The days after

The pictures above are of me in June and one of me running the second 5k Saturday. (Thanks Robert Overton of Running Hoosier Magazine)

It has been a couple of days since the task God sent me to, was accomplished. For those of you who haven't been following me on this journey God has had me running after. God choose the most unlikely candidate to do one unlikely thing. That is to run 2 5k races within 20 minutes of each other on the same day. God did what he said he could do and helped me complete the mission that he had set out before me.

The first 5k was run at 7:50 am and completed 36 minutes 7 seconds later. It felt really god running it. God spent some time in my head during that run. I would to share some of those insights with you all. he kept whispering in my ear with every step every stride this question "if not you then who?" to be honest I wasn't sure what He meant, I was trying to focus on simply breathing. Stride after stride it was the same "if not you then who?" Somewhere after the second mile it became clear. If I don't do something then who will?

Let's face it, how many times have we felt like we should do something, then make the choice to do nothing? When we make that choice do you know what gets done? Nothing! And when we make the choice to do something what gets accomplished... Something. When God is in the middle of it more than we as mere mortals can even imagine gets done.

At 9:00 am the second one began. I know from the start this would be the challenging one. It was! Thank goodness for all of my friends who were running it was a blessing to be running with them. Mindi is a fellow runner who is a huge encouragement for me, then one of my boyhood hero's was running the race as well and was I was reminded of his football prowess. You see Todd once sacked a quarterback one handed, because his other hand was broken and in a cast.

The cast of characters from W.M.C. kept me going, first Mark then Jordon, Sara, my wife, Becky, Erica, Kristy, Kylee and of course my favorite 2 mile marker Chloe. You all were such blessing. I have never been at a race where there so many people being encourager's to each other. I couldn't have done it with out you all. I need to give a shout out to my dad and my son Preston who were waiting on the the hill with about 1 tenth of a mile to go cheering. Alison God sent you to me at just the right time again. With out your encouragement and verbal prodding that last 1/2 mile I still might be there. I really believe that God was there with me picking up and putting down my feet for the last 1/2 mile, so in a sense God really moved me. The time for the second one 33:58. Over 2 minutes faster than the first.

I want to thank those of you who prayed I know you did! To those of you who have sent, dropped off and handed donations to the charities I ran for, the kids (and me too) say THANK YOU!

There is still time for you to donate the information is in the post below.

What was God thinking!

I am spending some time the last few days wondering why?

Why would God pick a guy who in his 41 years of life had never run more than a mile at one time in his life, to sign up and train to run 6.2 miles in one morning and when this all started in July could only run from one phone poll to next then walk for the next 1/2 mile. Let alone a guy that weighed 347 pounds.


Why did God place a passion for those that are hungry in his community in someone who has never truly been hungry? A little known fact 1 out of 8 people in Elkhart County are in danger of going hungry today.

Why place a burden in the belly of a guy from small town Indiana for victims of sex-trafficking? Did you know that more people are enslaved today then when slavery was legal in the U.S. ?

The fact that really is etched into my inner most being is that of the 3 year old little girl who is trafficed because some cultures believe that sex with a virgin will cure aids and s.t.d.'s. The little girls are then stitched up and sold over and over again. Until they themselves are infected with one of the death sentences themselves.

Here is why!

Because if God chooses the most unlikely candidate to do something and it gets done only He can get the glory. I was reminded specifically of Moses. Who God chose to do His speaking despite the fact the he had speech problem. So tomorrow if I can run 6.2 miles without walking it is and can only be a God thing and he will get and deserve all the credit. I have never run more than 4 miles, and had never done that until Tuesday.

Why a passion for the hungry of my community? Maybe it precisely because I have never been "hungry." I was blessed to have been born in a family that was born in a country that has never felt hunger pains that have kept me from sleeping. I have never had to not eat so that my kids would have something. I have never had to tell me kids that there was nothing to eat as I listen to the stomachs growl. I know this that if had ever been hungry and God had called some unlikely person to go for a little run and collect pledges so that my family could eat, I would won't him too follow God's call.

Why sex trafficing? Why not? I remember the night I first was burdened by trafficing. I could sleep! I spent time with God that night. he said this to me in an almost audible voice "Jon, you have 2 choices. You can either go on with life as usual thinking that is too bad or you can actually do something about?" The thought of any of my children having to endure that death sentence made me realize that "I was going to do something about it! If we can save just ONE child from this HELL then l can state everything that my body will go through for a couple of days will be worth it.

With your help we can do something.

Many of you have asked me the question "What can I do? I am just one person" There is a famous quote that goes something like this.."All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to stand by and do nothing." This is the time will you stand by and do NOTHING or will you stand with me and do SOMETHING?

