Cooper, Nike, and Africa

This past weekend my family and I vacationed to the Oregon Coasts and went to a Nike outlet store. Cooper found himself some Air Jordan basketball shoes. Then on our way to check out, he noticed the Lace Up and Save Lives campaign designed to fight AIDS in Africa. You buy red shoelaces and all the proceeds go to to The Global Fund. A lot of football players are getting involved. As we were driving home, Cooper said, "wouldn't it be cool if I could get everyone in my school to purchase these and we all had them, and we all helped out." That was a proud moment for me as I realized that kids learn through example and it was great to see my child wanting to make a difference. When we arrived home, Cooper got out a piece of paper and began writing a letter to Phil Knight requesting that he allow him to distribute and sell the Lace up and Save Lives to his friends. I put the letter in the mail today. We will see where this goes and what he will accomplish.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Soap smells

Today I met with an Aromatherapy expert and discussed the different properties of each of the essential oils and scents I am incorporating in my soap. Found out that some would cause the skin to be photo sensitive and that would not be good. I feel like I made some progress. I also made another batch of soap today. So far my conflict soap includes the following:

AIDS
Hunger -
Nigeria
Sierra Leon
Congo
Somalia
Dar fur
Lost Boys of Sudan

So my nose has been stimulated too much... Another step closer to Africa.

Bead for Life

I found a new company today that supports Ugandan women. It is called Bead for Life. Throw a party!!! This jewerly is made by women in Uganda.

Check out the website at www.beadforlife.com.

PARTY ON!

Ingrid

United in Service Blog

Check out the new blog..........still editing..........but finally taking shape.
The link is posted over to the right.

Ingrid and Leslie

International Women's Day

Here we are on the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, Oregon. This was in honor of the 100th year of International Women's Day.
"Join Women on the Bridge" was through Women for Women International & Run for Congo Women. These grassroot organizations empower women in war-torn countries to find the self-reliance needed to rebuild their families, communities, and countries. Women all across the world stood on bridges to honor the resilience of millions of women survivors of war.

www.runforcongowomen.org
www.womenforwomen.org
Ingrid

Purchasing of supplies

Yesterday, I purchased most of the ingredients to make Mbuzi Products. (Ouch on the savings account) It's amazing to think that for the past 2 years I have been researching, pondering, and acquiring knowledge on how to accomplish this. I never thought I would be here. This vision and dream is becoming more of a reality. I feel like this is a defining moment. The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof. Right now I'm living in that hope, running down its hallway, and touching the walls on both sides.

Leslie

International Woman's Day - Join Me At the Bridge

Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. We're changing the world one woman at a time.

Their Mission
Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. We're changing the world one woman at a time.

With the tenth anniversary of the UN Millennium Development Goals in 2010, we are given pause to reflect on the tremendous work left to be done in order to eradicate poverty and achieve equality for all the world’s citizens. 70% of the world’s poor are women and 75% of the civilians killed in war are women and children.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, site of over 5 million deaths and hundreds of thousands of rapes in a conflict spanning more than a decade, women are imagining peace. They say peace means being able to live and to work freely. They see peace as walking to the fields without fear of rape; they envision a more prosperous future, harvesting from the fields the fruits of their own labor. Yet war wages on.

To honor the resilience of millions of women survivors of war around the world, Women for Women International is hosting a global campaign – Join me on the Bridge - which will unite women all over the world in a global women’s movement showing that women can build the bridges of peace and development for the future.

On March 8, 2010, thousands of women will stand together in Congo and neighboring Rwanda to demand peace and development. Supporting them in their call for the war’s end will be thousands of women from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Sudan, Nigeria, as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom, to say no to war and yes to peace and hope.

Tomorrow at 4:00pm at the Smith Student Center, Portland State, women in Portland will united, and walk to the Hawthorn bridge. Join us.... To find out more

For me, this is part of that inner feeling to be a collective voice of change. The solution for world peace, love, and hope, could very well lie within the nurturing grasps of women. "Be the change you wish to see in the World."

Leslie

Congo, Congo, why so much war?

Researched the Democratic Republic of Congo today. The conflict of this country stems from Rwandan genocide. This war is referred to the seven Nation war, has lasted 10 years, and it is the largest UN Peacekeeping mission in history. Over 5 million Congo, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi people have lost their lives. The war is over control, power, and greed of the natural resources that prevail in this lush landscape. Diamonds, Gold, Silver, tin, copper are the ransom paid for murder, rape, and pillaging. One of the resources colton is a highly valuable to our techno world. It is used in cellphones and computers and has made a few greedy international companies billions as they support corrupt rebel forces. Perhaps the most frustrating issue is the use of rape as a weapon of war. These rebel forces go into villages and and beat and rape the women to submission, and instill a terror in them that gives the power they need to control the resources. I am horrified for these women and it is not just a few.. it's hundreds of thousands of women. Awareness of this has evoked within me, a need to give these women a voice to their plight. I will be creating a special product just for these women, where all of the donations are going to Women for Women.

The City of Vancouver has a bump in the curb.

