I love you Jesus.

9:25 PM
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Wrapping Up March

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Every once in a while, I get a text from Mom, Dad, Isaiah, or someone else asking me how things are going. I always have to muse on that question for a couple of days before answering. Summarizing life here is not easy.

I was talking with another Intern the other day and she was sharing how she thought when she arrived here it would be more like an extended spiritual high or that she would feel so much closer to God. However, the reality is, it often feels quite the opposite. She said that oftentimes she actually feels further away from God being here at the Nest. If I’m honest, I relate with that statement a lot.

I expected to always feel energized and excited every morning. I expected my prayer and devotions to become utterly amazing. I expected to see God moving in big and clear ways all the time. But more often than not, I have to carefully and diligently look over my week to make sure I didn’t overlook God’s hand at work. The truth is, He is working. His fingerprints are all over this place. But sometimes I think I just miss it in the chaos.

So with that, let me share a few of those God-sightings from the past couple weeks.

Last week I had the coolest conversation with Ms. Claudette (a preschool teacher at Robin’s Nest Preschool). This lady has never spoken a word to me, but out of the blue as I was bringing some tools down to the preschool she suddenly started talking about King David — how messed up and unqualified he was, yet how God used him in mighty ways and called him a man after God’s own heart. She shared how our own lives oftentimes feel like complete messes, or that we are far from the kind of workers Jesus would want but how, just like King David, God can use our mess and our brokenness. It was sorta just what I needed, so I thought that was pretty awesome.

My midterms are done. I’m taking three online classes to finish out my sophomore year and it is not fun at all. It feels like I’m jumping through a bunch of hoops. But midterms are done, so that’s mildly chill.

The boys and I ran down to the river for an evening swim. Sometimes you just need a shirtless walk through the jungle with the boys — just saying. You’ll understand when you’re a man.

Easter Sunday was cool. There were a a lot of people in the little entry-way where we have church (a big week-long team was here). So worship was loud and energetic, which is something that I wish you all could hear. It is pretty cool hearing thirty-plus little voices screaming,

Oh! Death! Where is your sting?

Oh! Hell! Where is your victory?

Oh! Church! Come stand in the light!

Our God is not dead! He’s alive! He’s Alive!

I definitely had some mixed emotions going on with my first Easter Sunday away from my family. Instead of trying to write them out, I’m going to let you read a Facebook post by a fellow Intern here — I think she basically said the exact words I was feeling.

It's weird being in Jamaica on Easter. My parents weren't here with a basket of my favorite candy. I didn't go have a big dinner at my grandparents house. I didn't even worship in a church. Instead I was the one giving little sticky fingers more candy. I was at the beach counting heads, eating PB&J, and taking care of a boy who was sick from too many sweeties. I worshipped in our entry way to some of the kids' favorite songs. I've realized how Americanized the holiday has become to me and how spoiled I am. And although I was away from my family, the pod moms, the kids, and my group of friends here made it one of the best Easters I've experienced. With that being said, happy Easter from Jamaica.

Finally, I got a lot of encouragement through social media and email these past couple weeks. Many of these people probably didn’t know it, but, God used the little messages, verses, and your hearts to bless me. I am usually the guy using social media for jokes or sport, and oftentimes dismiss it as a non-personal and fabricated waste of my time. However, God definitely used it and more importantly, you guys, to bring light and a smile to my life these past few weeks. Thanks.

I really appreciate the fact that I can write this and know that there will be people I care about who will read it. That in itself is an encouragement. Thank you so much for your support and prayers. You are all playing such a huge part in reminding me of God's grace! If you are curious about subscribing to this blog or financially giving, scroll to the bottom of the page. Keep looking for Jesus' hand at work wherever you are and have a wonderful week!

The Great Wall of China.

The boys aren't really professional photographers.

Swimming in the river.

Some simple joys.

10:26 PM
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Thoughts

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This past week I was blessed to have a short time with my family. They were able to meet me down in Florida for their Spring Break. I still don’t have my work visa yet, so I had to leave Jamaica briefly, making this timeframe work well with my exit and re-entry. Both grandparents are also down in Florida for the winter, so we had a wonderful and relaxing time together. In the end, it felt too short, and to be honest, I long for the irreplaceable connection and laughter that my family shares. I don’t want to leave that. I can go without the showers, the "American" food, or the constant internet connection. Those things are all cool and stuff, but more than anything, I miss my family. Being around them makes me realize what a blessing and joy they are.

