I Skipped A Long Run

With the passing of Lindsey’s grandmother, traveling, many other things on my mind, and youth group events, I was quite busy last week.  I had time to do my long run on Friday and Saturday, but I was lazy and skipped them.  I was worried Sunday whenever instead of 15 I ran 3, but somehow I think this was the smartest thing for me to do.  It put things in perspective as far as training goes that I’ve got to step it up somehow and begin to get into “training mode” instead of “run and build a base mode.” For the non-runner, this won’t make any sense.

Yesterday was a great run.  I started off and ran 2 easy miles around 8:40 pace. I then upped it and knocked out three at my projected marathon pace of 7:40 (hoping this will drop dramatically by the time a marathon gets here) and recovered for half a mile. After that I knocked out one mile at my current half marathon pace of around 7:10 and then recovered half a mile. Back to a marathon pace mile around 7:40 which hurt, then half a mile of recovery. Finally, one more half marathon pace mile and slowly jogged it home for the last 1.5 miles for a total of 11 miles in about 1:28:40 – 8:05 pace.

I got to thinking yesterday how much I’ve really just neglected trying to do any fundraising through my running. Next week for Christmas, I want to do some video work and whatnot for a video, but I also want to talk to my father about the different ideas that he might have for fundraising for MFM this year. Likewise, my brother is a financial counselor on the side so all he does is think about money and crunch numbers (think as nerdy as you can get because he’s a geek – and I can say that because as far as I know, he never reads this…) and get his input about things maybe he has learned to do in order to raise funds. I’d love to get something started this year that lasts.

I know that’s a pretty repetitive topic here on my blog for the ones who read it fairly regularly. I hear of some people who are able to raise tons of money for their organization and this and that, and I’d love to do that, no glory to myself, but in order to promote our mission and inform people about the needs of Haiti. I’d love to have people become aware of the needs and have them see face-to-face with children and adults who need their help. I just haven’t quite figured out how to do so.

Honestly, at times, it’s frustrated me because last year I sent out about 15 letters to different churches who contacted me first about wanting information in order to support and donate money…suprisingly, and at the same time, not surprisingly, only one church followed through. 

I know that people are busy and people are donating and that there was a “recession” recently, but at the same time, I catch myself doing the same thing where I think, “Man, I can’t give because Lindsey and I have to get our debts paid off because we need a new car and a new tv…” And then I think of Sandia, Lanise, Shaylah, or Hermithe and think, “Wow…maybe those things can wait because these girls need an education, or clean water, or food, or clothes, or all of the things that I don’t even pay attention to…”

This was unintended to head this direction, but as I was about to publish this post, I looked at the title of this post – “I Skipped A Long Run” and realized how many things in my life matter to me so much more than what is really important. I beat myself up mentally on Sunday because I skipped a long run and I was worried how that would effect my training. Aren’t there more important things in life? God has really been rocking my world lately regarding His will for my life – and not just my life but every single Christian’s life. Almost as if we’re missing a great point of what it truly is to follow Him. I don’t ever want to be like the rich, young ruler found in the Gospels, but sometimes, in fact, most of the time, I’m afraid that I have become just like the rich young ruler. And to make myself feel better, I say, “Jesus didn’t really mean to give everything to the poor because then that would put me in danger or starving and make my life too uncomfortable.” But, what if Jesus really did want that? Isn’t that giving up everything to follow Him? Isn’t that trusting Him completely? 

There’s too much comfort in America when it comes to following Jesus. We’ve made it too comfortable.  We’ve made it too easy. We’ve said, “Come follow Jesus. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. In fact, just pray this prayer and you’re good.” There’s something much bigger. There’s this world-wide expansion of the Gospel where I feel like American culture is missing out on it because we’re too distracted. I don’t want to miss it. At times, my involvement with Haiti is purely for selfish gain. I go there and I get revived. I get away from the distractions of America, I don’t run, I don’t talk on the cell phone, I don’t watch tv – and I focus on Jesus Christ and His power to change the lives of mankind. I fellowship with believers and I teach Christ’s commands. And when I come home, I see the Taco Bell sign, turn on my cell phone, and forget that it was Jesus that changed my life that week as well as the many other people who were present.

