tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73550382012-02-03T09:48:14.705-05:00Something is shining like gold, but better...Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.comBlogger2901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-17892219290566735082011-10-07T20:55:00.000-04:002011-10-09T11:56:28.775-04:00

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-78658958850375056452011-09-24T00:33:00.000-04:002011-09-24T00:42:29.311-04:00

Over the course of the past several weeks I've been catching up on the weekly video podcast from The Meeting House in Oakville, Ontario. Their summer series, entitled One Church, has looked at the similarities and differences among a variety of Christian denominations. The great thing about the series is that they didn't just talk about the other traditions behind their backs so to speak, but

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-90774146247362224742011-09-16T11:06:00.000-04:002011-09-16T11:12:55.530-04:00

I can't stand hypocrites...and by the way...I am one. As a matter of fact, I think we are all hypocrites to some degree. We all say things with our mouths that we don't follow up on with our lives. This truth has been brought home to me this week as I've been considering my response to the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa. Yes, my wife and I did make a donation to help with famine

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-59097486563654047082011-09-11T23:47:00.001-04:002011-09-11T23:47:51.918-04:00

Those were the first words I heard in relation to the attacks on the United States ten years ago today. At the time I worked for a small company with only seven or eight employees. The owner's father would often drop by the shop to say hi or bring in some treats from a local German bakery. On the morning of September 11, 2001 he had just heard a report on the car radio that a small plane had

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-17951556763528971592011-09-07T06:51:00.000-04:002011-09-11T23:49:41.398-04:00

I watched the story of Amanda Lindhout on CBC a few nights ago (you can see the story here). In case you are unaware of Lindhout's ordeal, she was a freelance journalist working in Somalia in 2008 when she was kidnapped, beaten, and tortured by her captors for 15 months. She was only freed when her family paid an undisclosed amount as a ransom. She recently returned, CBC cameras in tow, to the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-30981173401573225362011-08-20T06:47:00.007-04:002011-08-20T07:58:15.969-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about the Old Testament of late, and just how does the version of faith and faithfulness we see there coincide with the faith that is presented in the New Testament by Jesus. I've been faced with this on a personal basis recently which has caused me to examine my own theology (never a bad thing to do) and has reaffirmed what I believe to be true about sickness and

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-49352539886049955922011-08-11T18:43:00.009-04:002011-08-20T08:17:03.806-04:00

I just can't get enough of this song by Over The Rhine right now. There's such truth and such beauty in the recognition that we are all broken. There's so much freedom to be found in admitting that you don't have it all together. That you are filled with anxiety, doubt, and fear...and so is everyone else you meet. Despite all of the junk, we are all loved by the Father, whether we choose to turn

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-55879561447385430652011-08-10T07:34:00.006-04:002011-08-11T00:03:38.747-04:00

It was exactly one year ago today that I woke up in the Reina Isabel hotel in Quito, Ecuador for the first day of a two-week visit that would impact my life significantly. The first week was spent with World Vision, traveling to various Area Development Programs to learn about the impact our work was having on the local indigenous people while the second week was pure vacation time. You can read

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-40658920248356162512011-06-03T08:15:00.001-04:002011-08-20T08:16:47.562-04:00

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-56309827258935688082011-04-07T18:10:00.003-04:002011-05-26T18:19:44.545-04:00

From the Flamborough Review:In developing countries where poverty rates are soaring, people are starving. In an attempt to raise awareness of world hunger and raise funds to help feed some hungry bellies, World Vision Canada is encouraging Canadians to take part in a unique challenge.The not-for-profit organization’s 30-Hour Famine is an annual event that sees youth go without food for a 30-hour

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-88387705888657680192011-04-06T17:58:00.002-04:002011-05-26T18:23:56.332-04:00

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-48159469603417376132011-03-07T11:56:00.003-05:002011-03-07T12:12:15.213-05:00

I love this quote from Going Missional about the challenge of remaining 'out there' when it is so much easier to just go back to our place of comfort:"It is a missional challenge of no small consequence to transform from a taker to a giver. It is an even deeper challenge to not fall into the trap of believing that the world is very lucky indeed that I have finally shown up. And it's a personal

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-22132856557101613022011-02-27T11:57:00.003-05:002011-02-27T12:14:38.798-05:00

I went to church today. Well, sort of...After two very intense weeks of work and just general busyness, Rebecca and I decided to skip off church this morning (oh my!) and just stay home to do our own devotional time. Well, this has been one of the most encouraging 'church days' in a long time. I spent the first part of the morning reading through the book of Mark and praying. After that I wrote a

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-61164773639820921352011-01-29T15:30:00.006-05:002011-01-29T15:33:46.201-05:00

