Mark Stratmann – Blogging my Kingdom Life.

You Can’t.

Posted on 15, Feb

Before leaving on the World Race over a year ago, my sister questioned my desire to go in many ways. The biggest question I remember hearing over and over again was, “how can you go, help these starving people, help the homeless, be with orphaned children for a few weeks and then leave them?” It was a valid question, and most of the time I had no good answer…in fact, I don’t think I ever had an answer.

Today, I will answer it…You Can’t.

In reverse order, I will answer why that is…

Thailand – Walking down the streets of the Nana Entertainment District (overshadowed by the Marriott Hotel) I had no clue how real the sex-tourism was. From the broken lives of the girls being treated as nobodies in this world to the hurting, lost men lurking the streets, there is not a day that I can walk and not think about the far reaching effects of Human Trafficking, and the need for people…US…to walk into horrible situations and bring Hope into them…Bringing Jesus and God’s Kingdom to them…everyday I think of them…everyday.

Cambodia – My stay was short in Cambodia, but in the few weeks there, I spent some time at the “Happy Tree Orphanage” where many kids diagnosed with HIV or AIDS were living. I remember two of the girls, who decided that they needed to have me do a photo shoot of them, and in turn gave me a tour of the AIDS hospital. As I walked through the halls and around the playground, it hit hard that these kids all have a very short life expectancy. I wonder today how many are still alive, how many are sick, how many of them know what they are up against in life. Also in Cambodia I can’t get out of my mind the faces of many victims of land mines, still active in the countryside. Or the stories of survivors of the mass genocide that took place in the killing fields. I saw the need for God’s healings, the need for Jesus to come into these places and truly turn around the future of the country. I still see the need for all of US.

Vietnam – A country that I love so dearly, faces that I think about every day. From the multitudes of orphans that have birth defects resulting from chemicals spread during the Vietnam-American War to the college students who are some of the most incredibly friendly people in the world, I can’t go a day without thinking of them all. I remember many of the people who I encountered in Vietnam, and see how God is moving in that country…a country where the government would rather not have anything to do with Christianity, to which laws forbid much of the freedom that we have in America. It’s a country that has prostitution and human trafficking that is growing quickly, they are in need of Jesus to use US to help direct the future of Vietnam as well as Christianity in the nation. I remember them daily…and don’t forget any of it…ever.

Thailand (Northern) – The villages in northern Thailand captured a special part of me. Maybe it was the growth of the church, the drug addicted villages transforming ever so quickly, the welcoming people, the smiles on everyone’s faces…there are thousands of reasons that I could speak of on why I loved northern Thailand. There is a huge and intense need for Jesus to use US in northern Thailand as there are people in great danger and living in fear of the Burmese Army. There are hundreds of thousands of people…humans…fleeing from Burma in fear of their lives. It is a really catastrophic situation which needs Heaven to be lived out on Earth…through US…not a day goes by that I don’t think of them…not a day.

India – A country that was a struggle for me…in many ways…is in great need for Jesus to create a movement quickly. A place where the government shuts down many Christian run organizations. It is a country where overcrowded streets create for dangerous (and rather humorous and exciting) travel situations. Many people in India come across as rather difficult and aggressive at times. It was a difficult place for many reasons, but I know that Jesus is moving there. The needs in India range from God breathed healings and miracules are needed for the orphaned children, the trafficked children, the lepers living in colonies, the hungry, the hurting, the lonely people living each day asking for distress…they need US…and I haven’t forgotten it one day.

South Africa – The orphaned children, the HIV & AIDS victims, the graphic living situations, the danger, the lack of value on human existence. There’s no way that I can forget many situations I found myself in in Africa…held up at gunpoint, sitting in the dirt with orphans, seeing the white vs black struggle, the physical/emotional/spiritual hunger that rages through many in S. Africa…not a day goes by that I’m not reminded of the needs for Jesus in Africa…not a day goes by.

Swaziland – What more needs to be said about a country so engulfed in the AIDS / HIV epidemic that the average life expectancy is near or less than 30 years old. The need for healing, food for the hungry, and education are in huge demand for this small country. The ways that God used US in Swaziland will continue forever. Not a day goes by that I don’t somehow think of the kids walking miles after miles for the one meal they will get in any given day. Not a day.

