Quote of the Day

He may be mad, but there's method in his madness. There nearly always is method in madness. It's what drives men mad, being methodical.

G. K. Chesterton, The Fad of the Fisherman (1922)
English author & mystery novelist (1874 - 1936)

No wonder I'm nearly mad some days! I seem to be looking for the perfect plan or strategy -- driving myself and those around me mad. New year's resolution: be more spontaneous, go with the flow, trust God more, listen to the wise counsel of my wife and other around me who I admire for their spontaneity.

Picture of the Day: Rwanda

From Rwanda, Afric...

International Peace Light from the Bethlehem Nativity Grotto

As I reflect on another Christmas season, a time near the end of the year when us 'task oriented' types can be run off our feet, I am warmed by this story of the Peace Light Campaign. No matter what complaints we have with the commercialization of Christmas, or the new political correctness that drops Christ out of everything, we can find some glimmer of light that reminds us that Christmas does indeed belong to Christ.

Enjoy this story and your own story of Christ's birth in your neighbourhood.

[Singing] ‘The light from Bethlehem will give the world a new hope, let us all warm in the light of peace.’

The Nativity Grotto Peace Light campaign is a two-decade-old tradition. Every year a child from Austria fetches the light from the place in Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born. Then the light travels to Austria where it is distributed to delegations from different nations at a special ceremony. Back in their home countries, messengers take the light to churches, hospitals, old people’s homes, prisons, schools and other institutions.

Polish scouts take part in the tradition for the 16^th time this year. Ewa Lachiewicz, head of the international office of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association.

‘The message of the campaign of the light of Bethlehem is to spread peace. For the scouting family peace is the most important value. We believe that this is our aim living here on Earth, that we should try to build friendship with all other people. We perceive the Peace Light of Bethlehem as something very important for scouting.’

The Nativity Grotto Peace Light campaign originated in Austria as part of a charitable mission organized for children in need. It was very quickly spread as an international peace campagin. Since its onset 20 years ago, scouts from many countries have gathered together to help the light travel throughout Europe and recently even to the United States. Polish scouts have collected the light of peace from their Slovak counterparts and will pass it on to Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania and Russia. Ewa Lachiewicz of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association again:

‘In Vienna it was distributed to national delegations. Slovak scouts received the light in Vienna and brought it to the Polish Slovakian border. Polish scouts received the light just last Sunday from our Slovak friends. Now we will bring the light to the countries to the east of Poland. This is very important to us to be part of this chain of spreading the message of peace to our neighbor countries: Russia, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine.’

For Polish scout Adam Staroniek the light symbolizes peace, family, warmth, and the good that is in people:

‘This light comes from the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem. Just before Christmas we take this light and give it to all the people. It symbolizes family warmth and peace. It is supposed to be an occasion for all of us to sit by this fire, because as one of our songs says, everything that’s evil seeks darkness, and what is good, comes out into the light. This is why we spread this light.’

Earlier this year it was feared that there might be problems collecting the light from Bethlehem because of the turmoil in the region. However, due to a peace agreement in August, the tradition can still be practiced.

‘This year will be the first time that the fire will arrive in Russia before December 25 in order to bring light to the believers of Catholic, Protestant and other non-Orthodox parishes for Christmas,” said Vyacheslav Chernykh, initiator of the initiative and an officer at the Russian Scout foundation, according to the press service of the Russian Conference of Catholic Bishops.’

In the past, the light of peace has been presented to Pope John II, Pope Benedict XVI, Mikhail Gorbatchow, former King Hussain of Jordan, EU President Romano Prodi, and troops in Kosovo and to Ground Zero, New York.

The International Peace Light Website

Honorary knighthood for U2's Bono

Take a closer look at this controversial Irish Christian and his dedication to bring 'good news to the poor'.

U2 frontman Bono is being awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen, the British Embassy in Dublin has said.

The singer, whose real name is Paul Hewson, has been given the honour for "his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work", it said.

Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated him, telling the singer in a letter: "You have tirelessly used your voice to speak up for Africa."

The 46-year-old will receive the honour in Dublin early in the new year.

British ambassador David Reddaway will conduct the ceremony.

The embassy said the agreement of the Irish government was sought and granted for the Dublin-born singer to be honoured.

I know from talking to you how much these causes matter to you and how determined you are to do all you can
Tony Blair

A statement on the band's website said the singer, who has lobbied Western leaders to increase aid to developing countries and cancel Third World debt, was "very flattered" to receive the award.

It added that he hoped it opened doors for his campaigning work against extreme poverty in Africa.

Pressure on leaders

Because he is not a British national, he will not be able to use the title "Sir". The honour is the same as that conferred upon fellow Dubliner Bob Geldof in 1986.

