Smile in the land of smiles!

Hello from Ton Sai, Thailand All is well from our end. We are enjoying meeting people and climbing. The climbers here are pretty good. Christmas was as good as it can get in a country that doesn't quite recognize Jesus. There is not much for me to share. Most of the sites are not new, yet things still amaze me. The pollution and how animals are treated is rough on a soul. Seeing the poverty and feeling like a tourist is an interesting experience. We are here to bring light in a dark place, to love each other well. I think we are doing that! Thanks for praying. Thailand is not an easy place to BE. Have a great New Years. Jordan

Bye Sheep.

Hello! 

My team and I are off to the Land of Smiles (Thailand) tomorrow morning. I will try to get on here once a week, we'll see how that goes. I do ask that you would pray for us. Any and all is appreciated. This is my last trip for a time with YWAM, so I want to finish well and share God's love with others. Hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Years. I will be home sometime in March, but until then...

Love,

Jordan

Thailand or bust

Okay, so maybe we are not leaving quite yet, but does six days count as being a lot of time?

The last few weeks has been delightful, but in a little over two months it will all be over and we will all be going home, traveling or sticking around for awhile.

To end, an Anne Lamott quote...

"My friend Terry says that when you need to make a decision, in your work or otherwise, and you don’t know what to do, just do one thing or the other, because the worst that can happen is that you will have made a terrible mistake."

To the water...

It has been quite the week here. Lives have surely been changed. It is crazy some of the transformations, whether attitudes or full on excitement for life. 

The picture below is the line we had for baptisms. There is one missing. We dunked 18 of our lovely students. Wow! It was pretty awesome.

That is about it. Words can not express all that happened, but there are only three weeks left until we head out. Off to Bangkok we go!

Thank you all.

i know the sun must set to rise.

As we gear up for the last four weeks until eight teams head out for eight different countries all over the World, there is an atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm.

We all want to make a difference, to find out the niche in this world where we can actually change it.

How can we use who we are, the person God put together, to serve, to share, and to love others (specifically rock climbers and travelers) for two months?

How do we stay relevant, while standing on the Rock? How do we change a generation focused on self? How do we use our seemingly random passions to make a dent in people's lives?

I suppose life is a journey of figuring out how to do all that, but I will find all the boldness in me to accomplish it. The end.

I just got Psychotic Intertia-ed

The crew that's going to Thailand

Hello loved ones,

I am unsure on whether anyone reads this thing anymore (Parentals do not count, they get me face to face every week thanks to Skype). Much has happened this week. We had a lively speaker who shook up our ideas and even theology a bit.
I highly recommend clicking on the link below to hear what we hear (and you can see the pdf). Start with Identity-Session 2-The Importance...and move on.
http://www.patrickdodson.net/Podcast/Podcast.html

Now, I will tell you, he says things in an extreme way to poke you, to get you to think and talk to God about what you really believe.

Also, Psychotic Intertia is the book by Patrick Dodson. It rocked me. Find it on Amazon

“I do not feel obliged to 

believe that the same God who 

has endowed us with senses, 

reason, and intellect has 

intended us to forgo their use 

and by some other means to 

give us knowledge which we 

can attain by them.” Galileo

Hammock, book, and a french press

I've been reading a good book recently. If you want to be challenged, read it. It is called Psychotic Inertia by a fellow named Patrick Dodson. He is coming to speak on our school.
So, I just wanted to say, "Hello."
New Zealand is doing well. No major shaking. Soon and very soon I can announce where I am headed for 2 months of outreach. Until then, I am playing with Apple's newest software update on my iPod. It is sweet! Also, shout out to my mom for the amazing coffee. Thank you Topeca for existing.
Peace.

There is always hope.

Oh Happy Day from Aotearoa,

I hope you are well. We have been quite busy as of recent. The New Zealand National YWAM Gathering is presently taking over our little base. This just means a bunch of people are here from the other YWAM New Zealand bases to hangout. One of the old YWAM Presidents is here, his name is Frank Naea. He is awesome.

I have been super blessed recently. Paying for the schools as a staff can sometimes be a bit stressful. Thanks to my working at home and in New Zealand, much of everything was paid for and with the help of two lovely supporters I am only needing to pay $1200 USD for outreach. WHAT?! I know, I was shocked. 

So, this is an invitation to anyone who would like to donate and watch the amount go away. Details below the picture.

Speaking of outreach, I know where I will be headed, but because our students are not in the know yet, I can not tell you. If you want to e-mail me back, and I will let you know, or you can ask my parents. 

Below is a picture of Christchurch. It is mainly for my mom, we walked down this street from our hostel to go to the square. Well, there it is Mom. To the right of this view are some amazing restaurants, like Bangalore Polo Club. One of the best cities...gone.

Tax Deductible option:

send a check using the instructions below*Please do not put my name anywhere on the check. Include a separate note, with my name on it, requesting a donation be made by YWAM.

YWAM

Accounting Department

PO Box 3000

Garden Valley, TX 

75771-3000

I bought some eggs to cook.

Tidings loved ones!
It is amazing the different greetings I have come up with for my updates. Tidings makes me think of that Christmas song and with the weather like it is here, I have to pinch myself to remind me it is spring, not fall. If I ever lived here, I would never get used to the opposite seasons. I am writing this update waiting for my parents to be free for a skype chat.

This past Sunday a few of us went to the delightful Oxford Farmer's Market. I bought some eggs and am excited to cook them. I am not sure why, maybe it's the homegrown-ness of the whole event that inspires me. Maybe it is the simplicity of life, meeting people, and supporting local farmers that is neat. Either way, wherever I am, I hope to visit the market each week, if not have a booth of flowers or pottery.

