Visions of a World Hungry

Excerpt from the book - Visions of a World Hungry by Thomas Pettepiece

Recognizing that the earth and the fulness thereof is a gift from our gracious God, and that we are called to cherish, nurture, and provide loving stewardship for the earth's resources.

And recognizing that life itself is a gift and a call to responsibility, joy, and celebration, I make the following declarations:

• I declare myself to be a world citizen.
• I commit myself to lead an ecologically sound life.
• I commit myself to lead a life of creative simplicity and to share my personal wealth with the world's poor.
• I commit myself to join with others in reshaping institutions in order to bring about a more just global society in which each person has full access to the needed resources for their physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth.
• I commit myself to occupational accountability, and in so doing I will seek to avoid the creation of products which cause harm to others.
• I affirm the gift of my body, and commit myself to its proper nourishment and physical well-being.
• I commit myself to examine continually my relations with others, and to attempt to relate honestly, morally, and lovingly to those around me.
• I commit myself to personal renewal through prayer, meditation and study.
• I commit myself to responsible participation in a community of faith.

More updates to come soon!

Prince of Beit Air

Now, this is the story all about how

My life got flipped-turned upside down

And I'd like to take a minute

Just sit right there

I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Beit-air

In west Beit Jala born and raised

On the streets was where I spent most of my days

Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool

And all kickin some futbol outside of school

When a couple of guys

Who were up to no good

Startin making trouble in my neighborhood

I got in one little fight and my mom got scared

She said 'You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Beit Air'

I begged and pleaded with her day after day

But she packed my suite case and sent me on my way

She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket.

I put my walkman on and said, 'I might as well kick it'.

First class, yo this is bad

Sipping tea out of a champagne glass.

Is this what the people of Beit-Air living like?

Hmmmmm this might be alright.

But wait, I hear the prissy, booze, whine, all that

Is this the type of place that they should send this cool cat?

I don't think so

I'll see when I get there

I hope they're prepared for the prince of Beit-Air

Well uh, the bus landed and when I came out

There was a dude who looked like a cop standing there with my name out

I ain't trying to get arrested yet.

I just got here!

I sprang with the quickness, like lightening disappeared

I waved for a cab and when it came near

The license plate said prince and it had dice in the mirror

If anything I can say is that this cab was rare

But I thought 'Man forget it' - 'Yo home to Beit Air'

I pulled up to the house about seven or eight

And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later'

I looked to my kingdom

I was finally there

To sit on my throne as the Prince of Beit Air

WOW!!! That's a low price!!!

The group jump rope .


Jump roping is something most of us have not done since elementary school.  Theres a spinoff activity that is a great experiential learning exercise called group jump rope.   As I tell the students this is not a game but a learning activity.  The goal is to get every person through jumping once including the spinners with one person constantly jumping in the middle and the rope can never stop spinning.  Sounds easy right?

It the exact opposite.  I started using this game with youth in a psychiatric care and have loved it since.  It gets every student involved and usually ticks peoples off really quick.  Once achieved a group can go from poor to great!


A couple of weeks ago, I started making students do the group jump rope.  
During the first week - it was absolute chaos.  People were fighting, yelling, frustated, unmotivated, etc.  Most students gave up all together. Then I would step in a process through the experience with them and tell them to do it again.  

After doing this activity for past several weeks, we did it this past tuesday again.  I tell the students that we are going to do this until we achieve it.  I thought after the first week they would not want to do but I was completely wrong.  The students repeatedly come back and try it again and again.  


I would love to say that they have achieved it but not yet.  It has taken weeks to get to this point.  Last tuesday I witnessed a group of students cooperating well, no perverse or cruel comments, everyone was engaged with moments of unfocus, no arguments, etc. This group of students had a strategy and kept building on that.  They had much improved communication which is primarily listening skills.  


They didn't achieve it but they go within 4 people of doing it.  The persevered and despite frustation after doing this for weeks on end, they have all seemingly bought in to it.  They talk about in school and are starting to relate concepts in the activity to those things in life that hard to deal with.  


The sad thing is that I will not be here next tuesday to witness them achieve success.  This was the first moment the other day that WOWed me.  I wish that I could just get one glimpse of what will happen for these students upon success of finishing the activity.  They will be able to transfer so much esteem and confidence to other areas of life.  


