Sleep deprived, slightly disjointed

I'm sitting in the JFK airport in New York. Just ate a McDonald's snack wrap. Not going to get to have another one of those for a while... Bring on the schwarmas!

I am remembering the giant turkey leg I helped eat at the Reniassance fair on Saturday.


I have to say I'm feeling excited. The landing in New York was rough - lots of up and down - and I got kind of sick. McDonald's cures a multitude of ills.

Jason was up all night last night. I got about 4 hours. Nothing like saving it all for the last minute :) ...


We have an absolutely ridiculous amount of luggage. Two 70 lb bags, one 50 lb bag, and one 40 something. Plus two concocted carry ons - Jason is taking a picture as we speak. He likes to do that :)

Notice the sweet rainbow ribbon lashing the wireless antenna to the giant reel of cable? That's mine. Traveling in style... hehe Only two of the checked bags have wheels... Maybe I should've bulked up a little more. hehe

Well, I just wanted everyone to know that we are safe thus far. Keep our bags in your prayers. Not much in them is ours. We are camels for the Youth Center... hehe. We did pack all 10 packs of cheese. Definitely not the level of cheese I have become accustomed to, but way better than nothing...

Amanda's wedding pictures are up. They are pretty cute. Go to www.SpotOnStudio.com. Click on "my gallery" then click on "Scott and Amanda Ellifrits" and Viola! Here's a tasty sample...




Here's the cake that Rachel made


Jason wants the computer now so I'm going to wrap it up. (He says I am making him sound like a "jerk-tard"... what he really wants is more food.) We are going to go buy some Chinese food. Yay!

If anyone wants to get emails when I post this wonderful stuff (or when Jason posts, but let's face it, mine are the highlight... hehe) so that you can know to check my blog, just send me an email at my gmail address and I will add you to the list.

Plane Tickets Acquired

We finally purchased plane tickets for Guinea-Bissau!!!!!

You know how we said that we were only going to be there for 3 months this time... Well... we decided to stay longer. We are leaving September 12th and we will be there until mid April

We wanted to make sure that we had enough time to finish all of the stuff we want to do and to Be the most help to the youth center while our teammates are gone.
Another reason that we decided to stay longer is so that we can have a chance to go on a few trips to see more of Africa. What's the point of traveling half-way around the world if we are sequestered inside the youth center the whole time? Most of the Guineans who work at the youth center have families that live in the villiages, and several of them have invited us to go with them to visit their family for a weekend. We never had time before because we were working so much, but this time we are going to do it. We need to make sure to take along a few live chickens for presents

Annother exciting thing about the trip is that the plane tickets cost the same amount no matter how long our layover was in Europe on the way home. So, we decided to take a little vacation. We have a 2 and a half week layover in Frankfurt, Germany and we hope to be able to travel by rail to the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy. The money for the time in Europe isn't part of the money we are raising for our time in Guinea-Bissau, so we are going to have to spend a little dough, but we are planning on doing some camping and bargain hunting (you know Jason). Besides, how often will we have free plane tickets to Europe? Anyone interested in joining us in Central Europe for a few weeks in the end of April??? Seriously, it would be fun!

Pictures of Camp!!!

Since I've been back in the working world for a week and have caught up on my sleep I thought I would post a few pictures from Simpson Park Youth Camp (SPYC). For those of you that have never had the privilege of attending SPYC let me fill you in. It is a week of living in a dorm with 20 Jr High or High School girls, eating camp food (which is actually quite tasty), not sleeping, serious conversations, laughing hysterically, great preaching, grass throwing, craft making, relay game playing, God worshiping, spider killing, cold showering (although not that often anymore) fun. I love it. It is literally the highlight of my summer.

Group shot of the Youth Camp Members (no one ever gets to see the funny one)


Most of you know that Jase and I got the opportunity to speak at camp this year on Missionary Day. It was fantastic. We were really really nervous and I had a bit of a rough start, but afterwards lots of people told me that I am just like my mom (she's a Nazarene pastor).
Camp starts off for the counselors on Saturday. We went to camp in the morning, picked up our teammates and their kids, and the 6 of us headed to the airport to get Fernando. We waited for a long time at the airport and finally he arrived. He hadn't slept on the airplane so he was pretty wiped out. In true American form we took him right to McDonalds .

