San Jose is in need of missions too...

For those of you that don't know.  I am a Fire Captain in the city of San Jose.  I had the opportunity to work downtown San Jose for a shift and it started to break my heart.  Here is what I did yesterday...

I love being able to work downtown sometimes, the sights, the smells, the hustle and bustle, makes it a fun place to work.  Downtown presents many challenges as a firefighter that are different than the suburban surrounding areas.  I have worked downtown on numerous occasions.  Yesterday, however, was a day where the calls seemed to represent so much of our city right now and I thought I would share some of the "secrets" of our city.  I realize that most of you never get to see this "other" secret world, but it is there.  I promise you.  It is dark, it is ugly, it is in desperate need of our Lord Jesus and His amazing redemption.

I want you readers though to recognize that this was a normal day.  It was not special.  This happened yesterday, today and will happen again tomorrow all throughout this city.

Call #1.  This was at 8am, right out of the chute at shift change, I had just gotten my cup of coffee, and it was still piping hot.  This call was for a man in his mid 30's, in handcuffs with PD.  He had been walking down the street scaring and yelling at people.  He was on crystal meth.  He was screaming that he can't be arrested because he is a Christian.  (Yes, for real)  My reply, "Start acting like Jesus then."

Call #2.  Fire alarm of some sort.

Call #3.  A 60 year old homeless woman with a medical complaint after getting verbally assaulted.

Call #4.  Mid-afternoon, a request by PD for assistance with a woman who was in custody at the light rail station.  She was too crazy that she needed a gurney to be transported to the jail because she was trying to kick out the window of the patrol car.  Yes, she was handcuffed and seat belted while she did this.  It was quite impressive.  She was on meth as well.  (Side note, a car decided to drive on the light rail track and almost run through a crowd of people.)

Call #5.  5pm, a call at a local motel for a medical complaint.  Upon arrival, we found that this was not an ordinary room but a room that one of the local pimps rented out for "his" women.  There were a few women that work the streets at night, getting their sleep during the day.

Call #6.  Dinnertime, (dinners often are eaten cold), a 60's homeless male needed some assistance with some medical problems.  No drugs, but alcohol was involved.

Call #7.  Dinnertime still, A 50 year old man, (though he looked 70), needed medical help after his brother found him passed out.  He had overdosed on methadone.  His brother was very angry at us and the cops, because it took too long to get to him.  He had cussed out the dispatchers on the phone and they told us to stage and wait until PD got there.  His brother was angry that he had overdosed since he has been "clean" off the methadone for a week.

Call #8.  During dishes.  A medical call for a mid-aged homeless male with a medical problem.

Call #9.  An elderly male had fallen and possibly broken his hip.  Tragically, this house was like walking into a temple for his false god, that will not save him.

Call #10.  This call was for something, but at about 10pm, I can no longer remember.  Nothing stands out though.

Call #11.  1am.  Trash can fire in a parking lot.  Thanks to some of the young party club goers out there.  At this time of the hour downtown there are lots of people out, with lots of alcohol flowing and  outfits that should be outlawed.  Downtown turns into a completely different place at this time of the night.  Hardly recognizable to those that are only used to going there during the day.

Call #12.  7am.  Fresh cup of coffee in my cup, with one sip taken.  This was for a woman, sick needing medical attention.  She was a lonely, elderly widow.

Well, this sums the day up.

It was a huge reminder of the need of Jesus in our city.  We don't all need to relocate and travel across the world to places like Kenya.  Most of us, need to stay where we are and be involved in God's work right here in this city.  We need it.

.Faith.

Faith.  noun.    complete trust or confidence in someone or something:

The Bible speaks of great men of faith.  Abraham, Moses, Joshua, the apostles, etc.  When I read about their stories I am amazed at the depths of their faith.  How Moses could stand in the face of Pharaoh (possibly the strongest leader of the day) and continue to tell Pharaoh that he was going to take away all of his slave labor to a different land.  I would love to have a cup of coffee, or two, or a few thousand with Moses as I just listen to him recount his story.  

