Sometimes...

...I get homesick for a place I've never been......but long to go.

Delivering Relief in Kenya

This BBC article is a diary from an aid worker in Kenya right now. It's pretty eye-opening what he is describing aout the happenings in that country after the unrest that has occured after the recent rigged Presidental elections. Check it out.

Sudanese troops fire on U.N. convoy in Darfur

U.N. officials say soldiers apparently mistook group for rebels

A Sudanese driver was critically injured in the shooting on the supply convoy, which destroyed a fuel tanker truck and damaged an armored personnel carrier, protected by South African peacekeepers, which occurred late Monday near Sudan’s volatile border with Chad, the U.N. mission, known as UNAMID, said in a statement.
A U.N. peacekeeper stationed near the site of the attack said a Sudanese army unit apparently mistook the South African peacekeepers for Darfur rebels who also operate in the area.

That saddens me too. It just goes to show you that we are all the same and who is to say there is any difference between me and my brother, whether black, white, poor or rich, Wouth African, Sudanese, or American. The tribal differences are so minute in that country that people are often mistaken for being in a different group than they are. This time it was some innocent people who were only there to offer aid, to help, to show love to the people in Darfur who are so deserving of it and need love more than you or me. I would continue to help; and that is just what they are going to do.

The Middle Piece, a guest blog by Dr. Agnes Binagwaho

...just read my (RED) blog on Google Reader...thought I'd share...this shows first hand the impact that is being made right now in Africa by the (RED) campeign and those who are involved in it...it is a wonderful business model...buy (RED)!!!

The Middle Piece, a guest blog by Dr. Agnes Binagwaho
from (BLOG) RED by (RED)

To mark World AIDS Day 2007, I visited with (RED) shareholders in Rwanda. Among the clients, caregivers and officials with whom I met, was Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS. Dr. Agnes epitomizes the amazing accomplishments of the country in strategy and spirit. She made several compelling points about the importance and impact of Rwanda's efforts to bring all stakeholders into the decison-making process around disease eradication and beyond. In doing so, she described (RED) as the "middle piece" to Rwanda's economic development. I asked her to describe in her own words what she meant. Below is her explanation. --Tamsin

With the first funds to finance the fight against AIDS, we reinforced our health system, improved access to care for communities and established a solid platform with strong leadership and a clear vision. However, two years ago we weren't sure that additional funds to support the HIV/AIDS work would be available to sustain our achievements. We were nervous that many of what we had built might crumble if the money dried up. This negative energy was dispiriting.

But then (RED) came. It was the "middle piece" upon which we could place the next floor of upward progress. (RED) monies ensured the sustainability of Rwanda's efforts. (RED) brought the positive energy back, allowing creativity and innovation to flow again.

Tackling HIV and AIDS is just a piece of the economic development puzzle. Fighting this disease – and defeating it – builds our capacity to address all the Millenium Development Goals. It makes us open-minded and open-hearted. In Africa, we need to share our experience and help each other.

(RED) gives Rwanda the peace of mind to do much more for our population and our neighbors in other countries, many of whom visit us to learn and collaborate to make our futures brighter.

Dr. Agnes Binagwaho is currently Rwanda's Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS. She is also a member of the expert panel of the Country Coordinating Mechanism in Rwanda for the Global Fund and the chair of the PEPFAR Steering Committee in Rwanda. She is member of several boards and foundations combating AIDS and infant mortality. Dr Binagwaho has also co-coordinated the Task Force of the Millennium Development Goal Project for HIV/AIDS on access to essential medicines.

a letter from Ethiopia

Our little Ethiopian baby girl wrote us a letter. It was absolutely heart wrentching. Here's what she wrote (and take into consideration that the translation from her language to English is a bit sketchy)...

Dale and Lindsay Best,
How're you? I'm alright. with my family Praise God. We celebrated our millenium warmly last September. I'm work hard at school in this millenium I hope my country will pull through poverty this time too. I like dolls like you do Could you send me one? Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God. Goodbye.

The Current Kenyan Crisis

Here, where I live, if somone's preferred candidate loses a political race of somekind, no matter how/why they lost, we get upset, we show dissapointment; but never this. Kenya recently had national elections for a new President. Nearly 300 people have been killed in a clash of ethnic violence in the country in only a week since the elections, which are claimed to be rigged. msnbc.com described the events as "violence that has killed 300 people and displaced 100,000 in what was once lauded as among the most stable democracies in Africa." That is sad, not only that it is such violence and so many people are being hurt, killed, and negatively effected, but also that Kenya, once considered to be a stable democracy in Africa (which in itself are few and far between) is now expierenceing the atraucities similar to it's fellow African counrties, the Sudan and Rwanda, for example. BBC is claiming that over 180,000 people have been displaced due to this violence and over 350 have been killed. The UN's World Food Programe is despertaly trying to provide food for the 100,000 displaced people in the Valley Rift Area alone.