It’s turning into incoherent ramblings, but the point of all of this is maybe to inspire one person to reflect and say, “Is there something I can do?” I don’t mean for Haiti, for Mountain Faith Mission with Run 4 Haiti…I mean in your relationship with Jesus. Is there something that will move you from typical American Christianity that is so fluffed up when it comes to following Christ that there is really no discipleship and nothing but good feelings and high fives – to something more genuine, real, loving, giving, and powerful through Jesus Christ? Whether that’s in America, Uzbekistan, Haiti, Africa, Australia…I don’t know. There’s more to this than meets the eye.

December 10

Life has been uber busy as of late.  I’ve completely neglected doing much of anything except for running.

I was unable to run the Kris Kringle 4 Miler due to the death of my wife’s grandmother. We had to travel to Tennessee for the funeral. I wasn’t too disappointed to be missing the race given the circumstances. Likewise, last Friday evening my throat began to hurt and was fully hurting on Saturday morning at 7am. I figured by today I would be doing okay, but no – I am taking lots of cold medicine, cough drops, and shoving tissues as far up my nostrils as possible.  Not fun. A lot of sinus pressure.

Running-wise: My runs have been progressively faster and my legs are responding well.  Monday was 7 miles at about 8:25 pace. Tuesday was 3.5 miles at about 8:30 pace (it began to rain so I cut it short). Yesterday was 7 miles in 30 mph winds and snow (glorious conditions) at 8:16 pace. I get done running and I feel looser than normal.  I’m not quite sure what to make of it – whether it is just my body is responding well to the past two months of regular consistency, or if it is due to the fact that it is cold, or maybe a bit of both. Who knows?  I just like the fact I can run faster, recover faster, and feel well all in the same day.

I received an email two weeks ago about Pastor Paul Donne who is the pastor at the church at Lamarre (Lamar, Lamarr, Lamare; just want to cover every single possibility of Creole spelling) within our mission. Pastor Paul has been a pastor since the early days of the mission and I believe he was converted in the 60’s and became a Pastor soon after. His wife began to decline in health and passed away last week. Thankfully, many Americans responded to the call to have her body transported back from PAP to home so she could be buried. I know it has to be a very tough time for the family so remember them and Pastor Paul as he is one of the officials within the mission, and a wonderful man of God.

Oh yeah, I’d appreciate prayers for this sinus infection to abandon my body and go off and die somewhere.  Stupid sinuses.

Why Do I Run?

Lately, on Twitter and Facebook, many of my friends have made comments about “Wow, you run a lot!” or “Is all you do run?”

This is for you.

Yep, I run a lot.  It didn’t used to be that way.  Let me explain.

In high school, I was fat. Some people knew me then and can vouch for that. This isn’t a sob story at all.  As a sophomore in high school, I was at 240.  By the time I graduated, I had dropped a little bit by being more active in playing baseball my senior season.  I entered college at 225.  I simply didn’t want to be at that weight.  My senior year, I would go to the middle school track in my town and run a mile or so.  I can remember going and running a mile in 7:48 in the spring of 2004.  It was the fastest I could squeeze one out.  And of course, after that I was so spent I couldn’t do anything else.

I got to college and was able to get a job at FedEx Ground. From the beginning of September to the end of September, my body became used to moving for 5 hours straight in the back of a truck.  I lost 20-25 lbs. in the first month of working there. I eventually moved into being more active and got down to right about 200 lbs. and stayed there for a while.

The summer of 2005, as I was more active, I began to run more.  It’d be two miles, one mile, mile and a half; that was all.  I began to read online about 5k’s and races and running and it piqued my interest. I began to go running regularly. I would go up to the same middle school track and run. When I did a mile time trial on June 3, 2005 (the day before my niece was born…only reason I remember the date is because as soon as I got done, I got the call that we had to travel to ATL for her birth on the 4th). I ran that mile in 6:18.  That’s a huge change.  1:30 in a little over a year.  Weight helps.  I began to run 3 miles at a time or so. Total miles for 2005 = 62.5.

