It's 2008...

Oh, I guess they'll say I've grown
I know more than I wanted to know
I've said more than I wanted to say
I'm heading home
Yeah, but I'm not so sure that home is a place
You can still get to by train
So I'm looking out the window
And I'm drifting off to sleep
With my face pressed up against the pane
With the rhythm of my heart
And the ringing in my ears
It's the rhythm of the southbound train
...
Oh, I guess they'll say I should've known
Or maybe I'm just feeling old
Like a lawyer with no one to blame
I'm headed home
Yeah, but I'm not so sure that home is a place
That will ever be the same

That's selections from Jon Foreman's song "Southbound Train." I've been listening to this as I reflect on the last year and a half. On how many things have happened that I never could have guessed; how I had no idea what was going to happen between July 2006 and January 2008, and I had no control over a lot of it. In the same way we really have no idea what's gonna happen in this next year, nor is it up to us at all. We're just here to make the best of what we've got. Sometimes that's harder than others, a lot harder. I'll admit that I've failed at that lots of times over the last year. A lot of times I wish I was just at a different place and a different time, with different people, under different circumstances. But I can't be in two places at once and I can't teleport (even though that would be sweet) or freeze time like Hiro Nakumura. I also found that when you just let go and go with where God's put you at this time, it turns out so much better than you could've hoped or imagined. So, anyways, that's the lesson I'm trying to learn and put into practice in 2008. I'm here, it's now, I'm with who I'm with, and it's good.
Jenna

P.S. Check out this link for a youtube video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngqmcdgpY7o&feature=related

The day we met Switchfoot...

It all started last Saturday night...okay, well, the chain of events actually started like 6 months ago, but last Saturday night was Switchfoot's Houston conccert. They're on tour with Relient Kand a band called Ruth. The concert was AMAZING! I don't know about the venue, I kind of like the small, family feel Warehouse Live had, but...the guys of Switchfoot and Relient K made it feel that way anyways.
Ruth started out the show and they were good, but I didn't really know any of their songs, so we just kind of sat and chilled . Now that I've listened to them on Pure Volume I'm a fan. Check them out. So then there was a like 10 minute break and out came RELIENT K! I've wanted to see them in concert for many years. All I've ever seen them play is like one song, so I was pretty excited for this. They played quite a wide variety...let's see if I can remember what they played (they're not in order at all)...Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet, Sadie Hawkins Dance, High of 75, Give Until There's Nothing Left, Be My Escape, I Need You, The Best Thing, Must Have Done Something Right, Forgiven, Devastation and Reform, I So Hate Consequences, In Love with the 80's(Pink Tux to the Prom), they did a rendition of the Office's theme song...it was awesome, Sleigh ride (yes, the Christmas song...and there was snow!), and they ended the night with Who I am Hates who I've been. They were so good. I can't wait till they come to Houston again! I'm totally going!
Then there were 10 minutes of anxious anticipation...and out came SWITCHFOOT! Even though it was the third time I've seen them, the quality never changes...they were awesome. Let's see...they played...Meant To Live, This is Your Life, American Dream, Oh! Gravity., Awakening, Gone, On Fire, We Are One Tonight, Stars, Shadow Proves the Sunshine, Dirty Second Hands, they called Relient K and Ruth back on stage for a song called "Rebuild" that they wrote specifically for this tour because it was supporting Habitat for Humanity. Shortly after they wrote that song Relient K's bus caught fire and they lost their equipment, and now , while they're on tour, Switchfoot's home town of San Diego is on fire. So, to say the least, the song meant more now then it did when they wrote it. Also, it's just a good song...I had it stuck in my head all day Sunday, but I only knew like 4 words to it. Oh, and maybe my favorite part of the actual concert was right before they played On Fire (when Jon came out into the audience in the section next to us) Jon Foreman was talking on the stage and he was like "So we got the word today that someone flew Oh! Gravity. in space for us? If that's true, I really want to meet that person." Then the rest of the crowd was absolutely silent and I screamed as loud as I could. People just looked at me like I was crazy, but I don't care.
They did do another song, I think it was Dare You To Move, but I wouldn't know, becuase me and my friends were walking around trying to find out where to meet for the MEET AND GREET WITH SWITCHFOOT! We were so excited, we were running even though it wasn't necessary. We ended up sitting in the stands after the concert was over, waiting with some other people. They were taking people in 5 at a time to meet them, so we went the three of us with these two other guys. We were walking to where they were and the leader lady who was taking us there was like "Okay, so I ask everybody this: how did you get the passes?" So I was like "Well, actually...I got Oh! Gravity. flown in space." She was like "Wow, that's definitely unique!" So then we walked through the door and ...*AHHHHH* there they were. Switchfoot. Chad came up to us first and he was like "Hey I'm Chad. So, do have anything you want us to sign?" So I gave them the CD and said it had been in space. He called all the other guys over there and they were like "This is the one! It's been in space! Awesome!" They were so funny. They were touching it like it was holy or something. We were all laughing . It was so cool. Then they brought this video camera out and got it on video! So maybe I'll be on the Switchfoot Podcast! It was a dream come true. Oh, and then we got Andes Mint Shakes from Jack in the Box, so that just added to it.
So now I want to thank you who made this possible, mostly Mr. Forrester. Without you we wouldn't have been able to do this, so thanks! And Switchfoot, y'all are amazing. So here's a compilation of pictures summarizing the night.

