K.B., McChicken, Sweetnlow and myself went swimming at Mantanga Falls. Sweetnlow is the one in the pic below. These are the same falls I camped across from a month or so ago. The water was great. If you look to the right you can see the cliff I jumped from it was about a 40 foot jump, good times. I wanted to post more pics but the computer is being mentally challenged. So that's all I've got One Love

Yeah were pretty much addicted to spades Sweetnlow and myself are pretty much the undisputed champions. I mean we lose every now and then but for the most part we kick butt.

Hi Guys,

            How’s it going? How are things going in the Northern Hemisphere? Everything is going well here on the bottom of Africa. The semester is winding down now not much time left here before I return to the land of the free refills. Well let’s see my ministry at the Lighthouse is going better than ever. God has really been opening up doors with the guys there.  In the past two weeks we’ve had a couple of new guys join the program. One is from Mozambique and the other is a Swazi. I’ve been able to spend a good bit of time with both, one of them Thembiso is 21 years old and has been involved in a lot he was addicted to heroin, and various other drugs, and alcohol. His father is a pastor, and his mom has been trying to get him to come to the lighthouse for three years, but he finally decided on his own that he needed to change. So I’ll be pouring into him as much as I can while I’m here.

There is also another guy Nxolise  (that x is a click sound) he is 15 and mostly just had trouble with alcohol,  and theft. We had are first official counseling session today and I found out that both of his parents died of Aids, his dad when he was five and his mom when he was twelve. He then moved with his uncle who didn’t really treat him well, but from there he chose poor decisions with friends and got involved with alcohol and sex. I also found out that he has never been tested for H.I.V.  It’s doubtful that he would’ve gotten it from his mom at birth just because it would have already shown itself, but since he has had multiple partners there is that scary possibility. Considering the fact that over 40% of the population is H.I.V. positive.  So this week I’ll be taking him to a clinic to be tested. So your prayers would be appreciated very much for him.  

So this past weekend we had a braai which is the African word for barbecue. So we had a braai for my youth group at the pastors house. It was sooooo good we had steaks, sausage, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and the best rolls in the world. We had a great time with the youth group. Most of the youth group is girls in between the ages of 14 and 27. It was cool because this past year myself and Ben Rodgers the youth pastor have really tried to give them a healthy view on relationships/dating etc. So we had the pastor and his wife, as we were sitting around the fire just speak about relationships and how they met and how they live out Godly love for one another. I really think it made an impact on them they were asking a lot of questions and seemed to be processing it. I also got to spend the night at Mike and Robyn’s, my pastor and his wife’s house. It was a really sweet time of fellowship. My goal in life is to walk in a room and people just to see Jesus and not me, and that’s what I see when I see Mike. He has been a great mentor, friend and pastor. One of my biggest regrets in leaving soon is that I feel like there is so much more that I could learn from him.

            Well I’ll let you guys go…

But first just a few prayer requests

For deeper breakthrough at the Lighthouse

For Nxolise as he goes to the clinic

We are having another orphan camp this weekend with about 300 orphans

For deeper intimacy with the Lord

And as I’m very close to going home please pray that God just lines up everything I need such as a car which I don’t have that is very much a need in order to get around in good ol’ Chat town.

Also just for direction as far as job, and ministry.

Please know that your prayers are felt and deeply appreciated, and also know that everyone of you that is on my email list is being lifted up in prayer. So be encouraged and stand strong and bold in your Savior. Also just remember that your on the mission field. I hate that term because it bases ministry on where your at, the last time I checked there were plenty hurting, dirty, and dying people living in the states. So live it don’t think about it just follow the Spirit. O.k. sorry for the mini-sermon love ya’ll. I will really let you go this time. 

         Learning to Breathe,

                                    Caleb

P.S. I wrote this a few days ago and didn't get to the internet until now which is wednesday the day before thanksgiving it def. doesn't feel like thanks giving it's way to hot. But we've been listening to holiday music to try and catch some holiday cheer. So that being said have a great Thanksgiving One Love

Newpics coming soon

  O.k. this "update" is a little long, it's from my journal. I took a couple of days of solitude to just go and wait, listen, and hang out with Jesus it was an amazing time.

