Encounter Humanity

OK, the holidays and year end accounting are done, and I am finally picking back up on the blog.  Encounter Humanity has a causes page on Facebook, so if you are on Facebook search us and become a member.  If you are not on Facebook now you have a reason.

Here are a couple of pictures from our latest letter from Tsikane.  One is a picture of our beautiful children at a feeding and one is of some young ladies with new shoes.  Tsikane (the on-the-ground director) has been reporting to us that they have been able to buy school uniforms and shoes and have been successful in getting even more kids in school.  That is great news.

Just an update on some things that are going on in Africa:

Zimbabwe is still very unsettled; because, they have still not come to a power sharing agreement.  Last fall they had a shady election and leaders of other countries are trying to get the opposing parties to come to an agreement on leading the country.  No agreement means no real direction for the country.  For the average Joe that means no money, no basic supplies, an outbreak of Cholera, and a few cases of Ebola.  The DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) is also in unrest.  They have had problems with rebel groups for years and now Rwanda (their neighbor) has stepped in to help the Congolese government, but unfortunately it looks like Rwanda has a lot of interest in settling old genocide wounds(Hotel Rwanda is about this genocide.).  The LRA (a rebel group in the Congo) is primarily made up of Hutu Interahamwe who killed many of the Tutsi’s in the genocide almost 15 years ago.  The Tutsi’s are in charge of the Rwandan government now and would really like to get rid of Hutu Interahamwe.  It is one of the real messes where everyone is the victim and everyone is the perpetrator.   There are definitely no easy fixes in Zimbabwe or the DRC.

I have attached a link to an update on Lesotho’s AIDS Diary from the BBC.  This report is one of a little boy who contracted HIV/AIDS at birth.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7874441.stm

Welcome back to the blog and thanks for reading.

Auction

Just a little update about the auction.  We raised $4000 for The Bana Project.  We had around 85 people attend which is up from 65 last year.  We had it a great location and are looking forward to making next year even better.

AIDS Diary

I check the BBC Africa news site almost everyday.  News from Lesotho only makes the site a few times a year.  The good thing about that is that means nothing out of the ordinary is happening in Lesotho.  The bad thing is that finding out what is happening in Lesotho is very difficult.  You can find some news on the interenet but not as much as I would like.  Well this last week Lesotho made BBC in an exciting way.  They are doing a special report call AIDS Diary.  It is a diary of several people about the AIDS epidemic in Lesotho.  They have a diary from an orphan, teacher, village chief and so on.  It is great insight into life in Lesotho.  Below is a link to the diaries.  Please read them they will give you a good idea of the social environment in Lesotho.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7720699.stm

There are some changes happening in South Africa.  One the president has been forced to resign for questionable practices (Hey, it is like politics in Bham!).  I am not sure if the forced resignation of President Mbeki is a great thing, but one great thing has come out of it.  A new Health Minsiter for South Africa.

Let me explain to you why a new Health Minister is a WooHOO.  The now past Health Minister had the nickname of “Dr. Beetroot”; because, she touted the use of beetroot and garlic to cure AIDS instead of ARVs (Anti Retro Viral Drugs).  Now, I am not totally against the use of natural medications BUT the HIV/AIDS crisis is a little bigger than just garlic and beetroot.  I was so surprised that a country as big and powerful as South Africa has not had great medical care for HIV/AIDS patients.  They have the infastructure to do great work and now with a new Health Minister they might be able to accomplish something.

Now let me tell the other reason this is a WooHoo!  Everything that happens in South Africa effects the countries around them.  And, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Botswana (all border South Africa) have the three highest infection rates in the world!  Lesotho and Swaziland are both very poor countries and many of the men go to South Africa for work.  They may be gone for 6 to 9 months at a time.  The men end up spending time with prostitutes and such.  Then they bring HIV/AIDS home to their families.  So, the healthier South Africa is the better chance for Lesotho.

Let’s hope that the new president of South Africa is a good thing and increases stability and safety in the country.  And let’s pray that this new Health Minister is a bulldog for ARV’s and HIV/AIDS prevention!

Here is an article if you want more details:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7637207.stm

Yes it has been a month since I blogged.  Not because I have forgotten, but I have been working on the upcoming auction.  AND, the operating system on my laptop freaked out.  So I have two things to share with you today.

