I'm not really one for new-year's resolutions; this should be apparent in that I should have been talking about resolutions 4 weeks ago. That isn't to say that I'm not into resolutions in general. I think there's something to be said for resolving to improve oneself, I just think a "forced" resolution at the beginning of every year is just a recipe for failure.
That being said, I've been in the mind-set of resolutions lately because I'm in a strange place of self-discovery and change. The past five years have been difficult and the vast majority of my mental, emotional and physical energy was wrapped up in my dad and his illness. I don't regret the time, nor am I bitter about having to put parts of my life up on a shelf. The choice was mine and I'd make it again in a heartbeat.
But that's not what this is about. This is about me trying to make some changes...
I was inspired a bit by Micah and her recent post in which she honestly and openly shared about how she is reacquainting herself with herself during a time of significant change.
In addition to that, I have just started reading a blog by Andrew Arndt and the most recent entries are dissecting the Lord's Prayer; breaking it down to it's individual parts to explore what God's intention for our prayer life is. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's been really eye-opening and supremely challenging for me; I'd recommend it highly.
One thing that really stuck out to me as something I personally struggle with as I began to read about the purpose of prayer, was selfishness. On the whole, I wouldn't consider myself a selfish person; I typically try to think of other's needs before myself and I'm happy to give anything I can to help anyone out. I think what I struggle with is self-centeredness.
It's easy to do in this age of social media. If I post something to facebook, I get excited about that little red notifier that says that someone liked what I said, or responded to what I said; I love getting responses, retweets and follows on twitter; I love getting responses to my blog. Is this awful? No. Of course it isn't, but for me, it constantly draws my attention back to myself; what I said, what I did, what people think of me... If that makes any kind of sense. I kind of find it ironic that tools that keep us socially connected mostly serve to appease our narcissism.
Unfortunately, in this day and age, we're wired to be self-serving. Maybe that sounds cynical, but it's what I see.
So, I'm making a resolution. Not to stop using social media, but to change my focus. To look outside of myself and my little universe. To listen more.
Here's to shutting up and listening.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
.Qwetu Hope.
I know I don't get personal on this blog very often (tho it's been known to happen), but I wanted to share something pretty fantastic that happened recently.
If you've been following my blog for a while, or if you know me at all, you know that my dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1988. On November 14, 2011 his 20+ year battle came to an end and he went home to heaven. I have contemplated on writing more in-depth about my dad, my family, and our journey on this blog, but I'm not quite ready for that just yet.
I did want to share one thing though. After he passed, a number of people asked us where they could send donations on my dad's behalf. We really thought about what he would want; he was active in ministry and we wanted to make sure wherever the money went was a cause that he would support.
My brother's father-in-law is really involved in a ministry that supports community development in Africa called Hearts for the World International. In his life, my dad had the opportunity to visit China, Israel and Mexico, but he always regretted not being able to go to Africa. After I went to Uganda in 1997, it just made him want to go all the more. Taking that into consideration, we thought giving to Hearts for the World would be a really cool way to give a piece of my dad's heart to the people there.
One of the projects that Hearts for the World is supporting is the Qwetu Hope Community Development Group. The project was started in late 2010 with the sole purpose of transforming their community, specifically by helping those less fortunate (children and elderly). They opened a school in January 2011 (with 250+ students) and are working to help the members in the community be self-sustaining.
Recently, we received a letter from Peter Okwe, the coordinator of the project. He was explaining to us the difficulty that they had been having in getting people to support the school. This caused a lot of problems, including not being able to pay their teacher's salaries. He let us know that with the donations they were able to catch up on their teachers' payments as well as buy new desks, text books, a black board, and numerous other essential supplies. It also enabled them to complete one of the classroom buildings.
I wanted to share a little bit of the letter from Peter:
It should be noted here that this fund from Brother Stephen through Hearts for the World, has given Qwetu new energy, face and confidence to move on. At some point the chairman, Mr. Raphael, and I almost gave up due to a lot of challenges. In December 2011 we were under intese pressure since we had promised to start class one in 2012. Nothing was going on at the project site to indicate that class one was going to begin.
