My Heart

It's been quite a while since I've blogged about myself and my life - I've been covering other links and features from various websites, so I thought it was about time to blog a bit about myself again.  I want to share some of the things on my heart currently (those of who you know me best, know my heart is a vast ocean, so this will be but a drop!).

At the end of 2009 when I was in South Africa, I experienced, for the very first time in my life, a true desire to go to church and worship.  It was not an obligation and as soon as the Sunday service ended, all I could think about was 'when is the next service?'.  When I moved this past August, I had no idea how long I would be in the area.  I was just on term work and didn't know how much I should connect with the community.  I was also working nights during the week and so when the weekend rolled around, I slept a lot of time sleeping, trying to recover from the past week and preparing for the lack of sleep for the next week.

So it wasn't until late October that I finally went to a local church.  The reason I picked this specific one was the fact that they take out full page ads in the newspaper to promote the various programs in the church which focus on the community at large.  One example is that they fix up vehicles and basically give away cars (there are some rules, but that's the basic premise) and the people receiving the vehicles don't have to go to the church - they don't even have to be Christians.

Life has been incredibly busy, especially since I started teaching again in mid-October.  I get to the end of the week exhausted, with a pile of marking and prepping that never seems to get smaller.  A few weeks I've made the decision to get a few more hours of sleep versus going to church.  But the weeks I've decided to go have been such a blessing.  It's amazing how different it feels when the pastor at the front speaks directly (doesn't talk around an issue), and is real, to the point of sharing the messiness of his own life.  It's been a really good church for me to worship in on Sundays and now I'm hoping that I can also connect with the people in other ways in the new year.

John (not his real name)

Normally when I blog about InvisiblePeople.tv, I include the video clip right here, but today I'm not going to do that.  I want you to click on the link below and I want you to read the write-up before watching the clip.  There's something severely wrong in a 'civilized' society that beats up on the vulnerable homeless.

invisiblepeople.tv/blog/2011/12/john-homeless-ottawa-canada

MP Joy Smith's Tireless Efforts Continue

Joy Smith continues on in her fight against human trafficking and exploitation of the most vulnerable - from yesterday's Winnipeg Free Press:

www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/punish-sex-buyers-not-providers-mp-135154378.html

CNN: This is Miguel's Story

I want you to remember Miguel's face. . .this is the reason - HE is the reason - why we need to be vigilant. He is the reason to buy fair trade; he is the reason NOT to participate in pornography and prostitution; he is the reason to be a conscious consumer (especially as westerners who not only want what we want, but we want it cheap).  Please don't forget Miguel. . .

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/06/haitian-boy-buried-alive-by-traffickers

They Were Women

I ask you to take some time today to stop and reflect about the women who lost their lives on this day in 1989 in Montreal for the simple fact that they were women.  Then consider how you can improve the life of at least one woman or girl (locally or globally) because there are many on our globe who face violence today just because they are women.

Little Drummer Boy

Check this out:  Sean Quigley is a 16-year old from Winnipeg.  He not only sang the song, he played all 8 instruments, directed, and edited the video!  Way to go Sean!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNcD34KFhM&feature=related

CNN: Common Dreams

You will need about half an hour to watch the CNN Freedom Project documentary Common Dreams, but it is definitely worth your time!

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/01/watch-the-common-dreams-documentary

CNN: Your Cell Phone, Congo's Misery

We are all truly connected and not just by using your cell phone, but the materials that lie inside it:

edition.cnn.com/2011/11/28/opinion/wright-congo/index.html?hpt=op_t1

CNN: Violin Symbolizes Brush with Slavery

Check out the following article for a dark side of Canada's history.  I had no idea this happened in our country and I think our prime minister needs to make a formal apology, so I would ask you to write a letter to him in that regard (no postage required):

Stephen Harper

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A2

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/22/violin-symbolizes-brush-with-slavery

CNN: Growing Up a Slave in the US

 

 thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

Gift of Hope

This is one of Jolica's current Foundation projects (5% of all retail sales go to 1 of our 2 current projects):

www.youtube.com/user/JolicaCompany

Joining on Somaly Mam's Brothel Bust

I admire both Nicholas Kristof in his reporting of serious woman's issues and Somaly Mam in her fight against human trafficking in Cambodia (www.somaly.org) and it's wonderful when the 2 combine forces!  Head over to the following links to find out more:

kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/joining-on-somaly-mams-brothel-bust

www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/opinion/sunday/kristof-fighting-back-one-brothel-raid-at-a-time.html?_r=1

Won't You Be My Love ~ MercyMe

When you fall asleep tonight

In your warm and cozy room

Know that I'm awake

And I've got no shelter and no food

I am not alone

My friends are broke and lost

Looking for someone to lead them to my cross

I need your help, I need your help

Won't you be My voice calling

Won't you be My hands healing

Won't you be My feet walking into a broken world

Won't you be My chain-breaker

Won't you be My peacemaker

Won't you be My hope and joy

Won't you be My Love

The other side of the world

She is just a few days old

A helpless little girl

With no family of her own

She is not to blame for the journey she is on

Her life is no mistake

Won't you lead her to My cross?

Won't you be My voice calling

Won't you be My hands healing

Won't you be My feet walking into a broken world

Won't you be My chain-breaker

Won't you be My peacemaker

Won't you be My hope and joy

Won't you be My Love

To those I call My own

To those I've set aside

As spotless without blame

The chosen ones My bride

We will be Your voice calling

We will be Your hands healing

We will be Your feet walking into a broken world

We will be Your chain-breaker

We will be Your peacemaker

We will be Your hope and joy

We will be Your love

Your Hands ~ JJ Heller

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands