Espy's Journal

Love

2008-08-10T21:21:00.000+03:00

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.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13

Jesus loved in all the ways that Paul describes in I Corinthians 13. In other words love could simply be summarized as Jesus for Jesus is love. Though He had wisdom, knowledge (for He created the universe), power to perform miracles, and the might of a billion angels at his finger tips, Jesus chose to love even in times when his disciples expected it the least. In His life it was clear that love was the motivation, the inspiration, and the expression of everything He thought and did. Christ loved across the board – from the outcast to the CEO and governors. What a great challenge! To those who think it is impossible He gives the power of the Holy Spirit to teach and guide, mold and develop into loving beings with a mission and purpose to transform the world through Love.

Prayer

Father in heaven,

As I go through my day today give me your love and help me to pass it on to others. Not just to those that are easy for me to love but also those that may seem less lovable in human eyes. As I acquire knowledge and apply the principles I learn daily, teach me to do it in love. May love, the pure love that only comes from You be the motivation for my actions. Purify my heart and make my intentions and motives pure. In a world where little love is shown, many of your children never knowing what it is to be loved or to love, help me to be an agent of your love, an instrument of restoration, a messenger of hope. And as I grow from child to man, leaving the childish and embracing the great things you have to offer, make your love the water that renews and restores my soul. Please give me the transforming power that comes through Love.

If My People...

2008-08-10T21:19:00.000+03:00

If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

It all starts with humility. I did not fully grasp the relationship between prayer and humility until I took a closer look at this verse. It is in humility that we recognize our frailty and come to the Lord for healing, guidance, and simply to worship him. It is in humility that we recognize our limitations and our need for someone greater that we are. In addition, God brings in another dimension to the believer’s experience; and turn away from their wicked ways. As a young Seventh-day Adventist I’ve had to struggle with the idea of faith, works, grace, law and their impact on our eternal destiny. Here God is saying “yes, I have forgiven you” but he adds, “leave the things that keep you enslaved to the world. Come and experience a fuller, more complete relationship with me. Let go of the things that entangle you.” Then I will hear from heaven; let’s commune, “let’s talk. I understand you and I am able and willing to forgive you.” God doesn’t just stop there. For most contemporary Christians, it would have been sufficient for God to end His statement there. However, He takes it to the next level. This gets really exciting! But sadly enough, this is where most of us fail to grasp the extent to which God wants to be involved in our lives…and will heal their land. What a promise! God is not only concerned out the state of our hearts (humility); He is not just interested in our devotion and worship (prayer). Yes, He wants to commune with us (seek my face) and forgive our sins, but just as important to Him is the healing of our land. God wants to restore broken relationships. He cares for the environment. He is pleased to see nature working in perfect harmony as He originally intended from the beginning of times. God is a promoter of social order and justice, peace and harmony across social and racial boundaries.

For most of us and especially for me it is easy to accept and even attempt to implement the idea of humility, prayer and devotion, communion with God, and accept the forgiveness of my sins and the healing of the land. The biggest struggle, however, is to turn away from my wicked ways. I often find myself questioning God’s involvement in my life. Like many believers I ask why my prayers are not answered and why the land is not healed. Looking at the world we live in today it is safe to assume believers across the globe are asking the same questions. I’m not a philosopher and I my best attempts at being a theologian failed. I cannot come up with a do-it-yourself kit for letting go of your wicked ways. For it is clear that God rewards those who are faithful to him and live a life that is in accordance with his precepts. In my moments of confusion and despair; when I feel like I’m way too tangled up to come out of my mess and be heard from heaven, I say a prayer and I invite you to say this prayer with me. “ Dear God, you have promised that if your people, who are called by your name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek your face, and turn away from their wicked ways; then you will hear from heaven and forgive their sin, and heal their land. Lord, come and heal my heart as you rain down your blessings on the land. Bring me into closer communion with you as I daily seek your face. Pull me out of the mess I created, from the sin that so easily entangles. I claim your promise that in my weakness I am strong through the blood of your son Jesus Christ. In His name.”

Broken Promises

2008-08-10T21:17:00.000+03:00

So many broken promises. My heart is filled with doubt and my guilt ways me down. What seemed to be finally getting together has gradually disintegrated itself. I sit in the middle of this mess. The mess I created. I shrug my shoulders and say “that’s life” but deep inside I know it could be better. It doesn’t have to be this way. What do I do without You. My heart tells me to move on but my mind knows full well that it’s impossible without you. I’m tired and weak so I sit here and wait. Waiting for something better to happen, waiting for somebody to come and carry me away. This is my life – an endless moment of weakness. Strength only appears to be superficial. Is it just me or are they all part of this masquerade. Gravity holds me back. All I want to do is break away, be free indeed. The pieces are all over the floor – shattered in million pieces, all out of reach. I’m too weak to get up and yet I know that I must. It is the only way out of this cycle of self-destruction. I want to believe. To believe that it could be better. To believe that You are there. Break me into your will – the crucible that makes sense of all these fragments. I can’t make sense of it all. Calling out for peace I surrender my understanding. Shedding my doubt and my shame I reach out for faith, faith like a child. I’m waiting to feel your touch… I long for your healing touch. Your presence is my heart’s desire.

Back to Blogging

2008-08-10T21:14:00.001+03:00

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I last posted anything on my blog. The school server didn't allow any traffic to blogger.com. Hmmm I wonder why... Anyway, though I wasn't able to post anything I still took the time to write some. I hope you can find insights from the entries.

Enjoy!

