Hello beautiful people, friends and Family!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support, I would not be able to get through all that we have been through without your prayers, because God IS my strength and my rock, he is the one who fires me up each day to go out and tell people about Jesus, the one who gets me excited about walking up at 6:30 on the morning every morning. J

Our second week we spent in London, working with Eden Bow and Eden Plaistow, 2 amazing teams of people and if you are every around any of those areas please check out all of the amazing things that God is doing there. Our week in London was amazing and very much needed, I really enjoyed being outside of Manchester for that week and saw it as another faith building step, because being in Manchester in a way we are surrounded by people who we know and can fall back on in case something happens, but in London we did not have that and have to really completely on God, a faith building step indeed. 

Our time in London was full of lots of different activities, spending half of our time with Eden Plaistow and the other half in Eden Bow. In Eden Plaistow we did a lot of local outreach, going out and talking to anyone that we felt called to talk to, telling them about the football academy that was launching that Sunday and telling them about our lives and what God has done in us. Stig and I spent a day playing music in the cafe that was run by the church, blessing the community of Plaistow and talking to anyone who came up and talked to us, getting to pray with someone and tell a few others about Jesus and lot of flyering promoting the football academy and helping with its launch that Sunday, after first leading worship at their church, and also Preaching. In Eden Bow that week we helped out with 3 schools lessons and led one of them, we also did some local outreach talking to the people around Bow. Something else that we did was outreach in the local community centre, helped teach a dance class and run a refurbished police van that had been transformed into a recording studio. I also go the chance to lead worship for their prayer night and be a part of various other prayer meetings. 
Thank you so much! More Updates will be up soon.
Until then, be blessed.
Much Love 
                                                                   Jacob

Its sad to wake up to an alarm clock that reads 5:30am and especially when it’s that early and you are waking up late... That is just how week one of missions started. And what a brilliant week it has been, in all of its up AND downs.
So we spent week on in a local high school called ‘Cheadle Hulme High school’ shadowing Twleve24 a band that go into schools teaching lessons, doing assemblies and at the end of the week do a gig of which they invite all of the kids to.  (If you read my previous blog then it was the high school that I did 3 assemblies in over half term a few months ago)
It was incredible to see how Twelve24 do what they do, they are phenomenal at it! It is inspiring watching them and you could say ‘Learning from the best’. It is such a privilege that so many schools in Manchester open up and are letting Christians come in an speak openly of their faith! The entire week Twelve24 taught lessons on the subject of ‘Who is God?’ Telling testimonies and then preaching the gospel in a very relevant way at the end if each lesson.

Highlights from day one:

As I said it was great seeing what they were doing and the original plan was to go and watch Twelve24’s lessons for the first few days and by the end of the week be teaching our own lessons that we had been planning.  
After the first or second lesson of that day I got to talk to the year 7 girls, it was a great to talk to them and even after that boosted my confidence a lot in approaching people and talking to them.
Day one was our shortest day and got back to the message after lunch, it was strange having schools lunches again, and got to show the guys from Twleve24 our Lesson again, which ended in them giving us a few more tips and to show them again the next day.
Although it was the first day I was exhausted and to top it all off I got on the wrong bus home and ended up taking me 2 hours to get home…

 Highlights from day two:

Day 2 started on a high, all 4 of us roaring to go, but sadly less than an hour into the assembly that morning one of our team members, Katrine, got a message from her dad saying that there were some problems happening back home and that we would need to return. That put a huge!!! Damper on our team and meant that a lot of the stuff that she was going to do needed to be filled by someone else.
But the truth is, that Gos shines through all things! And at that lunch time I got to talk to 3 girls who were interested about Jesus, and praying and who is God, it was amazing! Sometimes we get embarrassed about our faith, but we shouldn’t, because most people generally know nothing and when you talk about it, their eyes widened, and they generally wanted to know about the creator of the universe!
And later on that day after another great day in school, me and 2 others were walking back from tesco when I threw some rubbish in a wheely bin only to be shouted angrily back by the owner of the wheely bin telling me that I had put rubbish in the wrong bin, so I turned around and walked back to him apologizing and told him that I would take the rubbish out if the bin, he clearly was not expecting that and was generally surprised and I know that I made his day, with that one random act of kindness. I know this is not that big of a deal, but it really taught me that we should be showing and expressing kingdom culture wherever we go!