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-30883369796216813182011-01-21T11:50:00.005-05:002011-01-21T14:14:14.753-05:00

"This is what the devil does to little girls."That line will hit you like a punch in the gut as you read Priceless, the latest novel from Tom Davis, the president and CEO of Children's HopeChest. I try not to write reviews immediately after finishing a book because the reaction can be too raw, too emotional to offer a balanced approach to what I've just read. In this case, a raw, emotional

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-21574093678551797032011-01-18T13:37:00.001-05:002011-01-18T13:37:00.194-05:00

We read the following confession out of the Worship Together hymnal in church this past Sunday. I thought it was refreshingly honest...We confess to You, Lord, who we are: we are not the people we like others to think we are; we are afraid to admit even to ourselves what lies in the depths of our souls. But we do not want to hide our true selves from You. We believe that You know us as we are,

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-49849678365764592972011-01-18T09:00:00.001-05:002011-01-18T09:00:08.719-05:00

MYTH #5: The more money raised, the faster the response. There is a tendency to simplify humanitarian aid and assume that the more money that is raised, the faster and less complex the response will be. However, money is not the only resource needed when it comes to a disaster response. Unfortunately, natural disasters and humanitarian crises are by their very nature complex situations which

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-80132609622393317782011-01-17T09:00:00.002-05:002011-01-17T09:00:12.636-05:00

MYTH #4: Aid agencies should spend donations as quickly as possible to address immediate needsWhen images of destruction and despair in the wake of a disaster are splashed across the world, the natural reaction is to want to help as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. Certainly recovery and rescue efforts, as well-as getting life-saving food, water, shelter, and medical care to

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-27079600555447279362011-01-16T09:00:00.001-05:002011-01-16T09:00:06.831-05:00

MYTH #3: Good intentions are enough to provide valuable help during a disaster.The days and weeks following a major natural disaster often bring an immediate outpouring of generosity from the public and a swell of interest from journalists to cover the story. A common desire is to do more than donate funds; well-intended people from all walks of life want to become involved, doing everything

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-88596629145465919122011-01-15T09:00:00.001-05:002011-01-15T09:00:00.808-05:00

MYTH #2: Aid agencies are not accountable or transparent.Accountability is a responsibility and one that professional humanitarian agencies take seriously. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Humanitarian Code of Conduct, aid agencies are accountable to “both those we seek to assist and those from whom we accept resources.” World Vision is currently

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-43439532317631844042011-01-14T15:01:00.001-05:002011-01-14T15:03:17.440-05:00

MYTH #1: In a disaster response, relief efforts are uncoordinated, chaotic, and haphazard.Following a disaster, it is common to read reports of too much aid reaching one location, and not enough reaching another, or of a community receiving triple rations of food but no water. Over recent decades, relief agencies and local governments have become more intentional about coordination. Still, gaps

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-61595851172743404492011-01-14T14:48:00.003-05:002011-01-14T15:00:59.441-05:00

In light of the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti that killed over a quarter of a million people, there has been a lot of media coverage this week about the successes and failures of the relief and rebuilding process. While there have definitely been some missteps along the way, for the most part the reporting has been largely based on some basic misunderstandings of how the aid

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-67291011956233056992010-12-28T07:36:00.004-05:002010-12-28T08:30:06.656-05:00

I was in Shoppers Drug Mart a couple of days before Christmas picking up a few things to fill up my wife's stocking when I heard an interesting conversation take place down the toothpaste aisle. Two women, strangers, struck up a conversation about the vast number of choices when it comes to picking out your toothpaste these days - total, total advanced, tartar protection, cavity protection,

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-41630315278477194752010-12-25T07:47:00.004-05:002010-12-25T07:51:15.117-05:00

Linus does!

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-92215100782629683722010-12-20T07:17:00.004-05:002010-12-20T08:51:12.597-05:00

I just finished reading a book that has been on my shelf for years: Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. As head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Dungy led the team to a Super Bowl championship in 2006 (he has since retired and is doing commentary for NBC.) The book is a fascinating look at the life of a professional football coach at the highest level, but also a personal look at a man who's faith has

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-30452740153111592912010-12-16T22:18:00.000-05:002011-08-13T22:19:07.482-04:00

Mary grows a child without the help of a man Joseph get upset because he doesn't understand Angel comes to Joseph in a powerful dream Says "God did this and you're part of his scheme" Joseph comes to Mary with his hat in his hand Says "forgive me I thought you'd been with some other man" She says "what if I had been - but I wasn't anyway and guess what I felt the baby kick today" Like a stone on

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-37311031497405523362010-10-06T20:27:00.003-04:002010-10-06T20:48:49.855-04:00