Faith is not always easy.  Sometimes it is hard.  We have to continually remind ourselves of the work that God has done as we remember that He will continue to provide.  He has provided us with an amazing place to live for the last 6 months and we never would have expected it.  However, as we hit the summer we realize that we need to find a place to live in the fall before we head to Kenya in January.  This has us a little bit concerned.  At times it is hard to maintain the faith that we need.  Finding a place for just a few months for a family our size is not going to be the easiest task.  I don't think that I am too worried about it except when people at work or other places start to question me on it.  The response is usually something like, "wow, I couldn't do that."  

I guess that is faith.  It is not always the strongest faith, but it is there.  It is there because the great Provider God has shown us time and time again, that He will provide.  

Can you pray with us as we seek God's direction on where to live after this summer is over?  

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Anonoymous

God the Provider is good.  Let me share the work that He has been doing.

The last few weeks since I have been home from Lesotho the evil one has been trying to discourage us.  He has been putting evil lies into our heads, telling us that we aren't ever going to make it to Kenya.  We also have felt like we have hit a little bit of a wall.

Instead of caving into the feelings of despair, and giving up, we have decided to keep plugging along.  We recognize that the race we are in is not a sprint but instead, a marathon.  I have run both kinds of races.  When I ran sprints (emphasis on the past tense) I would give every bit of energy for a very short amount of time.  I couldn't last long as I sprinted and ten minutes after the race I would have enough energy to go on a short little jog, or even get ready for another race.

However, when I ran a marathon I took a different approach.  I knew that 26.2 miles is a long way and that I would need to pace myself.  If I ran it like a sprint I wouldn't be able to last one mile.  So, I paced myself throughout the race.  I was giving as much as I could at the time, knowing that I needed to last for a while.  At many points of the race, I was exhausted and the race became a mental game.  I kept telling myself that I just needed to plug along, telling myself that I was not really tired and that I can rest at the end of the race.  Along the way, there were stations with water and fruit, to get refreshed.  These stops were just enough to give me the energy to keep going until I hit the next one.  By the time I hit the finish line, I was completely exhausted. I had given everything I had and had nothing left in the tank.  But, I had finished.  I practically needed assistance walking back to my car afterwards and I did not run again for 6 months.  (10 years later I still say that I ran enough that day to carry me through these last few years.)

This life I am living is a marathon.  Sometimes I might be tired and feelings of despair may come, but  that is when I must continue to plug along, knowing that I can rest when I get to the end of the race.  This last month has been one of those parts of the race where it has been a matter of telling myself to just keep going.  Go through the pain.  Go through the tiredness, and get to the next refreshment station.

Today, God gave us one of those pit stops.  A place to drink His water of peace and the fruit of His provision.  We received a statement from Africa Inland Mission (AIM) our sending organization.  I opened it up, not expecting anything new and something shocked me.  A new donation from a third party organization.  The donors are named Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous.  (I can't wait to meet this couple some day.)  I have often seen their name around and yet I have been unable to meet them.  I am sure that at the end of the race I will be able to meet them.  However, right now they are just standing on the sideline cheering us on, hidden among the crowd.

The donation was kind of a random amount and so I thought that it must be a mistake.  That we were credited with someone else's donation.  So, I called AIM to confirm.  (Yes, I did, for real)  The receiving department looked up the donation, confirmed it and read it to me.  She said, "Yes, donor Anonymous designated this amount for Adam and Heather Cheney and family."  As she hung up the phone she told me that God has blessed us.  He has blessed us indeed.  What seemed like a random amount is actually the amount that we will need for our entire family for one entire month while we are serving in Kenya.  We are blown away at God's provision.  Only our God, who cares for us and cares for the lost ones yet to be told about Him can provide in this way.  Only He, can put it on Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous's heart to put their money towards building God's kingdom.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous.  Thanks for cheering us along the way and we look forward to meeting you face to face at the finish line.  Your support allows us to continue to run with endurance this race we are in.  

Reflections from the airplane...

I am sitting on the last leg of my flight home from Maseru, Lesotho.  In total, it will be about 41 hours of travel time.  I am ready to be off of this plane.  The movies are the same ones that I had on my trip east.  I have read a book and I slept over the entire continent of Africa.  I woke up as we were over Italy and I was so excited that I had just slept for 8 hours, sitting on an airplane.  What an ad for Benadryl!  3 hours more to go and I get to see Heather and the kids.  I miss them. 