Mozambique – What a time it was for US in this beautiful country. The incredible healings that take place in Mozambique, the hunger for significance, the thousands of orphans, the grateful and welcoming people in Mozambique, the horrible roads…it’s all part of why I loved my time in Mozambique. Again, not a day goes by that I don’t think of the people WE prayed for, the lives that were transformed and changed in this country of hurt and poverty. Miss it daily…and never a day that I don’t think of it…

Bolivia – There’s no way I can forget this beautiful…beautiful…beautiful country. From the incredible mountains to the lush green of the rainforest, it is gorgeous. The landscape can’t fool you though, this is one of the poorest countries of South America, being landlocked severely limits it’s export capabilities, causing industry to overlook the country. The constant turnover in their Government causes turmoil daily in much of the country…yet Jesus is lived out in this country. I miss the time in the rainforest working on the orphanage…while I may not have met any of the children that are now living in the orphanage that we helped to complete, they are constantly on my mind. Never a day goes by that I don’t think of the nights I spent with Rusty and some of the girls of our squad talking (attempting to talk) to Remberto, an amazing missionary to his country, who left everything behind to build orphanages around Bolivia with his family. He is an amazing man…I miss him daily.

Peru – From the vast desert-like area of Chincha to the lush Amazon Jungle, I miss it all daily. I miss so many of the people at the Iglesia Berrea in Iquitos, or Templo La Mies in Nauta…I can’t get the images and lives they are living out of my mind. I can’t forget that Pastor Nester is living in Los Jardines, Chincha…and the earthquake torn area surrounding him. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of those days…not one day.

Through all of this, I come back to my sister’s question…”how can you go, stay there for a little while and leave?” and my answer is … you can’t.

Not a day goes by that I don’t wake up wondering what I’m doing of significance. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of these countries and the multitude of things that I could be doing to help any one of them. Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder how many people I encountered are still among us. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the lives that could be turned to God…through you or me.

Yet things hold us back….that’s for another blog though…for now, oh sister of mine…my answer still remains empty…while I did see so many people, and sit in awe of so many things across the world, I still must say, I don’t know how…other than it changes your life in more ways than I can count…and (not to brag, but…) I can count pretty high.

“You Can” … the more up-beat blog coming soon!!!

Life Changes a Few Nights Ago

Posted on 25, Jul

A few nights ago my squad and I were robbed at gunpoint in the hostel we were staying at in Johannesburg, South Africa. First and foremost nobody got hurt! Praise God we are all alive and safe! However, we got tons of stuff stolen from us. So here is the email sent out to the parents of my team.

Dear World Race parents,

First off I want to apologize to ya’ll for just now getting in touch with you. The last couple days have been hectic and stressful to say the least. And my TOP priority has been getting the squad moved out of the hostel and into a location where the folks can feel safe. Not to mention, some of us have been scrambling to get new passports and visas for our upcoming trip to India. So thank you very much for your patience in all this. I can’t even imagine the worry ya’ll must have been going thru and are still going through.

I’m sure you have heard all sorts of things about what happened two nights ago, so let me just give you the facts. Tuesday afternoon the whole squad, minus Patrice’s team, (Patrice, Nate, Angie, Andi and Jen) arrived at The Brown Sugar Hostel in Johannesburg.

I realize it’s got a funny name, but the hostel is not in a bad part of Jo’Burg plus we have stayed there three different times while in Africa. So I felt safe about bringing the team here. Anyway, around 8p that evening probably four, maybe five men came into the hostel armed with pistols and told everyone to get on their face in the lounge area. That’s where about 12 of us were and the rest of the squad was being held in their dorm room.

Guns were pointed at people, threats were made, but NO ONE was physically harmed. Praise the Lord! However, LOTS of our stuff was taken: cash, cameras, computers, passports, phones, clothes, IPOD’s, etc. I’d say the whole thing lasted about 20 minutes. As soon as it was over, the first thing we did was to make sure everyone was OK. Then we started taking an inventory of what was taken, I called AIM, and then people began calling and canceling cards. So anyway, things are just now settling down.

Just so you know, I got the squad at a missionary base an hour away from Jo’Burg. Luckily, when we get to India our team coaches Michael and Kathy Hindes will be there to help us process thru everything. Believe me, we are taking this matter seriously and we do understand the need for counseling at this time.