Thanks for an awesome time! More posts soon!
Jenna : )

P.S. Switchfoot mentioned this meeting on their tour blog, The Daily Foot. Go to their site, click on the Daily Foot link on the home page, go to the Houston, TX post and read the last paragraph! Bah! That was me and my friends!

October 17th

Okay, I promise I'm not dumb, I know it's only the 15th now, but just hear me out. I thought I'd let you know that on October 17th people from all around the world will be advocating for the people living in extreme poverty. Yes, October 17th is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. There are many ways that they suggest to show your support (see this website), but I thought I'd let you know you can show your support by wearing a white band. They say it really doesn't matter what kind, but the One Campaign has white bracelets. Anyways, I just found out about it and I'll be wearing my Product (RED) shirt and white bracelet to show my support. You should wear a white band and show support of the campaign to make poverty history. Off of that link I gave you earlier you can find out about the history of this day and why they chose it for this. Anyways, just thought I'd let y'all know! Post more later.

Jenna

New Site!!!

Hey everybody,
I just got a .mac account and there's this feature where you can make your own website, so I've been playing around with it and I've got a new website. It's http://web.mac.com/jccreech. It's fairly simple right now because I'm still playing around with it. That website's more like my blog or something. It's got pictures, blog and some links and stuff. I've also made another website that's kind of like my portfolio. It's got samples of all the videos I've filmed and edited and stuff like that. It's http://web.mac.com/jccreech/iWeb/Site%202/Home.html. It's got videos I made for Africa, Church and for fun. Anyways, I'll probably still post on here for a while but after I've for sure got that site set up I'll most likely just use that as my blog and retire this one. So stay tuned for updates!!!!
Jenna

Texas Baptist All State Master's Singers (aka best trip ever)

Just a warning: this post is long, but well worth the read because it was an amazing trip.
Last Wednesday a group of about 20 people from our church started heading to Abilene. The sun hadn't even risen yet, but we were on our way. We picked up a girl in Katy and were in Abilene by 1. Our group was the last one there, but they had waited for us. As soon as we got there Dr. Hawthorn (or as he will be referred to in this blog, Doc) greeted each one of us personally and we headed up to the Music Hall for rehearsal. I have to admit, by the end of the first night, when all we had done was sing, eat, go to a service, and sing some more, I was feeling a little overwhelmed and wondering why I had come. But then again, that's what everyone said it would be like. They also said it was the best trip ever, so I knew it had to get better than that. And it did.
By the second day I realized that I was not in control, which is a weird thing for me, because I'm always in control at church activities. I just had to accept that I was not an expert at this stuff by any means. By the time the third day had come and gone I had met some amazing new friends from Amarillo, Midland/Odessa, Andrews and Anson and was completely comfortable being my weird self around them. We had bowled, played a game of around the world ping-pong with our hands, and eaten some pretty gross food (eww!). Friday night we had a pizza party and scavenger hunt. I have to say that my team should definitely get the loser prize, because we were the last team in that night, we got hit by the sprinklers, we got the wrong thing (a petrified tree stump is definitely a place where time stands still), and none of the pictures turned out because we couldn't get the flash on. I know, we're amazing.
The first three days all we did was basically eat, sleep and sing. Saturday we headed out for Dallas/Arlington on two coach buses, checked into our hotel and went to a Rangers game. We mostly played cards at the Rangers game. Actually, we didn't watch the game at all. After the game an unfortunate accident happened. One of the kids bumped into Doc's wife, she fell and had to be taken to a hospital. I'll go ahead and give you a preview into the future and tell you that she's doing okay now. We usually sang two concerts a day in the Dallas area from Sunday to Wednesday. Throw in a trip to Six Flags Over Texas and the Dallas Art Museum and you've got our schedule.
At all the concerts we sang some combination of the following songs: Antiphon , Our God is God, The Majesty and Glory of Your Name, The Conversion of Saul, There is No Rose (girls only), The Awakening (guys only), Eternal Life (our commissioned piece), Restore My Joy, Recollection of Joy (our "theme song"), Beautiful River, Sit Down Servant, and Let Mount Zion Rejoice. The ensemble sang some combination of the following: My Lord, My Life, My All, It is Well with My Soul, I Go to the Rock, and Ask the Watchman. There was also a piano violin duet by Ashley Johnson and Renee Wang. Man, that's a lot of music. I totally didn't realize there was that much.
Thursday, our last day together, we drove back to Abilene for our final concert at FBC Abilene. We had a great time together, but the hardest part of the whole trip was saying goodbye Thursday night after the concert. I never realized how much I hate saying goodbye. Especially when you've gotten so close to these people over such a short amount of time. I'm pretty sure everyone cried, whether it was in public or not, I'm pretty sure they did.
I don't think I've ever been around more committed people, more committed Christians, more committed musicians, or more committed leaders. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved in Master's Singers this year. It was seriously the best camp I've ever been to. I met so many amazing people, and if any of you ever read this (you know who you are) remember this, and I quote, "I thank my God when I remember you for he has blessed my life with yours. In every prayer of mine for you I'm filled with joy for I hold you in my heart. And I pray that your love may abound yet more in knowedge and in all judgement; that you may approve excellent things. That you may be sincere being filled with the fruits of righteousness unto the glory and praise of God. Grace to you and peace to you from God our Father, Christ our Lord. I thank my God when I remember you for he has blessed my life with yours. In every prayer of mine for you I'm filled with joy for I hold you in my heart."