Prayer

2008-04-24T16:29:00.003+03:00

Dear God,

It's me. I come to you uncensored, unrehearse, unplanned. Just me. Taking another opportunity to pour out my heart to you. Just a few days ago I stood before your children, telling them how they should persevere and like the three Hebrew young men stand for you, stand with you even when times get tough. Then I remember telling them that the devil was going to increase his efforts to pull them away from you. Well, God, it looks like that time has come. I'm tired and I feel like giving up when I think about all the challenges that are ahead of me. You've provided for me in the past but it's just so hard right now to believe that you will do it again. I'm not sure why. I want to spend time studying your word but somehow something "more important" comes up. I know it hurts you when I spend so much time away from you and complain that I don't see you at work in my life. It's ironic. I know. I'm willing to take responsibility for it. If you give me a little extra strength, I may even be able to clean up my mess. But why Lord? Please just clean this mess for me. I get caught between what I want and what I know you'd rather have me do. I see with human eyes and I tend to trust only what I can touch. Teach me to see with my heart and feel with my faith. Help me to just have a glimpse of what it is that you see when you look down on me. I feel the devil bringing dark clouds around me. Lord, I don't want to be depressed. Deep down inside I know that it is in my moments of trial that you are praised. And that it's when I'm weak that I'm truly strong through your Son Jesus Christ. But I'm too weak to claim those promises. Please bestow them on me. Lord, break the shackles that have long held my feet down. As I walk with my head hanging down in shame for having walked so far away from you, please restore my dignity. The dignity that I can only find through you and through the sacrifice that you have made for me.

Lord Jesus I know that you did not die in vain. I also believe that you resurrected on the third day after your enemies - me and the rest of the world - nailed you to the cross. I'm praying that you will make the reality of your sacrifice a reality in my life. Help me live with the conscious realization that you are God and you have braved all the world's struggles so that I should not have to worry about anything except my connection with you.

Lord Jesus, I pray that you will purify my heart. Cleanse me and gear me up for your service. Wherever it is you call me to go, give me the strength, the will, the wisdom, the courage, and the humility to follow. And as I follow your leading, I pray that you will provide for my needs. Lord give me just enough to be content. Please don't give me more than I can handle. Draw me closer and closer to you.

Dear God, I also pray for all those who, like me, may be going through moments of darkness and a sense of separation from you. Please remember those who don't know you and are spending precious hours in the darkness. Reach out in love and touch them. Use me.

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me whats a little rain

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
is the lord God almighty
is the lord God almighty
I'm forever singing

MercyMe - Bring the Rain
Coming Up to Breathe

The Pain of New Beginnings...

2008-04-11T08:54:00.004+03:00

I don't know if you saw this entry on my blog but I went through a lot of the same questions you are asking yourself today. Moving is never easy. Especially during the adolescent years. It's like you're always having to start your life over. Every time you get attached to someone emotionally, you have to leave a part of you with them as you move on. Sometimes I've asked myself, which is easier. Being left behind or moving to a different country? There's no straight answer for that. I've come to realize that you don't really start over every time you move. You build on what you experienced previously. Your survival skills improve with every move.

Whether we move from one country to another, one town to the other, or just change the environment we normally interact in, every change comes with its levels of stress. I've come to realize that God has equipped human beings with special abilities to adapt to different and sometimes stressful situations. I've also come to discover that with every move comes a growth a period of growth. In Bruce Wilkinson's book Secrets of the Vine, he uses the Bible to support the idea that God prunes us just like grapevine growers prune their vines. It hurts at first but it leads to growth and bearing of fruits. Our trials and the pains we experience as we separate from those we care about and move into strange new cultures are experiences that, if taken well can lead us into greater fulfillment. There's a purpose, even for the dark moments of life.

When I lived in Sri Lanka. 19 - 20 years old, It was the last country of 4 countries I had moved to in a period of 2 years. And right within that country I spent close to half of my time in the capital city and the other half in a remote town 9 hours drive away. In December that year I moved back to Nairobi, Kenya. So I can relate to what you're saying. And I'm just really happy that you are voicing what is inside and speaking to God. That's the only way that you can come out of dark holes - if you let God know and let your friends know so that they can be there to support you. Another thing. I admire that you set high standards for yourself and that you try to meet your goals as much as possible. But you have to realize that by 20 you can't possibly be (personality, character, spiritual maturation) the final product that God wants you to be. Even then you'll still be exploring the great possibilities that God has for your life. As you move and face different challenges, meet different people, God will shape you into the person that you aught to be. It's a long process and you need to be patient. I was sure at some point in my life that I wanted to be a pastor. But as I grew older and experienced different things. I came to realize that God was calling me to a different ministry - development. I've since been a happier person but even within the vast area of development God is showing me every day the various areas of strengths and weakness that I can exploit to be a better servant for Him and for mankind. There will be days when you will not get answers to your questions. Some questions might remain forever unanswered. But the bottom line is that we serve an all-powerful God and if we trust our lives to his care he will lead us to prosperity and personal fulfillment according to his plans. Jeremiah 29: 11 -13. In Isaiah 43: 1-3 he says that he will carry us through whatever challenges come our way. If you read the verse carefully you'll see that God doesn't take us around our hurdles, he takes us through them. This means there's a purpose for them. I love this verse and the promise that it brings to us. Alright, before I turn into a preacher, here's the blog entry I wanted to share with you:

March 10, 2007

Sayin' Goodbye

Leaving but not letting go and still believing that we’ll meet again. Even though the odds are against us, we wait, we trust, we hope. What tomorrow holds we’ll never know. But with each day comes a glimpse of tomorrow – an opportunity to shape tomorrow. With every separation I leave a part of me. All that remains are thoughts and memories of those we love and cherish. In those thoughts and memories lives a hope. A hope that you’ll meet again. A hope that even though we’re far from each other we can still care. The limitations that come with distance make it almost impossible to wipe out the tears that trickle down your face when times get rough.

Standing at the cross roads we wave goodbye. Heading into a future that reserves surprises beyond our wildest imaginations. Here I stand in that future. But hopefully this isn’t the end. For the course that I charted from the start is nothing compared to where I now stand. What’s next? I think hard and coin beautiful answers. But deep down inside I feel uncertain. I’m afraid. Sometimes I think I’ve stopped to believe. Do we leave because it’s God’s plan or is it simply destiny taking its course. The older I get the more question marks I get. The more I leave the more I feel numbed to this pain that once seemed unbearable. The more I leave the more I learn to love. To love beyond human limitations. To love and to give. To love and to sacrifice for people like me – members a family that was separated from ages past. Relatives of different skin and eye color. Brothers of different cultures. Sisters with brown, green, yellow, blue eyes, a mere reflection of years of pain, all tucked inside. Mothers and fathers that have all their lives struggled to meet their basic needs.