Here’s a list of my personal losses:

1. Bible

2. Passport

3. Journal

4. Macbook Laptop Computer

5. Camera and Lenses, equipment
6. Backpack

Plus many other small items that were in my small backpack.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ”

- Philippians 3:8

Glory be to Christ Jesus, the name above ALL names!

The Hourglass Passes

Posted on 19, Jul

We’ve fairly well completed our time in Africa, nothing more than rebuilding ourselves spiritually, physically, and mentally…oh, and getting our India Visas. It’s been a long but quick road through Africa, and today I decided to take a trip down memory lane.

Our first month here, we traveled around nearly every 2-3 days. We started off in the small village of Backdoor, South Africa. We helped out with their daily feeding program there that feeds about 150-300 kids daily (depending on school).

From there, we took a whirlwind trip to Vilanculos, Mozambique. It was an absolutely wonderful trip, despite the travel getting there. We helped out with a missionary there named Jaco who has a heart to share the gospel in the African bush, which is exactly what we started off doing. We headed into the bush and showed the Jesus film and did some setup work for another Real Life team (another program offered by Adventures in Missions) which showed up a month later. We also stayed at an orphanage that he manages for a night and learned of the life the orphans live day in and day out. That night became one of my largest memories of the race to date. We learned of the orphan’s struggle for simple tasks like getting water from the community well.

A trip back to Backdoor, and a few days of travel mixed in there, and we were quickly off to our next destination of Nsoko, Swaziland. I can’t believe how that month changed my life as well. We spent the month with G-42 Carepoints, helping the teachers and Gogo’s (Siswati for Grandma) who help cook meals daily for the children. It was heart wrenching to see the poverty and hardships, the oppression every day.

Then our last month was spent in Durban, South Africa. We worked rather hard this last month and built 45 beds for an orphanage. While we worked real hard physically building the beds and helping out Missions Ablaze, for me it was slightly easier for me as it was more in my comfort zone, it was something I felt like I was good at.

Looking back I see where my growth has come from…it’s stepping out of my comfort zone. Working with kids in my middle school classroom was taxing on me at times, but I see where it was God preparing me. I came upon more poverty these past 6 months than i ever thought possible. But there’s complete joy in what I’m doing this year. God’s working on me. I’m reforming my world. I am seeing results in the work we’ve been doing.

The orphanage in Mozambique was in a rather desprate situation. If you didn’t see my previous blog and video about it, see The Orphanage Experience. Just today I found out that they have received 101,000 Rand (a little over $13,000 USD) which is enough to install the well, storage tanks, and solar panels to operate the well! This brought great joy to me as I see where our time of praying for financial favor on the orphanage and praying for clean water for the kids was heard and listened to. Next step for them: raise money for the building and bathrooms!

Praise God. I look ahead at the mere weeks left before my year on The World Race draws on. 4 more months…and it’s all over. It’s a time where I realize that I need to press in more than ever. Before I know it this year will be a memory, and I have to wonder what’s next. I can’t wish it away by counting down the days or anything like that (which many of you at KMS know that I was the master counter of days till the end of the school year…starting with Day 1 : 179 school days to go) instead I need to press into the friendships I’ve made, and the relationship with God I’ve formed.

Video of Swaziland

Posted on 18, Jul

Hey!

I know that in many ways I’ve gone on a sort of “Missing” status with my blogs…I like to blame it all on the fact that last month in Durban I had little to no internet connection, but in truth, I’ve had a lot on my mind with no way to put it into words. The past 3 months of being in Africa has taken me by storm with some of the things I’ve seen and the people I’ve met. Dealing with the physical sides of this trip has not been bad this month, but the mental, emotional, and spiritual side is really under attack. To say that I’m glad to be resting from it all for a weekend is an understatement.

I remember something my dad said before I left on The World Race. He said something to the nature of, “You simply can’t get a true picture of the people in Africa or other places, you see it in the magazines, you see it on TV, but it doesn’t really mean that much because you haven’t been there. It simply is a picture without much meaning to you because you don’t know what it is really like.” While I completely didn’t exactly quote that, he said something VERY similar to that. Well, here I am…I now can imagine it, heck, I can remember it…actually, I do remember it, I remember each face I’ve seen, each kid I spent time with. It’s really overwhelming at times when I recount the places I’ve been this year.

