There are so many tools that can be used to ensure a well run, orderly, fun after school program.  Kids are kids and down deep they have a desire for orderliness.

However, once in a while you will have a kid that is so disruptive and not a single one of your tools is going to work.

Tomas was an angry 6 year old. If you told him to stand he would sit, if you told him to sit he would stand.  He knew how to push adult buttons so he felt like he was in control.  He was the child you would find yourself praying, "Lord it would be so much easier today if Tomas didn't come."

But then you would catch yourself and ask forgiveness - because isn't that the very type of child with whom you wanted to work?  BUT, it looked so much easier from the outside looking in.

One day Tomas was especially horrid.  He had disrupted everything the director was trying to do and then it led to his hitting other children.  He refused to sit in time out.  Finally I went to him, picked him up and put him in my lap.

I wrapped my arms around him and over and over whispered in his ear, "Tomas I love you.  Tomas you are special. Tomas Jesus loves you.  Tomas I am so glad you are here."

All the while his little legs were kicking me as hard as he could - leaving gouges in my legs.

If you want to read more about After School Programs Discipline click here

While I whispered in his ear I was crying out to the Triune God asking for direction and intervention.

Suddenly a thought came into my mind and so I asked, "Tomas, do you sometimes want to sit still but your body just goes and goes and goes?  Do you feel like you can't stop your body from moving?  It may even feel painful at times because your body won't stop moving. Does that make you feel angry?"

Tomas suddenly fell limp in my arms and started sobbing.  Instead of me holding him tight he wrapped his arms around my arms and clung to me while he sobbed.  The remainder of the day he stayed close to me, never letting me get so far away he couldn't touch me. 

Without saying it in words he was shouting at me, "Finally someone understands!"

Having a well ordered after school program demands that you know the kids beyond name, family, school, age.  You must know the inner child.  That doesn't happen unless you are intentional in learning all you can about each child.

Talk to parents, to teachers, to social service providers - know what is going on in the child's life.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what is happening within the child - as He did for me that day with Tomas.   

What ever you do don't give up on that child who is acting out.

If you want to read more on After School Programs Discipline click here

Last week was the international Cutting Edge Conference for those working with at-risk kids around the world.  What a joy to meet those on the Cutting Edge of reaching children who are hurting.

It is the faces I remember, the stories from those in attendance who were from Nepal, Pakistan, Lebanon, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa and the list goes on.  God is at work through these individuals around the world.

What saddened me was that it seemed as though the suffering at-risk children of America were forgotten.

Again, even amongst those who have a passion for children - the INVISIBLE at-risk children of America are forgotten. 

For me - for this to truly be a Cutting Edge conference no at-risk children would have been forgotten.

What do you think?  Do you think American children are important too?  Do you think they hurt just like other children from other countries?  Whose fault is it that American at-risk children are invisible?

When I say morning, I really mean it. According to the incorrect computer clock, it's 8:42am. (According to the correct clock on my phone it's 8:40am). Pretty early for me, huh? Haha.

I never really know what to write in these things. I want to write something that's going to blow people away, that will change people's lives, but I'm not sure WHAT. I can't decide what to do. I think I'm going to talk about what my family was discussing at dinner last night - yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

For me, I support two main charities, To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) and Invisible Children (IC). TWLOHA is a domestic charity, based in Florida, and I originally heard about it through Switchfoot. IC is a charity based here in the US but they help kids in Africa, specifically Uganda, who are at risk/have been kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, and forced to fight. It's a sickening reality, and I learned about IC at winter camp in 2007. Both charities, I've supported through merchandise (which is a good thing because then I can wear what I support) and I've given numerous shout-outs with friends and such about the two. My family's discussion was this: Should we as Americans support domestic or international charities? My parents are both on the side that "we as Americans should take care of our own country before we go and help others" and here's my opinion.

I've never been to Africa, and although I hope to make it there someday, I may not. That having been said, I've heard a lot about it. The suffering, the poverty - it's a thousand times worse than anything we experience here. There, running water is a total luxury, and here it's completely taken for granted. Trust me, I could go on about such things but you get the point. I think we as Americans should reach out to other places, other countries who are so poor and so suffered and such because if we don't, who will?  If American churches don't send out missionaries and finances, who will? If our government didn't support Africa and other such places, who would? That aid is necessary. I think people in extreme poverty here, I sort of feel that they have a whole lot more options that people in their situation in Africa. Here, there's homeless shelters, there's always something. There, there's nothing.

I think also some people are meant to stay here and aid people who live here who are living in poverty, but I think there's some people out there who are meant to work internationally. Some people know they are not meant to go to Africa on a missions trip, some people know they ARE. A pastor from a church in the Congo just came to my church and talked about this. He said if you can't go help the people of Africa, send someone in your place. I liked that a lot. Some people aren't meant to go. If Paris Hilton became a Christian, she would be a good example of that.