I leave and it hurts. But wherever I go, I meet family. People who like me have been scarred by the reality of sin. People who, like me, have experienced the pain of saying goodbye, often with no hope of ever meeting again. I also meet brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces, mothers and fathers, who have never experienced what it is to be loved or to love. Perhaps that is what You have called me to do. I don’t know for sure. Perhaps I will never know. But I leave and even though it often hurts, I continue to love. To give of myself. “…For it is in giving that we receive and in dying that we’re born to eternal life”

--
Esperant Mulumba

It is near, right at the door...

2008-03-20T23:26:00.001+03:00

Spent the whole day today in Nairobi between government ministry offices and picking the lock on my car 'cause I forgot the keys inside and locked it. I felt so stupid with all those people watching me break into my own car in the parking lot. Kept smiling so big so they'd know that I'm not a thief or something. Anyway, you can stop laughing at me now.

I'm 21 years old and I've worked with ADRA at different levels in Africa and in Aisa for about 3 years now. My first volunteer experience with ADRA was in Tanzania. I was 17 years old then. It was fun but challenging at the same time. If you do the math you'll realize that I'm not yet out of college. I studied for a year in Thailand at Mission College. I was studying theology then and I was so sure that God wanted me there. After the end of my first year I was really confused about being a pastor or a Bible teacher. I think my emotions and my reasoning got all mixed up together and I needed to see what God wanted from me. The way I hear/see God's leading in my life is simply by praying about it and trying various things. If something doesn't work out then I take it as God not wanting me to go that way. Alright, let's make the long story short. I ended up working with ADRA in Vietnam, Thailand (both the ADRA Thailand office, and ADRA Asia office), ADRA Sri Lanka, and ADRA Africa after that. Through all those experiences I God helped me to develop skills, abilities, attend training programs, and see/meet people that have had a permanent impact on my life. I've come to see the world as one. God's world. even if Satan has made us think so often that he is in charge, when I look back on the says when I was most discouraged, I see that God was in charge. You see, it's like stretching out your hand and calling out to God. You think in your mind that he doesn't hear you. That he's not reaching out to hold your hand. You curl up and sleep. Your eyes are filled with tears. You think that God isn't there when in reality he's just too big for you. As you wake up the next day. You realize that you spent the night in the palms of the Almighty. In a nutshell that's my experience with ADRA. There are so many stories that I could type until the keys on my laptop all fade away.

When it comes to education right now. I'm thinking would it be better to study business administration where I can learn more about management, administration, and finance since I've already gathered a lot of experience on the development/emergency management aspects of the work I want to go into? I'm praying about it. Probably not as much as I should. I'm sure it'll all make sense some day, as long as I stay in His palms.

About Kenya. Peace and stability have returned. At least that's what it looks like right now. There's still a lot of hatred and bitterness - especially in the hearts of those that were affected. While helping out, I often felt helpless at the overwhelming damage that was caused. Decades of development and psycho-social support will be needed around this country. What makes more sad though is that now that tranquility has returned to the country, many of those who were not directly affected by the conflict have moved on. Politicians are working on how they can best secure their interests. A seat in parliament, a cabinet post, pushing for policies that would favor the political party of their affiliation. Most of us have forgotten that there are still people hurting. People picking up the shattered fragments of thier lives and asking what's next? It's easy to reconstruct a damaged building. It takes a lot more to restore a life. So I pray that God will make me a partner in the restoration process. I would be thrilled to be used by Him. There are forecasts of food shortages and significant price increase for food items in most regions of the country. We are already experiencing some of this, not to mention that fuel prices have also soared up, making production costs for business to go high and snuffling the life out of small businesses. This situation in itself could be/is a security threat for the overall stability of the country. But we hope that things will get better.

There are signs all around us that "...it is near, right at the door". I just wish that I had more strength and determination to get up and do what I know I should be doing to be ready for that time. And before that time, to be the kind of person I need to be to show the world that God is still God. He is in control no matter what circumstances may be.

One life at a time...

2008-02-27T16:40:00.001+03:00

I need you...

2008-02-27T16:24:00.000+03:00

I need you because you need me. If you need me more, I will need you more. Your presence makes me complete. Without you, a part of me would be missing. It's kinda like the yin and the yan. We were created to need each other. We have a common destiny - Salvation. We invest in rewarding relationships. And when those relationships fail or end. We rejoice in the moments of joy that we shared - the memories we have created. So you ask, "Do I trust?". Yes, you trust.

Esperant Mulumba

"When two elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers"

2008-01-16T22:39:00.000+03:00

"When two elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers"__ Ivorian saying.

ADRA Kenya has been directly involved in supporting families and individuals affected by the post-election clashes in Kenya. The support offered includes food items and non-food items such as clothing, blankets, and charcoal for heating and cooking. This emergency response program is being implemented in coordination with a number of NGO's. These agencies have brought their resources together in order to meet the needs of those that were most affected by the unrest in Kenya.

I was privileged to serve with ADRA Kenya. Our target community, the largest slum in the region, Kibera. This area of Nairobi was one of the hardest hit areas as protesters fought along ethnic lines and later had to fight or flee from the police in what turned out to be a bloody mess. ADRA, with the help of its partners has been able to conduct of number of food distribution exercises. Feeding an estimated total of 6,000 people so far. Distribution activities are still in progress as humanitarian agencies look at the long term development needs of the area.