When I got back to college, I ran 4 miles one Sunday night and thought I would die.  It was horrible. I continued to run 3-3.5 miles throughout the next college school year on occasion. By April 2006, I had started a new job working at the Hilton downtown Nashville, Tennessee which happens to be the headquarters for the Country Music Marathon.  I was still running often, reading the magazines, and keeping up with the sport. The atmosphere on Friday before the marathon was so ridiculous.  I was hooked. That afternoon, after never running more than 3.5 miles, I started running.  I ran.  7 miles.  I hurt horribly the next day, but I was hooked. The atmosphere was amazing. I continued to run throughout the year.

In August 2006, my father began to experience some chest pains.  At the doctor’s request, he checked in and they performed a five bypass surgery. It was a scary time, but amazing to see God through quick recovery, as well as through friends. Dad recovered great. Before we left the hospital, the surgeon came in to check on him in his regular room (he was out of ICU post-surgery a full day before the normal time…God’s hand) and essentially just old the entire family that heredity had everything to do with it. It was at that point, I realized I had to do something.  I was 20 years old at the time and it was scary to think of my future like that.

The year continued with a few more miles here and there. On Thanksgiving day, three years ago today, I got a call from my wife (just a friend at the time) and she said, “Did you hear about G?” G was a friend of my roommate’s, and he had become a friend of mine. Gerald Lynn Turner was the student body president of the college we attended. While playing football on Thanksgiving with his wife’s family in Florida, he dove after someone to tackle them and never got up off the ground.  His heart stopped.  He had been married 2 months and working as a youth pastor at his home church in Mississippi.  It was scary, again.

At that point, I had decided I had to do something.  I was going to run the Country Music Marathon in 2007.  I got my buddy Alan Skiles to run with me.  We started training around Christmas.  I had it in my head that we were running for G. When we got back to school, I talked to a teacher and a scholarship was set up.  It was official, we were running for G. 2006 total miles = 304.8 miles.

2007 rolled around by running 4 runs a week.  Alan and I trained and trained and trained. We raised money for the scholarship for the G foundation that was set up.  April rolled around and the marathon hit.  Alan and I had no idea how to run or train or any of it, but I finished in 4:16:32.  I crossed the finish line with tears in my eyes.  I had accomplished what I had seen as impossible for me in high school.  I had run a marathon.  It was an amazing feeling.  My mother was there.  My girlfriend (wife now) was there.  I just stood and talked with tears in my eyes.  The rest of the day was filled with amazing feelings.  I lived on that high and was hooked.  

For the rest of the year I ran here and there.  I was close to 400 miles in April.  The summer came and I did a youth ministry internship.  I got back to college and ran here and there.  But, when it finally rolled around to December, I knew it meant I had to run more in order to get to the finish line faster. In the mean time, in September 2007, I took my first trip ever to Haiti. To say the least, I was moved. The quality of life embarrassed me at how selfish I had been. The love of the people convinced me that I don’t love enough. Something needed to happen. 2007 total miles = 698.3

2008 rolled around and suddenly I was running more.  It was 5 days a week.  In March, I ran a 15k where I finished 18th overall with a 1:07:55 – a 7:16 pace.  Say what?  Three years prior, I couldn’t run one mile at 7:16 pace, let alone 9.3.  The spring was great.  April rolled around. I ran by myself this time.  My mom and girlfriend were there for me and saw me at different places, along with Alan who was unable to run and his girlfriend, who turned into his wife.  It was a struggle, but the training paid off as I crossed the line in 3:57:50.  It was awesome!

While training, I sent out letters and MySpace notices that I was raising money for Haiti.  Of course I called it…Run 4 Haiti.  That year, I had a few donations that totaled about $300. I ran for them.