Highlights from day three:

 Day three was another great day, loads more kids heard about God and the fact that he loves them! It really is amazing being able to go into school and tell Gods children that he loves them. But as I said before, Katrine was going to have to head home and so she booked her ticket home and would be leaving on the following Friday. So because of that we would not be able to do our lesson that we had planned in school that we as she had a huge part in it. But God is good and can flip everything for his glory!
One of the huge things that working with Twelve24 this week has helped me do and that is it has helped me step out of my comfort zone and really start telling people about my faith without caring about the consequences, God promises to always be with us, so why do we sometimes fear?

Highlights from day four:

A Strange thing happened this morning, I got the latest ‘Word4U2Day’ which is a daily devotional that I have been reading for the last few years and I opened up to find between its covers a picture of me(Below) advertising for next years genetik school, and the strange thing about this is, the reason I heard about genetik was because of a page in there promoting it. Its funny how God works sometimes.
It has been great being part of the team, the early morning and great nights are always worth it when it is for Jesus. Today we sold a lot more tickets to the concert that is happening on Friday, which is so exciting! And for some reason I a little bit like a celebrity walking round the school, lots of kids asked for fotos with me and for my autograph, defiantly a new experience!!!
As I said before Katrine would be leaving us on Friday, so for the next 2 weeks we would need someone to help us out as we are only 3 boys and would be great to have a female presence with us, especially traveling to places like London next week. So after much prayer and consideration, we chose Danielle from one of the other teams and she would be accompanying to London next week.

Highlights from day five:

 To finish of our incredible week, and we like to finish well! Twelve24 held a concert where about 250 students rocked up, ready to listen to some awesome music. They played a few songs of their own and it was great, the kids loved it and went absolutely mental.
At the end of the gig one of the guys from the band preached for a few minutes and then ended with asking if anyone wanted to accept Jesus into their hearts. Between 50-60 put their hands up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise Jesus, God is so good!!! I was stood at the back of the gig looking after the cds and posters, and when I saw all of those kids lift up their hands to accept Jesus, my heart broke and I began to cry! God is so good!!!

After a long week of early mornings and late nights, seeing that just shows that with prayer and prayer and prayer, without giving up, God does amazing things! He blesses that! And also after a hard week, it really shows that John 12:24, God take the bad and make it good!
Thank you for all of your prayers and support, please keep my team and the other 2 teams in your prayers over the next 6 weeks of missions.
And I will be putting up a video of a lot of the highlights of missions at the end of the 6 weeks also.
Be blessed friends!!!!

Much Love

Jacob Kemp

Hey all friends and family, the date is the 18th of March and Manchester is as sunny as it ever has been, which is not very. I apologize for not being in contact for this lengthy period of time, but life has been so busy it has hard to find time to sit down and chat with you all.

I guess I will follow on from around where I last posted about the adventures of Jacob in Manchester….
I was last saying about all of the wonderful work that I had been doing with Betel of Britain, Eden Bus and TLG, as well as still working with the kids clubs that I had been placed with from September of last year.
I am gonna be honest, TLG was really tough, working with kids who have already been kicked out of school as you can imagine is gonna be pretty tough, I started to find myself in small ways trying to adjust things about me in a way to make the kids that I was working with like me. It hurts to get sworn at and yelled at from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon, so of course if changing me was going to make them like me more, was obviously the best option right? WRONG. Being in TLG really helped me discover the fact that, I am a son of God, the King and I should be no one but who HE created me to be, so my little act of changing me to be more like them in order to be liked stopped and you know what, the last 3-4 weeks that I was there were the best weeks of the entire time, the kids then DID start warming up to me and I was really able to connect with them. And you know what else helped: “11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” –Matt 5: 11-12
Maybe we will get insulted, shouted at, or even persecuted because of our faith, but we should never hold back, God is good all of the time and he stands with us, strong through everything.

