http://vimeo.com/13164645

If you can’t see the video go here http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/eAH9B8JxQZiz0LAu

Yesterday we had our appointment interview … 2 hours, questions on everything from our marraige to how we’d lead the “Flying Tomato” to Christ, and then 45 minutes waiting outside as they deliberated on whether to appoint us. We were both nervous.

But after that they brought us into the interview room, and congratulated us and they invited us to be part of the WorldVenture mission. We’re appointed to South Africa for media and medical work.

Overall the process was very encouraging. Even at the end, they had some growth recommendations for us and our spiritual life which we think was right on. Not only do they recommend growth for us, they come along side us and keep us accountable … isn’t that amazing. Having a group committed to us, not only professionally, but also for the growth of our own spiritual life!

We’re spending the next two weeks in training at the Littleton office where Chris works, and we’ll be putting up updates as that goes on. Also we will have a celebration that anyone can watch from the internet as we stream the service.

We could use prayers. To have come this far is a great sign, and we hope this is the last step before approval. We have great hope, but nothing is guaranteed.

I have to say we are excited to be at this point. Very excited!

Our sympathies go out to Mandela and his family with the loss of his great granddaughter.

In addition to the games, we know a number of Christian groups in South Africa are using the chance of hosting the World Cup to advance the gospel through a number of outreaches. Even our group at Media Village is using one of it’s media creations on the networks to raise social awareness of the human trafficking issue.

Here’s the piece:

Yikes.

These guys don’t mess around. I’ve worked for them for nearly 5 years and I had no idea what we put people through.

So the next step is to wait for approval of our application from an approval committee. If we are approved, then we can come to the June appointment class. This class begins with us going before a board to be approved officially, and then we will be presented to the mission as new appointees.

Is that crazy? It’s like we’re joining the elks club or something. I don’t think there are any secret handshakes necessary, but I’m not 100% sure.

She’s a great mother, a dedicated wife, and a woman with a God-sized calling on her heart. Myself and the boys are so thankful to have her.

It is an incredibly exciting time to be into media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2dhhxlB6p8

Global Partnership from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

This is a Google report for the search term Christian Missions. Not a pretty picture.
Full missions report.

Last year when Alex Abok graduated from the School of Digital Photography he left Media Village with a passion to use his camera to capture images that would communicate God’s heart for a lost world. How could he have known what was yet to be? How could he have imagined that within weeks he would look through the lens and see images of horror, pain and persecution. He never knew.He could not have known.

Jos is also the home of Media Village Nigeria. Over the past few weeks, this city has experienced horrific attacks. Muslims have ransacked Christian communities and have hacked and murdered men, women and children. Reports say that Christians have also attacked Muslims – so no one is exempt from blame. A BBC documentary has just stated that an estimated 500 people have been murdered. These are crimes of revenge and make no sense to the by – stander.

Who are some of these by-standers? Media Village Nigeria. Staff and students of the School of Video Production have locked themselves behind closed doors. They have gone without food and have rationed their water. Sitting in silence they have been able to hear the sounds of gun shots, and memories of their recent attacks have echoed in their hearts. Ann has reported that the faith and prayers of these young people has encouraged her and given her strength to lead in circumstances that require supernatural courage – God courage.

These words describe some of the horrific scenes.“I was able to escape with my two sons but my wife and daughter were killed with most members of my congregation. Ninety corpses are in my village right now and we don’t have the report of the ones
that died in the hospital in Jos. We did not see the faces of their assailant
but we heard them speaking Fulani, Hausa and English and whenever they hit
someone they shouted “Allah a’ khabar”

Alex used the lens of his camera to tell this story in the moment of time that it took for the shutter to capture this painful image. This an image of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters – our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I believe in prayer, not because I have to but because I have seen God hear and answer the cries of my heart.

Photo by Alex Abok
I believe that it makes a difference. If you can agree with this then let us join remember Media Village Nigeria and trust for their safety and let’s pray for peace to return to this region.

A single image can leave us unsettled, uncomfortable and greatly troubled. Imagine for a moment the pain in heart of a Father who knows each person by name. He knows when a sparrow falls, how much more so these children.

I cannot say I never knew, because now I do. Alex has brought this image into my home, and my heart is broken.

Sawyer Alexander

So here is the story. Kara woke up around 4:30 in the morning on Saturday, Feb 20th, and noticed she was having real contractions, not just the Hicks. She wasn’t sure how serious to take it, because of a few false alarms as few weeks earlier. But around 8 she said let’s get the hospital. 

As soon as I walked in after parking the car, she was grinning ear to ear … “6 to 7 centimeters.”  For those of you who haven’t done this birth thing in a while, that is medical jargon for “the baby is coming.” And compared to having Mason, who took nearly 20 hours of hard labor before reaching 2 or 3 centimeters, we were already nearly at the finish line.

