Giving Made Easy!

If you frequent my blog, then you probably are aware that we are big fans and supporters of a non-profit called Seed Effect, Sudan. The quick "scoop" about what they do, in my own words, is: they give small loans (like $50-250ish) to locals in Southern Sudan who are struggling to survive. The loans are to help a Sudanese business owner start or expand their business, hopefully increasing profitability. The big picture goal is to help these entrepreneurs to put food in the tummies of their family members and pay for their children's school fees.

Seed Effect recently partnered with Capitol One credit cards to create a program through which you can give money to Seed Effect just by shopping!!!! For every dollar you spend, Capitol One contributes 1-10% of that dollar straight to Seed Effect. How stinkin' cool is that?!?!?! So, without costing you money, you can help fight poverty in Southern Sudan by donating to such a great non-profit!

I applied for my card and YOU SHOULD TOO!!!

Look How Far Seed Effect Has Come!

Seed Effect posted a new report on their blog today about the latest stats & stories. They are 1/4 of the way to their goal to reach 400 families this year. Go read the update!

And before this good news, I had been all ready to inform my blog-followers that Seed Effect just arranged a new deal with Capital One credit cards to get a "return on your investment" with your purchases. Check out this blog post too... Andy & I are gonna apply and I think you should ALLLL get one! :)

Sudan's Elections Today... PRAY!

Pray for Sudan today... elections are happening. The resulting weeks/months ahead could turn sour in a country that's already suffered so much. Click HERE to read an article on the election from Seed Effect Sudan's blog.

New Micro-Loans from Seed Effect

Today, Seed Effect SUDAN handed out another round of loans to help empower those in need to break the cycle of poverty! Check out the video of the group huddled together signing loan documents & receiving their monies. Pray for these 20 souls to grow their incomes so they can provide for their children & families-- food, education, and healthcare. Pray that through the process, they will learn about Jesus' love for them!

Seed Effect - Togoleta B First Loan from thomas bell on Vimeo.

The third Seed Effect Cell Group, Togoleta B, receiving their first loans. These 20 group members are mothers, wives and business women who are taking loans ranging from $50 to $150 to grow their small businesses in Kajo Keji, Sudan.

"It Started With A Sewing Machine"

This summer I stopped in Southern Sudan for a few days to visit my childhood best friend. Her & her husband had started a non-profit called Seed Effect to help fight poverty in this devastated country. They wanted me to come and see the work that had begun... it was truly powerful! God is at work to provide for the poor. Just a few weeks ago, a team visited and shot video footage to portray the story, not just in words, but with visuals. Below is the end result.

It is powerful.

It is a God-inspired endeavor... and God is completing the work.

It is a simple, tangible way to combat poverty in this world.



I beg you, be a part of The Seed Effect and change not just one life, but an entire community!

Seed Effect Gives Their First Loans

Today 19 lives were changed in Sudan. Through SeedEffect.org, micro-loans are being given out to help Sudanese entrepreneurs start or expand businesses to help provide for their families. Today is a GOOD DAY!



Between the near 20 women who went through the Seed Effect training, they have 40 children whose care they are responsible for. Today, these 20 loans will help feed (both spiritually & physically) 80 mouths. God is GOOD!

Book Reviews: Summer Reading

I realize its Oct 12th... but I read so much this summer that I wanted to share/recommend but never got around to posting. So, this was my summer reading list (thru Sept actually, but I think fall just officially got under way)... in short review form:

• Crossing Cultures by Patti Lane... I pick this book up our our church's summer Leadership Conference after attending the breakout session Patti taught. She shares from years of insight about how to relate cross-culturally with respect, with humility, with a learner's attitude, and in a way that glorifies Christ. Thumbs up, recommend it!
• Wicked by Gregory Maguire... I "read" this via audio-book this summer during lots of road trips. I decided on it after seeing it on the High School Required Reading List and remembering that I'd always meant to read it. I am not really good at picking up on spiritual metaphors, but I LOVED this book and all the hidden meanings and indirect commentary about the spiritual nature of humanity. In fact, loved it so much that I walked out of the play at intercession because I was so disappointed in how they had left out everything I'd love from the book so far. (don't stone me all you Wicked play lovers!) Thumbs up, recommend it (the BOOK that is)!
  
• What is the What by Dave Eggars... I grabbed this book to prepare for my summer trip to Sudan with Seed Effect. I was educated through reading not only about Sudan, the harsh civil war there, and the aftermath, but I also got to read the story of a refugee's journey in the U.S. Refugees are something new(er) on my radar and I've been trying to learn as much as I can about their lives. So, bonus-- learned about Sudan & refugees. Thumbs up, recommend it!
  