And to end on a less sad note just look at this picture.
That's Bailey, me, David, Bethany, Elliott and Chris and Chad in the background. Great pic, huh?

This too shall be made right

People love you the most for the things you hate
And hate you for loving the things you can't keep straight
People judge you on a curve
And tell you you're getting what you deserve
This too shall be made right

Children cannot learn when children cannot eat
Stack them like lumber when children cannot sleep
Children dream of wishing wells
Whose waters quench all the fires of hell
This too shall be made right

The earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath
Wars and abuses have nature groaning with death
We say we're just trying to stay alive
But it looks so much more like a way to die
This too shall be made right

There's a time for peace and there is a time for war
A time to forgive and a time to settle the score
A time for babies to lose their lives
A time for hunger and genocide
This too shall be made right

Oh, I don't know the suffering of people outside my front door
I join the oppressors of those I choose to ignore
I'm trading comfort for human life
And that's not just murder, it's suicide
This too shall be made right

On Wednesday night there was a special on American Idol, it was called Idol Gives Back. American Idol teamed up with the ONE Campaign to raise money for Africa. At the end of it they had a video clip where Bono came in and talked to the six contestants left on American Idol. One of the girls asked bono a question that went something like this: "What was the defining moment for you when you knew you had to do something about what's going on over there?" He answered with a story about when he went to Africa and a man asked him to take his child back with him because he knew his child would have a better life in America. Bono said he didn't take that child, but he has in so many other ways. That got me thinking, "What was my defining moment? When did I start to really care about what's going on over there?" I knew exactly when it was.
First we have to rewind back to the first time I went to Africa. I was 10, so I'm pretty sure I didn't get the full idea of everything that was going on around me. But there were these two kids and I kind-of became friends with them because there weren't all that many people my age there. Their names were Geofferey, who I think was my age, and Moses, who I think was a little bit younger. They are the two kids in the picture at the end of the post. One of them is HIV positive.
Now go back to about a year before I go to Africa the second time, so it's like 2004ish. The Peppers were back on furlow and they were over at our house visiting. I asked how Geofferey and Moses were doing and the answer wasn't good. His sponsor had stopped paying his school fees when he found out he was HIV positive and now the medicine was too expensive. The Peppers weren't sure if he would be there when they got back.
Now it's summer of 2005 and we're in Uganda. Geofferey and Moses are both still there. The reason they are still there is because Dr. Pepper (yes, that's his name) had gotten a lot of free ARV's from different organizations in the US. That's why they're alive.
I think that's when it hit me. When I found out that this disease could have lethally affected someone I met. That made me want to do something about it, to help these kids and all the others like them that have been orphaned by AIDS and now suffer with it themselves.
Derek Webb said in one of his podcasts something like we're supposed to bring the kingdom of God to people. For example, if there's no hunger in the kingdom of God, then we're supposed to bring that about here and feed the hungry. If there's no sickness in the kingdom of God, then we're supposed to heal the sick. If there's no war, no crying, no pain, we're supposed to bring that about here. In the kingdom of God, everything shall me made right. That just opened my eyes. I had never thought about it like that. We have no excuse for not doing anything about it. We join the oppressors of those we choose to ignore. I want to do everything I can to help, but most of the time I get content sitting in my nice brick house in a nice little suburb where everything always comes off as fine. I forget about the hundreds of people dying over there everyday. We trade comfort for human life. Well guess what, this too shall be made right.


Jenna

Uh...

I've been wanting to post a new blog lately, but I can't come up with anything to write about. Nothing. I'll try a song and see if it inspires me, but no. Then today, while I was doing math, I felt something on my toe. I thought it was just a little hair or piece of paper or something unimportant like that. So I look down to shoo it off and it's a caterpillar!!! In the house a random caterpillar! I tried looking in a butterfly book to see what it was, but it wasn't in there. I tried looking online and the only thing I found close to it is a Corn Earworm (do you think it looks like that, because I do), but it's not supposed to be around these parts this time of year. I have no idea what it is. Someone help!

If you know what kind of caterpillar/worm thing this is please comment. It's going to drive me nuts. I'm all paranoid right now. I really hope it's not poisonous or anything, because ya know it was on my toe! It's about an inch long. Meanwhile, I'll keep researching online to see if I can find out what the meh it is. It only moves a little bit every 5 minutes. I think it's almost dead. I would just leave it, but it's on my Driver's ED book and I have to do Driver's ED. So now I'm gonna go take it outside and maybe it won't die. Hopefully there aren't others in the house.

That's all for today. No deep intellectual posts (not that my others are, but...). Just a bug. Maybe next time I'll be inspired by something a little more uh inspiring. Until the next post.

Jenna

Amateur Lovers...

Everyone I know needs love like drugs
Like a common cold we could never shrug
My baby and me we’re missing the same stuff
We’ve all got a disease, deficiency of love

Every day we still try every night we still cry
Driving home on the 805

We don’t know what we’re doing we do it again
We’re just amateur lovers with amateur friends
I can tell you what you’re thinking now
Before you think it you can settle down
We don’t know what we’re doing
Let’s do it again!

Try to play it down but it never stuck
I tried to bail this town I’m getting no such luck
When nobody’s around I keep my eyes on the clock
There ain’t a cure I’ve found In all my times around this block

Everyday we still try, every night we still cry
We drive it home on the 405

I can tell you what you’re thinking now
Before you think it you can settle down
Our lovin’ isn’t gonna burn us out

Professional!?!