So what am I? What are you? Are you called to be a missionary? Or are you meant to help the people of the US? For every person living comfortably right now in the world, there's at least one person living in extreme poverty. Everyone needs help. How are you going to help them?

One of the activities that's become an important part of development programming are "income generating activities" or IGAs. They obviously range in type of activity and effectiveness, but basically they're any activity - agricultural, small goods retail, crafts - designed to provide a source of income for the poor.

In my (limited) experience the IGA programs that were the most succesful shared one of two characteristics:

1. They helped their participants determine what products/services were economically viable for their contexts (rather than planning the products for them)

2. They established the markets in advance (such as the Invisible Children Bracelet campaign - although even this generally well-run program has had some trouble with consistency of demand which has at times disrupted and frustrated local staff)

It's interesting because in traditional entrepreneurship, someone identifies a market gap and fills it. In other words, they find a way to supply an existing demand. When an IGA program is initiated by an NGO, the order is often reversed. The supply - whatever product or services they're helping people try to sell - is more important sometimes than establishing or identifying demand.

This is just speculation and certainly not empirical. It came up through the specific lens of refugee crafts in Cairo, where there is, locally at least, a lot more supply than demand. Its too bad too, cause a lot of the stuff is amazing. Finding demand in other places is certainly what organizations like World of Good are trying to use the internet for. But maybe the situation is different for other types of products?

Does anyone have a good example of a particularly effective or ineffective IGA program?

A Watercooler Wednesday post with a twist: this week's post is not from me.

It's written by my good friend Brian King. He has an awesome fundraiser he is doing to raise money for Invisible Children. I don't want to steal his thunder, but I did want to say one thing: 

Brian is one of the craziest kats I've ever met, and I totally 100% endorse this fundraiser.

Let's bring hope to Uganda! (And embarrassment to godly brothers!)

~~

“Hi friends,

If you haven’t heard yet, I’m putting together an awesome event to raise money and awareness for Invisible Children. They were the first group to bring the sufferings of the Ugandan people to the American consciousness.

Since their beginning in 2003, Invisible Children has been working to free some of more than 30,000 children that have been captured by militia groups and forced into becoming soldiers.

Recently, the level of violence has been receding, but over 1.5 million people are still living in refugee camps. These camps are ridden with disease and malnutrition, but the refugees are virtually trapped because they lack the resources they need to return home. Invisible Children continues to help these people by providing schooling and other resources to enable them to return to their villages with their needs met and hope restored.

After hearing about these children, I have been looking for a way to help. This is what I came up with: in order to raise money for Invisible Children, I am going to auction off my dreadlocks on eBay!

“That’s crazy!” you might be saying, and I’d agree with you  But crazy or not, it’s true. I have been in contact with Invisible Children, and they have shared their enthusiasm about this novel fundraising method. So here’s how it’s going to work.

- I’m going to put up each of my dreads on eBay, so there will be 35 individual auctions. I’ll be starting the auction on Wednesday, July 16th.

- Then (here’s where you come in!!!) donors bid big money on eBay. Once I put the eBay posting up, I’ll send you the link.

- If you win a dread, congratulations! By adopting a lock, you can tell me what to do with it: dye it whatever color you want, send me beads/charms to put on it, … be creative.

- On July 25th, I will be going up to Knotty Boy salon up in Vancouver, BC. I have told them about Adopt-a-Lock and they’re so excited about it that they’re going to dye all my dreads for free! They will dye each dread according to its winner’s choice.

- I will then keep my dreads all crazy-colored (1-3 weeks depending on how much is raised, see my blog for details), and then cut them off.

- I will donate 100% of the profits (only subtracting the eBay fees) to Invisible Children.

- Also, the company I’m interning with this summer will match the gift amount 100%. So $1 raised = $2 for Invisible Children.

- Finally, all the auction winners will be emailed an official Adopt-a-Lock adoption certificate including a picture of their adopted dread and a personal thanks by me! Kind of like adopting a star, but way cooler.

Come on, there are bazillions of stars and only 35 dreads! But similar to adopting a star, I’m not planning on actually sending my disembodied dreads to the winners. I’m betting that most people won’t actually want one in the first place. But that being said, if you really want your adopted dread, I will be happy to send it your way.

I think that sums up the Adopt-a-Lock campaign fairly well. For more details, please check out my Adopt-a-Lock blog.

~~

I am really stoked about this! As a recap, here's what you can do to help,

1) Go to http://adoptalock.blogspot.com/ to find out when official auctioning begins on Wednesday June 16

2) Attempt to outbid my Cotton Candy Pink with Green Hair-Clips

3) Pray for the ministry of Invisible Children

Dreads for Uganda!

Update from Gulu, Uganda #2

I want to put a disclaimer on this email first for those who pick up email updates: this one is a lengthy, but I feel it is necessary to get across some of the thoughts and feelings I have been through the last week. Again thank you for the prayers and encouragement I have received from so many of you; those are the words that I have come back to over the course of this trip through email! Thank you!