Betel, what did I learn from Betel? Well it’s kind of the reason that I named this Blog, ‘Always a Laugh to be Had’. Betel is full of Men and Women, who have come from addictions, addictions that have destroyed them in some way, whether it is that their families or friends no longer wants a relationship with them, maybe they now have a criminal record and would struggle to ever find a Job, or maybe it’s their bodies. And they do not have much, they work 6 days a week, early mornings, late nights, the clothes they have are donated to them, but yet through all of this, there is always a laugh to be had! And that is what truly happens when you find Jesus and allow him to transform him through the renewing of your mind. Paul in the Bible says: “Rejoice in the Lord Always, I say it again, rejoice.” –Phill 4:4 So why even with this statement that clearly says to ALWAYS rejoice, not when we choose to or feel like it, but always. Its there for the taking, choose to accept the Joy of the Lord and “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.” –Psalms 55:22. Working at Betel has really put what these verses mean into perspective for me.

Over the past few months I was able to go into a local Secondary School to tell kids about Jesus, we went in and taught 3 assemblies on the topic of ‘You are Unique’. It was an amazing experience, as it was the first time that I had ever done anything like that! The assembly had Dance’s in it, beat boxing, a song with dancing and beat boxing as well as Guitar –played by me- and singing, I also got the chance to give the talk, a five minute talking telling the kids how unique and special they are to God and that they should be a ‘First rate them, and not a Second rate someone else’. It was incredible to tell 150kids each day, so 450 kids in total, that THEY ARE UNIQUE and special and adored by a God who created them.

The last 2 terms have been amazing! And Now term 3 starts! Term 1 was mostly lectures, reading us and character building us as well as a few placements. Term 2 was some lectures and a lot more placements, this is where all of our character building got put to test. And now it is term 3.

Over the past few months we have been getting ready for this next term, our Genetik course was split into 3 teams, me being the leader of one of them. And over the past few months, as well as everything else we have been prepping for the next few weeks that our ahead. Missions weeks! So we have been creating schools lessons on: You are Loved, Bullying and Hurt and Assemblies on the same subjects, writing songs, dramas and talks. Making things, preparing to tell people about Jesus! And How amazing his Love is!
We are going all over Manchester, London and Congelton! Please keep us in your prayers as we travel for the next 4 weeks basically none stop, traveling from place to place. I am so excited of all that God is going to do in us and through us. Pray that people will be saved! Set Free! And that no one will be the same again! It is so exciting!
Thank you all for your Love and support!

You are all in My Prayers
Jacob 

Hey to all friends and family! 

As you may have read in my previous blog update, life is getting busy, very busy! But it's always good to be busy when what's making you busy is doing the work of The Lord. 
I don't want to flood you all with this and that, because I'm sure that you got the idea of what I am up to over the next few months and what I have been up to. 

Please keep me in your prayers as the days get longer and I come home more tired from doing all of the wonderful things I'm doing, from hanging out and playing mandolin (did this past Friday) with homeless people and then praying for them, to leading worship in a women's prison (did this past Sunday). I also got the chance to go into school this last week on Monday, Tuesday and Friday to do assemblies, telling them that THEY ARE UNIQUE! To be a first rate them, not a second rate someone else, because there is no one else like them in the entire world! And on the 16th of Feb, I got the chance to be a part of an event where about 10 people came to christ!

There is one more thing I ask and I hope and pray that you can stand with me:
Each month I need to raise around: £180 - £200 ($300 - $333)
- £40($62) a month for food
- £56($87) a month for transportation 
- £40($62) a month for bills
- £25(39) a month for anything else that may pop up
- £30(45) spending money for fun each month

Due to the fact that this new term(semester) is different so I am not able to get a ride with Jerome (my housemate who has a car) to all of the places that I am going, so my monthly transportation has gone from £24 to £56. 
Also one of my house mates has left due to unfortunate circumstances so my monthly bills have gone from £31 - £40. 

I am currently being blessed with 50% of what finances I need each month. And I know that only through the love and grace of God I have made it through the past few months. 

Would you prayerfully consider standing with me financially, helping me make it through this amazing year! And by blessing me you will bless the people and kids of Manchester!!

Maybe it would mean one less Starbucks a week, or one less time trip to McDonald's, but even as little as £5 a month will bless me in my ministry.