Other recipients of honorary knighthoods include Microsoft founder Bill Gates, singer Placido Domingo and film director Steven Spielberg.

In his letter to the singer, Mr Blair thanked Bono for his work in the run up to 2005's G8 summit, which had a focus on African poverty.

Alongside Geldof, Bono organised the Live 8 concerts to coincide with the summit, and increase the pressure on Western leaders to take action.

"I know from talking to you how much these causes matter to you. I know as well how knowledgeable you are about the problems we face and how determined you are to do all you can to help overcome them," he said.

"I want personally to thank you for the invaluable role you played in the run-up to the Gleneagles G8 summit. Without your personal contribution, we could not have achieved the results we did.

"So thank you and I look forward to continuing to work together to maintain momentum on Africa, and ensure leaders around the world meet the promises they have made."

In 2003, Bono was presented with France's Legion D'Honneur by President Jacques Chirac, while in 2005 he was voted Time magazine's person of the year for his work promoting justice and equality, along with Bill and Melinda Gates.

Last year, he admitted that at one stage, he was worried his commitment to the cause might force him to leave U2.

In 2006 he was named the most influential pop star of the past 25 years by music network MTV, and in February U2 won five Grammy Awards, including song of the year for Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, and album of the year for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Check out Bono's involvement in DATA @ http://www.data.org/ That is, "Debt, Aids, Trade, Africa"

New Archbishop for Toronto -- promises to be outspoken

Experts from a Toronto Star article ... interesting reading. I would like to meet Archbishop Collins someday.

‘In a democracy, I think it’s important that voices be heard’

He won’t be a shrinking violet.

Archbishop Thomas Collins, who takes over as spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of Toronto’s 1.6 million Catholics early next year, told the Toronto Star he will be both visible and vocal on many of this country’s most divisive issues.

Currently serving as the archbishop of Edmonton, Collins was tapped by the Vatican last week to replace Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, the quiet and often controversial 76-year-old intellectual, who critics say was a rigid follower of church teaching.

Yesterday at a packed St. Michael’s Cathedral, Ambrozic celebrated his last mass at noon. The Slovenian immigrant praised his successor as “a wise man, a man of faith and man who will look to the Holy Spirit for guidance and counsel.

“I have no doubt that he will be a responsible steward of the diocese, a faithful shepherd who will guide his flock for many years to come.”

Collins, described as easygoing, approachable and scholarly, has been busy brushing up on the issues of his new constituency since Saturday, when Pope Benedict XVI handed him the job of shepherding the country’s biggest, richest and most diverse archdiocese.

Catholics, who make up the biggest faith community in the GTA, will continue to hear the same message but can expect to have it delivered with a friendlier face.

Not surprisingly, in his seven years as archbishop in Edmonton, Collins has been an advocate on moral issues, such as opposition to abortion and same sex-marriage, positions he will continue to embrace.

He sees it as not only his job, but the job of all Catholics, to be “very much engaged in the wider society in which we find ourselves. I think that’s essential.”

“This doesn’t mean supporting this or that political party,” Collins said in a telephone interview from Edmonton yesterday. “I certainly think it’s very important for the Catholic church to be present in society. After all, we are a very significant element in society.

“In a democracy, I think it’s important that voices be heard.”

Born in Guelph, Collins was ordained in Hamilton in 1973, and has a master’s degree in English and a PhD in theology.

His views on the highly sensitive issues of same-sex marriage and abortion are well known through his writings and pastoral messages.

“Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman faithful in love and open to the gift of life,” Collins told the Star. “Certainly that’s what the Catholic church believes, and absolutely what I believe marriage is.”

“But this is not just a Catholic belief, but a reality that is valued by Catholics, by Protestants, by Jews, including many people of no faith — the fundamental structure of marriage, the fundamental meaning of marriage.”

His position on abortion is just as clear. “Life is the most precious gift, from the first moment of existence to natural death. I think when we forget that, it wounds all of society,” he said.

“He’s an intellectual, but he’s a real teacher and he’s able to convey that knowledge in a way that the ordinary people in the pews can understand and get enthused about,” said Glen Argan, editor of the Western Catholic Reporter.

Collins was in Rome last fall to hear Pope Benedict tell his bishops to speak out more on political issues, and to remind Catholic politicians what it means to be a good Catholic.

‘Catholics have a right to expect that they can rely on the integrity of their priests’ Archbishop Thomas Collins

“I think it’s important that each individual, when faced with moral issues in society, acts according to their conscience and not do anything that pulls down or goes against the dignity of the human person,” Collins said yesterday.

He has little tolerance for priests who abuse those in their care and trust.

“Catholics have a right to expect that they can rely on the integrity of their priests and bishops, so that those entrusted to their pastoral care may be confident that they will not be harmed,” he once wrote in the Western Catholic Reporter. “Even one priest who turns evil can cause enormous harm, for he abuses a sacred trust.”

