Who's Under The Roof?

God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Psalms 9:18

I’m running the Jungle Marathon to provide a roof, and more importantly hope, for kids like Emma Tembo. Emma’s father died when she was still a toddler, leaving her mother emotionally and financially devastated. Her mother soon entered into an abusive relationship with another man and was forced to resort to work as a prostitute. In the absence of any semblance of a parental structure, Emma was forced to quickly abandon the innocence of childhood to become a parent to her younger siblings. When her younger brother died in her arms due to malnutrition and illness, it was Emma who took the blame. When her mother was gone at night, it was Emma who became the target of her abusive step-father. Emma found hope in 2008 when she was welcomed into a new home at Family Legacy’s Tree of Life village, where she was reunited with her step-sisters. Finally given the opportunity to be a child, Emma has become involved in a girls’ choir. It is my dream to have those voices ring from the walls and roof of a new home, where children like Emma and her sisters can grow up happy, healthy and loved. Please consider supporting this goal by making a donation at the following link:

http://www.treeoflife.org/runforaroof

SKY 30+10

The pack I'll use in Brazil arrived yesterday - the Salomon SKY 30+10. It weighs a mere two pounds and will be what I will carry all I need for the week - all food, hammock and cover, any extra clothes/shoes, and most importantly, the water bladder. The race organizers only provide water along the way - you must carry everything else you need for the week. I'll also carry a waterproof or "dry' bag. There are multiple water (river) crossings during the race. I'll take the pack off and place it in the drybag for the water crossings to keep my items as dry as possible for as long as possible.

Stay tuned for more posts on gear, the race legs, and more Family Legacy children - the reason I'm doing this event.

Jungle Marathon Itinerary

I've been receiving a lot of questions around the itinerary of the race. Here is the itinerary (as it stands now) for the event. I am told I will be allowed to e-mail once a day. If so, I'll update everyone daily on the day's adventures.

October 6th 2011

Arrival in Santarem

Transfer to boats at Alter do Chao.
Install you hammock and relax.
Departure for overnight sail to Jungle base camp at 2330hrs.
(Boats will be available for boarding from 1500hrs)

October 7th 2011

1200hrs Arrival at Itapuama

1300hrs -1400hrs lunch.
(Please note all competitors are required to be self-sufficient from their arrival in Brazil. Hot water will be provided on the boat and at the base camp/ and campsites throughout the race.)

1430hrs Welcome briefing

1500hrs- 1700hrs Kit check

1800hrs-1930hrs Dinner

1930hrs cultural dance show

October 8th 2011

0700hrs-0800hrs Breakfast
0830hrs medical briefing by medical director

0900hrs Medical checks

1100hrs jungle training

1200hrs-1330hrs lunch

1330hrs-1700hrs jungle training

1800hrs-1900hrs Dinner

1900hrs race briefing for stage one. Excess kit transferred to boat

October 9th 2011
Stage 1

October 10th 2011
Stage 2

October 11th 2011
Stage 3

October 12th 2011
Stage 4 end of 100km race

October 13th- October 14th 2011
Stage 5- non stop overnight stage

October 15th 2011
Final stage.
Finish of 200km race at Alter do Chao.
1200hrs-1600hrs Arrivals lunch.
1500hrs Transfer to hotel.
1900hrs Prize giving and finish party.
Overnight in a local hotel

October 16th 2011
Departure from Santarem

STAGE DISTANCES TO FOLLOW IN NEXT BLOG!

One Hot Adventure Race

My friend and coworker (Brent) and I took on the Spread Your Wings Adventure Race in Rock Springs, Texas yesterday (Saturday.) We assumed his mountain biking skills and my trail running would make a good team. We were partially right. What we had not expected was the 100 degree heat. It was brutal. With that said, we thoroughly enjoyed the course and events. We ran, kayaked, mountain biked, swam, rode a zipline, ended up in a cave, shot targets with a rifle, and engaged in other assorted adventures. Results aren't yet posted, but we were told we finished 9th out of 29 teams in the Sprint division. Not bad for two old (me) men. We're hooked and are looking forward to a Terra Firma event in the near future. We did the 6 hour event here and will be looking forward to the 12 or 18 hour event next year. Main point is that it was a great training event for the Jungle Marathon, and although the heat was brutal, that's what I need to prepare for the jungle temperatures. Stay tuned. A 10k mud run next weekend and more information on the kids we're doing all this for coming soon.

Who's Under The Roof?

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?—John 14:2

As I’ve documented in my prior blogs, I’ve been lead to venture my safety and sanity in the Jungle Marathon to raise enough money for Family Legacy Missions to build a house for orphans in Zambia. In the weeks to come, I’d like you to know something about the kids who will grow up under this roof.

For example, I’d like you to meet Chanda. He is an 11 year old orphan, whose parents and older brothers were all killed by the ritualistic practices of his Grandfather, a tribal shaman. Left in the care of an uncle, Chanda was regularly beaten, abused and undernourished. When he was sick, he went untreated. When he was tired, he had to serve as a pillow for others. When he was hungry, he had to travel miles away to beg for food in the first village of any size.

Eventually, he came, bearing the scars of abuse, illness and hunger, to Family Legacy Mission’s Tree of Life Children’s Village. There, he has had the opportunity to find health, sustenance, education and dignity. He particularly enjoys the responsibility of serving as an usher in Church. As far as he’s come, he still needs a permanent home for him, and other deserving orphans, to live, learn and grow up. Kids like Chanda are why I’m running, the Jungle Marathon, and why I’d like you to consider making a charitable donation toward this cause at

http://www.treeoflife.org/runforaroof

You're Not Listening

Has God ever whispered in your ear before? At first I just ignored it. God spoke louder. Then I explained it away. God came back. He thumped me on the head and spoke even louder. Finally, I listened. Finally, I got it.

I’ve always believed in the importance of giving to others and I have participated in giving my time and money to charities in the past. But I kept getting the sense that God wanted me to do something bigger. I went to my friend Chris and told him I was feeling that God wanted me to give in a more meaningful way. He then turned to his computer and showed me a draft of an email that was addressed to me. Chris had written the email the week before but he decided not to send it until he thought about it some more. To my surprise, Chris’ email said that God was telling him that he should encourage me to do something in Africa through Family Legacy Missions. Both Chris and I were a little stunned about this. In the same time frame God was telling me how big He was. I kept hearing the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.(Matthew 14: 13-21). I heard it in a sermon at church; I heard it on television; I heard it on the radio; I opened my Bible to, what else, the feeding of the five thousand! I asked Chris what was happening. He said God was talking to me. Well what’s he saying? I don’t know, He’ll tell you. How will I know what He is telling me to do? He’s God. He’ll tell you. Just keep listening. Frustrating and weird, but I kept listening. At first I thought God wanted me to go Africa with Family Legacy this summer and minister to the Zambian orphans. I explored that idea, but God said, “No, think bigger Fred. I am big! Not just a few kids, a lot of kids. Not just a week, a lifetime. ” However, the message was starting to come together. For a long time I’d been thinking of running this crazy 220 kilometer marathon through the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest. But that requires incredible motivation. I needed a purpose to keep me going on that kind of endeavor. I talked to Chris. He suggested I sponsor a Zambian orphan. I said no, it has to be bigger. God is telling me big. Chris, said build a house in Zambia for the orphans. The light came on. The purpose of my run will be to build a house in Family Legacy’s Tree of Life Village. God I hear you!

Next week I will tell you about the kids that will live in this house, how their lives will change, and how we're going to make this happen. Stay tuned!