DEVELOPING TIMES: On the lighter side...

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.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

On the lighter side...

Ok...poverty...war...aids epedemic...corruption...lost souls
All these things can add up to being a bummer when you try and make efforts in working in Africa...so I want to lighten up a bit.
Most generally, I am a guy who is on the lighter side. I like to think of myself as a follower of Jesus who knows this is all temporary. Sometimes this does get me in trouble...but in the long run, I sleep pretty good at night.
Ok...for some fun stuff. The other night, my wife and i and my two kids were at Lifest...an outdoor festival for Christian music. Two of my favorite bands were there. David Crowder

and Toby Mac. Hey, I'm in my mid forties and with a birthday coming up next Saturday, I'll be closer to fifty than I am to forty, my wife and I endured the mosh pit for these two bands. Let me tell you something, you need to be full of grace when you are in the front row with a couple of thousand teenagers. (my wife and i are convinced we were the only people in our forties in the middle of this!)
But, let me tell you this as well. THIS WAS A BLAST!
WE PARTIED FOR JESUS BABY!
We had so much fun, just singing worship songs with Crowder and then ...I'm not sure what you call it...bopping with Toby Mac. ( another side note...we just got a new puppy in March...and i wanted to name him 'Toby'...but was voted down :(
Now for the real kicker....after an hour and one half of being shoved around and losing my hearing...Toby Mac's drummer comes out to the end of the stage and whips out his remaining drum stick. Guess what? That baby was coming right for me. And as any good Christian would do...he grabs it away from some little zit riddened teenager for a life long souvenir! i did sell it to my teenage daughter for a sweet price...however.
It was like ...(you notice my grammar is like...a teenager?) it was coming in slow motion right for me. I can still see it coming down...saying "Don't miss it!"

Isn't that a bit like God at times? Sometimes things are coming right down at us...and well we miss it...to busy with life and all the things that distract us.
Take some time today...and don't miss what God has to say to you.