Kibera, for many reasons, has been forgotten and it makes me sad to think that it took a national crisis for the humanitarian and international world to take a serious look at the needs of the people in Kibera. Though there have been efforts to improve the lives of those living in the Kibera slums, the area had not received as much attention as it did over the last couple of weeks as post-election violence erupted in various parts of Kenya. Humanitarian agencies are now feeding people that would have been just as hungry during peaceful times. I'm glad that Kibera has received attention and I hope that as humanitarian agencies and government organizations come together there can be a long lasting solution for those that live in some of the poorest conditions in the world.

As I worked on the emergency response team of ADRA Kenya, I constantly reminded myslef that we were serving people. Human beings like us. People with needs and wants. There came days when my patience was tried and there were days when giving up seemed like a great option. But through it all God gave us the strength to serve without expecting anything in return and provided for our security as we worked in volatile situations. As you look the pictures in this blog entry, don't let your heart be numbed by the numbers affected, think of each figure as a person, a family, a human life in need of love, care, shelter, food, support...people simply needing a hand to pull them out of their poverty.

The Gospel in Work Boots

2008-01-16T21:30:00.000+03:00

ADRA Responds

2008-01-16T14:18:00.000+03:00

Post Election Situation - Kenya

2008-01-01T21:00:00.000+03:00

Hey guys,

We're doing great! Alive and kicking. Well, the country isn't alive and kicking unfortunately. Looks like the situation is worsening with time. We're still hoping for the best. Raila Odinga is to meet his supporters on the 3rd of January. We're not sure what will come out of that meetings. Speculations are that there will be confrontations between civilian protesters and armed forces. This conflict is showing more and more of its ethnic face. Kikuyu nationals have been killed across the country. A number of women have been raped in different locations around the country. The death toll is said to be well over 200 deaths by now. The Red Cross says that "a humanitarian crisis is unfolding around the country". What does this mean for us? We are blessed to be living outside the city so safety has not been an issue so far. There is food shortages and fuel shortages all around the country. We've got enough food to live on for a while. There's veggie gardens around and enough here that I don't think food will be a problem. This has had an impact on the rest of the region. In Uganda for instance, fuel shortages have brought activities to a halt. Airplanes are grounded with no supplies of fuel to continue their journeys. This is due to the fact that Uganda imports its fuel through Kenya. Water and electricity are lacking in parts of the country but we don't anticipate that we'll have that problem here. Our power supply base is just a few hundred meters from here and our generator and wells should be sufficient to provide what we need should things get worse. I'm not worried about that though. Tomorrow morning we will have a meeting to discuss security measures to be taken over this period. We are considering a possible evacuation before things get worse. The US Embassy tells us however, that the situation will get better and that we should not worry about possible evacuation. Not trying to be a pain in the midst of a crisis but these are things that should have been taken care of long time ago. About a year ago when I talked about the importance of an elaborate and efficient evacuation the "older and more experience" ECD staff thought I was out of my mind. Anyway, better late than never. We'll keep you all updated with the situation as it unfolds here. We're still hoping for the best and praying that God will show us us what is best to do and keep us safe under his wings as he has always done. I also hope that he can give you all peace and tranquility as you observe from outside Kenya.

Thank you for your prayers and support.
--
Esperant Mulumba

(the sign at the top says "no Raila, no peace" source: aljazeera.net/english)

2007-12-05T16:15:00.000+03:00

ADRA Africa Regional Office - Newsletter Template

2007-10-31T13:06:00.000+03:00

More Pictures from Maasai Mara

2007-10-06T18:33:00.001+03:00

Maasai Mara Camp Out

2007-09-30T17:28:00.001+03:00

photos by Lahja H., Stephanie Roberts, Ingrid Y. Oberholster, Esperant Mulumba

Some photos for you!

2007-09-21T08:48:00.000+03:00

ADRA Africa Website

2007-05-30T18:02:00.000+03:00

The Shoe Craze

2007-04-16T19:48:00.000+03:00

2007-04-10T20:40:00.000+03:00

...but sometimes God puts us in areas where there's a big need and the only rest we experience comes from the satisfaction that the work we do is making a difference in someone's life and lending them a hand out of poverty... (something I wrote during a chat with a friend)

Precious Memories

2007-03-21T10:44:00.000+03:00

ADRA Africa Regional Office

2007-03-12T09:09:00.000+03:00

Here's what my office looks like. Not sure how much longer I'll be working here though :(

Sayin' Goodbye

2007-03-10T23:56:00.000+03:00

So Afraid

2007-03-09T21:36:00.000+03:00

Take my heart, and wring it out
In Your hands and watch it all collapse
Take Your Love, and drive it in
Into my soul, and never leave again

Cuz I am so afraid
That Ill find myself alone
Looking for a savior, looking for a home
I am so afraid
That Ill find myself alone
Lookin for a savior, Lookin for a home

So dont leave me here alone
Dont leave me here alone

All Your hope, and all my pride
All this time to watch it all collide
When everyone seems to say,
You can work it out
Under my skin, Im shaking
And I cant get out

So dont leave me here

This is not what You said
Its all in my head
When I throw my anger at You instead
So dont give up on me
I want to believe
That Youll never leave me
But I am so afraid
That Ill find myself alone
Lookin for a savior, lookin for a home
I am so afraid
That Ill find myself alone
Deep into the ages, deep into the foam
I am so afraid
That Ill find myself alone
Lookin for a savior, lookin for a home
So dont leave me here alone
Dont leave me here alone

Bebo Norman

Lord I don't know...

2007-03-09T21:15:00.000+03:00

You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what's been done
You hold the present and all that's to come
Until your everlasting kingdom
Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the rock of all salvation
Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
Oh, Lord, you are the author
Redeeming what's been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come
Lord, we don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt
Music by Peter Furler / Lyrics by Steve Taylor and Peter Furler

ADRA Africa

2007-03-06T18:35:00.000+03:00

So it's been a long time since I've updated my newsletter and by now I'm sure there are very few of you out there reading it. I guess I have an excuse for the long period without posting...well, kind of. To make the long story short, there basically wasn't much happening around here and I had very little to write about.

