While we worry about declining real estate prices, there are villages in Africa worried about their next meal.
Posted on May 7, 2008
Filed Under Diversion, Relationships, General |
One of the things I love about Lake Grove Presbyterian Church is the amount of time, talent and giving that goes to worldwide mission outreach programs. One of those is a now ten year partnership, through Worldvision, with a federation of sixteen Wolof villages in Senegal. Not mission in the sense of “here, let me give you some money, now convert”, but a real relationship. We send typically one team a year - sometimes two - to work with the village elders, and have had villagers visit us. Wonderful people: Colorful, quiet, understated (until they dance to 12/8 rhythm beat on a djembe) and enormously gracious. We’ve helped them dig bore holes so they have immediate access to clean water, built two schools, and helped fund a hospital.
The picture above was one I took when there in 2004. Several months earlier we’d sent $10,000 in rice - their diet staple is rice and millet - because drought had caused massive crop failure. The adorable little girl sitting in my lap was at the very least healthy because of it. In every village we were greeted with waving rice bags, and their gratitude - genuine and immense - was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.
They’ve just been through another serious drought. And this time the effect is worldwide; there have been food riots in nearby Dakar. The price of rice has tripled.
So we’re holding a benefit concert this Saturday, May 10, 7:00 pm (map), free and open to all. There will be a free-will offering, all of which will go to the food relief effort.
The very good news is the music - mostly African, gospel and spiritual - will be terrific. With all due humility our choir is superb, but with us will be professionals on piano, bass, drums and percussion. Dorcas Smith - who’s sung with us often and has sung with the Oregon Symphony for the Gospel Christmas - is one of the premier gospel talents in the region and will be featured. Even if you don’t come for the relief effort, you’ll be thoroughly entertained.
I know it’s tough, but forget about real estate for a couple hours! Promise, you’ll be glad you did.
Thank you!
UPDATE: Yes, thank you! In the final tally, the concert raised $19,262.83. Half of that will go to direct food relief, the other half split between seeds for this year’s crop and the tools necessary to expand into a diverse venture - forestry - so there’s less chance of devastation during drought. 4000 people now have real hope.
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Wow… These are two very different opinions. I think if you are lead to help people in other countries then that is a great thing.
As for life in America, I think we do need to stop and stop complaining work harder and be thankful! As for real estate, history repeats itself…it will eventually get better!