DEVELOPING TIMES: God is Everywhere

Welcome

Mission Statement
Rural Empowerment Initiatives (REI) mission is to collaborate in the reduction of poverty through investment in rural areas and training of local people.

Vision Statement
REI's vision is to treat every created being with dignity, respect and love. We strive to work with those most in need by empowering people to recognize their God given talents, enabling them to make the world a better place and providing them hope for the future.

Our Principles
REI believes that all people are created equal.
REI will develop small to medium businesses (SMEs) as one approach to reach those most in need by creating jobs that build the economy in rural areas.
REI's partner businesses will be led, managed and majority owned by local people.
REI will always seek a triple bottom line of economic, spiritual and social transformation.
REI seeks to build sustainable community-oriented business models.
REI's focus of support is to the economically disadvantaged.
REI will seek attractive market and growth opportunities.
REI will incubate pilot projects with capable management.
REI believes in collaboration. We seek partners whose strengths complement our own in an effort to build well-rounded projects of lasting economic value for the communities in which we work.
REI is inspired by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and is therefore rooted in the Christian faith.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

God is Everywhere

It's amazing how God has shown us this beautiful country. It might be very poor, but we see God's face in the eyes of the people. Today we spent part of the day buying school supplies for the children of Godel. When shopping today for school supplies, it amazed us what the village asked us for. One thing they had asked for where small chalkboards that the children would write on because they don't have notebooks. Such a simple thing we Americans take for granted. In the village on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was totally amazing. There was a story to be told in every one's eyes. God is working in the village and we are blessed to see what he is doing. The women of the village are talking about starting a women's bible study group. They will hold it in one of the leader's huts.
The children have a wonderful choir. It is lead by a young boy who is about 12 or 13 years old. The children of Godel seem to grow up so fast. the people of the church love to hear about God and to praise Him with loud voices. I would like everyone back home to pray for all the hurting people in the village of Godel. In closing I would like to share a story that I learned yesterday.
There is a young woman with two small children who has become a Christian, and wants to know more about our Lord. this woman's husband will not allow here to attend or enter a church. Why, you might ask? Her husband is a witch doctor and he thinks it would look bad for him to have a Christian wife. So please pray that the Lord has His way with both her and her husband.
Peace and Love, Darcy Zeleske