Ryan's African Updates

USA Update

2010-09-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the end of summer in the USA, I know I am! I just wanted to send a final update, as I said I would, about my decisions for this fall. Then I promise, no more African updates ;)

A couple weeks ago, I found out unfortunately that after a long, LONG waiting list process, I did not get accepted to Duke. Needless to say I was pretty disappointed, frustrated, and shaken because I really felt that was where I was going to be and why I had come back from Cape Town. So I responded by doing what I thought best at the time...feeling sorry for myself. After a worthless day of that, I decided maybe it was actually better to not be upset with God, realize that it happened for a specific purpose, and to figure out my next step.

Never having felt fully convinced that Fuller was the place for me right now, I opened myself up to other possibilities. I considered going back to South Africa, but everything about leaving had felt so right and gone so smoothly that I really felt it would be a step backwards and not forwards. Then out of nowhere, Colorado became a real possibility for me. Since I've been home, I have been attending a church called Redemption City which was just started by a South African who felt called here. As I've been going, I've been blown away by so many people who were leading churches around the world and the USA and have felt called to my backyard in Westminister, Colorado with a heart to bless the city. Now all they are missing are local people from the area with that same heart. I began to look back in old notebooks and had written down back in April, while in Cape Town, that God had whispered to me some things about getting involved with this church. (Which I had ignored at the time of course, because I was going to Duke! haha)

To make a long story short, I saw this as a unique opportunity to be a part of something in Colorado and felt it was where God is leading me for now. It's a great chance to learn from a lot of guys who have tons of ministry experience and have a great heart for the Lord. So I'm going to be joining this church and I have deferred my acceptance to Fuller until January. It will give me time also to decide if seminary is the right fit for me. This will mean that I will be living at home for now and looking for work in an unfriendly economy, which will take some getting used to, but I feel that this is where God wants me for now and for that I'm willing to humble myself and be obedient to His call...be it Africa or Arvada.

I am excited for more time with my family, my friends in CO, and to see what God does in my time here. Please pray for God to accomplish everything that He wants in and through me in this season in Colorado. Thanks for all your love, support and prayers over the years! Love, Ryan

Myanmar and Home

2010-08-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hello From Colorado,

I just got back to Denver with my family yesterday after a lot of traveling and flying. It feels really good to be home with my parents and I can sense that it is the right time for me to be back in the US and moving onto the next season in my life. I'm enjoying it here and am excited about going back to school, although I'm STILL waiting to hear back from Duke. I'm still hopeful though as I am trusting God to open the door there and provide for the costs of it all. (Prayers for that would be really appreciated).

Between the last update I sent however we were able to venture into the beautiful country of Myanmar. We really had to trust God from arrival into the country as we arrived with just enough money to cover the cost of our visas. Upon using our last bit of cash, we entered the country only to find out there are no ATMs in the entire country! Thankfully however we found out that there were about 4 hotels where if you were a guest you could also withdraw money from a credit card and were able to go to one of those hotels. We withdrew a limited amount of money and so we had to be very watchful of how we were spending the rest of our time in the country.

Our time in Myanmar was great. Despite the oppressive government, the country is beautiful, the people are really friendly and hospitable, and the food was amazing. We spent most of our time in a city called Pyin Oo Lwin at an orphanage called St. Matthew's. During those days, we spent our times with the kids there, we taught English, music, and led some of the devotion times where we able to share what Jesus has done in our own lives. The days we had there were very fun and all the staff at the orphanage were incredibly kind and humble. And while I enjoyed our time in the country, I was ready by the end to be on my way home.

This is probably one of my final updates considering my African experience has come to a close. I will send an update when I know my next step 100%. But thank you all for reading, supporting, and praying over the past few years, I really appreciate it. Love - Ryan

India/Bangladesh

2010-07-17T02:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody,

In my last update, I told you I was on my way to India. Now India has come and gone and we are already in our second stop in Bangladesh. A group of 6 friends from Cape Town headed to Delhi, India together at the beginning of the month, for the main purpose that we felt God had called us to go there.

In Delhi, we spent time with some local people and some international people from a church there. It was great to spend some time there and see some of what God is doing there. We also were able to visit the cities of Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal!), Varanasi, and Darjeeling. India and it's cities are such intense places. They are busy, crowded with people who stare intensely at foreigners, very hot, and noisy (with lots of cars honking). As compared to other places I have visited, I did not really connect with or enjoy most of the places themselves. However I did know that we were supposed to be there.

Once we arrived in Darjeeling, it felt like a different world to me. It is a hill town at the base of the Himalayas full of people who descend from Nepal and Tibet. It was cooler, quieter, and much more beautiful. I felt so at peace and really loved it there. Looking back on our time in India, we saw God do many things. We were able to build relationships and witness about our own experiences with Jesus, to about 20 people who had never really heard about Him before. One man named Das who we met on an overnight train was healed of a headache, experienced a touch of God through prayer and accepted the Lord into His life. We were also able to pray with others and encourage pastors and local workers who were a bit discouraged with their work in India.

After India, 4 of our group headed back to South Africa. 2 of us have continued onto Bangladesh and Myanmar. In Bangladesh we are currently staying with a nice American missionary couple who are hosting us as we visit The Grameen Bank in the capital of Dhaka. The Grameen Bank is showing us some of what they do here as they have been a big inspiration to the microfinance work we started in Cape Town. They are essentially a bank for the poor and are providing business, home, and education loan to millions of the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh. Its very cool to see their work and the impact they're having. Dhaka is yet another huge city (about 20 million), and is similar to Indian cities, except the standard of living is lower here and there are fewer foreigners and much less English. We leave for Myanmar on the 19th.

Please pray for any seeds planted in the people we've met to grow, and for us to continue to connect with God, be aware of what He's doing and be open to Him. Thanks, and I'm getting excited to be back in the US soon and be closer to you all! Love, ryan

Off to The East

2010-06-29T02:30:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

The day has finally come. My amazing, longer than expected, stay in Cape Town is drawing to a close as I am getting on the plane later today. The past weeks have been filled with wrapping up my life here, saying many goodbyes, and preparing for the next step. As I have said my goodbyes, there has been some sadness, but mostly gratitude. I've just been overwhelmed with thankfulness for this experience, for all the people that have been put in my life here, and for the goodness and faithfulness of my God who has given me this gift of the past 2 1/2 years here.

I've also been so thankful for all of you back home who have faithfully supported me and made this all become a reality with your prayers, encouragement, and finances. Since the time God called me to Cape Town, the entire experience has been a gift. You all back at home have been a gift, everyone here has been a gift, and I feel so humbled that God would give me so much blessing in my time in Africa. As I've been leaving communities for the last time and giving last hugs, I've also felt an incredible peace that this is the right time to leave. I believe that God has accomplished everything He wanted to in me, and pretty much everything He wanted me to accomplish has been done.

I've been reflecting on what's shifted in my own life; how much I've grown and changed. God has touched me here, mainly through many amazing lives. I've seen and been a part of things that I never thought were possible, and yet God has shown me that He does indeed still work miracles. I've thought about all the time I've been able to spend with young lives here and how much we've given to each other. I've thought about how a microfinance project started that I had no intention to start when coming here; and now has great potential with the local staff running it and The Department of Trade and Industry coming alongside to help it take off to greater heights. I've thought about other projects that I've been able to be involved with and now see those taking off. I've thought about the church community I've found and how we've spent so much time encouraging and affecting each others lives. And I'm mostly just amazed at how it is all God. He has orchestrated all of these things, set these things in motion, and shown me the blessing and adventure of following Jesus. So thank you, because not a single one of these things would have been possible without your support.

