a journey for justice.

safe.

2012-02-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
-Shedd

This little ship is a little worse for wear, but I can assure you that my heart is completely content and filled with joy.

If you have not heard, I was in a motorcycle accident here in Cambodia. I am doing well, praise the Lord! However, the pastor who was driving our moto is in rough shape. Here's the story:

I have been staying in the Cambodian border town of Poi Pet with a sweet missionary family from the Philippines. They have been in ministry here in Cambodia for the last 10 years, and have an amazing heart for their community. Perlito is a pastor there, and he had already started a church in another city, Kampong Thom prior to moving to Poi Pet.

On Monday, he was headed to Kampong Thom to meet with the pastors in that community. I had decided to go along with him, as a good friend of mine from YWAM is living there, and I was excited to visit him. The drive from Poi Pet to Kampong Thom is about 4 hours by motorcycle, and we had a lovely and uneventful first half of the drive. We stopped for lunch in the city of Siem Reap, a city known for tourism and the historic Angkor Wat.

After leaving from lunch, we were on the road for only about 10 minutes, when a stationary car parked on the side of the road suddenly turned across traffic without signaling or looking. Unfortunately, as he turned out, he collided with us. Perlito did his best to stop, but there was no time. The car had pinned his leg, and as he flipped over the front of the bike, his Femur was broken and his ACL was ruptured. I had the most dramatic fall, but amazingly have minimal injuries! I ended up flying over the top of Perlito, and landing about 20 feet ahead of the bike.

The only way I can account for my lack of serious injuries is divine protection. I am quite badly scraped, bruised & swollen, with an ankle sprain and a mid-foot sprain - but no broken bones or any other serious injuries! Also, somehow everything I was carrying with me also remained unbroken - including my iphone (which has been indispensable over the past week) and my nice camera. I couldn't believe it!

We were helped by MANY concerned bystanders, who not only helped us off the road, but chased down the driver of the car, who decided he should escape the scene on foot. An ambulance took us to a local clinic, and I got a first-hand experience of how the medical system works (err....doesn't work) here. After a few hours at this ill-equipped clinic, I had regained my bearings, seen Perlito's initial x-ray showing a complete displaces fracture of the femur, and demanded that we be moved to the international hospital in town.

Thankfully, we were in a city populated by many tourists, so this hospital is one of the better hospitals in Cambodia. It doesn't really hold a candle to US hospitals....but heck, it was a huge step in the right direction. However, upon arrival, I discovered another hurdle of the Cambodian medical system -- they will not treat any major medical cases without a deposit of at least half the total estimate for treatment. In Perlito's case, the amount needed for a deposit was $5,000.00 USD. Now, there are not many people I know that keep that amount in petty cash, and here in Cambodia, that amount is nearly unthinkable. But without the money, the hospital will not admit, treat, or give any sort of medication.

The next hours were a nightmare of attempting to communicate with the hospital staff, as well as finding the money to deposit, all while Perlito had no pain meds or treatment (other than more x-rays) at all. Finally, through some local connections, we found someone with a card suitable for the deposit, and almost 10 hours after the accident, Perlito was admitted and his bone was set.

There was no surgeon here capable of the surgery here in Siem Reap, so the surgeon was flown from Phnom Penh, and arrived the following day. Everyone at Freedom's Promise was amazingly helpful in handing the money situation to make sure he was able to have the surgery, and getting the word out for people to join us in prayer.

The surgery was successful, but Perlito will eventually also need his ACL repaired, which will be an additional cost.

Please be in prayer for Perlito's family: his wife Rose and their two daughters. Also, they are in desperate need of financial support. Freedom's Promise came through in the clutch, but that money is allotted to help other projects. We have already raised about $3,000.00 toward a medical bill that will total close to $10,000.00 - but that is not including the cost of continued care, or the eventual ACL repair.

If you wish to donate to help Perlito & Rose, please click on the link below and write my name in the info line - 100% of the money donated will to to help with their medical bills. Thank you for your loving support and prayers from all over the world!!

DONATE

so, I made a movie!

2012-01-25T01:03:00.000-08:00

...well, a tiny movie :)
Click HERE to view it on youtube

I had fun making it,
hope you have fun watching it!

still no "real" photos...

2012-01-22T01:22:00.000-08:00

In honor of the Chinese new year and a lazy Sunday afternoon, here is the latest iphone photo update :)

Obviously, Bora and I take ourselves very seriously.

learning how to write Khmer numbers is harder than it looks

this man had his leg blown off by a landmine left over from the Khmer Rouge...he also makes the most BEAUTIFUL wood carvings!

the road ahead

lime and pepper for a lunchtime sauce

and finally, Happy New Year!!

who, me?

2012-01-22T01:18:00.000-08:00

When traveling with missionaries in a foreign country, it seems inevitable that they ask you to preach. This has happened to me over and over again throughout my travels.
I am not a trained preacher, I am not especially eloquent, but I am different, and that is enough! The honest truth is that I LOVE sharing, I don’t care if it is one on one, or speaking to a group of hundreds. So I always enjoy the opportunity to share about my savior and best friend. However, this trip has humbled me in this particular area, given the specific circumstances of my sharing.

The first request that was presented to me was to preach at church in the village last Sunday. Of course, I agreed, but was taken aback a moment later when the subject was presented to me: offering. They wanted me to speak…..on offering? To a village of people who are struggling to feed their children? Me? Really? I went up to my bed that evening in a house where I could see through the slats that made up the walls, and while I listened to the rats scurrying around under my bed, I had a Moses moment. Who am I to do this? Who in the world am I to talk about this topic, Lord? I, who have so much, and offer so little back? Talk about humbling. But as He often does, He softly whispered to my spirit the words I needed to hear.

The second request came soon after; I was asked to speak on a much broader topic, but this time….to a room full of pastors! And not just any pastors, a group of Cambodian pastors who are all beautifully active in serving the children of their community. Again, I questioned my ability to say anything that could be helpful. And again, the Lord provided words to say. Praise Him!! What a privilege to be simply a mouthpiece. In the end, I should never have worried – it wasn’t me talking to them anyway. It was God.
It was always God.

...and the greatest is love.

2012-01-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

As I begin this update to you, my wonderful family in the US, all I want to say is thanks be to God. I continually sit in awe of Him as he orchestrates a story that is so much bigger than my own. He is the beginning and the end, and even though my heart is breaking for those who are suffering in this world, I know that He is holding them in his hands.

Working amidst issues like human trafficking and the exploitation of women & children is a difficult task. There are many emotions one faces in response to these issues: repulsion, anger, sadness, inadequacy, and hopelessness…even hardness of heart in an effort to stay distanced from the pain of others.
All of these emotions are normal reactions to issues of this magnitude. The challenge becomes holding onto faith, hope, and love. These fly in the face of evil, and allow us to fight back. I am beyond thankful that I have seen generous quantities of all three as I have been in Cambodia. The LOVE that is being poured out is beyond words. I have been astounded at the FAITH of those with nothing on earth, but with eternal joy. And I see that through the work being done here, there truly is HOPE for the future of this country.The following is an update on my past week. Of course, it already feels like a lifetime that I’ve been here – just as once I arrive back in the states, it will feel like no time at all. Time is an odd thing, isn't it?

I find myself continually surprised at how easily I settle into life in other countries. It must be the Lord, but I have eaten everything set in front of me (loving every bite!!) and have not been sick. I have legs marked up and down with mosquito bites, and no malaria. I have spent hours upon hours on a moto and have remained safe. Thank you for your prayers, as I know that is what keeps me going.

The first time I came to Cambodia, I never thought I’d be able to live here long term. But through the Lord’s grace, I am loving every minute! I find myself craving rice & noodle soup for breakfast, and happily eating pickled fish. Somehow, longer term doesn’t seem completely out of the question…..

I had planned to stay here in Phnom Penh for the first week of my journey, but of course, everything has been different than expected….in wonderful ways! I spent one day here in the city before heading south to the Svay Rieng provence (see map), to visit some of the Kone Kmeng projects, take photos, and listen to stories. I have been so blessed to be an observer, to simply sit at the feet of my new friends and listen. For those unfamiliar with Kone Kmeng, visit their website: http://www.kone-kmeng.org/ – they do wonderful work with the church throughout Cambodia.

The stories I heard were widely varied, but all contained a similar message: the redemptive love of Christ. I spoke with a dear lady who was unable to get out of bed for years due to a combination of HIV symptoms & depression. The Lord has completely turned her life around, she is no longer symptomatic and is able to maintain a job to support herself! Another woman fell from her bike last August, and because of lack of medical care, she no longer has use of her arm – but still is praising Jesus with her whole life!

From Svay Rieng, I returned to Phnom Penh for a short evening before heading out again, this time to a village in the Tekao provence, where I spent the weekend totally immersed in village life. It took less than two days for me to feel like I had a whole village of old friends, despite the language barrier! What amazing people!!

After a full weekend of photos, food, more travel, laughing and playing with children, celebrating with the church in Charoung Sdoa, and many hours on the moto, we were headed back to Phnom Penh (aka MORE moto hours…do you see a trend here?). Besides taking me on a literal adventure, Paneth also took me on a culinary adventure – stopping frequently at roadside stands to sample whatever they were offering. I have to admit, my perspective of Khmer food is totally changed – I can’t get enough!

This week has already been chock full of meetings, interviews, and the second annual Kone Kmeng conference. I have much to say about that….but it is for another day.

iphone photo journal.

2012-01-16T21:29:00.000-08:00

how to pack like a champ

zero degrees in Seoul

welcome!!

pretty gates - Phnom Penh

one of my bedroom companions - Svay Rieng

love in unlikely places - Svay Rieng

morning in the village - Tekao

learning to weave - Tekao

morning coffee - Phnom Penh

Leang Eng being stunning - Kone Kmeng annual conference, Phnom Penh

one week

2012-01-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

Hello from Phnom Penh! I have been here one week now, but never in one place for more than two nights in a row. I must have been delirious when I imagined my first week in the country would be a quiet one....not so!

Prior to leaving, it had been difficult to summarize my goals and objectives for this trip, as they are so varied. But upon arrival, everything has sorted itself out in the most miraculous way possible! I have been able to listen to story upon story of God's faithfulness, make new acquaintances, and be completely flexible to follow where the Lord is leading.
I still have a laundry list of things to do....but I am trusting that everything will be accomplished, even if it isn't quite how I envisioned.

More coming shortly when I can keep my eyelids from slamming shut! Pictures will also be coming once I can sort through a file-type mix up.

here we go again!

2012-01-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

Aaaaand I'm off! Headed out of the good 'ol USA one more time to see what kind of adventures are in store. With a month of them to write about, I'm sure there will be a lot more action around here. The plan at the moment looks like three weeks in Cambodia and one week in Thailand. I have not been to Thailand except for one (slightly illegal?) trip over a river, so I'm excited to be a real visitor....stamped passport and everything :)

Please keep me in your prayers - for safe travels, good health, and that God's name would be glorified in every encounter I might have.

So I'm going to strap on my green wellies and see what's around the corner!

thankful: 2011 in pictures.

2011-11-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

Haven't blogged a whole lot this year, but that does not mean it wasn't chock full of love, beauty, JOY, amazing people, and blessings that I don't deserve.

thankful for many lazy afternoons spent with this truly outstanding woman

thankful for a season to celebrate our Savior

thankful for my tiny house...

...and for the beautiful friend I share it with.

thankful for the small things

...for tiny reminders of a great Creator

...for being allowed to enjoy the earth every day

...for the privilege to work with noble animals

...for the opportunity to serve in Belize...

...and to serve a team who gives back. [thankful for ALL of you!]

thankful that grace is new every morning

thankful for a friend who inspires me to LIVE every day to the fullest

...for sisterly love

...for students who make me smile every single day

...for one of the coolest brothers on the planet

...for family adventures

...for my beautiful mother...

...and a dad who truly is my hero.

Thankful for this place & all the sunsets we have shared

...for blessings in all sizes

...for watching my little brother be a dad

...for truth in unlikely places

...for friends who inspire me

...for rainy nights with friends

...for time to reflect

...for JOY despite the storm

...for the creativity that surrounds me every moment

...for my newest love

...and finally, for the amazing opportunity to teach little girls that they really can fly.

Thank you, 2011, for all you have taught me.

full?

2011-04-20T20:22:00.001-07:00

Today I received a short survey from an old friend of mine. She was researching different ways that people spend their time. Most of the questions were relatively brief, but there was one question at the very end that piqued my interest.

How would you define, for yourself, “living life to the fullest?” What would that look like to you?

hmmm.....here was something I hadn't thought of in a while.

It was a fun few minutes of pondering for me, so I thought I'd share! For what it's worth, this was my answer:

"I would have to say that my definition of “living life to the fullest” has dramatically changed over the past few years. For the majority of my life, living a full life meant doing as many things as possible: traveling to the most places, trying my hand at different jobs, being with people as much as I could be, etc.
Now, however, I would define it less in terms of quantity and more in terms of quality.
Rather than asking myself how many countries I still haven’t “checked of the list,” I care more about returning to the same places and continuing to build relationships with the people there. Rather than trying to find the best job for me, I want to be the very best person for whatever job I am currently working at.
Rather than being friends with as many people as possible, I try to love each of my friends to the very best of my ability.
Rather than being “happy” all the time to please others, I prefer be honest about what I’m feeling so that I can be genuinely myself.
Those are the things that will make it possible to live a full life. There is no way I could do it if I was selfishly trying to cram in as much as possible. Because, last time I checked, "busy" might mean a full day....but I sure don't want that to define my life.

I mean, isn't life more about what we give?

Additionally, there are two crucial aspects I need to understand about myself in order to live life to the fullest: 1) knowing my limitations/boundaries (aka “how much is too much”) and 2) knowing when and how to take risks (and when the time comes, being willing to give up the security that “risk” inherently involves). I also try to consistently re-evaluate where I am, and whether I am going in the direction that I had hoped.
I’m sure my thoughts and opinions on living life to the fullest will continue to change as I get older, but I hope that by living this way, I will be able to live a life with as few regrets as possible."

So, how will you live your life to the fullest?

the power of half.

2011-03-01T21:47:00.000-08:00

"...what's fascinating is, you know that old saying? -- 'if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime?' ....well, The Hunger Project's perspective is...the man already knows how to fish. The man doesn't have the resources to be able to fish. The man could probably teach you how to fish...and by the way, if you really want success, the man almost always has to be a woman."
(excerpt from an interview with author Kevin Salwen)

love love love love love this.

I just finished reading The Power of Half, by Kevin Salwen & Hannah Salwen, and was pleasantly surprised by this little book. It is the story of a family that downsizes their lifestyle to give to others. It is fun to see how the family reacts to these shifts, and through the process, how they grow closer to one another. There is also a little dialogue on addressing the needs of the developing world as a westerner, which, of course, I love. This book reminded me a little of Serve God Save the Planet (Matthew Sleeth, MD) -- another worthy read -- but The Power of Half has a humanitarian focus instead of an environmental focus.

Another thing that is lovely about this book is that it is chock full of amazing quotes by other people that inspired the family. Here are a few of my favorites:

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about." - Charles Kingsley

"If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito." - Anita Roddick

"To be nobody but yourself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you like everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle human beings can fight." - e. e. cummings

and, my personal favorite:

"The education you have earned and received gives you unique status and unique responsibilities...That is your privilege and your burden. If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify with not only the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose realities you have helped transform for the better. We do not need magic to change the world; we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better." - J.K. Rowling

i don't want to go where the majority goes.

