Change the World with Love!

Fun with my niece, nephew, and ...

2009-07-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

Sisters!

Helene and her aunt. Don't we look alike???

An old Byzantine church in the middle of Agia Napa.

Took the kids for ice-cream on my day off!

THE INSANE KING!--A Dramatised Account of Daniel Chapter 4!

2009-07-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

1. Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonian Empire, stood amongst the rooftop gardens of his Imperial Palace, looking out over the capital of Babylon. The sun was setting, casting a golden light on the tops of the buildings and temples in the distance. His face beaming, Nebuchadnezzar said, "Ah!--It's SO good to be back home!"
2. His Queen looked at him with adoring, worshipping eyes and said, "It's wonderful to have you BACK, my lord! You were gone for so many months on your last conquest!"
3. "Yes!" he exclaimed. "And such GREAT conquests they were! You should have been there to see me lead my Imperial armies as we swept into Palestine and the nations of Jordan! NOTHING could withstand me! We absolutely CRUSHED their armies! We battered their city walls down and burned their palaces! NEVER has there been an Empire as GREAT as mine or a conquering King as GLORIOUS and MIGHTY as I!"
4. "You brought back SO much WEALTH and RICHES this time!" his Queen exclaimed.
5. "And SLAVES!" the King said. "I brought back THOUSANDS of slaves also! I am going to put several THOUSAND of them to work in the slave-labour gangs to beautify BABYLON!"
6. The Queen looked out over the mighty city, marvelling, "How absolutely WONDERFUL it looks! Never has there been a greater or more magnificent city in all the World!"
7. His chest swelling with pride, Nebuchadnezzar replied, "And I intend to see that it becomes even MORE glorious! With all the new slaves I brought back, I can push the work even FASTER now!"
8. After several glasses of wine, Nebuchadnezzar and his Queen went to bed, and the great Monarch, ruler of Babylon and the World, drifted off to sleep beneath his shimmering sheets of silk. Elsewhere in the city, men and women of a hundred nationalities, shivering from the cold, exhausted from their day's labour, fell asleep on rough straw mats in bare stone courtyards.
9. How quickly the night passed for them! At the crack of a whip, early the next morning before the sun rose, they struggled sleepily to their feet. After eating a poor meal of bread and soup, they were herded out to the streets to labour. By their sweat, their tears and their blood, they built Babylon, the most magnificent city on Earth!
10. Just after sunrise that morning, a lone figure walked down the wide streets of Babylon, then turned right onto the famous "Processional Way", the main avenue of the city. He was in his late 40's and obviously an important official. He strode down the broad avenue towards the great Ishtar Gate. Suddenly, as he was passing through the Gate, he heard the clatter of a chariot up ahead, driving furiously down the great roadway toward him. As they went racing by, one of the riders cried out, "STOP! There he is!" The horses were abruptly reined in and the chariot came racing back down the avenue and stopped!
11. "DANIEL!--Quickly!--Get in!" an aged Jewish nobleman called out. "King Nebuchadnezzar wants to see you right away!" Lord Belteshazzar--known to his Hebrew friends as Daniel--quickly climbed up in the chariot beside his friend Abednego, and the chariot raced back down the long avenue towards the Royal Palace in the distance. As soon as he arrived at the Palace steps, a dozen guards escorted him into the King's throne room!
12. Around the throne was a group of muttering magicians and astrologers, but when Daniel entered, King Nebuchadnezzar immediately had them all put out of the chamber. "Come! Come here, Belteshazzar!" he summoned.
13. Daniel bowed and approached the throne. "What is it, O King?" he asked.
14. With a look of almost wide-eyed fear, the King explained: "I had an incredible dream--a NIGHTMARE!--early this morning! As I was lying in my bed, the visions that passed through my head TERRIFIED me!"
15. He held his head wearily in his hands, saying, "But I don't even understand what it MEANT! I told my dream to all the wise men of Babylon--all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners--but they could NOT INTERPRET it!
16. "But you, O Belteshazzar, are MASTER of the Magicians!! I know that the spirit of the HOLY GOD is in you, and NO mystery is too difficult for YOU! Many years ago, you were able to tell me the meaning of my dream of the great shining image! (See Daniel 2.) So here then is my dream:
17. "I was standing on a great plain and I looked, and there before me stood a TREE! It was absolutely ENORMOUS! It grew LARGE and STRONG!--SO high that its top touched the SKY; and it was visible to the very ENDS of the EARTH! It had beautiful leaves and abundant fruit! The beasts of the field found shelter under it, and the birds of the air built nests in its great branches, and every creature on Earth was fed by its fruit!"
18. Then Nebuchadnezzar's face grew pale and sweat beaded on his face as he relived the experience: "Then in my vision, I looked, and a WATCHER stood before me!--Not a normal watchman such as guards a city wall, but..." In awe he whispered, "It was a HOLY ONE, an ANGEL descending from HEAVEN!
19. "The Watcher cried out in a loud voice: 'Cut DOWN the tree and CHOP OFF its branches; STRIP off its leaves and SCATTER its fruit! Let the animals FLEE from under it and the birds FLY from its branches!--But let the STUMP and its ROOTS be bound with IRON and BRONZE and remain in the ground, in the grass of the field!'"
20. Trembling, Nebuchadnezzar paused, took a deep breath and continued: "Then the Watcher commanded, 'Let his MIND be changed from that of a MAN and let him be given the mind of a BEAST, till SEVEN YEARS pass over him! The decision is announced by the WATCHERS; the HOLY ONES declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High GOD is Sovereign over the kingdoms of Men and gives them to WHOMEVER He WISHES and sets over them the LOWEST and BASEST of men!'
21. "That is my dream! Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it MEANS!"
22. Daniel sat down on a golden bench, deep in prayer and thought! "O God," he prayed, "what COULD this mean?" Then slowly, clearly, the meaning of the King's dream came to him. As the full truth dawned on him, Daniel was astonished, and his thoughts greatly troubled him, for he knew that the King would surely not be pleased with his answer!--But he knew that he must tell him the truth for his own good!
23. Seeing the troubled look on Daniel's face, Nebuchadnezzar said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning trouble you. TELL me what it means!"
24. Respectfully, Daniel answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your ENEMIES and its meaning to your ADVERSARIES! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole Earth...is YOU! YOU, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the Earth, from Persia all the way to the border of Egypt!
25. "Here then is the INTERPRETATION of the words of the Watcher, O king, the decree the Most High God has issued against you:
26. "You will be DRIVEN away from people and will live with the wild beasts; you will eat grass like CATTLE and be drenched with the dew of heaven for seven years, until you acknowledge that the Most High GOD is ruler over the Kingdoms of Men and gives them to anyone He WISHES!
