I know, a strange heading for a blog, but after the thoughts and conversations I have had over the past few days, this is what I have in my heart. I know I am supposed to be writing SARAH part two. But some times a curve ball comes when you expect a fastball on the outside corner. Oops my love for baseball just came through. I will get to SARAH part two another day, but right now I would like to write about this “homesickness”.
A group of my friends and fellow community members are leaving shortly for a three to six month stay in Kitale, Kenya. This group is traveling to and staying with the same people and organization that I stayed with on my trip. For those in community that are not making the trip, there have been some anxiousness and some sadness as the teams’ preparations are made and the time line to departure gets smaller.
As for me, there isn’t any sadness or anxiousness, but I will miss them and their friendship a great deal. These young men and women along with Danel and Larry have impacted my life tremendously. Everyone is so bright and compassionate and loving and outright inspiring, I am so impressed with them and humbled to know them!!
Because of this team leaving I have had a few conversations with Deb about my own experiences in Kenya, well not really conversations, more me talking and Deb listening. I think I have replayed every experience and situation to her numerous times. And as I listen to myself talk and relive these experiences, I notice I get more animated and emotional, wishing I was there. I actually feel “homesick”, is that possible? I yearn to be there so much. Also during these moments I have learned that my tether to the comforts of America, things that I thought I would/could never give up, is getting thinner. I even made a list of the things (outside of family) that I would miss if I left the states. Four things came up on that list and, three of them, while once very important to me; just don’t seem that important any more. The fourth item was my home, now this is a big deal. I am such a roots oriented guy and my home is my roots. I have always needed to have a place that I could go to and if not, I was not healthy. My home means so much to me, I have spent so much time and energy on it….it is me. But even I’m seeing that I can let it go. WOW…I really said that!?
A few nights ago, I thought out loud of several scenarios that had me in Kenya and giving up the “American Dream”. Were they just thoughts that came to me in a moment of envy or is it a continuation of my “day dream” when I was 17? I do not know the answer to that question, but there is a pull and it is not going away.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
SARAH part I
In a blog dated March 1st I mentioned, for the first time, SARAH. I also said that there would be more on SARAH at a later time, well that later time is here. Over the next few posts I will attempt to explain, describe and write about this organization that I have been working on. In an effort to keep these posts from being long and boring, I will put this together in several posts.
There are times (OK a lot of times) when I talk about SARAH as if she was alive as a person. I'm good with that. SARAH is a passion of mine that allows me to fulfill my bigger passion, making a difference and giving hope to the women and children of Africa.
The very basic vision of S.A.R.A.H. was actually cast in 1969 when I had the dreams of making a difference to the women and children of Africa. They weren't the dreams that we wake up from and decide to make life altering decisions. They were more on the scale of daydreams, where I would let my mind drift and see where it would take me. Obviously I had no idea that I would be creating an organization back then. But as I reflect on those times, those dreams were the spark and today I have the fire.
From 1969 until 2007, I became busy with life. Marriage, children and a career were the the focus of my attention. Though I would always have these reminders of my dreams, I just didn't know where to go with them. Life and my proprieties would take me in different directions. That is until 2007.
Recently I have talked to a friend of mine about my frustration of not acting on these dreams earlier in my life and he said "it wasn't your season"
Psalm 1 vs3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
I believe it is my season now, so here is SARAH.....
Sparks African Resource Alliance giving Hope.
SPARKS, Nevada, USA is the area in which SARAH was born. It is also about bridging the community of Sparks to the African continent in a relational way so that resources may flow to those who can help.
AFRICA is the continent and the people that SARAH will be providing resources and hope to.
RESOURCE is the engine that ultimately, with partnering agencies, will make a difference, in the lives of women and children.
ALLIANCE is the community of carrying and compassionate people, locally and world wide, that will provide the resources for SARAH.
HOPE is about SARAH giving women and children of the African continent the hope of a new life. Hope of a life worth living, hope of food and clean water, hope of fuel to cook a simple meal. It is also about the hope that the man they are married to will not be carrying the HIV disease, hope that the child they are carrying will not be infected with HIV, hope that their children will receive an education, hope of self worth, hope of respect, hope of peace and ultimately the hope of a full productive life.
There are times (OK a lot of times) when I talk about SARAH as if she was alive as a person. I'm good with that. SARAH is a passion of mine that allows me to fulfill my bigger passion, making a difference and giving hope to the women and children of Africa.
The very basic vision of S.A.R.A.H. was actually cast in 1969 when I had the dreams of making a difference to the women and children of Africa. They weren't the dreams that we wake up from and decide to make life altering decisions. They were more on the scale of daydreams, where I would let my mind drift and see where it would take me. Obviously I had no idea that I would be creating an organization back then. But as I reflect on those times, those dreams were the spark and today I have the fire.
From 1969 until 2007, I became busy with life. Marriage, children and a career were the the focus of my attention. Though I would always have these reminders of my dreams, I just didn't know where to go with them. Life and my proprieties would take me in different directions. That is until 2007.
Recently I have talked to a friend of mine about my frustration of not acting on these dreams earlier in my life and he said "it wasn't your season"
Psalm 1 vs3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
I believe it is my season now, so here is SARAH.....
Sparks African Resource Alliance giving Hope.
SPARKS, Nevada, USA is the area in which SARAH was born. It is also about bridging the community of Sparks to the African continent in a relational way so that resources may flow to those who can help.
AFRICA is the continent and the people that SARAH will be providing resources and hope to.
RESOURCE is the engine that ultimately, with partnering agencies, will make a difference, in the lives of women and children.
ALLIANCE is the community of carrying and compassionate people, locally and world wide, that will provide the resources for SARAH.
HOPE is about SARAH giving women and children of the African continent the hope of a new life. Hope of a life worth living, hope of food and clean water, hope of fuel to cook a simple meal. It is also about the hope that the man they are married to will not be carrying the HIV disease, hope that the child they are carrying will not be infected with HIV, hope that their children will receive an education, hope of self worth, hope of respect, hope of peace and ultimately the hope of a full productive life.
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