Our students are here! They are so cool! If you feel led to pray, we need God to come and heal and take heavy loads. For Him to come in a BIG way. Each one of them is in need of really meeting God and I can just feel His excitement for that.

Enjoy fair food, Okies. I could go for some of that fatty goodness right about now! Peace to you. 

Baaa

From the land of many sheep, I say, "Good mornin'!" We are about finished with our staff training, as the rest of leadership training begins the moment our first student steps off the plane, which is on Thursday. It is crazy to think it all begins and doesn't stop until the end of February. Our students that are coming are longing for adventure and to grow with their relationship with their Creator, and after they are poured into, we go out to share. We are doing two schools at once, with the Justice school rocking our backpacking socks off. Please be praying for safe journey's for our students, for open and soft hearts.
All is well over here. The weather is warming and the sheep are a sheepin'. Peace to you from the Ends of the Earth.

Oh, and here is the staff for the backpacker school. We like being outside, but even more we love Jesus.

Snow pellets falling.

Good afternoon from a land far, far, away. There is not too much to update as of yet. We are in the middle of staff training and also the Rugby World Cup. I have read over my last update a few times and am amazed at how bad it was. I wrote it after 24 hours of airplane travel, so just tuck that update right into your e-mail trash. I suppose it got the point across of making it here safely. 

So, I am trading college football season for rugby this year. Although, it is not the same at all. The vibe is very different. I noticed while watching New Zealand's team play, in a room full of Kiwis, that the amount of yelling is a ton less. I tend to yell all the way through each great play and had to stop myself every time. When they do make a try (goal/touchdown) there are only a few louder claps. Maybe I wasn't in the right place. Two of my Kiwi friends get this update, maybe they can enlighten us.

Some good tunes I am enjoying as of recent: Ben Rector (Something Like This), Mumford and Sons (Sigh No More), Enter the Worship Circle (any album), and always Waterdeep (any album). One of my favorite memories of my life involved a hammock, a cup of coffee, and a record player. Music speaks things about life in a way nothing else can. Go find some great music and let it soothe your soul.

Here are a couple pictures from a few moments when snow pellets fell from the sky. It was so neat! The first picture was taken right before Jeremy (the fellow on the left and our brave base leader) got hit in the eye by one. The second is on the porch of my house.

Home, sweet, New Zealand

Well, for those that don't know I did make it to Oxford, New Zealand. There is a chill in the air, but warm coffee in my tummy. Some of my favorite people are here and boy we sure have fun. We are all so excited for this school. Thank you all for supporting me with love and prayers. Blessings.

The Rugby World Cup is in town, go All Blacks. They are New Zealand's team. There jerseys are all black.

First star to the right and straight on 'til morning...

I just wanted to post a link to several videos. In a few days I will be on a plane back to one of my favorite places on the planet. Christchurch, New Zealand; a city devastated by earthquakes. The videos show what the Central Business District looks like as of August, six months after the earthquake that killed over 100 people. The videos show the red zone. The red zone is the area where only structural engineers and really, really cool people are allowed. I would love to help clean up the city, but it still isn't safe enough for us to go. Now, it is nothing like what Japan has suffered, but I try not to compare. Things just stink no matter what a lot of times, but it is how people respond that brings light to the darkness.

Click on this to go to the link.

On another note, please be praying for my good friend Andrea's nephew, Talbey, the little guy needs supernatural restoration to his three year old body.

And to end, a quote that is really great.

"...to be in a relationship with God is to be loved purely and furiously. And a person who thinks himself unlovable cannot be in a relationship with God because he can't accept who God is; a Being that is love. We learn that we are lovable or unlovable from other people...That is why God tells us so many times to love each other."

-Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz)

hello, hope you are well!

I just wanted to share this recording. It is by a fellow named Dalton Lifesey. He is 26 years old and has more wisdom in his right pinky toe than many people, maybe an exaggeration, who knows?

I am not usually the person that can turn on my computer or iPod and listen to someone talk, unless it is NPR. I think of a million others things I would rather do, like clean the toilet or go outside to weed the garden and sweat in the over 100 degree heat.

Instead, I found something good. Dalton is talking about community. A subject or a way of life; something I am passionate to see, not just in my life, but to see others live in.

So, if you are inclined, the link is below.

DaltonLifesey.com

In other news, I will be jumping on a plane soon (Sept. 4th). The day after Oklahoma State football defeats Louisiana. This time I plan to return home sometime in March, not July. Stay tuned to my adventure by reading my e-mails, or don't, but I will still update either way. Thank you for everything. I can not do a thing without your support and encouragement!

Traveling...

I am reposting this from an author (Chris Guillebeau) that inspires/challenges me to step out. His original post is here.

AUGUST 15, 2011

WHY TRAVEL

Because when you leave behind the familiar, you can't help but be changed by the foreign.

Because comfort zones become constricting zones over time.

Because the world was meant to be experienced, not imagined.

Because you'll meet people who are different than you. (Are we all the same? Not really, but that's OK.)

Because it will frustrate and annoy you at times, and you'll be better because of it.

Because you are afraid, and it's always good to make peace with your fears.

Where to?

That's up to you -- it's a big world out there. The choice of destinations is far less important than the choice to depart.

When you return you'll look back on your journey and think, Did that really happen? Was I really in the land of _____?

And then you'll go through reentry and reverse culture shock, and then you'll face a choice.

Option 1: to reminisce, to think about those days when you were brave, and that time when dreaming was something you did wide awake.

Option 2: to take another look at the map, and start planning the next adventure.

Which will it be?

________________________________________________________________

I would add that travel helps me see things that I would not normally see if I stayed in Tulsa. It helps me stay grounded, realizing I am quite small (not just physically), but that this world is huge and it is not about me. Travel means many things to many people. It is great to be home though, but I am off soon, traveling South for a new season in New Zealand.

love coffee.