2011-02-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Are we really ok with our life looking like this?

or....with some guts and super hard work, maybe it would look more like this:

on love.

2011-02-14T20:42:00.001-08:00

As the official most loverish holiday of the year draws to a close, I find myself contemplating, well.....love.

My thoughts seem to go in every direction at once and come to no particular conclusion, but in that meandering journey, they cross over many delightful bumps. I think of the people I love, of the places that have been meaningful in my life, and of experiences that have tested and challenged me to grow in my capacity to love.

Side note: one thing I love is the aerial photography of Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Bertrand is a French guy who loves the planet. He also floats around in the air and takes breathtaking photographs of the planet to help others see the immense beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis. Funny how a little perspective changes everything, don't you think? ....but back to the subject at hand.

Love can be described as so many things. And wise people (people much smarter that I) have philosophized about it for centuries. There are theories and types and categories and reasons for it to exist. And I am certainly not bright enough to shed any new light on the matter. At least, not thus far on my short journey through life. However, there are two key observations that I have made throughout my dealings with love.
1) The amount you get is not directly proportional to the amount you are able to give away
2) The more you give, the more you have to give and (bonus!) the more you want to give.
Interesting. And I'm not talking sex here. I'm talking unconditional acceptance, devotion, loyalty, service, and sacrifice.

And the only thing I can land upon at the end of my general surmising on the topic of love is that there must be a source. A source at which this process of this giving of love must be started. This source must be never ending, all-encompassing, accessible to every human being on the planet, and contain an inexhaustible supply. Perhaps this is our......Creator. One who loves all of creation with parental devotion. The one who goes before and after, who is outside of time. Who knows every hair on our head and every worry in our heart. This is the God I am passionate for. This is somewhere I can start.

Passion. Now, there is something; could this be inextricably linked to love? My curiosity lead me to my usual destination when I am chewing on words: dictionary.com. This marvelous tool has helped on many occasions, but I will spare you all the definitions this time, as both words are used to define the other multiple times. I searched both "love" & "passion," and interestingly enough, it was not the definitions that peaked my interest:

From this non-religious website, I got a glimpse of God. I will end my musings with the dictionary.com origin of the word 'passion,' and synonyms of 'love.'

Origin:
1125–75; Middle English (<> late Old English passiōn ), special use of Late Latin passiō suffering, submission, derivative of Latin passus, past participle of patī to suffer, submit; see -ion

—Synonyms
1. tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2. Love, affection, devotion all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15. like. 16. adore, adulate, worship.

One simply could not exist without the other.

Happy Valentines Day

who we are.

2011-01-23T14:17:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I get discouraged because it seems that "Christians" - especially in the media - have become a bit...hokey? Irrelevant? Not Christ-like? We are portrayed as haters instead of lovers, as judgmental instead of welcoming. Maybe we have deserved this (I am far from Christ-like....on a daily basis!) but I hope that the tide is turning and that we might be known for our LOVE.

The following was posted last Sunday during a gathering of some of my dearest friends and family (aka church...but I hate to say that because the Church is really SO much more....), and I am so encouraged because this is a portrait of Christianity that I can understand.

We come from far and wide; 
We have our own stories to tell who we are
 Stories of places and people and experiences 
Tales of discovery and disappointment.

Somewhere between there and here,
 God has become a part of our adventure; 
Part of our walking and speaking and breathing,
 In us and through us and before us.

We have joined our lives with the story of  Christ,
And begun to act as if it were true; 
Taking the words to be gospel, 
And the sound of them to be the breath of life.

Sometime between then and now,
 God has come to dwell among us, 
Breathing the Spirit into our hearts
 So that we may see and hear and feel.

With our friends and fellow travelers, 
We have measured our days by the kingdom 
And our nights by the joy of salvation; 
Seeking what is lost within us.

We are the substance of Christ’s dreaming 
The first fruits and the foretaste 
The small and suffering people
 In whom Christ has pleased to dwell.

But we are also the lost children;
 The straying sheep and the dishonest servants, 
The rich young fools and the rock-bearing elders, 
The timid followers and the traitorous disciples.

We often forget the story which came to us, 
Preferring order to uncertainty;
 Orthodoxy to love,
 And religious piety to unmerited grace.

Come to us again, Lord Jesus, 
And whisper your words of welcome; 
Fill our hearts with reckless wonder, 
And our minds with splendid nonsense.

Awake in us the dream of the kingdom; 
Resurrect our dead and perished visions; 
Alert us to the heaven in our midst; 
And quicken us to laugh and love.

Here we have no lasting city; 
No temple nor castle nor club; 
Here we have no religious refuge 
In which to hide from your gratuitous chaos.

So make us to be the dwelling of Christ,
 The holy shelter in which the flame may burn;
 That the story may go on and the truth be told, 
And mercy come to your good earth.
Amen.

remember.

2011-01-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

In honor of the day, this is the last bit of the last speech of Martin Luther King Jr. When he gave this speech, he was in Memphis supporting a strike by the garbage workers of the city. He urges others to stop and take notice of what is happening to these workers. Today, his words are still true....stop and take notice, stop and help. There are people at this moment who are suffering under the oppression of injustice. Children are working as slaves in sweatshops to make nike shoes, women are being sold and abused, people are dying because they have no water. Pay attention! Learn what it looks like to love well.

This world needs more people like this.

"Now, let me say as I move to my conclusion that we've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point, in Memphis. We've got to see it through. And when we have our march, you need to be there. Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike. But either we go up together, or we go down together.

Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness. One day a man came to Jesus; and he wanted to raise some questions about some vital matters in life. At points, he wanted to trick Jesus, and show him that he knew a little more than Jesus knew, and through this, throw him off base. Now that question could have easily ended up in a philosophical and theological debate. But Jesus immediately pulled that question from mid-air, and placed it on a dangerous curve between Jerusalem and Jericho. And he talked about a certain man, who fell among thieves. You remember that a Levite and a priest passed by on the other side. They didn't stop to help him. And finally a man of another race came by. He got down from his beast, decided not to be compassionate by proxy. But with him, administered first aid, and helped the man in need. Jesus ended up saying, this was the good man, because he had the capacity to project the "I" into the "thou," and to be concerned about his brother. Now you know, we use our imagination a great deal to try to determine why the priest and the Levite didn't stop. At times we say they were busy going to church meetings--an ecclesiastical gathering--and they had to get on down to Jerusalem so they wouldn't be late for their meeting. At other times we would speculate that there was a religious law that "One who was engaged in religious ceremonials was not to touch a human body twenty-four hours before the ceremony." And every now and then we begin to wonder whether maybe they were not going down to Jerusalem, or down to Jericho, rather to organize a "Jericho Road Improvement Association." That's a possibility. Maybe they felt that it was better to deal with the problem from the casual root, rather than to get bogged down with an individual effort.

But I'm going to tell you what my imagination tells me. It's possible that these men were afraid. You see, the Jericho road is a dangerous road. I remember when Mrs. King and I were first in Jerusalem. We rented a car and drove from Jerusalem down to Jericho. And as soon as we got on that road, I said to my wife, "I can see why Jesus used this as a setting for his parable." It's a winding, meandering road. It's really conducive for ambushing. You start out in Jerusalem, which is about 1200 miles, or rather 1200 feet above sea level. And by the time you get down to Jericho, fifteen or twenty minutes later, you're about 2200 feet below sea level. That's a dangerous road. In the day of Jesus it came to be known as the "Bloody Pass." And you know, it's possible that the priest and the Levite looked over that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around. Or it's possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking. And he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt, in order to seize them over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure. And so the first question that the Levite asked was, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?".

That's the question before you tonight. Not, "If I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office every day and every week as a pastor?" The question is not, "If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?" "If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?" That's the question.

Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation. And I want to thank God, once more, for allowing me to be here with you.

You know, several years ago, I was in New York City autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up. The only question I heard from her was, "Are you Martin Luther King?"

And I was looking down writing, and I said yes. And the next minute I felt something beating on my chest. Before I knew it I had been stabbed by this demented woman. I was rushed to Harlem Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. And that blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, you drown in your own blood--that's the end of you.

It came out in the New York Times the next morning, that if I had sneezed, I would have died. Well, about four days later, they allowed me, after the operation, after my chest had been opened, and the blade had been taken out, to move around in the wheel chair in the hospital. They allowed me to read some of the mail that came in, and from all over the states, and the world, kind letters came in. I read a few, but one of them I will never forget. I had received one from the President and the Vice-President. I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the Governor of New York, but I've forgotten what the letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl, a young girl who was a student at the White Plains High School. And I looked at that letter, and I'll never forget it. It said simply, "Dear Dr. King: I am a ninth-grade student at the Whites Plains High School." She said, "While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I am a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune, and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze."

And I want to say tonight, I want to say that I am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream. And taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation, and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, to see the great movement there. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering. I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze.

And they were telling me, now it doesn't matter now. It really doesn't matter what happens now. I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us, the pilot said over the public address system, "We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane. And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong with the plane, we had to check out everything carefully. And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night."

And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say that threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

a year.

2010-12-30T20:31:00.000-08:00

January.

Isaiah 1:17 - learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Why do I feel like I'm doing none of those things right now?

It has been surprisingly difficult to put a plethora of complicated emotions into words. The current job has seemingly overwhelmed my entire life and pushed most of my other creative brainchildren to the side for the moment. I am trying not to forget them by constantly reminding myself that they are merely paused...not eliminated forever.
Unfortunately, the calendar reveals that January will be a hostile month for creativity, as I have one day off in the entire month (do people with regular jobs really get two days off every week? unbelievable!). I am not complaining...just bracing for the months to come. In all honesty, I am blessed to have a job where I get to work with lovely people and save some dinero for the future.

Despite a serious case of writer's block, the urge to get everything on paper (hmm...screen, perhaps?) always visits when the new year rolls around. It is such a wonderful time of year to reflect on the things that have been accomplished in the short space of 12 months, and to dream about what the next 12 will hold.

Since this brain of mine operates in pictures, I will share with you a glimpse into the pictorial world that I live in:

If this is my perpetual year, I would be a stick person who travels around and around this circle.

I am currently situated at the bottom of the circle, trying to prepare for the long climb out of winter.

To be completely honest, this upward journey is exceptionally intimidating at the moment.

That is all.

Goals to follow.....once I make them.

thankful. [a year in pictures]

2010-11-25T08:09:00.000-08:00

a tiny portion of the many, many things I am thankful for.....

thankful for Auckland City

thankful for pure beauty, both inside and out

thankful...but there are no words to describe

thankful for Rex, my dear friend who slept on boxes when I met him

thankful for my sisters

thankful for the fruit of the gods

...and for fish & [kumara] chips (!!)

thankful for Alleluia coffee (and my daily winged visitors)

thankful for promises of new life

...for redefining JUSTICE

...for these amazing women

...for sunrises

...for the people of Oasis India, and the work they do everyday

...for Christmas in India

...for JOY...even in poverty

...for finding beauty in the hardest places

...for new friends

...for new life

...for the precious children of Cambodia

...that HE STILL REIGNS

...for the little ones that have touched my life

...and who have tugged on my heartstrings

...for my parents, the best people I have ever known

...for baby Isaiah

...for glimpses of heaven on earth

...for my tiny house

...for Nashville

...for unexpected heroes

...and finally, thankful for the humor and creativity that surrounds me on a daily basis, thanks to my wonderful friends and amazing community. So thankful for all of YOU!!

i am, in fact, still alive.

2010-10-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

The two of you who actually follow my blog, please know that I have not completely abandoned the world of internet updates. More will be arriving shortly. Until then, get outside and enjoy the amazing fall weather....for it it this time of year when the glory of God seems to take on colors and gloss over everything that is alive. Soak it up, live in the moment, worship the One who gives us life and breath, and who doesn't forget even the most minute of details.

homeless.

2010-04-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

In the two short months that I have been back in the States, I have lived in 12 different homes and 7 different cities. My brain never seems to be in the right place; I forget meetings and schedule three things at the same time.
I am eternally grateful to the people who have put up with me randomly crashing on their couches or setting up a futon or their guest room on last-minute notice. And despite being largely homeless, I have never needed to spend a night crunched in my car or curled under a bridge.
Yes, certain things have been a struggle -- never seeming to have the right item when I need it, or continually wearing dirty and mismatched clothes because, inevitably, I forgot to put anything in my car. However, these things are incredibly trivial when compared to living on the streets indefinitely.

On the whole, it has been a blessed time that I wouldn't trade for anything, but it has stretched me in strange and [very] unexpected ways. Before I realize it, I am crying myself to sleep at night for no other reason than feeling like I have quicksand under my feet. Why is this? I have no real reason to feel this way. There was a house waiting for me to move into at the end of the month....a somewhat steady job to return to....friends to support me....so why am I feeling so distraught?

I tried to concentrate on verses like Matthew 6:25-26 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
...but it doesn't seem to help. I want to be like a bird -- so content to soar through the air content in the joy of the Father's provision. But even birds make nests. What is this deep inside of me that is longing so for a home?
I decide to do some research to see what all the home fuss is about. A quick search of biblegateway.com turns up some interesting passages:

Psalm 78:55 - "He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes."
Psalm 84:3 - "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God."

....looks like David was pretty into homes. But is a home just a house? Or is "home" simply being safe among others - family? still confused, I look to dictionary.com.
Turns out that there are 31 different definitions listed. Here are the first 8. Pay special attention to #6.

1. a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household.

2. the place in which one's domestic affections are centered.

3. an institution for the homeless, sick, etc.: a nursing home.

4. the dwelling place or retreat of an animal.

5. the place or region where something is native or most common common.

6. any place of residence or refuge: a heavenly home.

7. a person's native place or own country country.

8. (in games) the destination or goalgoal.

...any place of refuge. I like that. Seems appropriate. I think we are wired to need this - a place of safety, a place to rest, a place to think. Maybe this is one reason homelessness is such a powerful, life-altering force over those who have nowhere of safety.
I also think God is talking about this is Isaiah 32:18 - "My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest." He seems to think this is pretty important too, huh. (Also interesting: that God wants this for us.....!)

This topic hits especially close to home for me because when I was living in Auckland, I became very close to some of the men who lived on the streets there. I simply took time to listen to their stories or sit with them as they suffered through various medical ailments. They had nothing to offer me and I had very little to offer them, but despite this, I came to treasure the time I spent with them daily. Needless to say, I miss these guys deeply. It rips my heart to shreds looking at the photos I have taken of my friends who are on the other side of the world....probably sleeping in boxes as I write this in a posh coffee shop. The things I have to deal with are nothing compared to what these guys face on a daily basis.

The following poem is (in my humble opinion) an excellent take on being homeless in America. Please read with your heart open.

