It’s been quite a few years since K and I have been sent to a country for only one week. We have spent months thinking ahead to the summer unsure of what to expect as we adjust to our new roles. Now, here we are in the Middle East. The purpose of spending time in this country before we head to walk alongside our beloved JSI’s in Europe was to learn more about our roles for the summer regarding administrative tasks and understand more about the people we are engaging. We were not sure what this week would look like considering the short amount of time allotted. All I can say is that any expectation we had has been exceeded in ways beyond what we could have imagined.

As soon as we stepped off the plane, we were greeted by two friends living in this city we have had the privilege to know over the last few years. It was only a matter of hours before we were mingling with the team here, as well as some of the closest friends they have made. Immediately, we felt at home and a part of the team. This team is uniquely gifted, cherishes one another, and spurs one another on in their walks. K and I even had the special opportunity to take part in a spontaneous team road trip (never thought I’d get to blast Hanson songs in the Middle East-thanks D!), and as I write this we have just returned from a local wedding! We have been able to pr with and for this team, listen to them talk through situations, and cast vision for this city where they serve.

I write all this to convey how humbled we are to be here, and to share the reminder we have been given of ancient work. Through strategizing for the summer for our students, my mind has been flooded with truth of this core value. As a result of our time here, we have been able to hear conversations among the field team that show their awareness of Father’s greater plan. Stories have been told of workers coming in and out of neighboring countries, joyfully knowing the work is not dependent on their own skills but on the Spirit. The vision for this city and the work here extends far beyond this team, or their human capabilities, and the workers are passionately consumed with finding more ways to engage the ends of the earth.

K and I are thankful for our sweet, memorable time with a wonderful group of new friends we already feel are like a second family. But more importantly, we are thankful for brothers and sisters chasing hard after obedience to Father, recognizing their need for full dependency on Him. K and I have been here for such a short amount of time compared to the other locations we will be in this summer, and look forward to partnering in the future with this team in continued pr. Father is at work here, and He will continue to be long after we are gone, just like He will be in Europe long after we return to the States at the end of this summer.

That being said, we want to introduce you to Jimmy 2013. They won’t arrive at HQ until May 13, but we wanted our fan base to begin to get to know them now. As with every group, this year’s crop is quite interesting on the surface. Time will tell how they come together, make memories, and develop inside jokes over the course of the summer months. But until then…Here’s Jimmy!

Bonnie Bailey - Mobilization Intern - Bonnie is one of our two Kansas Strong Jimmy participants this year. Bonnie’s first iGo trip was to Tokyo back in 2010 with the KS/NE Super Summer team. She is currently studying elementary education at Kansas State University (home of the Wildcats - purple and white, etc.). In her free time, Bonnie likes to kick things. She has earned a green belt in Taekwondo, which means she can kick you in an environmentally friendly way. All that kicking will definitely come in handy with her degree.

Allie Dysart - Mobilization Intern - Another Kansas Jimmy is Allie. Every year we have at least one  Jimmy that hasn’t been overseas with iGo, and this year Allie joined that list. She is currently studying  elementary education at Emporia State University, which we think is in Kansas near a chain-link fence or  maybe a wheat field. Allie secretly wishes she was a fitness model on an instructional fitness video. Not the instructor, just one of the cheerful and fired up demonstrators alongside Richard Simmons. Speaking of fired up, we are no longer  worried about her fitting in down here in Texas after we learned of her dominance in the Blazing Challenge at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Martyne Chanslor - Mobilization Intern - From the land known for being close to Texas and just below Kansas, Martyne joins the Jimmy crew this summer. Martyne is proud to study English at Northeastern State University, one of Oklahoma’s directionally accurate universities. She served overseas with iGo in Central Asia during the summer of 2011. While we don’t typically ask our applicants about their ethnic background, On a Jimmy questionnaire, Martyne let us know that she was an Irish dancer. At this point, we are simply taking her word on that one.

Greg Gaskey  - Mobilization Intern - Greg is the first Jimmy on the list from The Republic, although he doesn’t eat gravy on his CFC. He hails from Wichita Falls. Greg served with iGo in 2011 in Europe and 2012 in the Middle East before choosing to apply as a Jimmy this summer. He is currently a student at Rice University in Houston where he is studying to be a chemical engineer. Greg plays the cello and is the youngest of five children. Word on the street is that he picked Rice University because their mascot is the Owls. 2011 was the Year of the Owl in iGosia.

Matthew King - Mobilization Intern - Matthew’s Jimmy acceptance brought a first to iGo. He and his sister (Brittney “Shorts” King) are the first siblings to serve as iGo Jimmy. Matthew is from Arlington, Texas but he now resides in the “prettiest town that I’ve ever seen” where he is studying business finance at Hardin Simmons University. Matthew served in Tokyo and again in Paris with iGo in 2010 and 2012. He played the violin for 5 years, but there is no evidence of him playing the fiddle.