I'm back to Africa and it's great to be back to the mother land. Living at home/with my parents has been hard to adjust to, however. After living alone for a while there are many things that I've had to start getting used to again. But I'm doing alright. It's called adaptation and humans are usually the best at it.

Well, as some of you already know, I'm working at the ADRA Africa Regional Office. I don't really have a title. My work is mostly centered on translating report and developing PR material. Since there's only the Regional Director and me working here for the moment, the job description is often too flexible. As a matter of fact, there isn't a job description.

I got a call to go back and work in Sri Lanka as an Assistant Project Director. The offer sounded great and I took it up. Still working on visa and all the paper work that comes with it. I still plan to head back to school in August. This time for real. Motivation: seeing Sendy soon. I know what you're thinking...

Soon I'll be uploading some photos of my activities here in Kenya. Nothing too exciting though. Glad I'm not dodging bombs and bullets anymore.

Bye for now

At the cross roads again

2007-02-20T17:27:00.000+03:00

Here we stand
At a crossroads again
Like you said
In time the seasons change

Looking back
We recall the blessing and the pain
But now we turn our hearts toward
What is still to come
We want to dream again

Lead us Lord
Into a life of fruitfulness
Prepare our hearts to risk again
As we trust
Taking simple steps of obedience we know
That you will lead us Lord

Author: Brian Doerksen

Annual Report 2006 - Front Cover Sample 1

2006-11-20T19:31:00.000+03:00

Faith

2006-11-15T12:44:00.000+03:00

"When you reach the end of all the lightness that you know and are about to step over into darkness…Faith is knowing that one of two things will happen. Either there will be something solid there to step onto or you will be taught to fly."

Author Unknown

Eau, Source de Vie

2006-10-29T14:33:00.000+03:00

As many of you may already know, I've been assigned to work with the Ampara Water Sourcing Project(AWSP) - ADRA Sri Lanka's recent intervention in Ampara District - providing leadership for the project. It has a been a great experience so far. In the midst of stress, hopefulness, fear, challenges, and a vision for bettering the lives of many, I find myself growing in ways that I have never imagined. Here I am in a position - both institutionally and geographically - that I never thought I'd find myself in. God is at work. Although the security situation of Sri Lanka as a whole has been deteriorating over the past month, we've been able to make significant progress with the planning and structuring of our water intervention. The target communities are hopefull that our project will bring much needed water. I'm also hopeful that in addition to water, our project can bring about community development which is essential for the long term social and economic growth of our prospective beneficiaries.

The last month hasn't been easy as I have had to deal with difficult government officials, a staff being in a ver precarious security situation, and running the project with minimum staffing. I know that many of you who read my blog have taken a personal interest in it's content and I ask you to please pray for the activities of AWSP. Pray for the staff who live far away from their families in an area of the country that is considered unsafe. Also pray for the many international NGOs that working on the island in spite of the difficulties that have become a part of every day's work.

I hope that you will enjoy the pictures that you see in this entry of my blog and that they can stay in your minds, reminding you of the needs that are present around the world. You can make a difference where you are right now if you choose to open your eyes to the needs of those around you and pray that God will use you as a vessel for improving the lives of those around you.

Kandy - Camp Meeting and ADRA booth

2006-08-30T17:06:00.000+03:00

Trip to Pottuvil

2006-08-20T14:53:00.000+03:00

Last week I was out in Pottuvil - an area where ADRA is looking at implementing a water and sanitation project. The purpose of my trip was to look for potential property that ADRA could use as offices and staff housing, find ways that ADRA can network with other NGOs working in the area, assessing communities, and preparing for/anticipating possible challenges in implementing our program. Here are some of the pictures from the tirp. Hope you enjoy them!

Dinusha's Wedding

2006-08-10T13:14:00.000+03:00

Weddings are great. While weddings are wedding, Sri Lankan weddings are really special. For one, there' s alwyas lots of food. And for me, a free meal's always great! In addition, the attires you find at weddings are really unique. There's also this atmosphere of friendliness and love that fills the air. When you spend time at a wedding, it's difficult to understand why such kind, loving, and caring people would ever want to go to war against each other. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the photos. You're welcome to post any comment or quesitons you may have.

Kandy Perahara

2006-08-07T19:21:00.000+03:00

Faces Around Lakpahana

2006-08-07T18:40:00.000+03:00

Week of Prayer at Lakpahana - Kandy

2006-08-06T18:38:00.000+03:00

I was invited soon after my trip around the island to be a week of prayer at Lakpahana Adventist College. It's more like an academy though. It was a good experience. Many of the students took the decision to be baptized and to study the Bible. Enjoy the pictures.

21-Hour Trip

2006-08-05T20:17:00.000+03:00

A couple weeks ago, Steve and I went on a road trip accross the country to attend an NGO coordination meeting in Ampara on the opposite coast of the country. After more than 8 hours of driving we reached our destination on time for the meeting. Later in the same day we headed 3 to 4 hours south of Ampara to a town called Pottuvil, right on the beach on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. We spent the night there and early the next day we drove down to Hambantota where we met up with another ADRA team. We split later on and I headed to Tangalle, packed up some office supplies and furniture from our project that has closed down and headed up to Colombo, on the western Coast where our headquarters are located. Altogether, I spent 21 hours on the road over a period of 2 days.

The Monday Look

2006-07-17T05:40:00.000+03:00

Saturday Afternoon Walk at Galle Face

2006-07-16T09:58:00.000+03:00

Miscellaneous Photos from a Couple Weeks Back

2006-07-16T08:46:00.000+03:00

Another Preaching Appointment

2006-07-16T07:57:00.000+03:00

T.G.I.F. and Quater's B-day Cake

2006-07-16T07:21:00.000+03:00

Zeny an Paul have started a T.G.I.F. tradition (Thank God It's Friday) and Polly also made birth-day cake for all the birthdays from last quarter. Enjoy the pictures!

Buddhist Temple

2006-07-11T13:44:00.000+03:00

On the way back from the wedding we stopped by a Buddhist temple near a military base. I hope you like the pictures...

