tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82404328173493913022024-02-19T18:51:59.220-08:00The VoicedAll over the nations there are voices that need to be amplified with love and listening.devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-42012409596200647242014-03-18T09:51:00.003-07:002014-03-18T10:24:22.575-07:00Kingdom Princesses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShASgfs7mU287hPO7WV6VGFo1IxIivfqZK_sWswrPArGEu4dyH9y2nFfPnfSJzM-K56YSik4UDdPtOiGFrCu4wRpKZwD-EK98MeIsqHeOHNWYi2fzS-JKTM7VNTO_iifVMURs1yN1biA/s1600/princessangeline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShASgfs7mU287hPO7WV6VGFo1IxIivfqZK_sWswrPArGEu4dyH9y2nFfPnfSJzM-K56YSik4UDdPtOiGFrCu4wRpKZwD-EK98MeIsqHeOHNWYi2fzS-JKTM7VNTO_iifVMURs1yN1biA/s1600/princessangeline.jpg" height="640" width="427" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."</span><span style="font-size: large;">-</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #898f9c; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> G. K. Chesterton</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">MEIKA - the Port-au-Prince, Princess</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">She is a princess. She is worth celebrating – for her beauty and for her strength. From hospital visits monthly to wearing princess crowns, this little one in my arms has shown the strength that comes when you have faith to endure. She has been my teacher. Her name is Meika.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">// Right now I’m currently battling my own health issues, possibly something I picked up while I was in Haiti. My entire left side from head to foot is numb and tingling internally for over four months now. It feels like a painful electricity running through my veins. My face will just all of a sudden hurt and start buzzing with that 'pins and needles' feeling. It makes me feel not Human. I am exhausted every day. It is hard to find strength. And so far doctors can’t figure out what caused this or how to treat the symptoms. On top of that I'm a magnet for illnesses and infections right now - contracting Mono, Bronchitis, Tonsillitis and a infection in my throat all in a few days time. My body may be weak, is weak but the heart is stronger. I learned that lesson from this little girl in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">This season has definitely been a challenge, but challenges will come and there are mountains we will have to climb – but if we have the strength, if we have the faith, I have found we aren’t climbing them alone. When we are weak, our friends come to our side and they give us courage, a helping hand, and love that makes the climb seem less strenuous and burdensome. And my friend Jesus, that I recognize in Meika's little frame from Haiti – is the greatest comfort of all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;"><b><<<<<< Rewind to Nov 1st, "Day of the Dead" in Haiti. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">She almost stopped breathing. She turned an ashy grey. Kyle, Kristie and I gathered around Meika's curled up body and started to pray boldly. Her breathing speed increased and grew shorter. I was scared…no I was terrified. Absolutely terrified, but we all felt this urgency to just put our hands and hearts on Meika, and pray hard. I remember how I wanted to desperately give her my breath in her little swollen lungs, but all I could do in that moment was pray. Together, Kristie, Kyle and I kept praying, and even though Meika was scared, she still squeezed our hands tight and let us know that she trusted us to look after her. And she still shut her eyes tight and prayed with us. Together we were climbing that mountain. Together, the four of us were breathing, one breath in syncopation with the next. While only lasting less than an hour, it felt like days sitting with her and pleading our eyes out with tears for healing. In that space that felt almost disconnected from earth, as we were visibly seeing pain fight for the life of this little girl – I saw how precious life is and how much God loves us and intercedes in the darkest of times. Our voices were given breath to prayer of life. And even in this taxing moment of despair — He is there, He is here providing comfort that surpasses all understanding. His love poured over us with a hurricane that kept us breathing and bringing prayer to life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">Later that night we took Meika to the hospital, Project Medishare a few districts away. Kyle stayed with her and Kristie and I sat outside sharing a bench with other Haitians that were in pain. We stared ahead at the hospital, taking in the long dark night and sitting beside one another knowing we were still standing in a pool of God's impenetrable light.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">"Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." - </span><span style="color: #666666;">G. K. Chesterton</span></b></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;"><span style="color: #111111;">That night was long, arduous and full of danger, but a dragon was beaten and a fairytale came true. </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">LOVE is greater than pain.</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">Meika's little four year old body has gone through many painful respiratory surgeries at Project Medishare Hospital, and yet every time she returns back to Greater Works Home with an even bigger smile than she left with. There is joy, amidst suffering. This girl is the epitome of strength. She is teaching me at age 25, that I can have a faith of a 4 year old - one that endures through respiratory surgeries almost once a month. She is teaching me how to have the faith to know that this unknown illness in my body does not define me. Many have asked me, how are you so joyful, positive and faithful during this current pain and suffering - the only answer is God's mercy. He is my strength and my shield, to Him alone may my spirit yield. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79; line-height: 34.20000076293945px;"><b>"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one." - </b>Psalm 28:7-8</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">I will admit, faith hasn't been easy to hold on to during this trial. I have been challenged and beaten down many times, but it is a choice to wake up every day and choose faith before the world. Meika chooses to have faith in a God that rescues her, and by her amazing joyful model I will follow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">The time I spent at Greater Works in Haiti has taught me so much. Truly, these girls who have triumphed through many mountains of trials, and even an earthquake too, shaking the very ground they stand on - yet their faith is <i>unwavering. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">They are building a storehouse of strength that will outreach and strengthen many stories and people to persevere. I am encouraged. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11zr0vojuqa1rT2Z-YIkOTK8Q4m3XsxJs_Z-wxoDysM6Yh9iDB90w2YPkfQGt4bHEIo1aRYE_We0llDIkphWxEkcu9f9zgo_uiGtkZ_nD1byyPLeaNFX9v6AVVHYMGdP-rYjM2zwe09A/s1600/princesses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11zr0vojuqa1rT2Z-YIkOTK8Q4m3XsxJs_Z-wxoDysM6Yh9iDB90w2YPkfQGt4bHEIo1aRYE_We0llDIkphWxEkcu9f9zgo_uiGtkZ_nD1byyPLeaNFX9v6AVVHYMGdP-rYjM2zwe09A/s1600/princesses.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">There are GREATER WORKS to be done for vulnerable children, for protecting the fatherless and valuing identity. </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">These girls are not poverty orphans, or abandoned children they are precious daughters living in a Kingdom. Each is a Teacher. Each is a Princess. The LOVE these girls have taught me will remain in my heart eternally. This life Im living in is kind of like a fairytale but is based in reality, and 17 little princesses in this story changed my world and reminded me of that child heart beating inside my chest. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">They awakened my imagination.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 34.20000076293945px;">Together we are princesses, we are daughters of a King, and we are wearing our crowns proudly, knowing our worth — living in a Kingdom of endless possibilities, through sickness and in health.</span></span></div>
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<i>** If you are interested in giving a scholarship (sponsoring) any of these girls in school in Haiti please visit - <a href="http://www.eaglescholarships.wordpress.com/">www.eaglescholarships.wordpress.com</a> for more information on how to do that or contact us at eaglescholarships@gmail.com </i></div>
devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-57716836524442941372013-11-09T08:46:00.000-08:002014-03-18T09:55:08.763-07:00MyLove<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mWaOyuypILubiVe-CtaOzvPqGzdaFfRmKdIsC9emmDB1gesXptsWoClSKl8BVGMKhSgPYccnEP_hG3R_dge_FaVXalWcrcZQVgGjXF6Kchw0ZhfKiU7HLofBwTEk97IsnmKqRynCjW8/s1600/youngandFree_haiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mWaOyuypILubiVe-CtaOzvPqGzdaFfRmKdIsC9emmDB1gesXptsWoClSKl8BVGMKhSgPYccnEP_hG3R_dge_FaVXalWcrcZQVgGjXF6Kchw0ZhfKiU7HLofBwTEk97IsnmKqRynCjW8/s640/youngandFree_haiti.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacy from Haiti. </td></tr>
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M<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">y Love is hearing children singing songs of freedom. My Love is watching a former child soldier holding a pencil, and writing a story; their manifesto of peace. MyLove is seeing children sitting in a vibrant colorfully painted classroom with their bright smiles inviting you into their new world of possible. Poverty doesn't exist in school. It's as if it is removed the moment the children put on their identical pristine uniforms, masking any proof of poverty. It's here where I see the vision of the End of Extreme poverty. Where poverty is not seen and even though I know a child might be hungry at home, they are being fed at school. Wearing uniforms of Knowledge, these children are ready for the battles ahead. They are being prepared and empowered to solve the problems of their land. Schools are not just a location for learning, but a storehouse for FREEDOM giving. And these children, I believe and have seen are the answer to ending poverty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By allowing children in vulnerable situations the availability of school we are strengthening them, and giving them access to education and the ability to solve problems with logic, with justice, and with heart. Nelson Mandela states "<i>Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".</i> So really, if we want to change the world we need to give more education opportunities to those without.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whether on war-torn soils of Uganda or the broken roads from an earthquake in Haiti, the brokenness becomes our cause, our invitation to bring freedom. Freedom by education.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We can be FREEDOM givers. We can provide education to children in poverty and in doing so are the ones, taking our key, placing it into the deadbolt and breaking chains off of these children forever. We can Break the Chains of Injustice, with the excess we have and empower families out of poverty with our generosity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is MyLove, her name is MyLove.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Her beauty is probably just as mesmerizing to you as it was to me. Once I heard her name, I realized her mother must have named her that for a reason. "She is MyLove." It made think, are the children OUR Loves? Do we see these children as our own? Can we see these children as our own? Can we view a fatherless child, a beggar, a widow as Our Love? Someone who we can take ownership of loving and providing for. Maybe it starts by seeing them as Ours, that we start to care more. That they are a part of Our Family, and Our Home, Our Story. This is MyLove and she has inspired me that we all have a love, but it is in sharing that love, and it changing into Our Love, when history is made. Even typing this, I want to change the way I take ownership of fighting for the oppressed, and I want us -- you and me and the oppressed -- to join together so Our Story, can change the global story for the vulnerable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I went to Haiti this October, thinking I had some of the answers. I don't. But I have conviction and hope and Love to make a difference. I will always live a life of learning. I won't stop operating from a place of love and possibility. Because I know through Love all things are possible.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi404aIYNAg6SqZwIlj2cvPE06l4kuiHunl5_e8a5np7A_B-JrSkKU5Oh_TIpMUM5d8uDS_UaJ3JAVYk0Q-Ls9LQgVQXwMR5R8ntfztwXxJI1Oj8MrdNwHY7ogq7Rmt27L3HSrekxh0Up4/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi404aIYNAg6SqZwIlj2cvPE06l4kuiHunl5_e8a5np7A_B-JrSkKU5Oh_TIpMUM5d8uDS_UaJ3JAVYk0Q-Ls9LQgVQXwMR5R8ntfztwXxJI1Oj8MrdNwHY7ogq7Rmt27L3HSrekxh0Up4/s400/photo+(2).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">gates, waiting beside my doors. - Proverbs 8:34 ( Jacmel, Haiti)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to live my life unlocking and inspiring others to unlock as many doors as possible, to provide gateways to health, faith, restoration and reconciliation in vulnerable areas to children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once the door is unlocked and swinging wide, the other side of the door shows a pathway to peace, leading up to a little red school house on a hill, and the bell is ringing loudly, <b>justice </b>is ringing loudly and inviting the kids to come, and sit with the Schoolmaster who shares with them their story of Freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's be FREEDOM givers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's be CHAIN breakers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's be LOVE bearers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">// Devon</span><br />
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<br />devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-71902430316674771662013-10-27T11:20:00.000-07:002013-12-29T20:23:36.274-08:00Li Bél >> She is Beautiful.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I stare down into the deep brown inviting eyes of a girl no older than 4, that gaze up at me with wonder. Her smile holds the suns power with all of it's light. LI BEL. (She is Beautiful) She is lovely. She is worthy, and a precious pearl of GREAT price.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I keep looking into her eyes, gazing far in - passed the surface story, and I see a girl without a trace of poverty to her name. Without a trace of homelessness and abandonment. She has strength. She has riches far passed anyone can imagine, stored for her in Heaven. Her only background and History is God's story of redeeming grace. Her love for others is marked on her radiant face. The Lord's love gives heat and light to her day. Hope falls down on her like rain, washing away the dirt of hunger and the pain. She is a child full of wonder. She is beauty.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She reaches skyward with open arms asking me to pick her up and hold her. I reach down, and hold her close. I carry this gem around the compound in Haiti as she continues to reflect light in every direction with her joy! I hold her, as if she was the most precious stone in the world, because she is. 'Ou Bél' she says to me while I'm holding her, to remind me that I too am beautiful. My heart bends, knowing that those words are pure and perfect coming from her sweet little voice.The girls here in Haiti, they remind me, Kyle and Kristie of our beauty almost every day. It's one of the most humbling gifts to be told this. Sometimes we, at least I know I do, fight the words but I know I need to receive it and value my worth because this little barefoot haitian girl in my arms, believes it.</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupHp28V-zsPYL1NejfTuNIih1Iy2ne9QROgzmk_7Uax1vUvlB1Jaj1SrOYd-Wi62wQEsR23QILDBBopFLOrAVPALOV8n81j0YVLXR9mM8O_j-ggW5V8FJILpThnGQZ_SucVOuiC0FVyo/s1600/JouJouDevon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupHp28V-zsPYL1NejfTuNIih1Iy2ne9QROgzmk_7Uax1vUvlB1Jaj1SrOYd-Wi62wQEsR23QILDBBopFLOrAVPALOV8n81j0YVLXR9mM8O_j-ggW5V8FJILpThnGQZ_SucVOuiC0FVyo/s400/JouJouDevon.jpg" width="275"></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">A pearl of great price</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can learn so much from this 4 year old princess JouJou. <i><b>She laughs at days to come.</b> - Proverbs 31.</i> She throws her head back in laughter over and over again and reminds me of the child I want to retain in myself. We laugh so much it brings me tears of joy. She makes this short time in Haiti feel like 100 days of laughter and belonging. She has some wild in her, but we all do, and that little bit of crazy makes for some colorful days. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am learning to be colorful and learning how to color outside the lines when it comes to being "adult". It is making life way more exciting and fun! And allowing me to appreciate the <i>beauty</i> in it. I came to serve in Haiti, but as always I am the one who is served with love.</span><br>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 14.545454025268555px;">Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. <b>You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant."</b> </span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 14.545454025268555px;">- </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 14.545454025268555px;"> Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.</span></span><br>
