The past, present, and the future part II... (not forgetting a Thank You!)

Hi all,

I thought it was about time for another update of life in South Africa!

The past,

present,

and the future part II...

(not forgetting a Thank You!)

As time has gone on here I've realised just how settled and happy I am, mixed with not being contempt just getting into a day to day routine of being 'comfortable'! Life has been hard at times, crazy at others but right for me all the way through. I have learned so much about myself, things that people have seen in me, things I have seen in myself; both for good and bad. This journey is a special one....

While surfing (not just making a splash) still seems a far off dream, other things have become a reality; I have been here 6 months- though it feels like it’s been 6 minutes as well as 6 years! That now means there is 4 months left, that's a scary thought!?

Since I got back from our Laura Stevie's wedding time has more than flown by! I got a welcome back I never expected from the children, it was very special. Some of them waiting right up until bed time for me to get back but unfortunately I wasn't on time! The kids that I did see told me "long time, never see!" and "we missed you coachy!" On that note I have had some interesting letters from the children starting 'Dear Coji' which in Zulu actually means 'dear pig'...I am hoping they just spelt coach wrong!!! I guess though receiving a letter to say "I love you Coji" is good even if they meant Pig!

Things are still picking up at the village, more kids (106), volunteers (English are taking over!) and challenges! The sport is really starting to pick up speed now and we are looking to give the children as much opportunity to take part as possible! We have introduced volley ball as well as bike riding, table tennis and hockey as we now have some equipment to do so! I have also been given permission to take some kids off the village to take part in clubs/teams in the local area so they can have more specialist coaching. So I am looking forward to getting stuck into that! Plans are really starting to come together now; we will be hosting tournaments for schools soon and have just had a swimming gala for the whole school (80+ kids)! So the expectations are rising...and I love it!!!

(Me coaching my boys at Sports Tournament) 

We had a visit at LIV from a guy called Steven Lungu. A special guy who was an abandoned street kid, freedom fighter, gang member- who didn't quite know what to do with or make of Jesus when he heard of him at an event he was actually petrol bombing! Well worth a read from his book 'Out of the Black Shadows'! Incredible story, great man on a well-timed visit! He is now CEO of African Enterprise and speaks 11 languages (having no education before age 21!!!!)

He came and spent time with many of our kids who have been from similar backgrounds and was an immense encouragement to them. He also spent time with the workers, staff and community members...just like the Luis Suarez song...we just couldn't seem to get enough!

This leads me to my next point, the kids! So many changes, some of them you wouldn't believe have happened. We keep on having to pinch ourselves, transformation in front of our eyes!

Day.

By.

Day.

I'm talking about kids who have stolen, ran away, been involved in the demonic...and then many are getting baptised on Easter Sunday! How does that work?(Insert Jesus). We felt as an organisation that praying and fasting for this was a key so we did, for a week. It was a tough week but looking back it made the difference we felt God say it would! Get in there!!!! I think it speaks volumes about just how loyal God is to those who choose to try and do what he asks...who wants to be in any other place?

Staff members on 'A Day without Shoes' for those who have no shoes!

It’s very difficult to actually get down the 'main points' and tell you all stories of what’s going on. There are always stories and main points.

Every day is different.

Every day is tough.

Every weekend is harder (when Liverpool have another false dawn!)

Every day I wake up still wanting to be here, just as much if not more than the day before.

I have just, this week spoken with Tich and Joan about the future...(uh oh-here it comes!)

After reflecting on what has happened over the last 6 months I realised from the way life has turned out that I don't want to be anywhere else unless Jesus asks me to go and join in somewhere else. It's all just a case of time and being open. But with the most ecstatic feeling inside, I can say that I told Tich and Joan I want to commit myself to LIV Village not just for another year, but actually until that time when I know is right to leave. How that will look I am not sure, how it will work is a big question on a volunteer visa! But I trust that I will be told in the right time, the right things to make it happen.

Onto the next...a HUGE...

...Thank you. All of you who receive this have, in some way shape or form supported me through prayer, interest, money etc. If any of you from Nunnery Wood are reading this- you guys are incredible and I am blown away by just how loyal you have been to me and LIV. I want to thank you from that funny little place inside none of us can seem to describe! The 'bottom of my heart' doesn't seem to cut it, kind of place! Do you know what I mean like?

The reality is that whenever any of us go to do something new, we need those people who have been around us, from family, to when we were kids, in school, work places or church's, the people we have 'done life' with- to support us. We love for people to believe in us, and I have loved that you lot have believed that in whatever way, I could make a difference here. Not just come out here as a 'good thing to do', 'doing my bit' or 'for a good cause', many of you got it that for me this was much more (which isn't an easy thing to do/understand-especially if you have never been to visit LIV). But you have!

Some label it a 'calling', but I want to call it a gift, something I was compelled to receive and grow into because of the time I had spent with Jesus. He gave me the opportunity to come and join in with what he was doing, and suddenly I feel like I'm back in the playground getting picked first for the Football team at dinner time. Jesus really is fun like that! Suddenly that funny little place is back, sometimes there are no words...that buzz inside that is actually joy- we call it LIVING or being ALIVE!

