Canada

Hello all,

Tomorrow, I am going to Canada until Monday so my phone will be off and I will likely not have internet connection.  You are of course still welcome to leave me facebook/phone/twitter messages and I will happily check them upon my return to the states.

There is so much going on in my life right now that I don't even know where to begin to share with you all.  First of all, I would love to know who left the comments on my last post but they posted as anonymous.  Reveal yourself!  But seriously, I would love to know who you are if you are reading/commenting.

I am beginning to see more and more the impact of what we are doing.  First of all, it is weird to stop and think that we are making a difference in the lives of thousands of children who have suffered atrocities that I could never personally imagine.  It is so humbling and it makes me want to work even harder every time I am feeling tired or grumpy.  

It is also so special to me personally to see the difference we are making in the lives of young people here in the states.  I am literally watching lives transform as they realize that there is a war going on and that they can be a part of ending it.  If only a handful of young people were touched enough by this to dedicate their lives to justice and love, then every second of this journey was worth it.

I am learning more and more that this organization has started a revolution of love.  There really is no greater force on earth.  By sacrificing and giving of ourselves and doing hard work for those we may not even know, we can change the course of this dark planet.  I was reminded today of a discussion I had with my good friend, Austin before I left for tour.  He said that this world is full of darkness, everywhere we look.  And when we step outside of ourselves long enough to let God work through us and do good, we repel that darkness, if only for a short time.  And for that short time, the darkness knows that there is a greater force that can and will stop it eventually.

I believe there are hundreds of ways to repel the darkness.  By showing love, creating something beautiful, extending kindness to someone, sacrificing of ourselves, or doing anything else that shows the true light of how we were meant to be, we bring hope.

I am also thinking a lot about my friend and mentor, Eric Falk.  If you didn't know him, I am sorry because he was truly the most wonderful person I have ever known.  I think he would be totally onboard with what we are doing right now and I wish so badly that he was here to listen to my stories and concerns and fears.  I am also so grateful for my amazing support system at home.  My friends and family are so outrageously good to me and I genuinely can't wait to see them all again.  

I apologize for the scattered nature of this post but my mind is racing in lots of directions right now.  I also need to go make sure our van is ready to get past the border of Canada.  :)

Keep Your Eyes Open,

Brandon

Abduct Yourself

You should all check out this website (http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com)

This is what I am doing and it is going to be massive. I hope you all support it. The Nashville event is going to be at Centennial Park and it should be amazing.

On another, less fun note, I am definitely still in need of donations. If any of you have anything at all to spare, I could definitely use it as we are on our own for food and other necessities (toiletries, and stuff) while on the road. I realize we are all struggling in our own ways right now, but every little bit helps. :)

It is currently snowing in Kansas. And, by snowing, I mean there is a blizzard advisory. The forecast calls for 15 inches and I just walked in about ten to get out to the van. Pretty intense. Also, we are supposed to go to Minnesota and North Dakota and both are pretty flooded right now. Oh, the road...

I am seeing so many interesting patterns in people on the road. It is amazing to see the light bulb go off in peoples' heads when they realize that this war is even going on...and then that they can do something about it...and then the commitment inside to do something about it. It is beautiful to see. I am also noticing how so many people have such different opinions about love. It is strange, really. I guess it is hard to know a thing if you can't even define it and I have been really contemplating what the definition of love is. The Bible obviously gives the perfect definition of it, so I guess what I am really trying to do is find a modern interpretation of what exactly it all means. Ideas? Thoughts?

I love you all.

Brandon

Things I Have Learned On The Road

When driving in a hurry, Heather has the supernatural ability to break the sound barrier (ok, so she was "only" going 95 mph in a 60 mph zone).

When Tessa burps, it is like her entire soul is speaking to us very loudly.

If Andre were a car, he would be a yellow VW bus.  You know, like the one on Little Miss Sunshine.

I have amazing family members and friends who somehow always seem to know exactly what I need from them and when.

Being on the road, away from them all, is harder than I imagined.  It is also, however, the most rewarding experience I have ever had.

Art, in all of its various forms, is extremely important to me and I am a better person when I am engaging with it.

Kings of Leon never get old.

Nothing can bring my team together quite like a disney movie (I'm looking at you, The Emperor's New Groove).

Most people have inherent good and evil inside of them and we have met so many who are trying ever day to embrace the good.

