tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84314704908642525772024-03-13T10:04:19.495-07:00BEGIN: Launching People UpwardA stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-32237683765724679882015-12-11T22:16:00.000-08:002015-12-11T22:16:00.886-08:00Reflections<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days ago, I stopped at a local sporting goods store
because we were already in need of new gloves for the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems even without the amount of snow
and cold we normally have, a mitten had mysteriously gone missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pulled into the lot and waited in the car for just a bit
because, after dropping off my children at school, I had arrived a few minutes
before the store was scheduled to open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I sat and patiently listened to the radio, I noticed a turkey just
outside the entrance of the store, and it was acting in a peculiar fashion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He (I assumed it was a tom but honestly don’t know that much
about turkeys) was walking— no, actually strutting –back and forth in front of
the glass entrance doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every once in
awhile he would fan his tail feathers out to advertise fantastic plumage and
then jump at the door, with an extra hop and skip thrown in for good measure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought he was a crazy bird—why on earth would he spend
his time in front of a store?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weren’t
there many other important turkey things he could be doing?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The time of the store opening approached, so I did too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walked up to the front doors, I could
see both his and my reflection in the glass door that now slid open as I got
closer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered for a minute if he
was going to be chased indoors with my presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He graciously moved out of the way, having no interest in the hunting and
fishing equipment just inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
dawned on me that, when he saw himself in the reflection I had spied from my
new perspective just before I entered, he thought his likeness was that of
another male bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being the tom he was,
he was ready to fight this perceived competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found the gloves I needed, wishing that instead of just
being waterproof they could be drop-proof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the register while I paid, I mentioned the turkey to the store clerk,
saying it surprised me he did not get chased in as the door opened for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She assured me that never happened
and went on to say that he is out there about the same time every morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driving away, I wondered about my reflection and
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often do I see myself
reflected in other people around me, and how often am I ready to fight that
reflection?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may not be fighting in a
physical way, but definitely in a mental or emotional sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often, day after day, do I have the same
disagreements with others about issues that I’ve projected onto them—the
reflection of my own inner struggles played out with them, and they with
me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Yoga is a practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Energy work is a practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
only hope that I continue practicing a new angle, a new perspective from which
to see my relationships because I’m not so sure the other person(s) needs to be
involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might just be jumping and
ruffling up my tail feathers at my own reflection—at myself.<o:p></o:p></div>
A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-60140516266636174622014-10-13T14:19:00.001-07:002014-10-13T14:19:46.610-07:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Natural Health Fair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Presented by BEGIN<o:p></o:p></div>
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70 E. County Rd. B, Saint
Paul, MN 55117<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Program Schedule -- Saturday,
October 18, 2014<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
10:00 – 10:30<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Practitioner/Vendor Exhibits Open–
Receive Various Therapies<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
10:30 – 11:15<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1<sup>st</sup> Breakout
Session or Receive Various Therapies<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paul Ratte</b> - Beyond Nutritionism<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kamala Stalboerger</b> – Transformative Power of Yoga </div>
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& Energy Work<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Holistic Gateway & Shen Men</b> –
Colorpuncture and <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Esogetic
Procedures <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Mary
Rutherford</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> - </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Soul Retrieval, what the process entails,
who needs one and why<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Hart
& Soul</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> - Cleansing
Chakras with Aromatherapy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ariel
Hansen </span></b>– NadaChair back support system<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
11:15 – 11:30<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Practitioner/Vendor Exhibits Open– Receive
Various Therapies<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
11:30 – 12:30<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2<sup>nd</sup> Breakout
Session or Receive Various Therapies<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Laura Sanden</b> – Herbal First Aid<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dr. Brad Montagne</b> - <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lyme