I really still have little to nothing to say about last month (though will press on and post something soon…I PROMISE!) as I’m still dealing with a lot of stuff from Swaziland, I wanted to give you some insight. Here is a video that my friend and leader, Rusty did of the exact area of Swaziland we were in. As I watched it and saw the people that I met and prayed with, I knew that it should be seen by all of you who follow this mecca I’m on.

Untitled from Rusty Jackson on Vimeo.

Africa…Short Update

Posted on 12, Jul

Durban, South Africa

Throughout our time in South Africa, we have had a theme or feeding the hungry and spending time with orphans…this month is no exception. I find myself in the middle of a large undertaking with Ablaze Ministries in Durban, South Africa.

My team and I are working extremely hard this month on a task of building 90 beds for an orphanage that Ablaze Ministries is in the final stages of building. I find myself excited to once again be using power tools and a slightly mindless task (building 90 beds includes a lot of repetition). Strong back…weak mind…I kinda like it right now! We are building the bed frames on the campus of Ablaze Ministries, a quiet setting just outside of Durban.

Here are some pictures of our time here…

I know this was a short update, but for the truth, I’m fairly worn down at the moment. I’ve LOVED my days in Africa, and the lives that have been touched for the Kingdom of God will leave the scent of Christ behind my trails forever. I’ve loved The World Race for the various ministries that I get to be a part of. While some are more “up my alley” than others, the diversity of them has stretched me and helped me grow in so many ways. Some months we are dealing directly with kids, some with adults, some directly working with churches and outreaches, sharing Christ with others, some months we are building beds or stairways…I believe that it’s all furthering God’s love throughout the places we are go. I love that this month we are building beds…for the kids.

I am currently in need of support…we are coming upon the last 4 1/2 months of ministry on the World Race, and my current support level is at $11,950…and my total need is $13,800. That leaves me with $1,850 left to go. A huge THANK YOU too all of you who support me through prayers, words, or finances. The World Race has not only transformed my life, but the lives of those that I’ve encountered throughout the year!

Swaziland and I

Posted on 14, Jun

Let me start by saying that I wrote this blog, in my tent, slightly sick….my current schedule is: wake up at 7 or 8, help the kids for awhile, then take a 2-3 hour nap for the afternoon…then, in a struggle I wake up, eat some dinner, attempt to socialize for a bit before falling back asleep by 8 again…today I went to the Swaziland doctor, I don’t have malaria…that’s all he could tell me…I get the bloodwork back Monday.

Could I Grow Numb?

I sit here in my tent, pondering life yet again. I listen to some music, and wonder if I still have the spark about this journey I’m on. I look into the eyes of the children we minister to day in and day out. I have to ask this question…have I grown numb?

I remember rolling into Los Jardines and Tambo de Mora in Peru back in January, seeing the destruction caused by the earthquake. I attempt to put myself back to that point mentally, can I still smell the smells and taste the dirt that would blow into my mouth? Can I still see the smiles and tears of the people I met there? Can I still evoke the emotion of the destruction there? I think so, but I can’t duplicate it. I can simply remember what I felt, I can’t go back and feel it again. I flip through pictures of my times there, and can remember the things I saw and remember how I felt, but to say that I went back to that same spot emotionally would be a lie.

I continue on in my hunt for past emotions, past feelings, past everything. I look at my times in Nauta and Iquitos, Peru. It nearly seems so long ago that I was there, but their names are still engraved in my heart. I think about the promises of the people there to continue praying for them and think…when was the last time I kept true to that promise? I see their living conditions, and can sort through my library of emotions to remember what I felt that day, but again, I can’t put myself back there emotionally.

Alright, I’ll go to Bolivia…same thing. I look into Remberto’s eyes through a picture, and remember much of what went on in my time spent in the Bolivian rainforest working alongside this amazing man, yet still, I can’t get that “feeling” of that emotion I had as I stood there next to him, sweat pouring from my head. I may remember some moments, and some thoughts I had…but never once can I duplicate my emotions for it.

We have moved on to Africa, starting out in Backdoor, South Africa. It was merely weeks ago that I was there, in the midst of the poverty that surrounded me. I can still remember many of the moments that I stood in awe of the sunsets and mere landscape that surrounded me. I can freshly remember many faces. I am starting to notice something about my feelings about it…or the lack there of.