So much has taken place since the last email I have sent out that it is hard to put in words as each experience has its own discoveries, challenges, and joy. Our group arrived on Thursday night in Gulu, a small town of about 100,000 six hours northeast from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. You can describe the drive out to Gulu as what the African's call "the bush" which pretty much means lush vegetation, red dirt roads, and small villages consumed with thatch roofed huts and not much else. Our group is staying in a compound called Sacred Heart, a convent hosted by Sister Appelonia who is the head-master of the teacher education program for this small school. Her hospitality far exceeds anything in the states, as she has prepared meals each day for us, stayed up late talking, and washing and ironing our clothes. Before you begin to think that we are being waited on hand and foot, remember that there frequent water shortages, consistent cold water bathing from dumping cups in a pail, the fight against the malaria carriers, and the constant awareness of what you have put in your mouth that may cause an unpleasant visit to the latrines (almost has happened with an extremely bad stomach ache from a buffet in town, although the goat tongue I was served probably wasn't the best for the stomach either!)

Two stories I would like to share with you, as I feel stories are much more powerful then giving you a laundry list of what we have done and where we have gone. The first happened two nights ago, as Sister Appelonia invited us to a party for a bishop who was graduating for a reason that was unknown to me. As we arrived, to our left was a huge hut (yes the stereotypical rounded hut you may have imagined about Africa), a covering with chairs full of elderly Acholi (native tribe) with years of age in their skin and some of the most colorful clothing you have laid eyes on, along with younger children and adults in the middle of the gathering, kicking up red dirt to the music the live African band was playing. Imagine 2,000 people celebrating since noon (we arrived at six). The energy was amazing, as the children flashed their huge white teeth and mimicked your every dance move (just a little shuffle of the feet and you have gotten the African dancing down with a little shake of the butt). The smiles from these people are incredible as there is so much joy behind it; pure joy the likes only those who have experienced hardship could display. We kicked up dirt with the children and adults for two straight hours, chanting, and smiling every moment of it. Near the end, the bishop invited us all into his hut to sit on the floor and eat rice and beans with him, scooping it out of the bowl with our hands. He gave a speech, as most Acholis do, thanking us for coming, personally greeting each one of us and then attending to his guests. How can a people group accept a bunch of "munos" (native word for foreigners or white) into their traditions and customs? How can a people that have seen civil war the last 23 years celebrate with such passion and happiness?

As for the second story, most of you know that I am here to team teach with a Ugandan educator at a high school (secondary school/college in African terms). The story takes place with my school, Lacor, St. Mary's; the Central High School West Campus of Uganda. It is a 10 minute boda ride (motorcycle taxis that drive way to fast on unpaved dirt roads) from my location. This ride gives you a view of the lush valleys of Africa, mixed with native culture of brick buildings, open markets, and a school in the middle of no where (everything that is West of the 99 in Fresno). The school is made up of four classrooms with 220 students and a total staff of 13 teachers. Okema William Stephen is my teacher, who teaches Geography of Africa to S1 - S4 students (comparable to freshman to seniors in high school). As I sat in the staff room today for a number of hours planning how to teach about Palm Oil found in Niger for an hour and a half, I had numerous conversations with fellow teachers, especially two who were student teachers about to receive the equivalent of teaching credentials in a month. We engaged in conversation for about two hours today, as they discussed with me the effects of colonialism on Uganda by the British, the aggressiveness one must have just staying alive, and the allure of the United States to follow your dream compared to the realities of Africa. They took me to their home to show me the numerous awards they have garnered, but at the same time the room they called their house consisted of three beds, some jugs of freshly pumped water, and the JC Penny type bag that contained all of their clothes. "You Americans can buy pure drinking water in Uganda for less then a dollar….water…yet we are scratching for a dollar to stay alive my friend…" Comments such as this shut my conversation down and brought me into a deep place of thinking for the rest of the day. How do you show these people you want to help when the stereotypical impression is all Americans are rich? How do you even begin to relate with the experiences of a teacher losing his dad 15 years ago to the LRA (rebel group in Uganda) or begin to reconcile the fact that the school you were at 7 years ago became the target of 13 dead by a failed abduction attempt? Everywhere you go in Africa you go around town, Africans will stop, say something about you or laugh (not making fun but that you are trying to use their language in our American accents). You cannot escape the constant attention or the feelings that the place you were born in automatically placed you into the top 10% of the wealthy in the world, so why weren't others that fortunate? Africa raises these questions when you engage this culture and it is those questions I am determined to face and pray head on, as you begin to see hope and resilience in a people group with almost nothing to lose but everything to gain!

Blessings family and friends and again thank you for the prayers and the opportunity of a lifetime!