This past week, I ventured downtown Vancouver, Washington. I wanted to photograph the homeless. As I was wandering aimlessly around, I came across a gentleman in a wheelchair. He asked me if I was from the newspaper. I told him "no", but then asked him why he would ask that. I let him know I co-authored a blog and I would like to hear what he had to say. I told him I might possibly be able to post his concerns on my blog. These were his concerns:
The City of Vancouver has not made their curb sides conducive to those individuals in wheelchairs. Although, the curb sides do slope down toward the streets and they can cross to the other side. They have not made it easy for wheelchairs to go back up onto the curb once they are down on the street. There is a large lip preventing wheelchairs from smoothly transitioning back onto the sidewalk. This is a safety issue because while individuals are trying to maneuver their wheelchairs up onto the sidewalks, cars are turning those corners, and could possibly hit one of them. This gentleman (unfortunately, I did not get his name) has had several close calls with cars. He has talked with an organization in the past, who has taken photos and written to the city, but the city has only fixed a few of the curbs.

Later that day, I met up with a woman who also lives downtown Vancouver, and she too confirmed the trouble she has had with the curbs. She almost tipped over her wheelchair onto Main street.
I am not sure what to do with this information yet. I have thought about writing a press release, after researching the issue, making phone calls, confirming what has been done, and what needs to be done. But for now, I am posting their story as promised, in hopes that someone, who might work for the City of Vancouver, will be reading this blog.
To all others; as you cross the street this week, let us remind ourselves that sometimes an unnoticed, minuscule, bump in the road to one, is a giant mountain for another.
We can reach out, grab hold of another, cross the street and lift each other, over the curbside bumps of life.

Love to all,
Ingrid

Left To Tell

While I was napping today, Leslie dropped off the book she just finished reading, "Left To Tell, Discovering God Admist the Rwandan Holocaust", at my back door (with yummy soup). I just finished reading it. And as I closed the book, I sobbed. I sobbed as I read Immaculee's ending words;

"Rwanda can be a paradise again, but it will take the love of the entire world to heal my homeland. And that's as it should be, for what happened in Rwanda happened to us all-humanity was wounded by the genocide.
The love of a single heart can make a world of difference. I believe that we can heal Rwanda-and our world-by healing one heart at a time.
I hope my story helps."

Immaculee, your story has helped me. Your heart full of love has made a world of difference in my own.

Ingrid

Left to Tell - Discovering God Amidst the Rawandan Holocaust

Finished book number two. The evil that existed in Rwanda during the genocide was horrific, shocking, and gruesome. The more I research and read about Rwanda I've come to believe that it was possibly the worst trespass upon humanity that our world has ever known. The world knew what was happening, but they chose to do nothing. Almost 1,000,000 people in 100 days were hunted, chopped up, and brutally murdered. Immaculee Ilibagiza gives a story that is unforgettable, she paints a vivid picture of her struggle to survive as a Tutsis. She gives a riveting detailed account of how she evaded danger and avoided extermination. The most profound part of this book was her faith in God. If I learned anything from her book, it is to pray always, to be forgiving, and God answers our prayers even at the most horrifying and dreadful times of our lives.

Leslie

Sleep?

Here it is 5:15 in the morning and I can't sleep. My early morning thoughts are with Africa, and my ears, the Goo Goo Dolls. I've been thinking about life and the different paths we choose to take. As I begin this path to Africa, the 721 steps it will take to get there, I have to ask myself, "Why am I choosing it"? I believe the answer is in a book I have recently read, "Three Cups of Tea".
Greg Mortenson, the author of the book, just wanted to build a small school in Korphe, Pakistan. He had no thought of personal gain, no thought of self. In fact, the first chapter in his book is titled, "Failure", but those first few steps of failure led him to excellency; Excellency of life, excellency of character, excellency of soul.
I find it interesting that when losing ourselves in other's lives and serving them, helping them move toward excellency, we find it in ourselves.
True excellency of life is not boastful, it is not something we set out to achieve, we find it in others, as Greg Mortenson did.

"Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson's dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it's proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination really can change the world."
~Tom Brokaw

Being ordinary is not mediocracy. Being ordinary can be excellency. Ordinary people, such as you and I, can help change the world.
Celebrate being ordinary, embrace it, and move forward with character and determination.

Take the challenge, take the step.

Ingrid

www.threecupsoftea.com

Ingrid's images

Lately, I am in the process of setting up a photography business, "Ingrid's images". Over the years I have learned that money does not motivate me as an individual, therefore, I will be using my business as an avenue to help me accomplish my greatest passion; service.

Ingrid

Mbuzi Products

In order for me to get to Africa, I had to find a venue to pay my way. Mbuzi products is it... My idea was to bring awareness of conflict through my products. So I applied for my business license as well as bought my domain names on Saturday. Created an email account... shopped for hosting, and web site development companies. Another step closer to Africa...