Bible vs. Cell Phone

2006-07-11T12:38:00.000+03:00

Makes you stop and think where our priorities are?
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?
This is something to make you go...hmmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phones, we don't ever have to worry
about our bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!

A Visit to Soundararaj's Home

2006-07-09T16:52:00.000+03:00

My tuk tuk ride back

Mrs. Soundararaj

It was hard for me to speak Sinhala but after being there for a while it was obvious that we had one language in common...football!

Meal time. The food was really good

Neighboor's kid

The man on the right is a tuk tuk driver friend and the guy in the green shirt is Soundararaj with his wife standing next to him

His daughter reminds me of my little sister

Dunisha helping her mom

Soundararaj's three kids

the first son

Dinusha

I can't remember the boys' names

Soundararaj is the maintenance person here at ADRA Sri Lanka. However, his contract will end towards the end of next month. His son was recently seriously sick so I decided to go and visit them. Take some time to fellowship, enjoy some home-made Sri Lankan food (lovely!) and pray for them. I had a great time at their home and I had the opportunity to relearn some really valuable life principles. During my visit it was impossible not to notice the amount of love that was being shown in this family - between both parents and their three children. It seemed to me that every interaction was done with a special touch of love. Soundararaj's family is really poor. Being from the Tamil minority of Sri Lanka it is especially hard for him to find employment. This is due to ethnic tensions that have have been festering in the country for decades now. This family needs a comfortable place for the children to sleep. They also need support with the medical costs for the eldest son who suffers from a thyroid-related disorder. If you're interested in helping, find out how you can help. It's simple. You can post a comment here or simply e-mail me at esperant@gmail.com Enjoy the photos!

Preaching Appointment

2006-07-09T06:52:00.000+03:00

On July 8th Dietmar and I were invited to preach at one of the local SDA churches about 1 hour 30 mins from the ADRA headquarters. Our Tuk Tuk journey there turned out to be less excruciating than I thought it would be. After the service we took some time to sit with the youth and talk with them. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Feel free to post any comments you may have.

Sri Lankan Wedding

2006-07-08T20:43:00.000+03:00

Hey people, as I told you in an earlier post, one of my colleagues was getting married. Well, here are some of the pictures from the wedding party. I was unable to make it to the religious part. But nothing too speccial. It was in a catholic church setting so most of you have a pretty good idea what it was like. Nothing new. Enjoy the photos!

Sabbath's Always Great

2006-07-01T20:34:00.000+03:00

Dietmar having a good time...

Zeny

The Coopers

Monk tunics drying

Rice field

Our usual lake...me gusta

Sri Lankan Tradition

2006-07-01T20:08:00.000+03:00

Before a young lady gets married in Sri Lanka she gets smeared with a paste made out of flour, water, and yellow coloring. She then smears it on to others. Some kind of ...well I'm not sure what it symbolizes. One of my colleagues will be getting married this week. So stay tuned for wedding pics!

ADRA Sri Lanka Annual Report

2006-06-28T08:50:00.000+03:00

Back Cover

Front Cover

Page

I have finally settled for these designs here. Let me know what you think of them...

Unrest in Sri Lanka - Senior SLA Commander Killed in Bomb Blast

2006-06-26T09:49:00.000+03:00

[TamilNet, June 26, 2006 02:59 GMT]

A senior top official of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Major General Parami Kulatunga, who holds the third position in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) high command was killed in Pannipitiya, 15 km southeast of Colombo, in Homagama police division in Western Province, in a suicide bomb attack around 7:45 a.m. Monday, Police said. Maj. Gen. Kulatunga, Deputy Chief of Staff, has served as SLA Commander for Vanni High Command of the Sri Lanka Army.

Sunday at the Beach

2006-06-25T17:59:00.000+03:00

Thank God for Another Sabbath

2006-06-24T17:03:00.000+03:00

Shmile

Steve and Paul doing their funny pose

Bin lah (Fly high in Thai)

Polly, Kurt's wife

The whole gang on our walk to our usual lake

Kids reciting memory verses for the 13th Sabbath

Polly trying to hide, cartoon style

Little afro-sri lankan kid, good mix, huh?

More memory verses

More on Tangalle Trip

2006-06-23T15:19:00.000+03:00

Last week on Wednesday 21st Steve, me, and a small group of other ADRA staff went down to a project location about 6 hours' drive from Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Our mission was to finalize the closure of a tsunami relief operation in the town of Tangalle (pronouced as Tango). My work down there included double checking that the material present in the office matched the invetory list that was given to ADRA and to make sure that any other equipment or material that was sent to another project was noted down and accounted for in the inventory. There was also a lot of manual labor involved as you will see in the pictures. Over all it was a great learning experience and a fun activity.

We drove along the coastline and saw beautiful beaches and others that were kinda sketchy. We also saw buildings that had been damaged by the 2004 tsunami. It's amazing to see how high the waves must have been in order to create the kind of damage that I saw.

Initially God created man to "have dominion over all creation". In the book of Psalm we're told that humans, referred to as man, were made a little lower than the angels. We were created to have power over nature but because of our lack of wisdom in taking care of nature, we are suffering the consequences of an overpowering natural world. The sea just don't convey the same message to me that it did before the tsunami.

The red dot is Hambantota, that's the district where Tangalle is located

Landlord (left) and two watchman in the container

Office equipment

Zeny and Yvonne at work

Team debriefing...

Nice leather seat, huh?

There had to be at least 15 phones there!

Paul, the new ADRA worker!

Paulito and his trophy

At the market in Galle

Tiring work...

Gyana hotel

Aritha (left) and Elisa (right) my colleagues

My trip to Tangalle (continued)

2006-06-23T14:42:00.000+03:00

Getting ready to leave Tangalle in the morning

The Indian Ocean once again...

