DEVELOPING TIMES: Tomoorow

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, March 22, 2008

Tomoorow

Our team traveled to Thies today. It's about a two hour drive inland. On the way, you are reminded of the ease of travel we experience and take for granted in the US. Roads are congested, vehicles are broke down often (and they fix them right in the road!), and you dodge horse and carts along with big trucks.It's like a video game.
We actually saw a clan of monkeys of on the way. That was pretty cool.
Tomorrow we leave for the village. There we will celebrate the baptism of many believers for the first time on this village. We are humbled and excited to take part in such an event.
We had great fellowship tonight with our local believer.What a great time it is to spend time with a person who sacrifices so much for his people.

Thanks for blogging with us.

rick