So it's been a really busy month and I finally got around to finishing The Life You Can Save just a couple of nights ago. As I said in my last post, this is definitely a challenging book that will make you think about how far you will go - how far you should go - to help someone living in poverty. In the end, author Peter Singer suggests a simple and easily achievable standard of giving that

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-63204690480209486482010-09-07T22:02:00.003-04:002010-10-06T11:04:25.806-04:00

I'm reading through The Life You Can Save, a book by Peter Singer, professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. With a pedigree like that you'd think this would be a difficult book to muddle through. In fact, the opposite is true. Singer makes fairly simple but airtight arguments for why each of us in rich countries like Canada, the U.S., etc. need to be giving to help those living in poverty

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-90832686504053947682010-09-05T08:54:00.002-04:002010-09-05T09:13:09.808-04:00

The video below, produced by the Ecuadorian ministry of tourism, will give you a great overview of the beauty of Ecuador and its diverse cultural traditions. As much as I love seeing these images as a reminder of my time there, it ignores completely the struggles of the indigenous peoples who live in poverty in rural areas outside of the main cities. Of course, that's to be expected in a video

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-81945343699021874962010-08-30T07:13:00.002-04:002010-08-30T07:33:48.219-04:00

It's been a week since I arrived home from Ecuador, tired after a long day of travel but feeling totally exhilarated. Below are just a few thoughts that have occurred to me over the past week as I've had some time to reflect on my trip from both a personal and a professional basis. Some are lessons learned, others are just observations.1. Canada can be an isolating place. We are much less likely

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-39456478653555878902010-08-28T20:25:00.002-04:002010-08-28T20:35:31.395-04:00

Forty-seven years ago today, Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington D.C. It remains today one of the most significant speeches of all-time and continues to inspire me every time I hear it. The full text of the speech is copied below but I suggest you watch the video at the bottom to get the full power of MLK's words from the man himself.I am happy to join

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-32726704904001493082010-08-22T15:55:00.007-04:002010-08-26T21:12:27.759-04:00

After 24 hours of travel I arrived home Sunday morning close to 3:00 AM. I crawled into bed and slept until 10:45 which is the most sleep I've had in one night since leaving almost two weeks ago. The flights went mostly okay, except for two delays in Miami and my luggage getting stranded in Bogota. It's been found and should arrive at my door sometime later this week.Thanks for coming along on

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-34530638792044130692010-08-21T03:50:00.005-04:002010-09-07T11:31:29.919-04:00

So, I'm up ridiculously early after less than three hours of sleep. Danny and I hung out in La Ronda one last time last night after having a McNifica at McDonald's just beside our hotel. I know, I know...but we just had to see what was different on the menu.La Ronda was packed out tonight with everyone having a good time sipping their canazalo and listening to the live music pouring out of the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-91049329791327608402010-08-20T14:56:00.002-04:002010-08-26T20:11:03.030-04:00

I spent most of the day hanging out at the hotel today waiting to hear from Avianca about flight arrangements home. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning at 6:20 AM which means I have to be in the lobby at 4:00 AM for the shuttle to the airport. It's gonna be a loooooooong day.I suppose most people would consider this a beautiful hotel but after what I've seen over the past couple of weeks I think my

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-3052570820610160642010-08-20T01:24:00.004-04:002010-08-26T21:06:50.491-04:00

Well, well, well...some wishes do come true! Looks like I'm staying in Quito for another couple of days. The Avianca flight Michelle and I were on was cancelled tonight 30 minutes after we had already boarded the plane (mechanical issues of some kind.) Danny got bumped from his Delta flight as well, but Autumn managed to fly out.The airline is putting us up in the Hilton Colon hotel all expenses

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-24914745957934809322010-08-19T14:37:00.006-04:002010-08-26T20:59:56.109-04:00

Today was a bit mellow as I think it was starting to sink in that we were not only leaving Ecuador, but also heading our own separate ways once we arrive in Canada. It has been a great two weeks shared with some incredible people who have been part of a life changing experience. I'm leaving Ecuador full of love and full of life. Everyone I've been traveling with has played a part in making this

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-32436415909703632722010-08-18T22:58:00.006-04:002010-08-26T20:43:58.412-04:00

I woke up early this morning, showered and packed for the trip back into Quito. I was hoping for a nice quiet morning before heading back into the busy city and that's exactly what I got. I grabbed a coffee in the lodge, took a few more hummingbird photos, then just sat on the patio overlooking the mountains being quiet and reflecting on how thankful I was that God had allowed me to be part of

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-91417814333125985922010-08-17T23:45:00.008-04:002010-08-26T20:32:58.916-04:00

