Jacob finally writes again
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Misc.
Hi folks, and devoted readers, I don't know if any of you exist, because it has been so long, but I just thought, since I missed detroit kids, I would come back and read my blogs, and check this out and give everyone an update. Tonight, I had Covenant Discipleship Group, and it went great, I really look forward to meeting every thursday at 11. I have been curious lately what living hope Community of Christ church has been up to. I just thought I would put an open invitation that if anyone reads this in mighigan, and knows anything about pastor johns church, the living hope community of christ church, and how it is doing, let me know.

Thanks,
Jacob

I will write more later, just kind of tired now.

T-minus Ten days Wrap-Up, plus the past week you've been waiting for.
Mood:  rushed
Topic: WSC / Detroit
So, you haven't heard from me in a while huh? Well, if it was me and any other travels, I would have gone from lamoni to a certain holt florida, but no, I drove from port huron, actually lexington michigan where bluewater campground is located, leaving my girlfriend who happens to be graceland repping up there this week, to go pick up John Atkinson, and drive to the most obscure place Manitou campground clear over in one of the most south eastern counties in the whole state of michigan. So, If I did that hand thing, (which I will never) you would go from up in your thumb, clear to down by the outside of your wrist, and then back to the other side of your wrist, because we are staying in detroit. overall, sunday cost me 14 hours driving, and lots of tiredness.

Monday we go to the church and find it trashed, because there are two other denominational churches that use our building there in redford, One of the churches is the Christs Temple Church, and another is the Word of Power Apostolic Faith. The reason we know that one or the other of these churches trashed the church is because, on thursday, before we left the church, we mopped, we scrubbed, we locked things up, and labeled, and marked, and continually marked everything in the cupboards and in the fridgerator that was ours. and locked all the arts and crafts stuff away, and we thought that no one would steal our dodgeball, but we were mistaken.

When we got there monday, and the place was a wreck.
we went in, and saw a travisty. A major work project with meat on the counter and in pans, all over the place like someone had cleaned an animal, grease splattered all over the kitchen's big picture window, chocolate for molds eaten, serving pans sitting stinking of rotten food, that was never cleaned, then, we noticed also that the dodgeballs were stolen, the floor was all sticky, because of some kind of punch, the craft closet was broken into and the puff paints were used. Shannon was steaming out her ears. litterally. her eyes were bugging out, and I thought she was going to choke me, because she had that look because she was so mad at those other churches, and it took 3 hours for us to clean up enough to have people come in at eleven. So, who should call but Helen our Host family parent, and she called and said, Jacob, since you had such a rough driving day, should I come down and help out? I said "sure, the more the marryier." Then Low and behold we met Miranda who is from port huron, and she is a nice girl, she came into our presence because john atkinson asked her when she was staff at senior high to come down and take john corn and jordan, and linda's place for a week. Kim could not get off of work on monday, but she did come tuesday, wednesday, thursday. Anyway, Miranda helped cut some sheets, and we had the bright idea of making pillows all week. the kids would not have the attention span, and could not take all of the small motor skills to tie the pieces together just using square knots, or overhand knots. Also the kids and I started a mural of Jesus on the wall next to the mural that I have been completing, with details steadily. Also on this day, tim, teara, katrina, britney, areien, and dave, all painted hop scotch, 4 square, and tick tac toe on the pavement for fun games in the church's back alley.This was fun, but this was the hottest week of the summer up here at just around 90 all week with a humidity at around 80% making it feel hotter than that. That day, after seeing my partner go crazy, because of the mess, that was diverted with a little elbow grease, I felt like johnny c needed a call. I told him that I had been concerned that we may be spending undue amounts of time on the cleaning up on monday, and that the other churchs should get a talking to, so I asked if we could consult john atkinson and jerry, about it, and give him our testimony of how it almost looked vandalized. At this juncture, I wish shannon would have taken some deep breaths, because she was trying to get me to tell johnny c a whole smattering of things, in that short little phone call. I said, hold on, and continued. I think that he appreciated that I never got emotional about it, and simply stated that it was a problem, and needed to be resolved with john and jerry, I think if I had fed all of that information to him that shannon was feeding me, his patience and caring nature on the phone would have been diminished.