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<br>devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-91385602376944394362013-10-16T14:17:00.002-07:002014-03-18T09:55:49.900-07:00Creating a Culture of Creativity<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNshyphenhypheny_kpUR-yAxo0sw6THrS5GjdVGbkm1vRCyGbSGa0oiInQhS3l25FiNlG5hzP11uweBS1hBal3eH-wShpQxlNyIXM8zoKfgS8wKv_Ro6NOA69YaB8D-7z4uwBFWWnJXQ6rehPQ7HI/s1600/IMG_0102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNshyphenhypheny_kpUR-yAxo0sw6THrS5GjdVGbkm1vRCyGbSGa0oiInQhS3l25FiNlG5hzP11uweBS1hBal3eH-wShpQxlNyIXM8zoKfgS8wKv_Ro6NOA69YaB8D-7z4uwBFWWnJXQ6rehPQ7HI/s1600/IMG_0102.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chalk + a trash dump + a child with wonder = !!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I met this dream-filled one in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Creating a Culture of Creativity in HAITI</b></span><br />
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Two things I am passionate about is the arts and identity. I believe through art - of any form - that we as humans can be uniquely individual and be empowered to speak from our true and authentic voices. A paintbrush in the hand of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 14.545454025268555px;">Rembrandt </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;">or Renoir to me is just as powerful as a paintbrush in a young child's hand, because it is a tool of empowerment; a voice that can be used by the artist to give sound and color to the mind's thoughts. Once a person allows themselves the freedom to express their mind and heart using various forms of art, I believe and I have seen a joy that appears from being able to create. This joy is PALPABLE and unstoppable. We are empowered when we can mold shapes, photograph the world and <i>share </i>our visions. We are reminded who we are through our voice and by viewing our art; the visual imprint of our thoughts we can start to see more of us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and we can create beauty out of broken selves. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have an opportunity to go to Haiti, thanks to my sweet dedicated friend and teacher Kyle Almgren who serves at Greater Works Home and School in Haiti. Together we're going to use art, creativity, and our passion to help create new programs that will benefit the school and the children. Our hope is to start or re-ignite a CULTURE OF CREATIVITY at this treasured place in Haiti. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is a culture of creativity? That's a good question. Not sure I can define it -- but I know that just saying those words ignites my spirit. <i><b>Creating or cultivating a culture of creativity. </b></i> A place where humans dream big, think and see and pray from the lens of the Creator of the world. The bigger picture. The hopeful picture. Where a person who is in poverty, can see beyond their current circumstance and motivate themselves to creatively solve their problems to get to their desired solutions. The future belongs to those who are innovative, creative and collaborative. Let's start by pouring that into children and treating them as equals, after all I am no more creative than a 5 year old in Port-au-Prince Haiti, probably less so. It's going to take a lot of faith and perseverance, but I am impassioned about fostering a culture of creativity throughout the nations, specifically in poorest places throughout the world. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to provide fuel, inspiration and a whole lot of LOVE to help these sweet Haitian kids use their imaginations and put it to action! This could be in the form of art, drama, music, dance, sewing, building, dreaming, praying, writing, exploring, etc. -- I am ready for all of it. Immersing myself in verbs of action and truth. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>STEPS TO CREATING A CULTURE OF <span style="background-color: yellow;">CREATIVITY</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1) <b>Set aside the time</b> to be imaginative, creative and dream. It's probably not going to happen at your desk, so get outside, adopt someone else's perspective for the day and challenge yourself to come up with new ideas. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2) <b>Yes and</b>... By saying yes, instead of 'no' when it comes to ideas, it helps open up a possibility for curiosity and imagination. Any sort of criticism can lead to shutting down people. Adults or Children, we should be better about staying mindful and considerate to others ideas, no matter how far fetched they are. For children it is so important to praise them and encourage them to keep dreaming, keep living in wonderment where there are endless possibilities. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think when it comes to the developing world, we could learn a lot by listening to the children's ideas how they think poverty can be lessened. This will definitely be taken note of in Haiti.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3) <b>Provide tools. </b>to enhance individual creativity. A paint brush, a pen, a microphone made out of a hairbrush, a red cape, a plastic blue hammer, a camera, etc. There are countless objects and tools that can help enhance our creative spirits! Find out which ones bring you joy, and employ them and enhance your personal creativity... and inspire others in the process! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4) <b>BE BOLD! </b>Be courageous and daring when in the creative process. Um they are just ideas, nothing is going to go wrong by dreaming or thinking too big. Is that even possible? Can we think too big? dream too big? I don't know, all I know there are footprints on the moon and new discoveries every day. I want to have courage against all odds. A creative courage that is inexplicable and a little crazy, but full of passion and color! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5) <b>HAVE FUN!!! Foot-loose and fancy free. </b>Is it fun for me to drop everything I'm doing fly to another nation to help plan and put together art programs for kids in Haiti? You bet it is! It's fun, adventurous and kind of feels like a dream, except it's real life. I so encourage you to feel the FUN that happens when you use creativity, step outside of comfort circles, and explore. In order to create a culture of creativity, we need to allow ourselves FREEDOM. Freedom of the mind, the heart, and soul, the feet, and the hands. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6) more steps to come. I am always in the process of learning. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">HOPEFUL hope filled HANDS</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our hands of compassion should be ones that freely give, hands of selflessness, hands of grace, hands of gratitude and generosity. These hands can do much and can love in action and provide a lot that multiplies, and is ever increasing by the day. Haiti is our neighbor, haiti deserves to be loved and cared for. Haiti the country - is a culture of creativity. But I think that some Haitians fear creativity. However, I know the Enemy of Poverty CAN'T stop creativity from flowing through the streets, but it can stricken the mind to believing that creativity can help break bonds of poverty and pain. The truth is that when that creative part of us is stirred, our hearts beat faster and we come alive in a new way that allows us to pursue the thoughts we usually discard. We pursue what seems impossible and in doing so motivate us to do the impossible. My hope for the Haitians I meet with, believe in themselves to create beautiful things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a responsibility, to use my hands to create, to cultivate, to construct creative constellations that light up the sky and point people to the direction of their dreams. I know this, I feel it in my heart every time someone shares with me their passion or idea. It's a calling and vocation and I cannot wait to see how the Lord uses these hands in Haiti during the next couple weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>VOCATION. </b><span class="prondelim" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">[</span><span class="pron" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline;">voh-<span class="boldface" style="font-weight: 700;">key</span>-sh<span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-style: italic;">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" /><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: text-top;" />n</span><span class="prondelim" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">]</span></span></div>
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<span id="hotword" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">particular</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">occupation,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">business,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">profession;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword"><b>calling.</b></span></span></div>
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<span id="hotword" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">strong</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">impulse</span></b> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">inclination</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">follow</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">particular</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">activity</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">career.</span></span></div>
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<span id="hotword" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">divine</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">call</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">God's</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">service</span></u> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">Christian</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">life.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Haiti October 2012 - A year ago visiting Respiré school.</span></td></tr>
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devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-88141763108645792892013-08-05T10:32:00.000-07:002014-02-21T10:29:11.631-08:00My 25th Birthday Dream! <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Where this story starts, is on a sunny day in the summer of 2012 in a war torn town in Northern Uganda. It was a day that I had been longing for, that I had been seeing in my dreams. I met hundreds of beautiful children and watched them dance traditional acholi dances and wave palm branches back and forth. I was in the presence of angels. But one little boy, in a bright Cyan blue color shirt stood out. My eyes could not stop smiling with joy every time I walked by him. I felt connected in a way I couldn't describe if I tried to, but my heart was drawn in.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSAV22TZOM-1raMPSSMo_KpdFL7aMe2D0o0FAH-6c0NNkGEiZguIhECzkaSHHNGOx_Kft6DnrJpNx1QlmNHuBgGTZaboRQdDDoqbLY8kvfldczKtB3i1LLmdShyRk6DAdnA59kMvDLmw/s1600/DSC01587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSAV22TZOM-1raMPSSMo_KpdFL7aMe2D0o0FAH-6c0NNkGEiZguIhECzkaSHHNGOx_Kft6DnrJpNx1QlmNHuBgGTZaboRQdDDoqbLY8kvfldczKtB3i1LLmdShyRk6DAdnA59kMvDLmw/s1600/DSC01587.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQxV5qEZ0Ddy5LzdNl4ZIo2q0dcAxkLbF7maYEmVjsSMkgFOS-vCWBJGxQyf-obwP7uqxHzT8p46V_vTfqnAXlheKy6PjHFtjAruH0r1HaekvM-eELa3lgXN7jp1E5dnQBRXCZpB1ZbQ/s1600/DSC01562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQxV5qEZ0Ddy5LzdNl4ZIo2q0dcAxkLbF7maYEmVjsSMkgFOS-vCWBJGxQyf-obwP7uqxHzT8p46V_vTfqnAXlheKy6PjHFtjAruH0r1HaekvM-eELa3lgXN7jp1E5dnQBRXCZpB1ZbQ/s1600/DSC01562.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Szci8p4q1-tusTVtIF9y5f4RD2Kd9lSW0HPlEa7ZXBVqXOvUEumg21t3vn2EydXbOyn3KhyCnwv9o-hT7SRipQkEgNGgF2T_RrDWg_vnjQejXv1KsiPt08gsnsPyv3YdDYBLvg_cVZw/s1600/DSC07736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Szci8p4q1-tusTVtIF9y5f4RD2Kd9lSW0HPlEa7ZXBVqXOvUEumg21t3vn2EydXbOyn3KhyCnwv9o-hT7SRipQkEgNGgF2T_RrDWg_vnjQejXv1KsiPt08gsnsPyv3YdDYBLvg_cVZw/s1600/DSC07736.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time meeting Joshua. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fast forward 7 months later - to February 2013, I am sitting in a brown wicker chair with Joshua and his elderly and grandmother Evalyn, and laughing and eating cassava root outside of their home. Community. Unity. Love. This is what life should be a about. The quiet moments sitting outside under the beautiful Ugandan skies, laughter tracing the leaves on the trees and joy flooding the places where our feet touched the ground. I held her withered hands that had experienced pain and sorrow and felt an empathy fill me. This beautiful and strong woman has survived a war. She has survived war lords. She has survived and seen her children be abducted and has seen not all of them return. She has many beautiful grandchildren that she can barely provide for, but she does and gives up her woven mat so they have a place to sleep. She is love to look at.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSiZAIwXqp4nx1IsNYtIN7cmPcBBrl7H94decswjQka6drlLGLQg7eZ2F6-bLnABmKkXgUh-nYzJsWqrRwmSMujM5FvAtvo7meK44g3j0ziE3eBCuQq_S4wsDyWp1wZE_DKtOcTRVmxg/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSiZAIwXqp4nx1IsNYtIN7cmPcBBrl7H94decswjQka6drlLGLQg7eZ2F6-bLnABmKkXgUh-nYzJsWqrRwmSMujM5FvAtvo7meK44g3j0ziE3eBCuQq_S4wsDyWp1wZE_DKtOcTRVmxg/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With lollipops in our hands, reuniting together and sitting in brown wicker chairs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDyY5mjK_dU7vvvIep-TlgptP4buQI2rUqeHC36JRNy7dLYBDQiEZs_Hj6MlAfT-_oxq4jq0jmvGP3_rX1xavAtKCtTty6sr3A0AiFJkX5MYxsTeUBFz4RX6BUALgr2hzCVJxyCft7l8/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDyY5mjK_dU7vvvIep-TlgptP4buQI2rUqeHC36JRNy7dLYBDQiEZs_Hj6MlAfT-_oxq4jq0jmvGP3_rX1xavAtKCtTty6sr3A0AiFJkX5MYxsTeUBFz4RX6BUALgr2hzCVJxyCft7l8/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sitting with Joshua and Winny in the shade. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-3WIPHuqruJY2c7gQ_SKVSpuiYpbgSma3A72aQmgeJmLLwwM4nwWtj1gMf6JVP5hsBPBfJY_eoWl2LQotLUPE0yAFmAff_afiJU0PHHOPLfOtwdgX_bAcHdIKGV2at4JsR0ZTAigN9Y/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-3WIPHuqruJY2c7gQ_SKVSpuiYpbgSma3A72aQmgeJmLLwwM4nwWtj1gMf6JVP5hsBPBfJY_eoWl2LQotLUPE0yAFmAff_afiJU0PHHOPLfOtwdgX_bAcHdIKGV2at4JsR0ZTAigN9Y/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there was a hope in his eyes that was undeniably Jesus. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the hour drive back to Lira from the village, my heart was trying to process everything. The dirt on his red shirt, the hope in his eyes. His grandmother who has been praying for an answer to a better life and education for her children. I was already sponsoring a girl in school, but I was confident if I called upon friends they might want to help support him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I came back to my little room where I was staying, pulled out my laptop and posted a photo and Joshua's story on facebook, (orphan of war / child born in captivity and HIV+) -- He is much more than this identifier, but it is part of his unique story that just reinforces what he's overcome. Friends jumped at the opportunity to contribute to sending him to school. Literally with in seconds I had notifications that they would provide for him. Seeing friends respond immediately, was such an encouragement in a tangible way that moved me in such a personal way to press on. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A week later, we picked little 5 year old Joshua up on a motorcycle with his few belongings and brought him to the children of peace office.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joshua spent the next 4 days with us, and I personally cared for him. My heart grew five sizes. I had never experienced such a deep empathy for a child before. It was almost as if I was a foster mom or a big sister there to take care of him. Over the 4 days, we watched Happy Feet (he loved the dancing penguins), skyped with my friend Cameron, ate meals, took naps together, listened to music on my headphones, prayed and sang songs, and just enjoyed being in each other's presence. My new friend, and best of all he was going to go to school! I even got to go to town and buy all his school supplies, books, mattress, box and lock, malaria net. Carrying ALL of these things awkwardly in my hands throughout the town with my friend Rebecca.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My favorite moment was sitting with Joshua on a wicker zebra print couch and eating bread with nutella and banana, one of my favorite snacks! He was right by my side, and he kept staring up at me smiling and making sounds like (oh my gosh this Nutella chocolate is soo delicious) he didn't have to say anything, we were silently eating our tasty snack and smiling and living in that special moment of friendship.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWwW3xz8lNqe3vBjeuCGbng1mix0rmS-sNg7kTof6zqefKccW-bHCyYaobDJCPfewHdC5ml2YcWvhNfDwmPp-XsF3_eCHpe9IBiKeNH-4ZlL17Xd-613b4Aj3vMNzqDC9u8kVNXuPiOg/s1600/IMG_1988.