Being Homeless, by Hugh Hollowell

Being homeless means wearing clothes you did not pick out.
Being homeless means eating what they give you.
Being homeless means having to hear a sermon before you can eat.
Being homeless means being asked for your ID by the police for being in the park.
Being homeless means hiding everything you own so no one will throw it away.
Being homeless means spending most of your day with addicts and the mentally ill, even if you yourself are not.
Being homeless means people are surprised that you have an opinion on the presidential election.
Being homeless means walking several miles to eat.
Being homeless means you hope the crazy street preachers show up because it is Saturday and the soup kitchens are closed.
Being homeless means eating meals in a soup kitchen no person would ever order in a restaurant.
Being homeless means chicken hot dogs.
Being homeless means hearing people tell you you should be thankful for what you get (like chicken hot dogs).
Being homeless means rich church folks giving you secondhand underwear.
Being homeless means standing in line for everything.
Being homeless means paying 25 cents to pee.
Being homeless means crying when it rains because you know everything you own in ruined.
Being homeless means having to choose between staying in the shelter tonight or going to work today.
Being homeless means going to the day labor place at 3 a.m. and signing in so you can work that day and make $47.
Being homeless means paying $5 to cash that $47 check.
Being homeless means you are supposed to be thankful the county will let six of you take a shower each week. During the day. When you could be looking for a job.
Being homeless means wondering how you are supposed to get a job when you cannot take a shower.
Being homeless means being thankful when the temperature drops below 32 degrees because it means you are allowed in the shelter that night.
Being homeless means trying not to ask yourself is there is really a difference between sleeping outside when it is 32 degrees and when it is 35 degrees.
Being homeless means people will judge you for smoking cigarettes.
Being homeless means being afraid to tell anyone where you sleep.
Being homeless means talking to your children on a borrowed phone.
Being homeless means being afraid to hope anymore.

will Jesus buy me a....?

2010-04-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

Where did April go? You tell me, because I blinked and a month went by. However, this first month back in Tennessee has been an incredibly soft landing, thanks to a family that is very dear to my heart. The Greens have given me (and my horse) a lovely place to stay while getting my feet back on the ground. I wake up every morning to rolling green pastures outside my bedroom window and wonder repeatedly if I'm in heaven already.

Thanks to my insatiable literary appetite, upon arrival here I was on the prowl for another book to measure up to the last few that I have read. I had just finished reading the first two installments of Alexander McCall Smith's enchanting series The no.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and prior to that, a compilation of Malcolm Gladwell's articles, What the Dog Saw. (which, I very unfortunately left in New Zealand without finishing...minor life catastrophe). Luckily, I happened upon this book that was sitting in a pile on my nightstand.

Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide by Karen Zacharias is a refreshing perspective on the prevalence of the "prosperity gospel" that seems to be spreading faster than wildfire in America. While the thought of this chills me to the core, this book tells the stories of Americans from every walk of life, and on either side of the issue: both those in favor of the "more is better" philosophy and those who choose to give away more than they keep. By telling the stories of others, this book will make you laugh, cry, and more importantly, take a step back and examine your own life. A worthy read.

Here are a few relevant points from the book that I think are noteworthy.

Greed. It's an epidemic these days. "More is better!!" "Climb the ladder!!" "Having MORE will make you happy!!" ....what the heck are we listening to?

"Greed is taught in our homes, our schools, and our churches. It's a national virtue touted in glossy magazines, taught in high school marketing classes, lauded from Fortune 500 platforms and from behind glass-and-chrome pulpits. It's regaled in our theaters and our boardrooms. Be ambitious. Climb to the top. Break the glass ceiling. The feasting table is ready, buddy, come have your fill."

But is more really better? Obviously not -- I think most of us will come to the same conclusion. We are so concerned about trying to bring in the biggest haul that we completely miss out on the joy of the abundance God has already given us.

Consider this story told by writer David Sedaris. Sedaris tells of the night, as a boy, his neighbors came trick-or-treating the night after Halloween. Not wanting them to leave empty-handed, his mother instructs little David to get some leftover candy from their bags to share with the neighbors. Like most little boys, he was not inclined to share, and instead dumped his candy on his bed and proceeded to stuff his mouth full of chocolate as fast as possible. Later, as a bit of remorse began to settle in, Sedaris began to see himself as his mother might have seen him: "Here is a boy sitting on a bed, his mouth smeared with chocolate. He's a human, but also he's a pig, surrounded by trash and gorging himself so that others may be denied. ...I wonder if that is the image of us that comes to God's mind whenever we go around boasting that it is His sovereign will that all God's children be rich."

Ouch, huh. Zacharias is excellent at delivering satire. Satire is different from comedy in that it makes you laugh because you resonate with the situation, but then when you are all warm and happy the knife of realization hits you: "oh, I'm the same way." yeah, ouch.

Along with the humor and the satire is a much needed question: are we living for the temporal or the eternal? We cringe at the idea of mega-churches building empires and pastors living in multi-million dollar mansions, but still live in such a way that supports this mentality. I know I am guilty of this. "Truly, it's not what we amass in this short time we are granted, but how we spend what time we are granted."

Final story I will relay...if you want more, go get the book. This also involves kids and candy (coincidence?), but this time the young'ens are in a wedding.
"Because the children were very young their mothers bribed them with the promise of candy. Following each successful, rehearsed stroll down the isle the children were rewarded with brightly colored chewies. On the day of the wedding, when one of the youngest nephews reached the church altar, he hollered out, "WHERE'S MY CANDY?" Many of us treat God like that. We stomp our feet and make demands at the altar of the Almighty. We believe that is we uphold our half of the bargain by putting our trust in God, then He ought to do better by us. Give us the stone mansion with the carriage house out back where we can host the missionaries and the visiting pastors. God ought to bulk up our portfolios so we can better afford to give $50 a month to the kids in Zimbabwe. We make a habit to standing before God, yelling, "WHERE IS MY REWARD?" We don't yet understand that being in God's presence is the reward."

reflections on 25.

2010-04-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

When reflecting upon my short life, I must defer to the wisdom of Wendell Berry in his epic novel, Jayber Crow, as it resonates in the deep places of my heart.

“If you could do it, I suppose, it would be a good idea to live your life in a straight line…but that is not the way I have done it, so far. I am a pilgrim, but my pilgrimage has been wandering and unmarked. Often what has looked like a straight line to me has been a circle or a doubling back…Often I have not known where I was going until I was already there. I have had my share of desires and goals, but my life has come to me or I have gone to it mainly by way of mistakes and surprises. Often I have received better than I have deserved. Often my fairest hopes have rested on bad mistakes. I am an ignorant pilgrim, crossing a dark valley. And yet for a long time, looking back, I have been unable to shake off the feeling that I have been led—make of that what you will.” Pg. 133

I could end this post here, as that communicates my overwhelming sentiment of the day. However, there are a few other things I have been meaning to write about -- namely, some changes that how occurred in my heart and mind over this past year. To adequately describe these changes, I am going to relay two excerpts from my personal journal.

Wednesday August 25th, 2009
"Last day in the US -- I feel like I'm on the brink of something huge, but I can't see it quite yet. It's like I'm coming up to a cliff, but the trees are so think around me that I can only see glimpses of the clear sky past the valley. I'm excited to see where this all leads -- excited for the time spent traveling -- but I also know that it's a time of training: a preparation for more to come down the road...bigger things. Change is inevitable - it goes hand in hand with time - one cannot occur without the other. But I suppose the question is: how will I change? ...Here is how I hope I will change. I want to become less selfish - to see the needs of others before my own. I want to be better at listening to others and asking questions. I want to increase the creativity that I already have to exponential levels, I want to be creative in ways that help other people, creative in ways that can improve the world. I want to come back as a person who sees the positive in other people before I critique the negative.
I hope I can continue to chase after my dreams, continue to trust in the Lord with everything, continue to follow this wild ride that He is taking me on. I hope and pray that I can be the kind of person who can be there for another, to uplift and encourage."

I proceeded to leave this journal in the US, and start a new one abroad. The following is another excerpt I wrote as I was leaving India to travel back to New Zealand.

Tuesday February 16th, 2010
"I think I am a lot 'softer' of a person than the one who left the US, and even who left New Zealand to come to India. My capacity for love has grown much broader, both toward those close to me and those I don't know very well. I'm much less judgmental...much, much less...which is definitely a huge change for the better. But the thing that inspired that change was a deeper realization -- a realization of my own deep darkness and the uglyness that is inside me. But the breakthrough came in admitting that the 'ugly' was there (humility was a huge player in this) and constantly choosing NOT to operate out of that place. I'm not blind to my ability to cause hurt/pain in the lives of others....and out of this knowledge, I want to choose to love others WELL. Not for my sake, or my glory, or even my fulfillment. But loving them well because that is how Jesus loves, and because every human being is beyond valuable -- of immeasurable worth. I am so guilty of judging others, but judging is NEVER EVER my place. Ever. There is so much freedom in that knowledge. Only things like righteousness and forgiveness have a place in Kingdom culture."

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

transitions and [more] travel.

2010-04-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
- Ephesians 5:1-2

The transition back home has been a good one. I have returned to work at Baptist on a flexible part-time basis, to allow for more time to explore new avenues of growth in the near future. I will be able to start working with a therapeutic riding facility near Nashville, as well as continue to stay connected to Oasis India while being based out of the states. I also can't wait to return to my church community here in Nashville, as well as serve them with more of my time.
Some new opportunities include a new "home-base" barn where I will be able to teach lessons/train horses, and eventually set up a rehabilitative program of my own(!!), and.....drumroll.....a possible trip to CAMBODIA in June!!!

The Cambodia trip has certainly caught me off guard, since I am just returning from overseas. But over this past year, I have learned that GOD is the one in control of my life, so I'm ready to go with the flow.
I have to laugh a little bit because it seems like God is bringing this all full-circle for me. Before leaving for YWAM, I was convinced that I would spend the three months of YWAM outreach in Cambodia. It made so much sense in my brain, because I had already been working with an organization here in Nashville with ties to Cambodia. BUT God had other plans, and it just wasn't the right time for me to go. Looking back, I am so incredibly thankful that I was able to spent those three months in India, forming life-long connections with Oasis and the people of Oasis India.

This upcoming trip will be much shorter -- only two weeks -- but I am beyond excited about this opportunity. The team will be working within long-term established ministries in Cambodia, and will do health & dental clinics, as well as possibly run a "vacation" bible school for kids. But above all, I want to go in a spirit of overwhelming love, in order to bless the people I will come in contact with.

Because of the short time-frame in which this is happening, there is a plane ticket currently reserved for me that must be paid off by Monday (which, incidentally, is my birthday!). I am asking you again to partner with me both financially and in prayer for this journey. To ensure the ticket, I must raise at least $1,000 in the next three days, then will be responsible to raise another $1,000 to cover other miscellaneous costs, including in-country costs in Cambodia, and supplies/equipment for the medical clinics. Please prayerfully consider partnering with me in this way. If you are interested in helping with the cost of this trip, please shoot me a quick email or visit my website www.ajourneyforjustice.com, there is a paypal link at the bottom of the page.

If you are not able to contribute financially but still would like to be involved in praying for this effort, PLEASE also let me know! Prayer is powerful beyond measure.

If sufficient funding does not come in by Monday, I will be content in the confidence that it is still not the right timing for me to go to Cambodia, and will look to dates further in the future.
Like I mentioned before, this was not part of my "plan" so to speak, but I serve faithful God, and I know that all things work together for HIS glory. And wherever I go, I will walk in love.

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
- 2 John 1:6

a lot of "lasts"

2010-03-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

There is much on my heart as I prepare to leave New Zealand for the second time. This time, instead of flying into the craziness of India, I'm flying into the complexity of my life at home and the many questions & challenges that await me, but also the excitement & opportunity that comes with it.

It has been nearly three weeks since I left India, and I'm afraid I left a piece of my heart firmly planted in that country. I hope to be able to continue a strong relationship with the staff of Oasis India and keep ties to that organization in order to do more work with them in the future. They are doing amazing things there and I am so fortunate to have been a part of it during this season of my life. Thank you again to those who contributed to the photography project! Stay tuned for more information about upcoming displays of the student's artwork in the States.

I have been so blessed to spend the last two weeks resting and enjoying the beauty of New Zealand as well as the company of some dear friends. It has been a time to rest and celebrate, but also to reflect on the past eight months of my life that have brought much change in both myself and my perspectives.

I recently heard Grace defined as "the transformative power of God that empowers us to live a life true to our God-given human calling."
This caused me to re-think many of my assumptions about grace and how I viewed it at work in my life. To be completely honest, until recently I hadn't thought much about grace at all.
I thought of grace as an unearned, undeserved blessing from God. However, if that is the case, then verses like Proverbs 3:34 (He mocks the proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble) don't make much sense. If grace is unearned favor from God, then the proud should get it too. But I realized that maybe I was getting mercy confused with grace. Mercy IS undeserved blessing from God, no matter what we do, God is always merciful. So....what if grace really is God's transformative power at work in our lives?? Wouldn't that be exciting?
Interesting, huh? I want that grace. I need that grace. If I am living out the Kingdom of Heaven in my lifetime, I need that kind of help because I can do nothing without it.
And what is our "God-given human calling?" ...to love Him and to love others. So simple, and yet so difficult without grace as a foundational part of our life. I also think that "calling" includes using the unique combination of gift and abilities given to each one of us. Sound daunting? ...want some rocket fuel?? I do.

I'm both excited and apprehensive to be back in "real" life. I have so many hopes and dreams, plans I really am passionate about dedicating my life to...but it isn't going to be easy. A big part of me wants to return to the security of my old job, with a consistent paycheck and health insurance. However, I know that isn't the next step for me. My next steps are going to require a lot more dependence on God. ...and a lot of GRACE.

I am currently in prayer for a working car once I arrive home, as well as a part-time job that will "pay the bills" but still give me time to begin building some of my dreams (more details on those to follow...still feeling a bit insecure about sharing everything until there are some solid foundations in place). If you feel led, please join me in praying for these things - prayer is powerful and God is SO faithful!! Also continued prayer for safety in travel, as I begin the homeward journey.

When naming this trip "A Journey for Justice," I didn't realize how much that phrase would end up meaning to me, and how fitting it would be for a life-long theme. Despite the fact that this particular trip is coming to an end, my entire life is going to continue to be a journey for justice. No matter where I am, I will still be on this journey....still learning, still growing, still desiring justice for the poor, the abandoned, the forgotten, the hurting, the lost and the least of this would. (I also have a small inkling that it won't be too long before I'm abroad once again :)

a sweet retreat.

2010-01-31T11:28:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of December, I had an opportunity to be on the staff of a girl’s retreat lead by the community empowerment team at Oasis.

The community team is an essential part of the Oasis mission and the work they do in India. The longer I am here, the more convinced I am that prevention/empowerment is absolutely key in establishing social justice.

In an issue such as such as human trafficking, rescue, recovery and aftercare are all crucial. However, in those cases, much damage has already been done: both emotional and physical damage to the child, stress to the family, and (especially in Indian society) the irreversible shame caused by judgment from the community.

To fight something like human trafficking, poverty must be fought at its roots by providing education, health care, and life-skills training. These are all areas in which Oasis works to empower the community. Providing opportunity for education gives people tools to rise out of poverty on their own two feet. These things also make a family less vulnerable to someone who might come in and persuade them that their daughter is better off in a “job” in the city.

All the programs that oasis is running are aiming to eventually be self-sustainable by the community. They have preschool programs, back-to-school programs (for kids that have dropped out), computer classes, free health clinics, and kid’s clubs set up in slum communities. Community members are trained to be teachers, and Oasis will eventually leave the community in capable hands, to then focus their efforts on another community. This is so crucial because in communities like these, poverty is basically a generational curse, and it takes so much to rise above it. But Oasis exists to make this possible; with basic computer skills, English lessons, and some interview skills, the sky is the limit!