First the Auction

If you have not heard.  It is at B&A Warehouse October 16 at 6:30.  Tickets are $15 each.  Email me at jennifer@setheartsfree.com for reservations.  We have some great stuff including a rugby ball, baskets, jewelry, linens, cricket mallet, and Encounter Humanity shopping bags.  This is our main fundraiser for the orphans, so please come join us for a night of fun.  And, better yet please bring a friend.

Second, I wanted to share with you my friend Elaine’s trip to Africa.  Elaine is a humanitarian activist in Birmingham.  She volunteers her time to ONE and Bread.  She had the great experience of seeing first hand how what share has fought for is helping people in Africa.  Specifically with PEPFAR.  PEPFAR stands for the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief.  I hope you enjoy reading about her trip.

ELAINE’S TRIP

I am back from Zambia.  What a long trip home that was!! We awoke Sunday a.m. and rode in a jeep, a ferry, a bus, and 3 airplanes. You could even say we rode on a train if you count the rail in the Atlanta airport that gets you between terminals.

The experience was incredible.  The extremes we encountered were mind numbing - from the incredible wild life in Botswana’s Chobe National Park to a filthy, dirty, dusty, barefooted orphan in tattered clothing beaming at you and asking you to be his friend.

One day, I tagged along on a trip to an outreach clinic 65 km into the bush.   The trip was 2 hours each way on the worst sandy, bumpy road I have ever ridden on .  There were 11 of us in a Land Rover provided to Mwandi Mission Hosptial by Catholic Relief Services with money from PEPFAR (US funds for AIDS relief)!  The “clinic” was a two room mud hut (about 8 x 12) with a thatched roof - no electricity or running water. The clinic ended at dusk because the medical personnel could no longer see to examine patients and fill prescriptions.  I mostly observed and got to see how PEPFAR  money is providing medical care and drugs to people in remote rural areas who would die without it.  The nurse practioner from Mwandi who goes on these weekly outreach trips into the bush told me that these clinics would not be possible without money from PEPFAR.

I also learned that Kandiana, the “old folks home” at Mwandi Mission, receives $600 a month from the Zambian government - money that is available because of debt relief. These funds also provide students at Mwandi Mission’s school with free examination books.

One afternoon we also spread the message of ONE at a bible school we conducted for area children.  We presented the message in the context of Jesus as the good shepherd and that we are all a part of His flock, that we are all ONE big family. We sang “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands” and banded all the kids and adults with white ONE bands.

It is a trip I have been needing to take for a long time.  I really can’t adequately put into words how powerful the experience was.

If I ever in the past for just one second thought advocacy was useless, I can never have that thought again.

If you want to read the daily blog written by Rev. Susan Clayton who lead our trip, go to www.ipc-usa.org.  There are about 7 brief entries with pictures. I haven’t read them all myself and am looking forward to doing just that and to reflecting on our trip.

The only place I have really heard much about leprosy is in the Bible.  I have never seen a picture of a leper.  I have only imagined it through descriptions in stories.  I knew that leprosy still affected people today, but I did not know that leper colonies still existed.

One of my favorite things on the BBC is their Life In Pictures.  This one shows pictures of a leper colony and tells the story of  the people who live there.  Sometimes Africa seems like it is in a different century.  There are beautiful traditions, untouched land, and diseases that we have long had under control in the US.  These pictures are not as sad as it sounds.  In places of great difficulty there are great triumphs.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts on this pictorial.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/08/africa_life_in_a_sudanese_leper_colony/html/1.stm

This is one of those stories that really makes my gut turn; because, it feels like a no win situation.  The basics of the story is that multiple people died in a mudslide at an illegal goldmine.  The government had asked that all illegal goldmines shut down because of the current rain situation.  Well if you are already operating illegally you do not have much of a reason to listen to the government.  So, the mine did not shut down and their was a massive mudslide.

At first I felt guilty for owning gold.  Knowing that these people work in horrible conditions basically like slave labor.  But, then these people might have no opportunities if it weren’t for these illegal mines.  If people had choices these place would not exist.  It is such a struggle to know what your response should be to such desperate situations.  It feels like their are know easy right answers.