Disease - Overcoming The Diagnostic Dilemma & Proving The Right Treatment
Before You Begin</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy</b> - <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Homeopathy for Flu and other
seasonal illnesses</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Health Centered Dentistry</b> - <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whole Person Dentistry: An Introduction to
Holistic Dentistry</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Enlightened Wellness</b> – Can Reiki
Healing Therapy Help Me? &<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
Rolfing Therapy?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
12:30 – 1:00<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Practitioner/Vendor Exhibits Open–
Receive Various Therapies<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1:00 – 3:00 <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Keynote
Speaker – Katina Makris, Lyme Disease: The </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Epidemic of Our Time<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
3:00 – 3:15<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Practitioner/Vendor Exhibits
Open– Receive Various Therapies<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
3:15 – 4:00<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3<sup>rd</sup> Breakout Session or Receive Various
Therapies<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paula Quinlan</b> - <span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lyme Disease...A Spiritual
Journey</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Laura Sanden</b> – <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Herbal Aphrodisiacs </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paul Ratte</b> – Beyond Nutritionism<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Angela England</b> – Young Living Oils
& Massage Therapy<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Laura Whitley</b> - <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Benefits of Homebirth to Mom and Baby<o:p></o:p></span></div>
A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-60768641338198742942014-10-10T10:19:00.001-07:002014-10-10T10:19:28.262-07:00Natural Health Fair coming up soon!Join Begin for a Natural Health Fair on Saturday, October 18th from 10-4pm held at Minnesota Waldorf School 70 E. County Rd. B, Saint Paul, MN 55117. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRlf8pCFiUkJi7kL307pkfja6E4bWImHVvFBMXCohWKJ_e44MgIilgxzrNTJZAXyA5kT8vXCqi44dF9YrMptAnXjg2LQLUzfkFxjCkK2Z2CyE8LiZ7igOhK4w1jcswk5x6Og7gzRhbq0e/s1600/NaturalHealthFair+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRlf8pCFiUkJi7kL307pkfja6E4bWImHVvFBMXCohWKJ_e44MgIilgxzrNTJZAXyA5kT8vXCqi44dF9YrMptAnXjg2LQLUzfkFxjCkK2Z2CyE8LiZ7igOhK4w1jcswk5x6Og7gzRhbq0e/s1600/NaturalHealthFair+(1).jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
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Keynote speaker will be Katina Makris, trained Classical Homeopath, Certified Intuitive Healer, and author of "Out of the Woods: Healing From Lyme Disease - Mind, Body, and Spirit". Ms. Makris will be presenting her inspirational talk at 1pm about Lyme prevention, diagnostics, and hope in recovering from this epidemic disease.<br />
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There will also be approximately 20 more natural health care practitioners on hand throughout the day to provide complementary healing sessions and seminars that are both educational and useful. Stay tuned for a program schedule!A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-64737104735960622892014-06-24T10:46:00.001-07:002014-06-24T10:46:33.640-07:00Ohana Means Family: Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">The first day I met Pops, my two girls, ages 13 and 7, and I
were walking from our hotel in the city to a restaurant nearby. He was at
the corner of Robinson and Main St with his paper cup, the kind you'd get a Coke
in from a fountain dispenser at the Zoo or hotdog stand something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind of cup that fountain soda is
dispensed into- sturdy and kind of waxy. We dug in my purse for some
change and left him with approximately a dollar worth of pennies, nickels, and
dimes. I only had 20s for bills and didn't want to part with those.
I felt awkward though. He most likely could see the green bills that were
shoved in my purse haphazardly, and notice that I wasn’t reaching for
those.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">He was standing right next to us, and I could smell the smoke on
him. I wasn't sure if it was stale cigarette smoke I smelled or if it was
from a cigar. He was about six inches shorter than me with dark,
chocolate colored skin, a knee brace on his thin right leg, a worn looking wood
cane in his right hand, and he wore a baseball cap. I don't recall if
there was a team logo on it, but it was well worn and a mixture of blue and
white. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">I dropped the change in his cup and we crossed Robinson before
the thought occurred that we were going to eat- perhaps he'd like join us.
I asked the girls, who immediately agree, and I quickly scurried back
across Robinson. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"We're on our way to have breakfast," I explained.
"Would you like to join us?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Oh," he said hesitantly. The image came to mind
of how it would look to the staff at a fine dining establishment if I showed
up, a white middle aged woman with two young girls who were clean and well
dressed, with Pops, a beggar who may or may not be homeless but was certainly
recognizable to everyone in the downtown area as a regular on the street
corners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"I got a sandwich in here for my lunch," he said as he
motioned to the plastic bag he carried in the same hand as his cane. I
nodded, not certain if I should say more and point out that he could have his
sandwich later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">I told him I'd see him later and hurried to catch up with the
girls who were still waiting for me across the street. I told them he
declined, and we continued to the restaurant on the corner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">I was thinking about him though, the entire time we were there.