The girl's club is one of the community empowerment initiatives. It provides support and relevant life skills teaching catered to girls ages 12-18. Usually girl's club meets once per week, but this retreat was planned to allow the girls to have a new experience away from their oppressive communities.

All of these girls live in the slum communities that Oasis serves, meaning that most of them have never traveled far outside their slum, and many had not spent any nights away from their family. Because of the Indian cultural view of women as commodities, their virginity is guarded closely, and they could be ostracized from their community for even being suspected of promiscuous behavior. This mentality basically seals the grave for girls that have been raped, as they are “worthless” for the rest of their life, unworthy of marriage. Not only do they bare the physical and emotional scars from the abuse, but they carry that label forever.

Because of this, the dedicated ladies of oasis spent countless hours doing home-visits around the communities to talk to the parents and make sure they understood where their daughters were going, and to get their permission. This required a lot of persistence in many cases (one father even threatened to hang himself if his daughter went to the retreat). I wonder at this, because most of the men in these slum communities are alcoholics, leaving their wives with the full responsibility of the family, and leaving the kids to run wild. The only authority that the kids generally see from the fathers is abuse. The suicide rate within these communities is quite high, due to this combination of issues.

Despite the though opposition, on Tuesday December 8^th, 2009 - the van pulled up bright and early at 6:00AM to 25 girls waiting in anticipation for the retreat. The group was 31 in total, including 6 staff, and we barely fit into the rented bus. The Lord definitely had the number of participants under control because I don’t think we could have squeezed another person into that vehicle! In fact, the presence of God was so incredibly apparent the entire time we were preparing for this event and over the whole course of time we were with the girls.

The theme of the retreat was “Discovering your Real Beauty” which proved to be an excellent theme for teenagers as it is relevant to their life stage. The theme covered important topics and touched real issues problems that the young girls face at their age.

The first topic was inner beauty. Through both teaching and some fun activities, this session brought to light the fact that each girl was very precious. It also highlighted the importance of character, and that character is more important than physical looks.

The second topic we covered was sex and sexuality. The girls related well with what was said and asked many question about that had bothered them in the past. Mostly all the girls expressed that this was the first time these sensitive issues were explained to them so openly. Most girls also expressed that the contents of the session helped to clarify many wrong beliefs they had in mind.

The third topic was overcoming guilt and shame. Shame is a huge in this culture, and often, girls are never able to fully overcome it. Many of these girls had been touched inappropriately by boys their own age or sexually abused by older men or older family members in their past. There is no opportunity for counseling for the girls, and many times, no punishment for the men.

Myself and another member of the staff were able to share stories from our own lives, how we were able to overcome guilt and shame from our past experiences, and how we now find hope in Christ.

Throughout the retreat, we had any fun activities and crazy games. Even the staff had a great time of fun and silliness with all the girls. These girls were overjoyed to eat three square meals every day, and all of them experienced a bonfire for the very first time.

There is no way I could include all the personal stories, but the following is one story from the retreat:

Rani (name has been Changed) in a vibrant girl in her late teens, who loves to laugh and make crazy faces. It was a real struggle for her to get permission from her family members to attend the retreat, but after the Oasis staff had spoken to them many times, the parents agreed to send her. At the retreat, as the talks began to unravel a lot of issues, Rani started remembering painful experiences that she underwent but she didn’t want to remember again. At one point during the topic Guilt and Shame, the need for forgiveness was discussed. She couldn’t take the pain in her heart any longer and she came running to the staff. Initially she found it very difficult to open up, but after the staff eased her and facilitated the conversation, she broke unto tears and said her own brother abused her sexually and a mature uncle was abusing her by touching her in inappropriate places. She tried to tell her mother about it but she would not believe her, said there was nothing she could do about it, and yelled at her for making up stories. Fed up with the fights and problems at home, she developed feelings for a boy and on a particular day in her grandmother’s house while she was left alone, the boy also took advantage of her and abused her sexually.

Rani tried to commit suicide but somehow don’t have the courage to do it.

The staff told Rani that whatever happened in her life doesn’t make her unworthy and she is still precious. Also the staff facilitated a time to forgive the persons who abused her and helped her to come out the shock and hatred she was going through.

This is just one of the stories, but there are so many more...sadly similar to this one. However, there is still hope in the midst of all this. On the last day of the retreat, there is one vivid moment for me that I remember very clearly. I was standing on one side of a soccer-sized field watching the girls run toward me after a lunch break they were finishing. They were laughing as they ran, and some were playing tag with each other. I couldn't help but think "these are the lucky ones." Many of them don't have more than two outfits in the whole world, and they live in a house the size of my closet, but they have hope. They have Oasis: a group of people who have dedicated their whole lives to bringing hope.

book lust!

2010-01-23T06:58:00.001-08:00

I have recently stumbled upon one of the most spectacular book stores in, well, the world. This is quite a claim, I know. But to help capture the magnitude of books stuffed into the four floors of this masterpiece of a store, I have taken a few photos. I realize that these few images cannot do it justice, but it is an attempt at least!

This is the kind of place that you can get lost in for hours, absorbed into the world of literature. With an eclectic mixture of used and new books ranging from literary classics to modern fiction, kids books, and comic books, this place will suit pretty much every book lover in the whole of seven continents.
This is quite a dangerous place for me, as I have extremely limited packing space. After one blissful afternoon, and the purchase of four (rather heavy) books, I am now enforcing a personal ban on this store. I cannot allow myself to go back to this wonderland of books because, at rock bottom prices (thanks to the exchange rate), it is far to had to resist another purchase! Book Lust has settled in for good.

locked away.

2010-01-18T08:41:00.000-08:00

11:30 on a Tuesday morning, two friends and I step off a crowded bus and onto a busy street. The noise from the cars and the confusion of the busses and motorbikes honking adds to the crazy scene. Dodging the traffic, we make it to the other side of the road and pass the carts of the street vendors selling fresh fruit, roasted nuts, and other various fried foots. The government sign stands at the gate, listing the various buildings in the complex: home for boys, home for girls, home for the mentally disabled, etc. The Yashodharamma Dasappa Girls Home is our destination. After only a minute of walking down the driveway, the traffic noise is gone, replaced by a peaceful silence and the sound of birds chirping. The true nature of this idyllic setting is only given away by the razor wire strung in circles along the top of the tall stone walls along both sides of the road. A dirty baseball cap is stuck in the wire, and I can’t help but wonder what the story is behind it.

We walk past women in colorful saris carrying loads of wood balanced on their heads, and men urinating along the wall. At the end of the road we turn right and walk up to a large pair of black gates that mark the entrance to an institutional-looking building…this is the girl’s home.

When I say ‘home’, the term is quite loosely used. Prison would be more accurate, but these girls have done nothing wrong. These little ones come from a variety of different backgrounds, some were unwanted by their families, and dropped off there. Some of the girls were trafficked from different areas, and some were simply lost. But they all have one thing in common…there are no other options for them. The girls are locked inside 24 hours a day, and are rarely even brought out for walks around the building. For most of the time, they sit around the building with nothing to do. There are no toys, no furniture, nothing to occupy them. These girls are given some opportunity for education, but the only classes offered are in the local language of Kannada, and many of them do not speak it.

Roughly 60 girls occupy this home, ranging in age from about 5 to 18. For the most part, their only prospect of getting out is being shuttled to another “home” like this or into an arranged marriage when they age out at 18. As you can imagine, these don’t generally turn out well. In India, a girl is “worth” the dowry she brings to the marriage…and these girls only have a tiny sum from the government. In fact, the issue of the dowry tradition is a huge contributor to some of these girls being here in the first place. Many families go broke trying to marry their daughters to respectable men, and thus, a girl baby is viewed as a financial liability and a nuisance – leading many families to abort, give their daughters to homes like this, or to just leave the baby to die.

We wait to be let in by one of the women who work at the home. She greets us as she unlocks the oversized padlock, “hello!” This is one of the only English words she knows, but she is friendly enough, smiling and motioning us to enter. She asks us if we have eaten, not to offer us food, but because that is the only other English phrase that she knows. As we stop to talk at the door, little faces start to peer around the corner – we are the most exciting thing that happens during the day, so our presence is noted quickly.

We talk to a few of the older girls before heading upstairs to our room. With simple phrases and lots of gesturing, we can understand each other passably well. We head up to the room that has been allotted to us. The room is decorated with a few holiday streamers, but is otherwise bare of furniture. About 30 girls have already assembled, waiting for us. They clap and cheer when we walk in, and I immediately feel at home with these little ones. 30 pairs of eyes stare at us expectantly as we discuss the plan for the morning session. Lips are quiet, for now (they tend to get louder by a factor of 100 by the end of the day).

The plan for our work in this place is to develop a curriculum that stresses the 10 basic life skills outlined by the World Health Organization: problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, creative thinking, interpersonal relationships, effective communication, self-awareness, empathy, coping with stress, and coping with emotions. We are to teach these things through games and simple lessons. However, having no translator for most of the time we are with the girls leaves lots of time for games and any other activities we can possibly stretch our imagination to do.

We start with a review of English: spelling out loud HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES, TOES (etc.) then a resounding version of the song. A few other songs follow this, then a long game of duck-duck-goose (one of their all-time favorites). We decide to try coloring for the first time, not knowing how the girls will respond. I was unsure what to expect, since these girls have literally nothing. Images of young girls clawing each other for crayons plagued my mind, but as we handed out the sheets, the girls were quit polite. And minus a few tussles over crayon-sharing, the coloring session was a wild success! The black and white pages started bursting with color! I sat on the floor as they colored pondering the untapped creative capacity of these amazing little girls, and just wanted to cry. “Clara-auntie, yellow color?” A little girl named Devayni looked at me with gigantic brown eyes. I couldn’t fathom why anyone wouldn’t want her…any of them, really. This world is unjust. I went looking for a yellow crayon.

Countless challenges face three relatively clueless volunteers in a group of 30-40 little girls who don’t speak their language. And sometimes, the weight of the situation crashes down on us, but we try to celebrate ever baby step in the right direction. Praising then when they share, when they don’t hit each other, when they sit when we ask them to. As overwhelming as it can be, we continually are reminded of the priceless value of each one of these girls. They have been shown to little love in their young lives, and we hope that in this short time we have with them, we can change that…even just a little.

No photos are allowed inside the home, so the following pictures are the only physical evidence of these lovely little girls. Their creativity is astounding, I am continually amazed at their resilience even in a place as hopeless as this.

Amos.

2010-01-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

The book of Amos is one of those books that continues to be SO relevant today. I'm continually blown away by this book that has dominated my recent Bible reading. Man...don't overlook the minor prophets!
So, who the heck was Amos, anyway? Circa 765 BC: the book of Amos was written in a time when the economy of Israel was doing really well - the rich were getting richer, but many were doing this by taking advantage of the poor. The class difference was yawning wider as the rich praised God for their "blessings." Amos was basically an average joe who came to warn the country that God would shatter them because of injustice.

This is an excerpt from the introduction to Amos, as found in the message translation (I know, I know, it's not a "real" translation, but whatever). This is mostly for my benefit, because I want to have it easily accessible online, but read on, it's pretty quality.
Introduction: Amos
More people are exploited and abused in the cause of religion than in any other way. Sex, money, and power all take a backseat to religion as a source of evil. Religion is the most dangerous energy source known to humankind. The movement a person (or government or religion or organization) is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning a cause or project, anything goes. The history, worldwide, of religion-fueled hate, killing, and oppression is staggering. The biblical prophets are in the front line of those doing something about it.

The biblical prophets continue to be the most powerful and effective voices ever heard on this earth for keeping religion honest, humble, and compassionate. Prophets sniff out injustice, especially injustice that is dressed up in religious garb. They pay little attention to what men and women say about God or do for God. They listen to God and rigorously test all human action and language against what they hear. Among these prophets, Amos towers as defender of the downtrodden poor and accuser of the powerful rich who use God's name to legitimize their sin.

Amos 2:6-8 (The Message)
Because of the great sins of Israel...I'm not putting up with them any longer.
They buy and sell upstanding people. People for them are only things -- ways of making money. They'd sell a poor man for a pair of shoes. They'd sell their own grandmother! They grind the penniless into the dirt, shove the luckless into the ditch.
Everyone and his brother sleeps with the 'sacred whore' -- a sacrilege against my Holy Name. Stuff they've extorted from the poor is piled up at the shrine of their god, while they sit around drinking wine they've conned from their victims.

Sound familiar?

Amos 5:7-15 (The Message)
Woe to you who turn justice to vinegar and stomp righteousness into the mud.
Do you realize where you are? You're in a cosmos star-flung with constellations by God, a world God wakes up each morning and puts to bed each night. God dips water from the ocean and gives the land a drink. God, God-revealed, does all this. And he can destroy it as easily as make it. He can turn this vast wonder into total waste.
People hate this kind of talk. Raw truth is never popular. But here it is, bluntly spoken: because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, you're never going to move into the luxury homes you have built. You're never going to drink wine from the expensive vineyards you've planted.
I know precisely the extent of your violations, the enormity of your sins. Appalling! You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they're down. Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath.
Seek good and not evil -- and live! You talk about God being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen. Hate evil and love good, then work it out in the public square. Maybe God will notice your remnant and be gracious.

awareness is NOT enough.

2010-01-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

ROCKIN article about the current trend of social justice "awareness." Justice is such a buzzword these days, but it is a bit frightening if no one is willing to make sacrifices and really get their hands dirty to bring about real, sustainable change.
Re-posted from Charles Lee: http://www.charlestlee.com/humanitarian/awareness-is-not-enough/ ...go to his site for more reading.

"Awareness is an integral part of any humanitarian work. Awareness often sheds light on a hidden or forgotten issue. It causes the heart and mind to (re)engage something of importance to humanity.
Nevertheless, awareness alone is never enough. Awareness alone does not create the tangible change we want to see in the world. It may move us emotionally and intellectually, but it will never be able to do anything on its own.

In fact, awareness alone can be dangerous. It can actually create a delusional state of being where we fool ourselves into thinking that we are actually doing something by “being aware” or making others aware. No matter how pure or noble the intent, spreading awareness is not enough. Is it important? Most definitely. Nevertheless, our goal is not just to spread awareness.

We must do something. Any worthwhile cause requires action, even sacrificial action. Furthermore, it deserves intentional action. So, why do people get stuck in awareness?
1) It’s easier. It’s easier to just pass along the information via our networks than it is to actually do the hard work. It takes time to learn more, engage more, and commit more.
2) It’s attractive and non-obtrusive. Being “committed” to a cause at an awareness level is trendy and “cool”. Distant compassion feels better and more comfortable than actual engagement.
3) It’s quicker. The work of deep justice takes lots of time. Awareness can be accomplished immediately. Awareness gives one a false sense of accomplishment when it becomes the goal for compassionate justice.