27. "The command to leave the STUMP of the tree with its ROOTS means that your Kingdom will be RESTORED to you when you acknowledge that HEAVEN rules over the EARTH!"
28. Stunned, Nebuchadnezzar stared at Daniel, hardly able to believe what he had just heard! Daniel knew only too well the REASON that this message had been given to the King: For his great pride of thinking he alone had built the City of Babylon and the Babylonian Empire; for his oppression and merciless treatment of the poor while he lived in dazzling luxury!
29. Hoping that King Nebuchadnezzar would somehow CHANGE or REPENT so that he WOULDN'T have to go through such an ordeal, Daniel said, "O king, be pleased to accept my advice: FORSAKE your sins by doing what is RIGHT, and RENOUNCE your WICKEDNESS! Be kind to the OPPRESSED and the poor! Maybe THEN your peace and prosperity will CONTINUE!"
30. The stunned King Nebuchadnezzar sat for a long time quietly pondering what Daniel had said. These were very bold words for ANY man alive to say to the ruler of the World!--EVEN someone whom he respected as much as Daniel.
31. Daniel spoke up once again, "O King, if you will FORSAKE your sins, the Lord may YET have mercy, and none of this need happen...."
32. Nebuchadnezzar abruptly and coldly said, "You are EXCUSED, Belteshazzar!"
33. It became apparent during the next weeks that Nebuchadnezzar was NOT PLEASED with Daniel's advice, for Daniel was not summoned to the King's side again. For a long time, Nebuchadnezzar was sullen and sulking, still in fear of his ominous dream but unwilling to change. But after several months had passed, the fear that the dream had given him faded, and he began to become even MORE haughty, proud, cruel and tyrannical! As the building continued, hundreds more slaves fell under their burdens, never to rise again!
34. Twelve months passed, and one morning as he was strolling on the roof of his royal Palace, Nebuchadnezzar looked out over the great city that he had built. NEVER had there been--and never WOULD there be--a city as magnificent and glorious as Babylon, he thought! Why, it was the LARGEST city in the entire World, its massive 300-feet-high and 80-feet-thick walls running 60 miles around it!
35. He thought of the great golden temple to his god, Marduk, and of the 53 different temples and 80 altars to the gods that he had spent so much time and money building and decorating. Proudly he thought of his Imperial Palace, the most magnificent building on Earth, and how he lived in extravagance and luxury beyond imagination, unsurpassed by any King on Earth!
36. Filled with pride, Nebuchadnezzar spread his hands over the city and exclaimed aloud, "Is not this the GREAT BABYLON that I have built as my royal residence, by MY mighty power and for the GLORY of MY majesty?"
37. The words were still on his lips when an audible Voice boomed from Heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been TAKEN from you! The Kingdom is DEPARTED from you! "You will be DRIVEN AWAY from people and will live with the wild beasts! You will eat grass like cattle! Seven years will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High GOD is ruler over the Kingdoms of Men and gives them to ANYONE He PLEASES to!"
38. Nebuchadnezzar shook with fear, mixed with a desperate rage! "No! No! NO!" he shouted arrogantly, "I will NOT..." Suddenly he staggered dizzily and fell to the floor! The Palace guards raced forward to help him, but to their shock, he got up on all fours like a dog, and fled away from them on his hands and knees. Whimpering, he hid himself fearfully in the rooftop Garden.
39. When his nobles and counsellors assembled that afternoon, they were shocked at the sight that met their eyes. Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty King of the World, his face covered with dirt, was down on his hands and knees, digging amongst the flower-beds. He had gone mad! Daniel gave one last sad look at the fallen Monarch, and, together with the other officials, they eventually signed a decree to have him sent off to a country estate outside of Babylon.
40. Slowly, slowly, seven long years passed; summers and winters came and went. In the city of Babylon, the sound of building came to a stop and the slave-driver's whip was not heard; no roads or temples were built, no canals were dug. In the seventh year, early one morning, an important official came riding up to the gate of the heavily-guarded country estate. Once inside, Daniel was greeted by the Captain of the Guard.
41. "I've come to see King Nebuchadnezzar," Daniel said. "Where IS he?"
42. "The Captain laughed, "'The Beast' is over THERE! In fact, you are just in time for his morning meal!" he said, pointing to a slave carrying an armful of grass across the yard. Daniel and the Captain followed the slave across the yard, and there, curled up asleep amongst the tall grass was the most miserable WRETCH Daniel had ever seen in his life! He had never even seen the lowest slave in such a pitiful condition!
43. "The Beast" lay there asleep, his naked, hairy body wet with the morning dew. His long hair and beard were so indescribably filthy that they had matted together and looked like bird's feathers instead of hair! His fingernails and toenails had grown so long and curved that they looked like bird's claws. As the men approached, he woke up startled! But seeing the fresh tender grass, he raced up on his hands and knees and began eagerly eating it, grunting as he shoved it into his mouth!
44. The old man burst into tears! "Leave me alone with him!" he ordered. When they had gone, he began to pour out his heart in prayer to the Lord, pleading for Him to restore the King now that the seven years was over. "The Beast" paused in his eating and looked up at the man standing there praying. Then SUDDENLY, something SNAPPED inside his mind and his sanity was RESTORED!
45. Nebuchadnezzar raised his eyes toward Heaven, and realising all that had happened to him, began to praise the Most High God and glorify Him! With tears streaming down his face, he said: "His Dominion is an Eternal Dominion; His Kingdom endures from generation to generation! All the peoples of the Earth are esteemed as NOTHING in His sight! He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven and the peoples of the Earth! NO one can hold back His hand or say to Him: 'What have You done?'"
46. Within a day, all his advisers and nobles had come to the estate, and seeing the King in his right mind, clean and dressed in his royal robes, they restored him to his throne! His honour and splendor were given back to him and he became even GREATER than before!
47. Nebuchadnezzar had learned his lesson and had a change of heart and became the MAN OF GOD that the Lord intended him to be! He had, in fact, become CONVERTED to faith in the one true God! He was SO changed that he wrote a letter to the ENTIRE WORLD, and had it translated into every language in his Empire, confessing his sin and proclaiming his faith in God! So amazing was this official letter of public apology, that it is PRESERVED in the BIBLE in the fourth Chapter of the Book of Daniel!
48. His letter ends with this proclamation: "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, PRAISE and EXALT and GLORIFY the King of Heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just! And those who walk in PRIDE He is able to ABASE and HUMBLE!"