As I've told you, my friends and I are heading to India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar today. We have felt God calling us there for awhile now. When I get back in August I will be attending either Fuller (in LA) where I have been accepted or Duke University, which is my top choice, but where I'm currently on the waiting list. If you have been sending financial support to Arvada Covenant Church, I would ask that you would discontinue sending there, as the account was open for me only as long as I was in Africa. I am also trusting God for finances to study. Obviously there is no pressure, but if you feel led in anyway to help contribute to my theological education, you may send checks (with "Seminary" on the memo line) to my parent's home address in Colorado which is:
9920 W. 86th Place, Arvada, CO 80005.

So all I can really say is thank you. I am excited for what God has ahead for us in Asia this month. Please pray that we are able to discern God's voice, let Him lead the trip, and walk in the power and love He has given us as His children. I will keep you updated as much as possible on the trip as to what's happening, and I will continue to pray for you all. Love, Ryan

May

2010-06-05T04:41:00.001-07:00

Hi Everybody,

Thanks to those of you who continue reading my blog. I really appreciate it. I know, it's gone on quite a bit longer than my original plan of coming to Africa for 1 year. But God has His own plans, much better plans than what we can dream up. Having said that, I feel like I've gained a bit of clarity on my future. I have decided that I will be leaving Cape Town at the end of June. I believe it's God leading me on, and that almost everything has been accomplished here that was supposed to be.

Funny enough I am STILL waiting to hear back from the schools I've applied to, but I feel confident that God has spoken to me about getting into one of them and that now is the right time to move on. As a part of that, since last year, I have felt God putting the countries of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar on my heart. His pointing to these countries has intensified this year and has also caught the heart of a few of my Cape Town friends. We're not quite sure yet what God has in store for us there, but we are certain that He has told us to go there for July. So we will be leaving June 29th for those countries and seeing what God has planned there. We have made some contacts there and will backpack our way around, before leaving to return to The USA on Aug 1st!

It's all starting to set in that I'm actually leaving after such a long time here, but I feel at peace that this is the right time. It will be sad in some way as the next few weeks will just be a matter of wrapping up my life in Cape Town, saying goodbye to friends, and finishing out an amazing few years here. I couldn't have asked for a more full, diverse, and amazing experience than what I've received here. Because nothing is definite with school yet, I am basically walking in faith that this is the right thing and that the door will open. So please pray for 1) My transition time 2) Our trip to Asia 3) The door to open to school. Thanks for reading and praying.
Love -Ryan

March/April

2010-04-16T03:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. Here is another update after me delaying in posting something. I apologize for that. I was hoping to have more of a concrete update about my future after my last blog, but unfortunately I dont have anything to update. I am still waiting to hear back from the schools I applied to, although in my heart I am still feeling that is where God is leading me. There will be an update as soon as I hear anything regarding schools and my future.

This whole process has humbled me in realizing that it is God who holds the key to our lives and our futures. When I have done all I can, the future is out of my hands and I must just wait, it is difficult because I would like to be the one in control. The days I just let go and trust, I feel peaceful about whats ahead. The days I want to grab the reigns and map out every detail, my heart turns anxious. So your continued prayers for patience, direction, and the right open doors are appreciated as I continue to wait.

In the meantime, I've still been working and enjoying life in Cape Town. With Africa Jam we are still continuing with all our programs and had a couple of day camps for children in the past couple of weeks. We are still working to get our business loan project off the ground this year, distribute loans to people in the community, and seek funding for future years of the work.

Life at home is still amazing. Coming home every evening to 8 amazing people is such a blessing. We've been constantly having guests come through our home for dinners or as a place to sleep for the night. We've even seen a few people come to know the Lord for the first time in the past few weeks as well. Life in our church is healthy and vibrant as well. It will be difficult to leave here if that is what's planned. Thank you for your continued prayers for my future and for the loan project (for things to run smoothly and for funding for future years to come through). I miss you all and it may not be too too long before I am back within Verizon coverage and am better able to keep in touch with you. We'll just wait and see ;) Peace
Ryan

Feb

2010-02-27T05:47:00.001-08:00

Hello Friends,

I thought it was a good time for another update from Cape Town. I have been working a lot lately, especially at setting up The IGP (Income Generation Project) for 2010. I have been feeling renewed with the work and passionate about what's happening.

I have hired one local guy (Jason) who just recently graduated from the University of Cape Town to be our Branch Manager and we have been training/interviewing applicants from the Khayelitsha community to be our Loan Officers. One or two of them will be on board with us by next week and we will be beginning our process for marketing in the community to those who want to start businesses to provide for their families. We are also seeking more funding for the project to provide for what we want to do this year (25 business loans) but I am excited about some doors that are opening for us.

Part of the reason I've been working so hard is to establish ongoing foundations that would last even if I were to leave. Over the past year, I have been feeling the Lord leading me to apply to seminary in the States. So I have applied and am waiting on acceptance and financial aid responses from several schools. If I were accepted and felt that it was the right thing, I would start sometime in Aug/Sept. I am not 100% certain what is going to happen at this point, but I would really appreciate your prayers for direction and provision in this time.

Thanks for all your continuing support and prayers. Please also pray for the ongoing work in Khayelitsha. Loyiso our co-worker has ventured out to start some Africa Jam work in another province in the Eastern Cape. He has left the after school program in the capable hands of some great young leaders, but please pray for the youth in this time of transition and for Loyiso and his work. Thanks! ryan

Beginning of 2010

2010-01-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

I hope that you all had a great start to the new year. I had a great time at home over the holidays with family and friends although it was busy with work and a quick turnaround to Cape Town. The reason I had to be back so quickly was for our big Africa Jam youth outreach camp. We had a great week with the kids and saw God doing many great things. Also with the beautiful location and our leaders stepping up to more responsibilities, the week felt like a bit of a vacation for me after a very busy and somewhat stressful "holiday" at home.

Africa Jam has become very effective and efficient at running these camps over the years as this was the 10th in our history and the 4th that I've personally been a part of. At the end of camp, the kids spoke of how they had really experienced an atmosphere of love and how it was like a week of "heaven on earth." As leaders we were very excited to hear that. We also saw 8 kids come to know Jesus Christ for the first time and many more who had their fire for Him rekindled. Many great friendships were formed and bonds were built also.

Just after camp I welcomed down a man named Livhu who I had met at a previous trip to the Small Enterprise Foundation in the Limpopo province. He was one of their top financial overseers and they are the best microfinance organization in South Africa. He stayed with me for 4 days and we worked hard together to put in some improved structures and methods for our Africa Jam microfinance project (The Income Generation Project). It was a great week and really helped put in place some things that can carry on for years to come.

Finally, I have been excited about moving into a new house in a community called Observatory. I am staying with 8 other people from my church in this house. It is a great house and full of amazingly loving people every time we come home. We have named it the "Guest House" because we believe God gave it to us so that we can use it to welcome others in, bless them, and have many guests stay with us. Please continue to pray for everyone in our house and for continued direction in moving forward with our Africa Jam projects. Thanks! - Ryan

End of 2009

2009-12-20T23:36:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

I hope you are all well, enjoying the holiday season, and are getting ready to rest during some time off. I am currently back in the USA for those of you who didnt know. I've really been enjoying my time in Colorado and California. Ive had a bit of time to reflect on the past year and even though it has gone fast, it has been a great year.