As I added cream to my chai tea for richness, I wondered when was the
last time he had the luxury of adding cream in his coffee. Would he think
that a luxury? Was he really doing all right and just scamming by begging, when
in reality he had everything he needed? On the other hand, did he sleep
outside at night?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My imagination went
wild pondering homelessness in our 'rich' country and how the people who pass
them by on a daily basis, myself included, don't seem to notice. Or we
notice and give a few bucks. Does that assuage our guilt? Have we
then done all we could do? I can't take care of every person I see on
streets corners can I? Who is responsible for these people and this
situation and what can be done about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">The second day we came across Pops is actually the day I learned
his name and introduced the girls and myself. He smiled and told me that
Kamala was an interesting name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"It's Indian," I answered, "it means lotus
blossom or the opening heart."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"What tribe are you from?" was his reply with a smile
on his face. After telling him I wasn't part of a tribe, he asked me what
color his eyes were. I told him they we dark, but I was having a hard
time seeing them. They were bright and clear and seemed to be reflecting
the light of everything around us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Blue," he said, "they're blue. I'm
fritz-creole. My daddy was from Louisiana.
My great-great-great grandmother was Caucasian. I have apache
blood and I'm also African American." I laughed and told him that
was an interesting mixture, that he IS the great American melting pot. He
chuckled and said he was a mutt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">I invited him to come with us for ice cream, but he again
declined, saying that he was working on getting a sandwich. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">As I opened my purse today, I noticed the sparse amount of
change in his cup and gave him some bills to get his lunch. I felt easier
about giving- more than I had yesterday. There was a familiarity that I
felt now that I hadn't before, yet what did I really know? The personal interaction
we'd shared wasn't of much depth, at least anything tangible. I didn't
know much more about him now than I had the day before. The familiarity
might have just been from seeing him, interacting with him, previously- about
asking him to join us yesterday, which in itself open the door to knowing more
about one another on a deeper level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">I had a desire to know more about him and his life, how he
lived, what was wrong with the world and our society (according to my
standards) that resulted in some people being left behind. I mean,
what about the American dream? What about 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit
of Happiness'? Is that story just a myth? Does the fairy tale only
come true for some people? What does it take to have the 'American Dream'?
To keep it? What is it like from the perspective of the haves vs.
the have nots and vice versa? Is the American dream still what it used to
be? The manifest destiny has been to conquer, expand, and have more-- to
have a house and a yard, a pet, a family, the ability to buy a car or two...the
ability to buy. That's what it is. The American dream is all about
ones ability to buy desirable things. Isn't that what the emphasis of
life is? The newest technology or you're left behind, gadgets and gizmos
for the house and yard- the list never ends. Does the American dream have
more to do with 'stuff' than it does with personal contact or how we treat
people? In what ways are we, as consumers, directed to act toward one
another?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Competitors or allies?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After asking what
was wrong with his knee, why he wore that brace, he told me he needs a surgery.
He's putting it off though, he explained, on account that he just wasn't
ready to do it yet. He assured me he could, at any time, go into any of the
local hospitals and they'd take care of him. I'm not so sure I believed
that, but I didn't press him any further on what exactly his ailment was.
Again, my mind crept into the territory of cynicism. Was he wearing
a brace to elicit sympathy from passersby? Was it part of the beggars ‘costume’
if you will, appearing woefully in need? I'd never know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">Next, he asked me how old I thought he was. Dang.
There's nothing I'm worse at than guessing a persons age. You know
what I mean, right? The fear. Not wanting to guess too high and
insult someone, nor too low and appear foolish. Two ages came to mind as
I gazed at his moderately wrinkled face and the whitening bits of his short
curly-haired beard, 56 and 63. I erred on the low side. Of course,
he accused me of calling him an old man to give me a hard time first and then
shared that he is 73. Truly surprised, I told him he looks much too spry
to be that old. As he laughed again, I took in the merriment and ease he
seemed to have about life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once more, I wondered
about his life and the source of what sustains his joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">He told us to have a good time and thanked me for the money.