Spices at the local market in Galle

Sri Lankan food, lovely

Oh, la mer

My trip to Tangalle

2006-06-23T14:19:00.000+03:00

Our "hotel"

The beach right in front of our "hotel"

water containers left over from the tsunami project

Cows on the beach

Dietmar going local

Tangalle

2006-06-23T14:03:00.000+03:00

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Cinamon Hotel

2006-06-18T22:59:00.000+03:00

This is the hotel where we watch the world cup. National TV only broadcasts cricket...welcome to Sri lanka!

I Love Sabbaths

2006-06-18T22:43:00.000+03:00

Puppies we met on our Saturday afternoon walk

Children appreciating their dads on Father's day

Sleeping beauty

Funny Dietmar

We live about 20 minutes from an air force base

Soccer Fever!

2006-06-18T22:24:00.000+03:00

I love mexican food!

Cafu, captain of the Brazilian national team. He's a calm dude, I like the way he handles thigns

Ronaldo didn't quite perform as expected (adding too much weight)

The Aussies tried

My Brazilian friend Kurt and Pauliana

I love Sri Lankan food!

2006-06-13T15:13:00.000+03:00

Rice

Don't try this at home....can you see the chili seeds?

Salad

ADRA Sri Lanka Annual Report (under construction)

2006-06-13T08:48:00.000+03:00

Front cover

Front Cover

Back cover

Inside page

My New Office Space

2006-06-12T15:47:00.000+03:00

Some of my colleagues

My desk

Sunset near Colombo

2006-06-11T16:41:00.000+03:00

Sabbath Afternoon Walk to a Nearby Lake

2006-06-11T09:43:00.000+03:00

ADRA 'expatriate' community

Visit to Hikadula (spelling could be wrong)

2006-06-10T21:48:00.000+03:00

We stopped by a fabric store on our way back to Colombo

The Sri Lankan flag

...at the fabric store

More fabric

Cute Sri Lankan kid

This guy's name is Pradip (no kidding!). I met him at the project site. He was kind enough to call me "my friend" and to hold the umbrella for me while I took pictures in the rain.

About 70% of the world's cinamon comes from Sri Lanka. In this picture, a young lady is peeling off the bark of the cinamon tree...

...the bark is later dried to form what we know as cinamon sticks.

An old woman at the project site

Salvation Army officer (left) with project beneficiary (right)

The Indian Ocean

Pradip holding a 1 Rupee coin

Anita conducting an inspection of sceptic tanks

View of the newly built homes from a distance

Anita discussing with one of the contractors

Community members

My first real Sri Lankan breakfast...I had to eat it with my hands!

Hikadula is in the area of Sri Lanka that was hit the hardest by the tsunami. The Salvation Army, ADRA Austria, and private contractors have worked together in providing homes for survivors of the tsunami. This was a monitoring trip and a hand-over ceremony for houses that were completed. Enjoy the pics and send me your commments at esperant@gmail.com

First Sabbath in Colombo, Sri Lanka

2006-06-10T21:13:00.000+03:00

This morning when I woke up I wasn't sure what to expect from the church service. When I went to meet Steve, he informed me that he did not have access to the vehicle keys. Our plan B was to walk to the main road and take a bus to church. So we headed out - Steve, Zeny, Paul, Anita, Dietmar, and I. After walking for about 200 meters a white van pulled up next to us and offered us a ride to the main road. We thought the journey would end there but this kind Sri Lanka driver took us all the way to church and refused to receive any monetary compensation for the service. That was a blessing in itself. A good way to start the day.

The church wasn't completely full. We had a lively Sabbath school discussion - something I missed for a long time. After church was over, many people came over to greet us. Over all it was a really good church service (except for the fact that I could only understand half of the sermon because of the preacher's strong accent). I got a real blessing nonetheless (I think that's how you spell it). I'm still not familiar with the names here and I can't spell them right. But I konw for sure that the name of the church we attended today was Shiloh church. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

First Days in Colombo, Sri Lanka

2006-06-09T18:29:00.000+03:00

Steve and Kurt at staff worship

An alley in the local market

Staff singing

Same song second verse...

Ayubowan...the Srilankan way

Sri Lankan Breakfast (texture: crispy)

Zeny at the market

Vendor at the market...cool weighing scale, huh?

I still don't know what that is...

Public transportation bus...

Some kind of Tuktuk

Fruits at the local market

Rice

Coeur de boeuf

Sri Lanka is an amazing place! Well, I guess every place I've been to is amazing in it's own way. But Sri Lanka has a special touch to it. The faces, the smiles...the language. In fact I've already learned a couple Singhalese - the "local" language. The first phrase I learned was "Ibowan" it's some kind of greeting. It's more than just a greeting, it's more like blessings on the person you're greeting. If you've flown on Sri Lankan Airlnes you'll probably be familiar with this phrase.

The people of Sri Lanka are really warm-hearted and will readily respond to your smile with a smile. Even though in many cases it's obvious that they are going through challenging times (e.g. tsunami survivors), the people here keep a cheerfull heart and try to look at the positive side of life. I pray that I can learn to be content and more cheerfull even when things aren't going my way.

A visit to the local market. After traveling around I've come to realize that the market (open air market) is a good place to discover new things about cultures. Well, I had the surprise of my life when Zeny, Athula, and I went to the market. Zeny's Steven Cooper's wife, and Athula's our kind and skilled driver. Steven Cooper's the ADRA Sri Lanka Country Director. Anway, I noticed at the market that all the vendors were men! I mean exclusively men! I thought that was kinda strange. Of all the countries I've been to (almost 15 countries now) it's the first time I've seen this. Oh well, enjoy the pictures and give me some feedback whenever you can.

More Photos from Down South

2006-06-08T18:17:00.000+03:00

Proper Introductions

2006-06-08T10:43:00.000+03:00

I need to introduce someone special to you all. As a matter of fact she's my special someone so she deserves special introductions....

I'm really thankful to have Sendy as a part of my life. She's a great friend and a good counselor. She's given me a lot of support and showed me the true meaning of frienship. Thank you Sendy for opening your heart to me and allowing me to take up a special place in your heart. I know that that the road will be long but if we take it a day at a time that's how long it's gonna be, one day at a time. I cherish the love and special friendship relationship that we have. Thank you for being you.