I'm very thankful for 2009, for the opportunity to have been in Cape Town, for you all helping to make that possible, for God carrying me through many tough and trying times, and for Him doing and showing me many great things. I also feel the excitement to be returning in 2010.

Part of the reason that I am home is that I am fund raising to cover my travel and living expenses in 201o, so that I will be able to continue my work with Africa Jam. We have big plans for next year and I would like to invite you to continue to be apart of that. I will continue to need those who are willing to continue communication and who are willing to support me financially and in prayer. I appreciate any form of support you would give.

If you feel led to support me financially you can make checks payable to Arvada Covenant Church with "Ryan DeCook - Africa Jam" as the memo of the check. The address is:
Arvada Covenant Church
5555 Ward Road
Arvada, CO 80002

I am also pasting a link below to a video that my roommate made. He is a talented director and had to make a documentary for his film school. He asked to make me and some of my experience in Cape Town the subject of his film. I thought I would pass it along to give you some more visuals of where I am spending my time. The video is split into two parts, so if you just click the link below and then click the picture in the gray box, it should start playing the 1st part and link automatically to the 2nd part. Hope you enjoy it. Peace
Ryan
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=325593D7E1E0E615

Oct/Nov

2009-11-12T04:28:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

I thought I would send out a quick new blog just to update on what's been happening. Since I last wrote, I've had some good experiences. For a week at the end of Oct, the guy I work with on the loan project Zukile, and I went to the cities of Pretoria and Tzaneen which are both far north in the country. The purpose of our trip was to do some research for our loan project from leading experts in the field.

We stopped first in Pretoria at the Center for Microfinance at the University there. They have been compiling research for years surrounding the type of work we are doing and they were very helpful in providing information and advising us. From there we headed further north to the beautiful province of Limpopo. We stayed with a friends parents from my church who were an amazing couple just outside the city of Tzaneen. Our reason for being in Tzaneen was to visit an organization called Small Enterprise Foundation. They are the leading small loan lender in South Africa.

This organization, working mostly with poor woman in the rural areas is overseeing 60,000 businesses that have been started. They have been doing what theyre doing for about 18 years. It was amazing to see what's happening there and what was more amazing was to see their hospitality and openness to our visit as well as sharing information with us. Rather than being protective and worrying about giving away their "secrets", they were just excited to be chatting with other people who were joining them in the fight against poverty. The trip was encouraging for us, we learned a lot, and we even had an extra day at the end of the trip to drive through a game park and see some animals.

Please pray for continued provision and guidance for Africa Jam and our projects. As well as continued closeness with the Lord for our staff and youth. Thanks!
Peace
Ryan

Eastern Cape

2009-10-16T02:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

Here is the most recent update. Our Africa Jam team is back in Cape Town after our trip to the Eastern Cape. We had a team of 5 staff and about 30 youth from Khayelitsha in the small town of Willowvale. The first days were a bit slow and the weather was bad, but after that we had several effective days of kid's camps for the local youth there. One of the days out there was unbelievable however and was probably worth the whole trip.

Our whole team did some community outreach in the afternoons and was at a house helping to clear some soil for a garden to be planted. There were 15 people living in these 2 houses on this plot of land. After working in their garden, we all fit inside their living room and asked if they needed prayer for anything. An old woman, sitting in her chair with a blanket covering her lap, said she needed prayer for her health. She had lung problems and couldn't really walk (she just sat in that chair all day). So as our whole group began to pray for her and ask Jesus to heal her, she began to squirm in her chair a bit, then slowly push the blanket off her lap. We all kept praying and before we knew it, this old granny was up and running back and forth between her chair and her bedroom praising God! Her daughter was so overwhelmed that she started crying and said she was turning back to God and was going to start going back to church.

All of our group was overwhelmed and amazed, singing the whole way back to where we were staying. That night a couple of our staff explained to our youth from Khayelitsha (especially for those who do not have a relationship with Christ) what had happened earlier that day with the miracle and how Jesus can heal people and demonstrate that He is alive and real in various ways. So that evening 5 of the girls from Khayelitsha, having seen this miracle, decided to put their faith in Jesus and begin a relationship with Him. That day definitely made the whole trip.

As for you all that I'm writing to, I hope that you know me enough to know that I do not lie (often ;) or fabricate stories. These are things that I have seen with my own eyes and I have been completely amazed at the power and reality of Jesus Christ at work. Up unto about several months ago, I questioned if healing miracles happened at all. But I just want to encourage you as you read these updates that these are not things that are only in South Africa, or limited to certain peoples, or because of anything special that I or any of our Africa Jam team has done. To know Jesus personally, experience His love and hope, to see His power and be used for a purpose is something that is open and available to every single person. So as someone who deeply cares for each of you, I would urge you to consider and respond to the reality of Jesus just by looking to Him and inviting Him to be with you forever. Many of you knew my life before I came to know Jesus and I can testify that it was the best decision I ever made and would be the best decision you could ever make, the one thing that can radically change your life as it has mine. I hope you will at least consider what I am saying as someone who cares for you and as a sane person just testifying to what I've seen and experiened. I love you all.
Ryan

Miracle

2009-09-25T02:54:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Normally I dont send out updates 3 days after the previous one, but I felt that this was deserving of a post. My friends and I took a train yesterday to a small coastal community to hang out for a public holiday (dont ask me why there's a holiday on a Thurs). As we were walking around a homeless woman approached us. She was asking for money. When I spoke to her more she said she wanted money for pain tablets for her arthritis that's affected her for 20 years.

We chatted more and she also said she was blind in her left eye. She also said that she was a believer in Jesus and loved Him. We talked for a long time and as we talked I just got the sense that we should pray for her injuries. I told her that I believed Jesus is alive and can heal people still as He did back in the days He walked around. So we prayed, just asking Jesus to heal her. After praying she starting moving her arms and her legs, looking shocked, and said that she had no pain anymore. I asked if there was no pain at all..and she said there was none! She started saying "hallelujah!, praise the Lord!"

Then I asked her how her eye was. She said it was still very gray. So we prayed again asking for the healing of her eye. She opened her eyes with this surprised, excited look on her face and started dancing around shouting "hallelujah". I asked her what she could see and she said she could see everything clearly! Her blind eye could see again. So immediately my doubts jumped in that maybe this homeless woman was putting on a show to try and get some money or food. But she never asked me for anything and was just dancing around on the sidewalk and smiling excitedly saying she didnt need pain tablets anymore. We were all amazed at God's active hand on this woman and Jesus' power to heal her. Just thought I would share this story of God's amazing love and power! Peace
Ryan

August/September

2009-09-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

Molweni,

I hope you are all well and I keep you all in my prayers while I'm here. Please keep your emails coming my way, as I love hearing what's happening in your lives. There has been a lot going on out here in the last month. As I last updated we are still running with our loan project and monitoring the progress.

There are some who are doing very well and with others we are facing the challenges of working with women who do not have much financial or business experience. But it is an exciting challenge to figure out how to adjust constantly and respond to their needs as we move forward. We are already planning for 2010 and have made our proposal in which we have a vision to see 50 businesses started and those who receive loans to get consistent workshops and training in terms of business, life skills, and Christian spirituality. We are excited about what's ahead for that project.

This week we are gearing up to take our Khayelitsha youth group to the Eastern Cape for a week long outreach trip. The Eastern Cape is the rural area of the Xhosa people where many of the people living in Khayelitsha or their ancestors come from originally. So maybe I'll get some more chances to practice the isiXhosa language that I've been trying to learn (dont be surprised if you hear me using the languages' click sounds when I get back to the States ;). We are excited for the trip and are taking 30 people. We will be partnering with a local Church and Bible College in the small town of Willowvale.

