Sunday, June 20, 2010

Uganda ceremony


I had the honor of watching many dances at the ceremony\celebration for the items be brought to them. The photo of the children dancing was a real highlight for me. Fortunately I also have it on video and will eventually be able to show it to you in video form.
Here you see the colorful costumes and the dance steps of the children. It was simply amazing.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Uganda ceremony

One of the highlights of the ceremony was when a public official spoke. He referred to me as "one who has come home." He suggested that "I left as slave but returned as master." What was clear is that the people of the small town of Pader have claimed me as their own. It was a wonderful feeling to be in that moment with this African community and to feel the connection and appreciation.
The Anthony Brown Comprehensive School has many needs. There is need for desk top computers and a connection to the internet. They need more class rooms and expertise in developing an academic track to their curriculum to compliment their vocational programs.
These formerlly abducted child soldiers are eager to learn. I was impressed with their focus and discipline. They work hard but without the neccessary resources to advance their education, it will be difficult for them to compete. Friends of Orphans has created a place for them to learn. Now I must work together with others to help them advance in their lives. What an exciting challenge!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Uganda ceremony

On June 16th the officials of Friends of Orphans had a huge ceremony to celebrate the supplies we brought to the Anthony Brown Comprehensive School. There was much singing and dancing, speeches from various officials and a speech from me. The Hesston Mennonite Church sent with us a prayer shawl and a cup. Both items were made by members of the church and represent our connection and interest to commune with the people at the school. The photo shows me presenting the items toRicky Richard at this outdoor event.
Aftterwards we presented the supplies to them on behalf of Hesston Mennonite Church and committed to remember them in our prayers. We then enjoyed eating goat meat and rice This food is eaten and served when an honored guest arrives.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Journey to Uganda

On June 10th I embarked on a jounney to Uganda with Greg Ebersole and Kevin Roulac. Kevin is a student at Emporia State University from Hesston Kansas and Greg is a professional photographer from Longview Washington. With the fundraising assistance of the Hesston Mennonite Church, we were able to buy supplies and equipment for the Anthony Brown Comprehensive School in Pader Uganda. The school educates formerlly abducted child soldiers and vulnerable children. I laid the cornerstone for the school in 2006 when I visited Uganda at the request of Friends of Orphans, and organization which works specifically with child soldiers.
Our tme here to date has been spent assisting in buying the needed supplies and equipment for the school. We have also spent considerable time on the campus talking with students faculty and admnsitration. We have learned a great deal and will be reporting about it.
The ABCS is a skill based institution focusing on vocational skills with the view of preparing student for work. The programs include: wood working, welding, computer training, bricking laying, auto mechanics, tailoring and catering.
Today we will officially hand over the things we provided for them in a formal ceremony. I will report on that later today.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Nature heals cancer 56


Erica's mother determined that she did not want to take Chemotherapy. Due to Erica's connections her mother's treatment began being supervised in early July by a natural medicine doctor who had practiced it for over forty years.
He checked the condition of her blood and her vital organs. They gave advice about the food she should eat and how to eat it. The food consisted of brown rice, natural salt, miso, soy sauce,vegetables and fermented food. She was instructed not to eat meat, oils, fish, sugar, eggs, or animal protein. The food she was instructed to eat was organic with no chemical additives . She was told to chew each bite of food at least two hundred times before swallowing. They also instructed her to continue with the various compress treatments.
After she saw the doctor she became enthused and hopeful about her condition. In two weeks she became increasingly independent taking more care of herself without Erica's assistance in administering the various compress treatments.
She takes sauna three times per week. She walks regularly and her condition is improving. In her last check up with the doctor, she was told that her condition is improving steadily. You can see this improvement in her energy level, the almost complete removal of pain related to rheumatism (she no longer takes medication for rheumatism) and in the complete disappearance of her cough. The doctor reports that her vital organs are strengthening. She will continue on with these treatments. We are please for the natural way she is being healed. We applaud her for her courageous choice not to have chemotherapy. She reports that this is the happiest time of her life. She is thankful for the cancer because it has changed her lifestyle and her world view. According to the western doctor's predictions she should now be preparing to die. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Nature heals cancer 55


In April of 2008 Erica's mother, Akie Shinya was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. She was told by doctors trained in western medicine, that if she did not take chemotherapy treatment she would only live for six months. If she took the chemotherapy therapy she had a fifty percent chance of living for another five years. The lymphoma had spread to her lungs and esophagus resulting in a nagging cough. She had also taken rheumatism medication for five years to reduce its pain.
On the 23rd of May Erica traveled from the states to Hiroshima where her mother lives and began to do natural therapy with her mother. It included natural or healthy eating and several specific natural treatments to strengthen her mother's vital organs. This included yam and ginger compresses, Japanese medlar or loquat and heat compress. At the same time she began to gradually reduce her rheumatism medication so as to be free of chemicals in her body.
Three weeks later her coughing began to change and increasingly became less frequent. Still she had severe pain in her body brought on by the reduction of rheumatism medication. Here you see Erica(right) her sister(left) with her mother in the center in early June of 2008 .

Monday, September 8, 2008

Aikido 54



What was amazing was the gentle approach of the the restraint. With just a flick of the wrist a young child could throw an adult! Below, Miwako is thrown to the floor in effortless fashion.
In so many ways the Japanese are concerned with the method or the "right way" to do things. I was impressed with their ability to find "the right way" to subdue. As Morihei Ueshiba, a master of Aikido stated, "to control aggression without causing any injury is the art of peace." This is the art of Aikido