Homecoming (Re-cap)

The past  few months have been some of the best of my life traveling with my friend Tim. From Bangor, Maine, all the way to Redding, California, then back to the East Coast to Florida, which was all in December!

On January 11, 2016 Tim and I traveled to Paraguay.  There our goal was to find a "live-in" serving position among the orphanages or children's homes. Shortly after arriving, Tim had to be rushed to the hospital due to a very serious UTI.

On the second of the three days in Asunción where Tim was receiving meds, we were told by the director of the home (whom we were planning on staying with the entire time in Paraguay) that he and his wife needed to leave the country for several weeks to tend to their son in Argentina who suffers from cancer… and on top of that, there was major construction going on at the home, so he asked if we could come back in April when the construction would be finished.

We were now back to square one, while now, in a foreign country…

The Lord provided a short stay at a local pastor's church in Asunción. We were able to share testimonies and spend the day with the children's home there at this church. Tim was able to minister from his testimony with their young adult community during that weekend.

Soon after that we returned to the original girls home for 4 days where we implemented teaching English. Tim would teach and I would have games that would implement what they learned the previous day.  

After returning to Asunción to gather our things from the pastors house that we stayed with previously, we came to Areguá. We stayed with a family that had taken Tim in previously while he was here. But this would only last a few days.  They expressed the desire for us to stay with them but their schedules wouldn't allow it.  

So yet again, we needed to move. I was beginning to have fear crawl inside my mind. "What the heck is happening God? What do you want me to learn from this?"  There was no answer.  I didn't know what to do other than trust.

We found a small apartment/hotel in this small little town for $150.00 per month.  This would become our new home base. From here we could still connect to others.

Since being in Areguá, we have connected with CFA, the largest church in Paraguay.  I have also been told that it may be the largest in South America.  

We have prayed for people and their illnesses. Legs have grown. Friendships were made.  I believe now that God had bigger plans for us than staying with one children's home for our whole trip.

I was able to go on the radio. I shared about my story of surviving Shaken Baby Syndrome and how Jesus desires is to rid ourselves of all insecurities while also encouraging everyone listening that if I could survive for a purpose than that means that you have a purpose too.  

On top of the attack on Tim’s life in the beginning of this post,  we have also encountered spiritual attacks, both physically and financially alike.

I often would wonder how I would know when I was heading in the right direction when it came to my faith walk.  Then one day the Spirit told me  that; "Usually, the devil will resist you in the areas that you are moving appropriately in."  

That gave me all the confidence I needed for this trip. It told me that we were doing the right things and making the right moves.

Before coming on this journey.  I had done some math as to when I should come home to return for work.  Every year my job hires and rehires for that season. I had just finished my second season with this company.

I had figured to come back in May. That would be the tail end of the hiring process.  But 42 days into this 4 month journey, I found out that they were hiring early to pick up slack from last year among other things.  

I discussed this with Tim and we decided I’d come home in mid-April instead of mid-May, making my journey 3 months instead of 4. A week later I found out that the hiring was over and I had lost my position at this company.   

A little shell-shocked, I needed to think fast.  I decided to come home even earlier so I could procure a new job. It is essential because Tim and I feel a call to England and Germany these next two years.

I will be leaving Paraguay the 11th of this month to obtain a new job. While in the states, I will be coordinating with those that are willing to help us send some essentials to the girls home that we briefly served with and that Tim will be continuing to serve with from April until August.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  Just knowing that there are people that are in agreement with what you are doing makes all the difference in the world and it builds confidence to conquer our fears and gather nations before our father.

Isaiah 1:17…

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me."

Isaiah 6:8

The past Two weeks

A couple of days ago, I went on the radio in Paraguay to speak about why I was in Paraguay and what my mission  was.  I told Daniel, the radio DJ that I had come with a friend and that he and I were here for a number of months trying to serve in children's homes, churches and wherever the people would receive us.  I got the chance to speak on insecurity and how we as the church have become complacent and apathetic over situations that we need to be authoritative on.  They asked if I would say anything to the people of Paraguay, I told them that they needed to know that they had a purpose and that they were important and invaluable.  If Jesus would save me for a purpose than indeed, they were here for a reason too.