It was awesome until I realized that I was capable of more.  You see, there are runner-people who have figured out that based on shorter races times what you should be capable to run at other distances.  Based on my 15k time, I knew that I was capable of running faster than what I did.  The answer?  Run more.  In fact, the saying on the website that taught me how to run from a group of amazing runners that congregate there is this: Run lots. Mostly easy. Sometimes hard. It began to make sense.  The more you run…the more your body thanks you for it. 

I graduated college in May 2008 and moved to New Castle, Indiana.  I ran a little bit each week after the move. I returned to Haiti in September 2008.  I was moved even more.  This time, I felt that God really wanted me to do something for Haiti.  I felt like I was involved.  Suddenly, I came back and Mountain Faith Mission of Haiti was almost life to me.  I built a website and began to do whatever I could.  

Running wise, well, Run 4 Haiti was essentially born a little over a year ago on the web.  I ran a 5k last fall in 20:18 – a 6:33 pace – who’d a thunk?  I ran a 4 miler last December in 27:02.  I just ran.  A year ago next week I began a streak of running at least 50 miles a week.  A year from Saturday, I began to run every day (a streak which broke on August 22 when I left for Haiti after 264 days). Total miles for 2008 = 1684.9.  It was a significant difference and my mileage increase showed through my better times.

2009 rolled around and suddenly I had this running thing down.  In March I ran a half marathon in 1:34:21 – a 7:13 pace…the numbers just kept getting smaller.  I toed the line for Nashville’s marathon hoping to run a 3:25, but mother nature heated up and was a punk.  But, I still crawled in at 3:50 – a 7 minute improvement simply because of the training.  The summer brought a lot of busy-ness.  Marriage, youth trips, travels, so the mileage decreased.  

Haiti 2009 really did something though. As I had mentioned, I felt like a part of something bigger.  Since then, my work with MFM has manifested itself in new ways.  

The fall brought a 5k with a 25 second improvement.  It was a 19:53.  I broke 20…that’s crazy.

And so, now it’s Thanksgiving.  I find myself reflecting today on what I’m thankful for: family, friends, church, job, God, finances, etc.

But really, I’m thankful for running.  This really long post is really what my life is about a lot of days.  Yes, I love to run.  I run lots of miles.  In fact, after today, my total for the year will be 2018 miles.  But it’s what motivates me that I’m thankful for.

Health motivates me of course, but Haiti is it.  People pay money for people to do stupid things, like run.  And I want to do those stupid things because I enjoy it.

MFM has use for money of course.  It’s a poverty-stricken country.  I don’t ask for money for my benefit, but I ask for money for those people in Haiti that I know can use it.  The Sandia’s who was just happy when I gave her a ball-point pen for school.  The Milan’s who called herself my sister at VBS this year, laughing, and then with a serious look asked me if I was taking her back home with me since she was my sister.  And for the Jean-Bofet’s, who live in the orphanage that MFM runs.  What does money bring?  It just brings the ability for God’s work to be done.  It makes their life easier.  It changes the life through others.  The missionaries there want to change life’s both spiritually and physically.  It just happens.  But, it doesn’t happen unless someone gives.  It doesn’t happen unless Christians give.

That’s what I want to motivate. I want to motivate those people who think, “Man, you’re stupid because you run so much…” to give.  It does so much. In fact, if there’s a specific way and area that you want to give…then I’ll make sure it gets done.  

But that’s why I run.  I run for them.

How Corrupt Are You?

Top 10 Most Corrupt Countries

Congratulations to Haiti for making it for another year.  Although, it seems to me that in the past when I’ve looked at these lists, Haiti has been higher on the list.  

We’ve always joked about this aspect, as horrible as it is, that “Voted 10th Most Corrupt Country Three Years In A Row” isn’t exactly something that you’d want put on your “Welcome to Haiti” sign.

I look at these things about corruption, and honestly, they don’t move me too much.  And for some reason, that really bothers me this morning.  I’m about a third of the way through Richard Stearns “A Hole in Our Gospel” and it’s really good. The fact that Christ has definitely called people to love God and love others is very apparent.  But I truly appreciate Stearns in saying that there is a third greatest command – to go and tell people this Gospel so there life too can be changed. How amazing is that?