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWwW3xz8lNqe3vBjeuCGbng1mix0rmS-sNg7kTof6zqefKccW-bHCyYaobDJCPfewHdC5ml2YcWvhNfDwmPp-XsF3_eCHpe9IBiKeNH-4ZlL17Xd-613b4Aj3vMNzqDC9u8kVNXuPiOg/s1600/IMG_1988.PNG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">skyping with my friend Cam! Joshua has a new friend</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr6vHrUXcRUKuD9Mw6_cjaYAcwes6MlpoTqAgCUx2kjBXr_6TkON87JIVVaTZbte_l3KZvUbwGTEDvQS_P49hn9C_u3F6qESNT6ljpxfcyGv-A11E6dGBs4kMgPom-o5P2xdKYq0D1os/s1600/IMG_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr6vHrUXcRUKuD9Mw6_cjaYAcwes6MlpoTqAgCUx2kjBXr_6TkON87JIVVaTZbte_l3KZvUbwGTEDvQS_P49hn9C_u3F6qESNT6ljpxfcyGv-A11E6dGBs4kMgPom-o5P2xdKYq0D1os/s1600/IMG_2005.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love dancing penguins. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5jvHJO6g9H8N5d7weRl7Tf1jRcpT5dnWswH47cdE3muhmXNpwXaJIeypwo52Vus6915GinGfQUx2_qBdi0lZSYxWWrE5SD80BCgUPVZ_O9ztS-l83FvsptOKc21fPSsmsIS6yk_P7wQ/s1600/IMG_2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5jvHJO6g9H8N5d7weRl7Tf1jRcpT5dnWswH47cdE3muhmXNpwXaJIeypwo52Vus6915GinGfQUx2_qBdi0lZSYxWWrE5SD80BCgUPVZ_O9ztS-l83FvsptOKc21fPSsmsIS6yk_P7wQ/s1600/IMG_2020.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our gangsta face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found him stealing the nutella jar from the fridge. bless him haha </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joshua may be called an orphan by the understanding that he has no mom or dad, but now he has a family of friends now in the states and school buddies. He is not alone. He is healing from his war torn times, because of Your Love. He is healing because he knows someone cares for him. The Lord has been watching over him and now has brought friends to his side to walk with him.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pe0JBsBx9loZFgqNlnj1ja7bUomTpHcmbyn91HwqDNerKw_VodVA3J04LcVzDD0UL-6Z9zNIEF7VdfWkY0IeGVAiXiZwPhUkermlPAvA5eHE7JbRtU6S4lFJPkGkywiAtsUMlbZjc3A/s1600/IMG_2187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pe0JBsBx9loZFgqNlnj1ja7bUomTpHcmbyn91HwqDNerKw_VodVA3J04LcVzDD0UL-6Z9zNIEF7VdfWkY0IeGVAiXiZwPhUkermlPAvA5eHE7JbRtU6S4lFJPkGkywiAtsUMlbZjc3A/s1600/IMG_2187.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Before we took Joshua to his first day in school.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Riding with Lameck to school with all his new school supplies! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Joshua with his new school buds! Can you find him? </td></tr>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For my 25th Birthday this year in August, I wanted to use it as a platform to get Joshua's sister Winny in school. I am happy to say she is now in school with her brother! My Birthday Dream came true!! Thanks to all who supported, see you next August 5th. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">** Update as of Aug 7th</span> </b>- Blown away by the love and support of my friends. Thanks to 8 separate birthday donations we have enough for more than 2/3rds the year scholarship for Winnie! That means this girl is trading in her village clothes for some brand spanking new uniforms soon. Can't wait to share this story of education with you. See photo (Winnie with the fist pump) is already so excited!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm so excited for this new birthday tradition of mine that invites friends to be a part of participating in a child's life with the gift of education.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDCpm6ZEQQqqQZZ5FXmQWNgK6yOGjeQ3_wG766MaKFPlvJk_3I1g1NLCOCYckBk2DkrIf7UwH0O_gL72N-ZG8Qx1MQ92OcJaa_VMtgMoMFpP4gkXMHSGa7sgGmeRWfajpEuvdyc5Ypas/s1600/IMG_0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDCpm6ZEQQqqQZZ5FXmQWNgK6yOGjeQ3_wG766MaKFPlvJk_3I1g1NLCOCYckBk2DkrIf7UwH0O_gL72N-ZG8Qx1MQ92OcJaa_VMtgMoMFpP4gkXMHSGa7sgGmeRWfajpEuvdyc5Ypas/s1600/IMG_0723.JPG" height="384" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This happy girl in the green is smiling because you helped her get in school! I would use a fist pump too! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's so awesome to me that 8 different people, young and old, are sponsoring this ONE girl. It doesn't take a lot to make a difference, even the $1 contribution gave access to this girl having an education. We can do a great amount when we start from the place of compassion.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">MY BIRTHDAY DREAM 20 for 25. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My friends, I am blessed to know you and I am so thankful you are in my life! I cannot believe I'm 25 years old today! This year has been an AMAZING adventure to say the least. Upon reflecting what moments and days of this year meant the most to me, I realized it was a day in Lira, Uganda in late February when a little boy named Joshua, a war orphan, went to school for the first time. I met him in the village with his sister Winnie, both orphaned by the LRA and the war in Northern Uganda.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Winny (10) still is living in a hut with her elderly grandmother, but I know she would love to be in school with her brother Joshua. It would also be such a sweet encouragement to this little guy I love. So, I am calling on you my dear friends, to be a part of a collective of 25 or maybe more, that can together be a part of changing Winny's life. A<b> one time donation</b> of $20, can change her life forever. And a group of people, some you know, maybe some you don't know are coming together with <b>LOVE </b>to help give a gift of education and boarding school that will empower and transform this sweet girl's life forever.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>25 x $20 =</b></span> <span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A gift of education, boarding, school supplies, and endless empowerment! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=dfeldmeth%40gmail%2ecom&lc=US&item_name=25%20for%20%2420%20%2d%20Devon%27s%2025th%20Birthday%20Donation%20for%20Orphan%20of%20War%20boarding%20school%20scholarship%20in%20Uganda%2e&currency_code=USD&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donateCC_LG%2egif%3aNonHosted" target="_blank">Click to Donate to Devon's 25th Birthday Fund for War Orphan Scholarship</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">*still have $100 to raise</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHejcDu51g3aWrjt45lh6MS5xTKVrF3SmTix3esgLaDU8KzlO2ac5cU1xYHPQqZP_oJFjLDhujCGq_qhvyMo7Y9jr_cEXuuYzPUH3auamrVXpT0ZD1x0xlt25nO56kcuvwA3dDuaIx-78/s1600/Winnie_25for20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHejcDu51g3aWrjt45lh6MS5xTKVrF3SmTix3esgLaDU8KzlO2ac5cU1xYHPQqZP_oJFjLDhujCGq_qhvyMo7Y9jr_cEXuuYzPUH3auamrVXpT0ZD1x0xlt25nO56kcuvwA3dDuaIx-78/s640/Winnie_25for20.jpg" height="400" width="376" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would be SO grateful, even if you contributed a dollar or two, it can add up. Working with Children of Peace Uganda, within a week this girl could be in school just for the start of her first term! Either way, thank you for supporting me in this work and being such encouraging friends. I couldn't do any of this without you and it's my joy to do life with you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-- Devon</span><br />
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<br />devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-24938519011458790412013-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:002014-03-18T09:57:32.713-07:00El Faro >> Punta de Palma, Guatemala<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have many stories to share from a little coastal town in the jungle of Guatemala. I'll type them soon, but for now I'm still processing this trip that only happened two weeks ago. My heart came alive in Guatemala in a new way. Teaching art and empowering children with creativity is something I was meant to do. I couldn't stop smiling and excitedly speaking spanish, a language I thought I had forgotten.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I am so grateful for the staff at <a href="http://www.misionelfaro.org/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">El Faro</a>, and for the opportunity to serve and love another nation. Yet another piece of my heart is sown into another place. For 2012 I've left a piece in Haiti, Mexico, Uganda and now I add Guatemala to the list. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Quien es el rey de la selva? Se llama, J-e-s-ú-s. </span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyUgA3np8GkKdKVHZV7UIrPgmhq5G0oa9b33zs7f9GWIVo5lH8fZj24mnejx73USyUzv2XSbtZs5NWdIyFAk70IMV8rN4tf-54zvwKSNUHAhLsG_z7pIDzrbVw-6QasFO13L0rDBeRR8/s1600/Mirna_trashdump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyUgA3np8GkKdKVHZV7UIrPgmhq5G0oa9b33zs7f9GWIVo5lH8fZj24mnejx73USyUzv2XSbtZs5NWdIyFAk70IMV8rN4tf-54zvwKSNUHAhLsG_z7pIDzrbVw-6QasFO13L0rDBeRR8/s400/Mirna_trashdump.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mirna and I met in a trash dump where she lives in Guatemala. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She gave me a new perspective on Hope. Vultures are behind us in the trash, where Mirna</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">calls home. She ran into my arms and the first words she said were "Te Quiero" I love you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She put her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. She looked deep into my eyes, both of our brown</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">eyes gazing into one another with just so much love and joy at finding a new friend. I then put her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">on my back, the sweet shoeless girl in a wool christmas sweater vest in the middle of July, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in the middle of the jungle. Later that day we gave her a new summer sundress and bright old navy flipflops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are the moments I want to live every day. I am praying for this trash dump and hope that I can help</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">empower the people here in tangible ways.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpovPL5yKy3dmmfEeH7MpCICkmLZ8OFIs1cv7R6d9t-zoN73chyphenhyphenp-GLK9whP6FBmpkoJtZEHc99rO_Uk0H4WHSWLGuIvvh-6y4eS8PTeAkJagylnWkJBGCZiNqCTWPJKNEDYTiWxObys/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-25+at+11.00.24+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpovPL5yKy3dmmfEeH7MpCICkmLZ8OFIs1cv7R6d9t-zoN73chyphenhyphenp-GLK9whP6FBmpkoJtZEHc99rO_Uk0H4WHSWLGuIvvh-6y4eS8PTeAkJagylnWkJBGCZiNqCTWPJKNEDYTiWxObys/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-25+at+11.00.24+AM.png" height="295" width="400" /></span></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYvIyxkcSyCEqqTPcWAxpoUhN7eCMoS5JWhZ-vK_IPU2YY8z4GI97NXnAEyENrRzZk-xtkBlyWHgLNRybmWDa_pzTJD6iStP-8G9cEJHUZAivff5_BwAZl9qfoKOEmRaX7AjpLwx4Qhk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-25+at+11.00.36+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYvIyxkcSyCEqqTPcWAxpoUhN7eCMoS5JWhZ-vK_IPU2YY8z4GI97NXnAEyENrRzZk-xtkBlyWHgLNRybmWDa_pzTJD6iStP-8G9cEJHUZAivff5_BwAZl9qfoKOEmRaX7AjpLwx4Qhk/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-25+at+11.00.36+AM.png" height="310" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Besos. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DTcFkiT5MDlc7p35ZO40E71_B7pke7qgV2kDvyOsar71Pq17NQLO_XkWyxWl27NjhD61yqrOQhx2xJsJXW62GNxcK5POtf4dPZQ0xivnVz2PRypfojw8Y8QACN1i8hjHCCsys2qaCAo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-25+at+11.01.11+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DTcFkiT5MDlc7p35ZO40E71_B7pke7qgV2kDvyOsar71Pq17NQLO_XkWyxWl27NjhD61yqrOQhx2xJsJXW62GNxcK5POtf4dPZQ0xivnVz2PRypfojw8Y8QACN1i8hjHCCsys2qaCAo/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-25+at+11.01.11+AM.png" height="200" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Trash Dump. The place where Trash and Ashes are made into Beautiful things.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1368vAHptmIqpCionU62Aj_TBhwyEYyh9KI8r_-3Cz8-ieR6oIzbOd3mNY_He8ComD6hKKlPny9oNBOkjk5eAmkCUG7NSLpN-w9GzGr_dVo_Z2g34jVRrpt0ueeRDS4Q4lYHCtDu1pk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-30+at+11.40.26+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1368vAHptmIqpCionU62Aj_TBhwyEYyh9KI8r_-3Cz8-ieR6oIzbOd3mNY_He8ComD6hKKlPny9oNBOkjk5eAmkCUG7NSLpN-w9GzGr_dVo_Z2g34jVRrpt0ueeRDS4Q4lYHCtDu1pk/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-30+at+11.40.26+AM.png" height="400" width="281" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mirna, the mariposa (butterfly) This was an art therapy project. Video to come.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3IkcH_infk5BTAYgkm9SGwHJJceTSbJOQlOKilbVlzN-ydtM2w4UcDF-mm9zBUIN-G6bnanO6vEJ0BzQOXCU_WVZ9StEqi5fYBFLSCYtaoyllfaKVdiF446ReIU_6QDUQ4QpVCdH3fU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-30+at+12.14.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3IkcH_infk5BTAYgkm9SGwHJJceTSbJOQlOKilbVlzN-ydtM2w4UcDF-mm9zBUIN-G6bnanO6vEJ0BzQOXCU_WVZ9StEqi5fYBFLSCYtaoyllfaKVdiF446ReIU_6QDUQ4QpVCdH3fU/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-30+at+12.14.40+PM.png" height="247" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Un aguila de Dios! Another very inspirational art therapy project.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS46by5bXPWqPyYGRVuTRR5-PMaaMgqs_XEHvfzHvCZJAVa3VZFZ36YwGiat8GZLYmIPKw3U0W4a3B0O_fsKpdp6HUD8r5ABLhyphenhyphenAb9zzKSY4kuN7UmjkAVVNaw4_xrcY2RVg4ygqyRvf8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-01+at+9.55.27+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS46by5bXPWqPyYGRVuTRR5-PMaaMgqs_XEHvfzHvCZJAVa3VZFZ36YwGiat8GZLYmIPKw3U0W4a3B0O_fsKpdp6HUD8r5ABLhyphenhyphenAb9zzKSY4kuN7UmjkAVVNaw4_xrcY2RVg4ygqyRvf8/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-08-01+at+9.55.27+AM.png" height="243" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My sweet group of 5 year olds painting their "homes" on mini Blick canvases. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVl9x3qAndrcdNVL7JEQfp31Wd3ckdYYom3DnnfjZ7u84UQQ-Z0mLMUG4FZkyzEXe_bVEXFpum-VOeRFQgQXAxLmX0rVwUeDlE5GSpUL6Psg3QDCypR0H2Y0E8iAUDOLGOMuLNPA0GyU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.14.37+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVl9x3qAndrcdNVL7JEQfp31Wd3ckdYYom3DnnfjZ7u84UQQ-Z0mLMUG4FZkyzEXe_bVEXFpum-VOeRFQgQXAxLmX0rVwUeDlE5GSpUL6Psg3QDCypR0H2Y0E8iAUDOLGOMuLNPA0GyU/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.14.37+AM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fun with bubbles! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkeJfgmKvApa0eJHvSfrYugE8K_xBpEWNpTJvf0U-7rBF7gzPAkS3RjaZyWeVd485PGifEWUN6ns14blfZnIaLKym7hCQ6fiCOWvrCGjfvrkC-ImNWtd-33GkGmBjkqgiKZWSzvTxaCo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.14.55+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkeJfgmKvApa0eJHvSfrYugE8K_xBpEWNpTJvf0U-7rBF7gzPAkS3RjaZyWeVd485PGifEWUN6ns14blfZnIaLKym7hCQ6fiCOWvrCGjfvrkC-ImNWtd-33GkGmBjkqgiKZWSzvTxaCo/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.14.55+AM.png" height="263" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love how this kids face is amazed at what he can create just with soap and water. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOToB67TukWGfeHZ_2gZcywCBBZ_jsOE5K0YJZWep0Atff5dQ0lY4-dz93P6hpMUuWxPWFhyCKvFByRw2xAjjoQCulOBHlyUaY2yZdbioLAMk7ftHdaKlo75OGVYxv1pFhCU80UwHA4g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.17.38+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOToB67TukWGfeHZ_2gZcywCBBZ_jsOE5K0YJZWep0Atff5dQ0lY4-dz93P6hpMUuWxPWFhyCKvFByRw2xAjjoQCulOBHlyUaY2yZdbioLAMk7ftHdaKlo75OGVYxv1pFhCU80UwHA4g/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.17.38+AM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This sweet girl painted a flower so delicately and gently on my hand, after I had</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">painted their nails and painted flowers on their hands and faces. Such sweet moments.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXgXiDp93N7rMGYEM7pWa0lGq_MIGHvsYgk1A-fNbWZVNcYgZapGypNjgV9fz1duEONdFCyhPN6Ba04e81rF-TLitO_ZTicQyeXPM8acM2_kT7iRKnh3vEKaOzbfThXkHyTmrmEhwBTA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.21.19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXgXiDp93N7rMGYEM7pWa0lGq_MIGHvsYgk1A-fNbWZVNcYgZapGypNjgV9fz1duEONdFCyhPN6Ba04e81rF-TLitO_ZTicQyeXPM8acM2_kT7iRKnh3vEKaOzbfThXkHyTmrmEhwBTA/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-27+at+8.21.19+AM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The sweet girls at Punta de Palma school in the village. Nothing I love more than</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">adorable little girls speaking spanish and playing with me like I'm one of them.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGSBycrdaTAEJ5vlxQe4wKIFSCqvK0ONkp6CvybzvuHIoPDtlw-MOa7UIZeay7IPj__4_LamsOkdY23MmOyeYzx_3iCNR3wkNGdYuks1lrcC9K4IHTtsHLyvutsvYpXszw7WrIQ0G8fI/s1600/FB_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGSBycrdaTAEJ5vlxQe4wKIFSCqvK0ONkp6CvybzvuHIoPDtlw-MOa7UIZeay7IPj__4_LamsOkdY23MmOyeYzx_3iCNR3wkNGdYuks1lrcC9K4IHTtsHLyvutsvYpXszw7WrIQ0G8fI/s400/FB_cover.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This sweet little girl Madi Rosa, in the pink dress with her pink bear took my words away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She was beautiful and the way she looked at me (like in this photo) broke my heart every time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was our first day of working in the village at Sarita school, and I fell in love with the children</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and their warm and loving and inviting smiles. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHizWkzk6t6_pEfXoeA2g6DZGnOFBlhmmPG0pnuT_dLwlsRx55AobJONvJiv3lU0PPiyRjVecJu9eTgiF7AGH3yPba51UKvfbAfcEI0iOcqe1HyyaBopWFRC2cmwBUsQU54uN1dru6TXU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+1.00.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHizWkzk6t6_pEfXoeA2g6DZGnOFBlhmmPG0pnuT_dLwlsRx55AobJONvJiv3lU0PPiyRjVecJu9eTgiF7AGH3yPba51UKvfbAfcEI0iOcqe1HyyaBopWFRC2cmwBUsQU54uN1dru6TXU/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+1.00.14+PM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Teaching an art lesson drawing El Faro, the Lighthouse on the beach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even a little 4 year old bello is so excited to draw, and I love his sister smiling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">at him with such encouragement!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gek2OaXUsqfqrTeKff7AakTugZZa5cnvUjsqFlxkbHZsW5HoI3jAmIdj2WMqe7-B-n1TspzDiM6i4OmBUPRrqCbrHqUt09O-hRlAs6stRKPHsneq7poVzhSbu0Btx-Am3yA1R9tdbpw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+12.58.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gek2OaXUsqfqrTeKff7AakTugZZa5cnvUjsqFlxkbHZsW5HoI3jAmIdj2WMqe7-B-n1TspzDiM6i4OmBUPRrqCbrHqUt09O-hRlAs6stRKPHsneq7poVzhSbu0Btx-Am3yA1R9tdbpw/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+12.58.35+PM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melt my heart. ¡¡Ojos preciosos!! So much joy being able to make art with these niños. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT02ZzGeb_sdtbRkF0gEDAAxNA3JEtc4rjM_uLJcRXXevb0gzcaeVJ1032vVvnDU7QaXXqq2e2BVKCwFgClBQDJr8L6qk7dXJRMh-vrqLDZKfx3uS8N41LPrP7PZrkSWFr1d7tSBeg4NI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-29+at+8.22.38+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT02ZzGeb_sdtbRkF0gEDAAxNA3JEtc4rjM_uLJcRXXevb0gzcaeVJ1032vVvnDU7QaXXqq2e2BVKCwFgClBQDJr8L6qk7dXJRMh-vrqLDZKfx3uS8N41LPrP7PZrkSWFr1d7tSBeg4NI/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-29+at+8.22.38+AM.png" height="263" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After painting heart treasure boxes, the teachers allowed the kids to leave their mark.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kids put their hands in their paint so excitedly and then ran to the wall, to leave a little</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">piece of their legacy. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhYzgySp54K93Veq5lTLmoOJ6b0wLiw1s3VyO5XdT1kTZeDMZirAVRQeoK0OX3N-thnnH7hfJXgv6NNV3rnQUwdoiM2cpm-MUuG_fbZeNjoRShtCNQQ0d-DEnim2MgmKgo5Q8DzhIJ2g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.48.07+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhYzgySp54K93Veq5lTLmoOJ6b0wLiw1s3VyO5XdT1kTZeDMZirAVRQeoK0OX3N-thnnH7hfJXgv6NNV3rnQUwdoiM2cpm-MUuG_fbZeNjoRShtCNQQ0d-DEnim2MgmKgo5Q8DzhIJ2g/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.48.07+AM.png" height="263" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mission el Faro. Beauty unparalleled, a beach paradise next door to poverty. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Lvhzv9IZtsXsH0suyScyXwlMnPJy2O5C3AZlbWCG1z_0TQ_4tzZDlTfHfQOMRAIwSoehBCobDTt5nerEG_U9aTOBIPOQeg6c2g9E-zfoR1nDXC7sZ9zD8uxv6Bw1e090KEHkca9b98Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.51.26+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Lvhzv9IZtsXsH0suyScyXwlMnPJy2O5C3AZlbWCG1z_0TQ_4tzZDlTfHfQOMRAIwSoehBCobDTt5nerEG_U9aTOBIPOQeg6c2g9E-zfoR1nDXC7sZ9zD8uxv6Bw1e090KEHkca9b98Q/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.51.26+AM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sandra and Marta and their sweet heart boxes. The girls put them up to their hearts and asked</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">if I would take this photo. So so precious. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY7Kxhxtqn-a0zKYX_eeaDSAVLdpWt25sNLUNl97bJXz-JLuJCK2TO30J2ccKyKiKd2w85wBpc5FvaUMdjE1pYQsz5Q5cstauKyQcZV0rzcqtZlpwDeGVwJAljKBsju3K4giz0px-gZ0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.52.28+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY7Kxhxtqn-a0zKYX_eeaDSAVLdpWt25sNLUNl97bJXz-JLuJCK2TO30J2ccKyKiKd2w85wBpc5FvaUMdjE1pYQsz5Q5cstauKyQcZV0rzcqtZlpwDeGVwJAljKBsju3K4giz0px-gZ0/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.52.28+AM.png" height="262" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My girlies have fun painting their "Where your treasure there your heart is also" Boxes. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2U5YsoV8TrfKB3HYdowt2E272ZqlGR6RS5zFN4tTtI_At_cWwld0_W1M4f3NJtI5FVAhTXj2kXD-tfgSeKfh-ARtGjhzBW4eCqkg-taChdPtpwIbsuMzaMvyyZaNWhATM00qhZuAzfT8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.53.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2U5YsoV8TrfKB3HYdowt2E272ZqlGR6RS5zFN4tTtI_At_cWwld0_W1M4f3NJtI5FVAhTXj2kXD-tfgSeKfh-ARtGjhzBW4eCqkg-taChdPtpwIbsuMzaMvyyZaNWhATM00qhZuAzfT8/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.53.20+AM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">:) </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeKwI3tv-_BjUGjUhnaGGzDJwy5Q3_Kup0QaJ1IdI_VrO5FpP1Wn7NZJnl9aArh9HRNS50SZoA3wctFL6IUq2TW_sKWW8o2JYhVQpGuDz6AA9EFA1xVCvQjXhMTkbn5Q75Xd13SJNsAg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.54.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeKwI3tv-_BjUGjUhnaGGzDJwy5Q3_Kup0QaJ1IdI_VrO5FpP1Wn7NZJnl9aArh9HRNS50SZoA3wctFL6IUq2TW_sKWW8o2JYhVQpGuDz6AA9EFA1xVCvQjXhMTkbn5Q75Xd13SJNsAg/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.54.48+AM.png" height="263" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love my sweet girls in my group. I felt 8 years old again.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85ISYT4hvSk9uuITHapsHPvuxmKAXywMSkwHZfnTwwyW2VPZNBkiuh6cMQf6pib77h06X71wMyh9QADJUBolPRHWgdMTrI_FOXde6fCp2FkI3IOM47LLWblVBalAJyfyEWREQ0YD0FcU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.56.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85ISYT4hvSk9uuITHapsHPvuxmKAXywMSkwHZfnTwwyW2VPZNBkiuh6cMQf6pib77h06X71wMyh9QADJUBolPRHWgdMTrI_FOXde6fCp2FkI3IOM47LLWblVBalAJyfyEWREQ0YD0FcU/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-24+at+9.56.58+AM.png" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A girl with a heart and beauty that displays God's masterpiece.</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><i>Our life of poverty is as necessary as the work itself. Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them. </i></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">-</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"> </span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Mother Teresa</strong></span></h3>
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devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com1Izabal, Guatemala15.792253570362446 -88.566284179687515.303695570362446 -89.2117311796875 16.280811570362445 -87.9208371796875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-73811425083623384822013-07-05T14:32:00.002-07:002014-03-18T09:58:06.866-07:00Adina <div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <i>excerpt from my Journal from Uganda Spring 2013</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">someday my writings in journals will be in a book. Here's a new story for the blog ! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a day we had been planning for a few weeks and this special day had finally arrived. A team from Norway was visiting that had their hearts and minds in a rooted connection to the <a href="http://adinafoundationuganda.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Adina Foundation</a> - a rehabilitation and physical therapy center in Northern Uganda. The leaders of the team helped create, fund and grow this special place that serves the broken. On one of their last days in Lira, they honored the children of Children of Peace, Ngeta girl's home and Adina foundation, by mixing the three different programs and schools of children in and outside of Lira town. It was a meeting of the broken. The real awakening to me though, was the brokenness I encountered by watching "the weak, say I have strength" (Joel 3:10) - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- I walk into the compound in my ugandan formal attire, my bright blue chiffon skirt from the states skimming the dirt ground. The wind was welcomed as it blew my gold tiered triangle earrings back and forth on this hot February morning. I had just hopped off the back of a moto bike and handed the boda driver a couple of crumbled up shillings (dollars) from my bag. The iron gate of the compound opened and I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see. My heart was changed that day and my perspective renewed in a redemptive way. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Adina Foundation in Lira Uganda </span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Most of these photos were taken by the sweet children from Lira Integrated, I gave them my camera for the day and let them be the ones to document. I think they did an amazing job!) </span></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Watched all the kids performances sitting next to my girlies Jenn and Caro</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I walked into this new space and felt a presence of Peace invade my mind. My eyes and heart were enlightened immediately. The first scene I saw was children scatted all over the lawn: children who were disabled, missing limbs or living with disfigurements, but they walk tall, hopping around the land as if they were perfectly normal physically abled children. And you know what, they are. These children at Adina foundation are touched by God's hand. With feet that are twisted sideways, so a child walks strongly on the side of his foot not with the soul of his foot . But now he's walking towards me, hobbling forward with his good foot firmly on the ground and his other foot making progress. He greets me with a giant smile. He dances. He sings. He runs and plays soccer. He is perfectly normal. A "lame" kid who is ABLE. His burden is not a physical problem but more of an emotional one. Some neighbors view these children as an outcast, as disabled, I only see Able. I see innocence and I see a child of God who rejoices in suffering. These children become and embody Joy. I walk further into the spacious compound to greet these children that look more like angels than humans. A child in a wheelchair with two white casts gets wheeled over to me by his friend. Another giant smile appears, and with inquisitive deep brown eyes, he invites me to see something new. This child pulls me into his world of "ENOUGH". Let the Weak say I have strength.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Joel 3:10</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I walk alongside of these two precious boys no older than 10 years old who are strong and able. The friend pushes his friend with the big smile in the wheel chair as his constant support. This is a friend that will never leave him with just his chair, you can just tell he wants him to experience a world of endless possibilities. But this friend too is limping and overcoming battles of his own. But standing next to a child with a disability, I realize I look weak, because despite all of the physical weakness, there is a strength that remains in these kids that is strengthening me even now. There's a joy that is overflowing onto the land of the compound. These children can teach us so much. They are teaching me how to embrace and run through life even with broken limbs. As long as our hearts and minds are set on higher heights, as long as our faith is stronger than our broken fragile bodies, as long as we believe we can overcome, We Can Be Healed. We Can Be Rescued. I marvel at these children all around the compound and can't help but feel I'm in a special place that is surrounded and watched over by angels.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagJe9Lm2pDJ8_-373l0Wao1N5qLYHK9JiuzDLsX0S86ZYccjYlcgil-NiBsxngZyzAxuFqUuBbVLaTE7pfmvtOXzxxJQDDcPiKQKM9nEVzpmVlWjLlKtMarBI3yDE4U9VFz4HXYYw81E/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagJe9Lm2pDJ8_-373l0Wao1N5qLYHK9JiuzDLsX0S86ZYccjYlcgil-NiBsxngZyzAxuFqUuBbVLaTE7pfmvtOXzxxJQDDcPiKQKM9nEVzpmVlWjLlKtMarBI3yDE4U9VFz4HXYYw81E/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A circle of children (Lira Integrated, Adina, Ngeta schools) united by brokenness and beauty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a few hours of playing games and getting to know these amazing children at Adina, our Children from Lira Integrated arrive and meet these able children with disabilities and I couldn't help but see images of God. Child Soldiers and war orphans and disabled children all started to play with each other. I watched these children start to fly and break free of chains that society places on them with stigma. Together this group of children was free, they accepted one another, and love was present. The meeting of the broken, but together they were gaining strength and joy was building.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stig the Norwegian singer-songwriter and artist filming the children working together.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rocking out with his "guitar" for the day :) </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After the children from Children of Peace became acquainted with children from Adina shaking hands and learning names you could tell a new family was forming. They were new friends laughing and playing soccer, running around, singing, dancing traditional dances together ("Kyri - a - Kyri" ) playing ball toss, horse shoes, throwing colorful parachutes in the air, and even created teams for volleyball matches. A great thanks to Hilde and the team from Norway that organized all the sports, equipments and fun activities for the children. Without that gracious team from Adina this day wouldn't have been possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Local celebrity in Lira - Musician Elia came and sang his song "Bandera Yesu" and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">danced and performed with the children from Adina.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love these children of war with all my heart! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lin from Norway bringing joy to the kids at Adina</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Playing games with Samuel B. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Playing with children of war is healing for all involved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My favorite moment of the day was when I walked into the small back room on the compound where music was playing over a loud speaker. The song that was playing was the song was recently recorded in Lira and written by Denis Chris (a former child soldier, and a kid who I mentor). The song is called "Golden Jesus" the lyrics say "Oh golden Jesus your the goal, you're the goal of my life, you're the goal of my power, you're the goal of my life". The children were all dancing together! They were laughing and the joy was contagious and filling the room. Miracles were appearing and chains of disabilities were falling off.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Denis leading the children in dance with his song "Golden Jesus"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I of course had to join in on the dancing, to the movements that Denis had specifically choreographed to fit the lyrics! (This boy's music is going to change his country) I was dancing next to Lucky and little Jennifer laughing, and Watum Joseph had my small Canon black camera and was filming the whole thing. I am grateful for this boy's great storytelling ability and capturing this moment! Never underestimate what a child can do with a camera in their hands, it is true art. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lucky giving a ride to the little guy at Adina. Love love love.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_iv6cpQ7TrJoirbiV28V3H6MfJnb4rfgVz4JsAPi08s2SX2lo8rxRN2Y8u7OwxLbCpWCYyQpypQR_OC81aJ10qdvczV2spiPchxM0yC2fWXfmUcTStSmK6tWJZcX0C30K0v506u06BU/s1600/IMG_2290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_iv6cpQ7TrJoirbiV28V3H6MfJnb4rfgVz4JsAPi08s2SX2lo8rxRN2Y8u7OwxLbCpWCYyQpypQR_OC81aJ10qdvczV2spiPchxM0yC2fWXfmUcTStSmK6tWJZcX0C30K0v506u06BU/s400/IMG_2290.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lira Celebrity Elia loving on the children at Adina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is Freedom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Freedom. Free from the constraints of the world, from the 'normal'. All of these groups of children are not normal They are set a part for good works. They are set a part so that we can be changed through the way they live their lives. I am changed, watching a child dance with their arms out, that was just a few years ago abducted and made a soldier, forced to do evil, when their innocent bodies only want good. They only want peace. It is not normal for a child to be so malnourished they never walked and now their feet are bent with disfigurement. But I can tell you, I have watched these children dance! They are dancing with broken feet or dancing with brokenness from scars of war. They can dance because they are free. They dance because God loves them despite any disability. He loves them for their hearts. He loves their brave courageous hearts. I look at this compound of scatted children playing with one another, disabled and abled - and a new generation of children of the strongest children in wartorn Uganda. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All the children playing "snakebite" trying not to get caught by a snake or you'll get poison in you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In order to get the poison out you need help from your friends. It's a great game for therapy and fun</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beautiful little daughter of the Lord who is getting rehabilitation at Adina for her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">body and limbs that bend in a different directions. I loved laughing with her.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My beautiful director Jane Ekayu and I after a long blessed day at Adina Foundation.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh teach us, Children of War, Children of the brokenness, Children of Strength, children who walk in the light even in the darkest of days - Teach us how to walk with purpose, dance with lame feet, teach us how to forgive, children, please - Teach us how to Live, truly live. </span></i></div>