 

am so blessed to have come on this trip.  I have made so many new friends.  Next week, my new friend Becho are going to try and make a short film for my book that I am writing currently called “Jah”.  I will share the excerpt from the scene at the end of the blog.

The weekend before the radio experience, Tim and I were invited to participate in youth camp put on by the biggest church in Paraguay.  They asked us to be staff.  We graciously accepted and it was so

fun.  There were over 200 young people.

We continue to make new connections and doors keep opening for us and we continue to walk through them.  I am constantly having to change my view on what missionary work looks like and I think it will make it easier for me to get into my own community when I return home. None of us are perfect at this thing least of all me but I need to make a conscious effort to try and make an effort because people can tell but even when people can’t tell, I can.

Excerpt from "Jah"

Static filled an empty room as the radio turned on. "Hello?..." The sound echoed through the halls of an unknown building, "…is anyone there?" There were a few rows of computers lined up on desks with the one on the far end turned on and making a beeping sound. The lights in the room began to flicker with an eerie luminescence.  Suddenly everything ceased. The computer screen shut off, followed by the lights. In the distance you could hear footsteps getting closer.  Left, right, left, right, left, - the echo reverberated through the entire building.

A silhouette appeared at the doorway, the light behind him shining into the room in front of him. He was tall, he was wearing a cloak and had a staff. He walked over to the computer at the end of the first row. He bent down and began typing a few keys on the keyboard. The computer seemed to come to life. The radio chirped again. "This is Asger,  does anyone read?..." The man slowly walked over to the radio, he picked it up and held it as if he was waiting for the inquirer to re-inquire. "This is-" the man had interrupted the man on the radio by holding the talk button.

You could tell that the person on the other end had stopped trying to talk via a blinking light. Taking his right pointer finger, the cloaked man moved his finger towards the radio in his left hand.  At a point, there was a small spark that went from his pointer finger to the two-way radio. When he did that, all of the lights in the room turned on, as well as all of the computers. The man set the radio down and began to walk away.  Just before reaching the door there were four loud beeps. Turning around and looking at the four computers in the row, each computer in sequential order from closest to the door to furthest away had a word on the monitor.

He. Is. In. Position.

“So it begins.”  The unknown man said as he began to walk away. The lights and computers shut off after he left the room. There was a small static coming from the two-way radio. It was about to die because of being left on for so long.

Just before it died there was a puff of air mixed with static as the voice on the other end said,

"Acknowledged."

.Sometimes you need to just hold on, bend your knees and lean into the turns.

Since arriving in Paraguay,  I have been flooded with new culture.  It's a good thing.  New people,  buildings, squares, dogs, cats,  kids,  cars, buses, lights, food.  you body acts differently than when you are home.  you drink more water, you eat delicious food.  Those are all good experiences.  But sometimes, life takes a turn and if you’re not trained to buckle up and lean into the turn you may hit a wall or a tree and come to a dead stop.  If that happens, then it can be very hard to pick up the speed you once had.  

The plan was: Arrive in Paraguay,  stay at a girls home and serve anyway we could.  There’s no need to share Jesus or God because there was no need.  So the whole idea was to help and serve in any way.  No matter what it looked like.  

I am traveling with a good friend.  About a week into our stay, we needed to rush him to the hospital in Asuncion.  It has been 4 days and he is all better but upon coming back to the house we are staying at we received some negative news.  Something came up and the people that run the girls home needed to travel to another country  because of their son who is in the hospital and they don’t know when they will be back.

They said that it would be better to come back in may.  Now, that’s all fine and dandy for my friend, but I am going home in may and so I may not be able to see those girls again and say goodbye.  

Thankfully, we have a place to stay until monday, and then we will most likely go to a family that has offered to let us stay with them.  I guess that’s the way of living a “faith” lifestyle, you just need to trust and believe that you will be taken care of no matter how crazy or scary it gets.   So now, among learning a new language and culture we now need to find a place to live or serve for the next few months.  This may prove to be harder than we think.  I’m not going to lie, I have thought about going home more times than I am willing to tell my friend, but I know that my going home option is always on the table. Especially if we are in the main city.

