The Henn family is grateful for the concern expressed for their two sons, Nathan and Kyle. We are devastated by the loss of Nate in the terrorist attack in Uganda, and the pain is immense. We are blessed that by the grace of God we did not lose our second son, Kyle, when the plane bringing him to be with our family crashed Monday. Our prayers and wishes go out to the men that died and were injured in providing help to our family.

Nathan’s death shocked and hit us hard. A parent is not designed to lose a child. It is important to us that we make clear Nathan’s purpose in being in Uganda at that time. We could not be more proud of our son and brother, and of the man that he was and the life that he lived. He died doing the ministry that brought him the most joy, following Christ to reach and help the children of Northern Uganda.

Nate’s legacy is the pursuit of peace and a future for the children of Uganda and the Congo. His hard work at Invisible Children was integral in the passing of a landmark bill that provides support to rescue the child soldiers caught in Joseph Kony’s war. The bill, the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Recovery Act, was signed into law in the second week of May. The law calls for Obama to create a plan of action within 180 days of it being signed that ensures that the leader, Joseph Kony, is responsibly apprehended and that the focus is put on recovering and rebuilding in Northern Uganda. After working selflessly to serve the people of Northern Uganda for the past year and a half, Nathan finally got the chance to go see it for himself.

On his Facebook status posted on the day of his death he wrote that “he has never had a happier time in his life.” On the day of his death, he was with friends including some of the very children that Invisible Children has helped and have grown to be advocates themselves. His life ended too early, but we look at the few years God gave him on this earth, and we are humbled that he was used in such a powerful way. Many people live their whole lives hoping to make some sort of impact. And with just 25 years, Christ blessed him with a heart for the oppressed, and because of that he has touched lives in the U.S. and in Uganda. We fully expect that God will use this tragedy to continue to change lives, reminding us all how short life is, and how important it is to live sacrificially for something bigger than ourselves.

In the shadow of this heart ache, we know that God has welcomed His son with open arms, and a ‘well done, my good and faithful servant.’

Our family is grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have experienced over the last twenty-four hours, both for Nathan and for Kyle. We would like to thank the community at Invisible Children for their support and for being a family to Nate, as well.

The Henn family remains strong as we live by faith and rally around one another in the spirit of family. Though certainly still in shock, and we are so thankful to everyone for your love and support.

People ask us how they can help or what they can do, and we know Nate’s heart was for the people of Uganda. So we ask that if people feel compelled, that they would make donations in Nate’s honor to Invisible Children at www.natehenn.com where a fund has been created. The purpose of this fund is to continue Nate’s legacy of advocacy by providing for others to do the same. For more details please check the website.

We would appreciate some time to be a family right now, to process this through prayer, and to mourn the loss of our son. We ask that the press respects this wish, and if we wish to make any further comment we will contact you. For further information about Invisible Children, refer to their website at www.invisiblechildren.com.

Suicide bombs tore through crowds that had gathered in celebration to watch the final match of the World Cup.

Tons of reports and news outlets have been telling the story, but the terrorists have not only killed 76 people, they’ve shaken an unstable nation and took the life of our own Nate Henn.

Nate “Oteka” Henn, was a volunteer with Invisible Children in San Diego for over a year and a half. He dedicated his life to following Jesus and was a man after God’s own heart.

He was a servant and a peacemaker who never wanted to be in the spot light.

His Ugandan Legacy Tour teammate, Innocent, gave him the name “Oteka”, which means “Strong One”. The two grew close on IC’s Legacy Tour in the US and Nate had recently traveled to Uganda to visit Innocent and experience “Africa” for the first time.

One of Nate’s dreams was to visit Uganda and travel to Gulu to see the programs he’d so selflessly supported through fundraising, awareness and advocacy.

We’re beyond thankful that Nate was with his friends Innocent, Tony and Lindsey when he moved on to be with his maker.

IC has put together a Memorial Fund for Nate Henn, www.natehenn.com, and an incredibly well made video to give you a glimpse of who Nate was and what he stood for.

Yesterday, I had the honor of spending the day in Gulu with Nate’s dad who had traveled to Uganda to gain some peace and closure, but also to fulfill Nate’s dream of visiting Gulu and the Invisible Children Uganda family. All I can say is that God is doing incredible things through the Henn family...the entire day I was blown away and inspired.

Within minutes of meeting Nate’s dad my faith was challenged and strengthened. Mr. Henn continuously praises God for His sovereignty and that God was able to use Nate’s life and death for His own good pleasure and glory.

