It is fair, that they don't understand my words. 

It isn't fair that they aren't able to go to school. 

It isn't fair the only book they have been taught to read is the Koran. 

It isn't fair that they stoled my heart. 

Just seven young boys, shooting at birds and lizards with slingshots looking for their next meal. 

It isn't fair that a twelve year old is responsible for 6 younger friends and brothers. 

It isn't fair that when they asked me what i was reading, and my answer didn't make sense to them.

It isn't fair that i have what i have. 

It isn't fair that I cant switch lives with all seven of them. 

They don't know what I have, other than white skin. 

They had pockets filled with rocks and a rubber band in hopes of having a bird.

They don't know what they need. 

It isn't fair that i have a heart that cares, and a mouth and brain that wont always connect. 

God is fair, He is faithful, and He is sovereign.

Father my prayer is for those boys, natural leaders at the birth of their younger brothers, smiles ear to ear, and freedom… Come down on them and use them, because on days like this I feel useless. 

"But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing."

-1 Chronicles 21:24

"For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, consume them in wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob." (Psalms 59:12-13) These are the words of David, this rule applies to David. David was caught in his pride, he numbered his fighting men, even though he knew that God would consume with wrath those who took pride in things of this world. Joab knew this, but David was set on getting a number. The sad thing is that number never mattered. At one point David's number was 600 hundred and the Lord was with him… At one point his number was 1 and the Lord was with him. The fact that his number was now 1,100,000 men  plus God, was no different from David being an army of 1 plus God. So God gave him the option of how the judgement was to be played out, David picked God to judge since he knew God was a merciful God. But this judgement was only taken out physically on the people of Israel. So when it comes to sacrifice David wanted to pay the full price. Because he never paid for his sin, the people did. 

Because of my pride and sin how many people's lifes have I effected? If i was to see a third of the people in my nation die, because of me would i never forget to give God from the deepest parts of me? Or what if one man died because of my sins… to give me life? Would i never forget to give to God from the deepest part of me? I have no application… because this is too simple of an answer. But I always forget.

Happy birthday Tanner :D

Update at the Airport hotel (only place to get a signal)

today we did some outreach ministries/Medical needs to these islands out on lake victoria. it was pretty surreal. some of the people had never been off the island and it was very small with maybe 150 people living on it. it was a ghetto in the literal sense. really really sad to see, but i made some relationships with the people there... very kind, good hearted people. 

and this past week i have just been hanging out with the kids, and helping the women with the dishes... they called me african already ha. im loving it out here. 

our house is pretty great, but we had a storm last night that broke one of the windows. I love it here. 

and the lake is as hot as a bath tub.  

Sitting in Seattle

waiting to get to Uganda!

Job walked with Him

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

-Psalms 23:4

When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we have two options. We can walk through it alone, because no one wants to go along on that ride. Or we can walk through it with God. Job could have listened to his wife when she said, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:10). Or his three friends who told him, "Hey your kids were living in sin, thats why they died… you must have sinned as well, just admit it." 

But in the social solitude Job stays faithful to God and did not sin. While the whole world that we know dies, and abandons us… I want to be like Job and continue to walk with God. Perhaps God wont always comfort me with His rod and His staff… But He will send me broken pots to scrape my wounds. "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10). 

Today, I will finish the book of Job, just as a reminder to myself that nothing in Uganda can shake me from my walk with the Lord, because He will be with me the entire time. "I will fear no evil."

Susa to Jerusalem

"he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

-Psalms 23:3

No matter how tangled I make my life, No matter how far I run from His loving hand. He is just one genuine prayer away from me. He restores my soul, from the mess that I make it. From there He is able to lead me in paths of righteousness, for His Kingdom. I cant help but be reminded of Jews who came back from the Babylonian exile in 586 bc. The Jews ran from God for so many years, so He sent them off for 70 years, and when they came back He started to restore them as a people. Allowing Zerubbabel, King Cyrus, and King Darius to help rebuild the Temple, and Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. And giving them the Minor Prophets to keep the people on track in the path of righteousness. Even the items in the temple were kept safe during the captivity, and restored at the end. God is faithful in His Word. 