Matt

This episode was called "Rich" and it met us RIGHT where we've been in our family discussion for several weeks. The basic premise of the video was how we should be looking to bless instead of being blessed. We've been talking for several weeks about how we can show people Jesus by blessing people with what God has blessed us with so everything in the video was walking right beside us down the same road we've been exploring. It was quite beautiful. Out of our short discussion afterwards we've decided we're going to a water well project for CharityWater.org. We talked about ways to raise funds for it and I think my daughter is going to start making bracelets to sell to her friends to raise a little money. Our wheels are still turning on the topic so stay tuned for that!

Since reading Claude Hickmans book "Live Life On Purpose" several years ago, I've had a burning desire to get out of the country and go overseas - namely Africa - but haven't been able to make it for one reason or another. So if I can't physically get to Africa...the Vardemans are going to find ways to affect Africa from afar. Either thru CharityWater.org or World Vision or Invisible Children...we WILL affect Africa. Yeah, we're weird. Sue us...

:-)

I was reading Matthew 16 this morning and saw how easy it is to be a stumbling block for Jesus.  Yes a stumbling block for Jesus - that means getting in the way of His work.  In doing so others are injured.

• Have you ever over protected a child by trying to make his/her life easier?
  • For instance doing your child's science project for him/her.
• Have you tried to ease the pain of poverty for someone by just supplying money and not walking through life with the individual so she could learn from you?
  • Giving money to someone when you came off the freeway - it made you feel so good.  But what do they really need?

These are just two possibilities - the list is endless. 

Jesus said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

God allows difficult times for many different reasons - when we circumvent what God is doing we can become a stumbling block.  Peter was reacting from his own feelings, his own wants; he wasn't thinking of what was best for all of mankind.  We read in previous scripture that he knew who Jesus was.

What if Jesus hadn't paid the price for our sins?  There would be no hope.

When we get involved in someone's life to make ourselves feel better, when our faulty reasoning causes us to give to someone their felt want rather than their real need, we end up stealing all hope of their having a productive, hope-filled life. 

All too often we do what is easy rather than what is right.

If you want to read more about overprotection of children click here

Okay, are you ready to get started?  This is assuming you've done your homework from the previous two posts: 

After School Program

After School Program Part 2

I am going to tell you how to start a ministry that will give the highest results if you want a kid when he is 40 to be similar to the kid I described in How To Start An After School Program part 2. (Note in the previous sentence I switched from using the term program to the term ministry.  To see the results I want to see I believe all involved must see it as a ministry, something God has called them to do - not just another program.)

Begin with PRAYER - lots of prayer.  If you want to see the results I described yesterday it is going to take an immense amount of prayer.  Find others who have your vision to join you in praying. 

• Set regular times to gather for prayer,
• Get a list of individuals who are willing to be on a prayer e-mail list
  • E-mail them at least once a week with specific prayer requests
• Ask the staff and lay leadership at your church to pray and give them regular specific updates

BUDGET

What type of budget do you have with which to work?

STAFFING

Kids need committed adults in their lives.  They need adults who are willing and able to be there for the long haul.  They need individuals who have perseverance and won't give up at the first set-back.  Click here for a link to a description of this adult.

• Will your staff be paid or must you rely on volunteers?
• Things to think about working with volunteers
  • What time of day are they available?
  • How many days are they able to give?
  • How many hours each day are they able to come?
  • Do you have a commitment from anyone today?  What are their parameters?
  • How long of a commitment are you going to ask for?
• Things to think about when working with paid staff?
  • Is it a part time or full time position?
  • Is the pay enough so they can stay for several years?
• How will your staff be trained?  Are you trained?
  • Dr. David DuBois, an expert in the field of mentoring, says faith-based after school programs often fail because those running them don't understand child development.  Do you and your staff understand child development?  Most parents don't know or understand child development.
• Staff must be vetted - how will you do that?

THE MINISTRY COMPONENTS

What the ministry components look like depends on how you have answered the above questions.  Things to think about:

• How many days will you be open?
• What hours will you be open?
• Will kids be required to attend everyday you are open or will it be a drop-in center?
  • If you want the same results I want, a drop-in center won't get you there.
• How old will the kids be?
• How many kids will you work with?
  • 5 kids per adult if you want lasting results.  If your staff are all volunteers 5 is too many.
• What will you do?
  • Homework/Tutoring
  • Bible
  • Life skills
  • Recreation
  • Crafts/The Arts
  • Snacks
  • Family time
• How much time will you allot for each component?
• What about discipline issues?
• Be sure you are set for all potential emergencies.

Know that it takes so much more than what you do with the kids within the set hours you are all together.  For lasting results you must be involved with the primary nurturers, the school and social service providers.

The final question is - do you just want to keep them "safe" for a few hours or do you want them to be "safe" for ever?

From here it becomes really individual - each center will be different with different needs.  Please feel free to ask any questions you might have pertaining to your particular situation.  KidTrek's passion is to see at-risk kids, America's Invisible Children, receive the nurturing they deserve - which demands excellence.

