Why 410 Bridge…?

Tis’ a great question.  Financial stewardship is certainly a call of God – not to waste – it is in fact ALL his money!  Stewardship of the resources – or gifts – He’s given each of us as well.  We most likely all know that person who believes they can SING – and they can’t – but they can ORGANIZE – and they don’t.  That’s not lining up with what God’s got goin’ on in their life very well.

What’s God’s will for my life?  Great question – I really think the answer is easy – identify your gifts and your heart’s burden – what makes you come alive – and live in it – passionately pursue it – give your heart over to it and you will, in fact be totally alive in His will!!  Ok – not withstanding Andy’s latest – great – message about God’s providential will and moral will – those two significant elements establishing the “path” so to speak…

410 Bridge – not a perfect organization – humans are involved.  But they have found their passion – their specific intent and stood before the burden of their heart – and it is the same as ours.  They also know their gifts – what they do well – and they are seeking others who have gifts to give.  Thus 1st Peter 4:10.  “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

I recently read “1,000,000 Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller – highly recommend the book.  The book has impact – funny, yes – but impact.  One part of the story was a conversation with a buddy who’s 16 year old daughter was making bad choices – a bad boyfriend – and separating from her family.  Don told the guy “she’s just telling a bad story with her life right now…you need to help her tell a good story…”.  So the guy pulled something nuts by getting involved in something without telling his wife.  She was torked.  At first.

Then they – the man and his wife – let themselves become part of the story – and made sure their daughter knew about the story they were telling.  One day she walks into their bedroom and throws herself between them – which he points out she’d not done in a very long time.  She wanted to be a part of that story.

What is the story you’re telling?  I mean we all need to ask that question of ourselves and sometimes it’s hard to answer!  Being a part of a great story – living a great story – probably means giving up some element of a boring, self-centered story (sorry if I offend!!) – but it’s TRUE!!!  Great stories tell of sacrifice for the sake of someone else – living in a place where those in need live but you certainly never wanted to – money to people you’ll never see – never know – who’ll never say “thanks!” and give you a hug – - -

Find your story.  Look around at this spinning dirt-ball – it is actually magnificent in it’s creation – in it’s beauty!!  But it is filled with desperately horrible things – children being sold as sex slaves – people starving where there is fertile soil – people drinking water contaminated with the worst of things – maybe it’s people who don’t know Jesus or are stuck in a certain religion that blocks them from a personal relationship with Him.  Many injustices – too many in this world – and here’s my encouragement…

Let the Lord break your heart – wreck your life over the one or two that tear you up.  It’s His gift to you – it might be His “Light” in you that must not be hidden under a “peck measure” – and let that light shine such that others will SEE your great works and glorify your Father in heaven!!!

Don’t know what that is?  Join me on this endeavor to walk with the 410 Bridge.  Maybe it won’t be your “thing” – maybe it’ll wreck you and change your life – in an amazing way for the sake of Jesus.

Help me raise some $$ for these guys – make a contribution – CLICK HERE!! Or drop me an EMAIL (CLICK HERE!) and plan to play – helping to share with your friends what 410 is doing!

Clay

Back in Gear!! …a different involvement!

It’s been quite a while since we updated our Blog – with the past 9+ months behind us – and they were rather crazy – Jill and I have been “noodling” and praying about what is next.  We both now have friends in Kenya – and honestly, we’re anxious to go back!

But…with just getting married and her new job…not now.  But we keep on.  You know we have a heart to engage with what 410 Bridge is doing – and amazingly enough – that includes GOLF!!  It’s a fundraiser to help in Kenya, Haiti and with that amazing group of young Kenyan’s – the Daraja Choir.

I’ve raised my hand to captain a 4-some.  The challenge is to raise $1,500 each – each person – that’s $6,000 total for our 4 person team.  I’ve been blessed to pull Mike Middlebrook into my team – Mike and I have been friends for about 6 years now – met in small group – and he’s been a great friend and offered me on many occasions “wisdom from above”.

There are 2 spaces left in our 4-some!  Will you join us…?  Some specifics…

DATE:  Monday, November 8th

START:  Sometime mid/late morning…

Simply enough, please consider supporting this incredible ministry in some way – there are many alternatives from sponsoring me at http://www.my410bridge.org/pledge/index/cdzirkle – to sponsoring a hole or -

Look at his link for more ways you can be a part…

http://www.410bridge.org/golf-challenge/

Much thanks – more to come!!

A week in Atlanta

Hey all Jill here, just wanting to update you on life. Tori and I are here and I’ve just had my first school district interview for a position here. I met with the coordinator of speech pathologists and we had a great talk. She is originally from IOWA! That in itself makes her a gem with me. To know another Hawkeye/ Cyclone “down south” is never a bad idea.

I have another school here to look at for Fulton county that is an available opening.  I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to see a couple of schools that I may be able to call home and give kids that kindness and instruction that they need.