On a side note:

I return back to the states this monday with the goal of figuring out where I fit in to possibly teaching at a school next year.  For those that are confused - I was originally supposed to come to the ME for 5 months to help this organization finish its school programs for the year.  It would allow me to determine to stay long term with them or to teach for a couple of years at a school they worked with.  It seemed perfect as God has shown favor to this point and directed me to coming here.  

After getting here - I experienced some rather difficult environments all of which could have been prevented from happening.  My relationship with the organization deterioated quickly due to personal values, professional ethics, and spiritual views coming into conflict with others and organizational structure.  Long story short I decided to distance myself and observe at the school for a while before coming back to the states.  I would have never imagined this to happen especially when I absolutely love being involved in lives of students through experiential learning.  So I lasted three weeks and on my way home.  All I can do is ask for prayer as I seek God's direction and will from here.   

The journey so far...

Here's an interesting recap of my couple of weeks here so far.  I typically would not have that much time to write things except for weekends but right now don't have too many other things to do.

2 Days Prior to leaving: started having sinus like symptons, swollen nasal passages, hard time sleeping at night, lots of headaches etc.

Departure day: altitude plus nasal congestion = not very pleasant flight experiences

Day 1: still congested, starting to adjust to time difference, and toured the leadership center. Upon entering a car pulls up and takes a gun out to shoot at a bird right above our heads.  It happened so quick we just ducked on the ground and the bird fell right in front of me.  I guess the locals needed to scare us a little.

Day 2: Started having a lot of doubts, nasal congestion is improving, experiencing no showers, and very cold nights

Day 3 - 5: congestion is almost gone, able to get some sleep but limited to people partying in the house I was at, discovered warm water for tea, started experiencing knee pain - i will admit that I decided to go on a run to try and clear out congestion.

Day 5: worked all day by myself in the office, contemplating decisions, still congested, headaches

Day 6: slept in and had my own extended church service before going to work, found myself in a not good environment

Day 7: first day in charge of programs, and spending countless hours trying to finish curriculum, and facility inspections, got a good sunburn 

Day 8 - 9 - implemented disciplinary boot camp for 6 graders, got another good sunburn

Day 10  - informed organization of my decision to stay, received a gift of second hand smoke and other things

Day 12 - relocation of environments, developed sore throat, bad cough, chest pain, headaches

Day 13 - 15 - took most of weekend trying to recover from sickness, fatigue, no sleep for several nights, etc, 

Day 16 - 17- still coughing, sore throat - started subbing for classes in school, observing others

Day 18 - sore throat is gone, cough is much better, got to take a hot shower for first time.

day 19 - i thought it was all over - woke to stomach cramps, general fatigue - this is where I am at now.  

There has been a lot of really amazing things happen but it hard to focus on those things when your body goes through so many things and some could have even been prevented.  What else is there to do when you are laying in bed sick, have things that need to get done, and dont want to do anything except run to the bathroom countless times for relief. 

Reminds of a quote a friend told me once: "Sometimes the bottom falls out of your world and the world falls out of your bottom."

Theres about 100 more crazy adventures in the days above but not too much I can actually write about.

BEHOLD THE POWER OF DIGESTIVES!!!

Quite a bit has happened over the course of 7 days.  I really dont even know where to start.  This whole blogging - writing thing is still new to me but I get so many emails from people I feel like this is the best way to keep people updated.  Once again thank you to all of you that not only have listened to me, prayed for me, and continue to support me despite the events that have occurred over the past couple of weeks.  

I am pleasantly happy to say that I am in a much better place now and even had a good week despite the side things that happened.  Last week I spent the whole week focusing on trust issues with students.  Since I had started working with 6th graders at the German school we have had 3 serious fights, lots of verbal abuse, and one broken arm.  Oh and the students have the complete control of the workshops.  This only lasted a week before I called a meeting with the school and attempting to make serious changes in order to regain that power back.  Despite these things I had some good questions and comments from students.  Most of them centered on issues of trust and that they have been told all of their lives that they cannot trust anyone.  As sad as this is it allowed us to share with the students about how to determine trustworthy people and issues for rebuilding trust with friends, family, and even neigbors across the wall.