Told me he was truly blessed to run into us again. I know we were
just as fortunate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The more I thought about him over the course of that day and
evening, the more I wanted to know. He must have stories of his life that
are fascinating, whatever his living situation. Even if there wasn't </span><span style="font-size: 17px;">anything</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> I can do to change the situation of his life or the hundreds thousands of others like him in the U.S., I could listen to stories of his life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">Third consecutive day and just my little one and I were walking
downtown. When he saw us, he broke into a grin, his dark skin a stark
contrast to his white smile, which had a few spaces in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approached, I could hear him softly
saying, "I know you. I know you." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Hey there, Pops," I said, "how're you doing
today?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Oh, I'm ok. Strugglin, though. I had lunch
earlier, but I'm looking for something later on this evening."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I opened my
purse, I mentioned how a man like him must have quite a few stories about life
to share. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Oh, I got one or two," with a smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Could we get a cup of coffee? I'd sure love to hear
one."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">"Aw, baby girl, I tell you what. Next time I see
y'all we'll sit down and I'll tell a story. Right now I've got to keep
moving, but next time I promise you," and he gave me his hand to shake on
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.0pt;">The image of baby kitties came to mind.
I grew up on a farm and there were often litters of kittens in at least
one corner of the hay loft. We weren't able to get too close to them
right off. They took some time to warm up to us, hissin' and spittin' if
we moved faster than they were comfortable with us. Perhaps this is what
a relationship with Pops would be like. I can see finding out about him
taking a while- probably with less hissin’ though.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-28032783961743889002014-01-05T13:14:00.000-08:002014-01-05T13:14:12.727-08:00Coming to Terms With My Validity as a Unique Individual at the Aquarium<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently I took my children to Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium
at the Mall of America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we walked
through, touching starfish and sea anemones, watching sharks get fed, I noted
the difference in each animal’s ability or approach to aquatic life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rays, gosh, they just glide through the
water with barely a flick of their fins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s weird to even call them fins because they don’t look like what I
think of as fins, I mean, sharks – now they have fins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or sunfish that I take off fishing lines in
the summer, those are fins – I’ve felt the business side of them before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But rays are so smooth and their fins are
shaped differently than any other sea creature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They're just, rays, I guess, but they aren’t what I’d call typical fins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even watching them eat was different from the
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could sort of trap food
between themselves and the glass of the tunnel we were in and, without fingers
or arms or even moving their mouths to the food, they were able to wiggle
around and quick as a wink, scarf up their squid delicacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRD39C8auafEvpIhMbm7uvp2B3GgDCHiemN8OH2zSnyAdEAn-QzMBHs_5BRl1SPHGhzkWINg_ZENK5Sj2_AHGdpeg2GNXxShDlBoSwb5VQoNhmGq0cwLysPBF7kuYYPX2oZChOQSUZjsG/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRD39C8auafEvpIhMbm7uvp2B3GgDCHiemN8OH2zSnyAdEAn-QzMBHs_5BRl1SPHGhzkWINg_ZENK5Sj2_AHGdpeg2GNXxShDlBoSwb5VQoNhmGq0cwLysPBF7kuYYPX2oZChOQSUZjsG/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the girls was watching the sawfish trying to beat out
a turtle, maneuvering in some pretty tight corners, and she commented that it
must be difficult to learn to get around with that nose. It’s so huge, she thought, it must bump into
things a lot at first, learning to exist. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSFfIs5KlTGvy-8O_qio_Qwto6N9-6ve1iUQxcHV_6Sm64_yZpZD-3nMmdchvIxrS0VYJwD2V2juKdGXouZqfShDi4o-jaXIm_A2Gt7Sp-YqBfAaHzQchMwdxOi1ub33_D0sLKfYH1Juo/s1600/Green-Sawfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSFfIs5KlTGvy-8O_qio_Qwto6N9-6ve1iUQxcHV_6Sm64_yZpZD-3nMmdchvIxrS0VYJwD2V2juKdGXouZqfShDi4o-jaXIm_A2Gt7Sp-YqBfAaHzQchMwdxOi1ub33_D0sLKfYH1Juo/s320/Green-Sawfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I wondered about
that. Maybe it’s like going from driving
a Honda Civic to driving a station wagon or a Suburban. That takes some getting used to, but if
that’s how sawfish are when they are young, do you think they have to learn to be
how they are? Wouldn’t they just
BE? Similar to, does a fish realize that
it’s in water? Or does that realization
only happen once they are out of water?
What is so close, what is reality for so long, is not thought of by the
person or fish as odd or weird, is it?
