08 December 2006
Blood Diamonds Decline, Poverty Doesn't
Here's a story on Yahoo!News about the conflict diamond trade and how -- even now that Sierra Leone and other countries are more politically stable -- poverty reigns and conflict diamonds are still being traded.
I'm thinking about seeing Blood Diamond this weekend...I'll be sure to post if I think it's worth your two hours and eight bucks.
As I learn more and more about the mission field we're entering and the people we'll be meeting, I'm struck by the way that economics, politics, justice and faith intersect and I wonder how our team will respond when we're face-to-face with the reality of life in West Africa. I'm expecting the experience in Liberia and Sierra Leone to be quite different from my experience in Ghana. I simply pray that God will keep my heart, eyes, and ears open to God's people and to the opportunities that present themselves to us.
I'm thinking about seeing Blood Diamond this weekend...I'll be sure to post if I think it's worth your two hours and eight bucks.As I learn more and more about the mission field we're entering and the people we'll be meeting, I'm struck by the way that economics, politics, justice and faith intersect and I wonder how our team will respond when we're face-to-face with the reality of life in West Africa. I'm expecting the experience in Liberia and Sierra Leone to be quite different from my experience in Ghana. I simply pray that God will keep my heart, eyes, and ears open to God's people and to the opportunities that present themselves to us.
06 December 2006
Why I'm Going
When I went to Ghana three years ago, I had an ideal experience. I was originally scheduled to be there for three weeks...once I got there and realized how much fun it was going to be, I extended my stay an extra few weeks. It's a decision that cost me a big chunk of change in airfare re-booking fees, but it was the best possible thing I could have done. I made great friends, had a ton of fun, and deepened my relationship with God in a way that I could never have imagined.
So when Marilyn Griffith explained that she and her husband Don would be leading a trip in January '07, it was a no-brainer for me to be a part of the team. Marilyn and Don had visited Liberia and Sierra Leone in January of 2006, and they brought back pictures and stories that brought back to me all the reasons my trip to Ghana was so great. I was hooked!
But as the trip developed, it became clear that the specific mission of this mission team would be, shall we say, outside the realm of my expertise. Most of the folks going on this trip are either doctors, nurses, or construction experts. Sadly, despite the best efforts of my father, my Scoutmasters, and the faculty of Indiana University, I am neither a medical professional nor a construction expert. So I had agreed to the trip but had no idea what role I might play!
So in the past few weeks, Don and Marilyn have done a great job helping me feel like I actually do have something to contribute to the team's work, and I feel like what I'll be doing is significant. I'll get to help with a Children for Peace program in Liberia. And then I'll get to know a bunch of the students and faculty in Jaiama. One of the big, exciting things we'll be working on is a video about what we're supporting in Jaiama: building projects at Jaiama Secondary School, scholarships for the students, and ongoing supply needs.
I'm going over there to hear the story, so I can tell the story. I believe that God has led us all together to do great things through us, and I just feel like it's the right thing to do.
So when Marilyn Griffith explained that she and her husband Don would be leading a trip in January '07, it was a no-brainer for me to be a part of the team. Marilyn and Don had visited Liberia and Sierra Leone in January of 2006, and they brought back pictures and stories that brought back to me all the reasons my trip to Ghana was so great. I was hooked!
But as the trip developed, it became clear that the specific mission of this mission team would be, shall we say, outside the realm of my expertise. Most of the folks going on this trip are either doctors, nurses, or construction experts. Sadly, despite the best efforts of my father, my Scoutmasters, and the faculty of Indiana University, I am neither a medical professional nor a construction expert. So I had agreed to the trip but had no idea what role I might play!
So in the past few weeks, Don and Marilyn have done a great job helping me feel like I actually do have something to contribute to the team's work, and I feel like what I'll be doing is significant. I'll get to help with a Children for Peace program in Liberia. And then I'll get to know a bunch of the students and faculty in Jaiama. One of the big, exciting things we'll be working on is a video about what we're supporting in Jaiama: building projects at Jaiama Secondary School, scholarships for the students, and ongoing supply needs.I'm going over there to hear the story, so I can tell the story. I believe that God has led us all together to do great things through us, and I just feel like it's the right thing to do.
04 December 2006
Sierra Leone Is Hot!
Later this week, Warner Bros. releases Blood Diamond, an action drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly. They were on Oprah today, too.It seems that our trip coincides with a real upturn in awareness of what went on in the 90s and what's going on today in Sierra Leone.
I pray that what we do will complement the efforts of others around the world to tell the story and make things better in partnership with the students, staff, and families of Jaiama Secondary School and the people of the area.
Status Report
Days until the 12/14/06 Indy West District Operation Classroom meeting: 10
Days until the 01/02/07 packing party: 29
Days until the 01/04/07 departure: 31
Fundraising left for me to accomplish: $1,170.00 due December 20
Immediate tasks that I'm responsible for:
- Secure a borrowed video camera
- Create songbooks for the trip
- Figure out a Children For Peace program with Jan (including, apparently, the fine art of balloon-animal-making)
In a few days, the challenge of packing and unpacking and repacking will begin. Figuring out how to get the suitcase as close to 50 pounds without going over is like some Alice-In-Wonderland-on-The-Price-Is-Right nightmare. I'm glad I've got the rest of the team to lend some support and guidance as we navigate that process!
03 December 2006
Recommended Reading
My preparation for the Africa trip continues...hard to believe that a month from now we'll be up-all-night preparing for the trip. The clock at the top of the page just keeps ticking away! I give thanks to God that our flight leaves Indy at 1:30ish in the afternoon on our departure day (Jaunary 4th) so we don't have to be at the airport until 10:30 or so! This means I might actually get some sleep the night before!
One of the books I've been reading to prepare is a book called Blood Diamonds, by Greg Campbell. It tells the story of the diamond trade and the events and ideas that led up to the conflict in Sierra Leone. It is at times horrifying, but it gives great insights into the history and culture that have led to the situation we'll encounter on our trip.
The area of Sierra Leone we'll be visiting is pretty much right in the middle of the diamond mining area of the country. There's a lot riding on the success of Jaiama Secondary School, which was virtually obliterated during the years of conflict. If the school is able to rebuild and get back to its prior capacity (and contribute to the tradition which led to the area being known as "The Athens of West Africa"), then word -- and hope -- will spread like wildfire all around Sierra Leone. Jaiama is kind of the "If they can make it work there, we can make it work anywhere" proving ground -- and I, for one, am excited about the opportunity God has placed before us to rebuild hope there, so hope can be rebuilt all over the country.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: I've got about $1,170 to go, and a short time to get there. Final payments are due on December 20, so I hope you'll forgive any second (or third!) requests that I may have made...this trip is hugely important to me, and I'm going to work my butt off to make it happen! I love you and thank God for the opportunity that you can help provide for me and for the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone.
One of the books I've been reading to prepare is a book called Blood Diamonds, by Greg Campbell. It tells the story of the diamond trade and the events and ideas that led up to the conflict in Sierra Leone. It is at times horrifying, but it gives great insights into the history and culture that have led to the situation we'll encounter on our trip.The area of Sierra Leone we'll be visiting is pretty much right in the middle of the diamond mining area of the country. There's a lot riding on the success of Jaiama Secondary School, which was virtually obliterated during the years of conflict. If the school is able to rebuild and get back to its prior capacity (and contribute to the tradition which led to the area being known as "The Athens of West Africa"), then word -- and hope -- will spread like wildfire all around Sierra Leone. Jaiama is kind of the "If they can make it work there, we can make it work anywhere" proving ground -- and I, for one, am excited about the opportunity God has placed before us to rebuild hope there, so hope can be rebuilt all over the country.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: I've got about $1,170 to go, and a short time to get there. Final payments are due on December 20, so I hope you'll forgive any second (or third!) requests that I may have made...this trip is hugely important to me, and I'm going to work my butt off to make it happen! I love you and thank God for the opportunity that you can help provide for me and for the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone.