Bath of Aphrodite, Akama and Pafos

2009-05-30T11:34:00.001-07:00

A friend of ours offered to take some of the children and I on a trip to Pafos, we had no idea what an exciting trip this would turn out to be!

On this trip, besides learning some of the history of the country and Aphrodite we did some sea salt harvesting. Along the beach between the shallow parts of stone, water dries in the sun and crystallizes the salt from the sea water! Mmmmm!

Cyprus....

2009-05-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

Arrived safely in Limassol Cyprus, my sister picked me up from the airport. Here are a few pictures from the first few days.

One afternoon the children and scrapped off the residue on the tiles of the pool and cleaned it out for use!

Myself, Athan and Danny at the beach.

March - May 2009 Fairs

2009-05-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks I have had the privileged of participating in not one, not two, but three Fairs.

The first being the Education Show in Birmingham, next the London Book Fair, and just last weekend the Fair Food Festival.

Here are a few pictures of the material that was collected and sent to Ghana from the 2008 Book and Education Fair.

These show can be quite enjoyable as the kind and concerned individuals met at these events make all the effort exerted worth it.

I find that, the majority, in one way or another are willing to give for the benefit of others.

For a moment given for the sake of another seems worth so much more than the millions spent upon ones self.

Education seminar in Salou, Spain

2009-04-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

In March a attended a week long education seminar in Spain, for teacher and parents from the Family International. Gained many new information and experiences as well as meeting faces new and old.

Met home-schooling parents and missionaries from Iceland....
... Italy, Ireland and all over western Europe.

Quote of the Day!

2009-02-28T12:35:00.001-08:00

"We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."--Lee Iacocca

Memories from Africa - - Safari with my brother 2007

2009-02-14T14:11:00.001-08:00

My Aunt, her daughter in law, myself and Peter went on this trip together.

When my dad was looking at this post, he asked "Where are the monkeys?" See if you can find her....!

New Year - - New You!