The church needs to step in.

These people desperatly need to be shown some love.

I don't know what I can do.




Here is a video of the violence. It is devestating.

Here is a article I read about the subject that got it on my mind, again. And here is another.

Making a Difference

Paul told Timothy to not allow his age to hold him back to make a difference in the world around him. I just read this blog of a few kids who don't let their age stop them either...

Santa Monica, California, is far from Tanzania. But a group of high schools there makes the distance seem closer. The Crossroads Teen AIDS Ambassadors are the youngest certified educator-activists in the country working toward the eradication of the disease.

The California students bring their mountainous mission to Africa. They travel to Tanzania and other countries to help tell their young counterparts about the history of the pandemic, the virology of HIV, and the importance of safe sex. But they also bring the "mountain" to them: Kids from Tanzania have come to California to go through the program to experience and see inspiration of a life minus the disease.

The hours are long, the information is daunting, and the trek is substantial. But from the AIDS Ambassadors' perspectives, even their small hands can help start move the mountain.

we are His hands and feet

Christ has no body now but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion must look out on the world.

Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.

Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.

~Saint Teresa of Avila




Thank you Scott.

Idol Gives Back

I go this email from Idol Gives Back this morning...thought I'd share. I've been an Idol fan for a couple of years now, but after they did this this year, I am hooked!! So here's what the said...
Dear LINDSAY

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you well for the festive season and update you about some outstanding news from Africa. And we'd like to offer you a chance to share in the festive spirit by helping more young people in desperate need at home and overseas.

Back in April, Violet and Grauman were two vulnerable orphans aged 12 and 10 living in Kibera, a huge slum area in Kenya. They were being forced to scavenge because they had no adult support to provide food or clothing; they had no protection and no one was caring for them. You can watch their story again.. Now the project Kicoshep, supported by Idol Gives Back, has provided uniforms and helped make sure they are in school and they're reunited and living with their Grandmother in a much safer part of Kenya, Kisumu. Both Violet and Grauman are looking forward to a brighter future. All because of your support for Idol Gives Back.

It costs just $50 to make a real change by getting a young person into school for a whole year. And that's the best way to secure their future. Please give whatever you can spare to help more young people like Violet and Grauman. Yes, I would like to help change a life right now.

With best wishes for a fantastic New Year and heartfelt thanks for your support.

The CPEFund Team

P.S. Watch this video to remember how you helped to save and change thousands of lives. Thank you.

A ray of Hope

I randomly came across a little seed of hope.

Ethiopia's President Girma Wolde-Giorgis is a good man. The Ethiopian presidency is largely a symbolic office with little power, but the man holding that symbolic office is a good man. I found not an ounce of corruption nor anything negative about Girma Wolde-Giorgis. Actually the oppisite is conveyed in his wikipedia article.

Girma is a married fater of five. He grew up in Addis Ababa where he attended the Ethiopian Orthodox Church school and later an Itialian schhol in town, after the Itialian invasion of his country. He worked as an air traffic controlmen, undoubtably one of the most stressful jobs! He speaks 6 languages, obviously a very educated man. He has been in the military, the air force, served as director of Trade, Industry, and Planning, was a member of Parliment, and later to become speaker of parliment. He has served as director of Ethiopia's Peace Programme which was set up in 1977 to handle the Eritean problem peacefully. He was a member of the House of Peoples' Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE).

In addition to his political and career achievements, this man has been awarded for his various humanitarian contributions and initiatives. I like to hear that in anyone, especially in a political African leader. It is encouraging. The UNAIDS' Medal was given to him in October of 2004. That is a beautiful thing. He was President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society- Eritrea Branch (Asmara) as well as Board President of the Cheshire Home (It is an extended care hospital with 296 beds providing infirmary care for the severely disabled patients who need long-term treatment / care and infirmary patients from the Central Infirmary Waiting List...Cheshire Home encourages patients to actively participate in community, recreational and religious activities run with the assistance of volunteers. Some residents are working in sheltered workshops.) and Managing Director of The Leprosy Control Organization. He served as Board Member of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and Head of its International Logistics Department. He launched an environmental protection association called Lem Ethiopia in 1991 to date serving as Vice President of the Board of the Association.