World Cup Fever!
World Cup Football fever has hit. I have to admit – I love watching this event. I grew up with football (soccer) and have always loved watching it. The fact that this is in Africa makes it even more compelling to me. I love the excitement in Canada. Next week I will be in Germany for meetings and know...
Read more"We felt like we were expected…"
On my last blog I spoke about the Abilities Church in Toronto. It bothered me that people with disabilities felt as if they had to begin their own church in order to feel welcomed. The day after posting that blog I heard a story of the Nairobi Marathon – and it connected some dots for me. To make a long story short...
Read moreThe Abilities Church
This year I was introduced to a church in Toronto called the Abilities Church. They claim to be the first real inclusive church in the world. They are impressive. Their staff and vision are excellent, and have all levels of ability. They model inclusion and invitation to all people. The Ability Church’s goal is to have 50% of their...
Read moreHarder – Smarter – Louder
I celebrate how many people Hope and Healing was able to bring hope to last year. I am haunted by thinking of those we could not. We are in the process of planning for next year – budget, focus, and impact. We also look at the results of the last year. One key number for many of us is...
Read moreWork in Canada.
The other day as I walked down our office hallway to get coffee I noticed the red light lit up on the wall. The red light meant that one of our volunteer narrators was recording a book. Last week I talked about why we spend most of our resources internationally. I tried to explain how we have to focus...
Read moreSebastian has been found!
I wrote in an earlier blog (April 17th) about an 8 year old boy I met in Haiti – Sebastian. He lost his home, family, and his leg in the earthquake. I last saw him swinging on his crutches out the Port au Prince Hospital gates. I wondered what would become of him, and if we would ever see...
Read moreHeat Alert in Toronto!
Occasionally I am challenged as to why Hope and Healing does not do more work in Canada. Usually people that do challenge me have a disability, or they are parents of children with a disability. I know that there is poverty in Canada. I know that people with disabilities are often left out of community and forgotten in Canada....
Read moreFirst year in Hope and Healing.
A few weeks ago – May 1 – I had my one year anniversary in working with Hope and Healing. The year has gone quickly – it seems only yesterday that I started. So what have I learned? I came to cbm with some prior understanding and work with people who have disabilities. I worked in the Middle East...
Read moreDream boldly…
One of our many wonderful staff persons in Hope and Healing – Robin – recently returned from a trip to Malawi. She came back with a challenge to us. Robin said we need to dream boldly. Robin met a man who came from rural village. As a young boy he met a surgeon and he dreamed he too, would become one....
Read moreIt's About the Future…
I wondered what would strike me in my return to Kinshasa. Surprisingly it has been the small things – the building thunderstorm, colourful lizards, beautiful butterflies, sunsets that cannot be described, the methodical sound of the chopping of a man pruning a palm tree. Each of these evoked a flash of memory. It is also the people. Phrases that...
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