2009-02-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

It was a rainy winter day, at the Hilton hotel, down town London. Once again, this hotel’s conference facilities had been donated, both a large suite for the seminar, as well as a smaller room for the children and their activities.

The goal was to host a day seminar on the topic of new beginnings and making positive changes in our lives, right at the time of many New Year’s resolutions. We also wanted to create a platform of discussion for a future spiritual retreat that we hope to have later on in the year.

A showing of the Family International promotion video, a short but visual and lively introduction to our worldwide work, as well as a slideshow of our projects here in Western Europe, specifically the United Kingdom and Ireland, was presented.

- - Skilled Family teachers and caregivers, a professional magician, and inspirational young people were brought in for the entertainment and care of the precious children of our sheep and contacts.

The class entitled “New Year, New You!” brought the Lord and the Word into something most people make at this time of year - New Year’s resolutions.

After being inspired by the keynote, this put us in the right mood to made our own New Year’s resolutions together. Custom-made cards were given out where everyone could privately write down what they were most thankful for from the last year, their prayer and goals for the New Year.

- - As you can see, at the front of the stage we had the class interpreted into sign language for the hearing impaired.

Lastly we came to the point of the programme to look to the future – in particular, discussing the prospects of future seminars and retreats and how we would like to go about this. It was great to get our sheep involved in the decision-making process, receiving feedback from the previous retreat, and choosing the topic and timing of the next one.

Exposing the "BIG LIE"

2009-02-13T14:14:00.000-08:00

On the 12^th of February a team of 20 arrived at the National History Museum, on Exhibition Road, London, for “the biggest ever exhibition about Charles Darwin. It celebrates Darwin's ideas and their impact for his 200th birthday in 2009. Discover the man and the revolutionary theory that changed our understanding of the world. See incredible, revealing and rare exhibits, some on display for the first time.”

Along with us we had at comic (http://www.comictrax.net/evolve/enatr-1.htm) of the Aurora book “Evolution, Fact or Fable?”.

This short book examines critical evidence for and against evolution. How does this most cherished of scientific theories fare under close scrutiny? Read it and decide for yourself....

We distributed to all attending this event; those going in and out of the museum as well as the organizers.

The response was positive, as many were eager to read the other side as well as the entertaining comic!

http://activatedeurope.com/store/product.php?productid=16891&cat=255&page=1

New Years in Norway

2009-01-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

Some of the things that happened while I was in Å, Senja visiting my family...

My younger brother Peter taught me how to skii. These photos are from New Years eve.

- Bekymring for folket på Gaza

Heidi Dansholm (foto:hnn)

-Vi vil uttrykke bekymring for folket som lide på Gaza, sa Heidi Dansholm (bildet) da ho ønska velkommen til støttemarkeringa på Eidet fredagskveld.
-Det viktigaste no e at krigen stoppe, sa ho.
Heidi e heime på sør-Senja en snartur, -ho jobbe til daglig med internasjonalt hjelpearbeid. Og e ikkje ukjent med forholdan i Midt-Østen.

Fleire lokale aktøra stilte opp. Dag-Erik Pedersen (bass), Svein-Arild Berntsen (munnspill/vokal), Åge Tobiassen (gitar/sang) og Erling Stangnes (trekkspill/sang) sto for de kulturelle innslagan.
Svein Arild hadde i tillegg en apell.
-Menneska har alltid vore flink til å bygge opp mura. Religion har vore flink til det. Alle trur dem har den sanne gud, sa Svein Arild Berntsen.
-Vi kan akseptere tingan som dem e, eller akseptere vårt ansvar for å få forandringe, sa han. Og fikk applaus.
Tretti menneska hadde møtt opp på Våres Kafè på fredagskvelden.

(Lokalavisa.no http://www.lokalavisa.no/artikkel.php?aid=45539)

People do what people see

2009-01-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

Integrity has high influence value...

A young Jewish boy who grew up in Germany many years ago. The lad had a profound sense of admiration for his father, who saw to it that the life of the family revolved around the religious practices of their faith. The father led them to the synagogue faithfully.

In his teen years, however, the boy’s family was forced to move to another town in Germany. The town had no synagogue, only a Lutheran church. The life of the community revolved around the Lutheran church; all the best people belonged to it. Suddenly the father announced to the family that they were all going to abandon their Jewish traditions and join the Lutheran church. When the stunned family asked why, the father explained that it would be good for his business.

The youngster was bewildered and confused. His deep disappointment soon gave way to anger and a kind of intense bitterness that plagued him throughout his life.

Later he left Germany and went to England to study. Each day found him at the British Museum formulating his ideas and composing a book. In that book he introduced a whole new worldview and conceived a movement that was designed to change the world.

He described religion as “the opiate for the masses.” He committed the people who followed him to life without God. His ideas became the norm for the governments of almost half the world’s people.

His name? Karl Marx.

The history of the twentieth century was significantly affected because one father let his values become distorted.

Pajama Good-bye party!

2008-12-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

One of the volunteers from our Home, Glenn (front left), has moved up to Birmingham to help with the projects of our centre there.
To show our appreciation for the time he spent with us, we had a special Italian dinner, and we all showed up to dinner in our bathrobes as was Glenn's morning custom.

