I would have thought, going into sound for video that I would be started off working on some small project. You know, something that would introduce me gently to this whole video field. Well, one good and bad thing about being the only sound guy not working with a school is that you are the only sound guy available for projects. So my first project is doing sound for a couple of movies for a massive, multi-denominational congress coming to Cape Town in 2010. So my first experience in film will be going out to quite a few people. So let me just say that so far this is both intimidating and exciting to be a part of this.
As many of you know, I have spent the last 4 years or so studying audio and audio recording. It is an amazing blessing to be able to do this in a mission setting. Most of the first three weeks I was here I spent on a video shoot running sound. This past week and a half has consisted more of editing and helping students out here with voice overs for their student projects.
The project that has been taking most of my work time has been for the third Lausanne Congress. Its a massive multi-denominational congress focused on uniting the world church and figuring out how to reach the world, and focus on reaching the currently unreached. The last one of these was in 1989. Traditionally, I have never been a huge fan of large, Christian gatherings. I don't fully know why. I think it's that in many cases they just feel impersonal, over programmed, and well, unreal. That and I have seen so many occasions where people go to some conference, or retreat, or meeting, they discuss change, or get inspired... And nothing happens. They just go back to normal life until the next conference, retreat, or meeting.
This was a bit of my take on this whole congress originally. That was until we started doing interviews. We interviewed a lot of the key players for this thing and every one of them had this deep seated passion behind their voice. Every one of them is excited for this thing, and most of these people have been working in ministry for 30+ years. And after being in ministry that long and be anticipating God to do something that much, I am sure God is going to move.

You ever have those moments where God just reminds you of something?
I think sometimes when we feel God is distant, or haven't kept up on our time with God, we start praying and even thinking that God is distant. A few time in Psalms David asks God "Why have you hidden your face?" or "Why are you far off?"
We feel like that and get into this habit, in the back of our mind that God is distant.
Well I was praying the other night and this sort of just hit me. No words, but it was like God was saying " I am here too."
God is just as much right next to us as he is far off. Sometimes the only reason we are far from God is that we don't let him Get near us. God is just as near us when we feel the warm fuzzies (as they are sometimes referred) or when we feel nothing. God is Always near.

I think when we believe in a distant God he begins to feel less real. I think thats because we need a close God, one who knows us, and we know him.


Thank you all so much for supporting me, I hope you are all well. I pray that you all continue to grow close with God.


Prayer requests: That I can settle into a local church. I am also hoping to join a local ministry that focuses on helping people out, and really reaching the hurting and lost. Media is an amazing tool, but I think it is very clear that I need to reach people directly too.

God Bless,
~Jeff