You are all in my prayers, if you would like to donate please go to the donations page:http://www.jacobsjourney.net/how-to-help.html
Or if you have any questions on how to support my monthly, please contact me: jacob4b@gmail.com Or Facebook.com/Jacob.b.kemp  

Thanks 
Jacob Kemp
“I always pray with joy because your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” Philippians 1:4-5 

What a wonderful world, what a wonderful life! My long and hard weeks, each day some how seems to be an eternity but I look back as this term has only been a month!
The first term which was September to December, was 4 months of character building, focusing on the heart, humility, and having a servant heart. We had 4 days of teaching and only a couple nights of outreach.
This term however is different, with only 2 days of teaching and the rest is outreach as I have told you in my other blogs and what I am beginning to learn is that all of the character building that I went through in those first months is now being tested. With some days waking at 7 and not getting back into the house until after 9 and then waking again at 7 the next morning. These are the times when I have to rely completely on God, for strength and perseverance or I know I will crash and burn, the true Jacob comes out now. :) It really is amazing!!!
Here is an update on what I have been up to on my placements over the past few weeks:
- On Tuesday, as you'll know from my previous blog, that I am working a ministry called 'betel' working with ex-drug addicts and ex-alcoholics. Such a rewarding job in every way. The income for the ministry comes through a furniture restoration business, where they buy, restore and sell furniture (pictures below). I have had the chance to work in the shop and the shed where they restore the furniture that gets donated. Another thing that happens on Tuesday is they have a bible study in the evening, one that we have been invited to. And as I sat there exhausted from the day, longing only for my bed and the sleep that would be there when i lay my head on that pillow, God revealed something to me, the fact that as much as I was there to feet into these guys, these guys were also here for me. At times I find myself giving so much and not being filled again, draining myself out. And right there that night sat four or five big brothers, these men who had been so much and were now following God, I would be able to look to for guidance and encouragement.
- On Wednesday I am still teaching guitar lessons in the posh part if town, working with 2 guys at the moment and finally they have opened up to me and are now considering me as a friend, instead of that stranger with dreads from Mexico. And last week the last 20 minutes we started talking about life and they were asking me questions and I was able to talk into their lives. Funny, in a guitar lesson, we put down the guitars and I was able to tell them the Christian point of view on questions they were asking me and they were agreeing with what I was saying. So cool to be able to talk into these kids lives. Pray that I get more chances to get to talk to these kids about Jesus.
- On Wednesdays nights we have a drop-in, kids from the community come in to hang out with us, play table tennis, pool, FIFA on the Xbox, lots of fun things. I started connecting with a kid called Adam, God laid him on my heart in November and the following week he stopped coming. Then we prayed for him and he turned up again this year. A couple weeks ago I started talking to him about God and telling him a bit of my story. The next week he wasn't there and hasn't been back since, please pray that God will tug his heart and he will come back.
- On Thursday mornings I work at TLG (Transforming Lives for Good) a school that kids go to if they struggle to fit in, do work or are just on the verge of being kicked out of school. Most of the have very short tempers and most days, throw juice at each other, do little work because the just simply won't work, and each day we start with around 12 and usually end with only 2 or 3, as the rest are sent home. It's a hard job, very tiring as you can imagine, there is lots of grace needed in a job like this. TLG Is an amazing non-profit christian organization and the teachers there have so much love for these kids, please go to there website if you'd like to did out more about them: http://www.tlg.org.uk/web
- On Thursday nights I am working with Eden bus. Eden bus is: a double decker bus, decked with xboxes, 3D tv's a recording studio and kinect. We are working in a Muslim community in Oldham. There is so much to potential to see Christ change these kids lives, but at the moment there is a huge wall that goes up when we start sharing our testimonies with these kids, please pray that those walls will be demolished!
- And on Fridays we have jam club, where we play games with kids that sometimes gets quite messy! (Picture below) And share bible stories and have a fun time! The numbers have gone down quite a lot in the past few weeks, please pray that they'll pick back up!
And all in all, life is busy, hectic and wonderful! Thank you all for your prayer love and support!
Your friend Jacob