Corruption is a human creation. Redemption is a gift of God. God can bring Haiti, or any country on that list out of the “corruption” statistics that they frequent. But, how do the people who are so “corrupt” find redemption? Only in Christ. 

I’ll admit, there are times when I’ve been in Haiti where I get sidetracked.  As I’ve mentioned before, there are groups that I’ve talked to who have gone down to Haiti and only focused on humanitarian efforts the entire time (and I have no problem with this…)  But we’ve talked to people, who have made it their sole focus as a Christian to only give clean water to the people, or to only give the people food.  Because of talking to those people, I’ve seen the very need of spreading the Gospel.  Thus, whenever I go into Haiti, I feel that sometimes I neglect the physical needs because I think I am more holy by just meeting the spiritual needs.

The truth is though, they must go hand in hand.  You must meet them both.  Sure, the spiritual needs are the ones that count in the long term.  The spiritual needs are commanded to be met.  That is the way that redemption happens – someone meets Jesus Christ and he redeems them from corruption.  But, what if I just give them the Gospel and don’t meet their physical needs?  What does that say to them about the love of Christ?  Meeting their physical needs could manifest itself in a number of ways: paying for a child to go to school, buying food, giving clothing, or maybe paying for gas for their car. 

Wait a second – pay for gas in their car?  Haitians don’t have cars!

Yeah…Americans, I’m all for supporting Haiti.  In fact, by the end of March, Lindsey and I hope to be completely out of debt, at which point, we plan to begin pouring regularly into a couple of different international ministries.  But, if we only see abroad, and we don’t see the people who drive through our town ever day, who have the same sort of corrupt, sinful, life that those on the top 10 list have, then I feel we have missed the point of the Gospel.

“Go into all the world” doesn’t automatically mean you have to jump the great ponds and go visit someone of a different race.  ”Go into all the world” means exactly what it says…hit the world.  Your world.  Your immediate world.  And, if the opportunity arises, hit someone else’s world.  But don’t leave the Gospel at home.  Take the Gospel with you.  But be reminded, the Gospel carries the love of Christ with it.

Corruption happens.  But Christ redeems.

Today’s Hero

I know I have very few readers – especially when I neglect to update because of numerous other important responsibilities, like reading, running, and doing nothing that’s productive.

It’s been a while since I did a Haiti’s Hero segment. Today is someone I’ve never met but has really inspired me over the past weekend and the weeks leading up to the weekend.

Nonetheless, some of you have read my blog and seen links to Tara Livesay’s family’s blog – they are missionaries to Port-au-Prince, and Tara is a insane person runner, too.

You gotta head over as she ran the Twin Cities Marathon this past weekend. After training in Haiti all summer (and that’s just dumb to me…) she came and ran in complete opposite conditions. 

This being “Run 4 Haiti” obviously has to include someone who literally ran for Haiti. 

There’s a medical peanut butter, grown in Haiti for malnourished children called Medika Mumba (if you go to Family Christian Bookstore, they’ll probably be able to tell you about it as the new Casting Crown’s album sends money for every pre-order to help with Medika Mumba.) I wish I knew Tara’s secret to running to raise money, because I fail greatly at the job where she has it down pat.  She raised….

$62,600!!!!!

Who cares about cramps?  Who cares about time?  Who cares about how the day goes at that point?

The kingdom of God was furthered by raising this money in order to have true religion – showing love to orphans and widows. 

Head over to her blog and read of her success. 

Hopefully some day on a trip to Haiti, I can finally meet a hero of the faith and running world and go for a jog.

Things Learned

I could type for hours about things I learned in Haiti.  I was only there a week, and I learned a lot, even this past week.  I can only imagine how much people who live there full time know and understand.  

Anyways, the power of God.  They understand.

The power of prayer.  They understand. 

The necessity for evangelism.  They understand.

The need for help – they understand.  But sometimes, I wonder, in the midst of all these things, how much Americans understand.

The first three, I could type for hours about the American church (including the one in which I work) and how most people are clueless when it comes to such facts.  But I want to focus on the need to help.  