                                                                                                                            KidTrek Training
                                                                                                                            February 3-11 2009

As I mentioned on Monday, to have an effective after school program you must know what you want the end result to be.  You must take the time to brainstorm what you want a six year old today to look like when he is 40.  We have our trainees consider this throughout the week of training.

My 40 year old - a whole-istic view.

Spiritual

Is a fully committed follower of the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Is rooted in the Word of God
Is known as a prayer warrior
Actively involved in a Bible teaching church
Has a Biblical worldview
Fruit of the Spirit evidenced in his life
Is actively living out Matthew 28:19-20

Emotional

God confidence
Knows how to identify and express emotions in healthy ways
Joy and peace
Perseverance

Mental

Has critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Discernment
Still learning - inquisitive
A lover of books

Social

Healthy relationships
Solid peer group of believers
Friendships with non-believers
Known as an individual who can be trusted
Respects authority
Leadership skills
Interpersonal and communication skills
Treats those with whom he disagrees with respect without compromise
A Biblical compassion for those in need

Physical

Treats the body as the temple of God
Makes good choices to keep body healthy - knows what those choices should be
Good hygiene

Tomorrow I will think through the first steps to start an after school program to nurture kids to raise them up to be Christ-changed, hope filled, productive adults.

Russell. He's the merch guy.

Naomi. She handles the fundraising and finances.

Julie. She manages the office.

Amy. if you call the office, she will probably answer your phonecall...

These are just a few, but I'm taking lots lots more on Monday.

So you would like to start an after school program - why?

What do you want to accomplish? 

What do you want the end result to be? 

Who do you want the kids to be when they are 40?

Those are questions you must wrestle with before you can even begin to take a step further.

This is my challenge to you - take a few days and lay out who you want a kid you serve today to be like when he is 40.  Brainstorm this question with others.

On Wednesday I'll give you the description of my 40 year old and how to start a program that will bring a kid to that place.

Have fun.

What do the Invisible Children of America need?

They need adults in their lives who will nurture them.  That doesn't happen in an afternoon drop-in center.  It demands adults who are willing to get involved whole-istically in a kid's life. 

It means going shopping together, traveling together, eating in a fine restaurant together, studying together, going to a basketball game together, going to church together, visiting in each others' homes.

It demands that this Secondary Nurturer adult builds a quality friendship relationship with the child's Primary Nurturer. 

It takes time - years.

For more information on this topic click here and here

"In mission there's a documented correlation between preparation and longevity.  If you want a ministry that will last for the long haul, you have to invest in the training of its leaders.  That's what KidTrek does with excellence."  Rev. Cliff Warner, Rector, Church of the Holy Trinity, Austin, Texas

KidTrek training is eight intense days of covering every aspect of working with Families at Risk. 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Experiencing childhood - again!

ADMINISTRATION

Everything from how to work as a team to writing goals and everything in between.

 PROGRAMMING

Recreation is fun for everyone - but there is so much more. 

SOCIAL SERVICES 

How do you work with the school, social workers, police, etc? 

EMERGENCY PREPARATION

You know what to do if a kid starts choking - do you know what to do if a kid tells you he is going to commit suicide?

 There is so much more to the training - but I do want you to know we do have a time to just go have fun.

We are planning a training in late January, 2009 check back to see when we get our exact dates.

Another post that shares more of the direction of our training  click here 

If you want to read our White Paper on Secondary Nurturers click here  which is what we train you to become.

Ethos had a post a while back about a study that concluded giving away money makes you happier than spending it on yourself.  It's sounds easy enough, but I'm sure that most of you are thinking, "Yeah, right. I believe in doing my share, but a new pair of shoes vs. a donation to the local food bank. I'm thinking I would really enjoy that pair of shoes." I can understand that feeling. I have been there many times in my life too.

I was raised to not be materialistic. At times I have lost sight of this even without realizing it. (Ref my post on Material Girl).  Going from being a DINK (dual income, no kids) to being a SAHM (stay at home mom) on 1 income significantly changed my lifestyle. I had to give up multiple vacations, excess shopping trips, facials, massages, Cakebread wine. But I got to be a mom and share my love and life with my twins. Plus, I was able to rediscover my creative side.  So, it's all been worth it!  

While I was raised not to be materialistic, the amount of education I received on charitable giving took place twice a year with the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  As an adult I came to realize the extent of opportunities that surround us on a daily basis for conducting charitable giving.  However, it wasn't until participating was no longer an option, based on my husbands demands, did I realize exactly how important it was to me.

My happiness in life is based on my relationships, family, friends and the intrisic value of self accomplishment and self discovery.  Part of the discovery process involves being true to myself and not standing in the shadow of anyone else's ideals or opinions of what I should or shouldn't do with my money, time and talents.  

Choosing to give with a full and eager heart has become a new passion in my life.

It still amazes me that being charitable to others, whether it is monetarily or otherwise, can lift your spirits and give you a sense of freedom like few things in this possession obsession filled world can. Two of the ways I have been involved have touched my heart as I could not imagine.