We love and miss him!

Christmas Open House 2008

2008-12-14T15:21:00.000-08:00

Today was a very eventful day...

We celebrated Christmas! - - We hosted an open house where there were over 50 of us, children included.

As you can see, we are a little bit zonked, yet full of smiles...

At the end is a picture of Maria and I in our caroling outfits. Those are the clothes I wore the most often this December, but I have to say that caroling was my favorite part of Christmas, in spite of the cold and other obstacles.
We received so much appreciation for bringing the joy of Christmas to peoples doors, and I hope to do so again next Christmas and all throughout the year!

What is love?

2008-11-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

So many people, myself included, look for love instead of looking for ways to show love and create love.

Love does not grow on trees, it grows through our actions and deeds.

"Love is best found when looking to give it to another." (Mottos for Success)

The kind of love that I'm talking about is the kind that truly prefers the happiness of others to your own--the kind that lays down its life that others may live, the kind that's willing to sacrifice just so life can be a little easier for others.

Make each step a loving step and you will find that love surrounds you!

(Definition of verb: an action, or a word that expresses action or an occurrence)

Good Food Show London

2008-11-19T06:28:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, Maria and I attended the Good Food Show in London. See: www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com

At the show we were able to meet and talk to both business men as well as interested individuals, introducing them to our work.
Many of the stands donated goods from their stalls for our centers in London.

These shows are a lot of fun and something you must try if you come to London.

Words to live by!

2008-11-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

Believe while others are doubting.
Plan while others are playing.
Study while others are sleeping.
Decide while others are delaying.
Prepare while others are daydreaming.
Begin while others are procrastinating.
Work while others are wishing.
Save while others are wasting.
Listen while others are talking.
Smile while others are frowning.
Commend while others are criticizing.
Persist while others are quitting.
--By William Arthur Ward

These words are hard to live by, but worth every effort. They can make a house a home and our lives richer and fuller!

Links

2008-10-20T04:17:00.000-07:00

Cry of Angels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYH5u2EMcGE

Light of Your Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AenzwUP23rI

The Room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVuwkB736jU

What is to Come
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjV3sF9q_BQ

Let the fight within me not die!

2008-10-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Let the fight within me not die!
For all the struggle there is.
Let my heart not faint from caring for those around me,
Let my hands not be weary of taking the healing touch.
Let my feet bear me to their side
Though the road be rough.
Let me light their way
Though I stand in the night.
Let me generously water
Though I feel my fount is dry.
Let my broken heart
Learn to tenderly love and care.
Let me not cease from fighting
For the many, many, dying out there.
I know Your promised strength,
I know You care for me.
I've felt Your healing touch;
I know sweet relief will come at length.
I know Your light will shine,
And You will quench my thirst,
And for my broken heart to mend,
Loving others is the cure.

Step out on the Water!

2008-10-11T12:18:00.001-07:00

Life's most persistent question is: "What are you doing for others?" Martin Luther King, Jr.

Strategy Meeting

2008-09-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a two day seminar/planning meeting for the Family Homes in Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and UK. Each team sent representatives and we shared a bit about what each home was doing, discussed problems and solutions and how we could combine efforts and improve our efforts.

This meeting was life changing for me, to see each one there giving their lives each day for the same cause. It was an encouragement to know that I am not the only one facing these difficulties.

Many topics were covered and hopefully, very soon you will see the united effort improve situations as never before. There is so much to do and we each have our part! Just want until you see what some of those projects will be! - - wait for the news updates!

Three Scandinavian women!

2008-08-25T02:55:00.001-07:00

Two swedes and a Norwegian, all doing the same thing..... loving up the World!

BBQ for 120

2008-08-25T01:47:00.000-07:00

This week we invited all of our Family friends in England, over to our house for a BBQ. We weren't expecting everybody to come, but when we called, 120 people confirmed that they were coming.

So here are a few pictures of the cooking, some of the many cars, the singing and dancing.

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and it was a lot of fun in spite of a few rain showers during the grilling.

I got to met a lot of familiar faces, some people that I had lived and worked with in China, as well as people that took care of me when I was very little. The world is a small place!

On the wall of a castle in Scoltand!

2008-07-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Another restored castle that we found along the way.

Climbing the highest mountian in Scotland!

2008-07-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

My dad, my brother and I were able to take a 10 day trip together in Scotland. On this trip, besides visiting Hadriens wall, Lock Ness, and visiting several castles, we were also able to climb 'Ben Nevis' which is 4,406ft (1,344m) high.

As you can see, it is cold, misty and almost snowy at the top, even though it's the 26th of July. That is why my dad and I are all bundled up!
It took six and a half hours for us to make it up to the top, I wasn't sure if my dad would make it up to the top as he is 59 years old.
On the way down we took a "short cut" down the steepest part of the mountain, almost sliding down with the rocks for an hour.
But we are still in one piece! TYJ!

On the air in Scotland!