Not until it’s compared to others? Until they see a difference. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m saying water to a fish is like my thought patterns to myself. It’s hard to gain perspective when they are
so close to me. It’s not until I learn
from other people what their thought processes/behaviors are that I’m able to see mine as
being uniquely my own. It's in that moment that I am given the chance to accept who I am in the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After our wandering through the ocean tunnel of this underwater
world was coming to a close, I again looked at the differences of these
creatures that all live their life in water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Similar yet different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
contemplated whether or not there was rivalry in the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if there was competition, cliques in sea
life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eels lamenting over how long
they are compared to the turtles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
interesting fish with the bump on their forehead- are they ever self-conscious
about it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if, after being told that bump-free foreheads are desirable, they were offered a
no-bump cream to remove the unsightly lump, would they take it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If eels could be rid of that creepy green
wrinkled skin, would they change how they look?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps becoming more vibrant colors like, say, a clown fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the sea turtles are snobby and look
down on the mere painted turtles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is
there a possibility of marine bullying?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQaSESHFtDF3aFcCHubcAnX3z0PQ5vbv2tBy8LqfETzfwIOa3Q9sLZFlkVUPs70gyEZFoUrt21aptragpsXkkJqiiyZWSjzCydze44147TFiJTgAYEVKGUVA1roMwKarlDGwD_QOHBnCT/s1600/th_f4f66ea57ea6e0f4e5eab529732d2069_Sea-Life-tunnel-w-fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQaSESHFtDF3aFcCHubcAnX3z0PQ5vbv2tBy8LqfETzfwIOa3Q9sLZFlkVUPs70gyEZFoUrt21aptragpsXkkJqiiyZWSjzCydze44147TFiJTgAYEVKGUVA1roMwKarlDGwD_QOHBnCT/s320/th_f4f66ea57ea6e0f4e5eab529732d2069_Sea-Life-tunnel-w-fish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Entertaining these thoughts and how ridiculous it seems for
these trivial matters to plague the animal kingdom, I’m curious how it happens
so easily for humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To feel inferior
because of someone else’s more shapely or lean body, financial situation,
occupation, sexual orientation, or the kind of car they drive seems a little
foolish with this awareness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wouldn’t
it be nice if all beings would be secure in the knowledge that our life is
valid and perfect no matter where it lands on the line of continuum?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, no matter how I live my life and the
choices I make, there is no need to justify my existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That I don’t need recognition from anyone
else to validate my right to be alive and exist as an individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That by having been created- being here, in
this space, at this time- is all the substantiation that has ever been
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That ever will be needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no longer negotiable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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What would the world look like if I were able to see others
as different and not feel threatened by that difference but embrace it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding that “them” being who they are
makes me who I am?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Ahhh…the ability to embrace such beauty. Such perfection.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-14218498080175263202013-11-27T13:49:00.003-08:002013-11-27T14:35:18.171-08:00Holiday sewing machine update<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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With the donations that I’ve
received so far, we’ve been able to purchase two new machines for Umuregwa, or
Mama Joyce, as she’s known in the market. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Rad2X1lL8yxa4Y_uj4g_auIIPsvczbbT3cNHTjBnwtT61Wc0Q2927s108n7-9DkArGofcparAfEIjpLejFd12Ohk8kGuT_RPLTmsEtUwrAGVyy8OA4OrgcW3IXn7HXKTGvc0XcbzZrAV/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Rad2X1lL8yxa4Y_uj4g_auIIPsvczbbT3cNHTjBnwtT61Wc0Q2927s108n7-9DkArGofcparAfEIjpLejFd12Ohk8kGuT_RPLTmsEtUwrAGVyy8OA4OrgcW3IXn7HXKTGvc0XcbzZrAV/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
My professor from the 2012 trip abroad recently returned to Rwanda and was
kind enough to bring the money recently raised with her.
She gave it to our tour guide, Yván, and he visited Musanze and Mama Joyce on
November 16<sup>th</sup>. I appreciate beyond words how helpful and
trustworthy Yván is because I’ve not received such a complete update on what
has been happening there for her in a while.