Some parents even took their children to other schools due to the rumour that was going around that we were between a hard place and a rock. And honestly speaking, that is where we were. I told the chairman to join me in prayers so that God can work a miracle to us before the end of 2011. And indeed God came in the 11th hour when our faith was almost dying off. Jan, the president for the Hearts for the World International, called me on my way to church and told me he was going to send some money for the project. I stopped and on the way told God thank you. That was a miracle that I will never forget, I was so thrilled that I did not know how to express myself to Jan.
I would like to give special thanks to everybody who contributed financially towards this project. You are real friends, friends I have not found even in Kenya; people who have not even visited gave us a surprise. May God expand the territory of those who gave, may he bless them and protect them always. To our beloved brother who God called home after a good work, let his spirit rest in peace; one day upon winning the race here on earth, I pray that I will meet him. To the family I pray that one day we shall meet and shake hands.
Peter is requesting to name the school after my dad; the plan is to call it Stephen Romine Academy Rusinga Island. My family is already talking about taking the time to visit.
**If you are interested, they are still taking donations in my dad's name. Just send checks or money orders payable to Hearts for the World International to PO Box 140728, Edgewater, CO 80214 and indicate that you are giving to the Qwetu Hope Community Development Group on behalf of Stephen Romine.**
If you've been following my blog for a while, or if you know me at all, you know that my dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1988. On November 14, 2011 his 20+ year battle came to an end and he went home to heaven. I have contemplated on writing more in-depth about my dad, my family, and our journey on this blog, but I'm not quite ready for that just yet.
I did want to share one thing though. After he passed, a number of people asked us where they could send donations on my dad's behalf. We really thought about what he would want; he was active in ministry and we wanted to make sure wherever the money went was a cause that he would support.
My brother's father-in-law is really involved in a ministry that supports community development in Africa called Hearts for the World International. In his life, my dad had the opportunity to visit China, Israel and Mexico, but he always regretted not being able to go to Africa. After I went to Uganda in 1997, it just made him want to go all the more. Taking that into consideration, we thought giving to Hearts for the World would be a really cool way to give a piece of my dad's heart to the people there.
One of the projects that Hearts for the World is supporting is the Qwetu Hope Community Development Group. The project was started in late 2010 with the sole purpose of transforming their community, specifically by helping those less fortunate (children and elderly). They opened a school in January 2011 (with 250+ students) and are working to help the members in the community be self-sustaining.
Recently, we received a letter from Peter Okwe, the coordinator of the project. He was explaining to us the difficulty that they had been having in getting people to support the school. This caused a lot of problems, including not being able to pay their teacher's salaries. He let us know that with the donations they were able to catch up on their teachers' payments as well as buy new desks, text books, a black board, and numerous other essential supplies. It also enabled them to complete one of the classroom buildings.
I wanted to share a little bit of the letter from Peter:
It should be noted here that this fund from Brother Stephen through Hearts for the World, has given Qwetu new energy, face and confidence to move on. At some point the chairman, Mr. Raphael, and I almost gave up due to a lot of challenges. In December 2011 we were under intese pressure since we had promised to start class one in 2012. Nothing was going on at the project site to indicate that class one was going to begin.
Some parents even took their children to other schools due to the rumour that was going around that we were between a hard place and a rock. And honestly speaking, that is where we were. I told the chairman to join me in prayers so that God can work a miracle to us before the end of 2011. And indeed God came in the 11th hour when our faith was almost dying off. Jan, the president for the Hearts for the World International, called me on my way to church and told me he was going to send some money for the project. I stopped and on the way told God thank you. That was a miracle that I will never forget, I was so thrilled that I did not know how to express myself to Jan.
I would like to give special thanks to everybody who contributed financially towards this project. You are real friends, friends I have not found even in Kenya; people who have not even visited gave us a surprise. May God expand the territory of those who gave, may he bless them and protect them always. To our beloved brother who God called home after a good work, let his spirit rest in peace; one day upon winning the race here on earth, I pray that I will meet him. To the family I pray that one day we shall meet and shake hands.
Peter is requesting to name the school after my dad; the plan is to call it Stephen Romine Academy Rusinga Island. My family is already talking about taking the time to visit.
**If you are interested, they are still taking donations in my dad's name. Just send checks or money orders payable to Hearts for the World International to PO Box 140728, Edgewater, CO 80214 and indicate that you are giving to the Qwetu Hope Community Development Group on behalf of Stephen Romine.**
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