Catalyst 2011 and then some.

I got to go to the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta for the first time this year.  It was filled with 13,000 Christian leaders.  Matt would introduce us to someone and then say, "You know who that was right?"  We'd reply, "no".  Then he'd say, "he worked with Eva Longoria on her campaign for Haiti after the earthquake."

Oh OK.  

That's pretty much how the weekend went.  

"Hi what do you do?"  

"I change the world."

I got to meet Katie Davis' youngest two daughters.  If you haven't heard of Katie Davis yet, you will.  Her book Kisses from Katie just came out.  Here is her interview backstage of Catalyst: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/17711160  

I wish I could have heard all of the crazy awesome speakers like Katie or Francis Chan or Andy Stanley. I got to hear maybe ten minutes of Andy Stanley.  Then I heard Mark Driscoll, Judah Smith, and the TOMS shoes founder.  I think the best parts inside the conference were moments like Catalyst telling Katie they would pay for her daughters' college education, or when the men in Jeff Foxworthy's Bible Study were presented with a car!  I did not know Jeff Foxworthy lead a Bible Study. So cool!  Check out his backstage interview here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/17734404 

Here's what SafeWorld did all weekend:

Matt ran a lab panel with Pastor Charles Jenkins, Lisa Harper, and Jim Reese.  He also was interviewed backstage of Catalyst.  You HAVE to check that out to better understand what we do and hear Caroline's story.  I'll get to meet her in November.  Here's Matt's interview: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/17718850  While he was shmoozing with the best of them, Sarah, Rachel, and I manned SafeWorld's booth in the Justice Tent.  Throughout the conference area there were organization's booths, however SafeWorld was FEATURED with top social justice organizations.  It's pretty amazing that little ol' SafeWorld was in the tent with groups like Compassion International, Blood Water Mission,  International Justice Mission, Adventures in Missions, etc.  Pretty much we talked to people about coming on medical trips to Uganda with us, but every now and then we run into people from other organizations that were interested in helping us do really big things for the people in Luwero, Uganda.  I really look forward to talking more with everyone we met in the next couple of weeks/months.  

Again, SafeWorldNexus is kind of unique in the fact that we have been working with the same people over the last couple of years, with no plans to leave them.  If you go on a trip with us we will be introducing you to friends.  You will pass out mosquito nets with no quota, meaning if you pass out one net to one family and spend the evening with them then WE LOVE IT!  We want you to get to know people and make friends.  Our board member, and Senior Producer of The Dave Ramsey Show, Blake Thompson, just wrote a great piece on the Luwero people and our upcoming trip.  I'm copying this straight from his blog http://beyondblake.wordpress.com/ :  

I'm headed to Luwero Triangle, Uganda at the beginning of November (a few weeks away) for 11 days w/ SafeWorldNexus.  Devastated by war in the mid-1980s that killed more than 100,000 and displaced 750,000, Luwero struggles to regain traction. The use of child soldiers was commonplace, which has led to a deterioration of the family unit, and leaving over 123,000 children listed as “at-risk” for reasons of AIDS, malnutrition, slavery, etc. Upwards of 50,000 of those children are known orphans, some left to care for several younger siblings alone. Fresh water sources are scarce, and many residents have to walk up to six miles roundtrip to have access. SafeWorld is pretty established here providing/maintaining water sources, etc.  One of the most important parts of this trip will be mosquito net distribution. We have been working to find ways to connect personally with each area that we work. Our delivery method is door-to-door. We don’t have a quota for each day, but instead we’re wanting to spend as much time as is needed in each home. Representatives from the village leadership (frequently including the chief) will be traveling with us to make sure their people understand just how important the use of their nets are to help avoid malaria. Distributing in this way helps us build trust and relationships, and build demographics for the area. Each house will be marked by GPS, and basic information on each household will be recorded. This gives us a specific picture of the needs in each area.  We will also be taking a medical team to help with medical needs.
This is where I can use YOUR help to make a MAJOR impact.  I’ve personally already paid for my trip, but could use your help in raising an extra $2500 for medical supplies needed.  If you can help w/ $10 or $100…I can reach this goal in the next week or so, alowing us time to purchase what is needed before leaving in November.  If you decide to participate, please make your checks out to: SafeWorld Nexus (put Uganda Trip in the memo line).  You can hand them to me personally or you can mail them within the next two week deadline to: SafeWorld Nexus 516 Holston Ave. STE 204 Bristol, TN 37620

Thanks for your continued support with our work in Haiti and Uganda.

-Blake

If you would like to donate any bit of money (again, just $10 even) towards medical supplies on our November trip then you can also go to our giving page.  (Seriously if you've read this much there's no excuse.)  In the dropdown menu select "Mission Trips" (don't worry about the second dropdown that will come up), put in your amount, and then in the comments section say "November Medical Supplies".  THANK YOU THANK YOU!


Updates:
If you read my post on baby Moses, he was just moved to an orphanage.  You can read about it HERE.  So far there have been no applications to adopt him.  Pray for his future family.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 
 -Micah 6:8