There will be a day camp for young kids that we will be putting on, some drama and dance performances that the youth will be doing for the community, and some getting to know the local people through home visitations. Please pray that in the next week we receive the rest of the funding that we are trying to raise before we leave, for leaders from our Khayelitsha group to be raised up, and for the local community to be touched by the love of Christ. Thanks
Ryan

Return to Cape Town

2009-08-14T02:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. It has been about a month since I returned to Cape Town after my visit back home to Colorado. My time at home went by fast, but it was great to see my family and some friends while I was there. My family got some time to rest in the mountain town of Telluride, which is such an amazing place. If any of you Coloradans get a chance you should go check it out.

While I was gone our team went up to the largest township in South Africa called Soweto (in Johannesburg) and led a camp in which many youth learned about HIV/AIDS and many committed their lives to Christ. Since Ive come back, after I adjusted from the time change, I hit the ground running. We were picking up where we left off. It has been cool to see the businesses in Khayelitsha that started while I was home. Most of the business owners are doing quite well in their different ventures such as selling chickens, running a fruit and vegetable stand, selling frozen meat, and selling photographs and business cards.

The young man, Simphiwe, who started a photography business has also gotten involved in another project outside of Africa Jam. Along with some members of my church we have initiated a project called Freeway Football. There are soccer players from some of the townships of Cape Town who find themselves playing the sport they love off the side of the main Freeway in the city. We want to tell the story of these teams and their players, as well as using local photographers like Simphiwe to receive training and document the stories. The hope is to raise up and train local photographers in order to make a book that will be sold, with profits coming back into the communities where the soccer players are from.

It has been amazing to see the progress of the project so far and God's hand in it. Already for our pilot phase, Nikon has come on board to sponsor and provide cameras for Simphiwe and another local photographer. There is already a publisher willing to publish the book, and we are trying to line up more sponsors. If you are interested in checking out more of the project you can check out the website at www.freewayfootball.org. Please keep praying for this project, for Africa Jam, the success of the business owners, and for vision and direction for myself and others involved. Thanks so much for all your continued support. Peace
Ryan

Exciting June

2009-06-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Wow, it has been an exciting month since we last spoke. 1st of all it has been very busy and I've been working hard because I am actually coming home to Colorado to visit family and friends in 2 days! I dont think I've told many of you, but Ive had it planned for a long time to come home during my holiday for the year.

But our work has really been exciting to be a part of these last few weeks. Our team is preparing to run a holiday camp for youth in the biggest township in South Africa in Johannesburg...unfortunately I wont be able to go because I already had my trip home booked. We've also recently been able to purchase and put up a centre for the youth in Khayelitsha. It is such a great step from the large tin shack that they were using for a couple years.

We also just launched our small loan program (Income Generation Project) in Khayelitsha as well. This is the main thing we've been busy getting off the ground before I come home. We have now distributed over R31,000 (South African Currency) to help 12 people from the community, whom are mostly unemployed, start their own businesses. Through this process we have also hired another local guy Zukile to work with me on the project and be able to manage and run the project. It is really exciting and now we just have to monitor things and trust these new entrepreneurs to do their part and for God to do His part as well.

We had an exciting celebration in Khayelitsha with the youth, their families, and the local community to celebrate the launch of the loan project and the opening of the new building. It was an amazing day for our whole team to see the community supporting it, God shining on it, and the fruits of our efforts. So Im getting on a plane to come home exhausted, but knowing that the first half of 2009 has been a success and that Africa Jam is having an impact in the places we are working. Please pray for the use of the building in the community for God's purposes, for the success of the loan recipient's businesses and for the youth we work with.

Thank you, and I look forward to chatting over the phone or seeing some of you when I am home. Peace

Ryan

April/May

2009-05-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,

I hope that you are all well. It has been about a month since I wrote to you. There has not been too much to update in terms of new events or things happening. The major thing that is happening is that Africa Jam has recently ordered a building for a community center in Khayelitsha. It will be delivered and put in the community in the next few weeks and we will be able to have our afterschool program there. Also, we will be launching our small loan program in about 1 month, which will be exciting to see people starting their own businesses.

Other than that, we have just been continuing with our day to day activities. The past month for me has really been a time of personal struggle and growth however. For the last couple of months I have been wrestling with a whole variety of things such as questions, doubts, negative emotions, and feeling a bit overwhelmed with life and community work. It has been a difficult time but I am starting to see so many good things coming out of it.

These struggling times have forced me to really get honest with myself, with others, and with God. It has been so liberating to get back to being more authentic and transparent. Sometimes the most freeing thing is just to share something you're struggling with. And as for my faith, I have become very real and open with God. Rather than pretending things are perfect and feeling good, Ive really been realizing I can tell God anything, the good and the ugly. As part of that I have been finding different ways to creatively express myself. Ive been spending much more time writing, coming up with poetry, playing music, doing photography. I think it has been really healthy and helpful to have those outlets.

So it really has been a good month, as I'm seeing all of the good things coming out of these struggles. I am feeling more free, more alive, more close to God than I have in quite awhile. I'm once again seeing the amazing ways God can use our difficulties for good. So thanks for all your continued prayers and support. Please continue to pray for 1) The Loan Project we are starting 2) The youth we work with 3)Me and my fellow workers to continue to grow and be changed in healthy ways. Thanks! Love you all
Ryan

News

2009-04-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

I hope that things are well with you all and that you had a great Easter weekend. Mine was great as I spent time with some friends from my church about 6 hours up the coast in a beautiful place called Plettenberg Bay. We spent the weekend just relaxing and swimming at the beach which was well needed after a busy month and a busy week leading up to it.

Things have really been going well in the community of Lotus River. At the end of February we began teaching in a primary school about sexuality, choices, and HIV/AIDS. Since we are working with 6th and 7th graders, believe me it is not the easiest task in the world (you can imagine some of the comments), but both Africa Jam and the school felt that it was a very necessary thing for a lot of these kids who just get educated on these issues from word of mouth through peers.

Then all of last week, before the Easter weekend, we had a holiday camp with 3rd-5th graders at that same school. We spent the week playing games, singing, sharing Bible stories, having competitions and lots of fun. There were about 150 who attended the camp. On one of the days after we acted out the story of Jesus and how God had used Him to bring people back into a relationship with Him, we asked if there were any student who wanted that for themselves, and every single student stood up to respond to God's love.

It was a great week and needless to say, we were exhausted by the end. But things are continuing with our programs in Khayelitsha as well. I have recently met some people who have gotten involved in the planning of our small loan program and are helping push us closer to launching it. So please keep praying for us here. Please keep your updates and prayer requests coming. I would love to hear from you all and want to stay connected to home as time passes. I miss you all and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Peace
Ryan

Feb/March

2009-03-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

The past month has flown by. And it was a seriously hot month. I think that February is the warmest month of the year with several days reaching up to nearly 100 degrees. I sweat driving around town, but thankfully I now have those tinted windows (courtesy of the guy who stole it) on my car to keep some of the heat out. Haha.

The day to day work that Africa Jam has really gotten back up and running for the year. We started our after school program in the community of Lotus River again with over 40 kids coming. Its quite a challenge to try and quiet down and teach guitar to such a large number of 5th, 6th, and 7th graders though, haha. We also started our tutoring program in Khayelitsha again, bringing University of Cape Town students from my church to be with our youth once a week.