I want to make clear that none of the last few months, and certainly not the future have come from a place of thinking that LIV was simply a great opportunity to do a good thing. It was a gift that was given to me that I want to have fun (He is fun!) with, explore (invites us into adventure-something bigger than ourselves) and nurture (to see just what else is in this gift)...

Your support has made such a difference and I cannot thank you enough. It is the biggest privilege of my life to serve this vision, the children, mothers and community. I will give it all I have until the day I leave. All in all, it's about Jesus, an outward expression of what He is, has and will continue to do with this little scallywag.

I really hope that in whatever way you can lend me your support, it will continue and we can all share in this adventure together.

Thank you

Y.N.W.A

The past, the present and the future..

Over the last 3 years I have had a mentor. He has diligently and admirably walked with me through thick and thin. He would stick up for me, fight my corner, and take me aside for a serious word or even a hug when he sensed I needed it most. He has been a father figure to me in Worcester, he has looked after my best interests with extreme care. He has helped to nurture, sharpen and stretch me to become a man. We have laughed, and cried together.

Looking back to growing up, I had the biggest privilege of having a loving, caring, genuine Father who would put my interests before anything else even if that meant I had to be taught a lesson. It’s been the best foundation and springboard for me, I have always looked to my dad for advice, love, wisdom, honesty and a chat about LFC. He is the only person in the world I find hard to tell that I love him, simply because I love him so much.

Playing Basketball for England in the European Champs, my family had come to watch. We were playing Hungary. At the start of the game I ran out onto the court for tip off. The crowd were making so much noise but I heard the whistle I knew so well from my dad. I turned to him and looked him in the eye, he beat his chest with his fist and then pointed at me. I had to look away really quickly because I almost cried, the tears were literally ready to go! It still makes me feel emotional now! We did it together. I gave 100% for my Father, as well as my team mates and coaches.

I’m so aware that so many have not had what I have had, and I see that daily. We all know it, we can all see it, we can all feel it. Even if you support Man Utd or Chelsea.

I have just started reading a book called ‘Passing the Baton’ by Angus Buchan. The opening chapter is called ‘The Fatherless generation.’ Reading the title takes me back to around 4 months ago, just before Hannah and I set out to LIV Village for the first time.

An evening to send us off, full of food, laughter and prayer. Our small group had gathered to celebrate and look forward to the exciting time ahead. Towards the end of the evening Rich Nicol (it’s all his fault) asked..

“Jonathan, how old are you?”

I answered “23.”

“That’s good” he replied as he smiled and nodded. I gave him a confused look, he continued..

“There are no young men around those kids in South Africa. No role models your age, no one to look to, NO FATHERS for them. They will love you.”

I was speechless, the most I could respond was a nod. I’m not sure why I nodded to be honest. How desperate?

Since coming back from Durban, the biggest reason I want to go back is to pass on just what I have received from my dad and Paul (my mentor.)

I’m not going to be confound to being a part of something, where safeguarding is such a big issue that no one is trusted. I’ll have the oppurtunity to really show these kids how special they are. I will be able to give them a hug to encourage them when they do something great, and after they have to be disciplined for something to let them know that they are still loved even when they do something wrong. I will be able to pray with them daily and talk to them about Jesus. I will be able to see them out of school and spend time with them. These are all things I would have loved to do with the kids in school these last 2 years. I will be free to Father and mentor these children. This is what scares me the most, but also exhilarates me the most. Whether it is through sport or not, it’s what I am hungry for. It’s what I have to pass on. I want to be for the children of LIV all that my Father and Paul have been to me. I dont see myself as the solution for the children of LIV Village, only God can really be the sustainable Father they need. But I do see a Jonathan shaped hole there, to play a part. 

As one of my friends Nathan said to me "God has thought about who he wanted to be at LIV, and he thought of you, he wants Jonathan there."

Y.N.W.A

The Journey So Far...

 

My first post! I am going to start with 'The Night of 1,000 Banquet’s'

…Around 50 of us met, had a meal and socialised. The evening was to raise money for LIV Village through LIV Village UK. We all watched the LIV Village DVD, Hannah and I were informally interviewed on our journeys to the current moment. It was great to share with people just how passionately I feel for the charity and the children I met in South Africa over Easter.



I had read a book by Rob Bell called ‘Jesus wants to save Christians’ a couple of days before the banquet and really felt that he nailed so much of what I felt, but hadn’t managed to put language on yet.

 This is what the book was saying, this is the place that I spoke from that evening, this is my journey so far….

‘I think that each of us, to a different extent hears the cry of the oppressed. We are then invited to act on their behalf.

First we listen, and then we hear.

You can be anywhere, be doing anything. But when we hear the cry, everything changes.

If we have any resources, power, voice, influence, energy, we must give it to those who do not have a voice or influence.

It's not just about saving the world, it's also about saving ourselves from comfort, selfishness and not caring.

Instead of standing at a distance saying, "someone else," it's stepping up and stepping into the invitation. To the risk, to the suffering, to the joy. It's never from a "well, I suppose I should do my bit."

It's not about guilt.

It comes from something so strong that you can't stop hearing it. It comes from a cause so great you would sell all you have to be a part of it.’

It’s been an amazing time over the last year to get to where I am now, this is just the beginning of the next step for me. A year of challenge, new opportunities and an invitation to follow and trust Jesus in new ways…

…The fun is definitely found in the journey.

Y.N.W.A