After playing soccer we headed back to Bird of Paradise to decide on our last activity before dinner. It had already been a pretty full day so we opted for a coffee tour. Without going into all of the details, we managed to catch the end of the chocolate tour at El Quetzal - the best part as it turned out - with samples of fresh cocoa that was being made into chocolate products. Have you ever

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-69024494536394688812010-08-17T23:16:00.015-04:002010-08-26T20:21:54.291-04:00

We knew this was our only full day in Mindo so we packed it with as many activities as we could squeeze in. I got up early and shot some more photos of the hummingbirds and then did a video tour of the Sachamatia grounds before gathering for a quick breakfast then a cab into Mindo.We all decided to do a gondola ride over the rainforest followed by a fifty minute hike through to a beautiful

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-8808938010141735742010-08-16T23:56:00.003-04:002010-08-26T20:14:00.645-04:00

We were up early today to get a taxi to the Ofelia bus terminal in Quito then caught a bus for the two hour drive to Mindo, a small town west of Quito. At 8:25, we crossed the equator into the northern hemisphere, then crossed back over again an hour later in the mountians on the way to our final destination. The scenery on this drive is absolutely gorgeous with mountain peaks and volcanoes

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-71595487883461706152010-08-15T22:30:00.001-04:002010-08-20T17:54:05.462-04:00

This has been one roller coaster of a day. It started off great with Danny and I having deep spiritual discussion and then I had a really powerful encounter with God a bit later in the shower (go figure.) Afterwards, we went down to grab some breakfast and then walked to the lavanderia (laundry mat) with Autumn to get some clothes washed. From that point things started going downhill...We took a

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-63739644335465029822010-08-15T02:47:00.009-04:002011-04-21T16:00:11.560-04:00

Before everyone had to fly home, our host and now friend Andrea and her parents, took us on a tour of Old Quito (aka downtown.) It was great! If it's at all possible try to have a local person take you out when you are travelling. It makes the experience so much richer.We saw the beautiful Plaza de la Independencia, including the official residence of Rafael Correa, the current President of

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-60300098894532012592010-08-14T08:41:00.005-04:002010-08-26T19:59:48.785-04:00

Today is the day half of our team returns to Canada while four of us plus Michelle's husband Doug (who flew in today) stay here on vacation for another four days. After all we have seen and experienced together it will be tough to see them go. There is a certain connection you have with people on a trip like this that will last forever. I'm sure the next time we all see each other there will be a

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-7603052948352982142010-08-13T21:36:00.012-04:002010-08-26T14:39:32.820-04:00

Well, just when you think this trip couldn´t get much better...it did. We visited two daycare centres today for ages 3-5 not too far outside of Ambato. There are 8 centres in this area providing daycare for 234 children. World Vision staff make sure that the children receive education, food, medical care, and just a lot of fun with other kids. Once I have a few photos up you´ll immediately know

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-41698298607395359062010-08-12T23:28:00.003-04:002010-08-16T01:58:33.750-04:00

One final thought before heading to bed tonight...I came to Ecuador feeling pity for the impoverished people we would meet and sadness for those who couldn´t find a way to get out of their situation. Having now met these men, women, and children, having shaken their hands and looked them in the eye, I have nothing but the utmost respect, gratitude, and love for every one of them. These are not

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-43378263972893347732010-08-12T22:59:00.000-04:002010-08-16T01:56:45.747-04:00

Just got in from a rather interesting night in Ambato. After we arrived back at our hotel, eight of us decided to walk downtown again for dinner. We found a great Mexican place with lots of lively conversation and good music. After an amazing burrito and a cafe del leche (my new favorite!) we walked through the city centre followed by a friendly stray dog who just wouldn´t leave our side. We

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-29330906331003002722010-08-12T21:29:00.004-04:002010-08-26T12:13:03.881-04:00

Education is really insufficient in this area so World Vision has established after-school programs to assist students in improving their grades so they can progress in their education and hopefully go to high school. Unfortunately most kids have to work so they do not continue their education however, in partnership with the Ecuadorian government, high school age students can participate in

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-62371583521229972852010-08-12T21:00:00.003-04:002010-08-26T11:22:23.882-04:00

We had another fantastic visit just outside Ambato today where the mothers of the community did a presentation on proper health & nutrition, and the importance of breast feeding. I was so incredibly humbled by the generosity of these folks as they presented gifts of sweaters to a couple of our team and then brought out some snacks for us to enjoy. We had some delicious empanadas followed by some

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-15460637238930532072010-08-12T19:47:00.004-04:002010-08-26T12:06:11.801-04:00