I have finished up my time with the organization I was working for and have transitioned to helping at another school.  For the next couple of weeks I will be observing classes, and continue to subbing for teachers when needed, and any other assigned tasks.  In addition I was able to attend a weekly night ministry for high school students.  It closely resembled a western youth service with typical small groups afterwards.  The guys that I had kept goofing around so I decided to start asking some tough questions for them.  And I got some interesting responses.  One student told me that he does not feel comfortable sharing his faith with friends because he believed they need to find it for themselves and did not want to step on their religion.  Another student expressed more of a pluralist view that it did not matter what religion that a person had but would end at the same place.  Over the next couple of weeks I hope to really build relationships with some of these guys to push them to explore what it means to live in a relationship with Christ and what that really means in our world today.

You might be wondering what the title of digestives means?  

Since weds night I have developed a severe cough, sore throat, head aches, overall sickness after being exposed to a house full of second hand smoke and other things.  I find myself hard to breath at nights and still can't get solid sleep even though I have moved out of the environment.  While I have been feeling sick for several days now I have found one thing that has pepped me up - DIGESTIVES!!!!

Dont confuse these with medicine or laxatives.  They are actually cookies!!! Delicious, wonderful wheat cookies with a little bit of chocolate goodness on top.  When I was in Northern Ireland for a summer I was exposed to digestives.  I remember going to wimbledon for several days and all we bought were digestives to eat on because they were so cheap.  it just so happens that I found them here in the WB.  There are a little pricy but its good to treat yourself from time to time.  Add a cup of tea, good book, and sunshine and you are in heaven.  

Heres some latest photos from start of week 3:

If we called these digestives in the states, no one would ever buy them.

Where else in the world can I dry my underwear on the front porch.

We trust one another!!! Really?  lets make them go blindfolded to a tree and see.

TRUST!!!

For those of you new to experiential education we use initiatives and challenge courses to help people develop life skills and learn how to work as a team.  Experiential education is a very western idea which makes it difficult when bringing it into a ME context.  

The idea of processing or debriefing after a learning activity is not very common here.  Students do not mind expressing their ideas or answering questions but it is typically aimed viciously towards other students.  I have only been here for one week and a tough one at that.  Originally I was supposed to be in an interim position before I go full time in running all the organizations programs.  For right now  I have focused on its core program core Global Leadership.  The goal of the program is develop basic team building skills and leaders out the students.  I absolutely love the challenge of working with the students with this goal in mind.  

The challenge is developing a western concept into a successful ME program in schools when we only have 25 - 35 minutes a week with them.  Thats extremely difficult when theses themes could actually be more important than basic math.  We are talking about life skills here.  The things that will transform a community that has been greatly affected by regional events in the past.  

Today was my first official day taking students through programs.  Some groups were not able to do the activities due to behavioral issues.  Apprarently I am the first person to be really mean and do not allow students to jump around hitting one another.  After they were able to compose themselves we proceeded to due a sherpa walk.  Basically we blindfolded students and gave them a rope and they had to depend on one another to get around the school.  They only had noises to give them directions.  They had to climb over things and fully trust one another.  

We had some bullying, some people showing genuine concern, and others that just didn't care.  We started processing through what trust is and what it means to be a trustworthy person.  Then I asked students to relate it to their lives.  I was amazed at how many students were able to relate trust to their life in context of dealign with their family or trust in a different ethnic group.  The sad thing is that we only had 5 minutes to debrief when these kids really wanted to ask questions about how do we build trust after its been broken.  We never really got to get into that too much but a foundation has been laid for a future generation that could change a seemingly never ending conflict in ME.

Here are some photos of two different schools that we worked at today.  The first is with a school completely in Arabic with 6 graders in a mediation program.  The second is with the American school with students that speak pretty darn good english.    

HOW IMPORTANT IS TRUST TO YOU

    

CHICK PEAS, FAX MACHINES, and OLD SPICE

I have never imagined that so many things could happen in one week of time.  I have officially been in M.E. for one week.  Of all the hard times in my life that I can remember going through this one has been one of the toughest.  This week has left me searching for answers . . .  searching for a reason . .  . searching for God’s will. 

Before I go much further – I want to thank all my family, friends, extended support group for you much sought after counsel, advice, and for speaking TRUTH into my life during the past week.  When after a couple of days I wanted to give up, you spoke the truth of God’s word which has deeply encouraged me to persevere through these trials. 

Two nights ago – I felt like I was surrounded by Satan himself attacking me from every angle.  I would read through the Word and feel peace and then something else would happen and I would lay in my bed praying for hours.  I don’t think I have spent more time in prayer than I have this week.

