DEVELOPING TIMES: Trip to Senegal

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.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Trip to Senegal

On March 20, I head out for Senegal for 11 days.

The team will consist of seven of us from Community Church and one person from North Carolina that has recently been appointed with United World Mission and one of our former church mates that relocated.
We are also meeting a gentlemen from Living Water in Senegal to explore and learn about clean water programs in the country.
I hope to have daily updates (or at least every other day) regarding our time there. I also hope to upload video and give you a feel of our trip and what we are doing and experiencing.
The following people are traveling to Senegal;
-Dave and Mary Colwin
-Jane Sybesma
-Monica Horn-formerly from Community Church...now resides in Texas
-Ben and Kirsten Pankow
-Rick and Sadie Slager...my oldest daughter is traveling with us!
-Dennis Hodge-North Carolina
-Brad Salzman from Living Water International

You will here much more on this trip in the following month....stay tuned.

We'd appreciate your prayers.