Now I’m here in Nsoko, Swaziland…working with children that once again struggle to eat one meal a day. I look into their eyes, and feel for them. I struggle and fight my way into attempting to see what a day in the life of one of these kids is like. It’s getting harder to do though. I am in the midst of the days here, thinking to myself, why does the poverty here not bother me anymore? Why can I see these kids, have a minor heartbreak over their situation, but not have a complete breakdown and feel some of those emotions I felt in Peru? Is it because I think that one is in a worse position than the other? no…they are both in incredible need for help both physically and spiritually, I fear that I am starting to become numb to it though. Many people go on short term mission trips that break their hearts and change them forever…I’m in the midst of 11 short term trips, and the broken heart syndrome is slowly dying. I don’t think this is good, but I don’t truly know.

Before you jump the gun and think that I’m going off the deep end, let me correct that. I still feel for the people we minister to day in and day out. I am just realizing that the zeal and excitement has worn off, and I’m left with the true situation that extreme poverty exists, and now I’m comfortable with it. I can go into the poorest of the poor areas and not be surprised anymore. The shock and awe is over. The honeymoon is over, and the “mundane” is setting in. How can this happen with an experience like this? I don’t know, but I believe that we get comfortable and settle into any way of life we are thrown into, and after the shock of it all, we settle in and we realize that we’re alright.

Maybe I’m not all with it tonight, maybe I’m just realizing that my emotions are quickly leaving the situations I’m in. I don’t believe that we can live our life out of emotions either though, so I think I’m alright in my ways. I can still feel heartbroken for people and their situations with leaving my emotions out of it.

My question and fear is this: Do I still have the same emotions and feelings in the midst of the situation, but I’m now comfortable with those emotions and simply am accustom to them? If so, did the emotions I had in my life before The World Race simply exist in my mind without my realizing it? Will those emotions from before The World Race come back to being a factor when I return to the United States?

Or am I just insane? (don’t answer that question! Ha!)

Just an Average Day for Me

Posted on 8, Jun

I wake up at 6:00am as the sun is beginning to shine through the mesh of my tent, was it the cool breeze that woke me or was it the dampness of last night’s dew that snuck it’s way into my tent? Not caring, I attempt to decide, is today a pants and long sleeve day, or shorts and tee shirt day…hmmm..oh wait…it doesn’t matter. Be thankful you have a choice, and throw some clothes on, Mark. **sniff…sniff** yeah, this shirt is clean enough to wear again. I am not going to lie, hand washing clothes is NOT my favorite chore (especially when I wait until I’m completely out of things that smell good enough to wear one more time, and there’s no automatic dryer around!) but some days it’s a necessity. No matter what I put on, I have to remind myself once again that no matter what I look like, I need to be more thankful for what I have…I am, after all, deciding what to wear today when most people I see today don’t have that choice. I go ahead and choose to put on jeans and a tee shirt, and go for the gusto and put on the last long sleeve tee shirt I can find in my backpack (the rest have disappeared…hmmmm).

The morning is cool, but the sun beating in promises to warm the afternoon air as I wipe out my bowl and a semi-clean spoon for breakfast. Cheap cereal and long life milk, mmmmm!.another wonderful world race breakfast! Again, I need to regain perspective…I have breakfast, and life is good again. I see the rest of my team mates surface out of their tents, and small chat begins as we all scarf down our bowls of real tasty breakfast (which 7 months ago I would have never sunk my teeth into). A discussion of the book of Romans, and off to do some sort of ministry for the day. Unsure of what we’ll get into, we take the best tools we have…ourselves.

We weave through the dirt trails that lead to the various G-42 Care Points to eventually find a small building nicely decorated with a brownish red bottom and a pale yellow top. The smile of kids gleam as they realize that the fun white people have shown up. The sun is warming up the day, so I take off the long sleeve shirt I so needed an hour ago. The Care Point teacher is busy teaching the children…it slightly brings me back to my teaching days not so long ago at Kannapolis Middle School. I peek inside, trying not to distract the kids and pull the attention from Nellie (the teacher). As I glare in, I am sadly reminded that these kids need Jesus, the fact still lingers that many of them will never see as many years as I’ve been blessed with ( I am currently 28 1/2 years old…I felt like a kid again putting that I’m 28 AND a half!).