Despite the wake of the terrorist attack, God has revealed Himself in mighty ways.

Ways that require walking by faith and not by sight.

In loving memory of Nate and The Way he followed Christ.

Nothing but love [God]

The 1910 World Missionary Conference was a watershed moment for Protestantism. Meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, the assembled 1,200 Protestants believed that Christianity was on the cusp of spreading to every corner of the world, and that Christ would come again once every ear had heard the good news of salvation. Their master plan for missions would hasten his return.

But Edinburgh 2010, the centenary conference that concluded last month, drew only about a quarter of the crowd and received attention only from a few Christian publications. The modern master plan was less ambitious as well: a call to global missions and "to witness and evangelism in such a way that we are a living demonstration of the love, righteousness and justice that God intends for the whole world."

This dramatic change was summed up at a small gathering of academics and missions professionals at Fuller Theological Seminary in late May. "At (1910) Edinburgh, people thought they were going to take over the world," said C. Douglas McConnell, dean of Fuller's School of Intercultural Studies in his opening remarks. "And now many of our students wonder if they should even try."

Indeed, colonialism is dead (thankfully). But the term "missions" itself now carries with it a negative connotation, even in politically and theologically conservative circles. Christians today typically travel abroad to serve others, but not necessarily to spread the gospel.

Continued here.

By BRAD A. GREENBERG

Hello, I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC -- Here's How I Help Fuel the World's Deadliest Conflict

Conflict Mineral Cell Phones Fuel Genocide in Congo

Spending time with friends and family after month’s even years of being apart is somewhat therapeutic (for some); like a back massage after doing manual labors for days on end. I can’t wait to spend some quality time with loved ones all over southern California.

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LEGACY TOUR – SUCCESS!

All of our Ugandan students and staff just arrived back in Uganda after 3 months of touring in the US. The Legacy Tour was by far Invisible Children’s most successful tour since it’s inception. And to top that off we’ve just started the application process for new students and staff to participate in our Fall 2010 Tour.

The genuineness of meeting individuals from northern Uganda has created a wake all across America and I believe the lives of so many have been touch and hopefully changed forever.

There are certain things we don’t know or realize until it’s revealed to us. We’re completely ignorant of so many things, for example, America is ranked #25 in the world for education, but we rank #1 in confidence. We’re confident, but ignorant, such a curious combination that has got my clock ticking.

The good news is that exposure to unseen or an unknown situation in the world increases our ability to change it in the name of Jesus.

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I’ll be arriving in San Diego on the 15^th of May, spending a few days in the Invisible Children office before traveling up to the LA area for my sister Dawn’s birthday on the 21^st and sister Justine’s master’s graduation on the 22^nd. I won’t be traveling back to Uganda until June 5^th and would love to see any and everybody that I can.

I am exhausted, but strong at heart and I know that we must be put through the fire to be refined, shaped and molded to become more and more Christ like.

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." - Galatians 6:9

Nothing but love [God]

Thanks to my employers I was able take a little vacation time and thanks to my parents I got to fly to China to be with my mom, dad, brother, sister-n-law, nephews and niece.

The pictures below are a peak at all the fun we had.

We all went to Shanghaiguan to see the "Old Dragon's Head" (where the Great Wall started).

"Old Dragon's Head". Skipping rocks and picking up shells.

The very tip of "Old Dragon's Head".

Flying at kite at a park in Shanghaiguan. "Let's go fly a kite. Up to the highest height."

Eating Muslim food in Beijing. A little bit of lamb, bread and some really good caramelized apples.

Wrestling with the munchkins (they call me Funcle).

Riding the subway in Beijing with my parents. Can you tell that we love it?

The Great Wall of China. I was sick this day and couldn't go.

Do you remember the superhero called “The Flash”? He’s the guy that runs so fast you can hardly see him as he passes by. When he runs, it’s almost as if he doesn’t exist.

Well, that’s pretty much how the past few months of my life have been…a flash.

Part of me feels like the past months haven’t even happened. I’m struggling to remember anything, but let me attempt to share some of the moments that haven’t completely flashed away.

Since the motorcycle trip across East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo and Uganda) I’ve been working non-stop. About two months ago, Invisible Children sent eight of our staff and eight of our students in the Scholarship Program to the US. All of the students that went have been featured in our different media (i.e. Rough Cut, The Rescue, Bracelet Videos, etc.) and are now in their early twenties. I still remember when I first met Jacob from IC’s first documentary. He was a quiet, shy and friendly little kid, but now he’s a young man full of confidence and a big smile on his face.