First, Compassion International.   I was introduced to Compassion by this guy.  They are one of the nation's largest Christian child sponsorship organizations, working with more than 1.6 million children worldwide. They are recognized for their financial integrity with top ratings and recommendations by several "watchdog" organizations.  The beautiful little girl that I sponsor is named Scovia.  She is 6 and lives in a small village by a river. Her mom is 24 and has 3 other children.  In her pictures she looks about 4 YO with very ill fitting clothing. She is so very tiny. In her first letter to me she drew a picture with the skills of a 3 YO.  Because of my sponsorship she now attends school and receives visits from the Compassion staff to ensure she has adequate care and nutrition, all for $32 a month. But just as important, because of my letters of encouragement and faith, she knows that someone cares about her as a child of God. Little will she ever realize that what she gives me is immeasurable.

Second, Philanthropy. The other charity effort I participate in has an added bonus: I get to shop!  Philanthropy is a store in downtown Franklin with a simple concept - Do business successfully that betters the community and the world. Many of the clothing lines they carry are eco-friendly and give back. For instance, Jedidiah created a line of tshirts called The Hope Collection, all designed to benefit certain humanitarian organizations and their causes such as: World Vision, Blood Water Mission, Invisible Children, and several others.  My venture began by attending a charity fashion show in March featuring prophetik designs by Franklin's own, Jeff Garner. What I loved most about this event was the layered options to participate in giving by shopping. 1. The purchase price of the ticket went to The Hands and Feet Project and Aid Sudan. 2. For each garment purchased from the prophetik line, a set donation was also made. 3. 40% of any additional sales from the Philanthropy store that evening was also donated.  For me the fashion show was an introduction to what Philanthropy was all about and capable of doing. It is now my first stop on any shopping trip if I have to make a clothing purchase for myself. Why? Well not only are they reasonably priced, especially for downtown Franklin, but I believe in what they are doing. And if I do pay a few dollars more here rather than somewhere else, I'm confident that it is money put to good use to help those that can't help themselves.

Pulling from a quote that Jeff Garner gave for the show, I think I am able to identify the appropriate words of where I want to be in my life.

My desire is to be truly engaged with self, allowing a heart of giving and serving to lead in my life, expressing true unconditional love as a constant, rather than a condition.

I believe that giving is being of God. It is what he commanded of us, what he expects of us. It is the reason it makes us happy. There are so many options around us to full fill this mission of the heart. I have found my next one, I will be sharing with you soon.

Here is my challenge to you... Take a moment to look around in your community or on the web or at church and think about what you can do to allow a giving heart to lead in your life.  You will be happier when you find that opportunity that speaks to you and you just do it. 

This post is a part of Watercooler Wednesday & Works for Me Wedsnesday.

It is absolutely vital that we keep the children safe.  Just because you are hiring "Christians" doesn't mean they don't have emotional problems and could be a danger to the children.  Every individual who interacts with the children must be vetted. 

This is just one of the check lists KidTrek goes through as we hire staff or interview volunteers.

 STAFF AND VOLUNTEER SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

¨     Application forms filled out and in file

¨     Reference letters in file

¨     Fingerprinting/Megan’s Law response in file

¨     Interview form in file

•     Heard personal testimony
•     Read through with applicant:

o     Purpose Statement

o     Guiding Values

o     Philosophy of Ministry

o     Program Format

o     List of opportunities for service

o     Job Descriptions

o     Purpose of all day training

o     Purpose of Quarterly Review/Training/Planning Time

Determine where the Lord is calling applicant to serve

¨     Child Abuse Reporting Acknowledgment signed and in file

¨     Child Safety Guidelines Acknowledgment signed and in file

¨     Incident Report and Activity Approval Acknowledgment signed and in file

You may be interested in seeing what our curriculum looks like - KidTrek Curriculum  click here  and then click here

If you don't know anything about Darfur, read up on it here.  Basically, the Arab-run government to the north is sponsoring a genocide against black Africans living in Darfur (located in the south-west of the country).  The government has hired the Janjaweed (translated "the devil on horseback"), an Arabic militia force, to systematically wipe out the black Africans in Darfur.  They burn people alive (even kids), set whole villages on fire, shoot their own countrymen indiscriminately, and use rape as a deliberate war tactic to destabilize families, bring shame to women, instigate fear and hatred, and spread STDs.  What's going on is sick and twisted beyond belief.

Since 2003, the Sudanese government has sponsored this genocide and killed possibly more than 400,000 people, all in an attempt to win a war against rebel groups that draw support among black Africans in the Darfur region.  Rather than attack the armies like the rest of us do, they've decided to just wipe out everyone.  Over 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes, many living in massive refugee camps in Chad.