Ok, so an update on our day...My roommate Mark got up early this morning and had a freezing cold shower. I got up a few minutes later and had a steaming hot shower. Gotta love life in Ecuador! Neither one of us felt the earthquake but our rep from Manitoba did. He stood in his doorway for a few seconds then decided he´d go get breakfast instead. Yep...that´s our Danny!We met another great bunch

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-76601516984801972862010-08-12T07:48:00.006-04:002010-08-26T12:07:30.646-04:00

Apparently there was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake about 45 minutes ago centered just outside Ambato. I didn´t feel a thing and neither did most of the rest of us! Only three people said they felt their beds shaking. There is breaking news on the TV in our dining room. Andrea is translating for us...there was no damage anywhere. How does an earthquake more powerful than the one that devastated Haiti

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-79085487161990432862010-08-12T00:33:00.004-04:002010-08-26T11:06:35.300-04:00

Got back to the hotel in Ambato late tonight, had a completely unnecessary bite to eat, then went for a walk downtown with two other members of our team and the tireless and ever patient Andrea, our host, guide, and translator. Ambato was almost completely destroved in 1965 with the eruption of a close-by volcano and the accompanying earthquake. 20,000 people lost their lives and most of the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-46784759371927785812010-08-11T23:24:00.010-04:002010-08-26T20:00:33.855-04:00

One of my favorite visits on this trip has been to a couple of World Vision sponsored community gardens. These gardens are part of a four month training program for women where they learn about crop rotation, irrigation, composting, how to grow more nutritious crops, and how to have a bigger yield. When they graduate the course, they are given seeds to take back to their own homes to plant a

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-38857714686818294142010-08-11T23:10:00.003-04:002010-08-26T11:00:13.301-04:00

In rural Ecuador most of the men have to leave their homes to work in the city in order to earn enough to (almost)afford the basics of life for their familes. As a result, the day-to-day life of the community and the working of the land is done almost exclusively by women. World Vision works with these women, identifying a ¨mother leader¨ who wants to help the rest of her community by bringing

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-52852946959749105972010-08-11T22:25:00.006-04:002010-08-26T11:03:59.297-04:00

Today was another super-long super-packed day. I can't believe I brought a book to read during our down times. There hasn't been one yet! We headed out this morning on a three hour bus ride from Quito to our Pillaro area development project (ADP) in the Ambato area. Yesterday we were at an ADP that was just entering the phase-out stage while today we were in an area where we've only been working

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-91722733411568617632010-08-10T23:00:00.008-04:002010-08-26T12:00:37.173-04:00

We arrived in Cutambi later than expected but that didn't stop the entire community from gathering around our bus to greet us. Just like you see on TV, the kids squeezed their way through to the front of the crowd to wish us a very polite "buenos dias" before leading us into the building they use as a community centre. After some speeches and a display of some handcrafts the women of the

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-67516763420428574712010-08-10T22:30:00.005-04:002010-08-26T10:20:56.349-04:00

After leaving the World Vision office behind, we headed out for Muenala, a small community high in the Andes mountains. Along the way we stopped for lunch at a tiny restaurant on the edge of Cotacachi volcano. The crater of the volcano is actually filled with water now, turning it into a beautiful clear lake. As much as possible I´m trying to eat local food so I ordered the Plato Tipicos, a plate

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-40254691305165577202010-08-10T22:00:00.011-04:002010-08-26T10:20:46.250-04:00

It´s been a long, jam-packed day and I have more stories than I could possibly share here tonight but I´ll do my best. Unfortunately I can´t upload photos from the hotel so for now you´ll just have to believe me when I say Ecuador is a remarkably beautiful country filled with remarkably beautiful people.Our morning started on a bus taking us out of downtown Quito to visit an Area Development

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-77606256527462071182010-08-09T12:55:00.003-04:002010-08-26T09:55:51.914-04:00

Well, after 12 hours of travel, a stop-over in Colombia, and not one but two airplane meals, we have arrived at our hotel in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. The flights couldn´t have been smoother and going through customs was a breeze. Leaving the airport was a bit disconcerting with the evidences of a very different culture everywhere. The porter was not at all hesitant to ask (quite forcefully!