Ever since, I have felt a tension rising with shannon as though she wants to run everything, and if she doesn't than she will reap her vengence. I just think that I am in need of some prayers for both of us, as I know we are both tired, and I feel like she is preparing her speach for john and anyone else in independence to just unleash. I sure hope in debriefing, I get a chance to counter or defend, because I feel that both of our judgements are getting fuzzy. I think the kids are giving us some of their anxiety, and not enough of their bouncing back formula.

Dear God,
Grant me the patience to deal with anything that comes my way. Bless these children as I have become greatly attached to them over these last few months, and I wish all of them the very best. I like suprizing them with optimism, and it broke my heart when the other day one of the kids asked me if I was living in the area, or would be with them all school year. I would love to be with them, and be a standard in their mixed up street lives. I am truely aware of what Jimmy Munson meant when he said his life was devoted to spreading the good news of the gospel, and his life was devoted to finding the lost, and showing them the way to jesus. I have seen these kids be kids, and be free from harm and influences this week, and I want that to continue so badly, but, in the same breath, I realize that John can not do this big job alone. he needs so much help. God, and anyone out there listening, please pray for john and bless this congregation of the lost, the unlikely and the brokenhearted. please be with them as they go about their lives, and be with them through every struggle, make them aware of your presence.

I also pray for Rachel, as tomorrow, I will see her one last time before she goes to spec, I know that is a rough time, and I truely want her to be well recieved, and I want her to have an awesome week, as she soon will be back for her duties as paloma's HP.
I love her greatly, and she knows that prayers are needed, she prays daily for the well being of this great hall she goes to.

I also pray for my sister, who is suffering from a spured heel or ankle, as she slipped in the mud at senior high camp and really wrecked her foot. Let Jessica have guardian angels to look out for her, and make her awareness more keen, and strong, as she navigates in wisconsin and at graceland at spec next week.

And Lastly, be with all those members of world service corp that they come back and be enriched by the experience that they have had this summer, that they may become oaks of righteousness for our church, and our future as a faith trying to build communities of christ.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

I feel as though this entrie has barely become a peck on the surface of what has been, I will try to remember more in an entry later, but I hope all my friends and family are pleased that I didn't disappear. I am still here, counting down day 10. till I return to independence and debrief, and reflect.

I am sure I will have stories for sometime to come.

My last two weeks prayer (WSC)
Mood:  sad
Topic: Prayers
Dear God,
I ask that you be with me these last few weeks, because I am struggling with my levels of patience, as I go longer into this ordeal, maybe it is that the more I grow in faith the more challenges await me? I was just curious, because today, when rachel called and we were on lahser, all I wanted to do was yell back at shannon and corn, because I was driving well, I just think they were being a gang and joining forces against me. never once appologizing for the treatment they gave me, and then on the way home when shannon took my keys and I did not put up a fight, she happened to almost stop in the middle of an intersection because of hydroplaning. I didn't say anything though, because I know it would not be pleasing for you lord for me to dish back what had been given to me. However, it bothered me, and i blew off some steam going to do secret stuff, to go buy flowers for my girlfriend who just arrived in michigan. I can't wait to see her, so while taking some deep breaths, I bought gas for tomorrow, and flowers, and smore bars like she likes, and some trail mix, because I know that she will really appreciate it. Lord I also ask, that with your great power bless me to change to be more of a seer, to know when to do things, and when to not. I have had many conversations with rachel about a certain set of events, and I know that my life should be more regimented and maintained than I have been living recently, be with me through this time. I also pray for all of the other sites, as I gathered from johnny c that the sites were having some difficulties, and I just want to send some of your protection and blessing to them in these last two weeks. Also, I have chosen a path that is yours lord, please sustain me and direct me in the paths that should come ahead in this next school year. I really care about the ability in which I serve, and I want to make sure that my goals do not deviate from your path much, if at all. I Love you Lord, and I thank you for getting me to where I am today. I also ask forgiveness for anything I have done to upset hellen, bruce or shannon as I have been a little over-irritable lately.
Goodnight, and I thank you for today.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

Updated Mural to-date
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: WSC / Detroit
Here is our Detroit Mural as of Thursday, but we took the best pictures today:

Redford Detroit meets Motts Country Flint Petting Farm
Mood:  lucky
Topic: WSC / Detroit
Hi everyone,
here is the latest installment of the ever popular Redford Files. Today, normally a day of rest this friday, we got a little bit more accomplished today, as we loaded a 595 dollar charter bus from blue lake tour bus company, and 24 kids from the Hope Park District here in detroit, (Johns Church Plant members) and we high tailed it to Flint. We left at ten, and instantaniously, it was hilarious the ammount of hijinx, a bunch of kids who have never been on a farm, could have. We Gathered 24 kids, all with their permission slips in hand, and we drove up there, not charging the kids anything, because the church could fund it through a grand that we are recieving through goodfellows and Lee Clinton Moore. He is a really nice guy. Anyway, we drove up there, apparently to Lindy Wagners old stomping grounds, (because she assured me she worked there) and we took the kids through some great times, meeting all the animals they had only read about in books or saw on sesame street or sponge bob square pants. In some of these pictures, I just need to explain what is going on, for them to be funny, but I sure had a blast, teaching city kids about the country, and I am not even that down home country.It sure let me know that I was from Iowa. Here are some great ones.

At first, the kids were scared of the geese, the goats, and even the cats and dogs biting them, as our first stop was one of their first encounters with the farm animals.

Then John Corn had found some tour guides that took our "largest group ever" behind the scenes of this petting zoo to see a 3 week old donkey. The kids all said "Awe" even the tougher ones.

Next we went to a poultry and rabbit pen, as we gathered around one of the guides holding a chicken of some kind. I was taking this picture, and it looked as though they had all found some glorious treasure. by the way they were huddled around, and I got this observing perspective being so tall.

Next we visited the sheep, one of the quotes that made us all laugh is when David Shelton touched the sheep, and said, "I need a sweater for the winter." It's constant humor with that boy.

It was to the point, after we had visited the pigs, that the children were not getting the point when they were given a bag of feed. Often I would see the horses and animals wrenching their necks to be fed by the kids, only to have corn, soy, and varous nuts thrown at them, because they did not want to get bitten. I showed that I would not lose my hand by being the one that showed them how to feed a horse.

They Timmidly said, "Okay, if he did it, maybe its not so bad."

Here is our Group of 24 kids posing for a group shot, we had a blast, and there is more to come in this entry.

John Corn wanted a fun picture with the kids on this converted John Deere Tractor that has become a piece of playground equipment, because it is broken down.

Here is Delila working on a great masterpiece with this donkey, as other children fed it, and kept it occupied.

Here is The finished product of Delilas handy work, she braided the donkey's maine.

After all this, we went to this circus tent, and I met a shady character, and ex-con, and he talked to me as I multi-tasked, apparently he worked there ever since his release for owning 6 drug houses in flint, but I am listening to him, making lunch while the kids are on their first hay ride, and I also got a call from my wonderfully beautiful girlfriend rachel, which of whom, I was glad to hear from, because I had been sending messages to dead air, (not her fault) because Camp Doniphan does not get good reception. But it was good to have her out of the dead zone that is excelsior springs. All the while I was racing against time to triple task and get these two jobs, and a heart felt reunion all accomplished. (wow)

Continueing, I made two loaves of bread worth of sandwitches, and from that, we came up 3 short of 24, being 21, instead of the needed 24, if we were to feed all the kids, and 27 if John, Shannon and I were going to eat. Never the less, we made a joke and a game out of it, and we passed out more cookies to the kids who did not have sandwitches, and we taught them how to make ham and cheese roll ups, and turkey and cheese roll ups, to have sandwhich equivalents, when we run low on water. We did have extra peanut butter and jelly, and carrots, when it was all said and done. We did manage to ensure all of the kids had 16 oz aquafina bottles in hand to refil throughout the day, after their inital water was drank at lunch.

After that, we spend the afternoon, at this fun State park, kind of this beach resort for small children. it had a fountain, with sea creatures and boats, and snakes, and ladders, and water turrets, and timed sensors in the ground and on the equipment that continually would spritz water on people periodically. Then, the kids noticed the beach. Wonderous sand, and murky fish smelling water with two lifeguards sharing a stand. kind of okward to look at. but none the less, i got drenched and had to get on the bus with wet clothes, and the kids thought I was super fun. We had lots of fun, and as they were drying off and changing we bought the concession stand out of their giant large freeze pops, and they happened to just have 24 total, which was awesome, because we had 24 kids. We got on the bus, and of all my six weeks in the summer, this was the most suprizing part, they all zonked and took naps on the charter bus ride home.

- - Awesome Day right? - - Well we thought so.

Jacob signing out-