“I think the main thing you can say about him is that he is an outstanding teacher of the faith. He’s a brilliant man who knows several languages.

“While in the seminary, he managed to complete his master’s degree in literature in one year.”

Argan, who has known Collins since he arrived in Alberta almost 10 years ago, called him “a very easy man to get along with,” who counts among his major accomplishments the increased number of young men who joined the priesthood since he was appointed archbishop of Edmonton in 1999.

Dale Brazao, Staff Reporter

Gangs use voodoo in Nigeria sex trade

Excerpts from an article by CNN. Notice how International Teams and Jennifer Roemhildt are a part of the solution.

If she runs away from her life of prostitution, her parents will become sick and die.

At least that’s what this Nigerian woman believes. The threatened curse, she claims, was part of a voodoo rite performed in her homeland just weeks before she was brought to Europe by a prostitution ring.

“I have no doubt in its power,” says the petite 24-year-old, who goes by the alias of Maria and described being forced into seven-night-a-week duty at a flophouse brothel on an Athens back street. “Even if I had a doubt, how could I risk the life of my mother and father?”

Maria’s case illustrates one of the least understood corners of the sex slavery underworld: gangs using the perceived potency of native West African voodoo and hexes to hold women in their grip. Recently, however, an unusual alliance has started fighting back.

One of Nigeria’s new anti-prostitution inspectors is turning to Christian-affiliated groups to confront a system that—even by conservative estimates—may hold sway over at least 10,000 Nigerian women forced to work as prostitutes in Western Europe.

“We cannot fight this by police work alone,” said Muhammad Babandede, the chief investigator for a Nigerian task force against human trafficking. “We need the faith groups on our side.

One of the most recent collaborations is being formed in Athens, a chief crossroads for prostitution smugglers from Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.

International Teams is working with Babandede and other experts in voodoo culture on strategies to persuade the West African women—mostly Nigerian Christians—to reject the curses and seek help from authorities.

The group, Lost Coin, started counseling and prayer sessions this year aimed at shattering the voodoo influence by evoking the even greater might of God.

“These women believe in voodoo and all kinds of lesser gods, but most are also Christian and believe in the one almighty God who is above all,” said Jennifer Roemhildt, who leads the Athens Team for Lost Coin. Her organization is affiliated with International Teams.

“God can undo the voodoo,” she added. “It just takes a while to convince them of this.” Babandede offers a more blunt message: “Voodoo is just a myth, not a reality.”

But, in practice, it’s not so simple. ‘Spiritual terrorism’ Faith in the power of voodoo—sometimes called juju—is deeply ingrained in West African culture. It’s a direct link to ancient ancestor-based beliefs that include a wide variety of spirits and other supernatural entities, and it forms the base for rituals brought to the Caribbean and elsewhere.

In West Africa, voodoo priests still are often used to seal financial transactions or root out suspected thieves—often with a threat of a deadly curse for the wrongdoer.

Prostitution gangs parlay this fear to their advantage, Babandede said. Thousands of women and girls seeking transport to Europe—sometimes with false promises of legal work—undergo voodoo rituals that can involve cuts and taking nail and hair clippings as totems. “God can undo the voodoo”— Jennifer Roemhildt, who leads the Athens Team for Lost Coin

“They are told that fleeing the traffickers will bring death to them or their family,” said Babandede, who addressed human trafficking conference in Turin, Italy, one of the hubs for Nigerian-based prostitution networks. “This is a heavy power over these women.”

It is also something difficult for most authorities to comprehend. The international prostitution trade in Europe is mostly built upon other methods of bondage: holding women in prison-like conditions or setting impossibly high repayment sums in exchange for their passports and IDs. For some women who manage to escape, the ordeal is finally over.

“But in the cases of voodoo, it can be just beginning,” said the Rev. Tom Marfo, a Ghanian-born pastor who operates mission houses around Amsterdam that specialize in helping West African women break from prostitution gangs. “They think, ‘Oh no, the curses will begin.’ I tell them to have faith that the true God will not let this happen.”

Dutch authorities have taken notice. Marfo is increasingly consulted to understand the centuries-old rituals behind the Nigeria prostitution rings.

“This is more than a police issue. This is an issue of native spirituality—a kind of spiritual terrorism being used on these women,” said Marfo. “You need religious people and the power of faith to fight this.”

Quote of the Day

"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties."
Sir Francis Bacon

This quote reminds me of the way I describe my own journey. When asked, I usually say something like, “In my twenties, I knew everything—you need an answer, just ask me, I know. In my thirties, I realized that I really do not know all the much—at least not for certain. In my forties, I have lots of questions and very few definitive answers.”