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devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-43486331058832402982013-04-10T11:30:00.003-07:002014-03-18T09:59:33.386-07:00The New Normal<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my favorite moments is when you are sitting at the terminal, your packed bags are somewhere meandering down a series of conveyor belts in the unknown behind-the-scenes "Narnia" of the airport and you are forced to be present. People watching is at an all time high and your eyes are absorbing all the sights and sounds of the passengers passing by your side. <i>You fill me with joy in your presence - Psalm 16:11 </i>It is that delightful anticipation, where you wait in hope and prepare for a new adventure. You step away from normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I miss that moment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anytime we step out of comfort, there is this excitement - I am taking a risk and daring to do something that is not characteristic of the normal me. I am stepping away from easy, from comfortable, from the sidewalk and walking on a new road full of danger and possibility. But maybe that is me? Maybe for me, my new normal is jumping on a 7hr bus ride to Lira Northern Uganda, filled with loud ugandan travelers and even chickens walking down the rubber floored aisle. Where people jab sticks of hot cooked pork on a stick into your window wanting you to buy some from them, and you politely decline and laugh to yourself because you are a vegetarian who hasn't eaten meat in over 14 years, let alone had meat shoved into your face while traveling! This is the new normal, my new sidewalk.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking out at the Nile River from the window on a crowded bus in Uganda. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is comfort? Well now comfort for me is sitting with a child soldier who has been forced to kill her own parents, but chooses to rejoice because she has been forgiven. The child who chooses to dance with her heart in abandonment to her Redeemer who loves her without ceasing. The child who teaches ME how to dance. Together we are dancing to the beat of redemption, to the reality that God has rescued us both from pain, from suffering and from chains that enslave us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"><b><i>Siyahamba ekukhanyen kwenkhos, </i></b></span><span style="white-space: nowrap;"><b><i>Siyahamb ekukhanyen kwenkhos</i></b> - </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are marching for the light of the Lord. </span></span><span style="font-size: large; white-space: nowrap;">We are marching for the light of the Lord. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG_BtDs6C9eWKj3vAlE0B0R7c9zw_wIym7COkdMv0tEV_NOuwWm5L3wlh1rsms3HGQvxfK_DAYsDryaRdQZqwTnqO3ysIEEVyQblTjBQue_G_4RseFUtzwuzfwu_iNCMiZEfx7NXMKBo/s1600/DancingwithJudith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG_BtDs6C9eWKj3vAlE0B0R7c9zw_wIym7COkdMv0tEV_NOuwWm5L3wlh1rsms3HGQvxfK_DAYsDryaRdQZqwTnqO3ysIEEVyQblTjBQue_G_4RseFUtzwuzfwu_iNCMiZEfx7NXMKBo/s400/DancingwithJudith.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dancing with Judith, former child soldier and girl who I support in school. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">I am free to dance, free to move, free to express my heart in loud song, because I am surrounded by </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">children </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">who don't judge, who just accept, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">who just love you unconditionally as we are meant to be loved. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">The children</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">that went through all the hell and fire of war, have been purified, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">have been saved and now they </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">march in a new light,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">marching in a new normal. These children are teaching me what this new normal is - the </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">normal that </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">any pain, any</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">amount of suffering we bear on our necks, any sin, any crime, any fault can be forgiven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Shouldn't our normal and our posture always be one of love? Even if it's hard, even if it feels like it's going against </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">the grain, can't we always make the choice to love? These children, the very ones that were forced by LRA </span><br />
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<span style="white-space: nowrap;">This is normal. I'll repeat it again... </span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: nowrap;"><b>LOVE </b>IS NORMAL. </span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: nowrap;"><b>FORGIVENESS</b> IS NORMAL.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;"><b>PATIENCE</b> IS NORMAL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">THIS IS NORMAL. I want normal to look like this </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">in my life, that even when I'm hurt by a relationship or a person </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">or anything, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">that I choose </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">to love them, even if it's my worst enemy, I will choose my normal to be one of constant love. I will fail,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">as we all will, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">but I know </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">that I can be forgiven. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">I look at these 5 -18 year olds and watch as they turn the other cheek,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">and accept the blow. They are </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">models of Jesus </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">and an ever present model of living His love on earth. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Their new Normal is </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">loving, forgiving and having patience with </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">people. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Children of War are now Children of Peace in Uganda because they have </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">exchanged their painful </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">past </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">for a joyful present. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">There is </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">nothing normal about being abducted at age 7 </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">by a warlord and being</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> forced to kill, mame, rape, pillage, burn, lie, steal, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">cheat - </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">I will never </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">be able to understand why or how that had to happen, but</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> I want to see </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">the good in all of it. The good that I </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">can see, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">is children </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">rising up like the sun to be </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">peace ambassadors </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">that come</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">from one of the most broken backgrounds and yet they </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">build structures </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">of hope, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">with reconciled pieces of wood. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Sounds a lot like</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Jesus doesn't it? </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Where two pieces of wood, the cross, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">became a symbol of victory. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">I can tell you, surviving the war </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">in Uganda, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">became a symbol of </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">victory for these </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">children. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">And it should </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">be a symbol of victory that</span><span style="white-space: nowrap;"> world peace is possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: nowrap;">Our history Ends with the cross; our new story begins with the awakening of Jesus and with our awakening to the reality of his love </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">in our life! </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">I so clearly see and understand </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">the gospel </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">when I see children of war, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">made new </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">and made whole again. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">They still </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">have nail </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">scarred hands. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">They </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">have machete wounds and some of them even have bullets still in their </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">bodies, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">but that doesn't</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">cause bitterness, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">it instead compels them </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">to love, to forgive, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">and live new normal lives treating others as they want to be treated. </span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: nowrap;">I am sure I have gone through trauma hearing these stories of pain. It's hard to block your heart from the reality of the stories these</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">children tell, but </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">the real story that </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">I hear </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">when I listen to them, their stories I record, are stories that change people from the inside out. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Stories that reveal the true nature of a </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">loving and forgiving God. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Stories that cause you </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">to wonder - can I have this freedom in my life? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Can I seek good all of my days? Can I find hope, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">even when I'm in a battlefield of despair? </span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: nowrap;">The answer is, you can. You have the opportunity and ability to forgive, to love, to accept and it is yours for the taking. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">You can walk in this light, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">and have your </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">new normal be Loving others FIRST before yourself. I am still learning how to do that,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">but the more time I spend with these kids, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">they as my teachers help me </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">understand this new normal. The normal that God wants for </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">our lives, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">the normal that God created us to be. </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">A normal - of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.</span></b></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">- Galations 5:22</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span class="text Gal-5-23" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">I think life would be much more of an adventure and exciting if our normal was living like this every day. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">It would be just like being at an airport waiting for a new journey to begin. But the destination is unknown, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">your packed bags are behind you, and you are free and ready and willing to go actively love someone </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">without hesitation. </span><br />
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<span style="white-space: nowrap;">I am grateful for my short 5 weeks in Lira, Uganda that changed my normal. It's hard to sit in comfortable California</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">and miss these amazing children, but the truth is my true comfort is in the arms </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">of orphans of war, in the arms</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">of the Lord knowing </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">I am accepted and I am loved. It doesn't matter where I am, as long as I keep loving people</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">as I have been loved, with a love that never fails. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: nowrap;">As the Children of Peace Uganda speak let these words they chose resonate with you and remind you,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">all things work for Good. </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Hope, Patience, Love, Freedom, End Child Soldiering, Forgive.</span></span><br />
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devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-71403254044775168772013-02-04T10:37:00.001-08:002014-03-18T10:00:54.051-07:00Leaving & Returning to Lira <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">RESTORE. REDEEM. and RETURN the LOVE you RECEIVE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> As I'm preparing for another trip to Uganda tonight, it brings me peace to look back and see that everything does happen for a reason, in the right timing, and God is always faithful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was my outburst (truly I was a mess!) of trying to process emotions on my flight back to Los Angeles from Uganda at the end of July 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- July 23rd, 2012 -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">" It's like an uncontrollable joy, just pouring out of me. I FEEL LOVED. I FEEL LOVE. and for one of the first times in my life, I feel completely empowered and beautiful inside and out. I feel comforted, protected and see God through it all. He is close, he is here, he is the love, the one allowing this story, this adventure I've been praying for to happen. UGANDAAAA. How can I even put into words the amazing journey it has been so far? I pray that these stories, these children live on in my heart, and mind until I see them again. I know I am changed and the past 7 weeks, will change my life FOREVER. These faces, these smiles, the extended hands and warm hearts that invite you into their presence and rejoice over you with singing. LIRA. Love at the core of this place, permeating the town and every story. The LRA came to destroy, but Jesus came to restore. HIS love is shown in Lira, to heal. Former child soldiers walk tall, knowing they live their lives for peace now. God directed my steps, he prepared my heart and revealed to me MY identity in him through listening and learning from these child soldiers of peace. Forgiveness and love at the tips of my lips, ready to share with the world of the courageous war hearts and resilient minds that would rather hold a book, and learn how to read and give clothes to orphans, and defend the broken, than hold guns. These children have shown me more grace, joy, and compassion than any human I've ever met and interacted with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I want these child solider redemptive stories to reshape and sharpen the minds of people all over the world. If Uganda falls, than these soldier children of peace will be the ones to raise it up. </span><br />