It is sad because I read the stories and they came to life in me. But I still find myself being taken back to captivity in Babylon. Than allowing the whole process to start over. At this very moment God wants to restore me… But first I have to walk from Susa to Jerusalem, so that God can rebuild His temple in me. 

We Like Sheep

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quite waters,"

-Psalms 23:1-2

God takes care of my every need. I have nothing to be in want of. He allows me to get rest (green pastures), and He restores me with life (water).

All I need to do is be an obedient follower, willing to follow where God directs me, just like a sheep. Today, I'm going to read a bit of Isaiah and than take a nap.

Your silence speaks to me

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower ad bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 

-Isaiah 55:10-11

Coming to the end of my time in training. Going through the Word each day, this verse is so powerful in my mind, I am at a lose for words. 

Today I'm going to take a walk and spend time listening to the silences of the theoretical "snow and the rain falling." 

I am loved, I am blessed, and I am so grateful!

Many people are happy being a big fish in a little pond. That is what its like when we stay in our own world. When we are secure in what we do every day, so we become the Big man in town. No room for true growth.

Many people are afraid to be the zooplankton in the ocean. But with God, I feel like i have that room to grow, being the smallest thing out there with the opportunity to become something huge to glorify Him. I was just out pulling a beaver dam out tonight, this beaver will block off the flow of the river within one night, causing the road to flood. It is an amazing creature.  Anyway I looked up, and right above me is the milky way in all its glory. I am only a man in all of  God's creation, with all the room in the universe to grow!

Im so glad God pulled me out of my little pond and showed me how small i really am, and how i need Him to take me through this life if i have any hope of getting through it. Funny thing is He loves me, AND HE IS SENDING ME TO ENTEBBE, UGANDA IN A WEEK TO WORK! AND PLAY WITH KIDS! Im so encouraged by everyone at home, getting my back in the work God has called me to. May God continue to Bless us so that we can Bless others all around the world! 

"brevity is the soul of wit"

Get Stretched

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

-Isaiah 55:9

I have nothing for this one, so I just opened my Bible. The first thing I saw was, "He took up our infirmities, and carried our diseases." (matt 8:16). Seeing how I am the one causing myself harm, and Jesus Christ is my healer and Savior. It's almost like our ways are the complete opposite. I want to be on His team, but I'm one of those guys, that the other teams says, "Hey Jacob your the best player on our team." This is frustrating, so today I'm going to spend time in prayer. I'm pretty sure I know what God wants me to do…. but its hard getting branches removed. 

Finite

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."

-Isaiah 55.8

Life starts moving so fast, I start thinking i have all the answers. So many books, so much life experience, and still I am a finite being. God must smile when He sees me stressing out, He knows I try to be all I can, but all I can, can not be compared to what God is. 

Today, I will think my own thoughts, knowing that is what I am doing. I will take 20 minutes to sit quietly listening to the world God created. 

Aint no rest for the wicked

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."

-Isaiah 55:7

Praise God! Some of the things I did before, I thank God that He has mercy for me, and has pardoned me. 

There is still work to do on my heart, I have submitted my actions fully to Christ. But it is my heart and mind that still has evil thoughts and desires. I hand it over to God, but its like its in the transition between our hands… I am saying that i want Him to take it from me… but i just haven't let go with my hand. I will fast once a week and pray for God to take my evil thoughts, and replace them with those that are glorifying to Him. 

Just before Uganda

Dear friends,

As I wrap up schooling in Montana, and prepare for Uganda. I want to let everyone back home know that through this work God has called me to, He has broke me down and rebuilt me as a better man after Him. Visiting with Pastor Craig Linguist on his last visit, I am very blessed to help him in uganda. Some of my roles will be:

1. Island outreach programs. Where we will be spending a day and a night on Lake Victoria Islands, reaching out to the people there. 

2. Children's Programs at Calvary Chapel Entebbe Uganda on Wednesday's and sunday's. Also homework assistants Programs throughout the week.