Frankly, if faced with the choice right now, I would seriously debate not stepping on flight 833 to Jamaica. I would love to stay home, hang around and laugh with my brothers, joke with Maddie, punch Nate (brotherly style), watch their basketball games, embarrass them, listen to hot new jams together, basically just live life with them again. I’m not really feeling super stoked about not being a part of their lives for most of 2016. I’m like twenty years old, and that typically means it’s time to start “moving on to big-adult-style things” - things like serious relationships, apartments, long-term jobs, etc. In a couple more years, hanging out with my siblings may not be quite the same, as we all progress further onto God’s paths for each of our lives. Maybe I’m being a little pessimistic, but sometimes this is a part of life.

At the heart of it all, I’m terrified at the thought of losing the closeness with my family. I’m terrified of watching a year go by from the outside — looking in on their lives. I hate the thought of me becoming, “that other brother,” who isn’t really connected or attached to my sibling’s daily lives.

Sometimes it isn’t easy to be obedient to what God is asking you to do. Sometimes it hurts, seems to be the wrong direction and counter-intuitive. Sometimes He asks you give up something that is very dear to you, to trust that He has far better things in store. So for now, I’m trusting His timing and His plan to have me here in Jamaica. I believe that He has called me to be here for 2016 and live with these awesome Robin’s Nest kids. That means being far away from my family, whom I love. But I’m trusting Jesus and seeking to be obedient in every area of my life. Pray for me and for my family this week — and thanks for reading.

2:16 PM
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"But Now..."

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Just last week, I was reading through 1st Corinthians and I found myself in chapter eleven. The second part of this chapter talks about the Lord’s Supper — directions, warnings, and a blueprint for how to partake of the table of the Lord. Let me start off by saying, this past week I had found myself in a state of doubt, worry, and disquiet. No, you know what, scratch that sentence, I think its safe to say that I have felt that way a bit too often in my life. Whether I am looking forward into a work week, to a school deadline, further into my future, or at life decisions, and various paths, I have rarely felt true peace that surpasses all understanding. Or if I do, most of the time it seems fleeting. Maybe I sound like a broken record at this point, but I am starting to realize that I lower my head and fix my eyes on myself all too easily, instead of gazing at the Author and Perfecter of my faith. When I spend my week fretting over trivial little things such as worrying about my schedule, stressing about the Jake’s House Bible Study, being agitated over which worship songs are right for next Sunday, I miss the bigger picture of why I am here at all. Reading the passage in Corinthians opened my eyes to the fact that there is a bigger storyline then my current week. And I hadn’t really sat down and thought about that in awhile.

Ephesians 2:11-13 describes that bigger storyline when the writer says,

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) — remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

What words can follow that? What words can do this justice? My first response is simply to sit and be utterly amazed. That totally puts everything into perspective. All my little worries, troubles, hardships, and pain, are swept away in the truth of this passage. All that is left to do is wonder and praise Jesus! I love the way the last sentence starts, “But now…” I am so, so glad that those words are in the Bible. Without them, this passage would read an entirely different way. But now in Christ Jesus we who were so far, far away have been brought so near through his blood and sacrifice! Look, Ephesians chapter two is so beautiful. I highly suggest you read it right now. If you need to switch apps or take a quick break to go read it, do it. I’m currently working on memorizing the chapter because I think it is so powerful.

Reading this passage on the same day as 1st Corinthians 11 brought out some common threads which I may have simply jumped over if it were not for God’s timing. Ephesians says that we are brought near through the blood of Christ and essentially what part of 1st Corinthians 11 is talking about is the Lord’s Supper — the body and blood of Jesus Christ broken for us. At this point, I had been months without Communion. If I’m honest, there has never been a time while I was at home in the States when I have truly missed Communion. Maybe I’ve missed worship, longed for some solid preaching, or was hungry for fellowship with good friends, but missing The Lord’s Supper just seemed a little odd. But reading 1st Corinthians 11 made me realize just how much I did miss breaking the bread and drinking from the cup.

