What's Your Bid?

I am reading through Red Moon Rising currently and came across this fascinating poem.  As I wrestle through it - I would love to know your thoughts!

What am I bid?

Suddenly I find myself in a giant hall. Surrounding me are thousands of young people, battered, bruised and broken. Then a voice says: “What am I bid?”

A young girl stands out before the crowd of leering, sneering men. “What am I bid for this piece of flesh?”
The men start to cheer and shout figures: “Ten…Twenty…Fifty…One hundred.”
What can I do, God?
I start to bid. I have to save her. The cost becomes huge and I begin to waiver. Can I afford this? What price will I pay? The dream stops. I’m alone again. But the faces are real enough: Sharon being sold into prostitution; Sipho with a revolver in his mouth; Monique covered in cuts and bruises; Jan falling into crime; Sarah alone and desperate; Monwabisi, heroin needle bulging into his vein.

“What am I bid?” The voice shatters the silence. The auction is on again. The bidding has begun. It continues day and night until the end. Most of the bidders desire only use and abuse. Satan drives them on.
And so I find myself in the auction. Will I watch or will I bid? The price of a single life is huge. The currency is prayer. The cost is massive but the prize is glorious. A life for a life. “What am I bid?”

Treasure

On Tuesdays we are able to have a kids club in Lucy's home!  We have all of the kids in our Vulnerable Children program meeting on Fridays, but our goal is to empower Kids also to lead there own! Our normal start to kids club is singing songs in Xhosa and a song or two in English.  After the songs usually we prepare a brief lesson and something simple for the kids to tangibly apply to their life!  This week we decided to take Lucy and Luvuyo to a movie because they help us with the Tuesday Kids Club! Unfortunately the Theater closes Friday so no more movies for under $2.

Even with the theater closing down, the kids still know how to have fun after Kids Club!  Check out one of the MANY dances and songs the children know.

TIA moment's for this week:Shark bites off legs of swimmer who ignored shark warning

This happened on the beach where we baptized Okuhkle - just a few miles from where I live! 

Power went down in ALL of Cape Town for nearly two hours yesterday.


Tangible Takeaway - Although my comfort level is being stretched daily, I miss my family and friends, I don't have the convenience to watch the Hawks games or Sportscenter daily like I would at home - I am truly full of peace and Africa feels like home. I think being in the most beautiful place in the world helps a little :), but I believe there is no worldly explanation a place so far from home could truly feel like home. The only explanation I have found for this peace is Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.  God has given me new desires and strength daily, allowing me focus on THIS season of life and nothing else.


What is your treasure and where is it found?

Videos!

Enjoy these two videos!  The first is from a Vulnerable Children Camp held in July. The video shows a few of the children I get to hang out with and a few of my friends I work with!



Here is a 360 degree view from the summit of Chapman's Peak.


Chapman's Peak from Jay Quick on Vimeo.

Pslam 53

Saturday afternoon I tangibly experienced  Psalm 53:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”  My friends Nicki, Eric, and some boys from a local township called Ocean View summited Chapman’s Peak - I am still awestruck by our creator.  After experiencing the things I had, I can only ask how can there NOT be a God?

The trek started on the beach, and finished by diving into the bone chilling Atlantic. Just before we left I happened to read the trail guide: If bitten by a Cape Cobra or Puffader – seek immediate transport to the hospital.   So unfortunately I was a little distracted of God’s creation at the beginning. I was a little more focused on looking for movement among every bush I passed, but that fear thankfully faded J

The entire hike we could see the Atlantic Ocean.  It's beautiful right now because it is starting to get an amazing turquois color near the beach.  Once we were on the summit we were able to also see the Indian Ocean, the All Nations area, Masiphumelele and Cape Point which is the furthest southern point in Africa!  The 360 degree on top was amazing among the coolest things I have experienced, I have to say my favorite part of the hike was from just below the summit seeing a whale breach multiple times!  As you could see the enormous splash instantly it took nearly five seconds but we could hear the splash all the way near the summit.  More pics and a video will be posted soon on facebook!

Child Like Faith

Its hard to believe but I have been in Cape Town now over a week!  I feel as though I have done and seen so many things already.  So I have picked out 3 highlights so far that I want to share!

Sunday morning - in Masiphumelele we had a celebration for Okuhle's baptism.  A friend of mine named Nceba, lives in Masi and has has been discipling Okuhle the past couple months.  Just recently he has made the decisions to be baptized!  So after a house church gathering we took an overflowing carload of us went down to the Fish Hoek beach where Nceba and I baptized Okuhle in the ocean.  After we worshipped on the beach and prayed over him a blessing!  