It is quiet around my house. Pandora is playing, but the amount of free time I have while I am home makes it still. I am loving being home. It was beyond any prayer (out loud or in my mind) to get to come home. HE knows better than we do.

I am at my old coffee shop to work a couple shifts a week while I am home. They have new bottomless portafilters. See the picture above. Doesn't that look glorious?

Being home makes the idea of my next adventure in New Zealand that much better. I am excited for our staff team, meeting and getting to know people, and being back for more adventures in the the most beautiful country. It will be great, you should come!

If you didn't get my most recent update on life, well then, let's change that.

Read THIS <--- click on that, yes, right there, or left...ahhh

"No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers, has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath... We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?" -Donald Miller,Through Painted Deserts"
— Donald Miller

back in Native America, finally!

Home. One word that encompasses more words, thoughts, and stories than we are capable of producing. For me it means, family, the joy of having all my books in one place, adored pets, my bed, my own bathroom, falling asleep while watching something on TV, comfort/rest, clothes I have forgotten about; like re-reading an old favorite and finding something new you didn't notice before.

Was met at the airport by my friend Nichole. Thanks friend!

Coming home after a long absence gives you new eyes. You see the things that you love about it and not the stuff that makes you mad. I have not gotten annoyed with all the construction around town, although it is day 1, we'll see how long that lasts.

Amazing how a place affects a person. A reason why I loved my major in college: geography. The study of place and people. The reasons a person refuses to move, even though the place they call home is a disaster; so interesting.

One thing I was marveling about yesterday was Country music. I'm not very country, but I do love being from Oklahoma. I am a city girl, if we can consider Tulsa a city. People from New York City would scoff at Tulsa. Anyway, I was thinking about how my childhood is marked by a constant country tune on. Good ole Faith, Garth, George, Tim, Reba and Martina; the 90s of country music. I used to have an extra large shirt with Waynonna Judd's face on it. Those pictures are only to be seen by a select few (my parents and I). Or how 'bout the time I made my friend do a lip sync to Shania Twain instead of Blink 182? Brutal. I hope that didn't hurt us too much, socially, in middle school; sorry Adrienne!

SO I am home, yes, in Tulsa. If you would like to hang out, get a coffee, eat food, see a movie, or be in the same air conditioned room, please call me. I am only here for five weeks. I jump onto a plane September 4th, for another New Zealand spring. Oh life's joys! If you seem to have lost my number, e-mail me ( jhaggard19@gmail.com ) and I will get that to you!

Stay cool America...

my newest update.

check this out.

Friends are cool.

I get by with a little help from my friends.

John Lennon

Friends are like a good, warm cup of coffee on a chilly day. Friends define a place. My favorite spots in this world are defined as such because of the memories I made with my beloved friends. They are what makes life worth living, mostly.

They also come and go like the changing of seasons. The flowers grow (and in Oklahoma quickly die as Summer and heat approaches), and the leaves change colors. My passion is to completely enjoy those times, to be whole heartedly there.

Donald Miller puts it best, " My hope is your story will be about changing, about getting something beautiful born inside of you, about learning to love a woman or a man, about learning to love a child, about moving yourself around water, around mountains, around friends, about learning to love others more than we love ourselves, about learning oneness as a way of understanding God. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone."

strong coffee warming up my fingers.

"Rubble is the ground on which our deepest friendships are built."

-Anne Lamott

I got to visit the land where the incredible treaty between the native Indigenous people (Maori) and the British was signed. The Treaty of Waitangi brought two groups/cultures of people and made them one under God. It was and still is a covenant. The story of New Zealand is the most God willed story I have ever heard. If you don't know it or their national anthem, then stop what you are doing and check it out. The anthem is called, "God defend New Zealand."

On a different note, don't you just love a good book that inspires you to dream, imagine, and create? I just finished Donald Miller's, "Through Painted Desert's" and am currently reading Anne Lamott's, "Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith." These books, to me, are like a song that expresses my heart, my feelings, or thoughts in that incredible way, when my own words are at a loss.

I have been thinking a lot about life. What does it look like for everyone and also what do I desire it to look like, because ultimately it is me who chooses the path I walk (In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9)? I have come to really realize that everyone's life knowing Jesus is as different as you are from me, thankfully. Some desire a life of almost monk-ness, to make up a word, and some a life of simplicity, others adventure, and so on. I am thinking I fit less in the monk category of life and more in the simple, adventure kind. While some people dream of feeding children in Africa, having a good paying job, getting a Ph.D. or living in a hut in South America. I tend to dream of living out of a van in North America, smiling at the person walking down the street, and enjoying the life's miracles. I dream of loving my friends and family with a softer heart. Of serving the people I work with, and always being awed by the sunset. I long to enjoy life in the moment.
It is when I am in awe that I shrug off the worry of not being holy enough, or worthy enough. Beauty (the beach, a mountain, Castle Hill, a starry night) brings me back to the Glory of God, to the simple truth of the Faith I fight for...that He loves me.

My time here in Auckland, this past month, has shown me something which brings me deep sadness. Pop culture has ruined Non American's perception of Americans. It truly has. I am finding myself battling against this idea of Americans being an egotistic, "we are better than everyone," outspoken, and close minded people. The second I talk, I reveal my place of origin and it is like hiking up a sick mountain or swimming upstream to help people realize I am not that. I sometimes overcompensate by being quiet, humble, and open.

I can not help but to think about everything I will do at home, because traveling makes going home that much better.