So me and the other Interns had the Lord’s Supper. We gathered together, I shared some of what God was showing me through those passages, and we took time to break the bread and drink from the cup in remembrance, not of us or our lives, but of Him. We sang, we prayed, and it was honestly amazing. All of us aren’t from one denomination — we’re from different backgrounds, walks, and lives. Yet under Christ, the Jew and the Gentile can gather and celebrate in remembrance of what He did. I can’t exactly speak for the others present, but for myself, this time together was moving and beautiful. I believe there is some vulnerability in sincerity. And for all these believers to gather together to remember what Jesus did was absolutely awesome. Taking my eyes off of myself and everything centered on me, I was able to simply rejoice in Jesus' sacrifice.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

I’m going to say something a little crazy. Maybe stop searching so hard for peace, or joy, or whatever you are searching for, and instead, sit at His feet. Meet with some true friends, share His Supper, praise Him, and spend some time in awe of what Jesus did to bring you near.

7:41 PM
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Waking Up to Grace

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Its been a crazy couple of weeks, guys (I’m pretty sure almost every blog post will start with that sentence). So many things have happened since January 1st, and God is still so good. I'm going to try to summarize a few of the things that come to mind really quickly.

There was a team of engineers and smart people who worked on drilling for water a few weeks ago.

I tried to make fried eggs for the boys one morning and they were really bad.

The Bible Study with the Jake's boys has had a very slow startup.

One Sunday there were giant waves and the boys and I had fun playing in them.

I vomited two weeks ago but then I got better.

Because of my hair, I've been called a girl by about 30 kids.

I now like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches more than I thought I did.

The Jake's boys have had a couple of sleepovers in my room which were fun and also messy.

I don't know.

How do you summarize a month's worth of work, play, highs, lows, ups, downs, God-sightings, stress, peace, sadness, or joy?

How do you summarize a month's worth of life?

Look, I don’t really know what to write and I’m not saying that to be cliche or “artistic” or something. I’m serious. I actually don't know what the heck to write. Maybe its years of writing classes that tell me I need a clear and well-thought out thesis statement when the reality of life is that I'm not sure there always is. Maybe its my middle-class Western mindset telling me that unknowns and unfinished thoughts are not okay. I’ve tried like six times in the past couple weeks to begin pulling my thoughts together, and every time I just get stuck. Maybe I've been lazy, or maybe theres something else going on.

Something that God has shown me through this struggle is that I do not like to look deeply within myself. I am very comfortable with a semi-superficial, pretty basic, and surface-based approach to evaluating myself. At times, I find it extremely hard and very uncomfortable to step back, look deeper, and then evaluate how I have been living or the things inside my heart. When you are truly honest with yourself, sitting down and coming to terms with our own emotions, feelings, and thoughts is unsettling at times. I'm assuming that there are at least a few people who struggle with this the way I do. I think its easier to "be busy" and never really think twice about whats going on in your heart - whether it's good or bad. Here at the Nest, it is always easy to be busy. There is always something to do or work on, and because of that, I can easily fall into a pattern of going through weeks and weeks without sitting at the Lord's feet and listening. For that reason, sitting down and attempting to sift through the various emotions, experiences, and thoughts behind the past few weeks is something that, quite honestly, terrifies me.

I am pretty comfortable with surface-type relationships, I like smiling, I like shaking hands, and I like calling people "bro" when I forget their name. And for many of those same reasons, writing a blog about my life or my deeper thoughts is just... weird. Yet it is in those circumstances when we are uncomfortable, when we are vulnerable, when we are open and real with people (and more importantly, God) that trust and relationships are formed. It is when people see the real us that we truly have a relationship. So this week I'm trying to be more open and real, sometimes even raw, about my struggles, my pain, my joys, and my daily walk with the Lord, and I would push you to do the same, wherever you are this week.

So, all that being said, these past few weeks have been humbling. I have been made so aware of my own shortcomings, flaws, and inadequacies. Yet at the same time, I have been forced to trust and depend on Jesus for every moment of every day here. As Jake, I find myself constantly trying to pretend that I have something to bring to the Lord’s table, that I am in some way qualified or have something to offer or bargain with God. I literally try to pretend that God, the God of the Universe, needs me. Whether it is my passion for worship, my love for the kids, my attempts at carpentry or masonry, I oftentimes find myself striving to work my way to worth in God's eyes. This quickly creates this competition in my head where every morning, I am waking up to "prove myself" in a new way.

