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Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Crazy
Yesterday was crazy...
Full of some pretty intense things...
Got in an argument with someone about the border issues in Arizona. For the record I don't agree with what is going on down there. I don't think it is a black and white issue... There is so much gray that is involved in this issue. I am really tired of my conservative friends just jumping the bandwagon and not really thinking through all the issues. There is such a pervasive attitude that just screams, "Get out of my GD country... and God Bless America." What really irritates me is when Christians jump on the bandwagon and start spouting what they heard the super conservative-talking head say... They start in and they do not have any compassion for the people involved.
When Jesus was alive, I am sure that Rome had immigration problems, as well as a whole host of political issues. However, he didn't focus on that... he focused on loving the people that he could love! In fact he chose to walk right through Samaria... Samaria was the equivalent of our modern day Mexico, except way worse. Samaria was a place that the religious people would choose to walk around, which meant and extra day or so to there trip. Jesus was concerned about the marginalized. He was concerned with the least of society. And he didn't let anyone tell him that the problem was so big that loving them would be a waste of time.
So, this is how the morning started... I am all fired up and then... As I am driving away... WHAM! I witness this car get t-boned... Thankfully, everyone was all right but it was all pretty dramatic.
Then 30 minutes later, I am on the phone with someone talking about the potential of doing some huge things in Haiti... Far and above what this first trip is slated for. More to come on that.
30 min after that, I am having conversation about potentially life altering directions...
The rest of the day filled with other pretty intense things that I can't get into, right now.... And then to end it all, The Suns lose by 2
So, things are shaping up nicely for Haiti... I have $450 more to raise, but I think with the matching grant that should be no problem!
If you want to donate, please click the chip in button...
Also, please subscribe to the blog... This way you can keep up to date with other blog post, videos, and pics.... I am planning on posting A LOT... when I am down in Haiti.
Much Love!
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Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The 31st is coming quick
If this is your first time reading this blog, be sure to check out my other entries!
But... to catch you up to speed... I have been invited to go to Haiti and help mission-haiti.org set up a Social Justice program. Mission Haiti started as a christian orphanage and are in a region where they are the only NGO around. This is awesome, because it means they have a huge opportunity for impact!
I will go and work with one of their staff for 5 days, at the end of June. During that time we will meet with other organizations on the Island to get a good sense of what is already going on... No sense in reinventing the wheel, and there might be possibilities for good partnerships.
Once back in the states we will evaluate all of our findings and create best practices to effectively implement the beginnings of a Social Justice component into the culture of Mission Haiti. They are already doing an amazing job with the orphanage, but we also want to look at issues like; Human Trafficking, Education, Water, Food, Land, Medicine, etc... All of these things are included when we speak about Social Justice.
I am super excited about this opportunity, but I need your help to do it! Please join me in this adventure by making a donation, now!
I need to raise this money by the end of the month, May 31st. In order to arrange for my airfare, lodging, etc...
Just click on the "chip in" widget and you will be able to make a donation through Paypal.
Thank you so much to those of you who have donated, and to those of you who will donate! You all are amazing!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
New way to donate
Hey Guys..
I have set up a new way to donate. So that all of you who are comfortable donating on-line can... And those of you who are not comfortable can email me and I can send you my address.
The new site for donations is http://sendseth.chipin.com/send-seth-to-haiti
If you want my address to send donations to... please email me at sethjohnson78@gmail.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
Haiti
Hey All,
I am sending this out as a blog, but I will be emailing friends and family over the next week. I just figured this is the quickest way to let everyone know what is going on, and a good way for you to stay up to date!
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to go to Haiti.
The invitation was from a friend who has been working with http://www.mission-haiti.org/ for about 6 months or so. Mission-Haiti's primary focus is an orphanage. They have a great model set up, so as to create a homelike environment. I love this model!
My friend Cory Grimm is (amongst other things) working to set up a discipleship program. The idea is to give accessible education, in regards to the Christian faith, to people who would not otherwise receive it.
You see, even in Haiti, if you do not have enough money or have the right clothes... You are not granted the same opportunities to learn about your faith.
Cory has asked me to come to Haiti to consult with him on how to integrate a Social Justice component into the program.
He and I are firm believers that, "You Do What You Believe." So a Social Justice component is vital to any sort of theological training.
Haiti is a nation that has many challenges and struggles facing it. Among them, the nation has a strong past associated with slavery. It is estimated that there are 250,000 slaves in Haiti, today.
Cory and Misson Haiti feel that with my background and knowledge in Human Trafficking, I would be a great asset to their journey in mobilizing Haitians to serve each other and the world around them.
I will be in Haiti June 23rd-27th. Cory and I will be meeting with other organizations to learn about best practices in the area. The last thing we want to do is to implement an American theology or ideology of justice.
I have to take a moment and be honest with all of my readers... I really, really, love to travel! I love to see the world and it's people! I love helping others! I love to love others!
So, when I am presented with an opportunity for another adventure, my first inclination is always, Yes! I love to go! However, I am also aware that, most of the time, I am receiving funds from friends and family who love me and care about whatever particular humanitarian issue has come across my path. So, I really try to be cautious and make sure that, if I am going to go, I will actually be useful.. and that I am not just taking up space and wasting oxygen.
Honestly, I was having second thoughts about this particular adventure. I kept asking myself things like, "Are you just doing this because of the recent Haiti fad?", or "Are you just doing this because a friend wants you to go?" Then the other day, I met a man from Haiti at one of the car lots that I work at. I found myself watching, in fascination, as he was (in broken English) selling a car to a Chinese man, who spoke even less English. After the deal was finished, he and I started talking about cars and general shop talk. I then asked him where he was from.. When he told me I sort of unloaded on him about what I was thinking about doing in his homeland. I thought surely he would be excited, but he wasn't. He just looked at me and said, "That is a very noble thing you are doing."
It was at that moment that the light came on for me. Even a man from Haiti who now works in the US and probably makes more than I do, needs to be reminded, encouraged, invited into the fight for the human condition. There are so many around us in this ever shrinking globe who are marginalized, and who desperately need help. It is so easy to overlook those who need us. We all get involved in our day to day and our own fight to eek out an existence. Yet, it is when we start to serve others that we become alive.
So, you might have noticed the web address for this blog is, "Send Seth." I constantly encourage everyone to roll up their sleeves, find the cause of their choice and help those around them. But sometimes that is not possible. Not all of us can, "Go." Honestly, I cannot go, without your help.
I am asking you all... If you care about the marginalized of society, if you care about Haiti, about people in slavery, about people who want to learn to do right, but are not afforded the education... If you care about these things, and just don't have the time to carve out of your busy life to, "Go." Then "Send."
I need your help to make this trip happen. I need to raise $1200.00 by the end of May.
Will you please consider joining me with your hard earned finances!
I am not going as part of a church organization or as part of Transitions Global. I am going independently. So, unfortunately, I will not be able to give you a receipt for your taxes. And I will have to work extra hard this year to pay the taxes on the money that you, "gift" to me. These are all just logistics and I believe they can be overcome!
If you would like to join me in this, please email me at sethjohnson78@gmail.com I can give you information for sending your money!
Thank you all for considering being part of this journey with me!
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