Two months ago, I left home to go back to Africa for the second time in the past year. Before I go straight into Uganda, I would like to briefly share about Rwanda, which is just south of Uganda. Last November, I spent time in Rwanda revisiting genocide sites and being exposed to a land and a people that had seen death and destruction at a immeasurable scale. I processed these images for several months because of the impact that would later change the course of my life. The pictures have been burned forever into my memory and I can still become vulnerable at the thought of some of the places. The nation of Rwanda experienced devastation: over one million lives lost in 100 days. These are people like you and me with names, homes, personalities, and families. I think that the person who is not affected by seeing what I saw and hearing what I heard is a person in need of help. Through months of receiving counsel by brothers and sisters in the church, I've since processed these memories and gained a small understanding of why Rwanda has not been easily forgotten. God has placed these thoughts on my mind possibly for the reason that I was to endure through emotional suffering to actually empathize with the very people that I may be counseling one day.
SO, here is where I am reflecting from what happened 2 months ago. I traveled with Brentwood Church, of which is so full of passionate believers, and Sports Outreach Ministries. A group of 27 of us traveled to Uganda, a land war-torn and devastated by a cruel regime of power and hatred. This place is no longer the same place that it once was. It has moved from dangerous and fearful place to a restorative and Christ-filled place. We visited Gulu, a city in Northern Uganda, from which we would travel back and forth to the villages belonging to the Pugwini. Our main objectives in this village was to build a piggery, establish relationships, and further the Gospel. Without going into too many details, this is what we physically did. In addition to these, we visited an Internationally Displaced People (IDP) camp where Ugandan refugees were forced to leave their homes. After twenty years of living in IDP camps, the people are returning to their homelands and Brentwood is aiding in this incredible return. I love their passion for the broken,the oppressed, the children, the poor, and all the others that are of little value according what the world defines as great and of worth.
Oh, how I wish I could be asked, "How did you feel in Uganda?" I felt that this experience was very similar to how I felt in Rwanda. However, I did not feel the same emotions nor did I feel the shock factor. A friend told me that these feelings are not unusual and I should not feel ashamed of not being moved. That friend told me that the people who are not in shock can do the most good because the shock and surprise of seeing the world as it is no longer a distraction. Truth is, I was moved. I felt such a strange connection with my brothers and sisters overseas.
It's clear to me that these trips are not in vain, but rather God is using them for a divine purpose of which I am unable to fully understand. I believe we are all in training for something that God has planned. In the next blog, I will tell a couple stories of 2 or 3 awesome people I met. Two guys named Daniel and Dennis and one woman named Jessica.
Peace and love to you all. -Jeff
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Hey, you should write a blog.
The title to this post is something I've heard a few times and my response has been, "Who would want to read a blog about my life?" This is more or less an introduction to my life. I have so much going on in my mind between what God teaches me and everyday life events that show me just how great life is with a positive outlook.
What's your story? Many of my friends and acquaintances know that I am the youngest of 5 boys and come from a Christian home. Yes, that's right. My mother is a legend. I grew up in Hawthorne, NJ which many have not heard of, but it is approximately 45 minutes away from New York City without traffic. Growing up in a fast paced environment for most of my life has affected how I drive, schedule my days, and the people I associated with. Four years ago, I chose to come to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA located about an hour north of NC. This place seemed foreign to me because many people were nice to me, smiled at me, and even strangers seemed nicer when they waved.
What changed in you after you left for college and returned home a different person? I mentioned in the first paragraph that God teaches me stuff. Does this mean I am religious? Not at all. Though growing up in a Christian home has instilled morals and values, it did not make me a Christ follower. Three years ago, I took what being a Christian means and applied it to my everyday life. Friends came and went as my lifestyle began to change. I have by no means learned to live as a Christian ought to live. Jesus is the perfect example I strive to follow. I have a few men in my life that have come along side me and mentored me during my short time in Lynchburg, which I am so grateful for. I am not perfect and I do not strive to be. I know that perfection is not attainable here on Earth and pursuing it leads to many disappointments and leaves me feeling as though I've failed at life. There is a word that I love to think about: grace. This familiar word pretty much characterizes my life. I live a life full of grace from a God that has a limitless amount to give. So, when I fail, I am not a failure; I am instead a grace-receiver. ( I could go on and on about this, but for time's sake, I'll calm myself).