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-1707446364085443842010-08-09T10:02:00.003-04:002010-08-24T07:07:49.968-04:00

Hard to believe but true, after weeks of planning and what felt like hours of packing, today is the day I fly to Ecuador with the rest of the World Vision team. We'll arrive at our hotel in Quito around midnight tonight (assuming the connections go well) and will be off to visit our first Area Development Project (ADP) at 7:30 tomorrow morning. The past week, right up to a few minutes ago have

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-35593032176457545892010-07-26T17:52:00.008-04:002010-07-27T22:47:04.129-04:00

The advent of Twitter means I'm not posting nearly as much as I used to on this site however, two weeks from today I'll be taking off to Ecuador with World Vision for a week-long tour of our Area Development Programs around the country. For myself and most of my travelling companions, it will be our first time to see World Vision's work first-hand so I'm expecting there to be lots of stories

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-90304981274957589812010-05-15T07:09:00.002-04:002010-05-15T07:27:08.055-04:00

Thankfully, I think t-shirt Christianity is starting to die off - at least I hope so. This is such a great song by Derek Webb, whom I consider a modern-day prophet. Watch this video then go check out his website. You can even get some free music while you're there.They'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear They'll know us by the way we point and stare At anyone whose sin looks worse than ours

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-24280446636897011072010-04-22T15:58:00.003-04:002010-04-22T16:44:45.975-04:00

It strikes me as incredibly ironic and sad that on the very day Canada's Governor General was in Rwanda apologizing for our failure to act on the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, our parliament is debating whether or not we should be sending peacekeepers into the Democratic Republic of Congo to deal with the rising levels of violence in that country.Said Michaelle Jean today: “The world's failure to

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-90081046292553901002010-04-04T11:06:00.005-04:002010-04-04T11:15:34.744-04:00

We just arrived back home after an awesome easter service that involved all of our youth who went on a missions trip to Ecuador over spring break. One of them was asked to close the service in prayer, which he did, wrapping up by saying, "Thank you Jesus for dying for us 'cause if it weren't for you we'd be screwed. Amen."Perhaps not quite as eloquent as N.T. Wright, but pretty good theology

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-70600314702631791432010-04-04T01:30:00.004-04:002010-05-03T16:35:31.612-04:00

"Without Easter, Calvary was just another political execution of a failed Messiah. Without Easter, the world is trapped between the shoulder shrug of the cynic, the fantasy of the escapist, and the tanks of the tyrant. Without Easter, there is no reason to suppose that good will triumph over evil, that love will win over hatred, that life will win over death. But with Easter we have hope; because

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-92040468025665228542010-03-09T21:53:00.003-05:002010-03-12T12:13:42.527-05:00

I came across this statement in World Vision International's magazine Global Future. For me, it summarizes all that is right about our mission as well as clearly identifying the key issues at the root of global poverty. I resonate with this so deeply that I could very easily co-opt it as my own personal mission statement and let it serve as a daily reminder of how I need to live my life in light

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-49898933688789643382010-02-22T07:27:00.007-05:002010-02-26T11:40:12.887-05:00

I came across this article from an Apple news feed this morning. The author, Craig Grannell, takes offense that Apple has decided to remove all sexually themed applications from its app store (except Playboy...hmmmm...too hard on the bottom line I guess.)You can see my brief response (and all of the fallout since) if you visit the site, but let me just say that this kind of thing makes me sick,

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-76540179349127751762010-02-17T10:32:00.006-05:002010-02-17T16:09:29.265-05:00

So today is the first day of Lent, which for me, is a fairly recent event to consider. I didn’t grow up in a tradition that recognized Lent as a significant part of the Christian calendar so until the past few years I’ve more or less ignored it as a religious tradition that I needed to participate in - especially because I tend to avoid hollow religious traditions like the plague. But I’ve come

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-29179905694716145562010-01-21T09:03:00.003-05:002010-03-12T12:13:01.058-05:00

6:30 AM. Mercifully, the alarm goes off and I climb out of bed more weary than when I got in last night. I saw the time at least every other hour throughout the night…12:30…2:30…4:30. Ever since the earthquake in Haiti a week ago I’ve been having trouble sleeping. The images of broken bodies, broken buildings, and broken people circulate through my mind as I lie in bed reviewing all of the media

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-55184217048264502932010-01-18T19:50:00.014-05:002010-01-19T06:56:02.893-05:00

This has been a very difficult week. Last Tuesday we found out about the devastation in Haiti as a result of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake, the largest in the region in 200 years. Our televisions ever since have been filled with images of death and destruction and the ongoing attempts to pull people out of the rubble that has been left behind. Then on Wednesday we learned about the death of

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-66068388706152446492010-01-09T06:30:00.001-05:002010-01-09T06:31:48.349-05:00

I came across this beautiful hymn while on vacation, Such meaningful lyrics...Let Your Heart Be BrokenLet your heart be broken for a world in need:Feed the mouths that hunger,Soothe the wounds that bleed.Give the cup of water, and the loaf of bread.Be the hands of Jesus, serving in his stead.Here on earth applying principles of love.Visible expression, God still rules above.Living illustration of

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-68992461314698375162009-11-21T08:24:00.004-05:002009-11-21T09:02:47.991-05:00

I just finished reading The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Steans, president of World Vision U.S. I have to say first off that this is a remarkable book - challenging, enlightening, motivating. If you had any doubts whatsoever about God's call to serve the poor, they will be swept aside as Stearns shows us again and again what God expects of those of us who call ourselves Christ followers. You

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-85489977742919423992009-09-07T07:48:00.003-04:002009-09-07T07:52:19.604-04:00

There is nothing you could ever do that would make God love you less...

