Don't mess with a missionary man.

First and foremost, I want to say, "THERE IS NO WAY, WITH ALL THE TIME AND SPACE AVAILABLE, THAT I COULD TELL THE WHOLE STORY OF JEFF CASH." Having said that, I'd like to try. Just kidding. Jeff is a long time friend and a missionary in Fort Portal, Uganda. It is Jeff who has helped organizes the many trip for americans to serve at Faith Quest teen camp in Uganda. He has been serving in Uganda for over 10 years and the stories he tells make my life look like a bad novel. Sissy slap Monkey fights, gourmet "pressed head", AK-47's, rebellions, babies, witches, curses, fires, plane crashes, stranded, dredging dead bodies from mucky waters, snakes, COBRA'S, poisonous centipedes, children's hospitals, betrayal, threats, broken bones, riots, theft, machet, viruses, soldiers, orphans, hunger, refugee camps, LRA, ADF, muzungoo, teaching, prayer, faith, love. Believe me the list goes on and on. Many will die having never lived... not Jeff. Jeff embraces life. ALL OF IT. When Jesus said, he came that we might have life and have it abundantly, Jeff believed it. Jeff is also a man who trusts God. For good and in the bad. Jeff doesn't believe in God only because good things happen, no he has seen God's mighty hand in the lives of the world. Where there are people who are helpless and harassed, Jeff is there because God is there. I would also add, that Jeff is the man he is because God gave him a wonderful wife, Cheryl. If he is a great man, it's because he had an incredible wife. Jeff lives how most men want, adventurous. Diving into Gods work is to be what we were created for. That doesn't have to be in Africa or India, it could be where you are standing and making decisions that will allow you to live your life to the fullest. Jeff has taken the "step" of faith and has found a place, that for him, where he can only survive if he trust God. Now what might that look like for you? What does it look like to me? I have thought that my life was boring, it's not. Jeff helps me see that each of us has a story that is God breathed, we just have to take notice of it. I'm thankful for all the wisdom he has given and how he continues to be faithful to where God has called him. peace. johno~

Eric

I struggled with this picture... Backs of heads, more than one person in the shot. Does this qualify as a POTW shot. Then I thought... my project, my rules, my final decision. ERIC. Eric is a native American who lives and works in Tuba City. He is a boarding school teacher for the Navajo children in his town. Eric is one of those guys who has the gift of story telling. It would be great to pen all the words of the time he tried running away from his grand mother who, while riding a horse bareback, "roped" him as a form of discipline, but I'm afraid I would leave out the best details. It was a great story. Eric has a love for his culture, his people and his Lord. He spent many hours giving and never asking for anything in return. He just served. He watched and listened to us. He wanted to know us and our stories. I wondered where he got the energy to keep up. Early in the morning till late at night he was there. He plans to marry in a few short days. A young man who has overcome the oppression of the past with the love and forgiveness of the ages. He is a mighty warrior peace. johno~

Navajo Preacher Man

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" This has always been a challenging scripture for me. Send me. What if I don't like it? Why not send someone else? Why send me anyway? I'm not sure if this is why I never ended up a missionary to a foreign land... I ask to many questions. Yet, Paul Ghee has been a missionary in Tuba City, AZ for 30 years. In the desert. With hot summers. With sand storms. With thunder and lightening storms. Snakes. Spiders... BIG SPIDERS. Scorpions and red dirt that finds it's way into EVERYTHING. OK, I might not be at the top of the list for this type of work, but then again... Paul and his wife Ann have been serving the Navajo nation for 30 years as missionaries in Tuba City. His work is not the largest and it's not the best, but it's honest and full of Jesus. He meets these people where they are at. He's not a Crusader who rushes in to convert souls and force them to act this way or die. (anyone affected by the crusades... my apologies for the destructive thing done in the name which brought peace) Paul teaches Christ in the native tradition. The Great Creator has a name. I must say this is hard for me to understand, because it is a cultural thing. I'm not native american, but Paul doesn't expect me to be. He takes me where I am. He gives insight to this northwest boy about how important our work is and that it's building trust from a people who were mistreated by the white man not so long ago. Peace, love and forgiveness forefront in his life. A testament to his faithfulness. I can't think of any better way to do missions. It's Christ like. Go to where the people are... listen to them. Tell them the Kingdom of God is near and serve them. I want to serve. peace. johno~