As I have sat here for the last few hours, I have been able to reflect on these last three weeks.  I have learned a TON!  Here are some of the tidbits of wisdom that I have written down.

Start small while keeping high standards.

Teach things in a way that people can understand.

Africans learn different than Westerners.

Minimize wastage, and be on time.

Don’t plow!  It is destroying the soil and causing much erosion.

Keep God’s blanket on the soil, don’t get rid of it or burn it.

Just start farming, let relationships develop through that, sharing what makes it successful as you go.

The lighting storms in Lesotho are for real!  I love it. 

Let me expand on one other thing that I learned.  Making disciples is hard work, and is not immediate, it takes time, lots of time.  It also takes the Holy Spirit, lots of the Holy Spirit. 

As we ended our time together at Farming Quest, we had a big Briie, (South African BBQ) and had all of the staff together.  One of the staff was taking short video clips of some of us who were there as we shared our thoughts.  It was listening to a couple of the interviews and seeing the Holy Spirit work that makes me so excited.  Two men from Botswana were apart of Farming Quest.  They both came so that they can learn more about agriculture, and possibly get better yields as they train people back in their village, the idea of conservation agriculture.  As they stated, they didn’t really see how God and farming really went together, but they were willing to come and check it out.  These men are believers in Christ, but maybe came with a little bit of prejudice for the farming.  What they didn’t expect was three weeks of Bible study and farming. 

During the last three weeks I had numerous conversations with them regarding their lives, farms, faith, culture, etc.  I could see that the Holy Spirit was working in them, and tugging on their hearts.  They have such strong cultural beliefs that are holding them back.  Through intentional discipling by many on the team, the interviews that they had were so powerful.  They were so excited to go back to Botswana and teach Farming God’s way with an emphasis in the Biblical aspect of it.  The Holy Spirit is working in them and I can’t wait to see the work that these men will do when they return home. 

Seeing this played out this last week was really exciting for me, as well as others on the team.  It was also a good reminder for me that discipling people is a process.  It is not an immediate change but one that takes time, effort and prayer. 

On a side note.  I am flying over Minot, ND.  Hello Katie and Sean!  I am finally in US airspace. 

Back in time to the 1950's

Last week, just outside of the borders of Lesotho I took a drive back into the 1950’s.  It was almost surreal.  I realize that I was a child of the 70’s but I imagine that this is what it was like.  At least, from the stories that I have been told and those that lived through it.  What I found, I was not ready for. 

The town was small, no sidewalks, but curbs with dirt pathways lined the way around town.  There was a church that stood tall and proud in the middle of the 6 block commercial area.  It was the landmark that everything was next to.  The streets were a little crumbly, with some potholes here and there but it was paved.  However, leading in and out of the town were dirt roads. 

A small pickup truck drove by, with the back end almost dragging along as it had about 10 guys hanging out in the back of it, bumming a ride from who knows where.  We went to a grocery store.  The store was more of a warehouse.  It had a modest but limited selection of different foods.  It probably has the best selection for miles and miles around though.  The fruit stand had a clerk to weigh the food for you.  There were about 8 aisles, and it was easy for me to find somebody to help me.  I learned that is not true for everyone. 

All of my friends who were going through the training with me were there as well.  We were on our way to a little natural springs retreat and we were getting some food.  Two of them needed to go to the restroom.  Both of them went together, both girls, both about 24 years old.  The only difference was one of them was a white Canadian, while the other was black Basuto woman.  They found the restrooms in the back of the store and a white store worker pointed them to the different bathrooms.  One was for the staff and white people, and the other was for coloured people. 

They told us this story as we were driving away.  Neither of them knew quite what to do.  Neither of them had ever experienced this form of separation or racism before.  As they told me their story, my heart was angered.  I was shocked, disappointed, and had tears starting to well up in my eyes.  Mentally, I put my own daughters in their place.  I can’t believe that we humans can treat others with some much disrespect.

We need Jesus.  We need him to come and redeem His people.  We need his people to show His love to all that He has created.  I wonder what role the church across the street plays with the grocery store?  Are they doing what God has called us to?  Or are they just playing ignorant, idly standing by as the enemy reigns with his hatred and bigotry. 