Leslie

Talking about world / national issues

On Friday, I had the opportunity to discuss world and national events with a few very intelligent... I must say they are actually very brilliant women... They came over to my house for Tea and Talk. Each woman displayed an immense amount of passion which I found rather contagious. One of these women made such a powerful statement about a movement among women who are being compelled to do more, to offer more help, more love, more understanding, stand up, and to speak out in a collective voice for women throughout this nation and world. This is not a feminist movement, we've been there and done that.. This is a movement(I dont' think I could even call it that) but it's a force of goodness that is driven by divine inspiration, with no intention to gain or obtain anything. It's about nurturing nations and healing and fixing those social, political, and religious divisions that have made progress stagnate in our nation, and other nations throughout the world.

Our meeting started out by discussing current events, we talked about a whole gamete of things, from the Health Care Reform bill, Toyota Recall, Jihad, political candidates, Genetically Modified Foods. Then we started our conversation about a conflict in Africa.. The Nigerian Oil Conflict. This is a tragic and very devastating for those on the Niger Delta. American big oil companies(Shell, Mobile, Exxon, Chevron) were involved, irresponsible, and contributed a great deal to the problem.... Ingrid shared the above photo that just begins to tell the story of corruption, greed, and environmental havoc. It is said that one in every five Africans is a Nigerian, it is the most populated country in Africa. This country gives half of it's oil to U.S. markets. The area where all the oil refineries have been placed is called the Niger Delta, it was a huge carpet of tropical rain forest and mangrove swamps. The effects of the oil industry on the environment are profound. There have been over 7000 oil spills between 1970 and 2000, that's more than one each day. A world Wildlife Fund report said in 2006 that the Niger Delta is one of the most polluted places on the face of the earth. The environmental and public health impact alone would be enough to cause immediate action, but the more underlining social issues caused by this conflict are profound. The saddened reality is the discovery of Nigerian oil contributed to a decline in the standard of living. In 1970's the number of Nigerians subsisting on less than one dollar per day was 36 percent of its population and it grew to 70 percent in 2000. Then, literacy rates are at a low 40%. Access to health care and electricity for most of the population is scarce. Nigerian leadership and government corruption failed it's people. Want to learn more click.....

Leslie

Books, Books, Books, and a Game!!

Mr. Bill gave me some titles of books I should be reading to prepare for our trip. Mr. Bill said that going to a place like Africa, is an experience that everyone needs to have, whether by reading or actually traveling to some place like Africa, it changes your perspective, your heart, and your wisdom. So above you will find what is coming in the mail to read.. I can't believe I've ordered so many books. If you would like to read one, I'll check them out since I can't read them all at once. Also, who is up for game night? I am always in the mood for a little competitive game, I couldn't resist the 10 days to Africa game?

Leslie

Meeting With Mr. Bill

Today I had lunch with my instructor of the War and Peace class I took. I met with another classmate and we had such a great conversation. Mr. Bill has a lot of insight, he really got me thinking. ... He said in order to define my inner feelings and desires with Mothering Africa, one must get to know yourself first - what are your gifts, what are your values, and what are you naturally good at? He said ask a lot of questions, as many as possible. He suggested asking questions such as... Is anyone else doing what you want to do? Who is it and what are the results of their work? Who do you want to be involved? What is the end result of this experience? The deeper the questions you ask, the deeper the response, and the deeper your journey to Africa. He also talked about how ideas are good, but one must put them in tangibles and achievable outcomes or goals. He has opened up his wisdom to many more meetings and said I could email or call him as much as I would like. It's feels good to be supported and mentored.

Leslie

Tonight, I have been researching homelessness and have discovered a tent city in Portland, Oregon, by the name of Dignity Village. While studying documentary photography of Africa, I felt the desire to research our own country and the destitute state so many have found themselves in, these past couple of years. This is how I stumbled across Dignity Village. I will be photographing the "Village" in the next couple of weeks or months, but more importantly, I will help. I refuse to be the photographer who takes photos that emotionally moves people, calling them to action; yet, do nothing myself. How can a photographer expect others to find their hearts, when he, or she, does not have the heart to act upon their own photographic message?
True understanding, not photography, is the messenger of charity. We need to understand human suffering in our own area, to prepare us for the greater suffering of Africa. We need to act with charity, bestowing upon us the knowledge, and understanding, of pure love for humanity. By doing so, we'll find dignity.
Ingrid

Step 4 - Visualization

Before you embark upon any journey one must visualize yourself there!! Today, I visualized with my friends our husbands participating in a tribal dance with lots paint and markings. I know this represents only a small number of indigenous tribes, and probably won't be our experience, but here's one for visualizing.

Another middle of the night awakening!

Last night, at 3:00 in the morning, I had a most engaging conversation with my husband, Dave. You see, I had not told him about Africa, and was unsure of what his response would be toward the humanitarian trip. His response took me back some, he didn't even hestitate in wanting to go. Within the past few months, Dave has been talking with a Doctor who just returned from Africa. Thier family had stayed one year, and LOVED it! Because of his friendship with this Doctor, it seems my husband has already been considering the idea of going on a humanitarian trip.
Step 3, with only 718 steps left to go, was talking with my groggy, sleep-deprived, husband.
Ingrid