Check out the Winnipeg Free Press review on fair trade: a human journey. The only thing I disagree with is their criticism because I have none. I LOVE the book and would recommend you get a copy for yourself!
www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/fair-trade-primer-appropriately-good-coffee-table-book-117847618.html
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
1 Year
It was 1 year ago today that my uncle Levi entered the ICU. A year seems to fly by for me, but I doubt that would be the case, lying in a hospital bed day after day. Good news came this past Monday - he had the trache removed!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Build A Village
I attended a meeting yesterday with a local organization called Build A Village. The charity was originally set-up 10 years ago to help the victims of El Salvador who had just survived a devastating earthquake - very literally, it was to rebuild their homes and villages. I was in my first year of teaching then and I remember doing some fundraising to help in their efforts.
Somewhere over the past decade, while still raising funds for El Salvador, another focus emerged - one much closer to home. Build A Village started working with MCC in sponsoring refugees to our community and helping them settle in and adjust to Canada. In April, a family of 18 (a grandmother, her 4 married children and 9 grandchildren) will be making Altona their home.
The meeting was designed to help community members plug in to volunteer as this family makes the transition. Part of the evening was spent over some table discussion questions. So many different emotions flooded back over me and my heart ached for all those - refugees and others - that I left behind in my travels of '09.
Somewhere over the past decade, while still raising funds for El Salvador, another focus emerged - one much closer to home. Build A Village started working with MCC in sponsoring refugees to our community and helping them settle in and adjust to Canada. In April, a family of 18 (a grandmother, her 4 married children and 9 grandchildren) will be making Altona their home.
The meeting was designed to help community members plug in to volunteer as this family makes the transition. Part of the evening was spent over some table discussion questions. So many different emotions flooded back over me and my heart ached for all those - refugees and others - that I left behind in my travels of '09.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
just be
I should know better by now - volunteering to teach a youth Sunday School class, when the lesson is really for me in the end! Hopefully the students have picked up some photography skills along the way, or learned a bit more about 'perspective' (our theme), or connected with God in a new way (or all of the above!). The lessons have been a good reminder for me, especially today's.
The topic today was 'God's Perspective' - to view other's the way He views them. But the next step is also to view myself the way God views me (I don't know about you, but I forget about this too often!). I talked about getting up every morning and, along with my clothes, I put on the expectations of the day. "What is everyone expecting of me? What am I expecting of myself?" I wish I could say that the only thing I think about each morning as I get ready is that God simply wants me to be.
As I continued to think about this morning's lesson, my mind wandered back to my time in Austria in 2003. We didn't have much time to ourselves that summer - it was a very busy 6 weeks. For some reason, I remember checking out some of the town's shops one day by myself. I walked into a wood shop and marveled at the detail of the carver. But the only sculpture that has stayed with me specifically is one of a hand - palm up, fingers open - and it was big enough for me to sit in. (If I had the money and a way to get it back home, it would have been my only souvenir!) What better reminder than to actually crawl into a hand - the hand that holds the universe in place, who painted butterflies and carved canyons into the earth - and just be?
The topic today was 'God's Perspective' - to view other's the way He views them. But the next step is also to view myself the way God views me (I don't know about you, but I forget about this too often!). I talked about getting up every morning and, along with my clothes, I put on the expectations of the day. "What is everyone expecting of me? What am I expecting of myself?" I wish I could say that the only thing I think about each morning as I get ready is that God simply wants me to be.
As I continued to think about this morning's lesson, my mind wandered back to my time in Austria in 2003. We didn't have much time to ourselves that summer - it was a very busy 6 weeks. For some reason, I remember checking out some of the town's shops one day by myself. I walked into a wood shop and marveled at the detail of the carver. But the only sculpture that has stayed with me specifically is one of a hand - palm up, fingers open - and it was big enough for me to sit in. (If I had the money and a way to get it back home, it would have been my only souvenir!) What better reminder than to actually crawl into a hand - the hand that holds the universe in place, who painted butterflies and carved canyons into the earth - and just be?