Here is the link.  It is a short story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7552033.stm

And so might the 86 wives it takes to bear those 170 children.  I could not resist sharing this article titled “Nigerian Advises Against 86 Wives”.  It costs over $900 a day just to feed all of them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7547148.stm

Update on the Blanket Drive

Our blanket drive this year was a great success.  Today I am sending the a check that brings our total is $1000.  Thank you so much for your support.  Our next fundraiser will be the Auction for Africa.  This is our biggest fundraiser of the year.  I am very excited because this year we are having it B&A Warehouse.  WE ARE LOOKING FOR CORPORATE SPONSORS.  And, for those of you who came last year we are asking you to bring someone with you this year.  Our goal is to have 100 attendees.  Last year we had about 65.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in sponsoring the auction please let me know at jennifer@setheartsfree.com.  We are trying to raise at least $1000 in corporate sponsorship.

Remember to watch the Olympics. Team Darfur is competing this year which is very controversial considering China’s role in Sudan.  This is going be interesting to see how China’s government responds to them.  China has already denied the team founder (Joey Cheek, US Winter Olympian) entrance into the country.

So have you seen the movie Hotel Rwanda?  If you have not it is about the genocide in Rwanda.  The Hutu tribe attacked the Tutsis tribe.  What is funny is that they are not real tribes at all.  The people of Rwanda were divided into two groups during colonization.  This all happened in 1994.  Until a year of so ago I thought that it was something in the past.  It is true that Rwanda is rebuilding and not experiencing violence, but the Hutu violence is not over.  It has just moved.  Moved?  It has moved to the jungles of DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo).  The DRC is one of the most unstable African countries.  And, it looks like things are gearing up more.  Here is an article from the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7537624.stm

Lesotho

My first update is that Ladell Patterson is in Lesotho.  We haven’t heard much from him because internet access has been difficult to find.  But, when he gets back I will share stories with you.  One good thing is that he has been able to buy blankets for the orphans and the big grocery store in Maseru is planning on giving the project its damaged goods.  Some weeks the store has lots of damaged goods and other weeks not much, but free food anytime will greatly help the project.  This relationship also give the project that much more credibility which is very exciting!

One.org

Ever heard of One.org?  Well if you haven’t let me share with you.  One is an organization formed to give all groups working to fight poverty one voice.  I love the concept of bridging the gap between religious and non religious groups.  They also give all Americans one voice by offering a pledge for you to sign.  They use all of these signatures to work on legislation and let politicians know that their constituents care about those in poverty all over the world.  I signed the pledge a couple of years ago.  Here is a link so that you can sign the pledge or read more  www.one.org.

Last week, I met with the local volunteer coordinator for One.  It was great to network.  She is also the regional volunteer coordinator for Bread.  She gave me a lot of great information, and I will be helping her with a One table at Freshman Orientation for Univ of Montevallo in August.

Want to be a Billionare? 

Sounds very appealing doesn’t it.  Well for $1 US you can have 256 billion Zimbabwe dollars.  Can you imagine? Oh, before you think that is a wallet full you have to know that they have a 100 billion dollar bill.  Does it sound like Monopoly?  Well that is almost what their world is like.  Below is a good article on the economy and how people are dealing with it.

There have been some good things happen in Zimbabwe.  The current government and the opposition party are talking.  Their is hope they can come up with some kind of deal that will offer stability to the country.  We will just have to see.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7528974.stm

       There is a little girl in Lesotho that stole my heart.  Well, she actually stole everyone’s heart.  Her name is Tspehle.  She is a beautiful 6 year old with huge eyes and a cuddly sassy personality.  She would come see us every day.  It was so funny to see her in a dress slide under the chain link fence and come running.  She spoke no English, but she loved and played.  We have lots of very precious pictures of her, and we all think of her often.  She is not an orphan.  Her grandfather is actually a preacher that we work with.  She is one of the reasons my heart aches to go back.

Updates from Africa

There is some better news from Sudan.  This week the ICC (International Criminal Court) is now reviewing information for an indictment of the president of Sudan for his role in crimes against humanity in Darfur.  It will probably take 2 to 3 months for a decision to be made about the indictment, but it is a positive step.  And, the main reason the prosecutor was able to get the case this far was the new ruling that rape is a war crime.  It is said that the displaced Darfuris cheered when they heard about this news.  The government in Khartoum is not so excited and saying the charges are ridiculous.  President Bashir has not even made a comment.

Also, things in Zimbabwe are still deteriorating.  The inflation is now 2,200,00%.  The G8 met last week and other African countries are meeting to try to come up with a solution for the people.  A lot of people are calling for sanctions against the leader Mugabi.