With it being Valentine's Day and all I decided that this would be just as good a day as any to post a blog. And one about love would be even more appropriate. So here's my post about amateur lovers.
I thought I'd start with the etymologies of amateur and professional. I got these from the Online Etymology Dictionary:
Amateur is from 1784, "one who has a taste for (something)," from Fr. amateur "lover of," from O.Fr., from L. amatorem (nom. amator) "lover," from amatus, pp. of amare "to love." Meaning "dabbler" (as opposed to professional) is from 1786.
Professional (adj.) is first recorded 1747 with sense of "pertaining to a profession;" 1884 as opposite of amateur.
So then, in simpler terms, professional is like your job, but amateur is just for the love of it. That's why this is one of my favorite songs on the new Switchfoot album "Oh! Gravity." (Along with Faust, Midas and Myself and American Dream, which I'll probably write about later.) I love it because that's what we are. Amateur lovers and amateur friends, none of us really are professionals. Loving people is not our job, although as Christians we are supposed to love everyone. We're not forced to do it. We should be friends, love people, because we want to. We should do it because that's what we love to do. A lot of the time we act like professional friends or lovers when we should be amateur friends or lovers. I know most of the time I feel like I have to love everyone, or it's my job to love everyone, but I need to think about differently. I need to think of it as that's what I should love to do. So that's my goal for a while, love loving people. Sounds simple, but it should be quite a challenge. I'm willing to at least try it. Are you?

Jenna

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is not against the law

Politics or love can make you blind or make you see
Make you a slave or make you free
Only one does it all
It's giving up your life for the ones you hate the most
It's giving them your gown when they've taken your clothes
It's learning to admit when you've had a hand in setting them up
And knocking them down

Because love is not against the law
Love is not against the law
Love, love, love

Are we defending life when we just pick and choose
Lives acceptable to lose and which ones to defend?
Because you cannot choose your friends, but you choose your enemies
What if they were one, one and the same
Could you find a way to love them both the same?
To give them your name?

Because love is not against the law
Love is not against the law
Love, love, love

Last Sunday I went downtown to Ecclesia for a Derek Webb concert. I was totally excited about going. When we got there and went up to buy our tickets, they said they were sold out. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't all that bummed. I mean, I was, but I'm just a new fan, so I figured I would have some other time to see him. In case any of y'all didn't know Ecclesia is the church where the Robbie Seay Band leads worship. So anyways...we were standing there where they told us to wait to see if there were any people that didn't show up and lo and behold, there was Robbie! He started talking with us and he said that he would do what he could to get us in. Turn out, he did! We ended up getting into the concert. Sandra McCracken opened for him, and she was amazing. Kind-of country-ish, but not too much. I liked it. Then just Derek came out and had the audience yell out songs for him to play. As far as I can remember, he sang the following songs by himself: "I Want A Broken Heart," "I Repent," "Dance," "The Rich Song," and "Wedding Dress." I had only read the lyrics of most of those songs on his website, because I obviously can't go out and buy like 5 CD's. They were amazing. I'm definitely a big Derek Webb fan now. After he sang those songs, he talked about freederekwebb.com (which you should all go to right now and download Mockingbird) and blood:water mission (www.bloodwatermission.com). You should all go to both of those sites and find out about everything there is to know about them. They're great. Then there was a short break and his bass player and Sandra McCracken came back out and they played through Mockingbird. Yes, the entire album and no, it was not too long. At all. Actually, I quite enjoyed it. Artists should do that more often. Just play through the whole album, it's a novel idea. But anyways, Mockingbird is about mostly social issues, while his other albums were mostly about the church. For instance, Mockingbird has a songs on it about poverty, non-violence, love songs, songs about the church and several others. They're just astounding. You have to hear it for your self. Anyways, I just thought I'd put it out there that you should all at least give Derek Webb a try. Oh, and by the way, I'm really really really really glad that we didn't leave before we got in. It was amazing. And on the off chance that Derek Webb or Robbie Seay ever reads this: Thank you so much, it was amazing.
Amo, Jenna

we remember

Houston, Texas -- The Work of the People, World Publishing, EMI Christian Music Group, CNN and Highway Video have produced a provocative music video that help tell the story of the displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina. The video is available as free download at www.theworkofthepeople.com for organizations to use to help tell the story of those effected by Katrina. The Work of the People is defined by it's name. They are a community of artists, storytellers, filmmakers, poets and theologians. They are Christians, defined by they're common calling and hope in the Father to save the world through His Son and unite His people through His Spirit. They're work is to tell the story they share and to ask poignant questions through film, literature, art and music. I've posted these videos created by The Work of the People in rememberance of the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I saw the first video at Ecclesia Church in Houston and I loved it. The songs are both from the relatively new CD "Songs From The Voice Volume 1: Please Don't Make Us Sing This Song." It is a part of The Voice Project headed by Chris Seay. To learn more about that go to www.hearthevoice.com. If you'd like to learn more about The Work of the People read the paragraphs below.

like summer break is gone...