The teacher is not only teaching the kids in their native language, SiSwati, but she is going the extra mile and teaching them in English. I listen as they recite the months, the days, the numbers, the weather in both SiSwati as well as English. I realize that this teacher is a better teacher with very little education than I was when I taught with a college degree. I begin to rethink my world again for the 3rd time today (probably more than the 3rd, but that’s all I’ve explained in this blog). The teacher allows the children to take a 10 minute break before they come in to learn something about Jesus, maybe it’s a story, maybe it’s a song…today we are doing a skit about the Good Samaritan from Luke and teaching them a lesson to go with it…my role is to play the part of the bad guy who beats up Tammy, the innocent girl. As I fake beat up Tammy, a young child begins to cry, thinking I actually beat her up! It makes us all laugh.

Our time is finished off by playing with the kids and helping the GoGo’s prepare a meal for the children. Whether it’s playing the real fun game of “kick the ball back and forth” or simply holding the children and if so inspired spinning them around, the kids enjoy the mere presence of someone who cares. The thought often passes me, “holding this child, will I get ringworm?” and it is without hesitation replaced with, “who cares? there’s medication to fix that, there’s no medicine that can replace love and hugs.” I have no idea what their world is actually like…the feeling of coming to a Care Point where people come and go all the time, accepting ANY form or feeling of love from them as it may be the only hug they get that month. I can’t describe how grumpy I would be if that was the only meal I got that day, yet the kids don’t seem grumpy at all…in fact they seem rather satisfied with life. The GoGo informs them that lunch is ready, the kids quickly jump in line, prepared for their meal today…their one meal in many to most cases. No silverware needed here, the kids sprinkle some water across their dirt caked hands (often simply turning the dirt into mud) and dig into their meal for the day. I’m getting annoyed that a pesky fly keeps landing on my head. There’s no bothering them or chatter as the kids devour the plate of food placed in their hands. After they are finished, they don’t hesitate to clean up after themselves, cleaning their plates off in a bucket of water…not caring that their hands and faces are still a mess, they hurry back to play with us as they know that all too soon we to will leave their lives…with nothing but a fleeing thought that someday we could meet up again.

The cloud of dust rises behind the van as we leave the Care Point in the afternoon. Heading back to the safari campground we are staying at, I look forward to the convenience of a warm shower and running water. These things are now considered WONDERFUL in my world as all too often on the World Race we find ourselves dumping buckets of ice cold water over our heads to keep clean. Alright, we need to start to think about dinner…we need to think about it fairly early as whatever we cook needs to be cooked over an open fire. **argh** what a pain. Oh wait…I’m eating again…realign my attitude and view on life yet again…I have food to eat. The team spends 1-3 hours a night preparing dinner, depending on what we are eating. As dinner cooks, I sit complaining that my long sleeve shirt is simply too far away for me to get right now…complaining sarcastically until one of my super nice team mates decides to get me my shirt simply to get me to shut the heck up.

These giraffes were a 15 minute walk from where we are staying!

The night draws to a close, cold and worn out, I retire back to my wonderful tent, my sleeping bag, and I turn off my flashlight to save the batteries. I swear I can see my breath…but it could simply be my imagination. I reflect on my dayÉI remember the children, wondering what they are doing right now, are they telling their parent(s) about their day? are they saying bedtime prayers? are they warm? are they hungry? do they have parents?

I whisper or dare I say I whimper a quick prayer (dwelling on it before bed causes me to now sleep so well) and move on to the teachers…being a teacher once upon a time I dare to press into their struggles. Is Nellie right now preparing tomorrow’s lesson? is she hungry? is she lonely? is she cold? is she saying her bedtime prayers? would I walk to the Care Point tomorrow if I was her? would I do all that she does out of the goodness of my heart…without a penny of compensation? why didn’t I do more for my students? couldn’t I have done better with the picture perfect situation I was in at Kannapolis Middle School? why didn’t I do better?

Again, shoot out a quick prayer to make sure that God looks after the teachers and the children…I can’t beat myself up over not being as good of a teacher as I should have, maybe I’ll get a second chance someday…but will I do it simply out of love and compassion for the children? crap.

I drift off to sleep, secretly hoping that my dream that night takes me to a different place, a place that one day I would have thought was better than where I am right now. But a short distance I hear a lion’s roar, reminding me that I am living in Africa, 200 short feet from a lion’s home, next to a lion who hasn’t eaten in nearly a week…who does this? is this really my life? is this year really half over? is it really flying by this fast? it seems like forever ago that I said goodbye to family and friends, yet it seems like yesterday at the same time. Which place is better…the place I hope to dream of, or the place I’m in right now?