After that we went to camp and did counselor training and on Sunday the Youth arrived. Sunday night is always a special time at Simpson Park. We go out under the tent on the athletic field, put some tarps down, crank up some fun music, and play some seriously messy games. Some of the funniest moments come from a game where you had to look at things hidden under buckets and try to identify them the fastest. The trick is that one bucket had a human head under it

As you look at these pictures take a minute to notice Bob. I have never seen him looking so sinister before...




A few other highlights of that night were:
The Snot Shoot - People shooting Coco Puffs out of their noses onto the whipped cream covered face of their partner...


People eating twinkies where the whipped cream had been removed and replaced with a gross mixture containing cereal, mustard, and pickle relish...

Tastes good, doesn't it Abby?


And, of course, Twister. Not with a regular twister board - the SPYC version. A tarp with thick circles of Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, and Pickle Relish...



What's wrong Katie, you didn't want a mustard facial???

The week progressed with lots more fun things and a lot of heat. We will not talk about what happened in the counselor vs Sr. High soccer challenge, but I can say that in the rematch the counselors won handily...

Go Fernando? Can you pick him out of the crowd?

We are not scared Tim. Ok, maybe a little...


Luckily kind people brought boxes of freeze pops on the back of their golf carts and sped around the athletic field.


Everyone had a good time at the Wellspring Convert...



You've got to love the banquet. This year with a camo theme...
Who knew camo could look so good

Now that's some serious committment to the banquet theme...

Oh no!!! We lost Brenda!!!!!!

That is one nice looking group of counselors if I do say so myself... Where's Jason, oh yeah, taking the picture...


And then we have the talent show...
Joy dorm rockin' it

Tim on the accordian

The next "boy" band sensation

On Friday morning we had a pretty cool service down by the pond

Wellspring unplugged


I could never leave out Gordy games...

Do not mess with Amanda...

Over? Under? I'm so confused.

The game of dislocated shoulders... classic

Who needs shins anyway? Let the bruising begin!

JUMP!!!

A Gary Bonderinko original... 4 way volleyball. Can I get a woot? You know you love it.

Watch out Brenda!!!!!

All-in-all it was a great week and I can't wait to go back next year. What did you think about it?

Coming to the US

Most of you know that it is pretty much almost impossible to get a Visa to come to the US if you are a single, 20-something, non land owning, African male. One of our closest friends from Africa, Fernando Gomes Co, recently got a Visa to study in the US.

Fernando has been through the YFC English program and internship at the Youth for Christ Center in Guinea-Bissau. Since then he has been teaching English at the Youth Center.

Fernando is a very good teacher and is now the director of English at the Youth Center.
Because you can only learn so much English in a classroom, our teammates wanted him to spend a year studying in the States so that when they leave he will be totally prepared to run the program on his own.

A few pics of Fernando at a photo shoot Jason did to get nice pictures of the staff at the center. I know he looks young, but he is my age. (They love to rock the man-prees in Guinea-Bissau)

Fernando will be arriving in the US on Saturday, July 28^th. We are picking him up from the airport in Detroit and taking him right to Simpson Park Camp. You heard me right his first experience in the US will be counseling in the youth program with Jason all week, so that will be pretty cool. We are planning on bringing some bread and rice with us, because lets face it, adjusting to food in another country is hard enough… and he has to start out on camp food, which has been known to make the boldest of stomachs quesy…. Hehe

After camp he is headed down to Florida (now that's more like his kind of weather ) because he has been accepted by the University of West Florida to participate in their "Intensive English Program" for two semesters. Over the Christmas break he is planning on going up to Vancouver, WA where he can spend time with the Lighthouse Church (Pastor Mike and Mario, that have been long time friends and frequent visitors and workers in Guinea-Bissau).

Having quality nationals run the ministry in Guinea-Bissau has always been one of the main goals of our teammates who started the work there. If we just go in and help and then leave the help is over, but if we train the people there to lead they are going to be much more effective and they are going to make a continue making a difference for their whole lives. Beautiful buildings and nice equipment are only so good, unless you have godly men and women that can utilize it for God's Kingdom. Fernando has proven to be that type of person over the years and it is exciting that he is getting this opportunity.