She told him she'd rather fix her makeup
Than try to fix what's going on
But the problem keeps on calling
Even with the cell phone gone
She told him that she believes in living
Bigger than she's living now
But her world keeps spinning backwards
And upside down
Don't say so long, and throw yourself wrong
Don't spin today away
Cause today will soon be

Gone, like yesterday is gone,
Like history is gone
Just try to prove me wrong
And pretend like you're immortal

She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every day we borrow
Brings us one step closer to the edge (infinity)
Where's your treasure, where's your hope
If you get the world and lose your soul
She pretends like she pretends like she's immortal
Don't say so long
You're not that far gone
This could be your big chance to makeup
Today will soon be

Gone, like yeterday is gone
Like history is gone
The world keeps spinning on
Your going going gone
Like summer break is gone
Like saturday is gone
Just try to prove me wrong
You pretend like you're immortal

We are not infinite
We are not permanent
Nothing is immediate
We're so confident
In our accomplishments
Look at our decadence

Gone, like Frank Sinatra
Like Elvis and his mom
Like Al Pacino's cash nothing lasts in this life
My high school dreams are gone
My childhood sweets are gone
Life is a day that doesn't last for long
Life is more than money
Time was never money
Time was never cash,
Life is still more than girls
Life is more than hundred dollar bills
And roto-tom fills
Life's more than fame and rock and roll and thrills
All the riches of the kings
End up in wills
We got information in the information age
But do we know what life is
Outside of our convenient Lexus cages
She said he said live like no tomorrow
Every moment that we borrow
Brings us closer to the God who's not short of cash
Hey Bono i'm glad you asked
Life is still worth living, life is still worth living

Summer break is gone. School has started up again and it's going strong. Most of the other activities are starting up in the next week. My schedule's back to normal. Kinda busy. This summer was great though. Africa, Student Life, Mexico, Mission week. Wow. Plus all the extra parties and movies and I've got myself a summer. I think it was the best one yet. But it's over now. That's just a reminder to live life to the full. Don't cheat yourself. And I quote another Switchfoot song "Don't close your eyes. this is your life, are you who you want to be?" I'm gonna try that this fall. Usually the first few weeks of school just fly by and you don't remember anything special about them. I'm gonna make them a blast. I don't know how yet, but there's gonna be somthing special about them. I've got so many great memories and lessons learned from this summer. I hope I never ever ever forget anything about this summer. I hope the same for all of you reading this too. Anyways, thanks for all of you who were here this summer, you're the ones who made this summer amazing. Love you!

Jenna

You said...

You said, "Ask and you will recieve whatever you need."
You said, "Pray and I'll hear from heaven and I'll heal your land."

You said Your glory will fill the earth life water the seas
You said, "Lift up your eyes, the harvest is here, the kingdom is near"

You said, "Ask and I'll give the nations to you."
Oh Lord, that's the cry of my heart
Distant shores and the islands will see Your light as it rises on earth

That Shane & Shane song is a great song to start off anything having to do with missions because it's just such a great prayer. That was how we started off this past week, with Billy singing "You Said." This week was the Intermediate School's Mission Week. It was amazing. Starting Monday morning all the way through Friday morning we were at the Church at 8 in the morning and at Emerald Pointe apartments to play with the kids by about 9. When we got there we just played with them for about half an hour, then we got started with a Backyard Bible Club there. Inside the Dream Center we sang some amazing songs.....such as "The Shark Song," "Romans 16:19," "Waves of Mercy," "Arcitc Edge," "The Beaver Song," "Gorilla, Man, Gun"(If that counts as a song), and you can't forget "Jesus loves me" in English, Sign Language and Spanish!!!(Go Haley!!!!!) After that was story time. We told the stories of Creation, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Christmas and Easter. Next, we split up the older and younger kids and some went to do arts and crafts and some went to rec. We played some pretty sweet games of 4-square. I'm pretty sure nearly every one of our youth had at least one kid at Emerald Pointe that they hung out with a lot while they were there. Mine was a little girl named Cheyanne. She was adorable. That was about all we did at Emerald Pointe. After Emerald Pointe we went either to someone's house for a pool party/crazy fun water day at the church or we watched a movie on the 3rd floor depending on the weather. Those were pretty exciting. The afternoon's were free to do whatever you wanted until 7. Then we went up to the church either on the 3rd floor or in the Chapel (depending on avalibility) for a worship service. The worship services were led by two of Courtney Chapman's friends from Auburn University: Billy and James (James Taylor that is!). They were absolutely amazing guys. Billy led the worship with his guitar and James preached some awesome sermons. They were just amazing. We usually didn't get home until a little after 11 because of parties and such. I really did have a great time this week! I'd like to thank Courtney for doing such and incredible job planning it, to all the other interns for helping out so much and to James and Billy for coming down....I mean over...to help with this week. It wouldn't have been nearly as good without any of y'all helping out. And all the students that participated were great. I love you guys. Well, I'll be posting more later!
Jenna

In the economy of mercy...

There’s just two ways to lose yourself in this life, and neither way is safe
In my dreams I see visions of the future, but today we have today
And where will I find You? Where will I find You?

In the economy of mercy, I am a poor and begging man
In the currency of grace is where my song begins
In the colors of Your goodness, in the scars that mark Your skin
In the currency of grace is where my song begins

These carbon shells, these fragile dusty frames house canvases of souls
We are bruised and broken masterpieces, but we did not paint ourselves
And where will I find You?

Where was I when the world was made?
Where was I?