2008-07-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

In Glasgow we stopped to visit a friend whom my dad had taken some humanitarian aid to Ukraine for, a few years ago. He is presently helping to run a radio show and invited us to do an interview on the air, asking questions about Tanzania and the work that we do.

Even though we were tired because it was late and we had been driving all day, it went well. I was a little nervous, as I have not been on the radio before, but God gave me the words to say, and now I have one more thing to add on my list of experiences.

It was fun!

Our family in England!

2008-07-28T06:34:00.001-07:00

(L-R: Peter, Sara, me and daddy!)

Norwegian Independence Day!

2008-06-17T13:56:00.001-07:00

(L - R) Helene (neice), Me, Athan (Nephew), Peter (brother), Tommy & Helene (neighbors)

Here we are gathered together to celebrate the Norwegian national day (17th May). Some of us are in traditional dress, and others in more modern dress. None the less, we all enjoyed being together!

Traveling up to North Norway!

2008-05-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

In order to arrive at my mothers home town, we had to take a train and then drive 1000 km. It was a long drive, past the arctic circle, but the scenic view of Norway made the it well worth it.

This trip was also a good experience for my niece and nephew as they had never been able to experience Norway and traveling in this way.

England

2008-05-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

April 24th we met up in England and spent three fun days together. Here is a picture of my sister and I meeting up for the first time in five years. Five years ago my sister introduced me to the work in East Africa, as she had been living there for eight years. I was happy to "carry on the work there for her" during this time.

In England I was also able to meet up with sweet Maria, whom I have been corresponding with over the past few years.
Maria helps keep track of all of our Activated subscribers, making sure that everyone in Tanzania is receiving their magazines. --- Have you got your Activated? If not, check out the Activated site to the right!

Christmas lunch!

2008-01-06T22:28:00.001-08:00

This picture was taken at a hotel that has been involved in our work with the orphan children of Tanzania for the past seven years.

They invited some of the children to the hotel for a wonderful Christmas meal together.

The children enjoyed it immensely as it is not often that a child, much less an orphan, is able to experience such things.

A big thanks to this hotel and all the people that participating in bringing joy into the lives of these children and make their world a happier place.

Merry Christmas!

2008-01-06T22:19:00.001-08:00

Christmas Greetings from some of us volunteers!!! XXXOOO

Charity Bazaar!

2008-01-06T22:10:00.001-08:00

In November a fund raiser was held for a few of the orphan centers in Dar es Salaam.

The 'Kurasini National Childrens Home' was one of them and we were able to receive the donation of several milking cows for the children.
We also had a stand introducing our work, as well as Christmas and children's products for sale.

This fund raiser was arranged mainly buy the Kenyan women society and was quite the event with many stalls and even performers, inviting families and children for this Saturday afternoon event!

Christmas Eve!

2008-01-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Christmas was busy but fun with a lot of visitors, Christmas song and Christmas cheer! As you can see we had quite a mix of nationalities for this Christmas!

"Eid Mubarak" - - - Festival of Fast-Breaking

2007-11-13T02:25:00.000-08:00

Eid is some what like New Year for the Islamic community. It is the celebration at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

It turned out to be quite exciting as we were invited to two different Eid parties at the same time, and since I didn't have the numbers saved in my phone I agreed to both as I thought they were the same person.

Only when we finally arrived and got a call from the other person that was waiting for us, did I realize my mistake. I was between laughter and tears on our long drive back to our original place of destination. We spent about three hours driving around, trying to find their home and only two hours celebrating with them, but it was fun!

Living here I find there are so many more festivals, celebrations and new years, you're welcome to come and enjoy them with me!

Tanzanian weddings!

2007-11-13T02:17:00.000-08:00

One of our friends recently got married and invited us to the wedding. A lot of dancing takes place as everyone goes up to congratulate the couple or give a speech, dances their way up to the platform.

When there is dancing and music, everyone joins in and they are all given white handkerchiefs to wave. We also danced our way up to the platform while presenting our gift. It was a lot of fun!

Traditionally they have two weddings, one for the girl, which is called a "send off", where her parents give her to a new family. The other wedding is for the man and all of his family, though most people don't go to both the "send off" and the wedding reception.

So if you ever want to have a double wedding, this is the place to come!

Group shots and good-byes!

2007-10-13T02:58:00.001-07:00

It was a touching moment as we parted that day and both children and participants left will a special remembrance of that day.
The good you do in the lives of others lives on!

Encouragement!

2007-10-13T02:54:00.001-07:00

During these events we are able to thank and encourage individuals that come forward to help and be a part of our work.

In the many struggles of society it's important to know that Someone loves and cares for us. And just as He has not failed the children at this home, He will not fail them. -- and He will never fail or leave you!

Meet some of my loves!!!

2007-10-13T02:47:00.000-07:00

The pick-up truck is the only way to take everyone home with me... but I think I have too many children!

Function at the orphanage.

2007-10-13T02:40:00.001-07:00

One company sponsored the fees for Neema's (in the center holding the big stick) business studies at the University.
The staff of this company offered to come, spend the day at the orphanage and prepare lunch for them. Here are some photos from that event.

Sign board.