A lot of my time recently has actually been spent brainstorming and meeting with different advisers to get input into the loan program we want to launch in Khayelitsha in the next couple of months. It is exciting that we will be putting something in place that will be helping better provide for the needs of the youth and their families through helping them start businesses, but it is a bit daunting to do it well and work out all the details.

So please pray for this program and for all of Africa Jam's projects to be led forth by God's Spirit. Also please continue to pray for the youth we work with, specifically the ones I mentioned last time who were dealing with the rape recovery and the drug addiction. Thanks so much and please send me all of your updates and prayer requests. Peace
Ryan

January Summary

2009-02-05T04:49:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

I apologize that it has taken me so long to get back to you after my last email and update about camp. I have been waiting to get pictures from our camp so I could post them and send you all the link (pictures always make the words more clear). But I have to update give an update about our big youth camp that happened from Jan. 4-9. It was an incredible week. Out of the last 3 camps I have been to, it was the best yet. This was so amazing to me coming out of a year with such transition in the organization - to see God work it all out in the end showed me that He is still behind all that we are doing.

We had 200 people from all over Cape Town and a large visiting group from the US. Once again it was so cool to see all the relationships that were built, fun that was had, and walls that were broken down. Since camp has ended I have spoken to many who tell me how much God did in their lives over this week. And it incredible to hear about the diversity of things that God did in each individual life, including introducing Himself to some for the first time.

Riding on the wave of excitement, we have been planning and preparing for the year for our day to day work in the schools and with after-school programs. I am especially excited about planning our small loan project to help provide income for some of the youth and families we work with. So as the schools have gotten back from vacation, we are getting back into the swing of things.

However, we are always faced with the hard realities of life, humanity, and some of the communities we work in. Just this past week, I had a youth come to me and share his battle with drug addiction. And a girl heavily involved in one of our programs was abducted, forced to witness robberies, and was raped. Thankfully she got away and is in the process of proper counseling. So I would really ask for prayers for these two youth specifically for healing and comfort. As well as wisdom from our team as how to better serve the youth. Thanks so much for all your continued support and prayers. Peace
Ryan
http://picasaweb.google.com/decookr (pics of things this year in "Cape Town 09" folder

Back to CT

2009-01-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

I hope that you all had a great Christmas and holiday season. Mine was amazing, especially since I got to see or chat to many of you. My few weeks in the states were very busy with fundraising and catching up with friends and family, but it was a great time.

Two nights ago I arrived safely back in Cape Town. It was a long flight and Im a bit worn out, but adjusting. It's always hard to leave home, but much easier to arriving in a place where Ive been able to build so many great relationships.

The main reason I had to return so quickly was our big youth camp for the year. We are starting in a couple days (Jan 4-9). We are trusting it will be a great camp as it has been in the past, with 150 youth from all over Cape Town attending. So...

Please pray for: 1) Camp to run smoothly and for local leaders to be raised up - 2) Everyone attending to be touched by the love of God

Thanks for all your continued support and prayers. Looking forward to walking forward with you in 2009. Peace

Ryan

Finally

2008-11-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Everybody,

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to you with this update. I have been holding off on writing because I wanted to be certain of my plans for next year. But, in all my thinking, writing, discerning, and praying I have come to a decision for 2009. While I still feel that I will do grad school, it will likely just be pushed back a year into 2010. And I have felt God calling me back to continue the work in Cape Town with Africa Jam into 2010.

From when I wrote my last update and was uncertain, I was feeling very overwhelmed and anxious about what was ahead. Now that I have spent the time to seek what God wants, and have made my decision, I have felt very at peace, revived, and excited about next year. I will still be back to the US on the 10th of December, but could be back in Cape Town as early as December 31st for our big camp of the year.

I am stoked to see what 2009 has in store, as I will be continuing with some of the work that was started this year. My main responsibilities will be continuing with leadership development, mentoring the youth, Bible studies, teaching guitar, and organizing our tutoring program. I'm very excited about our Microloan Project (business generating) that I will be in charge of restructuring, implementing and overseeing. We see it as a great way of battling poverty in the lives of the youth and their families. I'm excited about moving forward with Africa Jam and seeing youth impacted spiritually, socially, emotionally, and physically.

This decision is made completely in faith. I am trusting that this is where God wants me, so He will provide for me. While Africa Jam will be covering a few of my costs, most of my living expenses will have to come from elsewhere. Many of you have supported me faithfully financially, in prayer, in encouragement and I'm truly grateful for that and the deepening of our relationships through that. I ask that you would consider that into 2010. If you would like to partner financially with me, please send tax deductible donations to:

Arvada Covenant Church
5555 Ward Road
Arvada, CO 80002

*And make sure the memo says "Ryan DeCook - Africa Jam" on it *

Thank you for all your support and prayers. Please pray for the detail of my return to be worked out and for Africa Jam plan well for 2009 to really be able to impact the youth here. I continue to pray for you all and hope that I will get to see many of you during my visit home to the US. Please let me know if you will be around or available to spend time together in December. Peace

Ryan

Another New Home

2008-10-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

It has been quite awhile since my last update, but I wanted to get you caught up on what's happening. First, for my housing I have moved into yet another new place. My friend Jacques has an apartment in an area called Sea Point that he has welcomed me into stay...for free!! So God has provided for me once again and I'm just grateful to be here. It's a very nice place and quite a contrast from where I was staying in Khayelitsha, but I'm trying to learn to be content in all situations.

I have still been able to spend a lot of time in Khayelitsha and with the youth however. We also just got back from having our youth lead a camp in the Eastern Cape (another province about a 15 hour drive away). It was a 3 day camp full of fun, music, dance, fun, new friends, and sharing Christ's love. Some of our young leaders from Khayelitsha really stepped up and had a profound impact on some of the youth from this rural area called Willowvale. We just returned to Cape Town a couple of days ago and are resting and recovering right now (especially after our lengthened journey back due to a couple car breakdowns).

The middle of September was an exciting time too as my parents came to visit from the States. It was so great to spend time with them and show them around Cape Town. My favorite part was having my family from home meet some of my new family out here and watching them interact. Both my mom and dad were great sports and fit in well with the locals.

Well there are only about two months left until I am scheduled to come home to Colorado for the holidays. Right now Im planning to come back home for the holidays to be with my family and friends, but am uncertain beyond that. I am open to what God wants from me, so I can really use your prayers for direction. Our director from Africa Jam has recently accepted another position in South Korea, so some possibilities of me coming back to Cape Town have opened up, but I have also been considering grad school in the U.S. So please pray for me to hear God clearly in what's after December. Thanks for all your support, I am so grateful for all of you. Peace
Ryan

PS - Ive posted some pics on this site in the album "Cape Town 2nd Half". http://picasaweb.google.com/decookr

Praise Report

2008-08-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family,

I hope you are all well, I wanted to send you all an exciting update after my last one. In moving to Khayelitsha, I knew that there would be possible dangers, but I knew that if anything "bad" did happen to me that it would be for good, to mature me, and for God's glory. So I still trusted that and prayed (with you all) for that in this situation with my car....And here's what has happened.

Last week the police recovered my car in a high speed chase. There are some things that need fixing, but it is in one piece after a couple weeks of being missing (which they say is very rare). AND I now have very tinted windows...free of charge..haha. So I am in the process of receiving my car back in working condition, saving me from losing over half the value of the car with insurance. And they arrested the man who was caught with my car.

