DEVELOPING TIMES: Our first visit to the village of Godel

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.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Our first visit to the village of Godel

Today, Sunday, we spent our first day "in de bush" visiting the village of Godel. I don't know how to describe the trip except that we saw lots of goats, sheep, and horses grazing on the open range; a hut here and there and lots of open space and huge bao bob (?) trees.

When we got to Godel, we were greeted by smiling children who were shy at first until we brought our cameras out and then everyone wanted their picture taken. They were so cute. We had fun trying to communicate with them. Another major milestone in the village is that one of our young team members experienced the thrill of outdoor hole in the ground lavoratories.

We had the privilege of attending their church service in the building that our church helped them build and listening to the drums that our donations help them get. Dr. David Bruning of International Children's Foundation of Appleton, who has been with us since Saturday, preached a powerful message. We joined in singing and dancing in their worship songs. What a great Lord that we serve! I am awed by the powerful testimonies that we have heard so far. Please pray for Patricia, our translator on Saturday, and for her son Ali Noel. She is praying that he will return to the faith of his childhood.
Kathy Bonde