Perkin's restaurant and bakery sells 6 giant cookies for $3!

Sonic Happy Hour makes us all so happy that we literally ended a fight and started giggling with excitement when we passed Sonic and realized it was between 2:00 and 4:00.

The combination of Benadryl and Red Bull evens each other out and leaves me at a normal energy level, minus the allergy symptoms.

I miss the other roadies and IC staff more every day we are apart.

I am more selfish than I initially realized, but I can already see drastic improvement in myself.

Sometimes, the tornado sirens go off in Kansas and nobody even reacts.

All of us on the Middle America team have strange voices that we use when we get bored.  Tessa's scares me, Andre's is scarily on point, and Heathers' never, ever fail to make me laugh.

Oprah really is a frighteningly powerful person.  Everyone knows her and cares what she thinks.  And everyone has written her a letter at one point.

Harry Potter fans are everywhere and when you meet one, you can skip right past the small talk and onto important things, like what house they are in and what their patronus looks like.

Taco bell does, eventually, get old.

However, I could still eat cheese dip from a Mexican restaurant every single day.

Wearing the same clothes and not showering for three days in a row sucks, but it is not so offensive that people can't stand to be around you.

Sleep is underrated, no matter what anyone says.  I miss it.

All close friends should start a book club.  The Middle America Roadie book club is currently reading "Blue Like Jazz".  Next in line are "The Shack" and "Mere Christianity".

Every day, I am alive and, at least for that day, I am the best me that I can be.

I can ALWAYS use more financial support.  Send checks to my parents.  No, seriously.  :)

With Hope,

Brandon

Breathe In, Breathe Out

“Sound character provides the power with which a person may ride the emergencies of life instead of being overwhelmed by them."

- Og Mandino

Well, I guess I am still working on building sound character, because this day/week/month/internship got to a really overwhelming point today. Let me rewind...

Last week, we got to go to a T.I. concert for free...it was amazing...I got down...a screening at Hendrix College in Arkansas was so powerful that I actually broke down and cried...I was on stage...that night, we stayed in the "Eco House"...ask me about the love temple there...we met new friends in Springfield, Missouri...Beebs, Tamra, Carrie, Sophia, JonkaTonks, Ali, and Pipkin...I miss you all dearly...seriously, I want to come back to you right now...after watching an episode of the Amazing Race, Heather wants to apply with Paige...we thought we were going to have to sleep in the van and instead, we ended up staying in a haunted mansion...I witnessed Heather chase her hot pink panties through a gas station parking lot in Wichita, Kansas, after a strong gust of wind carried them out of her suitcase.

In between all of this amazing-ness, we have dealt with a bipolar GPS system, had our hair cut at a Paul Mitchell school (I'm in love with my new euro-hawk), and learned that after every frustration passes, there is usually laughter and closeness.

Also my friends have been there for me right when I needed them. For whatever reason, today has been VERY rough for me. You know those days where you sleep ten minutes too late and it feels like it just makes everything a little harder? Today is one of those days. Then, we pulled into this Panera to steal free Wi-Fi and my good friend, Chelsea Smith (fireconversations.blogspot.com), posted a ridiculously generous blog about me. I am not even sure how to respond to something so kind and needed because my mind is very scattered right now, but it meant more to me than she likely realizes and I needed it RIGHT when I read it.

To my friends and family at home, I do miss you all so much and I am learning to appreciate every second that I have spent with you and every tick/habit/mannerism that may have ever bothered me previously. You're all amazing and I truly can't wait to spend time with you each upon my return in May.

Also, I am taken back by the kindness, grace, and patience shown to me by the three people I currently share a very messy van with. To think that two months ago, we were complete strangers is the strangest thought ever. The little things they do to take care of me and let me know they understand make all the difference. From Heather buying me coffee when I'm tired to Tessa laughing and telling me to take some Kelly Clarkson time for myself to Andre letting me sleep in a bed and taking the floor, these people are the definition of community and of servanthood and of greatness and I am humbled to know them.

I hope you all can take a bit of time to watch the movie we are touring. It is online for free and it has changed my life completely. Visit therescue.invisiblechildren.com and watch the movie. Sign up for the event. Find a screening near you and go to it. Nashville people, you all BETTER go to the screening at Christ Church in April. I will post more details about that later.

Love, coffee, and Kelly Clarkson to you all.

Brandon