So now we are getting references together and fixing our resumes and writing a small testimony on how Jesus found us and then we will apply to new homes.  It’ s important to realize that when you are traveling, you are the outsider and you should not bring your culture to them unless they ask.  You should be willing to just learn and serve.

So, when life hands you a glass and tells you to go find lemons, you just need to bite down and lean into the turns and find lemons among oranges.  

I find that it is hard for Americans to just abide and serve in the hard times. When we get  in awkward situations we tend to either want to kick the door in or cower and become really shy.  Whether you are just traveling or you’re on a mission like me, it’s really important to learn the ways of the society that you are in.  Just like it is your responsibility to know the laws wherever you are. If you went before a judge and said that you didn’t know as your excuse, chances are that you wouldn’t get off easy. The judge would say It is your responsibility to know the laws.  It’s really important to familiarize yourself with not only the laws that may be different than your own country but also the way people do things wherever you go.

For example, while here in Paraguay I was introduced to a tea type drink called Terere.

I learned that when you say thank you and hand it to the person pouring the water, that means that you are done and you will no longer be served.  Well, I would say thank you every time that I would receive the cup and every time that I passed it back.  Thankfully the people that I was with knew and understood that I hadn’t learned the custom yet and were gentle and understanding with me.

How many of you are traveling and what have you learned culturally?  Let me know in the comments.

My Introduction.

Let's start this blog off getting to know me and my story .. The idea behind this blog is to share my traveling stories with you and how I am learning new cultures and ways of life.
I am in a point in my life where I am free to do what ever I want.

I want to thank you for taking t
he time to read this. I have been meaning to write this for a long time.

So let's kick this off. I guess I was born just like all of you. Let's start there…On December fifth, 1987 I was born. I was a boy for those wondering. My parents were never married so I was born out of wedlock. My mom was a waitress and to be honest I have no clue what my father did. When my mother told her father that she was pregnant he said, “Well that’s not my F-ing problem.” And basically wanted nothing to do with it. Eventually I came into the picture and things seemed honky dory for the first six weeks. While I was six weeks old I was diagnosed with Shaken Baby Syndrome. The night it happened my mom was at work. When she came home she said that I didn't seem “right”. She took me to the hospital and that’s when she found out what was wrong with me. My brain had detached from my skull and it was a miracle that I was so young because my skull was soft with large soft spots. They said that my brain was inflamed and if my skull was any harder that I would basically turn into a Play-D'oh factory. Basically the doctors said that if I didn't die, I would be a vegetable. They really didn't have any hope for me. Another problem was that my biological father blamed it on my mom when clearly she was working. The state of Maine didn't know who to believe so they put me in the care of a social worker. For over a month I was away from my mother. She was aloud to see me but under supervision. That was for all visitors. (I don’t know all the nitty gritty details but I’m slowly finding them as I go). After all of that was over my mother won the battle and I was free to grow up with her.

I met my step father when I was about 2 years old.

From then on he would remain my dad and ultimately my father.

I’m 29 now and I have my mom and my dad and my four siblings and I am able to walk, talk, and be normal. Growing up with religion and a family that held tightly to Jesus’ death and resurrection, the fact that I’m even here is credited to our faith in Christ and that I may have a role in this life after all.

If I am going to live through something like that than I am going to be dang sure to help those that can’t help themselves

I have been to many countries. Canada, Peru, Haiti, India, Switzerland, Brazil and now, Paraguay. This blog will talk about all the experiences I have had and that I am currently experiencing.

My mission in life is to better the lives of the people around me, even if that means I go without.  To make people smile and laugh, even if they’re laughing at me and not with me. To be a thermostat and not a thermometer. To effect change.

I would love if you would stand behind me and support me with your prayers as I go out and affect people for the better. Whether it involves faith or not.
I look foreword to sharing my story with you.