                                                          As We Sat There

11-1-05

O.k. So I’m in Africa camping outside on a ridge overlooking two beautiful waterfalls. It’s crazy I mean a couple of years ago I would’ve told you that you were crazy if you told me that’s where I would be. It’s hard to even believe it now as it’s already grown dark, and I hear the roaring waterfall, the crickets chirping, the frogs croaking, and the fire crackling. Yet as I look up at a sky full of stars that I never dreamed I would be sleeping under all I can do is sit in disbelief and awe. And just praise the holy sovereign God that placed me here. What’s even more amazing is that the same God that placed the cosmos that span from eternity to eternity into place, has placed me here and he has been with me all day. That’s right, Jesus the Son of God has been with me all day. Jesus walked with me to the lodge, drank coffee with me and as we watched the monkeys run around and swing in the trees he began to tell me how much he loved me, how proud he was of me and as he spoke that to me I tried to stop him and remind him of all my short fallings and of how I’ve turned my back on him so many times, but he just laughed and told me I  was crazy, that I am righteous and holy and as he raised his mug to his mouth to take another sip of coffee. I saw the scar on his hand and was brought once again to the realization that I was made righteous and holy through his extravagant sacrifice. We remained silent for a while as we started our trek to the falls, and then he asked me what I was thinking as he often does, I think more so just to humor me. I responded by asking him if the scars on his hands ever hurt, he responded with a chuckle, I think because he’s heard this question a lot since Ray Boltz wrote that song. His response once again surprised me and I have to say I think it made my heart skip a beat as his words spoke into the depths of my soul. He said “No they don’ hurt they actually tickle a little bit they bring me joy and laughter because they remind me that you are mine.” It’s times like this when I am so wrapped up in God’s live that I know why I could never turn back, that I know that I would lay down my very life daily, so that I could one day here the great well done as his faithful and beloved son.

So as I ran ahead to cross the stream anxious to find the path that Clax (B the former co-author of the critically acclaimed “B and C update”) and I had found all those months ago,  I found that the hike was a lot harder than I had remembered. Of course the last time I made the hike I didn’t have a 30 pound pack on my back and I was eating a much more frequently. The closer we got to the top the more frustrated I became, as my energy was dropping quick and my pack and body was getting berated by the abundance of briars and vines. I began to dwell on thoughts of Eden and the perfection therein. These thorns served as a not so gentle reminder of the Fall that took place all those millions of hours ago. Then Jesus as usual responding to my thoughts said “you are not guaranteed an easy life, but you are guaranteed that I’ll walk with you the whole way whether your in the ‘wilds’ of Africa or on the streets of downtown Boston. I’m never not there for you son.”

Those thoughts are resonating in my heart as I sit here in the dark under a canopy of stars writing this Jesus whispered to me from his Big Agnus sleeping bag which is lying next to mine. He said “Caleb” (I love it when he calls me by my name) “is the waterfall we’re sleeping above beautiful” I responded with a definite yes, he asked if I could see them, not right now I responded it’s to dark and Patty Melts head lamp isn’t bright enough to shine over there.  Then he said “there will be times in your life when there is darkness all around and in those times you might not be able to see me, but that won’t change the fact that I AM there, and that I AM beautiful. Even in those times I will be working out my plan for you to glorify the Father.”

So as I put up my journal and rolled over to attempt to go to sleep on the hard uneven ground, thoughts of the day ran through my mind of just sitting with Jesus and enjoying his presence and the beauty that he’s placed all around. As he spoke to me of the man he wants me to become, and of how he desires to be worshipped with every moment of my life. This is worship. This is what I’m called to. Then I thought of sitting around the blazing fire as we sipped our warm rooibos tea. As I began to sing songs to Him, and then listened as He sung new songs into my soul. It was a good day.

11-2-05

O.K. so here are the long awaited U.K. Pics I had an incredible time there it didn't end up being the trip I expected it to be but it was groovey.

This is a picture of Big Ben when I took this pic I was standing right in front of Westminister Abbey

God pretty much rocked my face off by putting me at Big Ben right at sunset

Those guys are so cool!!!!

There was a street block pretty much designated just for protestors and this was a banner they had up. It's funny cause it's true.

When I was in Edinburgh, Scotland there was a wedding at a church just down the road from where I was staying which by the way was directly across from Edinburgh Castle. Anyway these guys were playing at the wedding they flippen rocked.

Evan, William Wallace and I just chilling.

Just some peeps that I chilled with in Edinburgh I forgot to turn flip this pic so yeah that's all I had time to post love you guys I'll try and post african pics soon. You can also check adventures.org and go to trip updates for swaziland 05 to see more pics and updates. One Love