I will be getting my hair cut, by this one gal in Tulsa. I will get to see some of my favorite people, and not just see them but hug them and tell them how great they are. I will get to laugh with them and hear their stories. I can't wait until that. I can play with my dog and take her on walks, possibly even chase her around the neighborhood. I can go drink coffee, real drip coffee, which New Zealand fails to have. Stupid long blacks, similar to an Americano. It's okay, but it's not it. I look forward to watching movies with the Parents and going to eat Mexican with them. Oh sweet Mexican food (it is interesting that food is such a big thing you miss when it has been ages since you've had what was your everyday thing). I would love to go to a football game, and I just looked at the schedule, it is September 3rd, a day before I come back here! I am going, anyone want to come?

Oh home, I am done for in happiness.

Plan to be surprised.

That quote has been going through my head all week. It is too funny how you think times in your life will go and then BAM, it all changes. With one tiny phone call from my parents my plans for this winter changed. If you are starting to wonder what I am talking about, then perfect, that is what I am going for.

I have been working at my job here in Auckland for about three weeks now and am seriously amazed by people. I work at a place that gets call about people wanting their parking tickets to be waived. $20-$90 can be hefty fines in this crazy economy, especially when they live in Christchurch and are up to their eyeballs in fed up with things, such as never ending earthquakes. Anyway, people are not happy and I am reminded how important it is to treat other humans with respect and even delight...otherwise, it is a stupidly negative environment. Another blogger/author wrote about this today. He says, "be nice to the cleaners." Read it here. True. Anyone, that is cleaning anything should be highly regarded.

So to wind up this post I am beyond excited to announce that I will coming HOME. That's RIGHT! I am coming home for a little over a month. I thank my Dad for his constant flying and saving his points up so that this gal can jump on a plane back to her favorite place, home.

That means I am canceling our skype dates for real live, face to face dates (coffee dates, coke dates, and especially queso dates). I will be eating Mexican food ALL DAY. Elote, McNellies, Dallas, OKC. Tulsa get yourself ready!

I love when plans change like this...

Rea, you can think of this as a really cool birthday present...20 days late.

Sky City, Auckland's Needle.

a burrito is not a wrap.

And Pico de Gallo is not just tomatoes. I got to have a real live burrito today. It may sound ridiculous, but anything familiar with home is wonderful. It tasted so similar to Qdoba that I could almost sense the 100 degree heat you all are feeling. I also pictured the one Qdoba right by campus (Okla State) and think that skipping a class for Mexican was always a good idea (which never happened parents, yeah right). I was also witnessing a Kiwi try one for the first time ever, that's right EVER. That is a minor tragedy in my book, although I may have said something more along the lines of sinning, but I am a bit over dramatic (don't even think about singing that song). That is my short post for today, to bed! Have a great day, especially Becca Simons! Happy Birthday!

I thought I would post some fun pictures I took/edited on my ipod, thanks to all the awesome free applications. Enjoy!

Above is a picture of a dormant volcano.

A beautiful skyline of Auckland, where I am working.

"...sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself..."
Donald Miller in "Blue Like Jazz"

the earth is shaking...again.

In case the USA doesn't cover this, here is the biggest and not great news of the day. I am not in this city, but I have friends that are.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5136644/Powerful-earthquakes-rock-Christchurch

The magnitude 5.5 quake struck at 1pm, 10 kilometres east of Christchurch at Taylor's Mistake beach, at a depth of 11 kilometres, and sent people scrambling for cover. It was followed at 2.20pm by a more powerful magnitude 6 quake, centred 10 kilometres southeast of the city and 9km underground.

At least ten people were taken to Christchurch Hospital with injuries due to falling building material after the 1pm quake. Other residents from the devastated city cried in the streets and hugged their children.

Police said there were no reports of injuries following the second aftershock today.

The quakes are the latest in a series of dozens of aftershocks to hit Canterbury following the devastating February 22 earthquake, where 182 people died, and a damaging magnitude 7.1 earthquake last September. The February 22 quake measured magnitude 6.3 and left 100,000 homes damaged - 10,000 beyond repair. Christchurch's CBD was left in ruins, with 900 buildings - many in what has become known as the 'red zone' - expected to be demolished.

PM: 'WE STAND BESIDE THEM'

"We stand beside them, we are committed to rebuilding the city," Key said.

Key said Christchurch people were stoic people would regroup.

Key said Mayor Bob Parker was considering whether to declare a state of local civil defence emergency but the Government did not consider today's events serious enough to declare a national state of emergency.

Parker said it was "a serious situation" despite not declaring another state of emergency with power unlikely to be restored to the 50,000 who had lost it until tomorrow. The city's water infrastructure was also damaged. "Look after yourselves big time tonight," he said.

Today's quakes would "almost certainly" be considered a new event by insurer the Earthquake Commission, Key said.

The earthquakes were another blow to Christchurch residents, who found them frightening and upsetting.

"Quite frankly I think they're all over this and they want the sense of normality to return ... my heart really goes out to them."

It could have changed the areas that can be built on but too soon to stay.

Key said to demonstrate the significance of today's quakes, the magnitude six quake this afternoon registered an eight on the Mercalli scale which measures the intensity of earth quakes. By comparison the February 22 earthquake was a nine.

What is Garth Brooks?

"What is Garth Brooks?"
"WHAT is Garth Brooks? Are you serious," I say to myself.

That was the question asked to me by a Kiwi (New Zealander) as I sang "The Thunder Rolls." Oh my. She is a fan of Hanson, so I will give her that. I have been spending most of my time with Kiwi's and I am really noticing the difference in cultures. I mean the difference is like being in Oklahoma and then living in the North East. They just say things weird, like how people ask for a coke. Is it soda? Is it pop? Or maybe you really just want a Coke.
There is also much more of a Maori presence in the North Island. I have heard it is because it is warmer here. I like the warmth too!