Communication is difficult being such a distance apart, speaking
different languages. Here’s what he had
to report.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Last spring Mama Joyce’s daughter
was sick and in the hospital for two months, which kept her from the market. The cooperative that was started soon after I
was in Rwanda fell apart and the second woman I bought the machine for, who was
her partner, went back to working in the market place independently. It sounds like it was a stressful and
disappointing time for these women. Mama
Joyce told Yván that she didn’t trust other women in the market place because
they had been on their own so long, it is hard for them to comprehend working
collectively. She told my trusted tour
guide that what she would like to do is bring in women with no experience with
sewing to avoid these problems in the future. Going forward, Mama Joyce will be training new partners to sew and they will grow together –
being more loyal to their cooperative because it’s where they gotten their
start. After buying two more machines together,
Yván left her in charge of finding the women and implementing the cooperative. He is planning monthly visits to keep abreast
of what is happening and will then be in contact with me about their
progress. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I feel confident that with this new
start, their cooperative is going to take off.
Interaction between here and there will be easier now that Yván is
involved again as a translator. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAy90x4yiZX-DFwE7K-KWOMIvOJrUUem6QJnLBcaDg7mtrWkIoHQHAN5aqCG9IpNJa4_y7ER7IzHc2lb_MwKKnRgOOKVbVq3wijieaia4gd-vZAj-K1ntrJLyTGmr6EVhX-YUnlRToe5Z/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAy90x4yiZX-DFwE7K-KWOMIvOJrUUem6QJnLBcaDg7mtrWkIoHQHAN5aqCG9IpNJa4_y7ER7IzHc2lb_MwKKnRgOOKVbVq3wijieaia4gd-vZAj-K1ntrJLyTGmr6EVhX-YUnlRToe5Z/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Thank you to everyone
who donated thus far. Tell your friends
about this endeavor and have a blessed Thanksgiving and Hanukkah week.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<!--EndFragment-->A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-62156770893858054122013-11-17T20:08:00.003-08:002013-11-17T20:08:58.132-08:00Helping vs. Being in ServiceRecently I came across this article, which talks about the difference between helping and being in service of life. I thought I'd share it. Tell me what you think.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In the Service of Life<br />
<br />
by Rachel Naomi Remen<br />
<br />
In recent years the question how can I help? has become meaningful to many people. But perhaps there is a deeper question we might consider. Perhaps the real question is not how can I help? but how can I serve?<br />
<br />
Serving is different from helping. Helping is based on inequality; it is not a relationship between equals. When you help, you use your own strength to help those of lesser strength. If I'm attentive to what's going on inside of me when I'm helping, I find that I'm always helping someone who's not as strong as I am, who is needier than I am. People feel this inequality. When we help we may inadvertently take away from people more than we could ever give them; we may diminish their self-esteem, their sense of worth, integrity and wholeness. When I help, I am very aware of my own strength. But we don't serve with our strength, we serve with ourselves. We draw from all of our experiences. Our limitations serve, our wounds serve, even our darkness can serve. The wholeness in us serves the wholeness in others and the wholeness in life. The wholeness in you is the same as the wholeness in me. Service is a relationship between equals.<br />
<br />
Helping incurs debt. When you help someone, they owe you one. But serving, like healing, is mutual. There is no debt. I am as served as the person I am serving. When I help, I have a feeling of satisfaction. When I serve, I have a feeling of gratitude. These are very different things.<br />
<br />
Serving is also different from fixing. When I fix a person, I perceive them as broken, and their brokenness requires me to act. When I fix, I do not see the wholeness in the other person or trust the integrity of the life in them. When I serve, I see and trust that wholeness. It is what I am responding to and collaborating with. <br />
<br />
There is distance between ourselves and whatever or whomever we are fixing. Fixing is a form of judgement. All judgement creates distance, a disconnection, and experience of difference. In fixing there is an inequality of expertise that can easily become a moral distance. We cannot serve at a distance. We can only serve that to which we are profoundly connected, that which we are willing to touch. This is Mother Teresa's basic message. We serve life not because it is broken but because it is holy. <br />
<br />