Cameron Lohman - Mobilization Intern - From Oklahoma, Cameron grew up on a farm and learned at an early age to hate country music. He is currently studying health and exercise science with most of the football team at Oklahoma University. With iGo, Cameron served a while back for a week in Wales and then most of last summer in Paris as a JSI. Look for Cameron to possibly show off his saxophone skills this summer at a Base Camp near you. Cameron is also a member in good standing with the Harry Potter fan club. I think they are called Potterclaw or Ravenmore or something strange like that. Don’t ask me, ask Jami Lee.

Jeff Smith - Communications Intern - As our token Aggie, Jeff is another newbie to the world of iGo. But he is well-versed in the world of missions, having served overseas multiple times. Jeff’s field of study down in Aggieland is Environmental Design and he will be spending his summer working closely with iGo Director of Communications, Emily Martin doing everything he can to keep iGo looking good. Jeff’s hometown is VanAlstyne, Texas and he prefers his glitter either in the cage or on a leash. No loose glitter for him.

Mystery Jimmy - Media Intern - We would love to introduce you to this summer’s media Jimmy, but he/she hasn’t shown up yet. If you know someone who enjoys working with video production/sound production and things of that nature, please send them our way. They get to learn under one of the best in Rowdy Rodgers, and make some amazing iGo videos along the way. For more info or to apply, please visit this page on our website.

Be on the lookout for the iGo Jimmy this summer. Make sure you get their autograph.

Never fear. No matter how much the cross-cultural tempest tosses you about, an iGo team leader will be there to gather you up and get you headed back in the right direction.

Our iGo Team Leader retreat is this weekend. We will be training our team leaders and our JSI’s over the course of the weekend. Getting them ready to guide you through the process from point A to point B, no matter what may come your way.

Just like this:

Click here to view the embedded video.

When I applied to go back to East Asia, I had a few friends ask why I was going back. They would say, “Why do you want to go there again? You have already been there. You should go other places to see more of the world.” My reply would be “The Father has given me a heart and passion for the nation and his people there.” God allowed me to return to East Asia, but we were told that we might be going to a different city. However, in the end we were put in the exact same city as last year!

When we arrived at English camp, ten of the same students that were at camp last year came again this year! Two of the translators from last year were also there. Those friendships continued right where they left off a year ago, in part because I kept in touch with most of them through email.

Last summer, two of the girls on our team built a great friendship with one of the translators named Jully (pronounced Julie). These girls loved Jully and poured into her day after day. They were given a few opportunities to share with her, but most of all, they loved her and built a strong friendship with her.

When Jully first saw me this summer, she embraced me. She definitely remembered me, and we were so excited to see one another. Jully started to ask me questions right from the beginning. She remembered that I was a believer, and she was curious to know more.

One of the guys on the team, Sam and I were able to have a conversation with Jully at McDonald’s for about 45 minutes one day. She had many questions. She asked when, where, and why we became believers. She asked if our parents were believers and if we had friends to encourage us and help us get closer to God. She wanted to know what a relationship with Christ looks like.

Some of her questions were pretty deep. Jully had heard about Jesus before, but she did not know what it meant to have a relationship with him. We had an incredible conversation with Jully. She and I were able to talk some more in the week. Almost every person on our team was able to share with Jully because of her hunger and thirst to know more about our Father!

At the end of the week, Jully asked if she could have a Bible, and we were able to get her one. The conversations I was able to have with Jully regarding the gospel were the best ones I have ever had with an individual. They were totally Spirit-led.  I pray that the Lord continues to work in the life of Jully, and we get to continue to share with her. This story is such a great example of the Father’s faithfulness and ancient work when we, his children, are obedient, and I’m so thankful I went back to East Asia again.

#5 - Fun to talk iGosian, Okay? - Talking in an accent is always cool. You don’t even have to be good at it. The secret to the iGosian accent is that it is linguistically messy. In the course of one conversation iGosian accents have traces of Arab, Asian, Spanish, and Indian accents all mixed together. You already love to use fake accents. You enjoy faking a strong northern accent like you hear from your friends from Oklahoma or another northern state. British accents are always fun to try, or maybe it is Australian. Who can tell? So come on over to iGosia and make up one that is uniquely yours. Throw in some baffling catch phrases such as, “Don’t be a rude,” and you are ready to go.

#4 - The Old Switcheroo - They annoy you all the time, right? With their skateboard theatrics at the shopping center and the car-frame rattling bass that drowns out your favorite soft rock station at a red light, students are simply a hassle to deal with. And I don’t even want to talk about dealing with groups of them at the mall. Ugh. Now is your chance to intimidate them right back. Of course, these are iGo students and they aren’t necessarily the ones that are messing up your order at Arby’s. But they are still students and they represent their kind. So join us at Base Camp. Part of the job description for our volunteers is to give our students a hard time. And don’t try to tell me that isn’t going to fulfill a fantasy.