• Dreams of My Father by Barak Obama... I figured since he's our president, I probably should hear his story. I read his other book back in the spring which was a lot more about his goals and aspirations for our country's potential. This book was a portrait of his childhood, his make-up, his history (up until going to Law School). He was asked to write it after becoming the first black man to become the head of Harvard's Law Review. Its tone is pre-political and I enjoyed it! Sure, read it.
  
• Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker (see my previous full post review here.)... glowing reviews from me. Super-thumbs-up, everyone should read it!
  
• Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali... this was a re-read for me. I had first read Infidel in 2007 and was moved by the descriptions she told about the lives of women in the Muslim World. This time, I re-read the book looking at her story as the memoir of a refugee. She lived as a refugee almost her entire life, from one country to the next. Both in African countries, and the West. Her stories about refugee life alone (regardless of religion) are POWERFUL. I was glad I took the time to change lenses and receive a new kind of heartbreak from this book. Thumbs up, recommend it!
  
• Outcasts United by Warren St. John... I picked this book to help my refugee education too. Its the story of a women in a small town outside of Atlanta who started a soccer team for refugee youth. They are discriminated against, persecuted, mistrusted, and mistreated. Its a sad story, but has some hope as they overcome those obstacles. Apparently its being turned into a movie. Sub-par writing, if you ask me, but the story itself makes for your motivation to keep reading. Sure, read it.
  
• Tortured in the Name of Islam by Setaareh Shahbazz... Oh my word, this was a tough book to read. Super short, a complete personal essay about a woman who became a follower of Christ in Iran and who was ultimately imprisoned for it. It is her spoken testimony written on paper. Its rough, detailed, sad, and yet inspiring at the same time. To see how she was able to persevere and to witness Christ to her captors was amazing. Warning, she's not a writer, but her story is powerful. Thumbs up, recommend it!
  
• Christians Evangelistic Pocket Guide to Islam by Malcolm Steer... Andy's band and I read this before our trip to Turkey this September as part of our training. It's about 50 pages. Super basic. But super helpful. Boils the top issues down to a simple explanation and a simple response. Sure, read it.
  
• Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay... This was a great follow up book for me after having read Hatmaker's Interrupted in July. It picked up where she left off with what God was doing in my heart about getting more outside my comfort zone and into community and service (outside the 4 walls of the church). Our church is going through the "Tangible Kingdom Primer" as a whole church this fall, so I wanted to read the "prequel" so to speak. Thumbs up, recommend it!
  
• Muslims Next Door by Shirin Taber... I read this short practical book about how Muslims are just about everywhere in the U.S. and we should treat them with love and respect. Taber gives practical steps to help us be educated about this culture, this religion, and how we can be kind and not offensive. Sure, read it.

Nothing I would say "don't waste your time reading". Which means I guess I chose well this summer.

Sudan Event in Austin This Week

My good friends Missy & Dave are coming to Austin! After my trip to Sudan this summer, Andy and I felt compelled to pitch in and spread awareness about the issues that are affecting the southern part of the country. Both spiritual and physical poverty are everywhere. And Missy & Dave are trying to do something about it. So we invited them to come tell their story to my friends living in Austin.

YOU'RE INVITED, if you live in Austin, to join us THIS THURSDAY (Aug 27) at Mercury Hall at 7pm.

We'd love to have as many people there to hear about what's currently happening in Sudan, and how Seed Effect (Missy & Dave's microfinance company) is working to alleviate poverty while at the same time spreading the gospel!

Andy & I are excited about the work God is doing among the poor in Sudan and we want YOU to have the chance to participate... Don't you want to impact poverty?

