You, O Lord, will keep them;
you will guard us from this
generation forever.
Psalm 12:7

Photo taken from www.jessietorresblog.com

“This week has been difficult due to the pain and thought of losing Ivan, but right now my heart just aches and I feel sick with pain. These are boys that will be forgotten, that few knew even their names. These are boys that each had a piece of my heart and will forever have that piece.”

A close friend of mine, Jessie Torres, wrote the above words in her most recent blog post. Jessie went over to Uganda a few months back to work with an organization focusing specifically on loving and walking beside children living on the streets. These are children living on their own, in the realness and raw pain that comes from exposure to poverty and all the darkness that it carries, most with no family or caretakers outside of people like Jessie. She originally went out to work with the children for about a month, but quickly realized God had other plans for her. She has now been gone for close to two months and will be staying until the end of the year, continuing to serve the kids she’s grown to love.

Recently, several children that were part of the program Jessie facilitates were stolen during the night.

Taken.

The pain that is felt here is quickly ascribed to the death and pain that is birthed by sin, but we may be missing the complete sadness of the situation, the brokenness and depravity of the lives of so many. How perverted a man’s heart must be to find himself kidnapping children off the street, how lost and dark a soul. Scripture says “For God so loved the world…” not some, but all. It says that each and every one of us was created in his image. Prayer here should be given for both William, Nicolas, and Mukenya (the boys taken), (as well as the countless children which are represented by this sad and heinous act); and, for the men who have taken them.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil…
be constant in prayer…
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality…
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them…
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep…
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all…
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Excerpts from Romans 12:9-21 … such is the life we are called to live as Christians.

I can only speculate on the pain of being so close to this. But Jessie is there, she is living it. I would encourage you to take some time to visit her blog at www.jessietorresblog.com to read more, and also and more importantly, to pray for these three boys, the kids like them, and the men that have taken them. Respond to how God has called you to respond. If this instance is one in which he is pushing on your heart to act further, then I’d encourage you to do so, contacting Jessie through her blog is a great starting point. In the meantime please join the many who are already on their knees in prayer.

It has been a busy couple weeks since I have returned to the states. I have been moving into a new house, concluding my internship with Food for the Hungry, and doing my best to touch base with people (which I am doing a miserable job of right now…if you are waiting to hear back from me I promise I’m slowly getting there)! As a nice break, which seems funny to say since I am just returning, I was able to spend a few days with my family (minus my brother who is visiting family in Utah). I spent the past few days with my parents, sister, and sisters friend in California with most of our time at Lake Tahoe. It was my first time visiting here, it is absolutely beautiful. I must admit, I wasn’t looking forward to leaving again so soon, but the beauty of this place is tough to beat, and it was great to really visit my family for the fist time since I returned.

Above you can see my sister and her best friend Kelsey, Lake Tahoe from the top of a near by mountain, and a ski lift overhead of the now dry sky slope.

The lake is gorgeous. Enough said.

At multiple points I regretted not bringing my tripod. This sunset was one of them.

This Tahoe Lakeside beach was just a few blocks away from our hotel. The water was crystal clear, and the mountains peaking in the distance complemented it creating a breathtaking vista.

On one of the days we took bikes for a four hour ride around town. We went through forest, beaches, and even poked around at a local estate. The Baldwin Estate, no connection to the mostly lacking acting family, was spotted with gardens, old buildings, and neat antiques.

On our way back to Phoenix we drove through Yosemite National Park. I had been a few years back on a backpacking trip, but had forgotten how beautiful this park is. Even on the short drive you see so much!

And of course we watched some great fireworks on Independence Day. The show displayed pirotechnics over the lake and thousands of people packed the beaches to look on. That said it has been a great few days with family. I’m greatful for the chance to spend time with them and see such a beautiful part of the country. Though now, I’m also looking forward to getting home and getting caught up  on life. I hope you all saw some great fireworks as well and had a

Happy 4th of July!

After flights to Kenya, then Amsterdam and then finally back to Seattle I arrived on U.S. soil last Tuesday. The Malouf family graciously allowed me to ease my way back into the day to day living of the west by staying with them in Seattle for the week. I have known the family for about ten years now, originally getting connected to them when David was my youth pastor at Highlands. Since then I’ve grown to know not only David, but Tara, Luc and Mikaela. They are an amazing family and have been a huge blessing to me, used by God at many points in my life. Kathi, another good friend who connects back to the old youth group days, also flew into town from Phoenix for a few days. It was great having here there as well. I couldn’t have asked for a better environment to be in beginning to process my time in Rwanda.

Since returning from Seattle to Arizona on Sunday night I have been pretty busy. I am in a point in my life where there are a great deal of transitions. I am moving this week, while also looking to see where God is leading me next. I hope to continue to use this blog in not only processing my time from Rwanda, but in staying engaged and connected with the community as I venture into what is next.

All of that said please enjoy a few pictures from my time in Seattle. It was my first time there, what an amazing city. I loved it! I was also excited to shoot the below photos with Tara’s brand new camera. She upgraded as she continues to grow her photo business (check out her blog here, she has some beautiful photos posted)!

We spent almost an entire day in Seattle (about an hour away from Casa de Malouf). We started by driving through the downtown, looking at the public library, and then going to their famous market.

The fish market was crowded as eager spectators looked on to see the flying fish at the Pike Place Fish Market, but business was slow and the only fish I saw were on ice.

After walking through the market we emerged into Post Alley, the home of an enormous gum wall.

above: Welcome to Starbucks, store #1. They kept their old colors and old logo here and still manage to have customers lined up out the door. Under the logo a 4 man acapella group performed some great songs.
below: All guys should have a favorite hardware store, electronic store, and outdoors store. While there is no shortage of options my absolute favorite of the latter category is REI. I absolutely love this place from the staff to the products, from the return policy to the annual garage sales…they just do it right. The pictures of clocks below surround the outside of this REI, which like Starbucks, started in Seattle. Another store #1.

David showing his agility as he runs through the streets of Seattle, dodging his daughters reach.

Seattle from across the bay.

Malouf family thanks again for a great time of rest, conversation and fun!