Hey everyone, sorry I didnt update you sooner. Laura and I have our together bog at  www.coreyandlaurajacobs.myadventures.org

I won't be using this blog anymore. see ya at the over one :)

Do you want to help change the world forever ?  

    Let me tell you about an incredible opportunity to make a difference…

Still believing that the Lord wanted them to go, they re-doubled their fundraising efforts, expanded their prayer bases and waited for the June 2007 Race.   Finally, on June 6^th, they jumped on a plane and headed to Africa.   Since then, they have spent three months sharing the gospel in Africa.

I am writing to you because these three wonderful Racers are again in need of funds.   Sunday they flew to Thailand to start the Asia portion of their ministry, but they will soon have to come home unless they can collectively raise an additional $5,500 very soon.

To help them out, we are posting this message and inviting you to meet their financial needs.   Click here to make a donation to the World Race Ministry Fund.  Type "3 in Need" in the "for" line.     All money given to the fund between August 28 and September 17 will be equally divided between Christy, Brooke and Silas.  You may also link to any of their individual blogs (via the links below) and give directly to one or more of them.

Please help them stay on the field!   Your contribution may very well change the world forever.   Because of you, these three participants will be able to take the gospel throughout Asia and beyond!

For more information about Christy, Brooke and Silas, please see their links below.

     With many thanks,

       Hanna Miecznikowski   

     Hanna Miecznikowski
     World Race Support Coach

This is a blog from the Cooleys in Peru.

EARTHQUAKE REPORT—Becky, Kelsey and I have just returned from an all-day trip to Chincha, one of the three cities most affected by Peru's recent earthquake. There were two primary reasons for going: 1.) to connect with some pastors who we have partnered with on past mission projects and to bring them some emergency supplies (water, food, fuel, batteries, blankets and clothes); 2.) to assess first hand how Adventures In Missions can be most helpful in arranging emergency relief projects.

I'll let these photos do most of the communicating about the situation there, but I will add a few personal impressions. I would estimate that perhaps 60% of the buildings in Chincha have incurred serious damage. Many are completely destroyed. Given that almost no one has property insurance in Peru, this level of destruction is devastating to many thousands of households. I have read estimates that well over 100,000 persons have been seriously affected by this quake.

A new building that will clearly need to be torn down

The death toll now stands about midway between 500 and 600 persons. While we did not make it to Pisco today (we're hoping to do that soon), we heard from folks in Chincha that much of Pisco stinks with the smell of human dead. They are estimating that the remains of more than 100 persons have yet to be recovered in Pisco alone. It seems clear at this point that the final death toll will exceed 600 persons. It could have been worse—in 1970 there was a quake that killed over 70,000 persons. One entire city (Yungay) in the highlands was destroyed by a landslide. They didn't even attempt recovery. They simply covered it over and built a monument on top of it.

Today we spoke with families who lost their homes in this quake. We spoke with random individuals in the city center who were compelled to share with us how great the need is. I will admit to having a sense of helplessness in the face of such compelling and overwhelming need.

Family members surveying the rubble of their former home

One of the churches we visited in Chincha had most of their buildings destroyed—including the pastor's home and almost all of their classrooms. Pastor Desiderio told us that a few days ago he was ready to simply give up. It was through his quiet times and worship that his call to lead his church of about 80 adults was reaffirmed and he was encouraged to begin the process of rebuilding all they have lost. It is likely that AIM will initially focus its efforts helping Pastor Desi in Chincha. We have worked with him previously.

Let me mention to you all that AIM presently is offering four 10-day emergency relief trips to Peru in September and October on their website (www.adventures.org). These trips are open to individuals as well as locally-assembled groups. We will arrange the logistics for these trips and I (Robert) will most likely serve as Project leader on one or more of these trips. Whether the trips happen or not will depend on the response. We are praying that even though the time of year isn't great and the notice is short, that many persons will respond and that we can make a very tangible difference for the victims of this catastrophe.

A section of city street blocked off so that the residents of badly damaged homes might pitch tents where they can guard their remaining possessions.

For those of you who might be led to help financially, we have spoken to AIM about setting-up a special account for earthquake relief funds. We are hoping they will agree to do so and that the account will be operative very soon. The need is pressing.