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Their names fill my head, tears fall down, pour out. I desire peace, but more than that I desire for these lives to LIVE IN PEACE and know THEY ARE LOVED. that they are not to blame for their iniquities, and that we as citizens of the world WILL LOVE and FORGIVE them to our dying days. When people remember the 23 years war, I want them to see Uganda as<b> the pearl </b>of Africa, <b>the only gem that has to suffer to produce BEAUTY. </b>I want people to see beauty, not war-torn faces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lord! I pray for redemption in the hearts of the people. I pray EVERY child that needs sponsorship school fees in the community will receive this. That you Lord will raise up the right supporters, teachers and students, and friends to invest in the lives of these children forever. So that, these children will know that people all across the world, all across the oceans are praying for them and LOVE them. With an everlasting love. The biggest encouragement for an orphan (so I've witnessed with my time in Uganda) is having someone ( a neighbor, a friend, a passerby) stop and love and encourage them in a tangible and transformative way - with the gift of education. <span style="font-size: x-large;">It's a Neighborhood Watch, where a community (near or far) abroad or next door - takes care of one another.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I pray for more neighbors. I pray we rise up out of our despondency, out of the unfamiliar to come alongside of these children and watch them, console them into a rich and educated and empowered life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">These are the voices of PEACE that the world has yet to hear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The stories of a six year old kid named Bernard, who was born in captivity with the LRA rebels and yet has a powerful mind and passion for drawing animals, bananas and things that bring him joy :) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gN0TzQ84SJOfHCCaBEtfqb4xtrpBtgSRzJj1w6uTC4aXridWrbIvSD-iZdasHFtGyRKmmT1sHcGRC0tysJPWSzVQ51Ta6w9-yvHZrBgSWFt9bg4V54mVWdF8ZybCDHa9WewH8weDgRU/s1600/DSC06313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gN0TzQ84SJOfHCCaBEtfqb4xtrpBtgSRzJj1w6uTC4aXridWrbIvSD-iZdasHFtGyRKmmT1sHcGRC0tysJPWSzVQ51Ta6w9-yvHZrBgSWFt9bg4V54mVWdF8ZybCDHa9WewH8weDgRU/s640/DSC06313.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They are the Voiced voices that will carve new paths of justice in the world. With a tone of love, these children's voices will leave indelible impressions in the earth and those who walk upon it. These children have hope. They have exchanged their hearts of stone for miry clay, for God to remold them once again. To place his loving and powerful hands on the children's hearts and wipe away all stains and breathe life into them again.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fffefd; color: #001320; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i>This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. - Ezekiel 37:5</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-mfBJ4hoVJFhbgRtTlPe5UyWNCrwE6sgB7akx3xu9rwKhG08ZXgl-GDpdEWBaJeaLDA3abKSVSeKc8Cf8lmLtd0MjlVGCEnPmtP1MCsQrMnS9XHMi9_w1Y-Y1wdvzzu70tL-CwbMvt0/s1600/fountain+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-mfBJ4hoVJFhbgRtTlPe5UyWNCrwE6sgB7akx3xu9rwKhG08ZXgl-GDpdEWBaJeaLDA3abKSVSeKc8Cf8lmLtd0MjlVGCEnPmtP1MCsQrMnS9XHMi9_w1Y-Y1wdvzzu70tL-CwbMvt0/s640/fountain+girls.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These children speak volumes of truth and justice -- No more Broken Promises. We can Destroy Hunger. I want to be a Leader. We can Change the world! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think this lyric from Les Mis perfectly narrates this ever unfolding adventure I'm on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">of empowering children of war to be peace ambassadors.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">Do you hear the people sing </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">Lost in the valley of the night?</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">It is the music of a people </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">Who are climbing to the light.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">For the wretched of the earth. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">There is a flame that never dies. </span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>Even the darkest night will end. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>And the sun will rise.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">They will live again in freedom. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">In the garden of the Lord. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">They will walk behind the plough-share, </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">They will put away the sword. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">The chain will be broken </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">And all men will have their reward.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><br style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">Will you join in our crusade? </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">Who will be strong and stand with me?</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-center;">- Les Miserables </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">amen amen. more stories to come! </span><br />
<br />devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-57650371285372753762012-10-29T08:37:00.001-07:002014-03-18T10:03:03.539-07:00Cooking Lessons & Life Lessons in Haiti<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYXhsy9KEkVVLXgNfZnlrXMmqWbr1_yjaGCrjYuPzd-pjp-yysiHb8kRYFpzyo0rxxZGM842PI07eQgL9iRSkriFI33aLw8YHEfBfxtltNOOUzd1FhBL7KnpoOInZBoRkQqD7fuQCerg/s1600/RFL_maternalHealth_test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYXhsy9KEkVVLXgNfZnlrXMmqWbr1_yjaGCrjYuPzd-pjp-yysiHb8kRYFpzyo0rxxZGM842PI07eQgL9iRSkriFI33aLw8YHEfBfxtltNOOUzd1FhBL7KnpoOInZBoRkQqD7fuQCerg/s1600/RFL_maternalHealth_test.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> CREATE IN ME A NEW HEART, Renew a right spirit within me. - psalm 51:10</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walking through the center I was introduced to the Haitian workers. This is "Big Eyes", BigEyes? Did I hear that correctly? Yep, they call him Big Eyes. This is Pierre, Margerie, and dozens more. I realized right a way that they were not seen as staff, but as family, and the love they poured into this place, made the Womens programs feel like home. I stepped into the first room and walked directly into a cooking class. Margerie greeted me with "Bonjour, you are most welcome" Again, "welcome" and I felt it too. The Haitian women lined the wall with their white cooking hats perched on their heads. Some of the hats cocked just slightly to the left. Some too small for their braided hairstyles. Dressed in bright and rich Haitain colors and prints, each girl had a white apron tied around their waste, that matched their hats and made them looked like fledgling young chefs in training school like the Cordon Bleu, Haiti style. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The master chef, told us they were learning how to make brownies. I got several blank stares when I greeted them. I tried to say 'Bounjour' in a way that didn't sound like I hadn't spoken french since 6th grade. I know in time, they would see that I am only here to encourage them, love them. Unlike Uganda though where it's easy to communicate because most know English, the women mainly speak Creole and a bit of French. This is going to be a challenge being in Haiti for sure. But actions speak louder than words, and I want to be here to love every day in action. Because Love.Does. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I stared with wonder at these dark skinned beautiful women with their backs against colorful walls, dressed up in chef outfits. What an image! Just Beautiful, just stunning girls who have suffered through hardship, pain and suffering and now are united with other women. They are LEARNING, absorbing, listening, and my favorite CREATING. These women are seen as capable, and they are empowered every time they create something new. To me this cooking class is the perfect example of their lives. They are standing in front of a bowl, given a tool in their hand, and have to have faith that these mixed ingredients will make something better when combined together. These women when I walked in were in the process of learning how to make brownies -- the mixture has to have butter, the salt of the earth, flour as a base, unsweetened chocolate for the bitter and vanilla for the sweet moments, and an egg that holds the ingredients together. A row of powerful women stand at the counter, stirring their bowl of messy and different ingredients, and don't know what their final product will be. They stir their sorrow and happiness, hard times and good times together, and hope that the result will bring them comfort. They are learning how to create a better story. After putting the mixed bowl of emotions, faith and fear into a pan - these women then delicately place their pans into the oven and they WAIT. They wait in hope. They wait in faith. They wait for strength, and to see if their work was in vein. But in the oven, with time, In the REFINERS FIRE, these ingredients change. This batter surrendered by hands of vulnerable women, takes shape. The miry clay of brownie batter is formed and the sweet aroma of brownies fills the kitchen. Joy begins and the women smell their sweet success!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These women who once saw themselves as discarded, broken ingredients now can CREATE. They can bring NEW into the world. Their new hopeful futures, evidence of the Love they labor in. These women, just like their ability to bake brownies from scratch are true examples of love and provide comfort for their families and community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These young Haitian women have been through abuse, neglect, and pain that has scarred their bodies, but sometimes those scars, even for some of them the brutal evil of rape, can produce a beautiful healthy baby. And when these women, see themselves as beautiful, that they are the ones who are creating something beautiful and new, whether a plate of brownies after cooking lessons, or a glowing baby boy after hard life lessons - the beauty that these women now hold, remains with them forever. Their identities are sealed, they can LOVE without fear and know they have a valuable part to play their child's survival. The women are learning to be mothers, to be sisters, to be friends - nurturing, caring and gentle. They are learning to be the mothers of the world; of Haiti. These resilient and redeemed women are lifting their children or future children out of poverty, every time they raise their babies above their heads smiling and kissing their bellies saying, "I love you", "You are mine", "You are precious", "You are Loved by me", "You are safe". Those are the moments when you realize, if we don't have love, we are nothing, only resounding clanging cymbal. But this kind of Love, provides music and provides healing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These women are a new generation of Mothers, of Sisters, of Daughters, that are loving themselves, their country, their neighbors, their children, and letting that love heal the broken places in their lives. The love they are pouring out for others, is changing the story of Maternal Health and respect of women in Haiti. </span></div>
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devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-88576185634908788862012-10-22T12:48:00.000-07:002012-10-28T12:57:47.829-07:00Run for Life Haiti <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Friends, I want you to join me in this story that made me instantly fly to Haiti when I heard it. It was that powerful. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">One man is using his loss to bring gain. Barry McDonald is running 315 miles across Haiti in January to raise funds for a new maternity cent</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">er in Port au Prince, Haiti. This is the FIRST maternity center in Haiti, and it is no wonder that the maternal mortality rate is 1/87 here. This breaks my heart. This doesn't have to be the story.</span><br />
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We can make a difference and dramatically change maternal health for the world by coming together for this cause. The land has already been purchased for the maternity center, I have walked on it and seen visions of beautiful women holding their healthy babies in their arms. The maternity center will be a refuge for women in Haiti, it will provide vocational training, education, and most of all a safe place for babies to be born.</div>
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To me this story is something of rebirth for Haiti. A new way we can see light, instead of darkness, and hope instead of hurting. We can help Haiti HEAL by providing good health to the mothers who sow love in this place. </div>
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Let us help, let us give. I hope that you will be generous with me. I've given up my normal life and found an adventure that reminds me of what we're capable of, when we LOVE others.</div>
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I flew to Haiti and for a month or more will be working here trying to raise funds and awareness about maternal health in Haiti. It is a blessing, but I need your support!! :) </div>
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<a href="http://www.runforlifehaiti.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">www.runforlifehaiti.org </span></a></div>
devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-54004329957125173392012-10-21T12:54:00.000-07:002012-10-28T12:54:16.582-07:00Respire, Haiti<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">To the little ones, the girls and orphans in Haiti who never get to see themselves or don't have parents that call them beautiful - I am glad I can be here to help reveal their beauty, and watch their smiles grow. ♥ </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Photo taken on an amazing visit to Respire Christian School in Grassier, Haiti </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">longer blog post to come. There is Hope in the Haitian children's hearts and minds. </span>devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-8043548524499717892012-10-17T16:50:00.002-07:002012-10-21T02:02:50.670-07:00Surrender.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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SURRENDER. This has been a word that has appeared several times this year. 2012 has been a whirl-wind of an adventure from spending the summer in Uganda listening to former child soldiers dreams, designing and being a part of the incredible Global Citizen Festival in New York City for a month that raised 1.3 Billion dollars for the worlds poor, and now a new adventure -- Haiti. I get to do what I love and in the mean time, have to learn to surrender myself for the causes I believe in. Surrender and deny myself realizing it's not about me at all. My designs are not mine alone, my stories are a part of a bigger picture, my life is built to serve God and his people and to do that I have to constantly surrender. Surrender my plans, surrender my stories, surrender my love for this.<br />
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It's a hard balance, being a storyteller and wanting to share stories in this day and age when we vie for attention and desperately want to get noticed for the photos and statuses we post, I know that I can get easily get lost in what really matters. This is why I love traveling and finding myself when I'm surrounded by nothing that's familiar. I have been so surprised by how much bright clarity comes when you are focused on serving, loving and pouring into broken people. You realize how broken you are for thinking you can actually complain about your life. We are blessed. We are loved. We have a home and a roof above our heads. We don't have to worry about contracting diseases every time we drink water, we don't have to fear the storms of starvation and famine. And yet, even amidst all of the pain that comes from poverty, there is a rich inheritance of JOY that I haven't found anywhere else. There are children that run to you with this palpable joy and faith in their hopeful eyes that leave me in tears every time. These are the stories I want to share and I want to tell. Not about me, but THEIR STORIES. What is this joy and how do I find it? How can I surrender my life, my plans and live like these children do?<br />
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This is my mission and my heart to know how to surrender each day to God's will and his love. To trust him in the details and the larger story that he is weaving together. My plans fail, my words fail, but God's love never fails. He leads me beside still waters and restores my soul. (psalm 23) He also leads me to adventures and places I would never have planned. And as of this week he has lead me to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.<br />