2007-10-13T02:37:00.000-07:00

Can you read what it says in Swahili?

All of us!

2007-08-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

On our way to an Indian wedding and a shot from the function!

Reflections 1

2007-06-29T13:07:00.001-07:00

The Art of Being Positive
Keep looking up; remember there is only mud under your feet.
* * *
An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.--Sir Winston Churchill
* * *
Ella Wheeler Wilcox gives us some wise counsel in her poem "Optimism":
Talk happiness.
The world is sad enough
Without your woes. No path is wholly rough;
Look for the places that are smooth and clear,
And speak of those, to rest the weary ear
Of those so hurt by continuous strain
Of human discontent and grief and pain.
Talk faith.
The world is better off without
Your uttered ignorance and morbid doubt.
If you have faith in God, or Man, or self,
Say so. If not, push back upon the shelf
Of silence all your thoughts, till faith shall come;
No one will grieve because your lips are dumb.
Talk health.
The dreary, never-changing tale
Of mortal maladies is worn and stale.
You cannot charm, or interest, or please
By harping on that minor chord--disease.
Say you are well, or all is well with you,
And God shall hear your words and make them true.

* * *
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.--Ralph Waldo Emerson
* * *
Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world.
* * *
I was brought up to be very honest. It bothers me to be hypocritical or lie or deceive or cover up. So knowing I should act happy when I feel sad posed a problem for me. I wondered, "How can I put on a smile and look happy when I don't really feel that way?" But the Lord helped me to resolve this question to my satisfaction. The answer is:
You have to realise that when Jesus is in your heart, it's not you, it's His happiness that you're showing in your joyful countenance and happy smile. It is not being hypocritical to put on a happy face when you're sad, and you are not pretending, because it's the Lord's happiness that's showing.
So you are not being hypocritical to show joy on your face when you don't feel happy inside. To the contrary, you are being a wonderful example of Jesus shining through you.--"Not I, but Christ Who lives within me" (Galatians 2:20). You are showing His face, the beauty of Jesus being seen in you!--Maria David
* * *

God has two dwellings: one in Heaven and the other in a thankful heart.--Izaak Walton (1593-1683)

Henna

2007-06-29T12:51:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of henna drawings. Women decorate their hands and feet in a variety of ways like this for weddings, functions and other special occasions.

The henna comes from a plant and is used to color hair, nails, and hands. They say that henna is healthy for your hair and it gives your hair a reddish color.

The henna is applied and left to sit for as long as you want it. The longer that you leave it, the darker it become.

They say the darker the red color is, the more your husband will love you!

The Beach!

2007-06-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

A beautiful picture of the beach.

One of the perks to living here!

Iringa

2007-06-18T12:03:00.001-07:00

Recently, Miguel and I were able to make a trip to Iringa, a small town about 8 hours away by bus.

Iringa is a town in Tanzania with a population of 112,900 (as of 2004). It is situated at a latitude of 7.77°S and longitude of 35.69°E. The name is derived from the Hehe word lilinga, meaning fort.

Iringa was built during the 1890s by the German Army as a defensive base to be used against the Hehe uprising lead by Chief Mkwawa. The fortress and headquarters of Chief Mkwawa was situated in the nearby village of Kalenga. The town stretches along a hilltop overlooking the Ruaha River to the south, and spreads along ridges and valleys to the north. The altitude for the town's environs is more than 1550 meters (5000 feet) above sea level. The months of June, July, and August can see low temperatures near freezing.

We were invited by some friends to come and visit and during our short time there were not only able to see Iringa town, but also schools and orphanages in the area. We visited one specific orphange that had been built two years ago. It is a beautiful project but the ones managing it are concerned as they now find themselves under a very heavy financial weight and are not sure how long they will be able to carry it.

One reason for the extra concern is that Iringa has now been filled with street children due to one orphanage losing support and being unable to take care of the children, thus sending them out to the street.

This orhanage wants to make sure that doesn't happen to them so they are eager to learn about the self-income generating projects that we have intiated at the Kurasini National Children's Homes, with cows, chickens, a shop and other projects to generate income.

They hope to start some of the same projects for the orphanage in Iringa so that the center will not be total donor dependent, but more self-sufficient.

Please pray that this works out and comes through for them.

Some of the various communities!

2007-06-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

During our time here we have been able to get many involved in our work with the orphanage. One doctor from a certain Islamic community has been a great help to us, offering medical services to the children as well as introducing us to others in the community who are able to participate in this project.

His daughter had a birthday and we were able to help make it a special time for her and all the children who were there as well.

Bagamoyo

2007-06-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Bagamoyo is a town one hour a away from here on the coast where to main slave trade was held.

Slaves were marched from all parts of Africa to Bagamoyo, on the east coast and then shipped off to Zanzibar where they would be taken to other lands from there. Bagamoyo actually means “lay down your heart” as that is the last of their home land that they would see and after that they would have to leave it all behind.

David Livingstone and others created an awareness of what was going on here to get people to end the slave trade. Many missionaries would come to help put an end to it, but most died very young due to the malaria and sickness of which, at that time, there was no cure.