I am struck more and more by the goodness of people. We see a lot of bad in the news, but truthfully there is much good. I am being looked after here, better than I could have imagined and beyond ability to repay. That is our life with God though isn't it? He does not change and you always receive grace, even if you did the worst thing ever.

Matt. 7:7-11
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

I hope you are well and that you are living life to the fullest in whatever situation or circumstance.

And to end a quote by Anne Lamott, who always inspires me...

"You were loved because God loves, period. God loved you, and everyone, not because you believed in certain things, but because you were a mess, and lonely, and His child. God loved you no matter how crazy you felt on the inside, no matter what a fake you were; always, even in your current condition, even before coffee."

Have I gone back in time?

In today's news...

Yesterday, I got on a plane for Tauranga. It is a beautiful town right smack next to the Pacific Ocean. I am up here ready for something new and different; also a job!
My flying experience with Air New Zealand is always awesome. If you haven't flown with them, do it! So, I got on the 50 seater prop plane (without going through security, thank you New Zealand) and if felt I had gone back in time. Everyone was very kind, I could see the door to the Pilot's area, and the flight attendant was a nice young woman that served us tea and coffee. The best part was when she asked a young boy to hand lollies to everyone. Domestic USA carriers need to revamp, because they spoil us here.

My current adventure involves moving to Auckland to live with a good friend of mine. She got me a job working with her Mom filing and such. I'll take it for $16 New Zealand Dollars (NZD)/hour! Come on now! That's the most I have ever gotten paid...even when exchanged to USD. On a side note, the USD is fading quickly. That is sad to watch. After the job is finished, I am back to live in Tauranga with an amazing Kiwi family (the Rosie's for those who know and love them), after which I am back to the YWAM base to staff the next backpacker's DTS. Fun things ahead and many people to get to know and many to say good bye to. I suppose that is life.

another good quote by Anne Lamott to end this small post.

"Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.

Time for some new jeans, without holes...

So, the funny thing about being gone from home this long is the wear and tear it has on your things. My shoes are wearing thinner each day. My jeans are the saddest for me to look at. All of my jeans have holes in them and they didn't before I left. There are also a few more stains, either from paint or charcoal from our wood stoves. I am a pro at lighting fires now because I am always cold here. It is just funny to see how a small wardrobe is affected by life. 
It is not something I have ever had to think about before. At home I usually have a closet and dresser full of choices, though I tended to stick to jeans and a t-shirt. Sidenote: My friends here have my outfits memorized. Now, I am not complaining by any means and am well looked after, blessed beyond much of the world and richer than more than half of the human race. That's all on a missionary budget too, which is also known as faith. Hear me, I am exercising faith in God with money in a way I never have had to before, not that I have more faith than you or the person sitting to my left. I do hope to earn some money in the North Island when I move there next week for 3 months. That shall be a feat in itself, so if you think of me, shout out a little something to the Father ( Who is the provider...I say that mostly for myself). I like that Paul was a tentmaker. He worked with his hands and also let others invest in him and what Jesus did using him. 

Here is a tangent thought, one of my favorite things in life is when I am introduced to a neat coffee shop (like I was today). To qualify as neat to me: they must have free Internet, have an atmosphere that allows me to sit for a long while, is furnished with old, but loved things, and has a good vanilla latte with baristas that know what's up. After I judge it worthy, I enjoy sitting with a friend, drinking said vanilla latte and journaling/blogging or people watching, while listening to a good playlist. If I were stateside I would get the Coldplay or Norah Jones Pandora radio station going. My coffee shop playlist is good enough here in New Zealand. 

What is something that gets you thinking about life? Either reflecting or dreaming?

Chris Guillebeau's recent blog post...

Below is a post from an author's blog that challenges and encourages me. Enjoy! To see the article on his blog click on THIS.


Every Sunday morning that I’m in town, I head out for a long run. Two weekends ago at the waterfront, the weather was glorious. The whole city of Portland took up jogging or cycling.
Last weekend at the waterfront, the weather was more to our usual end-of-Spring form… rainy and gloomy. The whole city of Portland stayed indoors.
On the sunny day, joggers and cyclists smiled at each other with a mutual appreciation of our good fortune. The implied message was, “It’s good to be alive!”
But on the rainy day, a much smaller crowd of amateur athletes nodded at each other with mutual pride. The implied message was, “Nice job. Glad to see you made it out while other people are sleeping in.”
If I don’t feel like running one weekend, I go anyway. It’s not just out of duty—nine times out of ten, I’m glad I went. The days I feel bad about my writing aren’t the days when I’ve written poorly. It’s the days where I’ve done everything but write—those days are killer.
If you base your workout schedule on the weather, you’ll never build a habit of exercise. The same is true for writing or any other creative practice: base it on anything outside your control, and good luck getting anything done.
In a creative practice, waiting for “inspiration” is the worst. I follow the Somerset Maugham school of inspiration: “I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”
It might not be every morning at nine o’clock sharp for you, but the point is that inspiration shows up when you have a deadline to meet. If you don’t have a real deadline, better make one up.
***
I always like to hear about other people’s goals and projects. One interesting way to find out what motivates someone is to ask:
“Why do you get out of bed in the mornings?”
Sometimes the answer is “school” or “a job,” and that’s fine—I don’t think everyone should walk away from schools and jobs without a plan. But the obvious follow-up is, what if you didn’t have the obligation; what would you get out of bed in the mornings for if it was completely up to you?
I get up to run on Sundays, rain or shine. I’d rather it be shining, but regardless, the shoes are by the door the night before. The other six days of the week, I get up to write. I’m working toward something; I’ll put the miles in.
How about you—why do you get out of bed in the mornings?

