When they suggest getting together, then they should be the one to set up that meeting. If you suggest getting together, then you should set it up.

Reminds me of that old Friends episode where Chandler says, “I’ll call you,” but he never had any intention of calling the woman back.

I’m suggesting if you say, “Let’s get together,” then do it and follow through. Don’t let it be an empty, meaningless phrase.

This is too great not to share. Happy Halloween!

Paula Deen’s cooking is not known for being healthy, this clip removes any question. Truth be known I ate something similar to this once at the now defunct Mulligan’s in Decatur.

Brian and I picked up some tools, went down the hill and started digging. This was the toughest ground we’d worked on yet. It was completely filled with rocks. Every time I hit the soil I heard the ping of the rocks. We didn’t work long though because we had a full schedule.

We got our lunches and went on a hike to the top of NT mountain. I don’t recommend carrying your lunch on a hike but that’s what we did. Every single one of us made it to the top, many of us out breath when we got there. Beautiful, expansive views greeted us at the top. We could see all of Ngaamba. Pastor Leonard described the future of the water project, how all of Ngaamba would have clean drinking water accessible to them.

After we ate at the top we hiked back down the mountain, carrying our trash. By this point the foundation was nearly complete and we could see how much work we’d done. We then said our goodbyes to the men and women we’d worked with the past few days and went to the school.

These kids go crazy when they see white people. It’s as if we’re the biggest superstars to them. They want to touch us and shake our hands. Some are very shy. Some ask our names and how old we are. That doesn’t last long because we are getting ready to play football (aka soccer), Kenyans vs. Americans.

We hastily form a team. I feel like we’re about to get out butts kicked when I see these kids running. They are so fast. We start the game and we start off strong. However it’s not all Americans on our team. We have two Kenyans, Abraham and Mary, playing with us which gives us a HUGE advantage. We quickly score a goal. The kids fight back.

I chase after the ball and I quickly realize I’m in trouble. I’m not in football shape. However I manage to hang in there. Most of the action is us defending against the Kenyans. They have many more shots on goal but fortunately our keeper defends well. We play 2 short 15 minute halfs. The game ends tied, 2-2. I am covered in dirt and sweat but the game was a blast.

Next up is a presentation with the Pastor Leonard, the teachers, our group and the students. The students perform a few songs and one girl recites a poem on abortion. The head teacher then speaks to the group. After that Pastor Leonard gives a speech of overwhelming gratitude. It’s humbling to see real, sincere gratitude. He even seems surprised to learn that they have taught us. They have taught us all week about joy, contentment, love, hard work and community.

Jason and Traci, our leaders, say a few words to the kids and after that it’s time to leave because we are late. It’s already 5:30 and we were supposed to leave at 4. It’s hard saying goodbye to the kids but eventually we pile into the bus.

We drive back to the church and drop off Pastor Leonard. While every one takes a bathroom break Lucy, the 410 Bridge Community Facilitator, asks me to sing a song. I break out the guitar and play what has become the theme song on this trip, “How Great Is Our God.” We are running late so I get the “cut it” sign from Traci and end it. Still you can tell the Kenyans loved it.

We say goodbye once more and pile into the bus. Right before we leave Lucy hands me two notes. Before I continue I have to say Lucy is gorgeous. Everyone in our group talks about how beautiful she is and how she should be a model. Anyway she hands me the notes and I’m thinking, “OK, what is this?” I wait until we’re on the road to read them. They are notes thanking the guys for all the work we did. But Lucy also wrote a note to me. It said, “Will you go out with me? Check yes or no.” LOL! I used that joke at our debrief and killed the room. Nah, really the note thanked me for playing for her and encouraged me. I felt special.

By the time we get back to Machakos it’s dark. We go straight into dinner completely dirty but we must or else we’ll miss it. We have our last debrief which again I love. I was so blessed to be on that trip and travel with this group. We developed such camaraderie and companionship with each other.

We are told to go to bed early because we have a 5 hour drive in the morning. We’re going on a safari!

The group I’m traveling with is beyond amazing. We have bonded with each other emotionally and spiritually.