There is a graveyard next to the old church and if you look at the ages on the gravestones most are from 22 to 36 years old.

So many have gone on before me to pave the way, but all their efforts did pay off, as the slave trade was abolished!

So that is some of the history behind Bagamoyo.

Youth involvement!

2007-06-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Another thing we do regularly is youth involvement, a time when we go the University of Dar es Salaam to talk to the students and create an awareness towards the needs and the situations going on around them.

We do our best to encourage them as it is a difficult time to be growing up and entering the world with all the commericalism, corruption and explotation going on around them.

One method we like to use towards this is songs with a message, as well as personal conversations, listening to them, and doing our best to fill the need of every heart with God's love and care.

About where I live!

2007-06-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

I live on the coast in a city called Dar es Salaam, which is the commercial capital of Tanzania. The political capital is Dodoma which is farther inland, and even though the region of Dodoma is quite big the city is small.

Facts about Tanzania:
The population of Tanzania is about 33 million. It is difficult to know the exact number, as out in the villages is almost impossible to keep track of all the deaths and births, and presently the database for these records is not electronic but on paper.

The language of Tanzania is Swahili an although each of the approxemate127 tribes of Tanzania have their own language, the first president, Julius Nyrere, focused on uniting the tribes, and one way he did this was through the use of one common language.

Tanzania was originally called Tanganyika, the land between the four great lakes; Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika. The name changed in 1964 when Zanzibar became part of Tanganyika, producing the name Tanzania.
This area was originally a German Colony, before the British took over and then finally received it’s independence in 1961.

The road to our home!

2007-06-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Home is not an easy place to get to where we live as it is 8km of rough road, that is once you get out of the never ending traffic in town!

Everyday you feel that you are on safari and it takes a lot of patience and grace to stay calm throughout the bumps and scraps. Inspite of the jostle it is fun and it wouldn't be "Africa" and exciting if it wasn't this way. Please pray for those roads to get fixed though as our cars don't last long with all of this.

At one point, before the bridge was built we would go in, through the river, and come out on the other side. At times even large, 4 wheel drives got stuck in the river during the rainy season.

I remember once when we drove through the river, we came out the other side without our licence plate as the river current had swept it off.

Thankfully, with the bridge built, that doesn't happen any more, but with roads like this you never know what you're in for next! -- Ha!

How, why and when I moved to TZ!

2007-06-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

I was first introduced to the projects in Tanzania through my older sister, who now resides in Lebanon, as she did volunteer work in Nairobi, Kenya, for 8 years (1995 – 2003).

I have lived in Tanzania for the past four years arriving at the age of 17, in 2003, where I began working at a school with nursery age children for a year and a half. As some of you know, my family has been involved in this sort of work for all of my life, so venturing out like this is not unusual in my family.

After my time in Arusha I was invited to Dar es Salaam, to assist in a project with orphan children and since then focused my main efforts towards ‘Kurasini National Children’s Home’. This has been a dream come true because at this orphanage I am able to head up new projects and initiatives and put all my energy and talents into making a difference.

Through these records of my time here I pray that you will be able to experience the struggles and joys of Tanzania along with me.

THE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS:
One of the many problems that Tanzania has to face, is the increasing number of orphans and abandoned children, directly linked to the HIV/AIDS problem in the country. Many of the families directly related to such children, having been literally decimated by the disease, are not able to care for them, and are forced to place them in the care of Institutions. Very often though, many of these Institutions, are not able themselves to face the many demanding needs involved in the proper care of the children.
The Kurasini National Children’s Home is a Government Institution, which shelters over 100 orphans and abandoned children from various parts of Tanzania.
When we were introduced to the needs of the Childcare Center, it was evident that a concrete and significant plan of action was needed, seeing that many of the basic needs were lacking, such as sufficient food and regular medical care. The buildings were also very run down and needed to be restructured. After having stipulated a memorandum of understanding and partnership with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, in this particular care with the Social Welfare Department, we began our work in the Kurasini National Children’s Home.

HOW THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
Everything that we have been about to accomplish in these last seven years has been thanks to the help that we have received from local companies and private donors, which as played a fundamental role in the development of the Kurasini National Children’s Home.
Part of our work has been getting the local community and local businesses involved, creating greater awareness, and through this many have come forward to help and make these changes possible.

WHAT SOME OF THE CHANGES ARE
The first project was the construction of the 540mt. wall, to fence the whole property at the Kurasini National Children’s Home, to increase the security of the children as well as of the future projects to be conducted at the Center. After the completion other organizations and various individual sponsors came forward and thanks to their help the restructuring of the building we complete.
Through the years we have been able to establish 1.5 tons of monthly food supplies, local companies donate flour, maize flour, sugar, oil and soap. We also assist in finding sponsors for the yearly school fees as all of our school age children attend public schools, ranging from primary schools all the way up to university.
Presently we are focusing on establishing self-income generating projects, which will be run and managed by residents of this orphanage creating a steady flow income. Our goal is to bring them to a level of self-sufficiency and move them away from donor dependency. I will explain more about these projects later.