What I am doing now? I graduated from LU last fall with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Currently, I am working on a Master's in Couneling toward licensure. Many ask what I will do when I graduate. Honestly? I have no idea. Something I would like to do is to take my degree overseas to a war-torn area filled with broken and traumatized people. It sounds intense, yes, but I have a heart for these people. I will not argue with the burden that the Lord has placed within me. How has your summer been? Lately, reading has become a major hobby of mine and I really enjoy it. From spiritual reading to fiction, I feel so refreshed to hear an author's own journey or imagination put into words. I worked at Snowflex, which is a year round ski resort, until July. I received a position as a Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) at LU for the Psychology Department, which has been a prayer of mine for over a year. I went to Uganda for 11 days and helped to build a piggery, establish relationships with the Pugwini villages, and have my heart and mind transformed. Uganda will have its own blog because there was such an awesome presence of God there that I want to share.
I hope this has been a good reflection of my life and a fair summary of what is going on. I'd be encouraged with any feedback that anyone has to offer. If you thought was not a good use of my time, please tell me and I'll take that into consideration.
In Christ's unfailing love,
Jeff Pardine
What's your story? Many of my friends and acquaintances know that I am the youngest of 5 boys and come from a Christian home. Yes, that's right. My mother is a legend. I grew up in Hawthorne, NJ which many have not heard of, but it is approximately 45 minutes away from New York City without traffic. Growing up in a fast paced environment for most of my life has affected how I drive, schedule my days, and the people I associated with. Four years ago, I chose to come to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA located about an hour north of NC. This place seemed foreign to me because many people were nice to me, smiled at me, and even strangers seemed nicer when they waved.
What changed in you after you left for college and returned home a different person? I mentioned in the first paragraph that God teaches me stuff. Does this mean I am religious? Not at all. Though growing up in a Christian home has instilled morals and values, it did not make me a Christ follower. Three years ago, I took what being a Christian means and applied it to my everyday life. Friends came and went as my lifestyle began to change. I have by no means learned to live as a Christian ought to live. Jesus is the perfect example I strive to follow. I have a few men in my life that have come along side me and mentored me during my short time in Lynchburg, which I am so grateful for. I am not perfect and I do not strive to be. I know that perfection is not attainable here on Earth and pursuing it leads to many disappointments and leaves me feeling as though I've failed at life. There is a word that I love to think about: grace. This familiar word pretty much characterizes my life. I live a life full of grace from a God that has a limitless amount to give. So, when I fail, I am not a failure; I am instead a grace-receiver. ( I could go on and on about this, but for time's sake, I'll calm myself).
What I am doing now? I graduated from LU last fall with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Currently, I am working on a Master's in Couneling toward licensure. Many ask what I will do when I graduate. Honestly? I have no idea. Something I would like to do is to take my degree overseas to a war-torn area filled with broken and traumatized people. It sounds intense, yes, but I have a heart for these people. I will not argue with the burden that the Lord has placed within me. How has your summer been? Lately, reading has become a major hobby of mine and I really enjoy it. From spiritual reading to fiction, I feel so refreshed to hear an author's own journey or imagination put into words. I worked at Snowflex, which is a year round ski resort, until July. I received a position as a Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) at LU for the Psychology Department, which has been a prayer of mine for over a year. I went to Uganda for 11 days and helped to build a piggery, establish relationships with the Pugwini villages, and have my heart and mind transformed. Uganda will have its own blog because there was such an awesome presence of God there that I want to share.
I hope this has been a good reflection of my life and a fair summary of what is going on. I'd be encouraged with any feedback that anyone has to offer. If you thought was not a good use of my time, please tell me and I'll take that into consideration.
In Christ's unfailing love,
Jeff Pardine
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