Beach day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

today is our last full day so we are taking all the kids at the compound to go to the Ocean. its gonna be a lot of fun. later Craig and I are going to go do some street preaching. It's our last day so we might as well make the most of it. we still have power this morning so I get to update the blog. tomorrow morning we will leave to start our journey back to the states. I can't wait to see everyone. please pray as we are coming home
thanks guys!!!

Last full day in Africa

Ok so! tomorrow is our last full day in Africa. I can't believe the time has come and gone so fast, but at the same time, it feels like I've been gone forever. I have had some life changing experiances and have shot some footage that is going to change the lives of you people back home. The stories of these young men who were child soldiers are unlike any you will ever hear in your life. and to see them turn around and become some of the greatest men of God that I have seen is remarkable. I really can't wait for everyone to see the videos. thank you so much for all your prayers and support. I can't wait to see everyone back home. It will be so great! I hope I get to write again tomorrow but I can't really promise anything lol. If I don't, I will see all of you back Stateside. Thank you agian for all the prayers.

T.I.A
Brandon

Its been almost three weeks

My time in Sierra Leone is almost over. In some ways it doesn't feel like I've been gone that long but in other ways it feels like I haven't been stateside in forever. I have had such a good time and I am doing very well. It has been so hard to get the internet to work here. I am going to appreciate a lot of things more when I come home. Right now I am in an internet cafe down the street from where I am living. our internet is not currently working at the house so I am going to try to fix it for pastor Andrew later. I had a lot of money left over that I didn't spend and I was trying to think of something special to do with it. Craig and I took all of the street boys and pastors out to dinner at a Lebanese pizza place. most of the guys have never had pizza before and they said it was like they were living in the states. It was a great time to relax with the guys and take a few pictures and some video footage. I have done some fantastic interviews and I cant wait to show all you guys the pictures that I am seeing right here in Sierra Leone. It has been so great. I only have 4 days until I take off and come home. I can't wait to see everyone and to finally start my summer vacation. Craig and I have been talking about going to Asia sometime in the next few years and to take some small trips to mexico to do some work. We have really experienced God in this place and we have been truly blessed. we stop in New York on the way home so Im definitely going to grab some Pizza and maybe even a hotdog to celebrate coming back into the states. Craig and I have saved money for that. hahaha

thank you so much to everyone who has prayed and intercede on our behalves. you guys are incredible and we can really accredit much of our success in ministry to you guys. It has been so nice to know that someone across the world is praying for us. thank you so much again.

I hope this is not the last time I get to write on the blog and Im pretty sure Ill be able to get on again but just in the crazy chance that I don't get to, thank you for all the prayers and thank you for reading up and checking on me. I love all of you guys. Can't wait to see you guys back at home. Thank you so much guys!

T.I.A.

Brandon

The Tan House

Well, today was a fantastic day. We had the rare chance to sit down and talk with the first lady of Sierra Leone. She was very encouraged by the letter from the Oklahomarepresentative and the banner that we presented her. She is a great woman of God and was pleased to hear about the work that we were doing in this country. We even prayed with her. It was awesome!! She did a great thing for pastor Andrew. She wrote an official letter to the land minister of the country telling him to grant ownership to Andrew for land he has been trying to get for a year. This land will be very important. There will be a school built on it. It is very exciting that God is even working through the leaders of this country to make things happen perfectly.

I am having a great time here and am learning so much about this country, these people and even myself.
God is blessing this trip so much

T.I.A.

