Ches!

OK so I’m in a nicer internet cafe now so I s’pose I’ll write a bit more.  A lot has happened since my last ‘real’ update and it is going to be kinda messy going back over it. Oh, a preface…I know I said I’d post pix here in this blog but that has turned into quite a task in itself…all my pix/videos are on John’s laptop and thus make it hard for me to get onto the net cause only a few places allow him to use his laptop and when he does he is usually doing more important things like speaking to family. THUS, I probably won’t get ‘my’ things up till I get home and get all my stuff on my computer. So, until then…

Anyway. What has happened. I’ll go from where I remember leaving…I guess.

John and Jeff did a little outreach dealio thing where about 80 people showed up, students from the student center and their friends they invited, among other people and Jeff did a little teaching and John and I played a few songs at the start. It was a first for me cause I have not ever played in front of people…at least in the situation stated…and I also had just learned the songs — although they were easy — I was still pretty nervous. I don’t really do to well in-front of large groups of people…but I think John sang very well and I didn’t screw anything up, so that is good. Jeff also touched a lot of lives it seems and hopefully more comes from that whole ordeal.

Second “first” for me was witnessing child-prostitution. That was pretty f’d up. John and I walked down the river front and I was playing guitar screwing around while Jeff was in the i-net cafe. We sat down on like a stone wall that was off the road looking out over the river (this was saturday night I believe, after the outreach…yes) and there were a lot of people just around.

I guess there were a group of 5 to 7 girls sitting near us, who were in the age range of…14 – 17ish…I dunno, they were young and it didn’t really enter my mind that they were working until a group of 3 guys came up and one guy got pretty aggressive in looking for a girl. I dunno, it’s hard to really write about cause I don’t know what all to say about it except that I knew it happens here but it caught me off guard witnessing it out in the open like that in a situation where no one cared that it was going on. I’m really trying to watch my language here in describing it..but my God it was fucked up.

Anyway, the one guy that was more aggressive eventually walked off with one of the girls but before I had started playing here i am to worship and john was singing…and he (child-molester/rapist) mentioned how “good” it sounded and “nice” it was. Yea…ok buddy. I honestly am not usually that open or expressive in my beliefs, usually because I don’t really feel worthy or whatever in certain situations…but I’m starting to become more comfortable and accepting even in these kind of spots…like playing that song for instance…probably would never happen(happened?) back home…for a variety of reasons I don’t want to get into now…but at the time I really felt moved to start playing something that meant something..and yea…it was cool cause other people came around to listen and who knows…maybe someone got something out of it and will search…mmk…things I write that are vague and make me sound not so good. lol.

After that, and maybe john will go on in his blog on the night, we all walked around the ‘riverwalk’ where a lot of westerners apparently pick up whatever and played some more songs, or little jams just to give a different mood…or something. I dunno, but it was cool and I think it was pretty cool.

I’m missing a lot here cause I havn’t updated for a while and my memory is shot so bare with me…food is also calling my name so I’m probably bouncing soon…anyways…to contrast that dark night with some good things…I am brought back to the kids from the orphanage and how cool they are.

We all went to the water park here in PP and that was really fun. John and I both got a lot of good pictures there and a lot of great memories that I know will last a lifetime…hopefully more so for the kids. I got more burnt than I thought…which kinda sux but at least I will now just be pale instead of being see-through.

seriously though it’s just insane the differences here. One night I’m mad and depressed/sad and really just praying that my anger won’t erupt and the next day or night or whatever I’m saved cause I spend it with the kids that will be and are being saved from what I’ve encountered on the street…and I’m not even mentioning much more of the other crap that goes on here that I haven’t seen and won’t see…so I’m pretty sure what I’ve “seen” is all PG-13 rated. I’m rambling now but I think it’s important to understand that there is a lot going on here and if you just concentrate on the negative you miss out on the positive. And maybe if you just concentrate on the negative you never believe that change can be made. I dunno…maybe that’s why change is so slow to be made. Enough philosophy…I’m going to the eat some pizza or something…and then tomorrow I believe we are going to baptize the kids…well…at least john/jeff are….and I think I will be as well.  I’ve never been baptized…but I figure this would be the time to do so.

Jeff is also wrestling with some sickness/fatigue; it is not serious but pray that he feels better enough to enjoy the rest of his time here and feel OK for the long travel home.

- Jordan