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I am steadying my head and my heart to do God's will and love his beautiful broken people in Haiti. Ready to find and learn more of my own brokenness and how can I be the hands and feet of selflessness to the meek that inherit the earth.<br />
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I will be sharing many stories of hope, redemption and strength in the coming weeks. I just fill with excitement knowing there are people just aching and waiting to share their stories with us, and that I get to be a part of that.<br />
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For the next month I will be focused on raising awareness for maternal health in Haiti. The country has the highest maternal mortality rate, 1 in every 90 women. To me, this doesn't have to be the story. We have medicine, knowledge and tools to help improve women's lives. With a team of people, we are going to really focus and get creative to raise over 800,000 for a new maternity center. I will tell more about our creative plans in the coming days, but for now I will leave you with a number. 315 Miles - the length of Haiti.<br />
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315 miles and generous people stand in the gateway of improving maternal health worldwide forever.<br />
Now this is a story I can't wait to be a part of. It is my hope and prayer that my will is surrendered towards this cause and towards loving these women who have been hurting for so long and that I can be a light amidst the places of darkness in Port-au-Prince.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light"</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">— </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">John Keith Falconer</span></h2>
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devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-18963895112233255852012-07-04T17:00:00.000-07:002012-10-21T01:41:44.310-07:00Lira, Uganda_ poem<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The joy of children afflicted by war in Uganda. Praising with palm branches.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">July 4 - 4:30 am -</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">The Restorative Rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;"> in </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Uganda</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> in </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Uganda</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> sounds like its never going to end, the drops are drenching the verdant land. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Giant strokes of lightening illuminate the sky, my eyes get an X-ray vision even when closed the flash is so bright. Thunder rolls across the towns like a lion roaring to restore its kingdom. This </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">continues to pour and pour and pour some more. There is so much pain here. Written on peoples faces even though they try to share joy first when greeting you. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">People are hungry not even just starving for food but <i>starving for Hope and for HEALING. Starving to know that Love will rescue them from their impoverished lives.</i> The </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> continues to pour. Young single Women with their young children are forced to stand instead of sleeping in the night because they're floors are flooding. Young children hurting from aids HIV and malaria will have trouble breathing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">The </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> continues to pour down. I pray it washes away the deep embedded pain in this town. I pray that the water falls and cleanses the darkness And dirt on the hearts and minds of these courageous people. I pray that the Lord will use this </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">, to drain any painful memory of their dark pasts. When the LRA sought to destroy and kill, Gods plan was one of redemption and will. He gave these people, his people a story to tell about overcoming darkness and loving your enemies well. The children are standing in the </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">, God sending down his manifest shekinah glory erasing their pain. Providing comfort and peace and letting all their suffering decrease. So that these children will stand under the mighty hand of God, these children will stand as peacemakers. These soldiers will put down their guns and instead start chasing the rising son. This </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> will empower the voices to grow, with the loud drops falling these children will begin to shout. Their scars will start to fade and doubt will no longer invade, their hearts from seeing from hearing truth. The closer to God these children Will find rest. Drawing closer to God these soldiers will walk in peace. The </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">rain</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> will pour but their cries of suffering will finally cease. And every tear will be wiped from their eyes, these brave children walking with Jesus by their side.</span></span>devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-82143609554939017492012-05-30T15:35:00.002-07:002012-10-21T01:44:49.295-07:00What is your Legacy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"What is your legacy? Find it out, Don't Wait too Long" </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Finding a Legacy: </u></span><br />
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So I wanted to share this little piece of my past with all of you. I think it's amazing how belief in one small idea can turn into a lifetime adventure. With a little watering, and hope that the Sunlight is shining on that little seed of an idea - a dream will grow...<br />
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This week I was digging through a drawer looking for a book and I found a journal from a few years ago. I was skimming the pages and saw random sketches, lyrics, and ideas that I had scribbled down over the year. I flipped towards the back and found the pages from the Summer of 2010 that had my initial thoughts and written out plan to go to Uganda and work with children of war doing storytelling therapy. Excitedly I ran to show the journal to my Dad, in disbelief with tears forming in my eyes saying -- <i>"DAD. Look at this. Two years ago, I wrote I wanted to work with former child soldiers doing art therapy and helping them find healing and in TWO WEEKS I will be in northern uganda doing just that" </i>My Dad simply said "It is your Destiny. Your Legacy"<br />
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<b>Legacy was a word that defined 2010 for me. </b> I even wrote a song called "Legacy" with my good friend Cameron Ernst (an inspiring singer-songwriter/activist in Dallas) in order to support Invisible Children's spring campaign for child soliders that year called The Legacy. Thankful we got to work together for this cause. </div>
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Here are some lyrics from the song: <span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><i><span style="color: #666666;">What is your legacy, Sing it out, Play your song. What is your legacy, Find it out, Don't wait to long. What is your legacy. No one will stop you. So leave your legacy. So leave your Legacy. </span></i></div>
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Well that year, that chorus replayed over and over in my mind - What is my legacy? Will I go and do something that matters? or will I just sit here wanting to do something and never doing it. Do I even know what I want to do? So many questions. So little time.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Plans and Passions: </u></span><br />
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It was Summer 2010, summer right before my senior year at USC and I was starting to realize what I was truly passionate about. I realized I had a lot of different interests... whole myriad of different things...<i> </i>so<i> </i>I wrote them all down. -- <i>storytelling, music, justice and injustice, compassion, children, theatre, design, child soldiers, 3rd world countries, technology, advertising, acting, film, art, singing, journalism, marketing, supporting musicians, songwriting, encouraging dreams, non-profits, drama therapy, healing, loving the broken, the Gospel, Jesus, being a servant to the poor, finding creative solutions to poverty, advocating for the voiceless... </i>among many other things... </div>
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I sat there staring at a list of all these unique passions particular to me, trying to find a way to combine them all and make them fit together in a neat little package. It seemed <b>im</b>possible. Which one am I most passionate about? How can I tell a story that represents who I am? How do I leave a legacy -- before I leave USC? What if I graduate college and don't know what I want to do. Why is the world telling me I need to find a job and one career, when I have a giant list of things I like doing and I just want to pursue all of them!! How can I do what I love and make it my career, my lifestyle and my focus? (Sound familiar?) Being overwhelmed, I remember sitting at our family's beach house in the paradise of San Diego, and I just put my head down and prayed and asked the Lord "show what you want me to do, because I need direction and have nooo idea what to do. Guide me. Be my Director" </div>
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But like most of the time when we sit and think about the Hows, or the What Ifs - I was just procrastinating and not acting. Out of fear I wasn't moving and I was saying the impossible was impossible before actually trying it out to see if that's true. I wasn't listening for direction, I was actually fearing it. So I chose to <b>ACT</b>. After all I went to college to study to be an actor and storyteller. And how was I living out my faith and trusting God's plan if I was too afraid to live out the passions I had been given personally? </div>
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So I took the first step.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Actions:</u></b></span></div>
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1. First I took a few deep breaths and took leap of faith. </div>
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2. I wrote down what I wanted. [see journal below]</div>
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3. I applied for a scholarship to work in Uganda</div>
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title: <i>"Storytelling and Drama Therapy for Children of War"</i></div>
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4. I researched organizations that aligned with my passions</div>
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5. I explored options for potential jobs or careers </div>
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6. I talked to friends and family about my true passions and asked</div>
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them for advice of what they saw me doing. ( Accountability ) </div>
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7. I volunteered with a non-profits and causes I believed in. </div>
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8. I started serving friends in the different areas I was passionate about</div>
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9. I read the Bible and books to gain knowledge and wisdom about the topic</div>
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10. ...and I waited.. (Waiting is an action too!) </div>
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Now I can see.<b> It was worth the wait. </b></div>
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But all of those actions, lead me to this EPIC journey to Uganda. </div>
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It's going to look different for you, but all I can say is START ACTING.</div>
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I reeeally am struggling to keep this concise haha so I'm going to try to sum up the rest to explain this photo below - </div>
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Since you probably can't read what I wrote (I barely could...) here are some of the quotes typed out: </div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444;">" I will be helping children use therapy to overcome their painful pasts and revealing the need</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444;">for rehabilitation programs. Straight from the mouths of the victims, we will hear the stories and view their Road to Recovery. My role will be to help assist, facilitate and build a platform for the children </span></i><i><span style="color: #444444;">to voice their stories. " - Page 1</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444;">"I want to broadcast the development of my progress and the children's progress with art therapy. </span></i><i><span style="color: #444444;">That way people can fund and tangibly support the cause even while I'm still in Uganda." - Page 1 </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444;">"This scholarship will only be a start to a larger mission of using media, our unique talent and our voices to provide encouragement and support nations in need worldwide. I am excited to break ground </span></i><i><span style="color: #444444;">use my education and passion to motivate people to share their stories that matter. So it is with great hope that I present this idea to you. To use storytelling + therapy + healing a war" - Page 2</span></i></div>
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So two years ago I decided I was going to go to Northern Uganda, work with Children of War and use art therapy as encouragement and create a platform to help tell their stories. Now in two weeks, I'm going with Exile International (a non-profit dedicated to doing just that) to work at Children of Peace Uganda and advocate for the voiceless children of war. I am just in awe. Dreams do come true! </div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Encouragement:</u></b><br />
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My legacy and YOUR LEGACY - is an <b>in-progress story</b>. We don't know what is in store for us, or how it's all going to work out, or why we have this or that passion, but we do know that pursuing what we love brings us joy. Makes us feel ALIVE. We do know that there are dreams inside of us that are aching to be acted out. There is purpose for our life, and if we choose to love ourselves and believe in ourselves instead of fearing we're doing life wrong, then we can enjoy our days! We can be fulfilled knowing we were honest in our pursuit of our identity. It takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. It takes one step to start a journey, you don't have to see the whole staircase, but you have to take the first step. What is preventing us from loving ourselves and pursuing what we love? Think about it and ask yourself if you're finding time to pour into your passions. Little by little we will see how it all fits together and makes us who - we - are. And that is beautiful. </div>
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I beg of you and encourage you to write out all your <i><b>C</b></i>r<b>A</b>zY ideas and far-fetched dreams somewhere. Write it in a notebook or in your phone or email yourself --- you never know how writing out your dreams will encourage you to start living them out. </div>
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What is your legacy? Find it out. Don't wait too long :)</div>
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Devon</div>
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devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-79153756686976261092012-05-17T10:27:00.000-07:002012-06-02T09:45:20.117-07:00One Month Away!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='420' height='366' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwN2Ynum188ErDrl9Ap_e9rjt1fd1ma3yx1TcKOmkK6Mb1o4XO3qNkQgr_iQK5zxJEQ26S85ieLX-p7GNubTw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">If you want to donate to this cause, here's the link -- </span><a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=bm9SBFQJrG549wFWWDdZTO5k4Ply_tdkfrsn7Zua-I3oJvZPW5iTiw3dFUC&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d195a86f1d217942f7415cf1b2a661693" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Donate to PayPal - Devon Feldmeth</a></div>
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<b>ONE MONTH UNTIL I LEAVE FOR UGANDA!!!!!!!</b> I cannot even begin to express how excited I am and how thankful I am for this opportunity to serve at Children of Peace Uganda. </div>
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This is a huge adventure ahead and I want you all to be a part of it with me! I've been realizing more and more that it's not even about being the 'storyteller' anymore, but my role is helping equip and encourage these children to become the next generation of artists and storytellers. It starts with THEIR STORIES. All I want to do is place the paintbrush, the megaphone, the blank canvas in their small hands and empower these children to use their voices to add some color and hope to the world. By seeing and hearing their words and their art, I know that our hearts will change. These children have overcome darkness and are teaching us how to find the light. </div>