I'm lost without You here
Yes, I'm lost without You near
I'm lost without You here
You knew my name when the world was made

This Switchfoot song fits really well with one of the many many stories from this past week in Saltillo, Mexico. It starts on Thursday of last week. It was our "free day" and so we went to the mercado in the center of town. As we were walking around there most of us noticed this guy holding out a cup, leaning on his little stick, begging. He looked really bad health-wise and he didn't really look like he could see very well. To tell you the truth, I didn't really think much of it, but there were others in our group that wanted to help him. Diane, Stacy and Faith bought him a Coca-Cola and pretty much shared the gospel with him, which is awesome. While they were talking with him another guycamee over andtriedd to distract them and kept saying all this mean stuff, but he eventually went away again. I never really heard exactly how he responded, but I'm pretty sure he didn't accept it. Later on in the day, actually pretty soon before we were supposed to leave, Chris saw him and really wanted to help him. So he bought him this really nice new cane. Hand-carved, hand-painted, the whole schabang. He went over to the guy with one of the missionaries there, Wendall, and through translation he offered him the cane that he had bought. He stood there and talked to them for a while, and they found out that his name was Carlos, he had probably done drugs in the past, and that had affected his vision and his speech. Eventually he rejected the cane and decided to keep his old duct taped stick. Wendall and Chris went and bought him a loaf of bread and water, which he accepted. Chris was sad that the guy didn't accept his cane, but he realized that he could use the cane as a memento of that day and that special conversation with the man.

On Friday night we were all sharing our stories with each other, and after Chris, Stacy, Diane and Faith shared their stories about Carlos my mom got up and shared a little insight with us. She realized that we can exactly relate to Carlos. If we put ourselves in Carlos' place, how many times does God try to give us a beautifully made cane instead of our old duct-taped stick. But we're content with our old faithful stick, no matter how beat up, worn out or pathetic looking it is, we won't accept God's free gift. But he keeps trying. Over and over again. He loves us and feels compassion for us, so he keeps offering us this free beautiful gift. We don't usually think of ourselves in the place of the dirty, blind beggar, but that is so us a lot of the time. In the economy of mercy we are poor and begging people.

Poverty...

There's a power in poverty that breaks principalities
And brings the authorities down to their knees
There's a brewing frustration, an ageless temptation
To fight for control by some manipulation

But the God of the kingdoms and the God of the Nations
The God of creation sends this revelation
The the homeless and penniless Jesus the son
The poor will inherit the Kingdom to come

Where will we turn when our world falls apart
And all of the treasures we've stored in our barns
Can't buy the Kingdom of God?
Who will we praise when we've praised all our lives
men who build Kingdoms and men who build fame?
Heaven does not know thier names
What will we fear when all that remains
Is God on His throne, with a child in his arms,
and love in his eyes
And the sound of his heart cries

This is a song by Jason Upton on his album "Faith."  I was listening to it
on my iPod on the way home from Uganda and it was like "wow."
I think it pretty much speaks for itself.  Especially after you've seen poverty.
Real poverty.  So, for those of you who haven't had the chance to see real poverty yet, here's some pictures
that don't nearly do justice to the real thing.   













These are some kids that were at the petrol station on the way to Entebbe. 













These are the ladies that cooked the food for the pastor's conference the first week we were there.




















This is Mrs. Forrester and the kids from Sunday School at University Baptist Church, Mbarara.

Phroneo Christou

The attitude of Christ. That was the theme for this past week's Student Life camp. It was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the best year of Student Life so far, at least for me. The worship was led by Steve Fee and his band. They were awesome and very talented. My story about camp, well the main story about camp from me is this. The first night we got there Steve Fee led us in Chris Tomlin's song "How Great Is Our God," and as we were singing I started realizing that no matter what happens, God is still great. I didn't really have any time to recuperate after Africa and finding out that my dog died when I got home on Saturday, I was really like not all there. But when we sang that song I realized that God is still great no matter what I'm going through. Different things throughout the week kept coming up and reminding me of that. Even until the last sermon on the last night. Greg quoted Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Still emphasizing that same fact. I thought that that was pretty awesome. Greg Pinkner was the speaker and he was really really good. He got to the point and told really good stories. It actually turns out that he knew Jerry Ball and he had come to speak at our church before!!! What a small world?!?!?! Speaking of a "small world"......I saw this girl and her brother that I recognized there and after a couple days I realized that I knew them from sometime in Oaxaca last year. So when I got back I asked Courtney Johnson about them and it turns out that they were the Johnson's COUSINS!!!!!!!! How crazy?!?!?!? Oh, and our family group was SWEET!!!! Usually they like mix churches and stuff, but in ours it was just me, Elliott (because we were roommates), Ryan Horne, Weston Waldo, Michael Asp and our leaders. Our leaders were these 3 people from a church in Lake Jackson. Alissa, Nick (they were brother and sister), and Grant. They were pretty awesome people. Ha, we had a cheer because on the first day we made up a name by saying random words and picking them out of a hat. We ended up being Peanut Bubble Love. Our cheer was.....drumroll please...."We are peanut-peanut-peanut-peanut, we are bubble-bubble-bubble-bubble, we are love-love-love-love, we are Peanut Bubble Love! Yeah." I think that family group was probably my favorite part of camp. Just because we knew the youth, so they knew what we were talking about, but we didn't really know the leaders, so it gave us a chance to get to know some people. Yeah, so the whole camp experience was pretty awesome. Oh yeah, and most of our church was on the orange squad, so to end off this post I'll tell you the cheer and post some pictures. But first you have to know the motions. *make an o shape with your arms above your head* ORANGE! *throw your arms out.* ORANGE! ORANGE! ORANGE! YOU DON'T WANT NONE! ORANGE! YOU DON'T WANT NONE! ORANGE! YOU DON'T WANT NONE! ORANGE! *guys* YOU MIGHT WALK OVER! *girls* BUT YOU'RE LIMPING BACK! *guys* YOU MIGHT WALK OVER! *girls* BUT YOU'RE LIMPING BACK! *guys* YOU MIGHT WALK OVER! *girls* BUT YOU'RE LIMPING BACK! O-R-A-N-G-E CRUSH!