Stay tuned for more…..  J

410 Bridge + Haiti

Very quick – the 410 Bridge – who we went to Kenya with in December has felt the leading of Christ to point their strategy of “teaching to fish” – long term development at Haiti. They’ve been there already and have connected with the church leaders – trips are forming already – and they need financial support to “move the needle” there…

Please take a look – I know the Lord’s leading Jill and I there –

- – - will you come along?

www.410Bridge.org/Haiti

(clay)

Where’d we go????

Here it is – March 1st.  Last post was January 10th.  So sorry…

To say the least, it has been a crazy 2 months.  So many things have happened and just pushed us sideways – maybe that’s the best way to describe it.  After returning from Kenya – racing to get the Volvo licensed – it wasn’t such a good purchase so am praying about replacing it (good car – it LOVES gas!!).  At the house here – it’s well water.  In the cold spells of early January, the incoming pipes would freeze – just for a few hours – but still – they’d freeze.  So – thought I’d check the above the ground pipes in the well-house.  Guess I leaned a bit hard on that ONE PIPE!!

Be careful where you lean...

It was like 20 degrees outside.  When that pipe broke, all the back-pressure on the pump (that kept it from PUMPING!!) was released and WATER RIDE!!!!  SO…I shove a thumb in the broken pipe to slow/stop the flow of water all over the inside of this little dog-house – didn’t work.  But – then, with a wet leather glove covering my hand, I start to reach behind the pump where the 110v electricity is driving the water into my FACE – and try to switch it off.  Not good.  A soaked man – soaked glove – in a little house – attempting to find two live 110v wires.  Not smart.  Praise God I didn’t find ‘em.  Finally ran into the carport where I opened a fuse box (not a circuit breaker box – and old, screw-in fuse box!!) and with those SAME WET LEATHER GLOVES – - what a dork ‘eh? – - I start unscrewing fuses ‘cuz I don’t know which one runs the pump.

I do now.

So – the water is off.  At the pump.  It’s 20 degrees outside.  Water’s off.  INSIDE the house.  And it ain’t comin’ back on ’till I fix it.  …and I did.  The next day – a space heater, about $10 in PVC, a hacksaw and freezing weather – about 5 hours and bingo!  SOOOO…that was part of why it’s now March 1st and finally returning to an update.

BUT WAIT!!  You have to understand, this is just the Atlanta contingency here – stuff in K.C. as well!  About a week later on a Sunday, I came home from church to the sound – an ugly sound – I’ve heard it before – it’s a high-pitched screaming alarm.  A water-sensing alarm.  You’ve got to be kidding…

So – that was just Alpharetta!! And just JANUARY!! Gotta turn this update around with this – in it all – and it has been frustrating – God is good – in the frustrating times – when the car’s wrecked and there’s 1500 gallons of water pooled up in the basement – when the water faucet produces no “fruit” – this we know:

Christ remains.

“As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:11

So we push on – big updates a comin’ quick – on Kenya – Jill & I – Haiti – - – stay tuned!!

Sunday…a week after returning…

Had dinner last night (Clay) with an incredible and inspiring couple – Mark and Chiu Hea Hills.  Mark works for the U.S. Center for World Missions – the group that publishes “Missions Frontiers” magazine and founded the “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” course.  Chiu Hea works with two “rescue” ministries – she’s been involved with Gary Haugen’s International Justice Mission and Nightlight Ministries.  IJM has a broad focus to human trafficking and sex trafficking – Nightlight has specific focus to the sex trade of young women in Thailand.

Now – check out all those links – two great organizations doing great works.  I’m blessed that the Lord would grant me such friendships!  …and they can definitely keep me on my toes!!

It was a great evening and one big question asked of me was – have I finished “processing” what I experienced.  And of course my answer might fall in line with Paul’s encouragement in Phillipians 1:6 – we’re a work in process – and my understanding of what we experienced – the same – I’m a learner.

Well – all that to say – there’s more to come on what I learned – what I saw – so much of it became tied to my reading of the book by Fikkert/Corbett “When Helping Hurts“.  The book has really “peeled the layers of onion” back on some of my own efforts in the inner city here in Atlanta – quite a lot to understand – but one of the huge “nuggets” is that the long term – the development of a people in their own community – is where so many efforts really are – but we tend to want to see things from our own perspective – a “Western” view to how things should change – and then when the hurting happens – it’s when we apply “relief” efforts to a peoples that need the hope and support of “development” efforts.

Ok – I’ll stop for now – but here’s the deal – we just posted pictures and video on a new page on the Blog – if you’ve gotten a note about it – take a look!

http://jillclaykenya.wordpress.com/2009-kenya-pictures-video/

Sunday afternoon…

Sitting in JFK after about 13 hours in the air and now about 13 hours in airports. Walked Jill to her gate as she flies directly to KC – I board in about 10 minutes.

A long day (…few days?) of travel – preceded by a great week. As we – a team – finished an “American” lunch here at JFK – at Chile’s – I offered a simple but huge question for us to ponder and pray about – - – now what?