Hello one and all! I hope up had the most merry of Christmases!
It has been an amazing 3 and a half months of, hands on, intense, emotional and challenging training and character building. But it was so good to get to go home and spend time with my beautiful family and gorgeous girlfriend.
I arrived in San Diego on the 20th of December and spent a few days there and of all the times of the year to do so, it rained when I arrived... Typical. After a great couple of days headed down to Ensenada, home! To spend Christmas, yes I did get it! I got a banjo! The newest edition to my instrument family! It was so great to spend time catching up with the whole family!
On the 29th we headed back up to San Diego, to pick up my lovely Rachel Villaire, who came to spend the new year with us before flying to England to do her DTS. We had some very much needed time together, 3-4 months away from the girl you are in love with is far to long!
Alas, the 3 weeks of being home came quickly to an end and before I knew it I was back on a plane to Washington DC for a 16 hour lay over, which was not such a bad thing, I did get to see the city, and it is beautiful!
I left LA on Monday and arrived back in Manchester on the Wednesday, it was a long journey, but it's good to be back! So good in fact!
As I arrived on the Monday I had only the 2 last days left which were the last 2 days of teaching because as of Monday the 14th of January we only spend 25%at the message HQ each week.
I am very excited for the next chapter of this course, for the next 10 weeks every Tuesday we get the privilege to work at a rehabilitation centre, helping men with addictions, we also get the chance to lead a bible study for them!
On Thursday I will be working at a school for kids who are not able to end public school, because of reasons such as: anger problems or disabilities.
And on Mondays and Wednesday we have bible teachings at the message HQ. Also on Wednesdays we have our Missions teams prep, there are a total of 3 missions teams and I have been asked to lead one of them, so please keep me in your prayers, that I may follow the steps that Jesus took in order to lead.
Thank you all for your prayer and support!
Much love
Jacob Kemp

It's December 12th and there is still no sign of snow! What happened?! I came back to England thinking that as soon as the Christmas season hit, snow followed, apparently not. There is plenty of rain though, if you'd like some, let me know.
My life over the past couple of weeks has been absolutely brilliant, my relationship with God has become even more intimate still and there is no sign of a stop to the search for an even deeper relationship.
In the first week of December, maybe even the last couple of days of November I was given the amazing chance to tour with 'In yer face' theatre company. 'In yer face' is a ministry that is part of 'the message' and they adapt stories from the bible to a current more relevant version so that the youth of Manchester can connect with it. That's what we are doing throughout December, traveling to schools, prisons and churches all over Manchester. And if you were wondering, no I am not acting, I am part of the band, the play is a musical, so I guess you'd call us the soundtrack. I am so very privileged to be a part of something like this, last Sunday we played at 2 churches and in that one day 12 people became followers of Christ! Praise god! So all the late nights and early morning are so worth it!
At the beginning of Genetik we were asked to write 4 songs, last Saturday me and 2 other friends finished 2 songs and we performed in a local market (uploading the videos soon). I have also written a couple other songs and was really hoping on releasing an 'autumn EP' but times got really busy and I haven't had the time for it at all.
There is only one week left of this term! It really is crazy to think thy I have been here for 4 months already!!! I can't believe I will be back in mexico in 8 days, I'm going home or the Christmas holidays!!! Yay!
Thank you all or you're amazing prayers, love and support!
Hope you are having the most wonderful Christmas season!
Jacob