Most of my time after the motorcycle trip was spent preparing our Ugandan staff and students to spend three hard months touring different parts of the United States. The purpose of their touring is to spread awareness about the war-affected North and share their personal stories with people “face to face”. As mush as I (and a few others) prepped them for the diverse culture and drastic differences, I was more interested in how they’d deal with the difficulties of being treated like a “celebrity”.

Currently, all 16 are still in the US with only a month of the tour remaining and from what I’ve heard they’re all doing great. It’s hard for me to imagine being in their shoes and seeing the United States with a completely new perspective. I wish I could have followed the entire process and experience, capturing the “aha!” moments followed by the “break downs” and “is that even possible?” type questions.

On one of their first days in San Diego they were all taken to see Avatar in 3D. Yeah, I’m sure we’re thinking the same thing.

Rumor has it that some of them were dodging arrows and ducking under moving objects. This type of experience reminds me of our innocence when we were children and how “green” we were to the world.

Everything was fresh. New. Never been experienced or done before.

Well, now that I’ve been working with Invisible Children for almost five years things just aren’t as fresh anymore. The excitement of doing something that’s “never been done before” has worn off and I’m faced with the reality of what it truly means to live for the sake of others.

There have been many days that I’ve wanted to take the easy road and go home, but I’ll never be able to get God’s voice out of my head, “quit your job, go to Africa and I’ll take care of you.”

What in the world am I suppose to say to that?

No God it’s cool, I’ll just go home now because 5 years is enough sacrifice for what you’ve done for me. I can just go home and live comfortably and forget about Uganda and my new friends.

It’s in the difficult times, the “I want to go home” moments that I’ve really been sharpened by God.

Tested.

It’s through the testing of our faith that we build endurance.

I’m no longer feeling the excitement of doing the “impossible”, the “never been done before”.

My God given endurance has taken over and I know that he’ll take care of me.

“The grace that has been extended to you when you were at your lowest – extend it to others. In the same way that I heard your cry, go and hear the cry of others and act on their behalf.”

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Please know that without your prayers and support that I wouldn’t be able to live life outside the status quo. I’ve said it before, but I truly mean it each and every time I say it.

It’s taken me a while to write and for that I’m sorry. “The Flash” paid me a visit and I don’t think he’ll be getting in the way of me sending updates more frequently from now on.

Also, I know my blog sucks right now. It does. It sucks. But I’ve got Internet at my house now and I’ll be able to upload photos in the near future.

Nothing but love [God]

Jared

PS On Tuesday, I’ll be traveling to China to be with my parents and my brother’s family for just over a week. I’m thankful that though I’m far from family I’m blessed enough to be able to see them and spend quality time with them.

Beautiful sunset on our way to Mombasa

Our last moment together on the beaches of Mombasa before we set off on the rest of the journey.

Fixing and oiling chains on the side of the road in Burundi.

]]> http://jareddwhite.com/blog/2010/04/03/soul-safari-moments/feed/ 0 http://jareddwhite.com/blog/2009/12/18/break-down/ http://jareddwhite.com/blog/2009/12/18/break-down/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:57:18 +0000 admin http://jareddwhite.com/blog/2009/12/18/break-down/ It happened.

The inevitable.

One of our bikes broke down and it happened to be mine.

My lady Violet died two days ago and I had to turn back with Blake (Violet in a rented truck) to Kampala to try and fix her. The damage is beyond fixable at this point (it would take a month to fix her up), so I'm currently looking at another bike to rent/buy for the trip. It's looking promising, but in Uganda you never know how long things will take

The morning I left Gulu for the trip. All packed up and ready to go.

Really hoping to be on the road again within the next day or so. Check out some photos below of our trip so far.

Almost forgot. Our team of 4 split in 2. John and Eric moved onto Mombasa, Kenya. While Blake and I came back to Kampala to try and get me back up and running. Please pray for their safety as they travel dangerous roads to the coast of Kenya.

Nothing but love. Enjoy the photos.

All of us in Kampala the morning of our departure.

Violet broke down 2 hours outside of Kampala (Jinja). This is her stripped down, her heart gave up on me. Henry (right) helped Blake and I pull her apart.

The four of us just before we parted ways. John and Eric headed to Mombasa, while Blake and I turned back to Kampala to look for another bike (RIP Violet). From left to right - John Niemeyer, Eric Kreutter, Me and Blake Gaskill.

This is my beautiful lady Violet. She'll be taking me all across East/Central Africa on an unforgettable journey with my good buddies John, Blake and Eric (they have their own ladies to ride for the trip).