3. After 90 days we have to leave the country due to visa laws. So we will be helping a ministry in Nairobi Kenya. Pastor Moses and Pastor George are 2 nationals serving there via Crossroads Bible Church up in Portland, WA.

4. We will be returning to Entebbe after 3 weeks of Kenya to further help Pastor Craig.

I am very blessed to be a part of calvary chapel and Potter's Field Ministries efforts to encourage the fellow church in Africa. But as many of you know I answered the call to God's work on a very short notice. Not having time to get all my affairs in order. God allowed me to sale my car 4 days before I left. That money has helped me buy the plane tickets to get to montana, Africa, and to get back home, but I am short on living expenses by approximately $1,500. I know God is sovereign and He will provide. Also I am part of a team that sends people to those in need, they are called Potter's Field Ministries. Which is a program overseen by Pastor Michael Rozzell, who many of you have seen his presentation of the Word and pottery. If you find it in your heart to help, you are giving to a great group of people after God's heart. I tell you this for a few reasons. The harvest is great and this program needs more workers for God, and also we need constant prayer. I hope to be in your prayers, Please share what God is doing throughout this program with anyone looking to help support us in fiances, prayer, and the worriers.

Your Brother in Christ

Jacob.

If you can help please write a check to:

"Potter's Field Ranch"
with a note that says ‎Attn: Missions Training School (for Jacob Sanchez).
P.O. Box 68
Olney, MT 59927

If you have any questions call:
1.877.337.2624

Even when i get lost, God finds me like no one else can.

(upper stillwater wilderness).

Shake Them

"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near."

-Isaiah 55:6

All to often we put confidence in tomorrow when we aren't promised today. All to often I hear my friends talk about the Salvation they can have in Jesus Christ today,  as if it will be available to them tomorrow. It scares me to think, that the urgency to rent a movie is far more than the worlds urgency to find Salvation. The Lord is near. 

For my application, I have several friends and my entire extended family, who know the truth, who know that Im living what i believe. Sometimes I think, why has the Holy Spirit not touched them yet? Sometimes I think that I have to die doing what God has for me, in order to shake them a bit. But until my father takes me home, I will continue to grow in patients, love, and the word. I will shake them by living even harder for what i believe in. "To me to die is gain, and to live is Christ." 

Doing the dishes

"Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink"?

-Luke 17:8

I feel like this was my heart speaking to my mom back at home. Yes, I never had to cook. I never had to do my own laundry. I was spoiled. When I go home to my family, I'll do the laundry, now that I know how. I will cook, all the things I kill and bring home. I'll do the dishes. I don't have a servant, I am a servant and I will not be mistaken as anything else. 

Covered in His blood

"So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" 

-Luke 17:10

"Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). A day of judgment is coming. Where the good, and the evil deeds in our life will be revealed. The way i see this verse is, when God tells me all the evil i have ever done, and the judgement of death comes on me, i will say, "I am an unworthy servant." 

But that isn't the end, Jesus Christ will come in and say, "You were bought with my blood, you feared God in Love, and I love you... well done good and faithful servant. Come home, where you belong." 

Today, I will give thanks to Jesus Christ in prayer for loving me, and choosing me to live with Him in a life everlasting. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139:23-24).

For the Kingdom, and no one else

"Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?"

-Luke 17:9

I really cant imagine what the master's view point would be. But working with kids for 5 years, I noticed the behaviors of the kids. When I had a kid who was looking for my praise… i didn't give it to him, because I would be conditioning him to only do his work when i was around. However, when i saw kids busting out their homework, helping teachers clean, and anything else worth praise. I would often thank them at the end of the day. Not because their work was done for my approval, but because I wanted to encourage them. 

So for me, I want to get into mindset of, everything is done for Christ because I love Him. Not for someone to see me doing something and saying thank you… Like I did it for them. Because I didn't, I did it for Christ. I usually tell them that too, Its sort of an awkward conversation, because I kind of shut the person down… but I'm serving the King, and no one else and they need to know that. 

My application is to continue to go into a job with the mindset that this is being done for Christ and no one else.