There’s a bunch more to this week as you probably imagine – conversations with community leaders – pictures – video – and it all comes down to asking that question of ourselves. Love the book by Colson titled “How Now Shall We Live”. The title offers the implied statement – “you’ve been presented now with irrefutable truth…”. Truth about God, Kenyans – and most important I guess – about me.

So – more to come on this trip (once I get some rest and on a real keyboard!) But for now -

Now what? How no shall we live…?

Thank you for being a part.

CZ

Saturday Evening

Well – falling further behind on these updates – we’re at the airport in Nairobi – getting ready to board the British Air flight to London. When we’re at it in the communities – it’s ok being away from home ‘eh? But walk into an airport to head home?? …home can’t get here soon enough…

But…to backtrack a bit…

Friday morning we headed back into Kwambekenya for the morning – this community is very strong with good leadership. Combined with 2 community partners and The 410 Bridge. While they have pockets of “problems” where there are specific needs – this community is thriving. Two things come to mind in comparing Kwambekenya vs Joska – the first community is rural – the other a suburb area near Nairobi. The first has access to water – rain and rain run-off from nearby mountains – it’s higher in elevation so more temperate. Joska is much more arid with no runoff – and their 1st well which will supply clear water is still not yet functional.

The community director told me they don’t yet have a partner church – which slows the effort. As I’ve thought about it, maybe it’s a chicken-egg thing – they need to help themselves 1st – but hope appears to be in short supply in the community – making it difficult to “get moving”. But when we – or someone – draws alongside loving and believing and helping them – they begin to fuel their own hope. Like Kwambekenya is doing.

So – Friday morning in Kwambekenya we walked through what was probably a 10 acre field growing potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbages – to get a tour of their school. Rather impressive. Jill knows more about that… (Clay)

The buildings were many. 410 Bridge helped to support building materials and manpower for two buildings. They serve 900 kids from preschool through eighth grade. A large area covers the homes they come from. They may have travel help but it means walking. A LOT. Very limited supplies and bandits have stolen from them making learning difficult. I would love to go back and help them out. (Jilly bean my new name)

Friday Morning Report

Beautiful sunny day – and ready to head back into Kwambekenya for the morning. Last night was a late one. …for some.

Jill and packed it in around 10′ish – shoved in the ear plugs and let the revelry of the new year happen quietly in our heads – while they were laying on our pillows.

Yesterday late morning we split our group so there could be activities for small kids – - – and kick-ball for big kids. By the time late morning had arrived – more and more children had arrived – Jill figures tere were over 400 children – it was like a thunderhead with perfect conditions – it grows and grows! That’s how the crowd of kids grew – white people + candy + singing/games = the Perfect Storm…!! AND – instead of the “big” kids playing kick-ball – it was all adults. That’s no big deal but it left about 4 on the team to handle all those kids!

I went to kick-ball – and Jill stayed with the kids. Hey! I was the videographer!!

Those 4 on our team came back totally frazzed!!! I’ll let Jill tell that story…she just kept mumbling as she stared off blankly, slightly trembling…”They were all just touching me…they were all just touching me…!”. (kidding!! sorta…)

But – we taught the adults how to play kick-ball – hopefully they’ll share it with their kids.

Early morning we did more work to help with the driveway to the medical clinic. It runs about 200 yards and – more rock! This time, I decided to swing a sledge – a 10kilo sledge (about 22lbs.). It – at that weight – can work over those large rocks pretty good. Jill stayed in the clinic and painted – wait ’till you see the “ladder” she stood on!!! Yikes…

After lunch – it rained. Poured buckets! And because nearly the entirety of the community had gathered – they crowded into the clinic. …with muddy feet and shoes. A huge mess. So – we shifted gears and after the rains – mopped the floors.

Home to a noisy night at the hotel – - and a good nights rest. (Clay)

Thursday Evening – Happy New Year!!

Wednesday morning we loaded up and left the Nairobi suburb of Joska and headed up hill – in direction and elevation. As we headed up towards Naivasha we saw more and more “green”. There were comparisons to the landscape of Colorado (less the “Rockies” of course – and Alaska. More so the low areas I suppose. Bottom line – green – trees like pines and cedars – it is just beautiful…

We arrived in Kwambekenya late morning to first be greeted by about 20 singing and dancing women from the community! They were so SO filled with joy and love! We got off the bus and walked the last 1/2 mile to their new medical clinic – upon arrival the place just exploded with song from over 200 people – praising God and celebrating what He’s given. More singing and dancing followed by introductions of the community leaders and ourselves.

The day started with some SERIOUS manual labor – of which I’m very ill prepared!! Two tasks – dig a ditch – or break up 40-50lb rocks into 5-8lb “gravel”.

Hmmmm…I chose dig a ditch…all was good. TILL one of the older (ok, she was just OLD!!) took my hoe away from me and showed me HOW to use it. Ok. To be real honest – she showed me UP – AND how to do it!! …there’s video. She did the same to Jill.

A lot more to say about Wednesday – but we’ll follow up later. It’s Thursday – and we’re sitting down to eat. (Clay)