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Iftin
My aunt, uncle and cousins just returned from Africa with some special necklaces. The pottery necklaces are made by Noor Creations, which started out with 6 ladies and now has grown to 10. All the ladies are graduates of Iftin (which is Somali for light), an English program in the community of Eastleigh in Nairobi. There are 3 levels to the English program. All the women are either refugees from Somalia or Ethiopia.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
DYEing 4 Change
The Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters (MAWS) has a unique event happening from May 8 - 14: DYEing 4 Change. There are more details at their website www.dyeingforchange.com but the basic idea is that women have a special relationship with their hairdresser. One in four women experience some type of abuse in their lifetime and many never report it to police or go to shelter but they will be more likely to talk with someone they trust, like their hairdresser.
Salons can get involved in a variety of ways. They can donate a % of sales, donate their tips and/or collect donations from their customers to support this worthy event and cause. "Snip it. Streak it. Style it." Whatever you do, don't be Silent about it.
Salons can get involved in a variety of ways. They can donate a % of sales, donate their tips and/or collect donations from their customers to support this worthy event and cause. "Snip it. Streak it. Style it." Whatever you do, don't be Silent about it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
International Women's Day
Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. It's a chance to celebrate the women in your life, look back at the progress made in women's rights, and look forward to the changes that still need to happen for women.
"The rights of women are not recognized around the world as much as they need to be. The rates of abuse and violence perpetrated against women are still outrageously high and women are a crucial and a beautiful part of our society that needs to be celebrated," Aisha Entz, a volunteer with the West End Women's Resource Centre said. (www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/rally-celebrates-100th-womens-day-117569743.html)
"The rights of women are not recognized around the world as much as they need to be. The rates of abuse and violence perpetrated against women are still outrageously high and women are a crucial and a beautiful part of our society that needs to be celebrated," Aisha Entz, a volunteer with the West End Women's Resource Centre said. (www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/rally-celebrates-100th-womens-day-117569743.html)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Grinning from Ear to Ear
It's been a while since I've updated you on my uncle Levi's condition. He's actually been in an isolation room as of late, fighting an infection he got at the hospital (which isn't that hard to do when you've been in the hospital for about a year). The source was finally discovered as a bladder infection. My parents went to visit him on the weekend and they got a pleasant surprise - Levi was driving around in his wheelchair (something he hasn't done in almost a year). He was granted permission to head down to the cafeteria and enjoyed some mashed potatoes and gravy.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Chasing Light
Judith Voth (the photographer who took pictures for me last November for my Christmas pictures) will be exhibiting at the Pembina Hills Art Gallery in Morden this month. "Chasing Light" will officially open Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. For more details check out: www.pembinavalleyonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21223&Itemid=33.
*CHANGED TO SUNDAY, MARCH 13 FROM 2 - 3:30 P.M. BECAUSE OF ROADS*
*CHANGED TO SUNDAY, MARCH 13 FROM 2 - 3:30 P.M. BECAUSE OF ROADS*
Friday, March 4, 2011
A No-Gift Year
I have made the decision for 2011 to be a No-Gifts year and that will be hard for me because I love to give gifts. And I'm talking No-Gifts in that I won't be giving physical gifts - at least not to the family and friends that would normally unwrap a gift. The physical gifts will be given to people in need, locally or globally, while the people here at home won't receive another 'thing' (needed or not) but rather the satisfaction of knowing that a gift was given on their behalf. The first is for my parents (today is my Dad's birthday and March 12th is my Mom's):
Keep 5 Alive from partners Relief & Development Ca on Vimeo.
Keep 5 Alive from partners Relief & Development Ca on Vimeo.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Little Camera Shy
Some say that photographers take pictures so that they don't have to be in pictures. . .true or not, the members of the Photo Club (we're looking for a better name by the way, any suggestions?) were made to 'sit pretty' for a group shot tonight.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Seeing Things
I went in to Winnipeg today and felt so grown up - I went to the Winnipeg Art Gallery for the very first time! My interest lay in the photography exhibit, but I also enjoyed checking out the paintings and sculptures on display. More information on the photography display at: www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/seeing--things-116386629.html.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Story of Citizens United vs. FEC
The newest The Story of Stuff came out today: Citizens United vs. FEC. Go to storyofstuff.org/citizensunited for more information.
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