So, how do you move from awareness to action?
1) Think next steps. If a cause or organization interests you, ask them what you can practically do. Be persistent. If they can’t direct, they probably haven’t thought it through well enough.
2) Adapt your time. Reschedule your week so that you can volunteer or intern for your cause. Are there things you can do in your home, office, or school?
3) Budget generosity. Adjust your savings to include a percentage each month for generosity towards your cause. Start with something as low as 1% and increase accordingly throughout the years. Save so that you will be able to give more.
4) Learn names. A cause will only remain a cause if you don’t know any names of individuals affected by that injustice. If at all possible, meet and serve someone experiencing the injustice you care about. Although this may not be possible for all causes, do your best to make this happen.
5) Continue to spread awareness, but don’t forget to share how you are intentionally altering your life to care for the cause. The greatest form of awareness is best packaged in personal stories. Include your story in the overall story towards justice.

Although this is not a comprehensive list, I hope it begins to stir tangible activity in your life towards making a difference."

simple humility.

2010-01-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

Walk in humility. I see this every time I glance at my foot. Every time I take a step forward it is with me. It is inked into my skin permanently. Many people warn against tattoos because of this, but I am so grateful for the permanence of this one. I need to be reminded to walk in humility…over and over and over and over again. How does this seem to slip to easily from my grasp? Sometimes my head swells in milliseconds and suddenly I feel as if I’m better than someone else, or I “deserve” something more than they do. Stop Claire! Stop! Look down! Look at your feet! And there it is: walk in humility.

Sometimes I think how stupid I am for asking the Lord for humility, for strength in perseverance, for patience, and love. The thing is, He's not some magician with a wand, ready to endow these virtues on his little people. He's a God of gradual growth, of experience, of life lessons. Because we are infinitely flawed, we need time and life to stretch us. He will, however, place us where we need to be in order to learn these things. It hurts at times, but when we make it through and look at these moments, in retrospect, we can see the lesson learned, and we can take it with us to the next.

I am currently in a place where I have ample opportunity to learn these things. Do I always enjoy this? No, not even close. Many frustrations present themselves every single day. But I rejoice in the fact that I serve a big God, a God whom I can always depend on, always go to with my concerns, with my hopes and fears. Simply take it to Him, to DAD, and lay it all down.
I’ve been thinking lately, about the process of simplification. There is something irresistible about a simple life…maybe because it is congruent with peace, with contentment. So why, then, does it seem so illusive? Why is the western culture seemingly running in the opposite direction of simplicity? In a society where more is better, where is there room for simplicity? The idea of a simple lifestyle gets shoved in the back of the closet, behind last year’s unused Christmas gifts.

I love teaching. I especially love teaching things I am passionate about. When I am teaching horseback riding lessons, the time flies faster than a hummingbird on steroids. But obviously the clock hasn't sped into overdrive...I am just 100% engaged.
But there is another reason I love teaching: to explain a complex idea or a difficult exercise, you must first break down the subject into the very basics. You must simplify. And in the very process of breaking something down, you actually learn more about it. Why is this? When you have mastered a subject, you don’t actually need to think about the basics anymore. In sports, your muscle memory has mastered the basic skills so that the brain can focus on more complex movements. This is the same for mastering a musical instrument, solving math equations, or producing beautiful artwork. It is an amazing trait of the human mind.
However, returning to the basics has its advantages.

I have been very privileged to have the opportunity to develop and teach a photography course for Oasis India. Throughout this process, I have been continually challenged in both my mastery of basic photography concepts and my communication skills (as my lessons are translated into two different languages, after English). Both of these things need to be simplified to the most basic level. However, this challenge pales in comparison to another area: telling my own story. In multiple settings here, I have been able to share my story, as well as teach messages on various subjects. There is nothing quite like boiling down your own life into a few simple sentences at a time. Something about this exercise is extremely significant. It forces questions like “who am I...really?” “How did I get to this place?” “What has influenced me?” "What is most important in my life?" And finally, “how does religion play into all of this?” This is possibly the most important part, but arguably, the most difficult. I realize what a challenge it must be for pastors, who, every Sunday morning, are expected to give an interesting, eloquent, and concise message and still be finished at a specific time. Steep challenge.
But, speaking in terms of simplicity, what a cool exercise to go through every week! Taking all the concepts floating around in your brain, simplify like crazy, then piece it all back together.

What if we all spent a little more time simplifying what we believe? People spend so much time arguing over vague principles, obscure passages, or minute differences in denominational practices. But what does Jesus say? It’s so simple!!

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:28-34)

There it is. Love God. Love others. Simple.

goodbye, 2009

2009-12-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

Another month in India has come and gone swiftly. It still boggles my mind that 2010 is staring me in the face. Has it really been a decade since the hullabaloo of Y2K? funny, man.
The past month has been filled with struggles and challenges, but has also been overwhelmingly rewarding. The following quote has been highly inspirational in my life lately:

I wanted to change the world (Unknown monk 1100 AD)

“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found that I couldn’t change the Nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town, and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on my town. Their impact could have changed the Nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”

The more I live my life, the more I realize how true this sentiment is. My experiences over the past few months have confirmed it more and more. The cool thing about it is that no matter where you are, you are still surrounded by a group of people you can make your "family." Even though I am half a world away from my biological family, I am still a part of a family here in Bangalore. The team I came with, the staff at Oasis, the other people in our building...start were you are! At the age of 24, I want to begin to live this way and continue for the rest of my life!

Many people have asked for more details of my daily schedule, so I am including a "standard" week in India for me :)

I walk to the Oasis office every morning, which is generally quite pleasant, because the weather here is beautiful and it's nice to enjoy the morning sunshine! For more on my walking adventures, scroll down to the morning walk post.

About three mornings every week, I get up early to spend some time with some of my favorite kids in the world: the kids of Mother Teresa's Orphanage for the Disabled. This orphanage was one of the ones started by Mama T, but it suffers from lack of funding and lower volume of volunteer help because the orphanages in Calcutta and Mumbai are much more well known. I treasure every minute I spend here. A typical morning is spent getting the kids out of urine-soaked nappies, fed breakfast, and into their respective chairs and places for the day. There is one little boy in particular whom I have grown extra specially attached to -- his Name is Nanden and he has a smile that goes on for miles. My heart leaps every time I walk in the door at his sweet voice yelling "Claaaaaire!! Walkin!!" This is my typical greeting. He loves the days I put his leg braces on and help him in a walker. He suffers from a spastic muscle condition that robs him of most motor control in his limbs. This is also a fun way for me to stay somewhat connected to athletic training and PT stuff (my job seems a world away!).

After leaving the orphanage, I head to the Oasis office. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings are spent planning for photo class, writing reports on brothel raids for the anti-trafficking team, or other various tasks. On Monday afternoons, a team of us from Oasis run a "girl's club" in a slum community called Doddigunta. Oasis runs a few other programs in Doddigunta, including a day care, a back-to-school program for kids that have dropped out of school, various health clinics, computer classes, and a boys football (soccer) club. A few weeks ago I was able to help staff a girl's retreat for the girls that regularly attend the girl's club. This experience was the highlight of my trip so far. Many of the girls had never spent a night outside of their slum or even seen a bonfire before. We called the camp "Discovering Your Real Beauty" and talked on topics such as fruit of the spirit (that beauty comes from the inside), sex & sexuality, and overcoming guilt and shame. Besides speaking on some of these subjects, I was in charge of GAMES!! ...wow - SO much fun playing crazy stuff with these girls!

Tuesday and Thursday are spent with the other two female members of my team, Sheila and Sarah, at a government home for trafficked, lost, and unwanted girls. I wrote a bit about this in my last email, but basically these girls are locked up here until they turn 18 (or, if they are very lucky, they may be placed in a "hostel" or with a family). We sing, dance, color, play games (duck, duck, goose is a perennial favorite, and is sometimes played for over an hour at a time), tell stories, do skits...pretty much anything to engage with these girls, let them know they are loved, and bring some fun into their lives. A life-skills program is also in the works, but it is not my main area of work.

My main project here happens Wednesday and Friday afternoons, when I teach a beginning photography class to students in two different slum communities. This has been a major undertaking, but is already SO rewarding!! I developed a 6-week course to cover photography basics, such as perspective and composition, and to give these kids a chance to practice with a camera. Plans are underway to place these students in internships upon graduating from the program. This is a very exciting development, as the main objective of the course is to teach a skill that will lead to employment possibilities. The classes are capped at 10 students in each place, and the interest level has been so high that we even have had to turn people away. It has been a new and interesting teaching experience for me, as everything I say is translated into two different languages!

If you are interested in learning more about this photo project, please do not hesitate to email me with any questions! We are still in great need of funds for this project (cameras, film, and film developing for 20 students adds up quickly!!) but I did the math, and roughly $30.00 covers one student throughout the entire course! If you are interested in supporting the project this way, donations are accepted through paypal on my website: www.ajourneyforjustice.com if you are on facebook, you can also spread the word by going to the group link http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=212893727786 and clicking on "invite people to join."

As you can see, the weeks stay pretty full over here on the other side of the world! I have about 6 weeks left in India, before I fly back to New Zealand. I love hearing from everyone at home, and your prayers are very appreciated!! Specific prayer requests include financial support for the photography school, unity as a team, and continued health while in India.

One final thought to cap off a great year: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:8-11

HAPPY 2010!!!!!!

social justice and the church

2009-12-30T19:26:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that I am currently a "missionary," the word evangelism makes me cringe a bit. This has a lot to do with how the western church has been doing missions throughout my lifetime - the "turn or burn" mentality just doesn't do it for me, thanks. It's been cool to see a shift in thinking over the past decade, however, and the following article from Relevant Magazine presents some interesting points of view.

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Injustice is just one of the complex issues our generation is wrestling with. How should Christians respond? We asked some of the leading voices in the Church if our focus on social justice is out of balance, and what they have to say may surprise you.

Brian McLaren:
The most important thing is for us to stop putting evangelism and social justice in opposition as if they are enemies. That shows the degree to which we have become captive to a colonial, consumerist, dualist mindset, where religion or salvation is a private matter of the heart or soul and eternity, and social justice is a secondary concern because it involves bodies and politics and history. As long as we're playing in that field, we're playing somebody else's game. God's game is about God's creation and God's Son entering creation—not to destroy it, but to save it; not to invite people to abandon ship and evacuate for heaven, but to invite people to switch sides and start working for and with God instead of apart from and against God.
We need to remember that Jesus doesn't teach us to pray, "May we come to Your Kingdom in heaven after we die, where, unlike earth, Your will is done." He teaches us to pray, "May Your Kingdom come here to earth. May Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven." When God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven, people who are alienated from God come back in relationship with God—which is evangelism. And people who are mistreated by others are given justice and relief—which is social justice. In my mind, they aren't simply two sides of one coin: They are like two metals that form one alloy from which the coin is made.

Steve Brown:
That’s a false dichotomy. A follower of Christ doesn’t put on a “social justice” hat and then an “evangelism” hat and then try to discern which hat to wear the most and which hat is the most valuable. Why? Because it isn’t a hat; it’s the head and the heart. You can’t exchange either. They are integral to the person.
When a Christian sees someone who is physically hungry, a Christian feeds the hungry person. Why? Because hungry people can’t understand the plan of salvation? No. Simply because that person is hungry. That’s what Christians do. And if a person is spiritually hungry, a Christian becomes “one beggar telling another beggar where he or she found bread.” Why? Because that’s what Christians do.

Shane Claiborne:
When I look at Jesus, [evangelism and dealing with injustice] are inseparable in His life. People are hungry, I think, for a Gospel that embodies a social, political alternative to the patterns of our world. To me, that is the very essence of what spread within the early Church— they were caring for the poor, preaching another Kingdom and another emperor than Caesar’s. And it was absolutely magnetic because the faith people had placed in Rome was at an all-time low, so when they were saying, “We’ve got another Kingdom,” people were like, “Yes, we’re ready, because the world as we’ve experienced it is not working.” The beautiful thing is, people are saying the same thing now.
Jesus went around allowing Himself to be revealed through His work and His love, through touching leapers and healing the broken, setting captives free. And then people were like, “Wow, you’re the Son of God,” and He said, “Shh, don’t go around cramming it down people’s throats; don’t shout it. Allow people to discover that on their own.” I think that’s evangelism at its best, when we invite people into the mystery of God’s love.

Cindy Jacobs:
In the light of eternity, no question—evangelism. However, I do sincerely believe we will be judged on how we treated the poor and dealt with issues such as Sudan, sex trafficking, prostitution and the like.

NT Wright:
Justice and evangelism are three things which have to go on through the work of the Church simultaneously. I really don’t think we have to make the choice, and I think to suggest we do, as our culture has suggested over the last 200 years, is to capitulate, to put a split in the world which has little or nothing to do with the vision we find in Scripture where Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of God. He is telling them about God’s sovereignty happening in a new way, which is evangelism. But the way it works out is the fact of what He’s doing for the poor. And it’s often as the Church is getting its hands dirty doing what needs to be done to help the poorest of the poor that people realize this Gospel really does make a difference—it can never simply be a matter of the heart. It’s got to be a matter of real conditions of people.

Nancy Ortberg:
I think for a lot of people, social justice leads to evangelism. Jimmy Long has written a book called Generating Hope, which talks about how you present the Gospel in a postmodern setting. And I love what he says about community. He says first of all, community really is our best apologetic. I believe that. I believe if the Church can live out community that is raw and vibrant and magnetic, people will be drawn to it. In this postmodern culture, people who didn’t grow up in the Church are going to, if they do come to know God, probably experience two conversions and not one.
The first is the conversion to community. That will allow them to live close enough to God’s people to get a view of the God who sits in the center of those people. Their second conversion then will be to God. So as we authentically live out social justice in our lives individually and in our churches, evangelism will be an outcome of that, and I also think evangelism will bring people into our churches who will be very committed to social justice.
Many churches I come in contact with have all kinds of programs for banquets, and teas, and Bible studies, which in and of themselves are not bad, but there is not an equal amount of serving the poor, and getting our hands dirty, and coming alongside people in need. The Church has to go to them. Many people started clamoring around Jesus initially because He was healing people, and then when they got close enough, they began to hear His message. And His message was, “The Kingdom of God is available right now.”

Article taken from: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/worldview/features/19606-are-we-doing-social-justice-wrong

and the winner is....!!!

2009-12-29T22:17:00.000-08:00

AUDREY SMITH!!! ...she is the official winner of the (unofficial) competition to see who's letter would reach me first in India!
ahh good times.

It really is quite fun to receive mail here in India - it makes me feel like I haven't been forgotten here on the other side of the world! Since Audrey's card, I have also received mail from the Whitus Family and from Matt & Amanda Lantz!! THANK YOU :)

On the subject of mail: according to the postage date stamps, it looks like the average postal time is 10 days to 2 weeks (max) for an envelope from the US to India. SO...if you are dying to drop a letter in the mail (I know you are!!), you still have time!

Christmas tidings.

2009-12-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas Eve! We have created a new Christmas song for you, to help spread the special India style of Holiday cheer!

The 12 days of India Christmas

On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
A shiny new new moped to drive!

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Six shiny saris,
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Seven chickens clucking,
Six shiny saris,
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eight drivers honking,
Seven chickens clucking,
Six shiny saris,
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Nine rusty buses,
Eight drivers honking,
Seven chickens clucking,
Six shiny saris,
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Ten spicy curries,
Nine rusty buses,
Eight drivers honking,
Seven chickens clucking,
Six shiny saris,
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eleven mango lassis,
Ten spicy curries,
Nine rusty buses,
Eight drivers honking,
Seven chickens clucking,
Six shiny saris,
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve dozen rice bowls,
Eleven mango lassis,
Ten spicy curries,
Nine rusty buses,
Eight drivers honking,
Seven chickens clucking,
Six shiny saris,
Five stray dogs!
Four napping cows,
Three rickshaws,
Two banana carts,
and a shiny new new moped to drive!

morning walk.

