v-team

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Arrived Safe in India

Quick Update:

After two straight days of travel, by plane and train, V-Team has arrived in Repalle, India. Evan's backpack is trailing them by a day from Dubai, but should arrive tomorrow.

The guys did not have time to rest. Upon their arrival, a large Youth Conference was already under way. So, they set down their stuff, had breakfast and were immediately involved in the event. They were quickly given the opportunity to get on stage, speak their testimonies of faith, and do worship ... for over 5,000 people.

Today, they have had dinner with their hosts (Dee and Emanuel Reba) and are taking an opportunity to rest in their new home -- a dorm at the IREF Compound.

All is well in India. Watch for more updates.

www.irefusa.org

Saturday, January 10, 2009

On the Road Again

V-Team is on the road. This next stretch of travel as the crow flies from Uganda to Repalle, India would be 3,421 miles. However, the actual flights will take them to Dubai, in United Arab Emerites, then to Chennai (also known as Madras), India. After two long flights, the Team will add 8 hours of train travel from airport to IREF headquarters. It will be a long day of travel for Christian, Andrew, and Evan.

From the Team:

"india is dangerous and we want to share our faith but be smart in our ministry. please pray God will show us how to do this exactly. please pray for our travels as well- this one may be very intense! and last, good health -- it would be a blessing if we could be energized and ready, with eyes and ears to hear what all God has done and shown us in Jinja, and what He has for us in india!"

Godspeed!

Destination -- The new V-Team homebase @ IREF in Repalle, India.

Check out the details of this important ministry:

http://www.irefusa.org/

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Last Dispatch from Africa

"We loved you so much that we shared with you

not only God's Good News

but our own lives, too."

1 Thes. 1:8

I regret to tell you... this may be the last blog entry for Uganda!

But we are excited to move forward into tomorrow and into India to seewhat the plan is there. Thank you for bearing through this with us with minimal internet availability. We have a few videos that we are eager to post, but the opportunity has not come up yet.

In Jinja. First and foremost: we went bungee jumping. This was a growing and spiritual experience for us three and our host philip. There is something inside all of us that is a deep yearning to jump off a cliffhead first. And we found the freedom that comes with it. Andrew wrotea compelling piece of literature that accurately described what all took place. But i don't think that anything could do it justice- you are just going to have to do it yourself!

The past few days in this week have been very laid back and relationship oriented. Our time has been spent with our room mates and ladies that work for the house. Last night we spent the night justlaughing. It was Christian, Evan, Andrew, Philip, Hanifa, Betty,Rachel, and Jacob. And really- we didn't watch the movie. It was a Nigerian soap-opera that we twisted to become so comical we ended uprolling on the ground. Lines like, "I will give you millions of money...." and "my name is macy, spelled "M-A-R-C-Y" are so funny at late night especially when english isn't their first language.

There is something happening in our house that is so special. Things are beginning to liven up. There is joy and laughter and serving. It is funny how a lot of our time and energy has been spent on our roommates. Digging in with them, listening, learning and serving. One of our themed verses for this time is 1 Thes. 1:8, "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too." And through time and relationship we are able to dig deeper and pray for them. A new guy named Jacob has become our great friend whomwe are focusing on Proverbs 27:17, "as iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." we have got to walk side by side with him as hehas become a great friend and encouragement. A few new people have been walking into our lives as well which has been amazing. as we meet new room mates that come out of no where (well, Atlanta, Georgia and other places) they are speaking to us.

We are getting wisdom about the future: what to do next. We are beginning that process of what life will look like when we get home. "Now that we have been to Africa- aren't we responsible?" Now our eyes have been opened and it has been so cool to learn from all of these missionaries we've met so far here in Jinja what life and mission work might looklike going back to the states. From much wise counsel and prayer weare excited to go home and utilize what God has given us so we canagain come back more and serve HIM even more with our talents and gifts. And talking to them has helped us to further our adventure infinding our identities and how we can use all of this to serve andglorify God. To give to God what He has given us.

So tomorrow it is very possible we leave for a two-over-nighter camp/minstry thing. we are not totally sure what it involves yet, but Philip is going to have us partner with another organization in a town 60 km away. there we will be joining their HIV/AIDS outreach to offerthem education of prevention and the hope in Jesus.

UP UP AND AWAY!!!!!!

~Evan

"As iron sharpens iron,

a friend sharpens a friend."

Proverbs 27:17

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Postcards from the Edge

Pictures from Bungee Jumping on the Nile

The platform.

Can you see Andrew, Christian or Evan, dangling down below, or by the boat?

The jump platform, at night.

On the Edge

The Jump.

There is something about standing on the edge. This past saturday we had the opportunity to go bungee jumping. All i really have to say is that whoever decided that taking a rubber band, tying it to your ankles, and jumping off a cliff was a good idea must have been a very special person. Ever since we arrived in Jinja the prospect of jumping has loomed over us like some kind of giant anvil that you are sure can't stay up there much longer. On January 3rd we all piled into the small black mini van, and drove about ten minutes to the Nile. When we pulled into the small resort that hosted this particular jump, it became painfully clear what was going to happen.