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-17188573326566905522009-08-31T05:57:00.001-04:002009-08-31T05:57:00.110-04:00

It's been opined more than once that faith in Jesus is a crutch, something for the weak of spirit who can't deal with the pressures of life. True believers, it's said, just need something to look forward to when they die because they are so unfulfilled with their current lives. There may be some truth in that, yet when I look around at the cultural icons whose faces show up on t-shirts and

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-39287134409487866812009-08-30T08:01:00.006-04:002009-08-30T17:55:57.088-04:00

Spending hours on end working a sponsorship booth in a shopping mall gives you lots of time to observe and think. Here are a few of the thoughts I've thunk in the last two days...Funny t-shirts are rarely funny.People will do anything to avoid eye contact.Europeans, even the young ones, will always greet each other with a handshake.For all of the fashionable stores around, most people dress

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-5729621963637143162009-08-25T19:20:00.001-04:002009-08-25T19:20:00.310-04:00

Watching people at the market today I was struck by how many look sad, angry, anxious...joyless. All this sadness in the midst of such abundance. When will we learn that stuff - food, possessions, money, etc. - will not bring happiness? It's by giving ourselves away that we discover our joy.A couple walked past my table today looking absolutely miserable. As they passed, I heard the lady say, "

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-91471447170383586872009-08-22T15:15:00.003-04:002009-08-22T15:45:31.566-04:00

People watching is one of my favorite pastimes when I am out and about. There's never any shortage of interesting or unique people out there. Standing at a display table in a mall or at the St. Jacobs Farmers Market as I have been this week provides plenty of opportunity to watch people as they come and go on the way to do their shopping.Watching shoppers go by, I'm always amazed by the number of

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-36616149864653734532009-08-03T03:04:00.006-04:002009-08-03T04:41:37.260-04:00

The phrase "may you live in interesting times" is considered by many to be the English translation of an ancient Chinese curse. There is no doubt that we do live in interesting times and that the not too distance future holds many changes for most of us. Changes which, in large part, will be driven by China and its ever-expanding economic influence.I've been considering lately just what kinds of

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-34241869895822067252009-08-01T06:37:00.004-04:002009-08-03T04:30:42.133-04:00

“The missional church vision is not a programmatic response to the crisis of relevance, purpose and identity that the church in the Western World is facing, but a recapturing of biblical views of the Church all too frequently abandoned, ignored, or obscured through long periods of church history. It is a renewed theological vision of the church in mission, which redefines the nature, the mission

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-48838435608878676722009-07-29T10:27:00.004-04:002009-07-29T10:48:50.326-04:00

Have you ever asked any of these questions...Are poor kids in Africa really as hard off as the charities claim?Isn't the media just embellishing the problem because they need a good news story?Why don't these poor people do something to help themselves?Why should I help the poor in another country when I need to care for my own family here at home?Why are all of these celebrities getting worked

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-14690601961235323252009-06-18T19:33:00.004-04:002009-06-19T08:12:52.252-04:00

I finished reading Austin Gutwein's book Take Your Best Shot a couple of weeks ago and posted a review on Amazon.ca. Today, a friend sent me the link to this video about Austin's organization Hoops for Hope and the amazing work that has taken place in Zambia (in partnership with World Vision) simply because a nine year-old kid decided to make a difference. I found this very inspiring. I hope you

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-14044261197258764432009-05-13T18:16:00.001-04:002011-05-26T18:20:27.277-04:00

From the Dunnville Chronicle:Ninety-one students of Dunnville Secondary School recently decided they could make a difference in the world and, by letting their actions speak, they did just that. During the annual 30-hour famine they raised $5,560 destined for third world countries through World Vision. Scott Rollo, who assumed the role of famine organizer as part of his position as Student

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-27148636749154118252009-04-27T22:44:00.004-04:002009-04-27T23:01:28.437-04:00

I've had NO time lately to even think about posting anything here. Anything beyond a few tweets once and again has just not been possible. That being said, watching this video tonight about the employment conditions of workers in Malaysia for a company contracted by Nike makes me sick. Any ideas on how we can make this stop? Personally, I think we can complain and protest all we want, but until

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-64900689635664478252009-04-03T17:02:00.003-04:002009-04-03T17:08:21.012-04:00