Say Goodbye.

One of the coolest parts of YWAM is getting to know people from all over this huge world. I know countless in Europe, Stateside, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. No matter where I go, there is a couch for me. I wonder if I know at least one person from each state. The thing with making good friends though is saying goodbye. These are two of my friends from the school. One from Cali and the other from Oz (Australia).

Our YWAM base has different DTS's running year round. The one I staff happens to be in the Spring (or Fall in the States), but we just said goodbye to the school called Around the World in 80 days. The students buy Around the World tickets and head out to experience the lives of missionaries in different parts of the world. Let's see, there are five teams, they are headed to Africa, S.E. Asia, Africa-Asia, Turkey-Asia, and South America. The teams will meet together in Israel for their graduation on the Mt. of Olives. Pretty sweet! For those of us that stay here, we will not see them again, unless they decide to finish their around the world ticket here. Oh and after they graduate they backpack the Middle East and Europe; then home. It is such a cool deal. If I had $13,000, I would think about doing that school. Money well spent, eh?

So to my new friends I say, “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

What's next for me? Sealing my time here and off to the North Island of New Zealand to a town by the beach, where the water is warm, the coffee plentiful and the surf is good. Oh life.

A picture

New Zealand is stunningly beautiful. It never fails to impress.

Hope you all have an awesome Mother's Day! I send my love.

An update of sorts.

Life in New Zealand as of recent has been mostly uneventful, but nice. There is a fun picture above with a few friends. We have fun doing nothing, because it rarely happens that we all have nothing to do. We have had an awesome three day weekend. That's right, New Zealand has Good Friday as a national holiday. Nothing is open, nothing. Even the grocery stores, big ones, were closed.

I just wanted to update friends and family to what I am doing. We finished with the Backpacker Discipleship Training School (DTS) in February and have finally said goodbye to all our awesome students. We are already starting to prepare somewhat for the next Backpacker DTS . It begins in October, with people coming from all over the globe to small town Oxford, New Zealand. Out in the middle of nowhere, sheep country. I am currently in Oxford working on the maintenance team. I paint, fence, roof, clean, build, pound, and shovel. We are still cleaning up after the earthquake in February that demolished our beloved big city, Christchurch. There is always work to be done here in Oxford or there.
Until September, when I have to be back here for staff training, I have decided that in between the Backpacker DTS, I am going to be headed to the North Island to live with a wonderful Kiwi family. The city is by the beach and has a House of Prayer. Ever heard of IHOP? Yeah, it is another one of those, Kiwi style! My plan is to get a bike and a job and hopefully earn some money until the school.

I ask that you would please begin to pray and consider supporting me financially for this next school.

It is humbling to ask for this kind of support from others. I know I am supposed to be here in New Zealand until next February and not getting to come home will be tough at times.

Well, I hope you all are doing great. Go eat some Mexican food and enjoy a giant Dr. Pepper from the fountain for me.

A few quotes I enjoy...

"You were loved because God loves, period. God loved you, and everyone, not because you believed in certain things, but because you were a mess, and lonely, and His child. God loved you no matter how crazy you felt on the inside, no matter what a fake you were; always, even in your current condition, even before coffee. God loves you crazily..."
Anne Lamott

I am inspired by Anne Lamott. She is real. I sometimes think we need more people in this world that are just real. That people need to realize that you can not earn God's love and to just be all you are. All you are in the good and the crap.

"Hope is not about proving anything. It’s about choosing to believe this one thing: that love is bigger than any grim, bleak shit anyone can throw at us."
Anne Lamott

jackhammers are child's play

As some of you have seen already, I got the opportunity to work with a jackhammer. It really isn't too tough if you know how to hold a trigger. The hard part is lifting it. Those things are heavy! It has been quite the week in Oxford, but mainly Christchurch. Every year around Easter New Zealand has what they call "Easter Camp" in every major town (or not so major town). Christchurch has a big one with about 4,000 kids coming for a four day retreat. From what I can gather, there are concerts and speakers and booths. Some spend the night and others come for the day stuff and go home. So this week the maintenance crew helped install in huge tent. I felt like I was helping get ready for a circus.
We also are still digging people out of their homes. When the February 22nd earthquake demolished much of the city, the sewage systems either filled with silt or ruptured. Either way it smells like poo in most of the city, with porta-potties on every corner. Can you imagine using one of those everyday? They are worse than the so called "bathrooms" in Thailand, by far! One of the guys on the maintenance team got pink eye from shoveling silt that has mixed with the ruptured sewage systems. It is a mess here still.
I have also said, "farewell for now," to my friend Scott who is headed to Tauranga, which is on the North Island. He is doing an internship for two months with a non-profit called Christian Surfers. Yeah, he is a surfer from Michigan. Apparently they surf on Lake Michigan. Who knew?
Well, you all want and somehow enjoy my updates, so here is some more rambling for you. I shall end with another quote from Anne Lamott. Oh, and another book suggestion, "The Art of Non-Conformity," by Chris Guillebeau.
here's his website http://chrisguillebeau.com/

"I do not understand the mystery of grace -- only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us."

Hold your head high and thumb out.

It has been about 10 days that I have been off the grid. Internet is expensive and hard to come by here.

I had the joy of welcoming my old college friend (Amanda). Am I allowed to say "old college friend" yet? I did graduate about two years ago. Anyway, I showed her what I could, and she jumped head first into the way of traveling the world that many don't get to experience.

We hitch-hiked (see picture below), rented a van, walked, and rode a bus, all in a matter of six days! We made new friends, met up with a few of my old friends and had a pretty good time. You should ask her about it.