Tuesday Morning – We were rained out last week, but God’s plan was revealed this week!  We needed a trailer to haul pallets last week, but we were rained out.  When we were about to pay to rent the trailer this week, a member from All Nations already rented one so we didn't have to pay to rent one ourselves!  We hauled in and then carried 20 wooden pallets for Masibeke's and Simbonise's house .  These boys are in our Vulnerable Children program and live in the Wetlands of Masi.  The Wetlands in short summary, is the poorest and most dangerous part of  Masi.  The best way to describe it would be a maze of tin shacks that all share walls or are extremely close. (One pallet at your side to wide at some parts)  The floor of their house needed to be raised because every time it rains their house floods.  Now with the pallets they are free from water damage every rain! 

Tuesday Afternoon – Kids club was amazing. Whitney and I were running a little behind but that didn’t stop kids club from starting!  As we walked in, the kids had already started  worshipping.  They were singing joyfully “There is no one like Jesus” in Xhosa! A moment in life l never forget – this exploded my world view of a child like faith and joy.  The laughter and singing was  The rest of kids club my ears, nose, face were tugged in every direction possible all while having two or more kids lying on me at all times.  The children were fascinated by touching me, being held, and me simply being present.   As I was holding the kids I couldn't help but think - shouldn’t we be the same with our Heavenly father?

Childlike faith sees the world as exciting and adventurous; worth pursuing our faith and seeking opportunities to honor God and override our complacent attitude as "adults" with experiences of been there, done that.

My Tangible Takeaway

My entire life I thought that having empathy was good.  Well, more or less you are a good person if you express your empathy within your comfort level. 

When the stakes are as high as they are – Eternity. Can we truly empathize without  advocating? Empathy sends a card or expresses feelings.  Advocating is a call action.  Concern is the evil of anguish when you have to opportunity to advocate.   Concern empathizes - Anguish acts. What anguishes you? Are you willing to advocate for it? 

1 John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 

Prayer Needs

Health

Safety

Favor & Influence

This is Africa – TIA moment.

Going to a movie for 13.50 Rand. Less than two dollars.

Blessings brothers and sisters:) 

Glorious Joy

Molweni!

Unfortunately hello is about the extent of the new language of Xhosa that I speak... But I am learning more each day!   I tried posting a video but my internet wasn't up to speed so I apologize for not updating sooner!  

Experience This Far
Not even sure how to put this into words at all, but here we go.  First off Cape Town is beautiful.  There is nothing like it that I have ever seen.  I am only 2 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and can see it from the road.  Also Indian Ocean is just East on the other side of one of the mountains!  I am currently looking to buy a scooter or bike for my transportation while I continue to look for a place on my own to live before CPx.  Those are two big prayer requests.  While a praise is that I have been extremely welcomed by new friends from all over South Africa and the world who are all connected with All Nations!

On the first day we stepped in Masiphumelele where the closest township is to All Nations.  The children there are hungry for love.  The kids adore Whitney who is the other intern with Vulnerable Children.  All of them are in vulnerable situations, yet are so happy and always are smiling when you are around.  I will expand more on Masi as I have more time to reflect and a better idea how to put into words the extreme poverty they live in.  Please pray for influence the males lives that I will be interacting with.  I apologize to but of respect to the Xhosa people I will not be taking pictures for the first month while I am there because I don't want to portray the message that I am just there to take something from them.  

Reminders I'm In Africa NOT America
1.  Look at those llamas, oh I mean look at the Camel Farm!?
2.  Baboon Monitors - Literally a job to watch for wild baboons crossing the road or going into homes!




What God Has Taught Me

I had a great flight over from Minneapolis to Amsterdam.  Shortly after I had said the tough good byes to family and a close friend I was blessed by a God send named Robyn.  Robyn was one of the flight attendants  and she stopped me randomly to ask - are you a Christian?  I was awestruck!  I don't think I have ever been stopped before and asked that question.   After I paused and responded that I was.  I then preceded to ask how in the world could she could tell.  Her response was a benchmark part in my life.  She said had a large grin and said "The darker it gets, the brighter it shines."  Then she casually continued passing out the rest of the dinners around the plane as I sat stunned!  

As I wrestled with why this has happend twice in the past two weeks - with Robyn and another who may have not been a believer and is currently seeking to know more; I couldn't help but seek what God was trying to teach me.  I am reading through the New Testament right now and at that time I was on 1 Peter 1.  Verse 8 says   Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.  That was it!  God wants us to always live with inexpressible and glorious joy.   Our joy isn't supposed to be circumstantial or conditional as it is  many times for me.  It doesn't matter if you happen to be getting a tedious chest xray or flying across the country - we must let God's light shine and push out darkness together with joy.  I hope this is a great reminder to live for Jesus wherever you are because the darker it gets the brighter it shines! I look forward to hearing from and connecting with you!