1. 010812

    every ending is a new beginning.

    just finished reading “Notes from My Travels: Visits with Refugees in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan and Ecuador” by Angelina Jolie.

    notescover.jpg

    working at Freedom House, i felt a rather strong connection to Jolie’s emotions and feelings felt towards/regarding her time with refugees.  

    alas, i now feel compelled to do something. something big for Freedom House.

    so i sent a few emails this afternoon.  

    now, phone calls will be had this week.

    chats with my executive director will be had in the near future.

    what this “something big” is, i’m not sure; however, i hope whatever it is, it will happen…and be successful.

     

     tkriii  angelina jolie  refugees  unhcr 

  2. 102311
    Those who have worked with refugees are in the best position to know that when people have been stripped of all their material supports only their cultural values and spiritual inheritance remain to sustain them.
    — Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Aung San Suu Kyi, Towards a True Refuge, 1993.
     

     refugee  refugees  Aung San Suu Kyi 

  3. 121410

    for the beautiful people at Vive.

    AdrienneMae and I are trying to raise a little money for Vive La Casa, a local organization that helps our brothers and sisters from around the world find safety. this place is incredibly dear to both our hearts, and this holiday we want to give back.

    will you join us?

     

     vive la casa  vive  refugee  refugees  help  donation  give  holidays 

  4. 082610

    pure fulfillment.

    it’s been three weeks since my last visit, due to no-shows, being busy, or being out of town, on both my part and theirs.

    today was a great first-day back at Vive.

    i met, and spoke with, two new people from the DRC.

    then my four regulars came, too.

    there were conversations flying back-and-forth, around and around.

    [it was beautiful.]

    we discussed a man who was “maladie” (sick), and “fou,” or going “crazy,” as they said. “what should we do?,” they asked. what would I do if i were them? needless to say, i did not know. “je ne sais pas,” i replied. laughter ensued.

    we discussed God, creationism and evolution.

    we discussed language.

    and my personal favorite: we looked at tons of old photos of one of the refugees.

    it was magical; i loved every second of it.

    —-

    bottom line: United States, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, China, Pakistan, Mexico, wherever, it doesn’t matter.

    we are all people.

    we are one people.

    —-

    i love people, and i love life.

    —-

    i love you all.

     

     refugee  refugees  vive  life  people  world  unity  equality  religion  language  photos  creationism  evolution  love  peace  understanding 

  5. 062410

    thursdays.

    off to Vive to spend some time with my friends from around the world!

     

     refugees  refugee 

  6. 041710

    these people want…

    i volunteer at vive la casa on thursdays and just talk with the refugees about life and faith. it’s always a wonderful experience. i love meeting people, learning about new cultures and taking the time to understand the plight of individuals, because i believe it can lead to peace.

    every refugee at vive believes in peace through understanding—or at least all those i’ve encountered—hence this bench.

    LOVE IT!

    and i love you all. much peace on this saturday evening. hope you enjoy yourselves.

     

     peace  love  understanding  life  refugees