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Are you ready to hear their stories? 31 days in counting....</div>
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all funds through paypal support the work of Children of Peace Uganda, supporting the rehabilitation work I'll be doing in the community!</div>
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Thank you for being my amazing support team!!!!!!!!<br />
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with Hope,<br />
Devon<br />
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<br />devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-7688458207305915962012-05-04T14:14:00.001-07:002012-05-06T10:06:28.256-07:00A Shot of Realization<h3>
6 Shots for Uganda!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwz-H0kVfTSCRDwUu2bA2DtouLFl2OijgbJd7TH_H40Ey9Tnu037TJeYOA6rc-SfltTW0bi07i2ZKvdvqWDZhyhgjAxNRssPJqyynhJDsRiexSB3Mshi4xtXeuAHwe8xUGX1n6o62vc4/s1600/Shots_uganda2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwz-H0kVfTSCRDwUu2bA2DtouLFl2OijgbJd7TH_H40Ey9Tnu037TJeYOA6rc-SfltTW0bi07i2ZKvdvqWDZhyhgjAxNRssPJqyynhJDsRiexSB3Mshi4xtXeuAHwe8xUGX1n6o62vc4/s400/Shots_uganda2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Gearing up for my trip to Uganda and this week I got my vaccinations so I will be safe from the major infectious diseases. Even though these vaccinations are very costly.. > $500 - yikes! - it's worth it so I don't have to worry about getting Malaria, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Meningitis, Tetanus, and Polio. <br />
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Seriously. I am<b> so thankful</b> that these vaccines are so easily accessible and I can afford them so that I will be protected during my time in Uganda! We are SOOO blessed to be able to have medical care and kind doctors, that make you laugh when getting shots, to relieve the pain. <br />
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I hope that someday soon vaccines will be available globally for all women, children and families that need them! My heart breaks over the thought of children losing their lives because they couldn't afford or receive the medical attention they need.<br />
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Think about how much poverty would decrease, if people all over the world didn't have to worry about contracting Malaria, Cholera, Polio, and other infectious diseases. This is why I am dedicating my life <i>(mark my words) </i>to seeing the end of Polio, the end of Malaria, and the END of extreme poverty.<br />
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<b>A Shot of Realization</b> -- This all really hit home for me when I received my Polio shot, of how passionate I am about helping our world find ways that we can all work together to end extreme poverty. Even after spending the whole year working on a campaign for Polio, I never <i>really </i>took the time to imagine what it would be like if I had Polio, and I knew there was a vaccine out there that could cure me of this crippling disease.<br />
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Now having the opportunity to be safe from contracting Polio for the rest of my life, I am determined to see to it that every child has this same opportunity.<br />
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This spring I designed this info-graphic for the <a href="http://www.theglobalpovertyproject.com/" target="_blank">Global Poverty Project</a>, an organization I am blessed to work with, that is catalyzing the movement to end extreme poverty in our generation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_a0xwdDuMywTsVfXVSJPPd-Nk6sLhL_J-hJ4sMltRg-FR-F3HKy-VoCBrU2HW6ib8z_2mYrske2nEp9vI-BZZmRZuh3-62CiUHsYeo9PGM0Fu0KT9YHk9PHlpzzDADuTwngvahbHhis/s1600/Vaccine_Infographic_3_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_a0xwdDuMywTsVfXVSJPPd-Nk6sLhL_J-hJ4sMltRg-FR-F3HKy-VoCBrU2HW6ib8z_2mYrske2nEp9vI-BZZmRZuh3-62CiUHsYeo9PGM0Fu0KT9YHk9PHlpzzDADuTwngvahbHhis/s400/Vaccine_Infographic_3_9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Are we seeing these numbers? Polio has reduced by 99% in the last 25 years!! That is something we can celebrate!! After working on The End of Polio campaign for a year now (head of branding and design), I have seen the progress of the complete eradication of Polio and I am so excited to lend my voice to the cause.<br />
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<a href="http://www.globalpovertyproject.com/blog/view/459" target="_blank">I even wrote a book review about the History of Polio in Sept! </a><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">"The world story of polio isn’t finished; fortunately there is just ONE percent to go to eradicate the disease. There is an opportunity for us all--celebrities, musicians, Rotarian volunteers, and the everyday man and woman--to come together and raise awareness and bring attention to the </span>End of Polio<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">. It all started with a dime donation and a committed group of compassionate individuals and now we have tools of technology to help this story </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">spread."</span></i><br />
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My tool of choice is DESIGN. I love to design with graphics because I think design allows stories to be told in a way that allow us to see the possibility of what's in front of us. It acts as an encouragement to believe in - what we imagine in our minds to be "impossible". There is always a need to simplify and concretize an idea and design takes a thought that would have been just an idea, and makes this idea tangible, visual and easier to absorb. It's been amazing to see how just a few designs I designed for The End of Polio campaign are inspiring people to donate and support the cause...</div>
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We raised 118 Million dollars = 118 million vaccines for children, with <a href="http://www.globalpovertyproject.com/blogs/view/509" target="_blank">the campaign this fall</a>! A few hours on Illustrator and Photoshop for me, means saving lives in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?! I always try to focus on the bigger purpose of the design when designing - What story am I helping tell? How can this message inspire people to serve? Am I helping motivate people to see the progress we are making to end poverty? I love my job :) </div>
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Below are more designs and photos from the End of Polio campaign. Sign the petition if you haven't already! <a href="http://www.theendofpolio.com/" target="_blank">www.theendofpolio.com </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVOvhyphenhyphenKLCn6O8Bx9AOb1OllWfJUWma_RotkvYbb_WReGXArmHJV3vL44Ut9C6h0gHm6hFE1-YvLhwaWFXHmrpwYNkafUnnteeLMp_HH86s90-Tnv4Oe8Ob24yoAAExd0San8ooNWcAB8/s1600/Endofpolio_tshirt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVOvhyphenhyphenKLCn6O8Bx9AOb1OllWfJUWma_RotkvYbb_WReGXArmHJV3vL44Ut9C6h0gHm6hFE1-YvLhwaWFXHmrpwYNkafUnnteeLMp_HH86s90-Tnv4Oe8Ob24yoAAExd0San8ooNWcAB8/s320/Endofpolio_tshirt1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="247" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQ6kZQHkurexkSsfv3B7_50WNYUzgcgB1s4LchRbUQFX0qxsWw7PWYzB7EElyrkmZgqFXJRhet8bIiyGn3kodZsRYN82FfVsRoRGm3UDCXnDtS_dEYYpTBYwgEEYu3kPBvLWyLjd5Bak/s1600/Poliocollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQ6kZQHkurexkSsfv3B7_50WNYUzgcgB1s4LchRbUQFX0qxsWw7PWYzB7EElyrkmZgqFXJRhet8bIiyGn3kodZsRYN82FfVsRoRGm3UDCXnDtS_dEYYpTBYwgEEYu3kPBvLWyLjd5Bak/s400/Poliocollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PXScRjxZbUgP0Y8jzzUpTD1RoQ3okgibl_d28wIsWPvftNginsWGp_qfgBadmovZARfWspK8NgbE1Zh91ZNoSDr7IgEUOTtL-KJQmMObhg_8LXAtFkVwSSMPhlIYwTn0CotJ1RR7BT0/s1600/Polio_businesscard_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PXScRjxZbUgP0Y8jzzUpTD1RoQ3okgibl_d28wIsWPvftNginsWGp_qfgBadmovZARfWspK8NgbE1Zh91ZNoSDr7IgEUOTtL-KJQmMObhg_8LXAtFkVwSSMPhlIYwTn0CotJ1RR7BT0/s320/Polio_businesscard_front.jpg" width="184" /></a><br />
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Design has allowed me to be a creative storyteller for Justice and I want to challenge you, YES YOU, that you have a tool, a unique gift and talent that will help the change the world if you start using it for good. Find out how to use your voice to make a difference, I promise it will be one of the most rewarding moments of your life -- it has been for me! Look for it, it's there, and it's never too late to start changing the world :D<br />
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With HOPE </div>
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<br />devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-20727312207491806852012-04-29T16:49:00.005-07:002012-04-29T21:54:36.628-07:00A New Heart<br />
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The Heart. The place where love and sorrow meet - where the breaking of the painful past, can be restored by the rebuilding of a hopeful future. The place where brokenness can be made <i>beautiful.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf_UpcUChfcQy8OnvWKjXZwePlcIn0_VuBMG-K4X-oURvAGX5WN54KeiC_giEa_0PsZrqa84uZpLZldeQhjniqw0qBGbQRN1AYuYlPfVXtJHibHX3-5nNUL98VZ9utRC3hmco0B6FryY/s1600/df290-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf_UpcUChfcQy8OnvWKjXZwePlcIn0_VuBMG-K4X-oURvAGX5WN54KeiC_giEa_0PsZrqa84uZpLZldeQhjniqw0qBGbQRN1AYuYlPfVXtJHibHX3-5nNUL98VZ9utRC3hmco0B6FryY/s400/df290-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These children above, are praying for new hearts. They are invested in deep prayer and asking for their hearts of stone to melt, and that their new restored hearts, will beat again. They are praying for forgiveness, seeking grace, and finding that they are loved in this desolate and broken place. <br />
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This photo, taken by <a href="http://www.exileinternational.org/" target="_blank">Exile International</a> during one of their art therapy sessions, is an example of the healing that comes when these former Children of War ask for God redeem their hearts in order to become Children of Peace. The children literally place this cut out red paper heart against their chest, and ask for a new heart.<br />
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<b>Amazing Grace. </b><br />
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My own heart weakens at the sight of this, but at the same time I motivated to LOVE. I want to listen to their stories, to hold them in my arms and tell them that they are forgiven and so <b>loved</b>. I want to tell these precious angels of God that they are safe and sound forevermore. I tremble with awe at the thought that I will have the opportunity to be in the presence of these Children of Peace this summer.<br />
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By His love, Jesus removes their hearts of stone and gives these children new hearts, fully alive and overflowing with dreams, passions, potential and PURPOSE. By His love, these children are healed.<br />
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and now I ask...<br />
What brokenness can we overcome, when we read and hear the stories of these children? If they can overcome a war, what wars can we overcome in our life? How can we let their stories of redemption change us?<br />
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I know that this story, of Children of War becoming Children of Peace, challenges me to love better every day. It challenges me, in the depths of my soul to cultivate a compassion that is changing how I view the world.<br />
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These Children are the ones who are teaching me how to be a Child of Peace. I cannot wait to hold their little hands in less than two months and tell them how thankful I am, that they helped me see this new beauty in the world.<br />
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-- devon<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><i>"A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36: 26</i></span>devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-76133832078710178392012-04-26T20:00:00.000-07:002012-04-28T08:18:27.634-07:00At a Crossroads<br />
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"Crossroads" - was a piece I designed earlier this month to mimic a bullet holster </div>
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wrapping around Africa and crossing at the heart of Uganda, little did I know a few weeks</div>
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later I would be on these tracks heading to Africa this summer; arriving where these roads meet...<br />
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I'm at a CROSSROADS. A turning point, a place, where my passion is colliding with my plan and producing an impact greater than I could have known. Reality is meeting face-to-face with dreams I had planted years ago. I could write a book about it, I might someday but for now, I will just say - I am LIVING in Joy. I wake up every day excited and hopeful for this new adventure! I can barely express it in words, but I feel it in my heart, mind and soul that this is the right time to go to Uganda.<br />
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My heart is being prepared for <i>a lifetime</i> of work of dwelling in suffering along the side of people who are hurting, in order to help them find healing. It is about recognizing we're all ONE status, we're all human, and we're all capable of forgiveness and love. I am passionate about people and my plan is to pour out my life in order to help others find their passions. You see? My passion, is my plan. Through helping people find their passions and dreams, especially these former child soldiers, war orphans and women I will be working with - I am achieving my own dream.</div>
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I want people around the world to know you can do what you love. You can marry your passion, career, dreams and the beauty of it is we don't have to worry about how all of it will come together...that's not our role. It's a journey, not a destination. Just keep pursuing what you love.... and somewhere down the road, you will be able to see why things had to happen the way they did, and it will be worth it. So so worth it. </div>
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I'm at a crossroads. Passions, dreams, desires, career, plans, are all colliding, but I know I'm safe while I'm on this track. I'm following my heart wherever it takes me and I'm not looking back!! </div>
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-- devon</div>devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-49758771112724174472012-04-23T09:15:00.000-07:002012-04-27T21:35:03.915-07:00Flight to Uganda booked!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7QAXdQBb-haE3ZQxrLsJLnHWQJL2ITUcVnD4J9Fzex1OEIDq9D7TIKe9BRP8FjILkQJL9a9ZS77xYE0nz8R2tF-bW4hcTCMy2QwjCckwa0ySb7dsuudlW4bicVJuthocD-bzTn4mw-c/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-22+at+1.28.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7QAXdQBb-haE3ZQxrLsJLnHWQJL2ITUcVnD4J9Fzex1OEIDq9D7TIKe9BRP8FjILkQJL9a9ZS77xYE0nz8R2tF-bW4hcTCMy2QwjCckwa0ySb7dsuudlW4bicVJuthocD-bzTn4mw-c/s320/Screen+shot+2012-04-22+at+1.28.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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MY FLIGHT IS BOOKED! Oh my goodness, sigh of relief and also a wave of COMPLETE JOY!!!!<br />
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This has been a looooong journey, but well worth the wait.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">55 days until I start working in Uganda!!!</span><br />
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Please pray for me in this time of preparation!!<br />
Also pray for protection over the country and thanks for being my amazing support team :] <br />
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Thankful for you all.<br />
- Dev<br />
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</div>devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8240432817349391302.post-85488207099867032252012-04-21T12:00:00.000-07:002012-04-27T21:41:14.148-07:00Mission Minded<br />
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Note from my iPhone: 663 days ago - June 28, 2010 at 2:09 am... Isn't it crazy how our heart knows what we desire, before we do??</div>
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<em>A prayer for the Child Soldiers</em></div>
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<strong>My heart aches for Africa.</strong> I want to send and ship all the love I can to the nations there. I want my eyes to be focused on God and my mind to be set on only things above. I want to leave the distractions of daily living and view the life of an impoverished child.</div>
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I want to see children fall to their knees in thankfulness and realize their broken lives will be healed. I want to view the hope that hangs in the savannah air and my words and actions to be worthy of the manner of the gospel.I don't want attention but to glorify god. I don't want to seek the approval of others, I want to LOVE others.</div>
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<strong>I am praying for a peace that binds nations and people alike.</strong> I believe that good can overtake our world and love is capable in even the most evil hearts. God holds the world in his hands and I know his goodness is in all. </div>devonfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12595985955552634307noreply@blogger.com0