Ash Wednesday

For the people of Mayange, the desert imagery of Lent is not difficult to grasp.  Part of the reason the MVP chose to conduct programs in the area is a lack of adequate rainfall and challenging conditions for agriculture.

This past year was especially difficult due to a long-lasting drought that destroyed many crops and left many people in desperate circumstances.

As I enter this Lenten season and read the Gospel lesson for Ash Wednesday in which Jesus instructs us not to disfigure our faces when fasting, I think of the countless people I pass every day who may not have eaten a full meal in weeks, yet whose faces reveal only hope and joy.  As I pursue my Lenten resolution to pray with the rising and setting of the sun every day, I will remember those in this world whose journey in life is a daily struggle, but who approach each day with unfailing optimism and gratitude for the little they do have.  I hope you will, too.

Millennium Congregations: a Brief Introduction

After sorting through over 20 hours of footage, I came up with this 2 minute piece to use as an introduction for shorter presentations about Millennium Congregations.  It can also be thought of as a trailer or preview for the 15-20 minute piece I will be making in the next few weeks.  

That video promises to be challenging as I try to capture the incredible complexity and comprehensiveness of the Millennium Villages Project, personal stories of how their programs have improved the community, and how all of this relates to Millennium Congregations.  My problem, which tends to be a common one in my experience with this work, is deciding which amazing programs and stories to leave out completely.