In closing, I would ask you to pray. Specifically, you can pray for the many who have lost loved-ones and the much larger number of those who have had their homes destroyed or badly damaged. I believe there is a huge Kingdom opportunity included in these awful circumstances. Pray that it is not missed. Pray that God's people will respond with compassion and generosity. And finally, I encourage you to ask God what He would have you do personally.

We will keep you apprised.

In Him and for Him,

Robert, Becky and Kelsey

P.S. More photos (with extended captions) follow…

Here, at about 8:00 a.m. (having driven for almost three This is what we saw as we drove into Chincha we are about 15 minutes outside of Chincha. You can see the temporary repairs in the road. Most of the traffic en route was large trucks hauling supplies.

When we got into town we stopped for breakfast. We sat by a large group of relief workers from World Vision. Behind them, outside, you can see a long line of people waiting for government assistance.

Government troops stand guard over a truck delivering relief provisions. Earlier, relief trucks had been besieged by desperate victims of the earthquake.
Delivering emergency supplies to our ministry partner, P astor Desiderio in Chincha.

Last Saturday and Sunday nine of us had an experience we won't easily forget. My knees ached by the 9^th hour of the hike, the second hour of descending, and shot pain through my leg as the 11^th hour elapsed and while I hobbled to catch the rest of the group. Due to the sun already setting camp was set up in a rush...as much as a rush as soar bodies can make. We had marched up and over the tropical terrain since 7am. During the hike everry hour past without much haste yet they seemed to disappear vapor quick, like the clouds that had been in the sky only a few minutes ago, protecting my neck from being scorched. Some were spent talking about random things, other hours I barely had a phrase to add in. A

At every beautiful lookout where we could see over miles and miles of earth, someone would say "this is beautiful". You kinda expect that type of talk on a trip through mountains on a tropical island. Palm trees, winding rivers that were refreshingly clear.Yet the higher we went the less tropical the vegetation was.
Pinecones laid on the trial, the trees they fell from were the only trees in sight. The smell of a pine forest induced memories of a childhood at camps. "How many years had it been since I was at LLCamp? I wonder what happened to those other guys I shared my summers with. What were their names again? Who was it that always beat me at carpet ball...this is crazy! I am in the DR! God I never thought you would take me here. Again, you prove that your ways are so much better than anything I can think up, and how did you know that I would like living in other cultures anyway? I guess that's more proof that you created me." Being in that beautifull place that proved creation was just that and not an accident of some sort, I couldn't but talk to God aloud. He was there next to me.

The hike refelected my journey. It especially spoke to me about me time while here. My future is not here but somewhere else, a very blessed and exciting future to be exact! "Can't I just leave and enjoy my new life?" To get over myself and "my rights" is continual. To think I have the right to be in a place by my choosing and nothing else is worng if I have truly given my life to serve God. To not yield to God after I told Him "My life is for You! Use me however you want!" makes me a liar.

But like he was walking with me on the mountains, so He walks with me on my journey. This most never be lost in the back of my mind while worries and anxious thoughts take front stage.Also, like I was surrounded with my team mates, I am surrounded by people who serve me, challange me, love me...the body, the church in the true meaning of the word church. This life is a community event.

Guachupita

For those of you who have not heard my stories that describe Guachupita, let me say; it is a sort of ghetto. The poorest of the poor in San Juan live here. There physical conditions are comparable to most of their spiritual and emotional state. In '98, hurricane George killed nearly 300 people that didn't evacuate in time. Because the area was completely destroyed many moved to the houses the government built for the residents who evacuated in time, yet some decided to go back and rebuild.

Our hope and passion for the people of Guachupita continues to grow as we see the Lord doing a work in hearts.

Last Thursday night we had our second house church meeting; eight adults attended. The week before their were 3, the three that live in the house where we meet. A few weeks ago, we prayed for Francisco's (right) toothache, when we saw him the next day we asked him how it felt and he said, "God healed it! He is a big God!" throwing his hands up in the air with a big smile on his face. The Lord has been stirring in the hearts of a few, like Francisco's; and we are excited to see how they respond to this personal and alive version of God.

We are greatly encouraged as other see and feel the Lord Almighty!