Now in the good news of my car being found, I felt the challenge of what to do in the legal situation. The police detective wanted me to press charges and for Loyiso (roommate) and I to testify against the man caught in the chase. However, having already forgiven the men who stole the car, I felt torn about what to do; called to something more you might say. After much thought and prayer, I felt that God wanted me to drop charges and to speak to the guy who was caught with my car. So yesterday I went to the Khayelitsha Police Station to speak to the man who stole my car.

I explained to this guy that I had forgiven him and I was able to forgive him because God has forgiven me of all the wrongs I have done. I told him that God loved him and could forgive him of anything, because He sent Jesus to die on the cross for all of our wrongdoings and by putting our faith in Him, we can be set free, forgiven, and receive new life. I went on to say that the very reason I was dropping the charges was so that in some small way, he could see a picture of that type of grace and forgiveness. As we ended our time, I prayed together with this guy as he put his faith in Jesus, and received God's forgiveness and presence into his life. Needless to say I was blown away at the outcome of this situation...never could have I imagined this, but God is amazing like that and was glorified in the end.

Please pray for this man that God will truly change his heart and his actions. He still is facing about four other charges and has done a lot of things, so pray grace to really change his. Also, please pray for me for continued direction for the future. God has been faithful in providing some housing options for me, and allowing me to still work in the communities, but I still have decisions coming up. Thank you all for your support and prayers. I love you all and thank God for you. Peace
Ryan

Update

2008-08-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I'm sorry that it has been awhile since my last update. It has been an eventful month to say the least. Since I last emailed, a lot has been going on, specifically in Khayelitsha. First of all we had a day with the youth to fast and pray for the land we are seeking to build a youth center on. The day was also a community service day of our youth group going around to several houses that were in need of help in Khayelitsha. It was great to see the youth helping others in need in their neighborhoods. And that night, at our prayer meeting, there were 10 teens who committed their lives to Christ. Exciting day.

Also, the drama group has been using their musical and theatrical skills to minister to and encourage others around different parts of the city. Just recently, they came to my church which is a predominantly white community in the suburbs. It was also to help kick off a tutoring program with the people from the church (many of whom are university students) for the youth from Khayelitsha (an educationally under served area). To see two communities of different race and backgrounds coming together was exciting.

Now finally, I thought I would let you all know about an event that happened to me personally this past week. I was coming back from the grocery store with my roommate Loyiso and we were held up at gunpoint by two men in front of our house. Thankfully no harm happened to us, but our phones were stolen as well as my car. It happened very quickly and we were shocked, but we have been in prayer about it and forgiving the guys who did it. I have felt the unexplainable peace of God in my heart in a time that should seem to be more chaotic. But the situation has forced me to move out Khayelitsha (as requested by the board of Africa Jam). Things for my immediate future are up in the air right now, as far as housing, location, my car, etc. So....

Please pray for direction in this time and wisdom. Also please pray for comfort and peace for my family in this time of being so far away. And finally please pray that the police are able to recover my car, as the insurance I have only covers less than half of the value of the car. Thank you for all you support and prayers as I continue to pray for you all. Peace
Ryan

Back in CT

2008-06-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Sorry that is has been sooo long since I have posted on my blog site. As most of you know I was home in Colorado for my sister's wedding (which was a great time). And I have been back for about 3 weeks in Cape Town but have been very busy.

The transitions of going home and coming back have been very smooth...not too much culture shock, and a lot of peace as I have felt God walking closely with me in both places. Since I have come back we have has a few exciting things going on here. First we had a visiting American group from a high school in Minnesota, who was accompanied by our American Director Ellen. We showed them around our projects, they participated/helped out, and they were a lot of fun to work with.

Also, we had my roommate/coworker Loyiso lead 5 of our youth to stay in the northern city of Durban to perform drama at a Red Cross Conference. As that has been happening, we have been continuing our after school programs and have been able to bring positive messages at a couple of schools. This past Friday was probably our most exciting event, as we had a kickoff celebration and indoor soccer tournament in the community of Lotus River. We had youth from both Khayelitsha and Lotus River playing soccer and we were kicking off a project of photography for some of our youth and microloans (to start small businesses) for our other youth.

All in all it has been great to be back so far. And I am looking forward to this week as we will be purchasing 8 guitars for our Khayelitsha group so I can start guitar classes with them, as well as two of my best friends Alex and Maria are coming to visit. I am always thankful for all of my supporters and especially people willing to travel this far to come visit me. I want to thank you all again for making this time out here possible for me. Please pray for 1) Continued relationships to deepen with the youth 2) God to really affect the youth and live lives that will affect their communities. Thank you and I hope you are all well. Peace
Ryan

Ups and Downs

2008-05-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends and Family,

It has been great to hear from many of you and get updates on what's going on in your lives....keep them coming. I hope that you are all well. Since I last emailed, Africa Jam has pretty much just kept going with its daily work of after school programs. In Khayelitsha the group put on a performance in the community this past Thursday where they showed off some of their dancing, singing, and acting skills, while sharing Christ's love with those in attendance. Also, about a week and a half ago we performed a skit at an assembly in the community of Lotus River about what it means to be a real man/woman.

As for my life and living in the township, it has been very up and down. In my last update, I mentioned many of the positives of living here, but there is definitely another side too. Like I have seen so much in Africa (and everywhere) there are the positive things we hear less about and the negative that we hear far too much about. But, I have felt the weight of living in an oppressed community. It is a place where resources are lacking, opportunities are minimal, crime is present, and life can be very difficult. As I start to know the kids lives more, I'm starting to see some of the things they face. On top of these things I have started to be effected by unfamiliarity, loneliness at times, and my own lack of understanding. Day to day can be tough......BUT

The positive things still exist, the good is still here, and I can see God working here. There are times when I love being here, growing closer with the teens we work with, sharing guitar lessons with them, new friendships, God comforting me, being swarmed by the school of small children that live on the street. I can see the effects of these struggles on the lives of these youth and how for many of them it is strengthening their perseverance and character. They are overcoming their situation and becoming better people for it. So as I said, things here have been very up and down. Within in the same day I can think to myself, "I know this is where I should be" and "What the hell am I doing here?"

Please pray for me to better connect to and understand the community, as well as what I am and am not able to do. Please pray also for the continued change of the youth (and myself) to live in a new and Godly way. Thanks...also I have posted some new pictures (see link below). Some are in the "Cape Town" folder and there is new folder I put up called "CT Photo Project" which is a collection of black and white photos from around Cape Town in the first half of my time here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/decookr

Oh and one more thing, I will be home (like home, home...as in the USA) in about 10 days. I will be coming for my sister Christina's wedding and some time with family. I will be in CO from May 14-June 4. So if any of you are around I would love to see you and catch up, or at least on the phone. I will have my same old phone number that I always had in the States. Alright, love you all, and am looking forward to coming home to see many of you. Peace
Ryan

New Home

2008-04-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to write and update you all on what's been going on out here. Things have been going well since I last wrote. Africa Jam has continued its work and I have been able to move into being with the teens we work with on a more consistent basis. Part of the reason for that is I, after a delay, finally moved into the township of Khayelitsha.

Already I can see the differences of the culture and the ways of life here. Being an independent person from individualistic America, it will take some adjustment to be around groups of people all the time. It seems that here plans aren't made to hang out, rather just come by and knock as you are walking in the house. Despite the cultural challenges, I feel like this is where God wants me right now. I can already see a deepening of the relationships with the youth we work with and with the kids in the neighborhood.

This past week we also had our teen group in the area lead a children's day camp. We trained the teens to lead the 3 day event for the kids. It was full of music, dance, games, Bible stories, fun, food, for over 180 kids from the area. The kids seemed to have a good time, and it was great to see the teenagers stepping up into positions of leadership in their community.