If helping is an experience of strength, fixing is an experience of mastery and expertise. Service, on the other hand, is an experience of mystery, surrender and awe. A fixer has the illusion of being causal. A server knows that he or she is being used and has a willingness to be used in the service of something greater, something essentially unknown. Fixing and helping are very personal; they are very particular, concrete and specific. We fix and help many different things in our lifetimes, but when we serve we are always serving the same things. Everyone who has ever served through the history of time serves the same thing. We are servers of the wholeness and mystery in life. <br />
<br />
The bottom line, of course, is that we can fix without serving. And we can help without serving. And we can serve without fixing or helping. I think I would go so far as to say that fixing and helping may often be the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul. They may look similar if you're watching from the outside, but the inner experience if different. The outcome is often different, too.<br />
<br />
Our service serves us as well as others. That which uses us strengthens us. Over time, fixing and helping are draining, depleting. Over time we burn out. Service is renewing. When we serve, our work itself will sustain us. <br />
<br />
Service rests on the basic premise that the nature of life is sacred, that life is a holy mystery which has an unknown purpose. When we serve, we know that we belong to life and to that purpose. Fundamentally, helping, fixing and service are ways of seeing life. When you help, you see life as weak, when you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life as whole. From the perspective of service, we are all connected: All suffering is like my suffering and all joy is like my joy. The impulse to serve emerges naturally and inevitably from this way of seeing. <br />
<br />
Lastly, fixing and helping are the basis of curing, but not of healing. In 40 years of chronic illness, I have been helped by many people and fixed by a great many others who did not recognize my wholeness. All that fixing and helping left me wounded in some important and fundamental ways. Only service heals.<br />
<br />
Reprinted from Noetic Sciences Review, Spring 1996<br />
<br />A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-80212606414187438612013-10-26T11:10:00.001-07:002013-10-26T11:30:43.839-07:00Launching: Sewing Machines for Christmas<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt98l7NZZWJR-pNJJ4jeS_xq2KOZubrW0x-60SWM7tnXsCv5BTvUjpR1z14Ps9e5XBVPuIfKIzZ2I9Dwt6tJAF7L6F-0gFvYWpfnq1jseKkPkZ-zi-IGyoz-djWIH_85lq0g2xZuXET3XW/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt98l7NZZWJR-pNJJ4jeS_xq2KOZubrW0x-60SWM7tnXsCv5BTvUjpR1z14Ps9e5XBVPuIfKIzZ2I9Dwt6tJAF7L6F-0gFvYWpfnq1jseKkPkZ-zi-IGyoz-djWIH_85lq0g2xZuXET3XW/s320/IMG_1271.JPG" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The last time I spoke with Umuregwa, the first woman I bought a sewing
machine for in Rwanda, the number of women she organized in her sewing
association numbered ten. Of those ten women, only two of them owned
their machines, while the other eight are still renting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The reason I purchased the machines for two women, if you recall,
is that rent for a sewing machine costs the equivalent of 33 USD per
month, which is 66% of her gross income.
It doesn’t take a math genius to figure out most of what she is working
for goes to paying for her machine and that in approximately four months she
could buy a machine with what she pays in rent— if she were able to get
ahead. This is money that she could be
using to buy food and clothes for her children each month, or money she could
be using to reinvest in her community, making it a better place to live. By building a park, for example. Or maybe a kindergarten. Or maybe medicine for her sick child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">My goal is to raise funds for purchasing eight sewing machines for the
women who are still renting them, by December 25<sup>th</sup>, 2013. Wouldn’t it be a nice to make a significant
difference in someone’s life that won’t cost you more than a night out at a
movie or a cup of coffee? Now, I’m not
suggesting you go without the pleasure of a buttery-popcorn-candy-filled night
watching your favorite flick or a daily cup of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">pumpkin-spice-doughnut-flavored
caffeinated deliciousness</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">. Consider
matching what you spend on an indulgence to feel the gratification of doing
something more-- be something more.
Right now. Today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Make a donation in any amount as you appreciate the abundance in your
life and then share it with others. By
empowering these women with more financial influence, I believe they will become
a more commanding voice in their communities.
More money means more choices.