Swazi…quick…QUICK update (with photos!)

Posted on 6, Jun

Nsoko, Swaziland, Africa (and the surrounding area)

Staring into the young eyes of kids who’s life expectancy is less than 30 years old, I had to wonder, why am I living better? Why do I deserve better? The G-42 Project attempts to help that process…teaching and feeding the kids on a daily basis.

One of the G-42 Carepoints

Food is delivered to the various Care Points…

Photos of the food delivered

The Care Points are made to feed kids in the area not only physically, but spiritually, and mentally as well. They have volunteer teachers (who spend every day teaching kids for NO compensation…just because they love what they are doing…walking to the Care Points everyday.) It is humbling to look into their eyes, finding that they are there because of their desires to make their world a better place…and to think, I once complained about not making enough money working at a school…

Me, in front of a Care Point.

These kids show up daily, learn about colors, shapes, days, months, weather, etc. They are up to 6 years old on average. The teachers teach the kids all these things in English and SiSwati…and if I didn’t mention it, they don’t get paid. After the lessons, the Care Points serve food, usually either pop (millie meal…I think I described the substance in other blogs) and beans, or the rice and soy meal that we helped deliver. The amount of children that are malnourished is very high, many with large pot bellies showing their hunger. I will write more, but for now, I must go…sorry for the small amount of information and thoughtful insight, but know that more will come with time!

Swaziland…and how this year’s wrecked my life…

Posted on 27, May

As I sit looking out of the window of the house we’ve been staying at in Swaziland for the past week, I wonder how real my life is today. I’m sitting in a house, in Swaziland, admiring the view of a country that statistically could cease to exist within my lifetime from the HIV / AIDS outbreak…that is unless God intervenes and changes the course that the country is in right now. Things make me think when I come across this…why do I have to sit and watch this happen? Will my team have any hope in fixing this problem? Where will the country actually be in a few years? I don’t know the answer to any of these questions, but I hope that we have some part in the Kingdom of God changing history for this small African country.

I wonder at times, how does a place get like this? I look out, admiring the view as it’s beautiful here…I feel the breeze, I smell the smells, it’s great, seriously, I’m currently living in Swaziland…it’s an amazing place! But then I realize where I’m staying, and it’s a harsh reality of what life is actually like here. I realize that the house we are staying in has a 5′ wall around it, razor wire surrounding it, a locked gate protecting it, bars on all the windows protecting us. We are told not to leave anywhere alone here, as it’s too dangerous…yet throughout all of this, I feel normal, safe. It’s a very common site, very few houses here look much different in Manzini where we currently are (though we are moving tomorrow), nice looking houses surrounded by a large concrete wall, with razor wire and barbed wire surrounding it, most all have bars on the windows, and securely locking gates (with sharp razor wire on the top of that too)…oh yeah, I forgot to mention the man-eating dogs that bark and stare you down everywhere you walk. I’m not kidding about any of this. It’s the place we have been for the past week. I have no explanation for my feelings of being safe, as I’m in a place that I probably shouldn’t feel that safe…if I ever walked into an area in the USA that looked like this I’d lock the doors on my SUV and hit the gas to get out of it as soon as possible…but here, I walk and look at it all, nearly numb to the feelings of less security. I don’t get it…in a place where the landscape is so beautiful, how has it become so ‘insecure’.

We walk (in groups for safety, mom) to the main part of town, to check our e-mail, post this blog, you know, the important stuff in life…oh yeah, and hit up KFC for lunch, and on the way pass by a landfill, a garbage dump. In the dump, people scavenge through the new drop-offs for the day, looking for something that’s of worth…after-all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Again, nearly mute to the horrible poverty that surrounds me, I continue my walk to the town.