For the past several months God has been transforming my world by first removing the things that used to consume it.  I never even felt remorse for giving up the American dream and financial security in the new job offer that I had.  Now I get to where I am now and through out the week Satan has been speaking non truths into my life making me regret giving up my job, house, and comfortable lifestyle to live in a rats nest in ME. 

Without going into too much detail about the very complex situation that I am in right now I can let you know that I will be transitioning back to the states much sooner than imagined.  The original plan was to decide which opportunity to pursue long term in this area.  One very much reflected my interests in life, professional interests, and allowed time for ministry.  The other allowed me to teach in a local school and disciple students.  It has been a disappointing week because I had so much hope in the organization that I am working for right now that I would be able to impact the community through various programs while playing a role in a discipleship ministry.  Things can be quite a bit more deceptive than ever imagined.  My desire is to follow Christ.  And from every approach imagineable I can seem to make that fit within this organization and truly live to the standards that Christ calls me too.  There has to be a reason why I am here though?  So many unexplainable things have happened over the past several months for this to be a waste? 

My spiritual life, believes, even the reason I exist has been questioned by so many individuals this past week.  I have been conversations with so many believers and unbelievers that it has been very hard.  I have had people trying to get me to loosen up and just experience life.  I have had people trying to convince me that the God I love and believe in does not exist.  I have had people laugh at me when I explain why I am here.  I have had people mock me for standing firm for my faith in Christ.  Isn’t it crazy that all this exists in the context of that I am 5 miles from the birthplace of Christ himself.

Today I have felt God has reassured me that He is in control.  That He is with me despite the evil around me.  That He wants to be my source of strength and that life flows from him who lives within me.  God wants me to give him control.  To surrender every bit of my life – my emotions in anger, frustation, my heart, my mind, etc. 

A friend of mine had recommended reading through the book of James.  Sometimes when I experience these things I don’t know where to even turn in the Bible.  I am glad the HS speaks through other people.  The entire of book of James has either convicted me of things or reassured me of things. 

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

You too be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

I am not worthy of having such an amazing creator.  God thank you for your guidance even when I want to be in drivers seat, thank you for your provision when I attempt to still do things on my own at times, thank you for your power that trumps all evil in this world and that with it you can accomplish many things through this servant of yours.  Thank you for your grace that covered my sinful life.

I know that if you read all the way through this you may be confused.   I don’t even know exactly what I just wrote especially when I am not the writing type but it does help me express and process through what is occurring in life right now. 

This next week will be even more difficult as I expect to do some transitioning between things.  I ask that you pray that God would open up the hearts of individuals buried in a sinful life, that believers would be showed truth what it means to live a life more that of Christ, and that they would be firm in their faith when interacting with the international community present in ME.  Pray that God would transform the minds of students across P as this will be my first time actually leading students through classes.    

THREE DAYS LEFT!!!

The past couple of weeks have been quite interesting:  we got close to 2.5 feet of snow over the past couple of weeks. 

We are not supposed to get this MUCH SNOW!!!

THREE DAYS LEFT

It is three days before I leave for the Middle East.  Time has flown by pretty fast over the past several weeks.  I am increasingly amazed at how God crushes the box that I typically confine him too.  As much as I say sometimes that I am fully depending on Christ to provide for everything and I still find myself attempting to do some of the work and outsource the hard stuff to Jesus.  This past week he has reminded more and more that he has my back on all the small things as well. 

Over the past couple of weeks I have been blessed to attend some amazing perspectives classes, go to some challenging seminars, and meet with some amazing believers.  In the midst of trying to prepare for this endeavor while trying to read 37 books covering topics from discipleship, community development, experiential education, Islam, and group therapy interventions.  And at the same time saying goodbyes to co-workers, friends, family, selling my vehicles, house, possessions, etc.

I was sitting in perspectives last night listening to the speaker as he spoke about all the things that keep us from going abroad in a missions context.  Out of nearly 3.1 million people that travel internationally for short term mission trips every year nearly 75% are between ages 18-24.  Why?  Because people in this age bracket have not started careers, families, own a house, have car payments, or many responsibilities.  This resonated with me because for the first time in five years I can say that I feel completely FREE to fully serve Christ to the ends of the Earth.  The reality is that I have been free to do this for some time but I have become consumed in the BLESSINGS of God that I don’t fully them it to bless others.  I hope and prayer that I am not 50 years old and catch myself obeying God because I can barely manage all the blessings that He has given me. 