2009-12-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

Walking to work every morning is quite an adventure. Not only does the sidewalk have many perilous holes into the gutter underneath (about 4 feet below), but it also serves as a public toilet. Walking on the street is generally preferable, considering the smell and the possibility of irreversible damage to footware (use your imagination). However, the risk then becomes the many vehicles that are unafraid to speed within inches of pedestrians. If you are adventuresome, this is actually quite thrilling. It is not quite so thrilling when you are hit. I have now been hit by a man on a bicycle, swiped by a rickshaw, and gored by one (very mean looking) cow.

To help you understand the nature of this daily journey, this morning I counted some of the most common occurrences.
I passed:
23 piles of human feces
16 stray dogs
11 fresh fruit carts
5 people begging for food
4 cows
3 slum communities
2 men urinating
1 (rather cute) rat living in a trash pile
1 scooter with 20 live chickens tied to it by their feet...clucking as they sped down the road.

...Ahhhh India, how I love you.

up to speed.

2009-12-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

Due to a glitch in regular internet access, I have fallen a bit behind in the great world of the interweb. Thus, to bring you up to speed with my life, I am illustrating bits of my last email with a few pictures from along the journey.

November 22nd, my team of 7 left New Zealand to begin a long journey to India. On our way to Chennai, we had layovers in Australia and Dubai.
Thankfully, in Dubai our layover was long enough that the airline provided us with a hotel, which was a wonderful way to break up 30 hours sitting on a plane!
We were also able to see a little bit of Dubai, which was pretty cool and reminded me of a space city...mixed with a theme park for adults (it's also in the desert, so think Vegas times 10, with an ocean and no casinos) they even have an indoor ski mountain. Dubai also boasts the tallest building in the world, and yes, it is massive.

{world's tallest...}

The next leg of our journey took us to Chennai, South India. Chennai is located on the east coast of India and is built along the ocean. It is the third largest city in India, after Mumbai and Calcutta. We spent two nights in Chennai, enough to sleep off some jet lag and to somewhat acclimate to the new culture. Chennai is hot, crowded, dirty, and exceptionally busy....but I loved every minute there!

{rooftop view in Chennai}

We left Chennai via train and traveled about 5 hours west to our final destination: Bangalore. Since I will be here in Bangalore for almost three months, I am going to give you some background information on this place. Bangalore is located in the state of Karnataka, which is in the central portion of South India. The main dividing line in India is between North and South. The North of India is unified and speaks the national language of Hindi. South India is divided up into five states, each having their own language. This can cause quite a few problems (which I will touch on later).

It is currently winter in Bangalore, but that means that the nights in the 60s/70s and days in the 70s and 80s....quite lovely. Because of the location and elevation, they enjoy this temperate climate most of the year. Bangalore is known as the "Garden City" of India, because of it's many parks, as well as the lush vegetation that grows around the city (in comparison to the rest of India). It also has a quickly growing IT industry, and does a lot of granite exports. These industries have brought English into the city, and it is becoming more widely spoken in businesses, which is quite helpful for us westerners!

Despite the rapid expansion of industry, Bangalore still faces the same challenges as the rest of India. The division between rich and poor is becoming much more decisive, and there is a general apathy among the richer classes. This is largely due to the reincarnation beliefs of Hinduism, that you "get what you deserve." There are massive slum communities around the city, and in pockets throughout. We walk about 20 minutes to work every day and on our way, we pass three different shanty communities that exist on the sides of roads, on trash heaps, and in any unused corner of property.

Throughout my travels, I have been interested in the differences in poverty as a social dynamic in various countries.
India bears it's poverty much like gaping wounds in the skin, whereas the US likes to keep the main streets clean, then hide it's poverty - they are relegated to failed government projects, and the homeless are swept out of parks. These seem to be more like internal bleeds - you don't necessarily see them on the surface, but they are still there.

Despite the poverty that constantly surrounds us, I am greatly taken by this country. The people are exceptionally warm and welcoming - the hospitality here might only be rivaled by the American "south" :). There is also color everywhere you look! Beauty is highly valued here and it is evident everywhere, even brightly colored saris and jewelery on women who don't own any shoes and live in a tent. I hope that, by being here even this short time, we will be able to enrich the lives of the people living around us, bringing the love of Jesus to everyone we meet - whether that is in a kind word, a smile, a bunch of bananas, or dinner for the night.

We are so blessed to be working here with an organization called Oasis, which I really can't say enough about. They have amazing values, and are doing great things in the community. I will save the details for another email, but the general areas that we are working with are:
Anti-human trafficking - Oasis has an excellent action plan in place that includes prevention, rescue, and after-care. But specifically, we are helping with awareness campaigns, materials, and documentation of brothel raids, etc.
Jacob's well - this is a production unit that makes hand-crafted, fairly traded goods, and employs women that come from backgrounds of forced prostitution or poverty. They make sweet stuff too! check them out at www.jacobswell.biz I will be helping them with their product line, some graphic design stuff, and working with the girls on English.
Government Homes - this is an "orphanage," but really more like a prison. Kids are left here when they are unwanted by their families (especially girls), or if they are trafficked, or if they are simply lost. This happens a lot because the many different language spoken in the States of South India cause a barrier to finding the true identity of these kids. The children are locked in and not allowed to (ever!) leave the premises until they are 18, and even then, girls are put in arranged marriages that often don't work out, and they end up on their own, unwanted, and doomed to poverty. When living in the home, the kids are viewed as "bad" kids and receive no love and minimal education. Some of our team will be working closely with these kids, and developing a life-skills course that the Government is looking to adopt for widespread usage in these homes across the country.

I LOVE to receive mail...so if you feel compelled to visit the post office one more time during the holidays, my address is below. One caution, however, the Indian mail system is NOT known for it's reliability, and packages can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to arrive! So, I would recommend sending things asap, and probably not much after the beginning of January.

Oasis Bangalore
c/o Claire Tyner
23 /2 Kumaraswami Naidu Road,
Frazer Town, Bangalore
560 005
INDIA

All my love and best wishes to you over this Holiday season!

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

health care in the US

2009-12-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

Taking a break from the usual updates about my life, I turn to an issue of great interest to me, as I am a US citizen, work in health care, and I deeply care for the needs of those on the margins of society (eg those who are unable to afford health care in the current system).
Below is an excellent article from the blog of a good friend of mine, Dr. Mark Green. He works as an MD and also runs emergency departments for hospital systems. This is quite a lengthy article, but is worth reading through to the end, as he touches on the various economic issues involved in health care, and also presents some good ideas for solutions to the current problems.

If you are a Jesus follower, I would also encourage you to think of this issue from a Biblical perspective: How is the Church (talking here about the Universal Church...the body of Christ...US!) called to be involved in these issues? In what ways have we been effective? Where have we fallen short of the mark? Why has the government had to pick up the slack?

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27 (NLT)

A Plan For Fixing Health Care
Several people have asked me to put my thoughts on Obamacare and the current healthcare situation in the US in a single blog. This is an effort to summarize my thoughts and share my solution for phase one of fixing the current problems.

Most Americans want to help the disadvantaged and the elderly acquire quality healthcare. No one argues that the current system is not broken. Yet the solutions being discussed now all fall prey to the same underlying principles, which led to our current healthcare crisis.

There are primarily three major issues with the current US Healthcare system. The first is inherent in the basic human response to incentives. Another is the impact of government price fixing and it's impact on health insurance. Lastly, defensive medicine is adding costs to those who ultimately pay the price for everyone's health program.

When government or any entity picks up the cost of someone's healthcare, the result is a lack of concern for costs. People become incentivized to spend. In many cases, they spend well beyond what they would be willing to pay themselves even if they had the resources. With no cost barrier, and as the supply demand curve of economics 101 shows, demand exponentially increases as the price falls. At zero price, or free, demand is infinite.

Concomitantly, the supply curve falls leading to a significant shortage. Or, in other words, when there is no cost barrier, there is no end to the demand. With unlimited demand, there is no supply that can ever meet the demand.

The evidence of this is easy to find by looking at a healthcare system where 100% of people are covered for "free.". In England, mortality rates for most diseases significantly exceed the US. Two examples are prostate cancer, mortality is 19% in the US and 56% in the UK, and mortality for breast cancer in the US is 25% while in the UK it is 46%.1 As demand exceeds supply rationing, or whatever politically correct word you chose, must occur. The consequence is a system where screening occurs later in life. Early detection is essential to cure in nearly everything. A shortage of caregivers will lead to increased mortality and poor quality.

Current abuse of the emergency department and other visits to physicians for conditions that our grand parents would treat on their own is taxing the system substantially. Much of the increased costs in our current system are due to unnecessary visits. For those on "free" or low cost systems, there is no incentive to save, and again no supply that can ever meet the demand.

An additional problem to the current system is the effect on health insurance and other payers when government sets the price so low. When Medicare and Medicaid say, we will only pay X for this procedure, and X is substantially below the market equilibrium price, one of two things happens. Either providers stop doing that service, or in economic terms stop supplying that service at the set price. Or, they increase the price charged to others, a process called cost shifting.

The effect of cost shifting has devastated the Health Insurance Industry. As the government pays less, physicians, hospitals and other healthcare entities raise the price for others leading to increased cost of care for those with health insurance. This increase is then in turn passed to their customers in increased cost. As the cost escalates, fewer people can purchase health insurance leading to a need for insurance companies to increase prices further. What followed was a vicious cycle and put us where we are today.
There is a tendency to place the blame on health insurance profits and their executive salaries. I often as a physician have fallen into that trap only to catch myself. It is an easy fallacy to get into. But if you look at Kroger Foods, a company that supplies...food, its net income was $1.18 billion dollars and the CEO was paid $2.78 million.2 How is healthcare so much more essential than food? Why is the standard any different? Health insurance reforms of the late 1980's and early 1990 lead to significant reductions is cost as they regulated the use of expensive medications and procedures. Their involvement in healthcare has decreased not increased costs. Cost shifting because the government forcibly set the price low is the primary cause of the problem.

Essentially, with Medicare and Medicaid price fixing, the free market in healthcare is dead. The free market will drive price down for everyone. LASEK is an excellent example. LASEK involves a very precise "laser," trimming microns of cornea to reshape the cornea and focus the image on the retina. Health insurance and government medical care do not cover the price of this procedure. Meaning true market forces are setting the price. What has happened? When LASEK was introduced it cost $5,000 to $6,000 dollars. I saw an ad yesterday for LASEK for $499 per eye. Granted the average LASEK procedure is roughly $1,800 dollars, but even this amount is significantly less than where it started. As ophthalmologists competed for the dollars people were willing to spend, the price fell. This year's average was less than last year's. This decrease in the average cost of a surgical procedure on the eye happened in the face of an increase in healthcare costs that was twice the rate of inflation.
An added dimension to the impact this has is the simple fact that health insurance companies are not allowed to compete across state borders. Meaning BlueCross/Blue Shield operates offices in each state with added costs of doing so. And with a limited number of competitors, there is no incentive to the insurance companies to reduce costs. Lifting the ban on interstate competition would significantly incentivize insurance companies to reduce their costs.

We need to compel the government to stop fixing the price. The free market will adjust itself and with competition find a price at a supply demand equilibrium point. Great examples are rent control. Whenever states repeal rent control laws, the supply of housing increases and the price actually falls. This new healthcare equilibrium price will no doubt be significantly less than what the insurance companies are providing. This will, with allowed competition, significantly decrease the price of health insurance and thus increase the pool of people able to afford it. And with appropriate incentives detailed below, would decrease the misuse and thus cost of unnecessary medicine. This would free government dollars to pay the slightly higher market price for necessary procedures.

Liability reform is a major area for saving billions of dollars. No one wants to be sued. In some states, like Florida, three suits and you lose your license; there is a defined limit on the number of lawsuits you are allowed. Further, who wants to endure the costs in life sacrifice and money to get through medical school only to lose it all in a single settlement? A recent lawsuit paid a patient $60 million dollars when the plastic surgeon botched her thigh lift.3 Frivolous lawsuits and exorbitant awards cost providers and their insurance companies millions of dollars in insurance premiums. Those costs are forwarded on to the patients in increased healthcare costs and thus increased insurance premiums. But what does it do to the doctors? We go crazy ordering CAT scans and labs to make certain that once we are on the stand, we can say we did everything we could. Those additional studies intended to keep my colleagues and I out of the courtroom, are the heart of defensive medicine.

In a recent poll of emergency physicians, 65% said that they could save over $500 per 8-hour shift by decreasing unnecessary tests as a part of their defensive practice. Another 16% felt they could save between $200 and $500 dollars.4 I run a fairly large Level 2 trauma center that will see 75,000 patients this year. I staff it with 9, 10 and 12-hour shifts a day. If we assume a conservative savings per shift of $400 dollars, less than a single CAT scan, then in my emergency department alone, stopping the defensive practice of medicine would save (365 x 9 x $400) $1,314,000.00. There are over 5,000 emergency departments in the country.

But how can you have a government run program to help people who need assistance, and yet allow free market practices set the price? The government already has a program in place that does just that.

The food stamp program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is where 31.5 million Americans receive assistance to purchase food. This program is an excellent paradigm for healthcare. People who qualify are given a debit card and allowed to purchase the food they desire. The market price for food remains unchanged for the most part because the consumer is choosing how to allocate the resources he or she has. The consumer recognizes there is a limited amount and thus chooses prudently on how to spend the money. If they foolishly buy filet mignon, they have little to nothing else for the remainder of the month.

Healthcare credits via a debit card would place the decision-making back in the hands of the consumer. We have the actuarial data and can calculate the exact amounts needed to be kept in reserve for catastrophic care. The money used for routine visits as well as non-emergent use of the emergency department can be allocated to the health debit cards. The government would issue qualifying personnel a set amount yearly in conjunction with a catastrophic health plan. The individual would chose to save money by waiting to go to a primary care doctor instead of an emergency department and thus have money remaining for preventative care should they desire it. The individual has a choice, the market forces of supply and demand are thus reinstated and assuredly the right price will surface. As more people pay for their care, and make wise choices in regards to their care, cost shifting will stop and, for competition's sake, could even reverse itself.

Additionally, other incentives would include, all unused healthcare credits at year end could roll over into an IRA, or other vehicles which further incentivize the individual to not abuse healthcare, specifically the emergency department for routine care. Or, the unused amount could be applied for at tax time much like an earned income credit or child credit is received. With the financial incentive to decrease the cost of a person's healthcare, some people would decrease their risk as well, eating better and perhaps ending a nicotine habit. Why not, if they don't get sick, they get the financial reward.

This system reverses the current incentive to spend regardless of the cost. It would remove the government from price fixing and thus allow the market and competition to push the price down. Lastly, coupled with real tort reform, physician defensive practices would decrease and significantly enhance savings. What are we waiting for.

Mark

1Healthcare Here and Over There, Investor's Business Daily.http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=334968219359127

2http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=KR

3"Defensive Medicine is Real," Emergency Medicine Physician Monthly, volume 16, number 9, September 2009. Page 22.