Sudan in Pictures

A photo-blog from my trip to Southern Sudan for all you who think I am too wordy! :)
This is the border between Southern Sudan and Uganda. I had to go into the "immigration office" (4ft x 4ft room) to register my entry.
This man is a tailor in Kajo Keji. He hopes to apply for one of the small biz loans so that he can pay to be trained on a machine he already owns that makes patterned sweaters (like on the magazine covers).
This is one of the local brewers and her child. She hopes to get trained in another trade because she doesn't like the alcoholism that results from her biz. But for now, it's the only way she can make the money she needs to pay for her kids' school fees.
All the full time workers in Sudan this summer. Missy is working on the micro-loan biz & starting the internet cafe. John is starting a Sudanese "Celebrate Recovery." Will is digging wells. Heather is Missy & Dave's full time worker on the ground (the liason between the American side of the biz and the Sudanese side of the biz). Holly is working with the local women's minister and helping John with the women who attend Celebrate Recovery.
This is Cecilia. She makes soap. She hopes to get a micro-loan to buy a bicycle so she can make more deliveries to buyers in the village (right now she mostly walks door to door).
Some children ran to the road to greet us as we walked the village.
A UN Refugee Camp just north of the Sudanese-Ugandan border. When we drove by I could see them sorting bags of grain in a giant warehouse.
This is the UNHCR tents that are given to those repatriating back to Sudan from the refugee camps. When the refugees return home, they are given a tent and a bag of grain to help get them back on their feet.
While walking the village one day, I got to meet one of the Chiefs. I asked his name, but he said to just call him "Chief."
This is Rose, the women's minister. She travels through Kajo Keji and all the neighboring towns & villages on this motorbike meeting in the homes of all the women to pray with them & do Bible studies together.
When you walk from one home to another, you have to stay on the worn paths because they haven't finished clearing the fields of landmines.
The roads are still littered with gun shell casings from the war.
This is an example of an uncleared landmine. The people mark them with red sticks so that you know not to step there.
This is the family who's house I stayed at in Sudan. Gloria & her two children Tommy (girl), and Mike (boy). Her husband Kaya is on staff with e3 Partners.
These are typical homes in the area I was in. Called tookals (i made up the spelling).
This is the first class of tailors in the Vocational School. They are being trained for several months in how to sew and then hope to get micro-loans to start their own sewing businesses.
This is the sewing sample poster on the wall of the vocational school classroom.
These are the sewing machines in the vocational school classroom.
This is the local market in Kajo Keji, where Missy & Dave hope to meet future clients who need micro-loans to better their small businesses.
This was the market diagram that Missy made as she mapped out the various sellers and what they sell (market research).
Missy & Heather & Kenneth interview a candidate for the Internet Cafe Manager position. They hired him!
Missy checks the final product of the electrician installing the wiring at the internet cafe (which will all be run off of solar panels and generators-- no electrical grid in Kajo Keji).
Missy meeting with the carpenter who was contracted to make the desks/tables for the Internet Cafe.
Missy gets measurements for glass to finish the windows to the Micro-Loan Office.
Missy buying the paint for the Internet Cafe & Micro-Loan Office.
This is Kenneth. He is the Director of Micro-Finance for Missy & Dave in Sudan.
Here is the building that houses the Vocational School, the Internet Cafe, and the Micro-Loan Office. You can see the solar panels atop the roof, and the satelitte dish where we'll get internet from.

Sudan was R-A-W

The best word I can think of to describe my trip to Sudan is R-A-W. The kind of raw that is the result of a deep and ugly wound. Not a fresh wound, but one that has been healing already for a long while. When you look at it, you can still tell how gruesome the original injury was (and you can tell it will leave a nasty scar) but you can also see that eventually the wound itself will heal. That was my experience of Sudan.

Everyone I met had been hurt (if not physically, then emotionally). And everyone was healing. I saw a town full of survivors who are just focused on putting one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.
The overall mood of the town where I visited wasn't dark. Even though the peoples' lives have been chaos after chaos for years. There was at least an air of tangible hope present. Life was hard, but they were still fighting to live. Their prospects were minimal, but they were doing their best. They still loved and cared for each other. They were still trying to better their lives.

The land itself was beautiful, rich red dirt and vibrant green grasses & trees. The skies were as big as Montana, beaming both sunlight and pregnant clouds. The houses were simple, mostly mudbrick, one-room dwellings with thatched roofs. Some people had enough money to build a small concrete house while others were still living in pitched tents given to them by the UN.

But the people were the prize of Sudan. Beautiful black skin, giant smiles, skinny but strong and both shy & friendly. Out of a small town of a few thousand, I only met a few dozen. I listened to their stories and heard about their dreams. Understanding where they have come from, the things they have endured throughout the war, throughout hunger, throughout tragedy, throughout poverty... I felt I understood just how desperate the need was for tangible help there. I saw first hand how important the work is that my friends Missy & Dave are doing there.
This is an entire community struggling to start over. With almost nothing. They just need a loving hand to reach out and help them lift themselves up. Physically. Emotionally.

I thank God there is a church presence in the town. Even in the short time I was there, I witnessed people with spiritual needs and emotional needs just show up at the church steps and ask for someone to talk to. Praise God there are believers there to share the burdens and love the people. Sudanese to Sudanese.

And I thank God that the vision was placed in the hearts of Dave & Missy to do more than just share the gospel and then leave without addressing the physical needs of the people. They want to do both. And both are desperately needed.

Sudan was incredibly valuable for me to experience with my own two eyes. I needed to hug the people, look into their eyes, smile, make them feel heard, and loved...