So I may be 25 years old, far from getting married, dirt poor in a worldly sense, and considered crazy for giving up my job, lifestyle, and leisurely comfortable life.  But I know that my eternal reward will outweigh any pain, suffering, sacrifice, or even joy that I may experience on this Earth. 

If you are following along with this blog and want to continue following what happening with Paidia and the work being done in the Middle East feel free to join the monthly newsletter with the link on the side of the page.  If you want to pursue making any financial contributions there is a link on the side of the page directed MEI support giving website.  Lastly I ask for your support in prayer as I embark on this journey.  This blog will updated on a rare occasion and will be used to express my thoughts and things that I am processing through. 

God Bless

Chasing the American Dream

Chasing the American Dream

“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position ”

                                                                                    -James Truslow Adams (1931)

For the past several years, I have been increasingly chasing after the American Dream.  Everyday it seems like I desire more STUFF.  One of my greatest weaknesses is finding those great deals / bargains and convincing myself that I NEED it.  Over the past couple of years I have found myself consumed by increasing my 401k, investing in a house, paying off a truck, buying more and more tools, going through bikes that cost more than peoples cars, and yet I knew that these things would never satisfy my need for Christ.  Life had changed from chasing the American dream to living it. 

David Platt writes in his book Radical:

“We stand amid the American dream dominated by self-advancement, self esteem, and self sufficiency, by individualism, materialism, and universalism.”

Most of you have heard my story going to West Virginia looking at taking a job that was going to double my salary, give me federal benefits including amazing retirement, and secure employment.  It was during that trip that God opened up the doors again for a long-term missions opportunity to share the gospel with Palestinians through a unique, strategic ministry.  When I was contemplating the decision all the things that I had acquired became barriers once again for me to fully obey Christ.  

Preparation for a ministry and my new adventure has been exciting over the past couple of weeks.  At first I threw my self a pity party telling myself that God could not really ask me to give up all these things.  I worried about if my STUFF would be taken care of and in perfect shape once I get back.  Slowly, the Spirit convicted me of several things through the process and after I started selling things I felt that burden completely lifted.  God provided me with people to buy almost everything that I have and the rest I have been blessed to give to family and friends.  What a relief!

In Mark 10, Jesus tells the rich young man to go home that he lacked one thing.  Jesus tells him to go sell everything he has, give it to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven.  And then He said then come and follow me.  Jesus has asked us to come, follow me, trust in me, abandon everything that you have for me. Before I go to much further let make a note that it is not wrong to have nice things, own property, or have a 401k.  But if those things keep me from fully obeying Christ then they must be trimmed back or cut off in order that fruit may be produced. 

Little did I know when I started processing and thinking through these things I had a friend recommend reading a book by David Platt called Radical.  This book has been amazing in reinforcing my decisions and has helped challenged me greatly in my relationship with Christ.  It has been instrumental in helping reminding me of my single purpose on this planet: extend His glory to ends of the earth. 

Platt asks some hard questions throughout his book and makes some great challenges.  I encourage you to ask yourself these questions and then invest in the book Radical and see where God takes you.

Do we really believe that He is worth abandoning everything for?

Do you and I really believe that Jesus is so good, so satisfying, and so rewarding that we will leave all we have and all we own and all we are in order to find fullness in Him?

Do you and I really believe Him enough to obey Him and follow Him wherever he leads, even when the crowds in our culture – and maybe our churches – turn the other way?

There a lot of things that I can do on my own.  I could even move to Palestine and try to do everything on my own.  But what would life look like if I got past imagining what I want to accomplish and ask God to do what only he can accomplish.  As for me I have less than 4 weeks before I leave and I cannot wait to see what God going to accomplish through my life.  

IS BLOGGING OLD TECHNOLOGY

People are telling me that blogging is a thing of the past.  So in efforts to stay connected with friends and family I have worked on creating a newsletter update through mobile/email.  To sign up the newsletter update follow the link to sign up.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER

Thanks

Colby

WELCOME!

Hey Everyone,

Glad that you found your way to the blog.  Blogging is not going to be my favorite thing to do but is a great way to update people and to process through what I am thinking and going through in life.  As most of you know I am transitioning to Palestine (on FEB. 19) very shortly to work for an organization called Paidia.  I am very excited for the opportunity to work abroad, experience a new culture, and hopefully see many lives come to know Christ.  