4"What Emergency Physicians think about health care reform," Emergency Medicine Physician Monthly, volume 16, number 9, September 2009. Page 24.

fifth grade encouragement.

2009-11-29T06:35:00.001-08:00

I woke up this morning to a letter in my inbox that made my day. It is from the teacher of my little siblings' 5th grade class.

"Each year in response to our Bible lesson on Esther, my class of fifth graders does a leaf raking project to earn money for various charities that particularly focus on helping those who are defenseless. As we were listing various groups of people who are defenseless (unborn babies, disabled, etc.), Jacob and Emily shared about the work you were doing in connection with YWAM. A donation has been sent to Covenant Presbyterian Church on your behalf. Attached are scanned copies of letters that some of the fifth graders wrote to you."

...see below to be inspired and entertained. Kids are the best, man!

our responsibility.

2009-11-18T00:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it can be discouraging to speak out a message of compassion and justice in the face of a world drowning in poverty, oppression, disease, hate, contempt, and surrender. Sometimes the issues just seem so big, so incredibly ugly. However, I am able to find refuge in a God who is BIGGER than all of these things, a God who has given us the responsibility for this planet (...and yes, that means both the people AND the environment! Hug the trees, people! ...figuratively, that is), but also, a God who has put all the resources and creativity to find solutions to these problems within us!!

A friend of mine found this quote from Martin Luther King - if you have a few minutes, read through it. There is some good inspiration to be found.

"A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring. A true revolution of values will soon look easily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. With righteous indignation, it will look across the seas and see individual capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa and South America, only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the counties, and say: ‘This is not just.’ The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others and nothing to learn from them is not just. A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order and say of war: “this way of settling difference is not just.’ This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation’s homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. There is nothing except a tragic death wish to prevent us from re-ordering our priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood.

Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism and militarism. We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace and justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors.

If we do not act we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who posses power without compassion, might without morality and strength without sight.

Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful struggle for a new world this is the calling of the sons of God, and our brothers wait eagerly for our response. Shall we say the odds are too great? Shall we tell them the struggle is too hard? Will our message be that the forces of American life militate against their arrival as full men, and we send our deepest regrets? Or will there be another message, of longing, of hope, of solidarity with their yearnings, of commitment to their cause, whatever the cost? The choice is ours, and though we might prefer it otherwise we must choose in this crucial moment of human history."

Martin Luther King

calling all girls...

2009-11-02T17:52:00.000-08:00

pro-social change. yesssssss. get it. live it. make a difference.

The Girl Effect = the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.

recent reading.

2009-10-31T04:22:00.000-07:00

As I set out to read this book, I quickly realized that my first assumption was entirely wrong. I thought I was going to read something that merely compared the Christian faith to other religions. Instead, the reality of the material that I was reading started to sink in. Things that I had known (but still seemed a little foggy to me) about the faith that I ascribe to suddenly became much clearer. And it stood in sharp contrast to the confusing and contradictory belief systems that it was compared to. Some subjects that I would politely avoid in conversation I now understand to a much fuller extent simply because of this small book. The bulk of this book was specifically about the Christian faith, therefore, I still intend to do some further study specifically into Hinduism and Islam before traveling to India.
Although not an expressed purpose of this book, justice was a major theme running throughout the text, which is appropriate since justice is close to the heart of God and this was a book about Jesus!

Zacharias writes that “Evil is questioned from at least three sides: the metaphysical problem (what is the source of it?), the physical problem (How do natural disasters, etc. fit into the discussion?), and the moral problem (how can it be justified?)” (pp110). However, it is the justification of suffering that gets the most attention; likely because it is generally brought up as a main argument against the existence of God. It is an age-old question, “...if God is fully good and all-powerful, how can He allow suffering in the world?” In fact, I took a class in college that was almost entirely centered on that very theme. Even though this seems to get mainly focused on Christianity, it is also true that every religion must answer this question. Zacharias states: “I am convinced that there is no more comprehensive answer to the problem of suffering and evil than the one that the Christian faith affords” (pp106). Hinduism, for example, has no monotheistic answer to suffering. Jesus, however, faces this “problem” head on numerous times. His response to the man who was born blind was: “This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming when no man can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:3-5).

“Objective moral values exist only if God exists. Is it all right, for example, to mutilate babies for entertainment? Every reasonable person will say no. We know that objective moral values do exist. Therefore God must exist” (pp113). This quote stood out to me above the rest in relating exactly what people are claiming when they claim that there is no God. It is absurd! But I still want to pick apart a little bit of what was written in this book about Jesus and how He compares to the claims of other religions.

Jesus is fully God, immaculately conceived. The virgin birth is even confirmed in the Koran, and in that respect provides a huge stumbling block in the teaching of Islam. Jesus’ life was without blemish – even through temptation from Satan in the desert, whereas Mohammad and Krishna both were overcome by temptation.

Jesus knew that He was God; this is seen in numerous scriptures where He refers to God as His father. In John 8:54-58, “Jesus replied, "If I honored myself, it would mean nothing. My Father is the one who honors me. You claim that he is your God, even though you don't really know him. If I said I didn't know him, I would be a liar, just like all of you. But I know him, and I do what he says. Your father Abraham was really glad to see me. “You are not even fifty years old!" they said. "How could you have seen Abraham?" Jesus answered, "I tell you for certain that even before Abraham was, I was, and I am" (NIV).

The true God of the Bible is relational, and is referred to as our Father! In Hinduism, it takes much effort to “win” the blessing of the one he worships in the ‘sanctity’ of the temple – the only place of possible encounter with god. However, Jesus said that WE are temples – God is with us at all times! Because our body is a temple, Jesus gives sanctity to human-ness! If this weren’t true, there would be no sacredness to the body. This is why Justice without Christian ethics doesn’t have much foundation. Where is the line drawn if human beings were not sacred? “The ethical law comes out of the fact that we are a dwelling place for God” (pp70). John 2:20-22: “The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken” (NIV).

The bible speaks of communion with Him (nourishment, fellowship, friendship, celebration, pleasure, bread of life). This stands in sharp contrast to the self-deification practiced in Hinduism (pp 97, 119). Jesus offers us to partake in His body, “This is my body…lifts the listener from food-dominated existence to the recognition of …hunger…that could only be filled by a different bread” (pp79).

Islam specifically points to teaching to show the particular way. “But Jesus was identical with His message! No portion of scripture claims to be scientifically technical” (pp168). Also, the distance between Allah and humanity is vast.

New age religion and spirituality “violates science and religion – reduces my being to sheer matter while spiritualizing it, and exalts the mind to spiritual supremacy while naturalizing it” (pp68).

Testing faith? ...the test itself doesn’t pass the test – the mind to ask the questions is already a miracle, proof of intelligent design. How can there be intelligence from non- intelligence? The statistical probability of forming a single enzyme (which is building block of gene, which is a building block of a single cell) is 1 in 10 to the 40,000 power. Crazy!
“Faith is a confidence on the person of Jesus Christ and in His power, so that even when His power does not serve my end, my confidence in Him remains because of who He is.” (pp 58).

“Meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain, but from being weary of pleasure” (pp137). Mmmmm, good food for thought, eh?

Cheers!

fair trade.

2009-10-17T21:46:00.001-07:00

My definition of fair trade?
Ideal: that the intermediary companies would buy goods from the sellers at a price that is equivalent to the value of the raw goods that they are producing.
- enough to sustain their livelihood
- provide dignity
- profitable/beneficial to all involved
- not taking advantage of others for personal gain
- working together to maximize profit and still provide goods to the consumer at a reasonable price

It is SO important to stay on top of the issues - don't just form opinions then be unwilling to change. For example, right now Starbucks is mixing about 12-13% actual fair-trade coffee into the coffee that they market as "fair trade" ...meaning that 87-88% of the beans in the little "fair trade" coffee bag that you buy are actually not fairly traded. BUT, what if Starbucks really does start importing 100% fair trade coffee? Then, I need to be willing to change my opinion.
Companies want us to be mindless consumers and eat up all the "warm fuzzies" that they use for advertising. Be a smart consumer!! Do your homework!! KNOW what is behind the product that you are buying!

In the global economy, there are 3 major players: (these are largely wikipedia definitions)
1) The world bank - in an international financial institution that provides leveraged loans to poorer countries for capital programs, tied to neoliberal market restructurings. Stated goal - to reduce world poverty. However, it represents 184 nations and is controlled by US mostly, and a few other rich countries. The only people who can vote are the ones with over 84% of the shares - aka only the very rich. It's political, so it has accountability to the government, but also is supposed to be social (aka social activism) but those two almost never agree.

2) International monetary fund - is an international organization that oversees the global financial system by following the macroeconomic policies of its member countries, in particular those with an impact on exchange rates and the balance of payments. It is an organization formed with a stated objective of stabilizing international exchange rates and facilitating development in cohorts with the world bank. USA has 17% of the vote, and then 30 other have another majority, remaining 165 countries have only 29% of the vote.

3) World trade organization - is an international organization designed by its founders to supervise and liberalize international capital trade. WTO deals with regulation of trade between participating countries; it provides a framework for negotiating and formalising trade agreements, and a dispute resolution process aimed at enforcing participants' adherence to WTO agreements which are signed by representatives of member governments and ratified by their parliaments.
The problem is that the free-trade system isn't really working. A totally free trade system would mean that government would be completely hands-off, and open it all up for the smaller farmers. Sounds good? NO - big business would still take advantage of the smaller businesses/farmers. For example, this would be like letting someone who has never seen the show Survivor, and doesn't know the intricacies and back-stabbing of the game, play against people who have been watching the strategy for 15 seasons.

The unfair trading rules are costing developing nations about 700 billion/yr, then the US gives aid to them totaling about 50 billion. Not so cool, eh? It would be WAY better for us to be fairly trading with them. Trade, NOT aid!!

In the west, we have created such a consumer-driven society, that we are actually supporting this "big business" mentality, because of our consumer preferences. We need to stand up to this! Educate yourself in this stuff, so that you know what you are supporting with your purchases. Right now, we are just exploiting developing countries!
What, you say? What about that face that we are creating jobs, right? ....but they are not good jobs! what happens when China is able to enforce good labor laws and minimum wage? Then we will just move out outsourcing to another poor country, and take advantage of them We are NOT doing it right - we are exploiting these countries for our interests.
What does it look like to be a Jesus-following businessman?? It would mean ethical practices, caring for your employees, making a product that has excellent quality. It's not necessarily about the bottom dollar.
There are lots of Christians who don't give a damn. ...Not very Christ-like, eh?

Commodities to check: cocoa, coffee, cotton, pulp (wood pulp), sugar (domestic), sugar (world), orange juice concentrate - all these industries tend to exploit the producers. Cocoa has an unusually high detriment because it is often produced by slave-like conditions, and many times those slaves are children.

Why is it that society does not put value on all people? We just tend to think me, me, me. What about them? They are just as valuable in the eyes of God!!
A company to check out: The People Tree - the articles of clothing produced are actually more labor-intensive so that you can buy beautiful clothing and support more people. Cool, yeah? www.thepeopletree.co.uk (i think).

There ARE ways to do good business! Is it possible, now, to get international agencies that DO actually stand up for the smaller farmer, and the developing nation? ...so that fair trade is possible on a larger scale?

So, how does this all relate to Jesus, to Justice, to worldview?
Psalm 62:10 - don't put your hopes into wealth. How many people have committed suicide because of the financial downturn in the world lately? God calls us to a life where we don't depend on money - we depend on God.
Proverbs 31:8-9 - speak up for those who can't speak for themselves. We need to have a VOICE -- speak out!! We need to be extremely counter-cultural in order to speak against this.
Ezekiel 45:9 - dishonest scales...we have these still, in a way - just look at the coffee traders, the stock market, etc.
Job 24:2-10 - the poor. Job 29:14 - righteousness as my clothing, justice is my turban. God HATES the oppression of the poor.
Amos 5:11-24 - hate evil, love good, do justice... our culture tells us to live a life that pleases ourselves, at the cost of the poor. Don't succumb to culture!!

Kia Ora!

2009-10-04T00:50:00.000-07:00

Auckland. What's it like? It is absolutely beautiful here and I love this city. Springtime has arrived, complete with lots of budding trees and cool tropical flowers! It rains frequently....but is also sunny frequently! Due to the large water mass around us, the weather is quite unpredictable and you can literally experience all four seasons in one day. This makes getting dressed in the morning quite challenging, and definitely keeps you on your toes! I've been able to go running or walking around much of the city, which is full of parks, old volcanoes, and different parts of town that each have their own unique vibe. Below is a park that is pretty much in our backyard.

We've been able to get out of the city for some weekend trips that have been utterly breathtaking! One place we visited was Cathedral cove, which is the beach where they filmed the Narnia arrival in the new Prince Caspian. SO beautiful. Check out the picture, then watch the film -- pretty sweet.

Justice DTS?
Where to begin? What is Justice anyways? Is it a cause? (rhetorical question, in case you were wondering) NO...it's a person...Justice is Jesus! What have I learned about a world that needs Justice? I've learned this world is cruel and human beings can be incredibly wicked. Every single day, thousands of women and children are being abducted, beaten and violently raped by their friends, fathers, strangers. I've learned that in many ways humanity has lost the value of Human. Men are kidnapping little boys and brutally beating and brainwashing them into a war of simply killing to kill. "Good" working class men are flying to Cambodia to have just a few hours with a 7 year old...simply to fulfill their sick fantasies. Thousands of people work in sweat shops every day to make cheap clothes/shoes/etc. many of these products are destined for us westerners who happily consume the bargain merchandise from Wal-mart.

But to what end is all this? Ultimately...ALL of us (me included) are but filthy rags without Jesus...without Justice! Jesus has called us to BE Justice, to WALK Justice, to LOVE Justice and to reconcile humanity back to it's creator...
Am I passionate about this? YES.

Community. We, all 18 students and 4 staff have developed into a family spanning from age 18 to 35, and coming from 10 different countries. We have locked arms... in the good, the bad and the ugly. We are quickly learning to carry each others pains, victories, hilarious quirks, differences in language and individual cultures. We may not always trust each other, we may not always know how to help but we LOVE each other...we support each other...we cherish one another. We have poured our hearts out to each other, confessed the deepest sins to one another and celebrated in our victories! And it's beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Food. The most important section, right? Coffee here is great, we buy a fairly-traded variety that has ruined me on Starbucks coffee forever. The chocolate is even more wonderful! There is also a huge international population in Auckland, so we get to reap the culinary benefits!! Authentic Indian curry...mmmm! Thai...Mmm! Turkish food...Mmmm!! Fish and chips...MMMMMMmmmm!!! New Zealand is also famous for Kumara, which is a variety of sweet potato, and kumara fries.....MMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmm...

.I could live on these. And then, when kumara is in curry dishes, wow. Just wow. There is one thing that makes me NOT so happy, however, and that is the dairy of NZ...eek...makes my stomach turn! Apparently because these cows eat such green grass the milk and cheese is super rich (and to me, has a horrible taste!) And for all of you who know know me well, you are aware of my love of milk, ice cream, and everything dairy. Thus, this has been a difficult adjustment for me. The picture below is me in my happy place, with a lap full of kumara fries!!!!

The view from one of the dormant volcanoes scattered around the city. Pretty spectacular, yo.