More money means economic stability and independence for Rwandan women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">This holiday season, when your families are deciding to which charity to
donate, please consider giving the gift of a sewing machine to a woman
Musanze, Rwanda. Do a little
more. Be a little more. Begin today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-51614327114586392202013-03-12T07:28:00.002-07:002013-03-12T07:28:42.379-07:00"Sewing a Hopeful Future for Rwanda"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmhTuPIxqodFdVUU5a8Kw1sgt-Mp81_BU1fHF5NWgC0DttpfvbuD2TfFCbr4CKIJInOb-4pI4H5h5Ok8GbSL-EVW6fGtRTgCELJOUas3IBA9yMcVQFVAP4sNlCxyFgILf_cIx-GmwXqRb/s1600/rwanda-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmhTuPIxqodFdVUU5a8Kw1sgt-Mp81_BU1fHF5NWgC0DttpfvbuD2TfFCbr4CKIJInOb-4pI4H5h5Ok8GbSL-EVW6fGtRTgCELJOUas3IBA9yMcVQFVAP4sNlCxyFgILf_cIx-GmwXqRb/s320/rwanda-main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Follow this link to read about an article by Hamline University, Saint Paul, MN and the study abroad trip that inspired Begin..<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.hamline.edu/HUNewsDetail.aspx?id=4294985860">http://www.hamline.edu/HUNewsDetail.aspx?id=4294985860</a></div>
A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431470490864252577.post-83338521409106867932013-01-23T09:04:00.000-08:002013-01-23T09:04:16.598-08:00Be the Change...<br />
<center style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/06/08/2303.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: initial;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/06/08/s_2303.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 5px; position: relative;" width="281" /></a></center>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">During the last few days in Musanze, I spent a considerable amount of time at a local market because I was with fellow students who were shopping for fabric and having African shirts, dresses, and skirts made. I took advantage of the opportunity to ask the seamstress about her life. Yvan, our tour guide, translated for me. I found out that this woman, whose name is Umuregwa, has two children ages 2 months and 3 years. Her 2 month old, a sweet baby girl named Joyce, was sleeping behind her machine on the platform where fabrics are displayed. Joyce woke up while we were talking, Umuregwa nursed her and then another woman, who sold the fabric at this particular stall, carried Joyce on her back as Umuregwa went back to sewing. I learned the women at the market help each other and take care of each other's children, but are only friends, not relatives of any kind. Umuregwa went on to tell me that she makes 30,000 RWF (Rwandan francs) or about 50 USD per month, and from that she pays 20,000 RWF or 33 USD in rent for her sewing machine. Her husband is unemployed and working odd jobs since he was demobilized from the military two years ago. Her income supports the majority of her family's basic needs and definitely doesn't allow for anything extra. They net only $17 a month. I was astounded to learn that the cost to purchase her own machine would be about 70,000 RWF or 115 USD. Cripes. I spend approximately that much on my cell phone bill each month. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Yvan introduced to her the idea of starting a cooperative in the market, telling her that, if women owned their own machines and had more money, they could reinvest some of it in their community to benefit their children - for example building a kindergarten or green space for kids to play soccer. Yvan's tour company focuses on community based tourism, working to establish associations and co-ops in order to bring visitors to see what local groups of people are doing. In this way, tourists are able to learn about local culture and purchase products directly from the people who make them, providing a personal connection related to product consumption. How often do you know who makes the products you buy? Usually as consumers we are so far removed from the source of the product it takes a herculean effort to find out where it came from, who made it, and what that person's life is like. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I was bubbling with the idea of somehow helping these women by raising the funds to help them buy their machines, while Yvan could help them begin to understand what a co-op could do for them. Then it hit me. What if I could start right now?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Yvan took me to a local bank with an ATM, but we weren't sure that an international card would work - the availability of the international credit card network is still pretty new here. Guidebooks still say that it's not possible. I withdrew the amount I needed and we brought it back to her. Her response was priceless. After hugging me and crying and telling me she would never be able to find the words to thank me, she said she wanted to bring her three year old to meet me at the hotel before we leave Musanze. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">As I was going to sleep last night, I realized that I could buy one more machine before we left town. I had received a grant from the anthropology department at Hamline to do an independent study on surviving violence in Rwanda, but Professor Hoffman told me if it doesn't work out for some reason, to donate the money to a group or organization as I saw fit. After eating an early breakfast, I set out for the ATM again and was able to pass along the money to Umuregwa when I saw her this morning for another woman that we had talked with, so she could also buy her own machine with the Hamline funds. I feel like there were so many factors to how this worked out - the support of my professors, the shopping by students, the interpretation and ideas by Yvan, my desire to 'do' something, Umuregwa's willingness to converse with us, and even the timeliness of international banking options. The timing was perfect. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Mothers help mothers. It's what we do. It doesn't matter where or who we are, we understand the work it takes to care for children and the struggle it can sometimes be. Who says a supportive group of fellow moms can't be global? Everything else in the world seems to be. Maybe the world will change one sewing machine at a time.</span>A stroll around townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13146050342886628610noreply@blogger.com1