DEVELOPING TIMES: where there is pain...

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.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

where there is pain...

Let us bring grace, where there is suffering, bring serenity, for those afraid, let us be brave, where there is misery, let us bring relief
Let us be the remedy.
-David Crowder*
The last six days have been an education for me. Learning about life and culture here is fascinating. The people are full of smiles when you wave at them while traveling down the paths they call a road. Children work harder here than any child in America…guaranteed….but yet when you stop and spend a few minutes with them…they laugh and are happy (or just plain fascinated themselves with a white boy) to laugh and talk with you. We can’t understand each other, but yet we communicate. I just love the children and the youth. The smiles are forever embedded in my heart.
But the youth here have inherited a mess…but I believe there is hope. They have big challenges ahead of them.
But the big question is.
How do I make a difference here? This country, as beautiful as it is, is a mess.
The more I learn and find out, the more I ask myself “How will there be change?”
Of course the love of Jesus Christ, is the ultimate hope, but who is going to bring this remedy?
Is it you? Is it me?
Let us be the remedy.