As for now, I am in full preparation trying to learn a new language, enjoying hobbies while I can (cycling in 40 degree weather - yey), doing some program research, and all the fun logistics of moving to another country.  

For the first post I figured I would leave you with a couple of photos of the area that I will working in along with my official support letter.  Thanks for visiting.

Dear Friends and Family:


Shalom!  I hope that you are doing well.  The past couple of years have been a roller coaster full of great opportunities, 
disappointments, challenges, and life changes.  Most of you are aware that over the past couple of years I have been trying to figure out “what I want to be when I grow up” and find the “perfect” job.  I have traveled the country interviewing for positions and finally came to the conclusion that “perfect” does not exist.  



This past summer I was blessed to travel to the Tibetan area of China and interact with some amazing people.  My life was changed dramatically as a result.  First, I realized how blessed I am to have such a supportive group of family and friends.  Secondly, while I was in China I felt that God would open doors someday for 
long-term missions opportunity in the future.  Finally, I experienced an unreached people group that has never heard the gospel of Christ.  

The months after returning have been quite challenging at times.  Here’s a run down of events that happened in October and November: finished my 3rd rehab on my knee, finished a half marathon at my best time yet, approached with a missions opportunity, interviewed for various jobs receiving a job offer from a VA hospital.  


While on a trip to Washington D.C. to consider taking a position with a Veterans Affairs hospital, I received a phone call from the founder of the organization that approached me several months ago about serving in the Middle East.  He alerted me that they needed someone to fill in at the beginning of year due to a terminal illness.  I initially turned down the opportunity a long time ago due to ongoing knee problems.  My mind was racing with confusion over the uncertainty and direction for my future.   As I was sitting on the plane, I opened my devotional book A Guide to Prayer going through the daily reading, which happened to be Mathew 4 (Temptation of Christ) and Matthew 28 (The Great Commission).   The confusion and anxiety seemed to clear quickly as I was faced with three choices:  pursue the American dream and a 401k, stay content in Arkansas, or live a “radical life” following Christ.  


Sometimes I think I get so caught up in trying to make the right decision.  It can become frustrating processing through the tough questions: “God where do you want me to go? “ “What do you want me to do?”  “God should I choose this place or this place?”  Sometimes it’s not the decision that is the most important but the process it takes to make it.  It has been frustrating at times because I wanted God to write, “GO” in the sky but there was never that sign or voice.  I believe that sometimes God will use you anywhere you are willing and there is not always an obvious calling but it’s the process that is important.  Several friends have pointed out to me recently that out all the opportunities that I have had my heart has never felt at peace with them.  The process of making such a big decision has reminded me that I must completely abandon everything that I am and want to have to truly follow Christ. 



At the end of February, I will be transitioning from Northwest Arkansas to live in the West Bank, Israel working for Paidia International Development.  Paidia uses experiential education programming (ropes courses) to engage individuals (primarily youth) with ethical leadership development empowering them to transform themselves and their communities.  The organization has many programs including a small group ministry geared to younger Palestinians, recreation therapy services for people with special needs, community service events and life skill education groups.  The underlying goal is to help Palestinians develop conflict resolution, communication, problem solving, and relationship skills.  This is an amazing opportunity to serve and work with Palestinians living in the West Bank using my experience in recreation therapy and ropes course facilitation.  With limited time to prepare, I am asking you to consider joining my support team in prayer and financial contributions.  Paul writes in Philippians regarding his support for his ministry:

 “Not that I seek gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit … the gifts you sent (are) a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Amen.” (Philippians 4:17, 18-20)  It is a tough decision to step out in faith in the midst of a struggling economy asking for support.  My target monthly budget is $1425 and every one time or monthly support gift greatly helps.  Financial support will be managed through a church supported third party organization (Missions Enablers International) based out of Northwest Arkansas so that there is not a connection to my work with Paidia in the West Bank.      All gifts are tax deductible and more information can be found with this letter on how to pursue supporting me financially.  


Thank you once again for your prayer and support as I embark on this exciting and challenging journey.  I would love to schedule time to meet with you about how you might play a role in ministering to Palestinians.  In addition feel free to contact me regarding any questions that you might have.


For Him,
Colby Webb