This is the speaker, Greg Pinker. He was great.

This was our orange squad leader. He was quite energetic.

This is Steve Fee and his bass player. Sweet.

This was our family group. From top left in a clockwise circle: Ryan Horne, Michael Asp, Grant, Nick, Weston Waldo, Elliott Marsh, Alissa, ME!!! Awesome people.

So, that's it!!!!! If you want more stories, you'll have to talk to me personally.

Amo, Jenna :-)

In the jungle, the mighty jungle...

Agandi! (greeting in Run-Yan-Kore)

So, a couple of hours ago we got back from Queen Elizabeth Game Park.  It was sooooo cool!!!!!  We got there yesterday and we went on a game drive last night, a game drive this morning and a boat ride through the Kasinga channel (I'm not exactly sure how to spell it, but that's close enough.)  While we were on all of those game rides we saw lots of Warthogs, Uganda Kob, Monkeys, Hippos, Elephants, Water Buffalo, Water Bucks, Mongoose, Birds, Forest Hogs....I think that's it. In between seeing all of those amazing creatures we ate some amazing food!!! (If you know me then you know that food is a definite highlight!)  Oh man, there's too many details to remember.  Anyways, let me back track a few days and update y'all on what's happened since I last wrote.

 

Let's start with Wednesday.  When we got up we went with my dad and Mr. Forrester to the pastor's conference to hear and participate in their worship.  It was awesome! The pastor's were sooo passionate when they worship! They dance and sign and everything.  Of course when you hear that music I have no idea how you can't dance. Anyways.  After that we went prayer walking with Spencer, a journeyman here, into a University area that he's ministering in. We split up into groups of 2, so Courtney Johnson and I were in a group walking inbetween the others. That was a great time.  It was so cool to be walking there and praying for the people.  I hope it has an impact on that area.  After prayer walking we continued and we climbed up this mountain!! I think that was my favorite part of Wednesday.  After we got to the top and talked for a little while we just sat in silence. Never underestimate the power of silence. It was awesome.   We could sit up there and look over all of Mbarara!  After getting down the mountain, we went back hom, cleaned up and went to a women's conference that Pamm Muzslay was leading.  It was really cool!  At the beginning we had a time of worship that was beautiful.  After all that we came back home to the Peppers and had dinner and such, then we went to Rihika(????)

 

On Thursday we got ready and Courtney and I went with my mom over to help with the card making.  If you've been around my mom at all the past few weeks you've probably heard her talking about it.  A group of HIV positive people called "Go and Make Disciples," are making cards with line drawings and african fabric as a source of income, and my mom is helping them.  That was really cool.  While we were there Courtney and I were taking pictures, and this one lady came up to us and said "You have 2 cameras?" And we said yes, because Courtney and I each had a camera.  So she said "Tomorrow, you give me one.  You have 2 and I have none, so you give me one." There was sort of nervous laughter. That's just how they talk here.You give me your jacket.  You give me your camera.  It's difference, that's for sure. After card making we were on our way home and we got a call from Larry Pepper and he said that they got a flat tire, and there was no spare tire in the car.  So that was a 2 hour ordeal.  Trying to find them and then get the tire and everything.  It was interesting.  After  that we went to Friends Corner and had local food.  Of course it was like 3:30 by now, so they were out of a lot of stuff.  I had  Chipati, rice, goat stew and a Stony (really strong ginger-ale) to drink.  From there we went to the womens thing, then home for dinner.

Friday we prayer walked through the new AIDS Clinic at the hospital.  I was with Larry, Pamm and Courtney.  That was really cool just being with Larry as we walked through there, because he knew everything that was going on inside the walls of the wards.  He really knows. From there we got our stuff and headed out for the game park.  See beginning of the post.  So, that's the news for now.  This is Jenna Creech, reporting to you live from Mbarara, Uganda!

Amo, Jenna 

AFRICA!!!!!!

HEY EVERYONE!!
So sorry that I haven't gotten on sooner, but with 9 of us, one computer and only electricity half the time, ya know it's a little difficult. So, we made it here safely and everything. There was one little mishap in London, but that's just because the bus that was supposed to pick us up came a day early. Just my luck. Then our plane was delayed and yeah, it was interesting. But since we got here it's been great! While we were trying to load our suitcases into the cars at the airport, there was this crazy rain. Then it took us 6 1/2 hours instead of 5 to drive from Entebbe to Mbarara. But today has been amazing. Like amazing. Kelli and I went on Words of Hope visits with Naboth driving and Peace translating. Kind-of. It was amazing! As we were driving along I was looking out our windows and I saw that if I looked out the window, smiled and waved, most of the people smiled and waved back. Smiling, the international language. Even if we can't speak each other's language, we can smile. So smile y'all! Well, I'll have some better updates later, as I get more awake. Considering I've only been here one full day. Talk to y'all later! And comment! Please!!
Jenna