The other day I was walking with my friend Kim, and as we walked through the ‘crowd’ of Manzini (which is a fairly small town, so the crowd isn’t too large) we had a man approach us, and immediately say, “you’re with Adventures in Missions, aren’t you?” Of course, we said yes, and made small talk with Yul (I think that’s how you spell his name!) He walked with us and talked with us about the people he knows and the love that they’ve passed on to him, naming off many AIM people that I didn’t really know, begging us to find out when they were coming back to Swaziland, of which we both replied we weren’t sure…so if you know Yul and want us to answer that question, please let me know! He’s HIV+…and loves to talk about life and his knowledge of Jesus and the Bible…we helped him out with some medication, and he went on his way…it’s a real humbling feeling knowing that life expectancy in Swaziland is under 30 years old, and the risk of talking to someone today is that you may not ever see them again, they may well die before seeing them again. It’s sad to realize that, but it’s true…I hate that it’s the reality, but that’s the need in this country…pray for Swaziland.

So here I am, slowly and sadly realizing that I’m slowly becoming numb to the surroundings around me. After so much poverty that we’ve seen, so much oppression, so many horrible circumstances, I realize that each area I’ve set foot on has completely different needs. I realize that my horrible views on poverty in the past are coming to pass. The “go out and get a job, quit complaining about your circumstances” attitude is changing, I’m being transformed. I realize how hard it is. I look at my world in the USA and realize that I’m a whiner. I met Isaiah, who walks 1 hour 15 minutes each way to work…EACH WAY…and i complain if I have to drive more than 20 minutes to work. He’s the lucky one. Some take 2+ hours to get to work, and if they are lucky they are making more than 70 rand per day, the equivalent of less than $10 USD per day. We met a guard the other day who makes 800 rand per month, is supposed to get 4 days per month off, yet hasn’t had a day off in 2 months. His shift goes overnight for 14 hours every day…to put that in perspective, that’s less than 2 rand per hour (25.4 CENTS per hour)…and he’s thankful to have a job…every time I saw him, he smiled at me and greeted me.

I’ve seen so much, too much to not change. I’ve experienced too much to ever live a normal life again, whatever that may mean. Today our “debrief” time ended, our time to get the entire squad back together, and our small teams all split to go our separate ways once again. This is most definitely not my favorite time…saying goodbye to those we started the year off with for 3 months, seeing each other day in and day out…saying goodbye to each other for another month, knowing that everyone will get a tad bit different each month, wondering who will be completely transformed next month, wondering what I will experience this month. I never know what is coming next in my life now, it’s always an adventure. There are tough times ahead though, personally…please pray that it’s not more than I can handle at the time, as the Bible says that God won’t throw more at us than we can handle…what would be the end of the school year is quickly approaching…I’ll miss saying goodbye to the fine students at Kannapolis Middle School, and knowing that I have a fine summer to ‘relax’ and prepare for next year…July I’ll be missing my family vacation at Higgins Lake…I’ll be missing Ben and Christine’s wedding, I’ll miss countless birthdays and BBQ’s at Lake Norman. The next few months will possibly be the roughest for those reasons. I don’t actually know how I’ll handle it all, so far I’ve handled it all very well, and am looking forward to so many things that I’ll be doing…but this is another season, and with other seasons come other issues…yet I’ll press onward!

Life as I once knew it is over…and my new life is AMAZING! Seriously, who lives this way? Who travels the world, spreading Jesus and the Kingdom of God all over, leaving footprints and memories and “goodness” everywhere? Not many…I’m blessed, and I know it…but it’s not a vacation!

PS…There’s a REAL GOOD chance that I’ll be offline for the next month, so I’m sorry for the lack of updates coming for the next 3 weeks or so. I absolutely love hearing from you all, so please show some love and support through e-mail or comments here!!!!!!

Swaziland…My First Kingdom Visit

Posted on 22, May

As we rolled into Swaziland to get our visas, I saw the sign saying “Welcome to the Kingdom of Swaziland” I thought to myself…hmmm….I’ve never been to a kingdom before…more on that in another blog though.

We arrived safely in Swaziland, where our team will be stationed for the next month. We aren’t positive of our exact ministry here as there are tons of opportunities for us…but we know that Swaziland needs prayer and assistance. The amount of HIV+ in Swazi is the highest in the world, and statistically by 2050 the population will be extinct. God must intervene. Please pray for our team, for direction for our ministry and for the entire continent of Africa!

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Mark

Stratmann

Running from my heart of stone.

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You Can’t.

Life Changes a Few Nights Ago

The Hourglass Passes

Video of Swaziland

Africa…Short Update

Swaziland and I

Just an Average Day for Me

Swazi…quick…QUICK update (with photos!)

Swaziland…and how this year’s wrecked my life…

Swaziland…My First Kingdom Visit

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