So please keep praying for the deepening of relationships in the group and in the community. Pray for the children who came to be touched by God through our love for them. And please pray for me to continue to live in my purpose of being in this new home. Thanks. Miss you all and am praying for you. Peace
Ryan

Housing

2008-03-09T03:57:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I trust that you are well back home. Please keep your updates coming, I love hearing from you all. Thank you for all your continued prayers and support. I have seen in a tangible way how God answers prayers since I last emailed.

I was all set to move into the township of Khayelitsha on the 16th of Feb when I had to move out of my last place. I found out a couple days before I had to leave that my room in Khaye wasn't ready yet. It just so happened that two of my best friends from San Diego, Lisa Marie and Jess, came a bit early that day for their visit to Cape Town. They had met some South Africans, while visiting Mozambique, who lived in a house together in Cape Town. So they were staying with their new friends when they arrived here. And because I had to move out with no place to go, I stayed with them also. I thought it would just be for the week and a half that my friends were here, but as my room in Khayelitsha is still not ready, the people at this house offered me a room for rent for one month. So I took it.

I will still move into Khayelitsha at the beginning of April, but this unplanned diversion has been a total answer to prayer. Not only did God provide a roof and a place to lay my head, but has connected me to an awesome community of people at this house, who I will continue to be friends with even after I move. And not only that, some of the people I am staying with have mentioned getting involved with Africa Jam. This is exciting to me because we have been praying and hoping for more white South Africans to get involved since most of the volunteers we have are from the black and colored communities here or from overseas. Already one of the girls at the house came with me to our Khayelitsha after school program...it was the first time in her life she had been to that community. So we'll see what continues to happen with that.

As for everything else, things are going well. We are continuing our projects. We are starting one of our after school programs tomorrow in the colored community of Lotus River where our director is from. Also, I am excited to possibly be joining a local basketball team from Lotus that plays other communities in Cape Town and the Western Province.

So please keep your prayers coming as they are effective. Please continue to pray for 1) Deeper connection to community and the teens we are working with 2) Africa Jam's continued efforts 3) Me to connect to God more as I push into what He has for me here. Thanks, I love and miss you all.
Ryan

Planning for 08

2008-02-10T04:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Again from Cape Town,

I just wanted to update you all with what’s been going on out here since I last wrote. Things have definitely started to get a lot busier for me out here, as our work is getting set up for the year. The last few weeks have been filled with meetings and tons of planning. We have been trying to establish a solid foundation that we can work from for the rest of the year.

So what have we been setting up? Good question. We have been setting dates for all of the camps we will do for the rest of the year, visiting and contacting schools that we’ll be working in, establishing our after school programs, as well as make connections for a youth center we’re building, and an office we’re moving into. I have also been receiving training from the Red Cross in HIV and TB education as well as Peer Education for when we will go into the schools.

It’s been pretty hectic and a lot of administrative work. But I actually enjoy the planning and administrative side of things. I think it’s also a testimony to what Africa Jam does in that I don’t feel that we’ll be failing if I’m not with the youth everyday, because there are leaders from within those communities continuing much of the work already. My role of being with the youth will be coming more heavily as we start running with our programs. We are excited to start our programs of educating the kids on life saving issues, having fun with them, showing them Christ’s love, and keeping them off the streets.

I will be spending time with the teens at after school programs and in the schools when we do our HIV/TB/Life Skills training. I will also be more heavily involved with our program in Khayelitsha, which is one of the black townships (neighborhoods) here. The reason I will be more involved is because I will be moving there next week. I will be living with my friend Loyiso there for at least 3 months. I feel that this is where I should be living for now and I am excited but nervous as well.

So please pray for a healthy connection with the community there as well as for our programs to get off the ground well and really serve the youth well. Thanks and continue to send me your updates and prayer requests. Peace - Ryan

2008 Africa Jam Camp

2008-01-19T01:05:00.000-08:00

Hello Hello,

I apologize that it's been awhile since I've written. We have been busy out here, mainly with running the 6 day camp we put on for teenagers from all over Cape Town. I have also been introducing the city to some of my American friends in our spare time. It's been fun and hectic, but now things are starting to slow a bit as camp is over and I'm saying more goodbyes to my visitors. It was definitely hard to say goodbye to Chris who left this week. We have basically spent every waking moment together since the end of September.

I want to describe camp though, especially since so many of you have been praying for that and interested in how it went. We spend Jan 6-11 at Rocklands, a beautiful campsite overlooking False Bay. It was great for the kids to come there and enjoy the area, for many of them don't get to enjoy the beautiful parts of their own city.

Camp was powerful and tons of fun. The theme of camp this year was "Step Up." Everything, including the nightly message of the pastor, was about encouraging and empowering the teens. The focus was to step up spiritually, in their relationship with God, but also as leaders in their communities. Many of the kids at camp come from harsh environments. Almost all of them face some form or poverty, abuse, exposure to gangs, or drugs, or HIV/AIDS. Camp helped to provide these kids hope, a reason to dream, and challenged them to choose a different way than they see around them.

The kids were also offered life skills training seminars. We addressed relevant issues that face the kids such as TB and depression/suicide as well as offering them ideas on how to communicate better, how to do microfinance, and make good decisions with money. On top of all this, walls were broken down between these typically divided communities and the kids were allowed to be kids and have fun. We provided plenty of interaction, games, creative arts, pool time, and a ropes course to tire them out. I enjoyed teaching the kids how to sling the ball at each other in some intense dodgeball games.

Well, that's camp in a nutshell. Thank you for your prayers and support, it wouldn't have been possible without all of you. So please pray for me as I step into my day to day role with Africa Jam now that camp is done. And thanks for all of you who are sending updates from home...I love staying in touch and knowing what's going on....keep them coming. Peace
Ryan

Cape Town Christmas

2007-12-27T05:41:00.000-08:00

Hey Friends,

First of all, I need to wish you all a Merry (late) Christmas. I hope you had a great holiday and enjoyed some time off. I enjoyed my Christmas out here with friends and good food...although it's hard to get into the Christmas mood when it's summer time in a new country. I definitely missed being with my family in Colorado and the snow that they got there.

My time in South Africa has been great so far. I feel a calm here, like this is really where I am called to be right now...and at times I feel completely overwhelmed with thinking that I'm living here for a year. Chris and I are temporarily staying at the YWCA - yes, that's right, the Young Women's Christian Association. Kind of funny, but the owner is a friend of a friend and they had some extra rooms in the back....so we'll take whatever lodging we can get for now. I'm still settling in and trying to get used to the surroundings as well as looking for a car that I need to help me get around to different ministry sites.

Our time leading up to Christmas was busy. We have been working a lot with the directors and other staff to prepare for our big event of the year....a camp for teenagers from Jan. 7-11. I volunteered at this camp last year and am very excited to be back. The camp brings these teens of different races from divided neighborhoods together for the week. It is a week for the kids to get away from home, have fun, play games, build diverse friendships, learn life skills (HIV education, communication skills, teamwork, etc.), and learn that they have great value and purpose in life because there is a God who loves them and cares for them. So my work with the youth directly has not come too often yet, but will begin heavily at camp and beyond. I'm excited also because my friends Taylor, Jenny, and Julie will be coming from the States to help out at camp.

