Camp!.....

Friday was the last day of camp,  it gave us the opportunity to build relationships with the kids and parents at a faster pace than if they were built from seeing them on Wednesdays and then sporadically throughout the week.  This way we were able to show them that we really do care about them and that they are the #1 reason we are in Albania!

Without taking into consideration that the girls almost burnt down our house I would say we are all doing great!  The major holiday for the Roma-Gypsies is New Years; they have parties and compete by blasting their music louder than any other house!  We are all going over to Clement and Fiona's for New Years and then will  return  home to visit Albania families on New Years Day!  Keep us in your prayers as we are still recovering from the cold that has been going around. 

Until next time, 

-Jordan

P.S.  I would love to hear more about what you are going through! Email me, jordannickel77@yahoo.com!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hello!
Albania is beautiful! I will post another album or two with pictures of Elbasan, Albania asap; in the meantime, Google "Elbasan, Albania".   The house we live in is in the Roma-Gypsy community, it has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and a kitchen with a wood stove.  It's very nice, I am extremely satisfied with our living situation.  Within a few days after arriving in Albania I caught a cold and then passed it on to Crystal Waterhouse I believe...:) Now 8 of the 10 of us have colds! One of the great memories I have from having a cold are when Gareth and I were describing our symptoms. I said, "my nose is running faster than a horse at a Kentucky Derby! Then Gareth said "Oh yeah? My nose gets clogged faster than an Albanian Toilet!" (Albanian plumbing is so small that if you flush toilet paper it clogs...)    ........Yup! You read that right! We get to keep our TP in a trash can! Lol   We have also adjusted to the water schedule fairly well, it only comes on three times a day, morning, noon and night. We are having a camp for the Roma kids this week, today I was the puppeteer and my arms were completely dead after singing and talking for 8min! The camp starts at 10am and ends at 12; we have worship, puppets, a message, crafts and games!

I have to run now, I will post again ASAP!!



-Jordan!

Outreach!!

Hello, (I wrote this the night before we left for Albania on Dec 16th, I didn't have time to finish it.)
       We are staying at the Pentacostal City Mission Church in NW London, we landed at 5:55am on Tuesday, waited for our guide who is also a YWAMER and then continued to travel for another 2hrs on trains! Immediately after eating some food we all went into lullaby land for a few hours.  When we came back we walked down to a grocery store and replenished our arsenal of food.  Wednesday the Barbadians   left for the Embassy and we (Austin, Crystal, Zack, Chrystle, Gareth and myself) departed on a mission to obtain signatures from locals that are in support of a new primary school.  We went to other primary schools when they were starting and ending and stood outside the gates and asking for signatures. One of the guys went up to a teacher and asked if they would like to sign, he said "no, but there is a someone inside that you should talk to."  To make a long story even shorter they ended up talking to the headmaster who wanted to know why they wanted to take her job away from her! In the end they four of them were escorted of the premises of the school.
      Yesterday we went sightseeing, we saw the London Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and much much more! Today we helped decorate for a Christmas party, it started at 7pm and we just finished cleaning up an hour ago.  There were about 30 kids, each of us sat at different tables and talked with all the kids.  I sat at one with 4 boys and they were fun! First of I started to show them my moves with a Tech-Deck (A mini skateboard for fingers) They laughed at my wicked awesome moves and told me the proper word for soda! It was fun, the kid that I connected with most is named Samuel. He was very sad that I was leaving and he would not see me again, I told him that God can bring us back together again! I pray God does; it would be awesome to meet Samuel again sometime later in life.

We are in Albania now working with the Roma-Gypsies! It is an eye-opening experience seeing how they live day in and day out.  I believe God put us here for a specific purpose and I am excited to fully see what that is in the near future!
Keep praying for our health and safety here in Albania, I am just getting over a cold that I picked up a few days after arriving in Albania. It has been a time where I have had more time to think, pray and read. Although it has been a good time I am ready to be healthy again!

Thanks for your prayers and support! I will post about what is going on here in Albania in a few days!




MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

-Jordan  

Completion of the Lecture Phase and Departure for London!

Only 3hrs until I take-off from Barbados! It has been a place where I marveled at the beauty of God's creation; I learned to listen to His voice and heard about where God is going to take me!
Yesterday marked the last free day in Barbados; we decided to spend it at Browns Beach playing volleyball and swimming! Saturday was the Christmas Party, there were around 120 children and parents; we played games, ate food, played more games, and ate more food!
     
         We are leaving for the airport in minutes, our 8hr flight leaves at 5:50 and arrives in London at 5:55AM.  We will be staying at a church in London for 4 days while the Barbadians obtain their visas.  Be praying for our safety as we travel! We are very excited for what is to come and what God has in store for us in Albania!  Austin and I are still in need of $600 dollars to purchase our return flight tickets. Please continue to spread the word of our financial need! Thank you all for your generous support!


God Bless,
Jordan & Austin




P.S.
I will post updates whenever I have access to the Internet 
   

Chocolate & Slavery

       Today is the beginning of the end of the lecture phase, two days left of packing, Christmas parties,  support raising and beach volleyball!  The past three months have been AMAZING  to say the least! 12 weeks in all and every week has had a different focus! I have learned and grown so much in my relationship with God as well as the way I view the world.  My paradigm has shifted, changed and re-formed for and toward the Kingdom! I'm not sure what God's plan is for my life following this DTS, I just know that it is pre-ordained and in the end I will prosper.  (Jeremiah 29:11)         
       In July of 2011 my brother Austin and I began our YWAM journey with a financial need of $14,000.  During the past 5 months we have walked in both faith and trust believing that God will provide for our financial needs. First off I will say that this journey has not been  "a walk in the park", contrarily it has been a mountainous journey. From walking uphill to walking downhill, and from strenuous climbing to prairie walking. At times it seemed there was no hope, as if our financial support was just gone; although during those times we realized our need to focus on God and how He provides instead of our financial needs. From the beginning we knew the only way to raise the $14,000 was to work as hard as we could both in physical labor as well as contacting others and seeking financial support.
       Exactly eight days ago (Dec 1st) Austin and I were in need of $2,300! Now just eight days later we are  in need of $1,080; $380 for our outreach to Albania and $700 for our return flight.  I would like to thank you, not only your financial support but also and more importantly your prayer support! With prayer all things are possible; and through prayer Austin and I have had a life changing and paradigm shifting experience during this lecture phase.  Our speakers were from all over the world, Germany, Barbaods, Haiti, St. Lucia, Canada, The United States and and China.
       Please keep us in your prayers and send me your prayer requests at jordannickel77@yahoo.com;  I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to pray to God in your area of need.




Thanks again for your financial and prayer support,
May the Holy Spirit be with you always,
-Jordan & Austin


P.S. Click this link and watch this video on Chocolate & Slavery!

Praise the LORD!!!

Before our weekly outreach meeting (which was on Dec 1st), Austin and I were still in need $2,000.  Toward the end of the meeting we had a time of giving, during that time other students and staff heard God asking them to give us financial gifts.  We received a total of $1,000!!! Praise the LORD!!!  We now in need of $1,000;  we know God is in control and He will provide every last penny required to continue on to Albania as well as buy plane tickets to return home! Please continue to pray, believe and support us in our mission to Albania!



Keep Believing In Faith!
-Jordan