HELP

So since being here I have been wrestling with whether or not I should be a “roadie” for Invisible Children when I get home from Africa. It has been tough because I haven’t known what I wanted to do with my life once I get home. But, this past weekend has been confirmation that I need to go for it and gain that experience.
 
On saturday, we went to Gulu to celebrate Darby’s birthday (one of the team members) and meet up with a contact we had named Collins. Collins was a Ugandan roadie and she gave me a lot of great information and stories behind being a roadie and how she got selected and all that stuff. So she gave us some of the IC documentaries to watch. I had seen some of them but a few of them I had never seen and they really tugged at my heart to help what has happened and what is happening to the people of Uganda. After watching them I just felt reassured that I need to be doing that once I get home.
 
I’m still second guessing and doubting a little because of certain logistics but I know that God will take care of all that if I’m really supposed to be going on this trip. I feel so led to do it I just know it’s God telling to me to answer his call.
 
It will be something I know I will always remember and knowing I am doing my best to share whats happening here in Africa is so satisfying. That I’m not just standing by and doing nothing. This experience alone has changed my life forever but getting the opportunity to share it around the country once I get home seems way incredible! I want to live my life working for others. Not just others but others whose situations are unbearable and unthinkable. I want those people to be able to live the life they want and were meant to live.
 
Seeing so much suffering and pain everyday here takes it’s toll on you but without it I know wouldn’t be filled with such a spirit of wanting to help, needing to help. To go back home to my old life in the states just seems rediculous now after seeing first-hand the suffering here. Whether it’s rebel-caused, government-caused or whatever but more importantly the people who are affected and are suffering should be where my concern is.
 
So, I will help. I am helping. God has given me a heart of compassion and has given me a call to help those in need. Because, it is simply not okay for children who have no parents to be living on the street by themselves alone with no money for food or clothing while we sit in our big houses, driving our mercedes, watching our 136in. HDTV’s. Somehow, we think we have earned that right because we are American or because we did four years of college and know how to do something in the workforce.
 
God has called us in our faith to help all the poor and powerless. James 2:26 says – As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. When we say that we want to live out our faith, what do we really mean by that? I know I’ve said that my entire life but have not made a move about it until now (now as in January). As I sit here in Africa, in a blue lawn chair, next to a sewage lagoon, I think to myself. “Why did I wait so long?” This is what it’s all about. This is what I am called by God to do. To help people. To show them the love of Christ. I know not everyone is called to Africa, but we are called to act when we see some who is in need. The keyword is ACT.
 
I had an experience just yesterday that showed me just how “American” I am. I was standing outside after church when an old man limping with one crutch approached me asking me for a bar of soap. I gave him a blank stare while I was trying to figure out how to get out of the situation, because I knew I didn’t wan’t to take the time to simply walk with him to the store and pay about twenty-five cents for this man to have some soap. I just wanted to go back to our compound and rest. So, after a few moments of silence, he asked again and I said “ Well, I can pray for you.” Now, I know that prayer surely helped this dear old man but I knew I could have done much much more in that moment. I know also that there are a lot of people (even here) that are trying to scam you and just get money from you because you look wealthy—er. But, I truly believe this man simply just needed soap. A simple bar of soap, and I denied him of it.
 
So after that rant, I challenge all who read this to listen for what God is calling you to in the area of helping those who are suffering. It may be a trip to east Africa, the heart of the LRA or it may be sponsoring a child in Thailand, it just might be moving to Haiti. What God is calling you to has life, reason and purpose. All you need to do is answer the call. So get out of your seat you are sitting in as you read this and go listen for how God is calling you to help. You’re not going to change the world by yourself. No one person will. But….you can play a part and help.
 
In other news, John and I are on a rugby team. The team has 2 pet ducks. We will be in Kenya in about 3 weeks! We went to Gulu last weekend and had a blast, hopefully we can spend some more time up there soon! Thats about it! Take care everyone!
 
– Jordan