Read this article in today's Globe & Mail (follow the link for the complete story.)Although International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda says the government's recently announced foreign-aid realignment will continue to support people in greatest need, finite development resources are being shifted to better-off countries with a bigger trading potential to reinforce Ottawa's preferred focus on

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-29851693042874522992009-04-03T12:58:00.002-04:002009-04-03T13:06:52.670-04:00

It's Famine Day in Canada! Fact: Proverbs 31:8-9 says, Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.This will be my last poverty fact now that we've reached the National 30-Hour Famine date. There is still lots of time though to support your local famine group as there are many

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-5791951135859194232009-04-02T15:57:00.014-04:002009-04-02T19:23:39.236-04:00

I came across this story in the Toronto Star today:A Palestinian with an axe and a knife killed a 13-year-old Israeli boy and wounded a 7-year-old boy in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank today, two days after a right-wing government took power in Israel. Citing Israeli "crimes of occupation," Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a militant group in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement,

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-58929061579367621782009-04-02T09:13:00.001-04:002009-04-02T09:15:38.495-04:00

Fact: The UN estimates that unfair trade rules alone deny poor countries $700 billion every year (that's $2 billion per day). Support your local 30-Hour Famine!The End Poverty Concert is April 25!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd,

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-28116449510041667542009-04-01T10:55:00.000-04:002009-04-02T09:17:15.636-04:00

We had a really great discussion at our manuscript Bible study at church last night. In looking at Colossians 1:15-23 in it's historical context, we come to understand that when Paul refers to Jesus using words of authority...kingdom, thrones, dominion, rulers, powers...it is in fact a not so subtle reference to the authority of Caesar and the ruling authority of Rome over the Colossians. If you

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-51887731984224238432009-04-01T09:14:00.001-04:002009-04-02T09:16:22.431-04:00

Fact: Every month, 770,000 people in Canada rely on food banks-40% of whom are children. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!The End Poverty Concert is April 25!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-40598891824569556022009-03-31T07:59:00.001-04:002009-03-31T07:59:04.569-04:00

Fact: Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Denmark have reached their 0.7% MDG commitment. Another 11 countries have timelines for doing so before 2015. Canada is not among them. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!The End Poverty Concert is April 25!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-63730371990232348822009-03-30T14:46:00.002-04:002009-03-30T14:51:02.089-04:00

Fact: In 2007, Canada gave 0.28% of GNI to development assistance, well below the MDG requrement of 0.7%. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!The End Poverty Concert is April 25!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-15377210505805540402009-03-29T07:56:00.001-04:002009-03-29T08:00:29.091-04:00

Fact: Some 1.8 million children die each year as a result of diarrhea from drinking dirty water. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!The End Poverty Concert is April 25!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-7647264980325329102009-03-28T07:55:00.001-04:002009-03-29T07:56:43.862-04:00

Fact: Roughly 27-28% of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!The End Poverty Concert is April 25!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-91687931559863334252009-03-27T11:44:00.002-04:002009-03-27T11:48:39.155-04:00

Fact: 9 million children have been forced to leave their homes and live as refugees as a result of conflict. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!The End Poverty Concert is April 25!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-20060023376412614652009-03-26T09:52:00.002-04:002009-03-26T09:53:42.103-04:00

Fact: Four people under age 25 become HIV-positive every minute. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-61604451187868861472009-03-25T15:34:00.001-04:002009-03-25T15:35:55.012-04:00

Fact: 1% of yearly spending on weapons would put every child on the planet in school. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-84957318709354496202009-03-24T17:13:00.001-04:002009-03-24T17:14:56.777-04:00

Fact: Tuberculosis is the most common cause of death among AIDS patients in Africa. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-55853082250886766252009-03-23T20:30:00.002-04:002009-03-23T20:31:15.031-04:00

Fact: The global food crisis has pushed another 100 million people back into deeper poverty. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-19872171863934379782009-03-22T08:50:00.001-04:002009-03-23T20:30:15.220-04:00

Fact: Today is World Water Day. Water is a basic human right, not a commodity. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-42065759174645013402009-03-21T08:56:00.000-04:002009-03-21T08:56:03.880-04:00

Fact: Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355038.post-90662589444257217602009-03-20T08:52:00.002-04:002009-03-20T09:05:52.030-04:00

Fact: Average daily water usage in the devloping world: 10 litres/person. In Canada: 335L. Support your local 30-Hour Famine!Canada: www.famine.caU.S.: www.30hourfamine.orgU.K.: www.bugonline.orgAustralia: www.worldvision.com.auNew Zealand: www.famine.org.nzNo one to support locally? Support me!A fact a day until April 3rd, the date of the 30-Hour Famine.

Bradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03094108506381199866noreply@blogger.com0