The goal is to raise a $1,000 per mile, or $3100 per cause per race.

Your prayer support is always appreciated I will be running the first one at 7:50 am and hope to finish at about 8:30 the second one will begin at 9:00 and finish about 9:45 am, Saturday. The temperature this morning at 7:50 am 35 degrees.

Please make out your checks to either:
Family Christian Development Center
or
Tiny Hands International

send them to:
Wakarusa Missionary Church
Attn. Jon
P.O. Box 534
Wakarusa, Indiana 46573

Thoughts...

Last night while I was on my run ( 4 miles for the first time ever) I had some time to reflect. And think about how grateful I am and how bad I am at expressing it so here is a blog post that was put together some where during miles 2-4.

I am grateful that I live in a country where I can do what I am called to do without fearing for my life our my families.

I am grateful for Dave Ramsey and financial Peace University. 4 years ago it changed our lives and continues to allow us to do things to impact the kingdom.

I am grateful to God for who He is and doing what he says He can do. God, you never cease to amaze me, and please don't ever.

I am grateful that I don't get what I deserve, Thanks Jesus.

I am grateful for a wife and family that loves and trusts me enough to lead them to scary places.

I am grateful for the passions and desires God has placed in my path, and the Holy Spirit that won't allow me to sit and watch.

I am thankful for a Jesus that teaches Love, even tough love.

That nut is me.

Thats right, on Saturday November 14th, I will be running 2 5k's (thats 6.2 miles) on the same day to raise money for 2 great organizations, Tiny Hands International and Family Christian Development Center.

I am asking for your support, financially and prayerfully, as I have never run that far before and I am 300# after all.


I am trying to raise $1,000 per mile, for a total of $6,200.

make your checks payable to either Family Christian Development Center or Tiny Hands International.

Send your checks to:
Wakarusa Missionary Church
attention: Jon Andrews
P.O. Box 534
Wakarusa, In. 46573

The first ones!

I am proud to announce that I have received my first 2 commitments for the 2 5k's in 1 day. We now have over $250 pledged will you join in? Every bit helps.

I am currently in contact with the Guiness Book of World records to try and find out what the record number of miles run by a 300#er is. Wouldn't this be awesome if this would be an attempt at a world record. Remember that this will be done on November 14.

Please make your checks out to either Tiny hands International Family Christian Development Center ( so you can get the tax deduction) and send them to

Wakarusa Missionary Church
attn. Jon
P.O. Bow 534
Wakarusa, Indiana
46573

The big announcement

Today October 19th I am announcing that I will be attempting to run 2 5k races on the same day to raise money for 2 causes near to my heart. many of you all have been watching and asking what can we do to stop Slavery/traffiking and hunger. here's your chance to do something.

Thats right this morning I weighed in at a whopping 302#'s. The goal in doing this is to raise a at least $1,000 per mile for these causes. Thats correct I need your help to raise $6,200.


I have never attempted to do anything like this before. I don't think that I ever will again, either.

The first cause that God has laid on my heart are these
Tiny Hands International.
Tiny Hands is fighting slavery and Traffiking. This money will go towards setting up border monitoring stations. I will run to "Stomp Out Slavery and Traffiking"


I will also be running to "Stomp Out Hunger" in the community of Wakarusa and Nappanee. All the funds raised will go to Family Christian Development Center

You can make your check's payable to Either on of these organizations, but, please send them to

Wakarusa Missionary Church
Atten: Jon
P.O.box 534
Wakarusa Indiana 46573

Check this out.

The Friday before the Presidents visit to Wakarusa, I never thought I would say that, 5 marine helicopters flew over the church and the church literally shook. It brought me to thinking about this;

Each one of the helicopters that flew over the church. Each of these helicopters costs about $400 million. So in the soccer fields of NorthWood Middle School sat 2 billion dollars worth of helicopters.

While it was an awesome sight to see it saddened me to know that some of my friends that live less than a block away from that Soccer field were going to have decide to eat or pay rent this month, others were trying how to figure out to send there son to college, he has a scholarship that will cover all but $1,000 per semester at Bethel, but it might as well be a $1,000,000 because mom and dad are out of work. These families are trying to make it. In fact the continue to tithe off of there unemployment checks. trusting God to provide.

There sat 2 billion dollars of helicopters and an estimated $1 million more for security and to bring the President to Wakarusa and a check for $39 million. And my friends are on the verge of being hungry and/or homeless. Folks that is just not right. We the church need to step up! We need to know the needy in our community, We need to “feed the hungry,” “cloth the naked,” “give the thirsty something to drink, “ “look after the sick and visit those in prison. "Church" we are doing a terrible job. How many of us even know a "needy person?" Are we even looking or are we too busy and look past them?