Brandon

My Bros

Ok, time to play catch up
lol
we made it to freetown. after 32 hours we are finally here. we met all the orphans and street boys that live near the orphanage. Im not just saying this because I like to show off, but they love us. as soon as I got here and started to chill with the older guys that are around my age I honestly feel like any one of them would go to war for me and Craig. they are remarkable. I wish I could bring them back to the states to introduce them to everyone. another thing that is crazy is that they are closer to the Lord than any pastor or spirital man that I have ever met. They are truly men after God's own heart. They are my brothers.
sooooooooooo now I will tell you a little what has happened.
today we went with the boys to go play soccer. It was soooo hard playing against Africans. But we had African boys of our own. I ended up scoring for our team. It was awesome! I will never forget it.
Tonight I'm gonna do some inteviews with Jawas and Elton. two street boys who were here when the war happened. Elton has a scar on his side from a bullet. There stories are incredible.


I hope all is well in the states

Everything is great here.

T.I.A.
This Is Africa

Kobs

The 2,000-Dollar Blanket

 

I have no clue what time it is right now. I only know two things: I’m on a plane. And that plane is headed to London. The tiny LED screen in front of me says that we have 4 hours and 56 minutes until we reach our destination. Lets hope the little LED screen is right. Hahaha. Wellllll, I will say that this is the best flight I’ve ever been on; Sorry dad. Haha. I can watch any movie I want and even play little video games for free. Yes, for those of you who just asked yourself, its all for free; unless of course you are a pessimist who looks at the glass as half empty. Shame on you. Lol. I mean, you would have to be totally out of your mind to not be positive about life. If I was a pessimist, I could basically say that this blanket (which I definitely got for free), is a 2000-dollar blanket. Do you see what I mean? Crazy… So its like I always say, why worry??? Just ride the wave folks. That’s how I ended up where I’m at right now. The story is long… but I’ve got time… and if the roadies don’t mind, we can take a little time.

            Basically however way you see it, God has set me up perfectly to go on this trip for two years. It was not merely by chance but divine appointment. And I know that He has a lot to show me on this trip. This will be the longest an furthest away from home that I’ve ever been in my life. It’s a lottery of emotions; its scary, exciting, confusing, sad, joyful, incredible, insane, and life changing. But though all of that, I know that this is where I’m supposed to be. This is what I was made for, in this moment. God created me for this, this very thing that I am doing right this second. He also is doing the same for you. It may not be going to Africa or saving the world. But the beauty of it is, is that it doesn’t have to be. You have a part in God’s perfect will. And every second is not only given to us, but every second happens for a reason. Its like a commercial I recently saw on TV; before every moment, there is a moment. And if you believe as I do, you believe that God has a plan for every moment. Our task is to first glorify Him while following His will for our lives. A lot of people I talk to are worried about so many things: “How do I know if what I’m doing with my life is what God wants?”, “I hope that this decision is in God’s will”. The deal is, if you love God, you have accepted His commandments as law, and you have confessed with your heart and believe with your mind that God the father raised Jesus Christ from the dead, you are in God’s will. I believe that we do not under any circumstances surprise God. Lol. I can picture it now. God: “Oh man, I wasn’t planning on Brandon making that stupid decision… hmmmmmm….. oh well!!! Life goes on!! I mean as long as I say it does..” hahaha could you imagine if our God was like that?? Lol. God is big enough to even take our mistakes and use them for His will.

Soooo to bring this back in… I say all of that to tell you one of the biggest lessons that God has taught me in recent years is to stop worrying; to let go, and let God. Its that simple. Let go and let God take care of that job that you need. Let go and let God mend your broken relationships. Let go and let God show you the person He has hand picked for you to spend the rest of your life with. I am living proof that if you let God control your life, He will bless you in ways you couldn’t even think possible. The reason why I am sitting in this chair on this plane is because this is where God would have me to be. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you for your time and your prayers and your support. You see, God is using you, just as He is using me. So I thank you for answering the call that God has set before you and just letting Him take the wheel.

We just broke the Newfoundland border and It is now 11: 35 p.m. your local time…

Please continue to think, pray and do.

                                                                        Kobs

The Big Day

Today I leave for my trip. 32 hours of travel from my house to my new home in Africa. wish me luck and please please pray for me.
thank you so much guys!
BKobs