#3 - Dress Up Time - When is the last time you got to play dress up without repercussions? Well, that’s too long. iGosians dress up and we dress up well. The best part is you don’t even have to bring your own dress ups. We have spent the last 13 years gathering ridiculous clothing and outfits from across the globe and one or two thrift stores. We even clean them once a year. Bright colors, especially orange, are all the rage these days. iGosian clothes bring the brightness. The only question is what combination will you bring to this year’s iGosian runway?

#2 - No Skills Required - In fact, the lack of skill in your given iGosian assignment is most often a necessity. iGosian Airlines is currently looking for a fresh group of recruits to mishandle and misplace checked bags. They also have positions open for incompetent ticket agents. iGosian Customs and Immigration is in need of agents that typify the surly and uncaring attitude that has become the standard in their industry. Laziness would be value added. Feel the need for a little deception? We have a role for you selling the wrong bus ticket to iGosian. Of course, those who buy that ticket end up with an extremely relaxing tour of iGosia, so it turns out to be a Romans 8:28 kind of endeavor. Join us this summer and let us help you become inept and completely unhelpful to our visitors.

#1 - making Him famous - Yes, of course. The number 1 reason for you to BE iGosian this summer is to make Him famous. iGo Global is training and mobilizing a generation to make Him famous. And we need the most amazing volunteers to make that happen. Every believer has a role to play in the global mission of God. Can’t go this summer? Struggling to find the resources to give to someone who is going? Here is your chance to train and mobilize. We need volunteers at three Base Camps in Texas, one at Falls Creeek, and one way up in Kansas.

For more info, please visit our Base Camp page on the website. You can also email Crystal at crystal(AT)igoglobal(DOT)org.

Click here to view the embedded video.

But don’t forget the bottom line.

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is ultimately for His glory. By taking our place on the cross and conquering sin and death in his resurrection Jesus shows the entire world his power and magnificence. He emerges from the grave as the ultimate hero of the greatest story ever told.

We love Psalm 96 at iGo, especially verse 3. “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples.” It is the verse that charges us to make Him famous. And as we declare His glory and tell of His marvelous works, the focus of our declaring and telling should be the cross and the empty grave. They are the ultimate pictures of his glory and his marvelous works. It’s all about Him.

“For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.” Psalm 25:11

And thankfully, there is a top line to the resurrection as well. His death on the cross pardons us. His resurrection proves that it worked. When Jesus came out of the grave, it demonstrated that God was satisfied with the payment Jesus made for our sin. Even though our guilt was great (we were hopeless and bankrupt and without any chance), Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. And his resurrection is the reason we know that His rescue mission worked. We now have hope.

The Easter story is the clearest picture of the bottom line/top line in Scripture. Jesus, the risen and exalted King is glorified and we are satisfied. He gets all the glory. And we get to enjoy Him forever. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Let’s celebrate both the bottom line and the top line this Easter.

Well, the good news is that you don’t have to. We have a better option. The even better news is that no matter what your bracket looks like after Harvard took down the Lobos and the Shockers of Wichita State lived up to their name against the much loved, but often over-rated Zags, you can start all over today.

Yes, we have our own little iGosian Madness going on at the World Wide HQ. The great Emily Martin has put together a few different designs for new iGo T-shirts. And the truth is we like them all, but we can’t print them all. We need a champion. And this is where you come in. We need you to go to our Facebook page and pick your winner. Click like on the photo of the T-shirt color you like best and your selection has been made.

Before you rush over there, let me give you some thoughts to consider. You might call these some insider tips.

Don’t pick by impulse. It hardly ever works. You have to take your time and look at the statistics and trends. As you look at the shirt above your impulse will tell you to pick it. After all, orange shirts are extremely trendy right now and statistics tell you that orange shirts are winners. The problem? This shirt isn’t orange. It is some faded red imposter. It is probably some color worn by St. Louis Cardinals fans.

Royal blue is statistically powerful. It has a great strength of schedule and an amazing record against all competition. A vote for this shirt is always safe, especially if you don’t want to get on the bad side of iGo VP Brad Cardwell. He might just cut you if you vote against this shirt.

Grey shirts are never out of style. Never. You probably wore grey your first year you actually took P.E. instead of recess. And despite what you might hear around the stadium, you can never go wrong with a grey shirt. Wearing grey may not be as bold as other colors, but choosing it makes you look more athletic for sure. And I’m pretty sure that no one has ever complained that iGo teams look too athletic. Picking grey in your bracket is like a vote for sports.

Navy. Vegas has this one as the tournament favorite, but that doesn’t mean it will win. We call it iGosian Madness for a reason. I personally think it was a little unfair of the navy shirt to add a little splash orange right there in the middle. That seems to be the iGo version of a home court advantage. This one will be hard to beat, but in the end, you get to decide.