Kara did beautifully. No medicine. She didn’t even discuss it.

In what felt like a fairly short 4 and 1/2 hours, she was giving birth to Sawyer Alexander. He was healthy and beautiful.

A few hours after birth they noticed him grunting a little and then a nurse witnessed him stop breathing for around a minute, so they took him down to be monitored in the ICU. Over the night they extracted some “goo” from his stomach which they thought might be causing some choking. All the doctors are positive towards his health, but hey will be holding him for a few days to get back a few tests.

I’m no medical person and have no education to back my firm confidence that he’s going to be just fine … but I’m confident and excited.

We’ll update later. Thanks to everyone praying. This was such a different delivery and for that we are so thankful.

Kara’s last day at work is tomorrow and then she begins the “Stay at home mom” season of her life. We’re very excited. We’ve been working towards it for a while.

One hour, two hours … sure, no problem. But four days? Shesh. I’m baked.

Note: If this kind of stuff looks beautiful to you. You’re a geek. I might love you, but you’re definitely a geek.

Graham

If you have never put a working partnership together, you would be surprised how much thought needs to be put into the collaboration, so that it works for everyone.

We are so thankful to Suzanne Smith, Duncan Sprague, and Jeff Denlinger for taking time out of their day to meet with us. Kara and I are feeling more confident than ever that this is the next step God wants us to take. Now we need to get into the process of appointment and support raising. We’ve already had to start giving those anxieties over to the Lord, you can be sure.

I think God allowed us a good amount of family time on this vision trip. Looking back now I realize how important this was for us to talk, pray, and finally decide that Cape Town is the next step in our journey.

From Cape Point, South Africa

We didn’t get photos of all of them, but I just wanted to post them and show what new missionaries look like. From multiple countries, with multiple different personal styles, and a heart for using all means available to communicate the gospel.

Only one of the students in these photos is from the states … all the rest are from multiple countries in Africa and Korea.

One thing that attracts us to Media Village is the ability to encourage media leaders from all over Africa and Asia.

Click to see album on Picasa.

From Media Village Students

We seriously believe this was because of everyone praying for us. Thank you so much.

… actually, its is hard on big people as well.

We have good news. It seems our vision trip has done its job – we have vision. Not in a light from the sky, but in the clear matching of the callings of our hearts with the passion and direction of the work here in Cape Town.

We connected with the leaders and the team here. We can see Media Village taking on new heights in the coming years and it would be a privilege to be part of it. They believe we would be key players in the ministry taking the next steps and expanding its already wide reach. We can see our family growing up in this place with the influence of students and among the large contrasts of need and opportunity found here in Cape Town.

Thank you for your prayers.

Here’s a map of our route home:

Map of our travel home

According to Associated Press, South Africa ranks in the top most dangerous countries in the world. The problem … the big problem … is the gap between those who have plenty and those who do not.

Actually, that statistic is derived only from the amount of murders per capita, which is really only one way to measure safety. We have felt safe our entire visit. Like any big city, you avoid certain places and, which is more unique to Cape Town, you stay in at night.

Graham, who has lived here all his life, has never been mugged or assaulted.

School of Photography Student Introduction Video

Already, Kara and I have had great chances to dig into their stories and connect with them.

Media Village does this incredible thing, where it brings in teachers from all around the world … professionals in their craft … and have them teach the students at the highest level. One of the Korean students actually graduated film school in New York and said he is amazed at the curriculum in place here at Media Village.

The new site is located inland, on the edge of the city where land is cheaper.

Due to a financial scandal this property went up for auction around a month ago, and Graham won the auction. (Media Village has been wanting to move for over there years with many unfortunate delays outside of their control.) The property is perfect, actually developed as a training facility and guest house, it is practically ready to move into.

On the other side, Graham purchased the building on faith, without the money in hand, and put his own house up as collateral. Which if God doesn’t provide the funding for the new property, Diane and Graham could lose their house of 15 years. This is the level of commitment we have found in the two of them. It is a beautiful thing of faith to witness. I think so often the risk of faith in following God can be diminished and placed in subordination to rationality. Do I trust God to come through enough to put all the equity of my house on the line?

I have to say, so many of the people here have stories of faith that have brought them here. Our new friends Carol and Klakson sold nearly everything they had in Kenya to come here. Being a missionary from the States is difficult, but being a missionary from Kenya, where most of their families are in poverty and the church has no money to support them. They sold things they owned, borrowed money, and sold their house to come her and disciple young people and to learn media production to impact others.

It is this kind of ministry that is growing here at Media Village. I believe Kara and I see the possibility for a great partnership.