Hey Guys!
How are you all! I hope that you are well and that God is doing amazing things in your life, you are all in my prayers! Thank you for your thoughts, Love and support, I really would not be here what I am doing if not for you all!
Last Saturday, the 17th of November 'The Message' -Which is the organization that my Genetik school is part of- had its 20th year Anniversary! What an amazing day to celebrate! 20 years of something that God put in the heart of one man and that man followed God and now look where we are, 20 years down the Line and we are seeing people in prisons all around Manchester getting saved weekly, Eden teams all over the country of England, multiple bands, such as 'Lz7' and 'The Tribe', Christian bands that made it into the secular charts.
Now If you have not heard of 'The Tribe' I am sorry, but this was one of the bands that was a big part of my childhood and for the celebration of 20 years they got back together to perform a couple songs and oh how it brought me back to my days of making up dances and dancing along to their songs.
Being here in Manchester is so incredible, I have been stretched and stretched and stretched and yet God continues to shape and change me, there never is a point that you get in your relationship with him when there is no more to learn, if you ever feel that reached that place then, there is something wrong. Because our God is infinite, mighty, holy, wonderful, exciting and our little brains could never fathom the real truth of how great he REALLY is, there is just to much!!!!!!!!
About a week ago I was laying on the floor in my room in complete awe of how Amazing my God is, and he took me to this verse: Matthew 6:11 'Give us today our daily bread', I was confused and was like, ummm yes, but what does this have to do with anything? Then he lead me to John 6:31-35, Where Jesus talks about the fact that He is the 'Bread of Life'. So when we ask 'Give us today our daily bread' in the Lords prayer, you are asking for more Jesus. And the word daily means, every day, not once a week, or when you feel like it, NO it means EVERY day. 
Have you ever missed having your breakfast? And then sorta been a bit grumpy? or tired? Or unable to concentrate? Well why when we don't spend that time with Our God do we not feel the same? Lost, confused, just downright sad.
The truth is, we should be hungry for him! More than we are for the things of this world. What do you do in your spare time? Do you search for more time with him? If you do, Praise God! If not, why don't you? 
Are you Hungry for food? or Gods food?
I got to share this with everyone at the Message yesterday and It impacted quite a few people, I hope it impacted you too!
Please continue to pray for me, that God will reveal even more of himself to me, and if you have any prayer reqests, I would love to pray for you. 
But now I must Go, off to help lead an Alpha tonight.
Be Blessed my friends!
Jacob

Hey friends!
It's funny really, growing up in YWAM I saw SO many people come through my life, all at different times, in different ways and in the DTS schools that we run I could always see a sense of 'family' within the tight group of friends that they were, as they spent 5-6 months, living in each others pockets and now being here, doing what I am doing I can finally understand that! Me and my fellow 17 other students who are doing this school with me are all becoming a family and I know that we are building life long friendships.
Always in my life as I was growing up, God always put somebody there to guide me through different stages as I grew to become the man I am today and without them I don't think I would be where I am today! Every Tuesday night at our church we run an alpha programe( basically a programe for non-Christians who want questions answered about who Jesus is) and at our last session a Slovakian man called Jurik came along, he has no idea who Jesus really was and had very basic knowledge of the bible. All throughout the night I got to talk to him and answer whatever questions he had, by the end of the night his entire view of Jesus had changed and excitedly ask me when our next session was!
Praise Jesus that God through me can work in such ways as simply as me talking to this man and me listening carefully for what God has to say, and because if that, now this man has changed, please pray for him that nothing will come in is way of coming next week and that I will also say that right things to him next week!
Thank you all for your continuous prayers and support! Be blessed and know that me being here in man Manchester is a dream come true! This is exactly where God wants me!
All my love!
Be blessed!
Jacob

Hey friends!
I wish I could see you all face to face to tell you all of the amazing things that are happening in my life! And yes I do use the word 'amazing' a lot. And that Is because my life is truly amazing! Not because of the fact that I am specail or good at something, simply because I chose to follow my lord Jesus Christ and oh how he blesses me day in and day out! And you know what? Even though you may not see it! He is blessing you too!
Thank you all who take the time to spend 5 or 10 minutes with me in Manchester while you sit and read this. I really do aprecciate it!
What has been happening in the past 2 weeks? Well let me tell you!
God is good and his love never fails. My schedule is insane and I would never be able to get through each day if not for his strength that fills me! Twice a week on Wednesdays and Friday's we have youth clubs, one for secondary school kids and the other for primary school kids. On Tuesday's we are starting an alpha course of which I will be helping to run, but earlier on this day I am giving guitar lessons in a school. On Monday's me and my house mates are starting a prayer and worship night and on Sunday nights we go to a night service of a big church in town called !Audacious. These are all evening activity's, in the day time we have teachings from speakers on subjects like, evangelism, the trinity, the fathers heart and so many more! We also have vocal training and guitar lessons.
There is so much happening and I am so excited about what God is doing! And I know that I wouldn't be here with him and your prayers. Please pray for continued strength! God is good and never fails!
Be blessed brothers and sisters!
My love
Jacob