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."