We spent the whole time in Queenstown, which is the South Lake Tahoe of New Zealand. I must say though, it does not compare to the grandeur of Tahoe. The mountains are much bigger in California and I've had better coffee at my favorite little spot known as Alpen. It also helps having a bike, which I do not have here.
I plan on someday going back and living there again. You are welcome to join me.

I was truly amazed to experience Autumn again. I haven't gotten to see the changing leaves and colors of Fall since 2008. It is one of my favorite seasons. When was the last time you jumped into a pile of leaves? It has been way too long for me. Sadly, they were not really falling yet. Here in Oxford, the trees are pine-like and green all year, so no leaf piles for me.

I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying a Tulsa Drillers baseball game or two. Oh and if you are looking for a good read, I recommend Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott. I'll end this post with a quote from her book...

"It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools - friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty - and said 'do the best you can with these, they will have to do'. And mostly, against all odds, they do. "

Oh Maintenance...

Here is a picture of the fellas I am working with here in Oxford, New Zealand. We have a lot of fun. It is a group of Americans and the man in charge is Kiwi. I just thought you all would enjoy to see who I am working hard with.

Christchurch: The Garden City

Yesterday, my friend Scott and I decided to see what we could of Christchurch, New Zealand. We drove our normal route to get to the central part of the city. As we come closer to an intersection, at which I sadly realize an antique store I never got to go into, is past the fences. The central business district of Christchurch is completely surrounded by a 10-12 foot chain link fence. The lights at the intersection are off and it creepily reminds me of the movie "I Am Legend," or possibly a Terminator movie. The area was deserted and there were two men in Army gear making sure no one tried to get by them. They are at each street that leads to the inner part city.
I am shocked that I use to once walk those streets. As I try and look past and through the fences, the street I once barely noticed, is unrecognizable. I vaguely remember my friend Scott saying something about it looking like something from World War II. There are huge piles of rubble for what used to be buildings, like a child playing with lincoln logs, but his sibling comes and jumps on them. I did notice that a few taller buildings were still standing.
It is interesting to me that cities strive for the tallest buildings, but in a matter of seconds they fall like they were from the game of Jenga.
There was a light at the end of the tunnel for the city and the cold winter ahead, which was the World Cup of Rugby was going to be held there. They were just told this week that this will not be happening. Sad story.
This stuff has been on my heart to write about and my friend asked me to update with a new story. I hope Tulsa is swell. Enjoy an incredible Spring! Signing off...

What did the Kiwi say?

Well, for all of you that enjoy reading my thoughts online, here is another bit.

I mentioned in the earlier post about how I am on the maintenance crew on the YWAM base I serve at. It has been three days and already I am almost on overload of all the practical things I have learned.

Y'all, I re-roofed one of our dorm rooms today. It was a whole day of taking out screws, nails and then re-doing what you just undid. It has been quite the experience to say the least. I am working with a couple Kiwi bloaks. The few things I do know about handy work is sometimes worthless when they say something different. They call gravel; shingle.
"You want me to rake the shingle?" "I thought we would put the shingle on the roof..."

People are so surprised that I would want to work on the maintenance team.

I am having fun, but also getting worked. I didn't know my thumb had actual muscles (and I am a rock climber). My right thumb is getting quite the work out with hammers, paint brushes, and whatever else I hold.

That is the news as of late. Tell Tulsa Hello from me.

some news from afar...

Well, I just wanted to thank you all for your support of my last adventure! I had an incredible time in Thailand. It is truly a huge blessing to be able to do what I do.

New Zealand is too amazing. I live in an amazing country. I just recently realized I have lived here for the last year out of a year and a half of my life. Whoa.

I am planning on staying in this land for probably another year. I can't get enough of it! The visa I am currently on allows me to get a job here. I will be looking for a job in Queenstown for a time, hopefully a barista position. My plans are open for change, but for now I will go with this.

A few friends and I are really wanting to live life together. We want to see a house of people eating, praying, worshiping, joking, working, and loving each other in a house here in New Zealand. That is why we are looking towards Queenstown. A friend of ours already has a house down there and has invited us to live. We want to be intentional. Intentional with our lives. Not just living, but really walking it out with the Lord. It will look similar to the house I lived in in college. I loved that time most in my life and would love to experience that the rest of my life. Hey, maybe it is a bit of a calling on my life. I loved it too much to not continue it on.

Well, those are a few thoughts from me.

A good word from a wise man...

Wise words:

http://daltonlifsey.com/2011/02/22/responding-to-crisis-in-the-age-of-facebook-a-call-to-discernment-after-the-earthquake-in-christchurch/

news, earthquake, and some thoughts

I was surprised yesterday to hear from someone back home that the earthquake damage didn't sound too devastating. They are saying that Christchurch will never be the same. I have flashes in my mind of walking down a street in the city known as Colombo or walking around the mall we always went to on Fridays. Colombo St. was apparently central to much devastation. There were at least two buses on that street that were driving and there are no survivors in them. Building walls just fell on them.

Maybe I shouldn't read the news articles, but I hear first hand accounts from friends.

I remember walking around beautiful Christchurch with my mom. This exact time a year ago we were in the city. We were staying in a hostel by the Botanical Gardens.

Blessed? Maybe.
Lucky? I don't believe in luck.

I am not sure how to handle all that I hear or see. People aren't supposed to be going to the city, so I have no idea of which of my favorite spots are still here. A little town called Lyttleton, where the quake's epicenter was, is 60% destroyed. I had ideas of going to live in that town and working at a local coffee shop.
I have friends who's houses were destroyed.

I might be rambling...
I think I go in and out of shock.

Here is the local paper http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/

Earthquake

Hello dear friends,

As many of you are heading home from work on Monday afternoon, we have been hit by another intense quake here in Christchurch. It was a 6.3 and the news already is telling us of the great damage caused. Please lift prayers for this wonderful country and people.