The first 2 days we spent with orphans at the Havilla Children’s Home in Nairobi. We helped Joseph, the director, build a new chicken coup. We cut the grass that the cows eat. The women helped cook and wash clothes.

The children there performed for us. They blew my mind. It was pure emotion and pure worship. They are so loving and beautiful. You’ll see the video and pictures soon.

We left from Nairobi and have spent the last 4 days in Ngaamba. It’s a village of 6 sections that has 20,000 people. For 3 days I helped dig trenches that will bring water. It was back-breaking work.

All of Ngaamba has NO electricity. The schools and homes have dirt floors. They wash their clothes by hand. Oddly enough, everyone has cell phones. I can go on and on at how beautiful and kind the Kenyan people are. They are so generous and so grateful for our help.

Today we helped build the foundation for the a huge water tank that will supply water for the villages. We hiked up a mountain where we were able to see all of Ngaamba. After that we went to the school and played football (that’s soccer) with the Kenyan kids. It was a draw 2-2. They completely schooled me several times.

Tomorrow we head off for a 5 hour drive. I can’t remember the name of the village but it’s near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

There is so much more to share but I must leave now.

Oh yeh, my brand new MacBook Pro died on me. Yay Apple! It won’t power up at all. It’s still under warranty.

Thanks for your prayers and love. They have definitely been felt by our team. I will see you all very soon.

Make sure you head over to kenyabound.com/blog to read more posts from our team.

Love,
JamSmooth

1. Jimmy Page
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Eric Johnson
4. Robert Smith
5. Robin Guthrie
6. Kirk Hammet
7. Lindsey Buckingham
8. The Edge
9. Alex Lifeson
10. Alex Chilton
11. Pete Anderson
12. Vernon Reid
13. Jeff Beck
14. Soundgarden – Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil
15. Slash
16. Dave Navarro
17. King’s X – Ty Tabor
18. Peter Buck
19. Eddie Van Halen
20. The Pixies – Joey Santiago
21. Andy Summers
22. Prince
23. The Ramones – Johnny Ramone
24. Johnny Marr
25. The Beatles – George Harrison, Paul McCartney & John Lennon

Morning Lights is getting some airplay on WRAS and WREK.

Don’t forget we have a show at Masquerade, Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m. Buy tickets from me. If you have any questions contact me at jam@jamsmooth.com

Thanks.

Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield are similar movies in plot, character development and cinematography. Both are all shot with handheld cameras in a documentary style. Both take you on a crazy trip and both leave you with many unanswered questions. However, Cloverfield is a far superior film.

The film shows the story of New Yorkers having a party. That same night an extraordinarily huge monster proceeds to demolish Manhattan. This monster is the size of a skyscraper. Its arms are able to smash buildings with one swing. This monster also has spidery, wolf-size “creepy crawlers” that fall from it and bite humans. You do not want to get bitten by one of these things. Trust me.

The main plot surrounds 5 people from the party. The male lead, played well by Michael Stahl-David, is on a mission to save the woman he loves. Through a cryptic voice mail she tells him she is trapped in her building. He and 3 of his friends go on an amazing adventure through the alleys and subway tunnels of Manhattan.

The camera is as much a character in this film as any actor. Without that camera we’re not given the glimpses into the drama of a truly supernatural and apocalyptic experience. We learn about these characters. We want them to survive. We see they are normal people in an unbelievable situation. There is real drama and courage they show.

The monster is, to new use the new word, ginourmous. Jets, tanks, rocket launchers, machine guns and helicopters are no match. The monster is repeatedly hit with missiles from the jets and it keeps on going.

The action sequences make your heart pound. The handheld gives you a sense of being part of the action. The special effects come across very real and the handheld helps with its documentation.

Cloverfield succeeds because of its intensity and reality. Where in Blair Witch we did not get to see what was attacking, Cloverfield gives us a good look. As we left the theater I told my friends there are many metaphors for this monster. Could be the Bush Administration? Could be our deficit? Could be the “owners” of this country? Whatever the comparison may be, Cloverfield is an immensely entertaining monster movie. 3.5 out of 5 stars.