As you all know living in the US (especially when attending college) is not cheap. Fernando's expenses are going to be around $16,000 for the year.

1. His plane ticket will be about $1,800 to $2,200.

2. His tuition for two semester at UWF is $6,000

3. We are hoping that he could live with a host family in Pensacola and if you all know a Christian family that might want to do this then that would be great. If not, the room and board was quoted at $8,000 for the whole year.

The reason for this blog is that I would like to ask you to consider donating some money towards Fernando's trip. A lot of you are students or people who are just starting out, and I totally understand that. God gives us different means to help people at different times in our lives. You can always share this with your friends, family, Sunday school class, etc. A lot of people have asked how they can make a difference in Africa, and this is a really good way. Also, if you guys have any creative ideas feel free to use them I honestly don't think that any gift is too small. If a hundred people just give $5 then that makes a big difference.

Fernando is going to record a CD (he is one of my favorite singers) to raise money and our teammates are going to be selling some quilted bags (like my purse) that were made in Africa. YFC gave the Youth Center staff and the people at Fernando's church an opportunity to give as well. Jason and I have purchased a laptop for Fernando to use while he is here and then take back to Guinea-Bissau. The reason I am sharing this is I just want you to know that I am not asking you to consider something that we are not willing to do.

Pastor Mario, Fernando's good friend, has said that money could be sent to their church and they will set up an account there to receive it (so it would be a tax-deductible donation). You'll want to make the check out to "The Lighthouse, A Christian Church" and then mail it to the address below. Make sure you put a note on the check that it is for Fernando Gomes Co.

The Lighthouse, A Christian Church

7808 NE 94th avenue

Vancouver, WA 98662

If you have any questions about this at all please let me know. Thanks for reading this!

What a Day :-)

You know how sometimes you just need some really really good news? One of my friends just got some. There were some false accusations made and I have just been praying so much that the truth would be seen. Today it all came out and I am so happy I can stop having tears in my eyes. (I know only I cry with all emotions) We serve a God who wants a relationship with us, who cares about everything in our lives. That totally blows me away. Just when you think you are up against something that will tear your life apart He comes in and the truth just shines. I feel like hugging about 20 million people.

I've got to agree with Chris Tomlin on this one:

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Pledge... sort of

This summer has certainly been a trip so far. Africa was crazy-busy but if Jason and I thought we were going to come back to the States and kick back, we were wrong. A lot of the running around since we have been back has been good – we have seen lots of people that we missed. The hard part has just been not being settled.

I know, I kind of sound like a broken record, right?

Y'all know I don't really like it when I don't know....

Here's the thing, so far this summer every time I feel like I have something nailed down it slips out of my hands, BUT

God

always

provides.

Simple words... They really mean a lot to me right now.

In Africa it was really easy to be content. All I had to do was open my eyes for about 5 seconds and see that whatever I had I was the lucky one. I feel like it's not so easy here in America.

I think I have just slipped back into the attitude of "this is what I deserve"... Not about new clothes... or a big house... I'm not really talking about things at all. I'm talking about a sense of security, knowing what's coming next, a plan for my life, etc.

In Africa I didn't have any way of knowing what was going to happen and when stuff happened a lot of times I didn't understand why. I had a big picture, but you all know I am not a big picture person. I was totally ok with that... most of the time... I felt like I learned so much about going with the flow. I mean, when we missed our plane on the way out because they randomly decided that the Monday flight should go out at 10 am instead of 11 pm I was not fazed.

So why aren't these lessons moving with me? Why do I want to plan out my life and shut God out of the process? Surely not because I am scared... He has always taken care of me... Do I think I know more than God about how my life should go... ha...

Ok, here's the deal. Whatever happens for the rest of summer I am ok.

- if have a place to live

or if we don't

- if the people I'm praying for want to talk about God

or if they don't

- if a have a break though on SPYC follow up

or if I just use the good stuff I did last year

- if Jason gets a job

or if he doesn't

- win or loose, rich or poor, tired or rested,

happy or sad, full of mac and cheese or hungry...

I will be content.

I know that God is on my side.

I want what He has for me.

You know, life is good isn't it?