Down South

2006-06-07T17:03:00.000+03:00

(left) Mobile Health Unit (down) Devastation, boat replacements for fishermen, beauty amidst calamity, repaired building, ADRA Staff monitoring progress.

Safe in Colombo

2006-06-07T14:16:00.000+03:00

Second Quarter Newsletter

Surin Island, Southern Thailand

ADRA Vietnam Annual Report 2005

Setting up water tanks

Eau, source de vie...

Hey people! It's been a really long time since I've posted anything on my journal. There's a lot that has happened since Songkran. Some of the events that occured since then include the completion of the ADRA Vietnam Annual Report which is now in the hands of the printing company along with the first and second quarter newsletters (Xin Chao!). In the month of May I spent some time in southern Thailand (Pukhet, Kuraburi, Takuapa, Aoi Kei....) shooting two DVD productions for ADRA Thailand's Community Recovery and Development Program. This program is designed to help victims of the 2004 Asia tusnami to rebuild their lives. It is a comprehensive program that includes livelihood support, household recovery, adult and child psychosocial support, general health and sanitation, and the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure. I'm now in Sri Lanka where I will be designing and publishing an annual report for ADRA. In addition to that I will be designing and emplementing programs that will benefit both ADRA and the Sri Lanka Mission of Seventh-day adventists. In my spare time I will be supporting the local church with youth ministry programs and Bible studies along with occasional preaching. Alright, that was a long entry. I hope you don't find it too boring. I hope to get some feedback from you all. (esperant@gmail.com)

Songkran

2006-04-10T05:22:00.000+03:00

It's come to that time the year when Thailand celebrates Songkran. Before you guess what it is I'll just tell you it's not a song festival. As you may have understood from the pictures above, Songkran is a water festival. It also marks the beginning of a new year. It is also a time when the elders are honored. When I think of water and new I can't help but think of the cleasning and refreshing effect of water on creation. During the dry season everything looks dead; and in deed, many things die during that time. But when when the rains come, they bring the the power of recreation. As the country of Thailand faces political strife, I hope that the waters and celebrations of Songkran can refresh the hearts of the Thai people and give them a good and brand new beginning into the new year.

Espy

ADRA Vietnam Community Service Program

2006-04-09T16:50:00.000+03:00

Packages ready for distribution

Thu (ADRA Staff) and I with a group of beneficiaries of the Tet Community Service Project

Thu handing out packages

Me at one of the homes that benefitted from the project

"love isn't love, 'till you give it away..." __ Micheal W. Smith

Vietnam

2006-04-09T16:28:00.000+03:00

I went to Vietnam in December 2005 after spending 4 months in the Philippines and a week in Singapore. The four months in the Philippines were good and meaningful as they turned out to be a defining time in my life. After creating some good friendships and finding a community in which I fit in well, it was time to move again. This time with a slightly different purpose. I headed to Vietnam to work with ADRA Vietnam as their Public Relations/Programs Support person. Yeah, I know it's a big title, but basically what it meant was that I was in charge of designing and producing PR material, helping with the programs whenever I could, and doing anything that no one else in the office had time to do. My time there was meaningful and productive. I got to learn a lot about the Vietnamese culture and people. Coming in contact with the simple but hardworking people of Vietnam has taught me fight and work harder for myself and for others to have a better life. I especially admire the Vietnamese women who restlessly work in spite of their meager incomes to help and support their homes. My time in Vietnam has also taught me to appreciate and to be content with what I have been blessed with and to use my material possessions and relationships to help others have a better life.

Espy

2006-04-09T14:34:00.000+03:00

The rose will bloom...and then will die...

Mi brothero and his special someone

Heal the world...

The three amigos

Welcome to amazing Thailand!

2006-04-09T14:21:00.000+03:00

Velvet

Lunch break (Vicky and Myrna can finally smile)

Mi brothero

The "gang" at the vinyard

Myrna (my favorite lab teacher) in her "hungry mood"

2006-04-09T14:07:00.000+03:00

Crissy and Myrna "thinking about lunch"

Vicky on her never-ending quest for raw mangoes

My buddy Sara and I in my "office"

Buddah smiling to his faithful subjects

The "gang" on the motorcycle trip

2006-04-09T13:43:00.000+03:00

My friend Sendy and I tapping in to wireless. Getting online has been made "easy" now with ready wireless access on the "faculty lane" of MC. So I set up my little outdoor "office there"!

Playin' it by ear

2006-04-06T18:32:00.001+03:00

Today was a really interesting day. It started out with a phone call. I called Myrna and asked what she was up to. Well, basically we decided to do something...not sure what. We jdecided to play it by ear. So Vicky, Myrna, Crissy, Tresor, and I went out on two motorcycles (more like scooters if you ask me). Anyway, we ended up driving up and down the winding roads of Muak Lek and the surrounding. We met all sorts of interesting people and saw beautiful scenery. All through the ride I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of God's work and the creative ability that he has endowed mankind with. Next time you take a ride through nature or see the creative works of others, think about the maker and remember that nothing happened by accident.

Welcome to my journal

2006-04-06T04:58:00.000+03:00

Welcome to my blog!

Alright. Here I am again trying to setup a blog and this time I hope I can maintain it and not forget the password to it. Thank you Sendy for giving me the motivation to start a blog. As I think about what to include on this website, I've decided to just put everything about my life (well, maybe not every thing) but all the current events so that you can all keep up with the never-ending changes that have been going on this past year or so. You'll also get to see lots of pictures (as long as I can find a connection that allows me to upload them fast enough. I have an issue with patience). The pictures will be about my personal life and my work with ADRA. I hope that your visit here will be meaningful and that you will have a slightly better understanding of the different cultures I've lived in. I also hope that if you're not already adventurous, you will get motivated to get out of your comfort zone and do something unusual to make a difference in the lives of others and to simply grow as a person. Once again, welcome to my online journal - the adventures of my life.

Espy