But that is not how His grace works. It works when we are broken, when we are helpless, when we are metaphorically and literally on our knees. Sometimes we fail. Yep, thats right. Fail, bomb, suck, backfire, fall through, collapse, botch, flop, and flunk. I gotta tell you, some Sundays, I get up to lead worship with the kids and it just tanks. I feel like I'm more of a hinderance to worship than a help. Sometimes I work for four hours building something and then it doesn't work or doesn't fit where it is supposed to. Sometimes I lose my temper, say stupid things, and one of the boys gets mad at me for awhile. Sometimes I feel like I have no idea what I am doing for the boys Bible Study. Sometimes I fall flat on my face.

Sometimes sometimes is oftentimes.

Now before you begin thinking of ways to correct the grammar in that statement, realize that when we don't have enough, when we realize we are inadequate, it is SO easy to just hang your head and put your eyes on yourself and your failure. I know for myself, in these past few weeks, I've spent way too much time entertaining thoughts of failure, loneliness, and self-pity, instead of looking to His all-sufficient Grace!

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

II Corinthians 4:7

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

II Corinthains 12:9-10

We're kind of supposed to be broken. Thats basically the point. If we had it all together, we wouldn't need Him every moment of every day. We must be in utter dependance on Him as soon as we wake up! I still have a very hard time with that. Even after six-plus years as a Christian, I still struggle with accepting this unearned and unmerited gift of Grace. I think it shows a deep -seated pride and an inability to fully let go and give it all to God. Yet it is such a crucial part of walking with Jesus. Paul put it this way,

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

I Corinthians 15:13-14

Paul is saying, "I have committed myself so fully to this grace, I have put all my eggs in Jesus’ basket, I am depending so much on Jesus and his resurrection that if none of this is real, everything I have done with my life is 100% in vain.” That's how committed and ultimately dependent Paul was on this Jesus. That's how dependent I want to be on Jesus.

For the past week, I have been so overwhelmed with Romans 5:6

You see, at just the right time,

when we were still powerless,

Christ died for the ungodly.

I absolutely love the words used in this passage. In fact, read all of Romans 5 at some point this week. As we continue to talk about Grace, I find such joy in this passage.

At just the right time,

At the exact moment, the absolute perfect-timing moment, Jesus stepped in. Not a moment too late or a moment too soon, at just the right time.

when we were still powerless,

How wonderful can this Grace be?! At just the right time, and when we were utterly unable to move even a finger, when we were completely paralyzed, when we had no hope, when all we had was spent, when there was nothing, absolutely nothing we could do, Jesus stepped in and He died for the ungodly. For me and for you. How beautiful is this Grace.

I have been reading a devotional called "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. One of the days in particular prompted me to think more on my busy day-to-day life here at the Nest. Chambers writes,

Our difficulties, our trials, our worries about tomorrow will all vanish when we look to God. Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to me . . . .” Salvation is yours the moment you look.

"Turn to me and be saved,

all you ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is no other."

Isaiah 45:22

Look dudes, if you think that going to another country will magically and suddenly make you a better reflection of Jesus, or that sharing His love will be easier, I’m here to say — thats not the case. I still have days where I am very short-tempered, where I am tired, where I cry (yeah, that’s right), where I am lonely, where I am stopped by fear, on and on and on. But it is through His grace and His strength that I am finding all I need for each day. Even in the midst of some pretty rough stuff, the Prophet Jeremiah wrote this,

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

The LORD is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:22-26

This passage is beautiful. The Lord's mercies are new every morning. He is faithful. His love is steadfast. These are promises that you and I can grab and take hold of.

The other morning, I woke up and I literally said, "Good morning grace." I felt like a complete fruitcake. But I knew, at five in the morning, I was not going to have enough for that day. That I was going to mess-up, going to fall, going to struggle. I also knew that there was and is Grace to cover that. Grace that is new every morning. He is faithful.

11:41 AM
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Introduction

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I’m sitting here, on my bed in Jamaica, at the start of a New Year. However, this is not only a new year, but a new journey as I begin my year at the Robin’s Nest Children’s Home. Yesterday I was greeted by a group of smiling and laughing faces — some on their brand new Christmas bicycles, others simply sprinting down a mountainside. I’m not sure I knew how very much I missed this place!

This may be news to some of you or maybe not, but I want to take this opportunity to share how I’ve come to this place and how God has been working in my life since my visit here last summer. The Lord has asked me to do something crazy, something many would call foolish, and something that leaves me a thousand miles from my small comfort zone. God has asked me to lay down my pursuits, my plans for the future, and my desire for control and move to Jamaica to serve at the Nest for a year. After much heartache, wrestling, and even arguing with God, I am finally here because of doors He has opened. He has asked me to take a step of faith and say yes to Him, and I am trusting wherever He chooses to lead me.