The resort had erected what appeared to be a giant siege tower like something out of 'Lord of the Rings.' It was a 45 foot tower with thirty five foot arm, and a little gazebo looking thing on the end of that arm. This whole contraption was perched on on a 100 foot cliff. For those of you doing the math thats about 145 feet give or take. To give you some frame of reference thats about a ten story building. So here we are, starring up at this contraption from the the restaurant. We paid at the bar in the restaurant, and started the hike up to the tower.

I was the first one to go. The guys had been kind enough to let me have my desired spot. The walk out to the arm felt like something out of a movie. Two kiwi guys stood out at the end waving reassuring me to keep walking. I made the full length of the arm, and was doing my best to act relaxed. Asking questions like "is that climbing webbing" and "how many times have you jumped", And then saying thing like "Oh yah i climb i know its safe... its good stuff." However at that moment my confidence in the equipment was fading at an astonishing rate. After some more small talk the smaller of the two men said " See the restaurant? after you stand up you are going to hop to the edge and jump to the restaurant." After closer examination it was clear that some one had painted a big arrow on the top of that building, as if saying "if you have forgotten it's this way, stupid." So there I was standing on the edge. I don't know how to describe the feeling of standing there. It was some where between euphoria and utter loathing of whoever suggested jumping.

Then behind me somebody was saying something. It took me have way through "two" to realize that those where numbers, and that something had to happen when he said "one." He said "one" and with all the strength in my legs i jumped for that big arrow. I was hurling towards the earth at a astonishing rate. It all happened in what felt like slow motion. Then suddenly the rope around my ankles tightened, And every drop of blood in my body wanted to be in my face -- my eye balls to be specific. And then i was headed back to where i had just came from. This process repeated about ten times. When i had stopped bouncing they lowered me down to a waiting raft.

The edge is a place that is never a fun place to be, i have decided. This experience was probably one of the most amazing things i have ever had the opportunity to do. i would do it again in a heart beat. But there is something about standing on the edge. It sucks, and it is terrifying, and it is necessary.

~Andrew

Sunday, January 4, 2009

V-team took a Leap!

Yesterday evening around 6 PM, V-team went bungee jumping over the nile! It was amazing! First Andrew, then Christian, next was Philip, and finally Evan! We had a blast! The fall was 150 feet, from the east bank of the nile here in Jinja.

We will have pictures up soon!

Bungee Jumping

-- from Christian's Facebook Note:

Okay, its the morning and I am back from bungee jumping of course...and it was AWESOME!!! God is so good! man! Okay, I will explain...our whole house family gets in the car to go: Joe and Melissa (americans who are the house managers/onsite suubi managers), Amber (american volunteer), Josh (canadian volunteer), Amanda (american volunteer), Jacob (american volunteer), Betty (Ugandan, house staff), Kimbi (betty's 2 year old son), Rachel (betty's 8 yr old sister), Philip (Ugandan YL dude), Anifa (Ugandan, house staff and YL volunteer, Evan, Andrew and Myself. We get to the place and we see a big town, probably 50 ft high, on the river bank (the nile). It stretches out probably another 50 ft over the water. However, this tower sits on a cliff. From the ground to the water is another 100 feet. So, altogether, its 150 ft high, and over the water. There is a small restaurant down stream about 50 yards that sits on the cliff side as well. we go over there and pay. I also paid for philip to do a jump. Ugandans are much cheaper than americans. Gosh our high priced economy! So, after paying, we walk over to the tower and go up. We all get up there and Andrew has been asking to go first so he walks out to the end and there are 2 New Zealander guys that run the whole thing. Andrew sits down, gets tied up and 3...2...1...he jumps. Its about a 2 second free fall, and you come about 15 ft from touching the water. Then he gets down and I go....i sit down and get tied in and talk to the NZ dudes for a bit. Its time to jump. I asked if i could do a swan dive and they were like "totally bro!". so 3...2...1...i crouch down and jump, I spread my arms like wings and jump as far and as hard forward as i can. Out in front of you is the restaurant where you pay and the dudes tell you to jump towards the restaurant. The further out you jump, the better the experience, because it cause you to swing more as you are bouncing. So with arms spread, falling, I felt free, I felt liberated, I did not feel fear. I felt like i was flying. What lasted only 2 seconds felt like an eternity. Its was the most exhilarating experience i have ever had. The excelerator at eliche's has nothing on this! It was so cool, because once I was there, i wasn't scared. I was pumped and of course my heart was racing, but that was just adrenaline. It was amazing. I jumped out pretty far I guess because everyone told me that I swung really far back on my first bounce up. I felt like i was gonna touch water! So, I bounced a bunch, then they bring a raft over and two guys pull you in, untie you and then drop you at the bank. The walk back up is rough! haha. After me, philip went, then evan, and then Betty (our cook), and Amanda did a tandem jump (they jumped together). It was a great night, hanging out and getting to jump was amazing for sure. So that was bungee jumping.