An Assortment of Life at the Beginning of the Week

I had the opportunity to meet Rebecca Neuenswander at JW yesterday. I had seen an article about her and her work this summer in the KC Face magazine. She introduced herself to me yesterday after our 11:00 a.m. gathering. Rebecca founded HALO: Helping Art Liberate Orphans. Her organization currently works with orphanages in Mexico, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Africa, and Nicaragua. The children in these homes create art and then submit their artwork to be auctioned off at an auction hosted by HALO in the U.S. Proceeds go back to the orphans. What an amazing deal.

Some HALO resources to explore: a short video of Rebecca talking about the work they are doing: Helping Art Liberate Orphans; a photo album with some pics from an orphanage in Uganda where HALO is at work; and here is another article in Present Magazine (the same one that highlighted Andy Woolard and Interwoven Threads): Rebecca Neuenswander's HALO for Children.

Also, reading Scot McKnight's blog, Jesus Creed, I stumbled across a blog called ParadoxUganda last week. This is the blog of missionary doctor who lives and serves in Uganda with his family. [Updated: I just discovered that both the husband and wife are doctors serving in Uganda; her name is Dr. Jennifer Myhres] I can't find his first name anywhere, but their last name is Myhres. [Updated: his name is Dr. Scott Myhres] Apparently a new strain of the Ebola virus has broken out in Uganda in the last couple of weeks. As of today, there are 115 confirmed cases with 29 known deaths.

It is more than heartbreaking to read this blog. I added it to my RSS reader and everyday get an update on the situation in the Bundibugyo region of Uganda. To go back a few weeks and read forward through the posts is to read an unfolding and heartbreaking tragedy. At the heart of it is the friendship this doctor has with a Ugandan doctor, Jonah Kule, who went out to respond to a new sickness before anyone knew what was happening. He contracted this strain of Ebola and died shortly thereafter. Please pray for this family, for the family of Jonah, and for what is happening in Uganda.

Here is an interview with Dr. Kule about his life and work in Uganda: Dr. Kule Lived to Serve.

Finally, if anyone wanted to discuss my book Intuitive Leadership but wasn't able to make it to the Emergent cohort gathering last Thursday, I will be joining an Emergent cohort of seminary students from St. Paul School of Theology tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. to do another discussion. I am sure anyone is welcome to join us at the seminary for the discussion...that is if there isn't a sheet of ice covering everything in the city. [Updated @ 10:00 p.m. - there is a sheet of ice covering the city...I just saw that SPST is closed tomorrow so we'll have to reschedule this discussion.]

Comments

[maux]

Consequently, Rebecca and Andy are good friends. KO-NEX-SHUNS!

[Janie Wilkerson]

Tim, ParadoxUganda is actually a blog for Dr. Steve and Dr. Jennifer Myhres. Both of them are involved in clinical work there. Just wanted you to know! Thanks for giving their blog greater visibility.

[Tim]

Thanks, Janie. I just realized that this morning when I read the day's entry. I will update the post accordingly. Blessings to you.

[Melissa]

One of my former youth works with Rebecca and Halo now. She is currently serving in Uganda and people can read her blog at http://kristenuganda.blogspot.com. They are doing some amazing work there.