So a little bit of background on Trinity's link to Tanzania:
Last year Trinity Western was helping a Tanzanian grassroots organization build a community library and roads to an Eco Village project they had undertaken. At the close of the missions trip with most of the roads done and the library almost finished - the local organization did not express a need for further help. Jamie and Dan (our wonderful team leaders) were approached and encouraged to organize and lead a community development program somewhere else for the next year (this year). They had a connection with a youth worker and local church in Tanga, Tanzania; they requested TWU's partnership. Since we have not partnered with this community before and we are unsure of their needs it is very important to establish a foundational partnership and do a community assessment to find out what the felt needs of their community are.
In Luke 18: 35-43 a blind man cried out to Jesus and caught his attention. The first thing Jesus did was ask the blind man, "How can I help you?" The blind man replied, "Lord, I want to see." Jesus then proceeded to meet the need of the suffering man, he healed him. After the man's felt need was met he and all those around him praised God.
Essentially, this is our vision of development. We want to go into the community of Tanga listening. We believe this is the most effective way to address the needs and sufferings that they may be experiencing. Once the needs are understood and the people communicate a desire for our partnership, together we will target the specified issue and implement a development project. Ultimately our aim is to soften hearts towards hearing the saving gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. Similar to the miracle story, praise and worship to God will be the fruit of our labour.
Six Trinity Western students have united together to go and serve. We are passionate about the long-term vision of this missions trip. Each team member is fund raising for a Tanzanian student ("counterpart") to join our team once we get there. Canadians and Tanzanians will pair up together. Each partner pair will stay in a separate host family for an entire month of the 6 week program. Essentially this counterpart bond will form the basis of our partnership and will produce experienced Tanzanian agents of change in the community when we depart. Each pair will have a volunteer placement within the different sectors of the community: health care system (hospice) [Arend will probably end up here], education system (teaching English) [this one is for Sarah], social services (home for victims of HIV/Aids [myself]; Street kid shelter) [and Ollie!] etc. Each of the pairs have the task of researching and discovering everything we can about our designated sector (especially through talking with locals). Each week one of the pairs will give a formal presentation to the rest of our team and local church officials. At the close of the missions trip our team will enter into dialogue with the local church about implementing a development project for the following year - based on our community assessment. We intend to make a long-term investment in the community. We believe this strategy is effective, efficient and ethical. Our team is centered in Chirst, and continually commit our service for His kingdom building purposes!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Meet the Team!
Here's the whole gang!
From left to right: Dan, myself, Jamie and Sarah in the back,
Ollie and Arend up front!
Team photos by: www.stefanmatisphotography.com
Monday, April 6, 2009
Update on me...
And here goes my attempt to fill everyone in on my life as of late:
First things first -> here is the most recent photo of me!
....it was taken all of about 5 minutes ago so it should be pretty accurate in terms of what I look like right now.
At the moment I'm just finishing off my second year at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia. I plan on finishing my degree here in Psychology along with a certificate in Human Services. Yes, some of my friends are already graduating but I'm a bit behind on account of doing my first year as a B.Mus. Major at the University of Victoria and taking a year off for some traveling in the Fall of 2006. I'm not sure where God will take me after I finally finish my undergrad, but I hope to get some more volunteering and traveling in so I can do some international aid work before I have to be responsible and get a job that will pay the bills!
My most recent volunteer experience was the opportunity to be on summer staff at a Young Life camp here in B.C. called Camp Malibu. My "job" description was barista at the coffee shop, but realizing that everyone had such a specific place in the experience that the campers were having took the focus away from our service as volunteers and projected it towards God's work in the lives of the youth we interacted with. The most important skills I gained from those two months include patience, humility and integrity, respect and kindness, service, and teamwork. After my exams at the end of this month I will be able to spend more time concentrating on learning some Swahili and preparing for the work I will be doing in Tanzania!
I have been looking for opportunities to minister through service and community development and am incredibly excited about this trip to Tanzania. I also just have an intense heart for Africa and can't wait to experience more of it! My mission is to be a constant support for others in whatever way I might be needed, and building cross-cultural relationships through TWU and community partnerships is an amazing opportunity to be involved.
Psalm 59:16 I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
First things first -> here is the most recent photo of me!
....it was taken all of about 5 minutes ago so it should be pretty accurate in terms of what I look like right now.At the moment I'm just finishing off my second year at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia. I plan on finishing my degree here in Psychology along with a certificate in Human Services. Yes, some of my friends are already graduating but I'm a bit behind on account of doing my first year as a B.Mus. Major at the University of Victoria and taking a year off for some traveling in the Fall of 2006. I'm not sure where God will take me after I finally finish my undergrad, but I hope to get some more volunteering and traveling in so I can do some international aid work before I have to be responsible and get a job that will pay the bills!
My most recent volunteer experience was the opportunity to be on summer staff at a Young Life camp here in B.C. called Camp Malibu. My "job" description was barista at the coffee shop, but realizing that everyone had such a specific place in the experience that the campers were having took the focus away from our service as volunteers and projected it towards God's work in the lives of the youth we interacted with. The most important skills I gained from those two months include patience, humility and integrity, respect and kindness, service, and teamwork. After my exams at the end of this month I will be able to spend more time concentrating on learning some Swahili and preparing for the work I will be doing in Tanzania!
I have been looking for opportunities to minister through service and community development and am incredibly excited about this trip to Tanzania. I also just have an intense heart for Africa and can't wait to experience more of it! My mission is to be a constant support for others in whatever way I might be needed, and building cross-cultural relationships through TWU and community partnerships is an amazing opportunity to be involved.
Psalm 59:16 I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
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