Outreach. During the second half of this 6-month school, we will be splitting up into three teams, one going to South Africa, one to Cambodia, and one team going to India. I always assumed I would be going to Cambodia, to work with an organization in Phnom Penh that has ties to Freedom's Promise (a non-profit that I have worked with in Nashville). BUT God had other plans, and I felt strongly that I needed to go to India....SO I will be traveling to Chennai at the end of November to spend three months working with some ministries out of the YWAM base there. I am beyond stoked to get out there and get my hands dirty (figuratively, and literally!) loving on some of the poorest of the poor, victims of trafficking, people with leprosy, and street kids. This is our team of 7 crazy young people: Daniel, Ben, Sarah, Me, Sheila, Jason, Andy.

Thank you ALL for your many prayers, support, and encouragement over the past few months! I'm so excited to see where this crazy ride ends up! It is all for HIS glory!! And, to borrow the words of Paul: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel...pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." (Eph. 6:19-20)

Also, please keep the islands of Tonga and Samoa in your prayers, the earthquakes and tsunami have killed over 100, and injured over 1,000 people there. This is felt keenly here in New Zealand, as there is a large population of Pacific Islanders - many friends and relatives of those affected by this disaster.

life, among other things...

2009-09-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

My profuse apologies for being a wayward blogger. My grand blog-updating intentions have not exactly come to fruition, but I am working on it. promise.

The events of this past month are hard to put into words (and the longer I wait to write about it, the harder it becomes...darn you vicious cycle!).
We have fallen into a rhythm, of sorts, here in Auckland. School takes the primary focus, but there is also plenty of time to explore the city and engage with the people here. Each week of class has a different topic and a visiting speaker lectures on said topic Monday - Thursday. Every Friday has a different "justice" focus, such as poverty, refugees, human trafficking, genocide, or fair trade.
I've heard it said that it is difficult to go back to school after being in the "real world," but I am finding it quite wonderful! Especially as I study something that I am truly passionate about. I miss my friends and coworkers, but I do not miss the daily grind of corporate America, and am now relatively certain that I am ruined forever for that lifestyle.

I've been able to spend a lot of time with God, simply deepening that relationship and discovering roots into true kingdom living -- which has little to do with religion, per say, but everything to do with knowing Jesus: who He was, and how He LOVED and served people!

The following is a quote from a book I am reading: "Jesus Among Other Gods" by Ravi Zacharias. I highly recommend it, if you are looking for an interesting comparison between Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and various other religions.

Napoleon expressed these thoughts while he was exiled on the rock of St. Helena. There, the conqueror of civilized Europe had time to reflect to the measure of his accomplishments. He called Count Montholon to her side and asked him, "Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" The count declined to respond. Napoleon countered: "Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions die for Him...I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man: none else is like Him; Jesus Christ was more than man...I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me...but to do this it was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lighted up the flame of self devotion in their hearts...Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man toward the unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers of time and space. Across the chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable, supernatural love towards Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man's creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it, which strikes me most; I have often thought of it. This is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ."

auckland city.

2009-09-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

hello to all! After a week of learning, growing, living in a wonderful community of people, and exploring this amazing city - there is much to share, but since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll keep the type short and sweet! (Mom, the pictures are for you! This is where I live at the bottom of the world!)

Welcome to my home, at the intersection of Queen St. & Karangahape Rd.

The view out of my bedroom window (looking South)

My room. This space is shared by three of us.

The living room/kitchen of out apartment.

...not Skim milk, here it's SLIM milk!

quick quiz!! what is this?? and what is is used for??

thoughts on fundraising.

2009-08-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

Raising support. This was the thing that caused the most apprehension for me, when contemplating this journey. I wasn't worried about safety, about quitting my great job, or about traveling around the world by myself.
But asking other people for their money? nope. no way. not going to do it.

Doubts creep in so easily: what if I try but the money never comes in? What if people don't care about my mission? What if? What if?

Attempting to ignore the doubts of my weakness, I plowed ahead. I have learned much through this effort. Now, looking back, of course there are things I would likely do differently, given the chance. But that is an unavoidable part of human nature. There is no way to change what has already been done. There is only the possibility of change in the unwritten future. In order to cause effective change, it is necessary to understand the events that brought us to where we are, to take an inventory of what was learned through them.

Despite many failings, the Lord has been slowly working on my heart through all of this. And although many of these things were told to me in advance by wise friends, it was crucial for me to experience the process in order to learn them for myself.
The following is a partial list of things I have realized through this journey.

1) People really do want to help. Social justice is something that transcends all religious beliefs and petty differences in their practice. It is not ok to stand by and allow the gross injustices of the world to persist. I may be the one physically "going" to learn about and address some of these issues, but those who have come along side me by giving encouragement, advice, or finances are just as much a part of this fight against injustice as I am.

2) I have been so blessed by being given much from those who have little. The story of the widow's offering (Luke 21:1-4) has been familiar to me, as it is frequently sermonized and discussed. But I can honestly say that now I've tasted a little bit of the love that comes from a gift like that. It caught me off guard to see that the majority of the donations to my trip have come from my peers: dear friends who are also struggling to make ends meat. Those donations are powerful beyond words.

3) Increased awareness of how I am using "my" money. Opening an account to specifically hold money from donations is a humbling experience in several ways. It is a standing reminder that I am unable to do this on my own. It provides a comparison point for my other accounts (...is there more? ...less??) And lastly, every time I receive a check, it begs the question "what was it that I spent this amount on? was it worthwhile? could I have put it towards saving for the trip?"

4) Consistently, every single deadline has been provided for. Although looking at the generally low balance in the electronic bank statement never inspires much confidence, every single time there has been a deadline for a tuition deposit, a plane ticket, etc., there has been enough money to cover it. Without fail.

5) Balancing "fund-raising" vs. relying on the Lord. This is something I am still in the process of learning. How many things should I do to try to earn the necessary money? Obviously it would be unacceptable to sit around and do nothing, however it is also a poor idea to attempt to go it alone. In my experience thus far, the things that I have planned as fundraisers have gained little capital but spread a great amount of awareness. Whereas, the relationships that I have built, and the people who truly believe in the cause have made all the difference.

6) Encouragement throughout the process has proved again and again to be more significant than monetary gifts. It never fails that encouragement comes at the most needed times, and usually from the source least expected. Sometimes encouragements will come in the form of a kind word, but they can also come as a swift kick in the pants, so to speak. Both are extremely helpful, but not equally pleasant.

7) There have been friends in the same place to walk the path with me. Never underestimate the value of companionship. This has saved me in many dark moments. It has also been a sounding board and an outlet to brainstorm. I have been blessed to also provide advice and encouragement to others based on my (severely limited!) experience, and I still wonder at how all the intricate puzzle pieces fit together. love it.

8) Learning to RECEIVE. Those of you who know me well know the struggle this has been for me. I love to give, but for some reason it is difficult for me to receive, whether that comes in the form of a compliment, a birthday present, a donation, etc. I just don't like it. But I experienced an interesting turning point about a month ago. Up until that point, my conversation looked something like this:
"I'm headed out on this amazing mission, to deal with this horrendous issue, and I got involved this way, and I feel strongly because of this.....oh and I'm really going to need some support....would you pray? maybe give some money too?"

Truly. That's how it sounded. However, at some critical point I realized that this would NEVER happen without financial support. And I would never receive support unless I learned to ask.
Unless I learned to receive.

next door.

2009-06-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

The hotel where this occurred is 4.2 miles from my apartment, 6.3 miles where I live now.

Leterally, next door.

Police Arrest Father and Son For Trafficking Women

Posted: June 12, 2009 06:36 AM

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Police Arrest Father and Son For Trafficking Women

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It's not something you expect to hear about - especially in Nashville. A father and son have been accused of trafficking women as sex slaves.

Officers arrested Charles and Timothy Lee Thursday morning at the Red Roof Inn on Sidco Drive. Turns out that one of the women asked motel managers to call police.

Three other women with the men were also arrested on drug charges.

Police said they later found the women featured in the erotic services sections of three internet sites.

Both men face several charges including trafficking sexual servitude.

Silence.

2009-05-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

The following post was written by my good friend, Jeremy Stanley, for an organization called GivMusic. You can check out GivMusic at http://blog.givmusic.com/

“No! You don’t understand me! You NEVER understand! I hate you!!!” she seethes in her native tongue.

She runs up the stairs, down the hallway, her loathing apparent in her rapidly shuffling feet.

The door to her bedroom slams shut.

A few moments later, a knock on the door. Her mother gently turns the door knob but it is locked tight.

On the other side of the door, she hears her mothers soft voice, asking her, ever so gently, to open the door.

No response.

Her mother slowly plods down the hallway, whispering to her father.

Hours later, stillness. Quiet. Her parents have long gone to bed.

The bedroom door creeks open. She glides down the hallway, down the stairs, breezes through the kitchen, shoving whatever food she can into her backpack, through the den, waits, listens, hears nothing… She nervously grabs hold of the door knob, takes one glance back, breathes a breathless sigh of uncertainty and disappears into the cool night air.

“They didn’t believe me” she thought. “They never believed me.”

She had made the seemingly idle threat to run away from home no fewer than four times.

Nervous. Terrified. Quietly defiant. These emotions overlapped one another, over and over, over and over, as she plodded down the moonlight streaked sidewalk. Night still fully encompassing, yet daylight assuredly on its way.

Night slowly turns into day.

Day envelops her, promising excitement, energy, a new beginning!

Which rapidly turns to dread. Hours roll by. She loses herself in questions. In regret. In anger. In sadness.

Sitting, quiet, alone, night beckoning once again, she looks up and sees a cute boy approaching.

“Hi” he says.

“Hi” she replies meekly.

Time rolls by. She pours her heart out to this caring soul, this angel.

He tells her his story. He also ran away. He lived in the city, in the streets. Until he found a family. They too understand. They love him, care for him. They all look out for each other.

“Do you want to meet them? They’ll really like you. You can come and live with us!” his enthusiasm, his charm, impossible for her to resist. A new family. They care. They understand me. They KNOW me.

They walked into a strange building. The door locked behind them. She peered down a hallway. Strange men lurked about. Girls, no older than her, filed into rooms, a thoughtless, emotionless, empty expression enveloping and overwhelming their very existence. The strange, lurking men followed them into the rooms. One by one. One after another.

This was her new “family”.

Her hope was immediately shattered. She screamed. She panicked. She fought.

They threatened her. They beat her. They abused her. They molested her.

Day after day she was forced into a sickening cycle.

She fought. She kept her spirit.

Day after sickening day. Night after sickening night. They said they loved her. They said it as they forced themselves on her. Words mean nothing. Actions mean everything.

She fought. She kept her spirit.

Day after sickening day. Night after sickening night. They said they loved her. They said it as they abused her aching 13 year old body in every form, every fashion…

She fought. She kept her spirit.

Who were they? They were rarely the same. One after another. After another. After another. Day after sickening day. Night after sickening night.

And then…

Silence.

This is not a story of redemption.

This is not a story of hope.

There is only the silence of a broken spirit. Numb to emotion, numb to feeling, numb to life and living.

Silence.

As many as 2.8 million children live on the streets, a third of whom are lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

12 to 14 is the average age of entry into pornography and prostitution.

Between 100,000 and 300,000 children in the United States are at risk for sex trafficking each year.

Estimates say that 2 million children worldwide are exploited in the transnational sex trade.

Studies also indicate that each of these children may be victimized by 100 to 1,500 perpetrators per year.

This story is not unique. It happens daily. It is sick, it is perverse, it is reality.

We cannot sit by while this perpetually increases, day after sickening day, night after sickening night.

We cannot be silent. We must be a voice for the voiceless. These atrocities will not cease on their own. Not with sex trafficking profits at an estimated $217.8 billion dollars per year. This equates to roughly $23,000 per victim.

Having this knowledge, are you able to sit and do nothing? Are you able to shrug it off with indifference?

blessed.

2009-05-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

As May marches swiftly along, I begin to realize how little time I have left here in Nashville. Despite the excitement and drive I have to make this transition in my life, I will miss the people here immensely. It has been amazing to discover God within this community.
I am blessed.
Truly.

Why was it that I have been born into privilege, when so many are born into hopeless poverty? Why me? I could have just as easily been orphaned at 5 years in a township in South Africa, where the AIDS mortality rate is 50% of the population. Or I could have been born to a poor farming village in rural Cambodia and sold by my family into the Brothels in the bigger cities, because my family couldn't afford to keep me. Instead, I have been brought up in a lifestyle of opportunity and comfort. Despite my complaints of being a "broke" college student (oxymoron, thank you very much), or just starting out in a job and living on milk and cereal, I really possess more wealth than over 90% of people in the world. I cannot take this for granted. Money is power, and with power comes responsibility.
I cannot turn a blind eye to the atrocities that are happening in the world.

I have been working with a nonprofit organization called Freedom's Promise, but there are many other amazing organizations that have recently begun to shed light onto the darkness that is the modern day slave trade. Not For Sale (http://www.notforsaletn.org/) has started a campaign to spread awareness. Free for Life Ministries (http://www.freeforlifeministries.com/) is also doing some amazing work around the world. Please take some time to dig into this issue. Get involved in some capacity, even if that means simply signing up for an online newsletter!

Another great organization to check out is Love146 - see video below

the devil is in the details.

2009-04-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is true. Getting all the details for this trip ironed out is proving to be quite challenging. Often, I fall into bed so exhausted at the end of each day that it seems as if I am working three full-time jobs! However, God is good. With every frustration comes a ray of hope, and that is what keeps me going.
That, along with a persistent dream of a better world.
A world that I can help build.
Making small choices everyday that add up to something bigger in the end.
Picking up a piece to trash.
Picking up the phone.
A listening ear.
A smile.

I am constantly reminded of this through the kids I work with at school. Being an athletic trainer is often like being a medic, nurse, counselor, janitor, teacher, and nanny....all rolled into one. I find myself wanting to turn around and snap when someone whines about a minor injury, pours a bottle of disinfectant on their friend, or shamelessly flirts with four girls at once. Sometimes it takes a lot to see behind the tough outside, but there always a kid just needing acceptance. Often there is really something else going on, such as a parent in surgery, or a family going through a rough divorce. I love the days that I have time to sit down and really listen to them. Many times it is I who really needs to question my motives and response, not them.
That is the paradox of the Kingdom; I become more blessed by blessing others.

It is in giving, you receive. It is in dying, that you really live.

How often I forget. How often I get bogged down by the details of everyday and fail to see the bigger picture: that I am loved dearly by the God of the Universe, and to fully receive that love, I must give it away.

beginnings.

2009-04-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
-- Confucius

Yet, it seems that the first step is always the hardest. I apologize for the delay in getting the "real" site (www.ajourneyforjustice.com) up and running. Hopefully this site will suffice for the moment.

First of all, thank you for visiting! 2009 has already marked a radical shift in my life and I am beyond excited to share my vision, dreams, and upcoming adventure with you! This site will serve the primary purpose of continuing my blog updates throughout the next year, whereas the other site will contain additional resources, links, and detailed information about ways to partner with this project.

If you ever need to get a hold of me for any reason, feel free to call me at 734.276.5541 or email me at claire.tyner@gmail.com. I would absolutely love to hear your feedback on all of this! More information will be following this post in short order!