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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.

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Friday, March 23, 2007

Safe aNd Sound

We had a great trip starting from Community Church and the friends and family that sent us off. What a blessing it was to have a send off like that!

We get to O’Hare and we get the news that our flight was delayed by an hour. With a hour 20 minute connection, this could be the worse news.

The check in lady at Delta said they would call Atlanta and ask if they would hold our flight and that she could not guarantee it. We had 10 minutes to catch our flight.

We assembled as a team as we prayed specifically for two things. One is that the plane would be delayed in Atlanta and/or they would hold the plane.

God had a different idea. He moved the departure time up a half an hour. We now had to time to catch our flight.

God is good.

We arrived at 4:30 in the morning (Senegal Time). We then loaded a Senegalese version of Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine. See Photo.

This baby has red curtains and it looks like a mystery to us. We can’t figure out what it is?

Today the team slept late and then had an orientation with the United World Mission staff. They went on a scavengers hunt which included buying bananas from the fruit market, make a phone call, bought candles from a La Boutique ( Little store in French), and find a mosque.

We had a marvelous dinner and now we are just wrapping up our day.

Thanks for being part of this team by praying for us.

for the team,
rick



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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous24 March, 2007 06:15

    I am so excited for all of you. Enjoy this time and I really wish I was with you.

    Praying for you all that you stay healthy, adapt to the culture and have FUN FUN FUN sharing God's love.

    Monica

    ReplyDelete

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