I am a believer that Jesus lives in the dumps.  This is my second time to visit a community that calls the city dump home.  And each time I have to believe that I have seen more Jesus in people than I do in most anywhere else.  Let me share with you a brief story from my most recent visit.

We have setup two teams to work and serve with the Philippine Christian Foundation while here in Manila, Philippines.  I had the privilege of visiting the dumps in which some 5,000 people call home.  It challenges my senses and stretches my very sense of conscience when I see how people can have so little and literally have so much.

On the day I visited I was being toured around with two local Philippino musicians and their staff.  They live in the greater Manila area and were being introduced to the dumps and the conditions therein for the first time.  I tagged along trying to understand the conversations that were mostly in the local tongue of Tagala.  

As we were walking around one young woman, from the artistsÕ staff, asked why I was there and what the World Race teams would be doing there.  I replied with the typical, ÒWe are here to serve, build, create relationships, evangelize, and...Ó When all of a sudden she stopped me mid-sentence.  ÒJake,Ó she interjected, ÒI believe in Jesus and God.  But how do you evangelize and talk about Jesus in a place like this?  The Jesus and God I know is a God that wants his people to be prosperous, fruitful, and he wants people to have a fulfilling life.  Look around. How do you share that in a place like this?

Immediately, I felt like I knew where she

was coming from with her question.  I

have grown up in a community and

church that painted Jesus and God in just

that manner.  ItÕs not entirely wrong, by

any means, but it is an attitude that puts

God in such a small box.  There is so

much more.

I responded, ÒItÕs actually so much easier to share the Gospel in a place like this than it is even just across the street to someone who has so much more.Ó  I continued, ÒThis is a place where Jesus would come to bring hope to the hopeless and tell each man, woman, and child that they are loved.  That while the world around them is continuously telling them that they are the lowest of the low.  We have the opportunity to visit, and tell them that they are special, we like God love them, and that Jesus would have died for them too if they were the only person on the world.Ó  They are THAT special in the eyes of Jesus.  We have been given the  opportunity to say that we have come literally from the other side of the world just to visit them and spend time with them.  They are again, that special.

I had this young kid, named Jessica in hand.  She had no shoes, a cute dirt stained  orange outfit on, one tooth, and the biggest smile of all the little kids around as we walked and talked.  I looked up at this young woman, with whom I was sharing,  and noticed she had tears welling in her eyes and soon tear tracks running down her cheek. 

She said thanks, as she admitted that she had been ministered to with such simple words.  ÒYouÕre right, Jake,Ó she commented from behind her tears.  Jesus is bigger than she had initially thought, and I believe He had just busted out of the box in her own life.  I was touched at how Jesus once again had made himself known from within the midst of one of the dirtiest places on earth I have ever visited.

I pray that this story touches your heart just as much as it did mine.  LetÕs remember that our Lord loved us first!

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Greetings to each of you my friends and supporters.  I must admit that I have struggled to write this blog.  It has taken me a bit to actually understand why, and after a bit of time trying to figure it out, I have come to the conclusion that there remains a horrible trait within me that I thought I had dealt with.  PRIDE.  DAMN this thing we call PRIDE.  ahhhhhhh.  While I do believe I have grown significantly when it comes to this, it isnÕt until it comes to writing this blog that I realize it has a nasty habit of poking itÕs nasty head again.  Let me explain.

I have shared with you in the past that while I was traveling last year I learned that my calling is truly for the field workers.  While many are called to serve the poor, the orphaned, and the widows, I have truly come to realize that my calling is to serve those who serve the poor, orphaned, and widowed.  In other words, I feel my calling at this point is to ÒEquip the One... To Serve the Many.Ó

Over this past year, I have been able to serve the World Race missionaries as they have served in Bolivia and India.  My primary role has been to assist with various logistical needs as the teams transition from country to country.

Locally, I have had the pleasure of helping a local youth group and youth pastor in Michigan.  I have also been able to work with SDG in installing AV equipment in two brand new churches.

Each of these experiences has been based on the calling to live this year entirely on faith.  Each day has been taken care of by faith.  As I have mentioned before I have never been without.  The Lord really has afforded me with all this opportunities by His provision.

So as I am here this evening, I now have the joy of sharing with you my most recent opportunity to serve the field workers.  Outreach Outfitters and I have been asked to help the October 2008 World Race team as they start their travels at the end of this month.  If you recall I spent the last part of my travels last year doing setup and logistics for our squad as we traveled through SE Asia and China.  Well as one would have it, that is exactly where this team is going to start.  So I have been asked to assist this squad with their setup and logistics needs through the end of the year.  This is a great opportunity for me to serve the field workers and indirectly the people of the Philippines, China, and then Kenya.

This will mean I will travel along side the squad for the first three months of their trip with three main responsibilities.  First to assist them in working with local contacts in coordinating various setup and logistical needs.  The second, is to work with the squad leader, Allison Johnston, in developing future leaders.  Third, but far from least, I will be working to expand the network of contacts throughout each of this countries for future teams to partner with.

So bring in the part about pride.  Because this opportunity is still founded in the field of international missions, it means that the need for financial supporters still exists.  In creeps the nasty thing called pride.  It is difficult for me sometimes to say ÔHELP!Ó  I would love to say I could do it by myself, but that would be a lie.  Instead, I have to embrace the idea that international missions is a community project.  A community that includes you and me.  I donÕt know why it is so hard for me to ask, but here I am putting myself out there. 

So here it is.  To heck with the pesky thing I call pride in my life.  I NEED YOUR HELP!  I need your help to serve those who are serving the poor, orphaned, widowed, hopeless, and those in need of people who reflect GodÕs love.  I need to raise $6,500 in order to help offset the costs required to travel to Philippines, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Kenya.

I am asking you to pray and partner with me as we will continue to serve those in need.  If you feel compelled to partner with me please follow the link provided. It will take you to the WORLD RACE support page so you can process an online contribution.  Regardless of the amount, I promise you that every bit helps.  Please remember that it is a tax deductible donation.  You have the option of being a regular monthly supporter please reply via the comment link so I can get you the automatic debit forms.

Long story short.  I have been given an opportunity to serve 53 outstanding world racers for the remaining part of the year, and I need your help to make that happen.  By being either a fiscal supporter or a dedicated prayer partner the assistance you provide is so greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance and I look forward to sharing the testimonies with you as they unfold.

Thanks again and blessings to you and your entire family.