In 2007, as I flew into Haiti, I wondered why I was there.  The filth and poverty was overwhelming.  But as I got to our compound in Saut d’Eau – 45 miles north, it hit me why.  There is a need.  There are people that must help.  But, the answer is not the typical American answer of “throw money at it.”  Instead, careful thought and consideration must be taken on how to help friends in Haiti.

Mountain Faith Mission is 100% evangelical efforts combined with 99.9% humanitarian efforts.  I say that to let people know that our mission is simply that – a mission work.  The first and foremost thing for MFM is to focus on evangelism of the local people.  But, combined with that, it’s there to help improve the life of the people in villages and churches that we work in.

Giving money to the people directly will not improve a lot of their life.  I mean, yes, it will improve it, but many times, seeing their need, I recognize the fact that there are so many things that need to be done.

Wednesday Update

This morning, I was reminded of two years ago.  I woke up on Wednesday morning with a stomach ache.  I spent a lot of time in the little boys room.  (If you read this, then you know me well now.)

This morning, SAME THING!  Except, it’s not as bad.  Feeling pretty decent right now.  Horrible headache, assuming from the lack of food.  Ready to get home, but loving every minute of being here.

Lots of new faces that I am meeting.  One of our churches is in Laboul.  One girl from there I remember from last year – named Lonez.  Remembering her means we meet the entire group.  They are awesome.  One girl, around 15 years old, officially declared herself my sister.  That always makes me laugh, because they think it’s so funny.

God is doing great things here.  Our classes are going wonderful.  Today I taught our teens.  They were receptive and asked good questions.  It was pretty cool.  I kinda got unwound a little bit.  I’m not a energetic teacher, but today, I got loud.  It was awesome feeling the spirit of God move through a simple class.

Anyways, we’re headed to the Saut d’Eau market right now.  Hoping to get some stuff for Lindsey as a souvenir or something.  Anyways, be praying for the sickness.

Most of all, pray for God’s hand to move amongst the people.

It’s Here

The next time I post, I will be in Haiti.

Nervous?  Not to go.  

Not super stoked about leaving my wife though.  First time and all, kinda nerve-wracking there.

Nonetheless, I covet prayers.

Marketing

I guess this subject has been on my mind lately.  I see a lot of promotional videos for missions, organizations, and the like.  Our mission is tiny in comparison to a lot of those.  An independent mission since 1948 won’t really ever grow to the size of Compassion and World Vision and whatnot.  

Yet, the need is the same.  

So, I leave in two days.  48 hours from now I think I’ll be boarding a plane in O’Hare to head for Miami.  The wheels are turning for ways to promote Mountain Faith Mission.  We’re tiny…but I know that people can and need to know of the NEED in Haiti.  

For all I care, they don’t have to support MFM, but just be aware of the need.  If they want to support through one of the many organizations in Haiti, that’s great.  My goal is to make people aware of the need. 

So, for now, the wheels are turning.  I am writing things down today and tomorrow of ideas needed within our mission.  I’ve got ideas for youth groups/churches to participate in in order to raise money.  

I’ve got ideas for promotion on our website in order for people to buy benches for our new church on the compound in Saut d’Eau.  

I’ve got ideas for videos. 

I’ve got ideas for pictures.

But, I don’t really know where to go from there.  It kinda stinks really.

Thus, I am venting and complaining here, not really knowing what to do about it, other than complain.  

So, I retire with this question:

How do you make people care about something beyond their four walls?

T-7 days

Leaving soon. 

Prepping hard.

Had a donation of 36 teddy bears from Family Christian Bookstore today.  Was checking out, and with the new Casting Crown’s CD they donate $xx.xx to Haiti.  I explained my upcoming trip and the dude offered some free bears.  Sweet!  Got three dozen to give to some of our kids in the orphanage.

Then, a new reader and I are meeting up on Tuesday.  Hopefully some more exciting news to come for that.

Just  back from a run – 7 miles – longest since June.  Feeling great now – we’ll see how that feels tomorrow.