The movie The Devil Came on Horseback is really well made.  It follows marine captain Brian Steidle, stationed in the region as a military observer.  Brian takes photos, interviews rebel soldiers, talks to Janjaweed militiamen, hears from the victims of genocide, and videos whatever he can get.  The documentary pulls it all together into a nice hour and a half package.  The great thing about it is that Brian isn't some annoying, liberal, hippy pot-smoking college student jumping on the latest humanitarian bandwagon.  He's a marine, and he's seen injustice and wants America do something about it.  It gives him a lot of credibility that guys like Michael Moore don't have.

Somewhere inside me is a bleeding-heart activist that likes to call attention to the latest international issue that needs our assistance, but I get tired of all the whiny neo-hippies just hopping on liberal bandwagons.  Broad generalization, true, but I'm sure you get what I mean.  Anyway, the movie is great because it's nice to see a military guy calling attention to something like this.  I feel like I can trust him.

So, moving on, watching this movie has once again caused me to think about how shallow my blog is.  I give away (some might say "illegally distribute") MP3s.  I promote bands.  I interview artists.  I write about deep issues like "Defining Christian Muisc."  All while 400,000 people have been killed and countless women raped in a brutal genocide in Sudan.

So, to ease my aching conscience, I signed the petition here to get Bush and the UN to stop the genocide.  Now who's shallow?

Useful Sites and Links
SaveDarfur - learn about the genocide, sign a petition like me, or do something even more radical
Brian Steidle's photos - see the photos he took while in Darfur
The Devil Came on Horseback - read up on the movie or watch the trailer
Invisible Children - some guys went to Sudan to document genocide but ended up in Uganda to document something just as creepy

Resolve Uganda is a campaign to end the war in Uganda, made up of people and organizations who believe that peace is possible and that together we can make it happen.

Invisible Children continues to partner with them to achieve this. Here's a letter recently sent from their director of advocacy.

I am writing you today for two reasons.

First, to deliver some bad news. The Juba Peace Process, the two-year negotiations aimed at ending the war in Uganda, has ended with rebel leader Joseph Kony refusing to sign the final agreement. Though we've made incredible progress in the past two years, It appears that we have reached the end of the road for this process.

The second reason that I'm writing you is to tell you that it is now more important than ever that we keep up the pressure on our leaders to end this war. These peace talks produced a surge of helpful attention from our leaders, and they will be tempted to now turn their attention elsewhere. Returning to the neglect and indifference of the past would have catastrophic consequences for the people of northern Uganda.

We cannot afford to have that happen. The stakes are too high.

Even though they failed to achieve a signed final agreement, significant progress was still made. What had been been labeled as one of the worst and most neglected humanitarian crises in the world just a few years ago has seen transformation. Nearly a million people began to leave displacement camps and return home and children were no longer forced to commute at night to stay safe. These gains must be sustained and consolidated.

Despite this progress in northern Uganda, the Lord's Resistance Army is now operating in the border regions between three countries: the Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic. Abductions of young children are once again occurring, and we have good reason to believe they will only increase in the coming weeks.

As the rebel group prepares to return to war, we must urge our leaders to fight harder than ever to achieve peace.

For those of you who have worked so hard to help achieve peace in Uganda, I know that this news is extremely discouraging. But with so much progress made and so much still hanging in the balance, now is not the time to give up hope. Successful peace processes require long-term vision and persistence. Together, we can be the factor that prevents history from repeating itself. We can keep the attention of our leaders on this issue and keep pushing them to do everything they can for peace.

There are no alternatives.

We'll be in touch soon.

Sincerely,
Alison Jones 
Director of Advocacy
Resolve Uganda

The struggles of immigrant children is not new to America.  I remember my father speaking of his own struggle being raised by Swedish immigrant parents.  It is difficult to be growing up in/living in one culture while your parents cling to another culture.

Imagine what it is like for a pre-teen going through a typical American pre-teen's struggle - but her parents have no understanding of how to deal with this struggle.  It is totally foreign to them.  The child and parents live in two totally different paradigms.

Where does the child go for support, wisdom, direction?

I got a call from a Center Director this past week asking for advice (let's call her Angela).  A girl, we'll call her Johanna, told Angela something in confidence that was important for the parents to know.  She was terrified to talk to her parents because she knew they wouldn't be able to understand and they would be angry.

Angela and I brainstormed every possible scenario; she finally decided to tell Johanna she had to talk to her parents about this.  Johanna cried and said they wouldn't understand, they would get angry.  "Miss Angela why can't you just take care of it?  You can do it." she cried.  Angela told Johanna that she was going to speak to her parents alone without Johanna there. 

The purpose for speaking to the parents alone was to allow them to vent their initial emotions - which if Johanna had been there she would have totally misinterpreted.  Angela then helped them to see things from Johanna's paradigm. 

As Angela was sharing with me what had happened she laughed and said that in the beginning she so wanted to get everything out she realized shewas speaking too fast so stopped an asked, "Am I speaking too fast?  Can you understand me."  The mother indicated with the movement of her head they were having difficulty understanding. 