I am so glad that for the most part, America has grown past this.  It is inexcusable.  It has always been inexcusable.  It will continue to be inexcusable.  It needs to stop. 

Sittin on the 5 yard line

We are lined up on our own 5 yard line.  We are both wide receivers and the play calls for us to run the same pattern.  A quick slant pattern to the inside for some guaranteed yards.  We line up, then I hear the quarterback (God) calling an audible.  His plan calls for me to go deep, and for you to continue running the slant pattern. You were on the other side of the field and you didn't hear this audible, and for you, the play remains the same.  I don't know how the play will work, we won't get the guaranteed yardage, it is risky.  But, he is the play caller.  We don't have the playbook, we just do what we are told.  If we waver, then the play will fail.

So, the ball gets snapped, I run straight for 5 yards, you go five and cut inside. I should be making a cut also inside but last minute the play was changed and I know that I have to go where the quarterback told me to go.  He is expecting me there.  There are BIG things at stake for this game.  People are at stake.

I keep going straight, past the 10 yard line and you look at me like I am crazy.  You think that I am supposed to slant inside and pick up 7 yards.

I keep going, past the 20.  You call out at me and tell me that I have the play wrong.  I look back at the quarterback and he nods for me to keep going.

I keep going, at the 30 I am still going straight.  You are telling me that I am messing it all up, that this play doesn't make sense.  The distance is growing and it is not going to work.  I look back, make sure to reconnect with the quarterback and he directs me to keep going.

When I get to the fifty, I know that this whole play is not making sense, but I don't have the game plan.  The quarterback is the only one with the game plan and he NEVER loses.  He will win!  The trophy already has his name on it.

I feel a tug on my shirt, you are trying to slow me down now.  You are telling me that I am crazy, and that I must have mis-understood the orders that I was given.  I look back and He tells me to keep going, deeper into enemy territory.

In the quarterbacks booming voice he tells me to run all the way to the end zone!  I think that is crazy!  I think that the play can't be made.  I have no choice though but to run to the end zone and pray that the 95 yard pass ends well.

You are angry that the plays changed, and that our plans did not coincide in the middle, where there was a guarantee.  I am here to remind you that we play for the same team.  We want our team to win.  We have to listen to the one who calls the shots though if we are going to win.  We both must run our plays.  You need to run your slant pattern, and I need to run my deep route.

I am still running towards the end zone expecting a hale mary.  The quarterback might decide not to throw it to me there, but might be using me as a decoy.  Or, he might make an incredible pass to me, showing off His skill.  I do know this, he won't Kaepernick it at the very end.  He is the Victor.  We will celebrate together with Him.  We need to keep our focus.

Medical scare

When we moved into our new home we already knew one of the neighbors.  She came to our old house to buy some of our furniture that we were selling on craigslist.  Her name is Jessica.  The encounter of buying our furniture in a sparse house led to a conversation of where we are moving.  Which led to a conversation of us moving just 5 doors down from hers.  Our kids have been able to go over there and play and vice versa.

Yesterday, we had a little bit of a medical scare.  Eyerusalem was out running around the neighborhood.  She is allowed to run around the large block by herself and she had already run a couple of laps.  Well, due to being dehydrated she started to have a weird feeling in her chest and then she passed out.  She fell from a standing position and hit her head on the concrete first.  The fire department was called, and she was taken off on a backboard in an ambulance to the ER.

She is doing well.  We were at the ER until late and they almost kept her overnight, but decided to make a follow up appointment instead.  The diagnosis was that she became dehydrated.

When she fell, she could have been in front of any of the 40 houses on our block, yet by God's grace she was right in front of the one and only neighbor we know.  In fact, Jessica was the only witness and saw her running and then saw her pass out.  She was the only to stop and help for the first few minutes, calling 911 and sending her kids running to our house to ask for help.  After all the commotion we have been able to meet a few more neighbors now but we are grateful that God provided for us in this way.

We do believe that we live in a spiritual world and as we prepare our family to move to Kenya we are in a spiritual battle.

God continues to provide.