Thank you,
Jordan

How you play the game | How you say your name | These are things weʼre working through without a clue

Well folks, the school is officially over. The students graduated last night with tears and smiles.

It is going to take some time to figure out what has just happened. There are still no words to update you all and I am so worn out that my communication with home was quick to go.

Life in the past five months have been wholly focused on our students, pushing back the inevitable decisions of life until after they are all gone. There has been little time to think or pray for what is next. And as of right now, I have no plans.

For 23 years, I have had a plan. Go to school, go to college, graduate, go to California then off to New Zealand, then back home for a time and get a job. The plan stopped after this school with YWAM. When next Friday comes around, I am potentially homeless (or living in a tent at someone's house).

I am going to be honest, because I have nothing else to be. My money paid for staffing the school. I am pretty sure this is the most reliance I have ever had to have in the Lord. He will have to provide money (for me to eat and have a home). I am halfway across the world, far from friend's couches and home (where my bed is so warm and my dog takes me on walks).

So, if you think of this face, prayers are quite appreciated. It is an exciting, but truly scary thought. I am not alone though. There are a few others in the same boat and the Creator of everything that exists has my back. Try resting in that...I am working on it.

We slept on a boat and went to Burma...

Hello all you blizzard survivors,

I have enjoyed a few Dairy Queen blizzards here in Thailand. It was so hot, we needed something to cool us down! It is winter here too, but not really. I am sitting at a restaurant with my co-leader Seth, watching the news, drinking coffee and checking e-mails. I realize that in my last update I said we had over 3 weeks left here. I obviously can not count, because we leave next week for home in Oxford, New Zealand. Whoops! We are all excited to be back in the clean fresh air that is Oxford.
Since my last update, we left Ko Samui for a visa run to Burma or Myanmar, whichever you want to call it. It was quite the adventure! That story is for sitting over coffee. My favorite part of that day was riding a boat to our current location of Koh Phanang. The boat was so awesome! It had mattresses and pillows for a 7 hour night boat ride.
We are on an island that many young travelers come to for drinking. It is known for a party called the full moon party. It is a massive drinking party on the beach. Prayers are much appreciated while we are here. It is very sad to watch people waste their lives.

If you would like to see my pictures from our time here go to this:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2075397&id=26402377&l=1d52f33cf2

Hopefully you can see them, let me know if you can not.

Until next time, stay warm!
Jordan

I love hot showers.

Sorry folks. It has been a long while since I have found free Internet. I just got to chat with my parents to let them know I was not just alive, but also good. My iPod touch has been so handy! Mi madre is quite happy with that purchase for Christmas. Since the last update we spent a few weeks meeting climbers and my new friend Jess from the UK. She told me I would not forget her. I think she was right. She was very unique. A few days ago we said goodbye to beautiful Ton Sai for the amazing beaches of Ko Samui. All is well!

Now for some thoughts...

It is funny when you travel with just a backpack, you do it as cheaply as possible, and therefore learn to appreciate certain things. I miss having toilet paper in a bathroom. I miss toilet paper being free in a bathroom, rather than getting frustrated when I forget it at my bungalow or room. I also miss water being clean coming out of the tap and not having to close my mouth and hope I did not drink any as I brushed my teeth. These are the trade offs for having great adventures! The good outweighs the bad on most days. Everyone should experience a couple days with a squatty potty and no TP.

Thank you for your prayers! Keep 'em coming! There are 3 weeks and 3 days left of our time here.

Are they wearing rubber gloves? There is a first for everything.

Hello all,

The title of this post sums up an experience I talk about below. Enjoy!

It has been a whirlwind since my last update. Let's see, the last time I got caught up I was in Chiang Mai. Since then my team and I headed to a town called Pai (pronounced like pie). It is a hairpin turn drive the whole way (if your name is Erin, I recommend Dramamine). We spent about 5 days there. It was an interesting place with interesting people.
From Pai, we headed South on buses. It was some thirty hours on the move. We were called by our school leader to be a support for another leader and his team. The leader, Gabe, had been feeling ill for a bit.
The next day, Gabe and I, took a longtail boat to the mainland to see about his illness. It was finally confirmed he had a common ailment called dengue fever. It is passed by mosquitoes. One bite and a person is down.
To sum up this story, we spent many hours in a common room in a governmental hospital. Gabe and I have seen, smelled, and heard things that we will never forget but pray we do. He is finally out and doing great folks! My friend Gabe is alive and kicking, but still needing some rest. For those that were in the loop, thank you for your prayers! God provided missionary friends to bring us comfort beyond belief.

As lifechurch says, "God is good all the time. All the time God is good."

You know you're in Thailand when...

A 100 baht meal seems outrageous, but then you do the math and realize that it is a little over three dollars.
You must have toilet paper with you at all times.
A dog passing by is wearing a shirt and you don't think twice, but instead wonder if he would look better with another color.

Life is good here. We are talking to travelers in the bars in the red light district and having great conversation. Our ministry may seem strange to some, but we are seeing fruit and being led by the Lord. It is a joy to share with others how much you adore the Lord. We are at a city in Northern Thailand called Chiang Mai. The city is known for prostitution. Western men come here to meet Thai women and we see this all over the city. I actually talked with a few men last night at a British pub. You easily pick up on the brokeness of this, from the women and the men.

I leave you with this; it is the vision of twloha.com
We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don't get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers. We won't solve all mysteries and our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life, but it is the best way. We were made to be lovers bold in broken places, pouring ourselves out again and again until we're called home. 

I hope everyone had a great new year. I miss and love you dearly. Thank you for your prayers.