Micah 6:8

You could feed the whole world with the crumbs of old bread
Spread the good news through dreams and stones
With a breath of your wind you could raise up the dead
But you ask us to go

Help us love mercy
Help us do justly
Help us walk humbly with you, God

Forget not the widow, the orphan and slave
Oh, God, please remember the helpless today
Call on your children repairing the breach
There's no place too far, where your mercy can't reach

Help us love mercy
Help us do justly
Help us walk humbly with you, God

For the children who sleep beneath cities at dark
Let love come and touch them with your father's heart

That's Charlie Hall's song "Micah 6:8" off of his CD called Flying into Daybreak. Okay, so now it's less than 8 hours until we leave for AFRICA!!!!!!!! I'm all packed and just hoping I remembered everything. My niece is over now for one last time for two weeks. The most disgusting thing I thought this morning was while I was taking a shower, I thought that this is the only shower I'll take until Monday afternoon at least. Ew. Anyways, I'm so excited about going. You know that feeling where you're just ready to go? You're tired of waiting and getting ready and everything and you're just ready to leave? That's right now. In like 4 hours we'll be at the church leaving for the airport. I've still got time to kill. But, back to that song. I found out about that song after the Student Life Conference (see previous posts.) Since then it's become on of my favorite worship songs to play and to listen to. So now it's my prayer for myself and for our group. That we would love mercy. That we would do justly. And that we would walk humbly with our God. Keep us in your prayers as we go. For a safe plane trip. For a great and effective mission while we're there, and for a safe plane ride back. Love you guys, and I'll be in contact every other day, because the electricity's only on every other day, so e-mail me. And for goodness sake, COMMENT!
Amo y'all
Jenna

Uganda or bust!

Margie won't you listen to an old man's wish
They say it's mighty pretty in Alaska
Well, my daddy used to talk about those deep sea fish
So there's something, darling, that I wanna ask you
So don't you turn me down
In the morning we would listen to the cattle calling
Lowing in the land of Okeechobee
Where it's flatter than the cardboard on the carport floor
And the cattails seem to wave just like they know me
Ah, but Enoch in the tackle shop goes on about the salmon caught
The time he and his brother sailed to Juneau

So, get in, I'll do the driving
The bag's already packed and in the truck
So, Margie, get in, put down those dishes
The town will see us go if we're in luck
So come on, it's Alaska or bust

I've been holding down this farm that daddy left me, darling
The kids have married off and moved away
And the doctor says I'm healthy for an old man dying
Well enough to sieze a few more days

So, get in, I'll do the driving
The bag's already packed and in the truck
So, Margie, get in, these bones are dry
Been running but the cancer's catching up
So come on, it's Alaska or bust

There were days when I imagined that the clouds were mountains
Towering above the rolling ocean
And I was sailing on my tractor, turning hay out in the pasture
Catching salmon of my own while I was mowing

So, get in, I'll do the driving
The bag's already packed and in the truck
So, Margie, get in, there's not much time
Been running but the cancer's catching up
The town will see us go if we're in luck
So come on, it's Alaska or bust

That was an Andrew Peterson song called "Alaska or bust," on his CD Clear to Venus. And that's about what it's like right now. It's just about too late to be seriously worried about anything, but too early for any of it to really be real. The traditional summer drama's starting here at church and I'm glad to be getting out of it. Even if I don't have a packing list yet. Even if I'm not sure how to edit the videos. Even if I am not completely ready. It's just that time. The town will see us go if we're in luck. So come on, it's Uganda or bust! Jenna

Let my shadows prove the sunshine

Okay, so I forgot to post last week. But doesn't 2 posts the week before count? I think it does.

Well, as we're getting ready to go to Uganda I'd just like to let you know that as of now (9:54 on 05/23/2006) it's 11 days 9 hours and 6 minutes until we leave for Africa. I'm so excited!!! Everything got really hectic here for a while, but now it's all slowing down. Piano recital's over. One dress rehearsal down, one to go. School's basically done. After concert on Thursday, I'll have nothing but time between me and Africa. I guess all of this is a good thing and a bad thing. David Yeary's leaving on the first. I've known him basically my whole life! And Aimee already left for Louisiana. Sterling's leaving for New York. This summer's going to be very different. very different. That's all I can really think to write about now, so I guess I'll post some more song lyrics! This one's called The Shadow Proves the Sunshine by Swtichfoot of their newest album "Nothing is Sound".

Sunshine, won't you be my mother
Sunshine, come and help me see
My heart is darker than these oceans
My heart is frozen underneath

We are crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
The shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine
Two scared little runaways
Hold fast to the brink of daylight
When the shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine

Oh Lord, why did you forsake me?
Oh Lord, don't be far away
Storm clouds gathering beside me
Please Lord, don't look the other way

I'm a crooked soul trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
The shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine
Two scared little runaways
Hold fast to the brink of daylight
When the shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine

Yeah, yeah, shine on me, yeah, yeah, shine on me
Yeah, yeah, shine on me, yeah, yeah, shine on me

Oh, we're crooked souls trying to stay up straight
Dry eyes in the pouring rain
The shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine
Two scared little runaways
Hold fast to the brink of daylight
When the shadow proves the sunshine, the shadow proves the sunshine

Yeah, yeah, shine on me, yeah, yeah, shine on me
Yeah, yeah, shine on me, shine on me
Let my shadows prove the sunshine

Later, Jenna