Phumzille Park Container Project

Container Project

In the first year Eliz and I were married, she went to South Africa for two weeks.  This was a hard two weeks for us as she and I were in different countries, in different hemisphere, in different seasons.  While I was wasting away in the Louisiana heat, She was freezing in the South African Winter.  She was down there, on a mission trip, with The Double S Ministries (Sowing Seeds).  This group is comprised of some of her family friends from her home church in Mansfield, LA. 

They had the opportunity to do many things, one specifically in a very impoverished area called Phumzille Park.  This area is a shanty town.  Many, up to 3,000, South African families live here with little less than tarp and stick constructions for homes.  The have very little and are not afforded the benefits of running water and schools for their children.  This is where the Ministry has come to help.

As of now, they have acquired a Container, one that you would see packed with goods and put on a ship.  They have decided this would be a great mobile class room.  If it had to be moved, it could easily be done and the children's school could continue to go with them.  Here's the catch....It's just as expensive to send the container to Africa full as it is to send it empty.  This is where We become the Hands and Feet of Jesus!

They are asking for all kinds of things to stuff that container full to the brim.  They have enough school supplies, but are asking for any other items that could make the lives of those in the Park easier.  5 Gallon buckets for water, Seeds to grow flower/vegetables, clothes, shoes, any thing you can think of and can spare.  New underwear and New Bras are a big hit for those who have always had to use second hand dedicates. 

We have until the first part of March to collect as many items as we can.  Then they get stuffed in the container and shipped out!  The awesome news is Eliz and I are considering going to South Africa June 3rd to June 10th to meet the container there and help to distribute the goods! This will be a wonderful experience for us, if we are blessed enough to go, we will have to start raising funds for our travels too.  But, for now, our focus is on filling the container. 

If you feel lead to contribute, AWESOME!  I can come by and pick up anything you have and are willing to spare, I'll even travel a good distance to do so.  If you just feel lead to pray for this, AWESOME!  Thank you so much for what you can and will do for the Body of Christ.  
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MLK Parade

For the first time EVER, my company gave us Dr. Martin Luther King Day off.  They closed down the office and we were able to do as we please that day.  I love a three day weekend.  I can't remember if/when I've ever had that day off.  I know in college, at Centenary, I still had class.  That's what happens when you go to a 99% white private school.  Now they get the day off, but that took some conjoling.  High School was probably the last time I didn't have to go to school or work on MLK day.  That's been over 14 years.

So, on my much appreciated day-off, I'd like to tell you I slept late, watched movies, and cleaned house...well that's not true.  Instead I helped taking a bunch of inner city kidos to the MLK Parade in Downtown Shreveport.  I have to say, selfishly, I was pretty excited to go to the parade myself.  Having never been to a MLK parade...or any festivities, I was stoked to get to participate.  The Common Ground Community, also know as the Brite House, is a non-specific church affiliated community that serves the Cedar Grove Neighborhood.  It is comprised of many members of the community, churches, and the city.  Young and Old can come by and get clothes, a hot meal, and a food bag to last until the next chance to get more.  It's been a blessing to them and to me.

The kids where excited to go, we grilled hot dogs and hambugers downtown after the parade and gave food to the kids and to any other people that wanted some.  There was a homeless man than must have piled up three plates, eaten them, and then took one more to go.  It was a great time with some awesome floats and some great marching bands.  I think I'll have to go again next year too!

(the pics didn't load...if google keeps this up, I'll just transfer my blog somewhere else)

The Next 5 Years

I'm glad I'm not one for New Years Resolutions...cause I'm sure if I was, it would include blogging more.  And as you can tell my participation in this has decreased over the last few months.  I guess getting busy and having this blog for recreational purposes lends to a certain relaxation in updates.

Though I don't have a specific New Years Resolutions I am thinking of a five year plan/goal.  Nothing interesting like scaling a mountain or running marathon (which I am doing in a month). No, this is more along the lines of a "fill you head with stuff" plan.  I came across the Modern Library's 100 Best Novels online list a couple of days ago and resolved to better my self in the category of literature. There are two lists,  a Board's List of 100 and a Reader's List of 100.  So that makes 200 books in my near to distant future.  Fortunately the list does criss-cross which decreases the number...but not by much.  Also I have read some already, but only a few, and in some cases it's been so long that I owe it to myself and the great authors to read it again.  I have my work cut out for me.

The situation is, I don't want to be tied down to one list for the next 190 or so novels...So I'm working around this.  I'm alternating a list novel with one of my own choosing.  This way I can still read the fantasy, economy, and autobiographies I enjoy intermingled with the 100 best (which is really 200).  Needless to say, I'll be pretty full up on books for the next half decade, at least.  We are looking at around 390 books.  Say it takes me two weeks per book ( a rough estimate), that's approx 195 week or 3.75 years, so lets bump that up to 4 years.  But, I know me, and I tend to get lackadaisical at times, So I'll give myself a 1 year cushion.  5 years...that's my goal/plan.  I can do that.

Now, I haven't started yet.  I'm finishing up another book series, one that should be done by tomorrow afternoon.  So, Hopefully I will start my newest "task" on Tuesday.  This is where I need some help.  I need to know which book to start.  The other portion of this is I'm not going to buy these books.  I will beg, steal, or borrow...which equates to ask, borrow, and rent from library, but no purchasing.  This is where you come it.  Scan the list, see if you have these books on hand and make a pile for me.  I'll come pick them up for you.  That requests leads into the second one.  I need to know which book to start reading first.  Any Ideas, suggestions?  I'm all ears, or eyes as it would be.  Maybe I should spin this into a reason to buy an Ipad, a digital reader to store my 200 novels, hmmm.  A great way to save space.  The ideas and benefits are already flowing...

Modern Library's 100 Best Novels

So, what is your suggestion of the novel to start with?  Send me a comment and let me know.  Also, if you have one of these novels I can borrow, that would be GREAT!  Happy Reading to you.

Free Christmas Update to come...sneak peak, it was awesome.  But, until then here's some food for thought for the new year. 



Handbook for Life… 2011



Check back later for more on Free Christmas, Oklahoma, and 2011.