Angela slowed down and took them step by step through everything.  There were emotions adults go through when their child is struggling.  But with Angela there they were able to ask questions, to state they didn't understand why this was so important to their child - "it wasn't like this in our country." 

Angela told some of her own stories growing up in America, she told stories of siblings who had experienced similar things, and she shared how her parents had responded.  Helping these immigrant parents to understand this was not foreign in America.

"Will you help us find the help we need?" the mother asked.

  It is difficult for immigrant parents to find the assistance they need as they battle the language barrier.  Both these parents speak English but feel intimidated when they have to maneuver through bureaucracies.

But what would have happened if Angela hadn't been there to walk with Johanna and her parents through this struggle?  What kind of barrier would have grown between Johanna and her parents because they couldn't understand each other?

This is another reason why KidTrek is passionate about placing Missionaries in churches to come alongside of Families-At-High-Risk.

KidTrek needs your help to make this possible across America.  Will you join the Walk?

Giving Warriors - click here

Prayer Warriors - click here

Volunteer - click here to find a center that may  be close to you

Is Christ calling you to become a Missionary?  click here for more information

For another post on Immigrant Childre click here 

By Wanda Parker

THE TEMPTATION TO CREATE A PSEUDO-WORLD FOR CHILDREN 

If we create a pseudo-world for them until they are teenagers, how will they ever know how to deal with feelings; how will they know how to reason; how will they be able to survive in the real world? (A child who has grown up in a pseudo environment will have many similarities as an adult to a child who grew up in a highly dysfunctional environment.  Dysfunctional here means abusive, lack of boundaries, an environment where there is poverty of the soul.)

In a pseudo-world, children aren't given all the information they need to be a successful adult.  The key to healthy growth is the ability to do critical thinking.  Critical thinking is a learned skill.  It allows a person to go beyond the facts and emotions perceived as reality today to look out to the future at the results if this "path" is continued to be followed.  It is impossible for a child to learn critical thinking in the pseudo-world because they don't have all the information necessary to do so.  

A psychologist friend of mine told me the following story: 

He had a patient who was in her twenties and dealt with constant fear that she was going to hell.  We will call her Mary.  Mary had been told often by family friends, relatives and people at church that her father was a very godly man.  She idolized her father.  However, Mary had never seen her father angry.  So now in her twenties, every time she felt anger she thought she must not be a Christian. 

Her father was a godly man but he did not have the wisdom to understand that his daughter needed to see that he was human.  To become a fully developed adult, she needed more information.  Mary needed to see that her dad too got angry and that he processed his anger in an appropriate way.  He needed to be vulnerable with his daughter so that she could learn from him. 

This father so wanted to protect his child from the distress of seeing his anger that in doing so he did her much harm.   

We must continually ask ourselves, "How will this ultimately affect the child?" In asking this question, we must be honest with ourselves and make sure our emotions are not causing us to have faulty reasoning. 

From the time my own children were infants, I have prayed asking the Lord to teach me how to raise my children up to be godly adults.  I felt totally inadequate but the Lord found varying means to teach me. 

This is an excerpt from the KidTrek White Paper, "Competition - A Tool for Emotional Growth."  Click here to read the entire paper.

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I was in the bedroom creating a seminar on the "Love One Another" passages in the Bible when my youngest daughter, who was then in kindergarten, came into the bedroom.  Dana was fixing herself lunch so she could go to her afternoon kindergarten class and asked me to open the peanut butter jar. 

My study had so absorbed me that I did not pay attention to her.  Each time she asked, I automatically answered, "Yes, honey," or "Sure, in just a minute." 

Finally, exasperated with her mother's lack of concern for her needs, Dana took the peanut butter jar and whacked me on the back with it.  She got my attention! 

Though it hurt, I could not get angry, for the Lord impressed on my heart at the instant of contact with the jar that my study of love had not made me a loving, caring mother, attentive to the needs of my kids. 

During the last week of His life on earth Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment: 

"A new commandment I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  All men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another." John 13:34-35 

We can do a lot of talking about love.  We can study the scriptures.  We can intellectually know the difference between agapë, philio, and eros love; however, everything is useless if it does not come alive within and through us. 

The way we treat the kids and our attitude toward them will speak louder than any words we utter. 

Relational ministry is taking the lid off the peanut butter jar the first time we are asked.  In doing so, we tell the kid he is valued; he is significant enough to interrupt what we are doing to meet his need.  As we do this, the kid learns that Jesus loves him unconditionally.  We may be the kid's only link to Jesus.

America's Invisible Children deserve the best ministry we can give them.  We must serve them not to make ourselves feel better but that they might know they are truly loved.  Then they will be open to meet He who loves them more than any human could - Jesus Christ.

KidTrek is passionate about ministering to America's Invisible Children.  Some previous posts that might be of interest to you if you are not familiar with KidTrek are:

Americas Invisible Children Left Behind

After School Program-Making A Difference

Are Your or Your Church Staff Able?