So please help us. We want to continue to make shirts that our students, parents, and fans are proud to wear. And every time we sell a shirt, we gain more resources to fund our student missions. Help us decide today and we will let you know when you can order the winning shirt from our website.

Best of luck to you and your pick.

So it’s hard to know where to begin an update, but I feel like I should start with a big, “WELCOME!!!” because in the culture here you are always greeted with this. So, WELCOME…

I don’t know how these Friday stories Shu does usually go, so I’m just going to write. Please know that the things I’m writing about are my personal experiences. These are things I have seen and heard and understood during my time in the particular city I live in. Know that the things I’ve experienced cannot be generalized for the whole country, much less the entire region.

Over the past couple of months, I have been increasingly aware of the lostness that is so real here. As my relationships are growing deeper, I am learning more and more, specifically about the generation of people here that are my age. As an outsider looking in at the culture norms, I realize I was naïve to many things. Outwardly, most people dress conservatively and act the part. However, the more I get to know people, the more I see that my generation is very different from the ones before. Again, outwardly they will say all the right things and act the part. What I am learning, though, as I get to know them is that for many people, these things are just things they do because they have to. It’s not because they believe or desire to; the culture pressures them to.

There are many girls who hate the hijab (head covering), but they wear it anyway. There are guys who will pr five times a day but drink at night. I even heard this week of a girl here who is an atheist. I wish I could convey to you the depth of how unbelievable that idea is for this part of the world. This generation is not simply accepting the things they have grown up hearing. They are thinking for themselves. Some of them are even taking big risks culturally in order to experience new things and hear new ideas. The answers they are finding, from what I see, are as empty and deceitful as those found in their religion.

Also during this past month, there was a three week period where family members of my close friends passed away. So for three weeks in a row, my weeks started with funerals. In fact this was the fourth week, and honestly at the beginning of the week my stomach was queasy sometimes wondering who’s family member would be next. There are few things I know that are darker than sitting in a room filled with people, fully aware that they do not know the Son. Sitting, knowing the one in the grave didn’t know Him either.

So, these are a few of the thoughts of a girl wandering around in the M.E. I give you all these seemingly random details to give you a glimpse into His ancient work that I see here. To me it seems that one of the ways He is working in my generation is by opening their minds to challenge the things that previous generations have always simply taken to be true. I believe He is also working specifically within my circle of friends to force us to ask questions about life and death and truth that maybe we are often afraid to ask.

So my requests are simple. Please pr for open doors and boldness to be honest and real with my friends as our relationships/conversations go deeper. And please ask that as this generation searches for answers, love, satisfaction, joy, and peace that they would find it in the Son.

I’m not sure what you think, but as I read over this update I think it sounds kind of dry and ordinary. All I can say is that perhaps this is the joy of the sower. I don’t see a lot of fruit right now; but I’m still going out to the fields each day believing He is bringing the harvest. So, thanks for listening and pring.

Ok, so that wasn’t what you might call words of wisdom, but they did end up being right on target. But the truth is that I can’t remember seeing Drew, or even a lesser skilled magician not use volunteers as part of their show. It seems like a requirement of some sort; it’s probably chapter two of the Magic for Dummies book.

One thing that has always been interesting to me is how enthusiastically people will volunteer in response to a plea from magicians. Of course, some of those are simply glory hounds looking for their 15 minutes of fame. No matter the motive, people are consistently quick to volunteer when it comes to helping out magicians.

I guess one of the reasons this fact is perplexing is realizing people are so eager to look like a fool. Now I am not saying that magicians, illusionists, mentalists, and other assorted tricksters are intentionally trying to make volunteers look like fools. But from where I sit, with my hands firmly down by my side, that seems to be the end result.

Think about it. Volunteering doesn’t suddenly give you magician’s assistant status. You don’t get to go behind the scenes and learn how they do these tricks. You just get to stand up on stage and be the one completely baffled in front of the rest of the baffled masses. Only instead of being fooled from a distance, you couldn’t figure it out when it happened right in front of your face.

So we at iGo have turned the tables on this whole type of volunteering. In iGosia, our volunteers are treated with the upmost respect and admiration. Our volunteers do get behind the scenes access. They are actually the ones on the inside fooling the students we are training.

What could be better than this? You get to satisfy your desire to be a volunteer for something. At the same time, you get to help us unveil all our iGosian tricks. Sort of like a magician’s assistant. And you get to harass some high school and college students…for Christ of course.

It may not be your 15 minutes of fame, but it definitely is instrumental in our work to make Him famous.

Volunteer for Base Camp today. For more info, visit our Base Camp page. You can also contact Crystal Meeker at crystal(at)igoglobal(dot)org.