Last summer, I spent two months interning at the Robin’s Nest Children’s Home in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It is a small home up in the mountains with open arms, big hearts, and 33 amazing kids. Many of the children at this home face enormous obstacles to being adopted into a loving family because of the legalities of Jamaican welfare system. The Nest seeks to provide a home for these kids as long as they can, bringing the Father’s love and light into each of the children’s lives.

To say the least, my heart broke over some of these children’s stories. It was extremely hard to return home, return to “normal” life — classes, work, having all my own physical needs met — after being at the Nest all summer. This past semester, I’ve warred with myself and with God. I tried to be faithful where I was, asking Him for big signs and a clear direction. And our God is faithful! It came in the request from the directors of the Nest for me to return long term. And from there, God kept leading me here in increasingly clear ways, continuing to make plans fall into place. So now I will be in charge of various duties such as the older boy’s Bible study, some teaching with the preschoolers, and worship on Sundays, among many other untitled jobs!

As Jake, up to this point, my plans for my future have been simple: finish college with a good degree, make good money, find a pretty girl, start a family, obtain security and comfort, etc. However, over the past few months, God has been radically challenging my own plans and aspirations. Surrendering control and laying down my own dreams is an area God has been stretching and working on with me.

Just a few months ago, I was so focused on my college degree — so much so that I found most of my identity in my scholastic success and achievements. I was seeing everything in my life through grades and eventually feeling qualified at some point simply because I would hopefully obtain a degree. God has asked me to lay this down for the time being and draw closer to Him by serving in Jamaica. He has asked me to lay down my job, my life back home, the comforts and security I have there, and my own immediate plans. He is asking me to drop everything and run after Him. I have clung so tightly to my future and my life, telling God that I know what is best. Yet time and time again, He is showing me that abandoning my life to Christ IS life to the fullest — that He can surpass my wildest dreams! As C.S Lewis said, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

So I am here!

But this is where you join me in this journey! To stay here at the Nest, I need steady monthly support. This will cover the costs of living here and more importantly, financially further the Nest and the children here each month. I have partnered with a wonderful organization called Orphanos — a mission-based, children focused, sending agency. If you go to http://www.orphanos.org/missionary-family?staff=2426 you can get access to my shorter bio. Orphanos takes nothing out of each donation, allowing 100% of the gift to pass through and they provide tax documentation. If you are willing, the link to donate is http://www.orphanos.org/donate and Orphanos will handle reoccurring monthly donations starting as low as $3.00. You would select Choose Your Designation, then Support a Missionary, and finally, type my name in Special Instructions About Your Gift. No gift is too small, and with each month you will be equipping me to stay and serve here.

Equally important, I ask for your prayers for this journey. I will not lie to you and say life at the Nest is easy every day. There is stress, pain, heartache for the children, and times when life is a struggle because I am still Jake. Jake, who is constantly having to die to self. In the highs and in the lows, I covet your prayers. I ask that you be praying for the children here, many of whom come from heartbreaking situations. I pray that you lift up our directors Vicki and Elizabeth who are constantly juggling so many things. And finally, be praying for me as I seek to be intentional in bringing Christ’s light to the Nest every single day I am here. I will be posting about this journey God has me on here on this blog. Check out the bottom of this page to subscribe, see previous blog posts, and find the link to support. You can visit or subscribe to keep up to date with prayer requests and what’s going on with the Nest and I.

Friends, I am so excited for this chapter in my life and in God’s story. It has been a bumpy road to get here (seriously, the road up the mountain is pretty rough) but I cannot begin to tell you how God is moving here, and how the Nest is such a big part of His plan! Each child here holds a special place in His heart and in mine, and I hope that in your support, you can also grow to love this place like the Father does.

I apologize for sharing such a big story through an email, instead of in person. It in no way diminishes the worth and impact each of you have had on my life and how I value you. Each and every one of you has played an instrumental part in getting me here, whether you know it or not. So I thank you so very, very much.

Sorry for the super long post,

6:29 PM
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i'm not usain bolt

6/13/16

About Crazy Things

Wrapping Up March

Thoughts

"But Now..."

Waking Up to Grace

Introduction

About Me

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