Africa in the Rear View Mirror

I have been home a week now from my time in Africa. I am fighting a nasty and uncomfortable intestinal parasite and avoiding any internet research that will only make me even more uncomfortable. And last night, all I could think to say between my sighs of discomfort was "Jesus is worth it!"

That's not a conditioned Christian response, it's just genuinely what my response was. From my gut, literally. For 2 weeks I traveled through Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia to investigate on my own what crazy things Jesus is up to in that part of the world. Let me tell you, HE IS PRESENT...

He is present in the pain,
in the poverty,
in the healing,
in the community,
in the heartbreak,
in the sickness,
in the church,
in the hunger,
in the orphanages,
in the widow's home,
in the recovery of alcoholics,
in the life of Birukti,
in the X-prostitutes' eyes,
in the mosque (trust me, He's THERE...),
in the homecomings of refugees...
JESUS IS PRESENT!

Whether we know about it over here in America, whether we participate in it (from home or while abroad), whether we ever believe it is even possible... Jesus is CONSTANTLY transforming broken lives in these countries. Jesus is hard at work moving, engaging, stirring, and above all LOVING the people in this corner of the world. As a witness, I testify that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever... a surrendered servant who loves the "least of these".

God Grew Tired Of Us

After listening to the sermon last fall and seeing the video about refugees, I knew that the seeds which had already been planted in me were watered and fertilized. But then another piece of the puzzle fell into place. I was checking out movies at Blockbuster when the the cashier told me that I had a free rental from the "old movie aisles". So I went and browsed the Independent Film and Foreign Film sections (cuz Andy likes those) and saw the cover for "God Grew Tired of Us".

I had heard the title, heard it was good, but literally had NO IDEA what it was about. It was a Sundance Award Winner and the rest of the check-out line was waiting on my quick decision, so I grabbed it and ran. I didn't even bother to read the back cover before putting it in the DVD player and pressing PLAY. Check out the trailer here:

Oh--my--gosh--, it was so timely. And powerful! It was about Sudanese Refugees. It followed a group of men from the time of their exodus from Sudan, to their time living in a refugee camp in Africa, through their move & transition to America, and finally through the first 4 years of their lives here. It is incredible. It gave me a look into how people in the U.S. could help refugees adjust and get on their feet here. You have to rent this movie... it will stir your heart to care about these new neighbors here in America (and Austin).

Sudanese Refugee School in Pictures

(If you want to read stories from this day, on top of looking at the pictures, click HERE.)
Love was the universal language of our time with the Sudanese refugees.

Playing games with the kids... you can see "New Sudan" written on the wall of the school.

Teaching us some of their traditional Sudanese songs... precious!

One of the teachers at the school.

Having fun with a bouncy ball.

We delivered a donated drum set to the school which was an immediate HIT!

Two of the teenage girls that didn't really want to come out of the classroom to join the festivities.

The leader of the Mercy Team leads the kids in a highly energetic sermon-ette.

Young teen girls.

Me with my two little kids (on the right) who were my favorites... the teenage girl on the left is the older sister of the little boy.

The older girls liked to braid our hair the way they braid each others'.

Teenage boys.

Teenage girls.

This picture is great because you can see the backdrop of the big building going up next to the school, but in the reflection of her sunglasses you can also see the other tall buildings going up all around their refugee camp. When the government gave this land for the refugee camp it was empty desert.

This map, or one like it, was hanging in every classroom at the school, teaching the kids where Sudan (their home country) and where Egypt was (where they are living today).

This building is under construction next to the school and is being built very un-safely. A volunteer engineer came to evaluate the property for the staff and noted that it is twice as tall as the permit allowed and was in danger of collapsing because the structure is unsound. On top of which, the principal told us that the construction workers sometimes threw materials down from the high stories onto the children in the courtyard of the school.

The boys playing in three-legged races.

This little boy asked me to paint a cross on his forehead.

Two boys balloon-ed out.

This little boy just would not smile on camera, no matter how hard we tried to brighten him up.

The great corral of girls.

Not sure why the little kids would throw signs, but they liked to do this for pictures.

Just a display of the goatie face paint that the young boys kept asking me to paint on their faces.

The courtyard at the school during the chaos of our carnival stations.

Checking out the new drum set.

The kids broke from our play day to have breakfast (1 loaf of bread, a bottle of milk, and a hard-boiled egg)... some of whom this would be their only meal for the day.

One of the classrooms full of kids waiting to come out and play at our carnival of fun.

This picture and Scripture was painted on the wall of the courtyard.

The boys hanging out the window to get a chance to blow bubbles.

Cute little boys!

Waving for the camera.