I know it was awhile ago now, but I compiled picture albums from Kenya and Uganda, as well as a few from Cape Town. I posted the link next to the link for this blog site. I hope it gives you all a better picture to some of the words I have shared, but I have to say it's not the whole picture. There were many, many times when we would be in neighborhoods, homes, places where I would want to take pictures, but it just wasn't appropriate and I didn't want anyone to feel as if I was making a spectacle of their lives...so, many of the pictures may be of nature or of the 2 day safari we had a chance to take. Just know that it can't show everything, but I hope that it helps some.

Please pray for 1) More permanent housing arrangements to be secured as well as to find a reliable and cheap car 2) Everyone who comes to camp to be touched and find their worth in Christ's love
Thanks and I hope you all have an amazing new year. Peace
Ryan

Lukaya, Uganda

2007-12-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

Hey Friends and Family,

The last two weeks have flown by. So here's what went down. Chris and I made our way to a town called Lukaya to stay with a Christian organization called HDCC. They work mostly with street children in this area, most who've been orphaned by parents with AIDS. We had a hard time adjusting at first, getting discontent with traveling and living out of a backpack for so long. Missing Thanksgiving and eating eggs for dinner that night was not easy either.

But we adjusted and realized how grateful we were for our trip and that we have everything we need. As we traveled around we began to see the work of this organization by visiting some of the kids on the street and seeing how many are taken into various schools and families in the communities. We were also able to see their secondary and vocational schools as well as teach some computer training ourselves.

The ministry connected to the organization was actually hard to connect with. Even though I am a Christian, I had a hard time dealing with some of the perspectives and teaching of what I would call a fundamentalist Pentecostal church. I had several conversations where I would speak with someone who did not want to hear what I had to say as the planned their next "Well the Bible says...." statement. Funny enough though they asked Chris or I to give a sermon at their Sunday service....so I did. I was able to speak about John 15 in the Bible and how Christian's lives are supposed to bear fruit (kindness, love, humility, etc) through receiving from the unconditional love of Jesus. I ended up having a great time speaking and they received the message well.

By the end of our time, I was really encouraged. As I got to know some of the people more there I saw that even though I may disagree with their ideas and theology some, they were still people bearing fruit in their lives. And the organization was still doing great things in bringing kids off the street. So now I just arrived back in Cape Town, South Africa last night ready to start my year of work here. I'm thankful for our two months in East Africa and learned much, but am ready to be here.

Please pray for 1) Provision of housing and the right place to stay as I search for that. 2) To adjust quickly and jump fully into my work here.
Thanks for everything, I miss you all. Peace
Ryan

Northern Uganda

2007-11-16T22:28:00.000-08:00

Hello Everybody,

I'm hanging out right now in Kampala, Uganda before heading south to a town called Masaka. We arrived in Kampala on the 4th of Nov and stayed for a couple of nights before heading up to a place called Bweyale in the Northern part of Uganda. Our friend Ali from USD is studying in Uganda and was spending some time there at a school called Hope North. Bweyale is a tiny bus stop town where Chris and I were definitely the only white people for miles.

It was in Bweyale that I was deeply saddened and troubled to find out that two of the main musical artists in Uganda are Celine Dion and Michael Bolton. How Michael Bolton ever made it to Uganda still blows my mind. But anyways, we spent time in Bweyale traveling out to the school to see Ali and spend time with the kids at this secondary and vocational school. Most of the kids here came from IDP (Internally Displaced Peoples) Camps throughout the North.

We spent time with them and also helped out with an HIV/AIDS testing clinic for all the people in the surrounding villages. It was pretty intense to be there and to see all that goes into these people being tested and discovering whether or not they have the virus.

From here we moved further north for a few days to Gulu. We were able to make some connections here and spend a short while at the Invisible Children organizaiton's office and see more of what they are doing in Northern Uganda. We were impressed at what a well run organization they are. But our last day in Gulu was the most impactful. We went out with the UN's World Food Program to distribute food in an IDP camp called Anaka. Basically this is a tiny refugee camp for 14-18,000 people who were forced out of their homes by civil war. Being there and seeing the masses of people seeking their month's rations of food was hard and hopeful at the same time. Seeing that they are being provided for even in small ways was somehow reasurring.

So we are still seeing, experiencing, learning much. Thank you all for this opportunity because I would not be able to be here without all of your support, encouragement, prayers, etc. Please pray that God would continue to teach us what He cares about and what is worth working for in this world. Thanks and I miss you all....keep sending your updates my way too!

Kapsowar, Kenya

2007-11-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,

I am currently writing on my second to last day in Kenya, as we leave for Uganda by bus tomorrow. Chris and I have spent the last 2 and a half weeks in an amazing place called Kapsowar. It is in the highlands of Kenya at about 7,500 ft and is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. This place of sharp peaks and valleys of brilliant colors, steep farms that look like checkerboards on the hillside, and a tropical climate is home to where most of the amazing marathon runners come from. So Chris and I definitely spent some time running and exploring the scenery. And some of my favorite memories are running down red dirt roads with Kenyan children coming alongside to run with us.

Beyond the scenery we were staying at a compound that houses doctors and nurses for the mission hopsital here. This hospital is the only in the area serving over 1/4 of a million people. So as we visited the hospital we saw the huge need for better health care in the area. There were many patients there who could not afford proper care, but the hospital would front much of the bill. We had the chance to go with the chaplains to visit these patients, to talk with them, pray with them, encourage them. As we did all of this we were faced once again with the contrast of harsh realities such as death, disease, HIV, poverty and the light of hope of people who are caring for and mending these people. We saw again some of the broken places of this world and some of the amazing ways God is using people to meet these needs.

We were also able to help out in various ways, since we have absolutely no medical expertise, such as painting, taking inventory, any way we could help out really. But the highlight of our trip may have been the friendship Chris and I developed with 2 Kenyan medical students who were living next to us. We ate every meal together and were able to share life, learn from each other, encourage each other. It was definitely hard to say goodbye but we feel that we will see them again.

This is getting long enough, but I do love hearing from you all and your emails and prayers are really appreciated. Even if I cant respond to the emails, I do read them all and will respond when internet is available. Please pray for 1) Chris and I continue to learn what's worth working for in this world 2) Us to be able to serve in the best ways that show God's love.

Thanks and I love you all. Talk to you soon!

Nakuru, Kenya

2007-10-12T04:58:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

As you all know Chris and I arrived safely on the 3rd in Nakuru, Kenya. We have been here since with a Christian organization named Rohi. They mainly work with orphans and street children. The organization has some Americans involved (like the Huebners who we are stayig with), but is mainly a Kenyan operation. We have seen many of the places they work and the things they do, which have given us such hope for the things going on here.

Their main focus is a school and a rescue center. All of the kids in the rescue center and school were either orphans or just living on the street. We also went along for several home visits to some of the slum areas and the dump area in town to bring some food and encourage the people. We have seen the ways that this organization, their commitment, and the love of God is changing the lives of the kids and the people in this community. Chris and I are so thankful to be here and be seeing all that is going on here.

We are learning so much and yet feeling kind of overwhelmed by the mysteries of God, life, and our world. Kenya is a beautiful place, both the landscape and the hearts of many of the people we've met. We've been faced with many of the problematic areas of this place which many of us Americans think of as associated with Africa. But we are also seeing that side that the media hardly speaks of. The incredible lives, character, and faith of the people here. And the hope of people, like those involved with Rohi who are changing and healing their community.

I will be in touch soon. I miss you all. I really appreciate all of your responses, your encouragment, and your prayers. I do not know what the internet connections will be like as we move onto Kapsowar and Nyeri, but I will do my best to keep in touch.