A good question, approached with honesty, can lead to Sir Francis Bacon’s ‘certainty’. An arrogant certainty can lead to questions and doubts all around you—particularly those who love you most.

I marvel at the teaching of Jesus, who when confronted with an expert and their cleverness, he would answer with an insightful question and let the truth of the situation ‘speak for itself’.

Jesus, help me to question sincerely and listen clearly today.

Link to "Swimming Outing!"

Check out the story and pictures on Brett's blog ...

http://brettinmanila.blogspot.com/2006/12/swimming-outing.html

Silly String In Iraq?

Marines working in Iraq had shown the Army combat engineer how Silly String can be used to detect trip wires. Before searching buildings, for example, personnel spray doorways from at least 10 ft. away with streams of foam--and see if they're snagged by barely visible wires, which are often affixed to bombs. The Army acknowledges the off-label use, and Marine spokesman Captain Jay Delarosa says, "We force Marine trainees to improvise."

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Silly String

Silly String is a child's toy: a flexible, brightly-coloured plastic string, shot as a stream of liquid that sets quickly, through an aerosol can. One can "shoot" a seemingly-endless strand of the colourful stuff. Silly String is popular for usage during weddings, birthday parties, school carnivals and other festive occasions.

You have to admire the ingenuity, and in fact the real credit goes to the British SAS for the discovery of this unusual application of a 'child's toy'. However, as I think about this story and other news stories I have seen recently, I am reminded of just how much violence is a part of our world .

Ah but then my gaze turns inward, and I see the violence in my own soul. This day I must choose to seek healing for my own hurts, my own shame and my own violent reactions. Perhaps those who know me would never see the violence come to the surface, or perhaps they see more than I am aware and offer forgiveness without my knowing.

Nevertheless, today I begin again to seek help and hope from 'the maker of the mountains', the all-knowing, but all loving Father.

Today, holy and just God, rid this world of violence by beginning with me. Today, loving one, remind me again and again that you walk with me and bear what I cannot. Today, like St. Francis of Assisi, let me be a channel of your peace.

Twenty four years with the 'wife of my youth'

Brett, Yvonne, Neil & Michael -- The Ostrander Family

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. Proverbs 5:18

On Monday, December 4, 2006 Yvonne and I celebrated 24 years of marriage. Like so many people in our age group we often say, "where did the time go?" It is a valid question, even though we recognize that time is a constant, the more experiences we have in our past, the quicker time seems to move.

Next to following Jesus, deciding who to marry was the biggest and best decision of my life. Building a lifetime of good memories began when we became engaged and has continued to today. My Yvonne is getting more beautiful as the years go by, and I just seem to be getting older.

We are so proud of our two boys and the men of character they are becoming. Each have their own unique personalities, and each their interest and pursuits. And we love each of them for who they are and what they contribute to our world.

Today, I am feeling blessed by the decision we made some 24 years ago, and I'm looking forward to at least 24 more!

Liberal leadership race over

I admit it -- I'm a bit of a political watcher. Today the Liberal Party of Canada choose Quebecer Stephane Dion as their new leader. I wish Mr. Dion and his family well as life just got a lot more stressful.

A reality of the democratic process is that to 'win' you much 'demonize' your opponents. While all the leadership hopefuls tried hard to steer clear of this age old tactic, it slipped out now and then. Even if your demonization is of a rival in another party -- once you stoop that low, should I not be wary that you will turn that venom on me some day? To my way of thinking, this is a sad reality of our political process. However, as a follower of Jesus, I read in Bible the following words ...

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (emphasis added)

So I get a vote every time there is an election. I can read the press, even contribute a few words to the political columns. But, my responsibility to pray for those who lead our country is still a daily requirement.

Why not join me right now and follow the real leader. Stop and pray for those who take the responsibility to govern our nation.

Quote of the day ...

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.

Samuel Johnson
English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 - 1784)

This quote bring to minds me of the bible verse ...

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim 6:6

Verse for the day

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16

Rwanda cuts diplomatic ties with France

Prayer Request...
(from Serge and Jennifer Kamari, Kigali, Rwanda)

We are not sure what you have heard or read regarding the current relations of France and Rwanda. Rwanda has a commission investigating the role of France in the 1994 genocide and has uncovered some very heinous things.

As France has learned about what has been uncovered about them, they have taken measures to divert the attention from themselves and just this past week have issued arrest warrants for various Rwandese in conjunction with the genocide and have internationally stated that President Paul Kagame should be tried for the genocide as well. This has caused a stir in Rwanda to say the least. Nothing violent, just people raising their support for the Rwandese government and speaking out against the French.

The Rwandan ambassador to France was home within 24 hours and the French ambassador and all things French (NGO's, schools, cultural centre) were closed here in Rwanda within 72 hours.

How does this affect us you might ask...

Well... the house we live in is owned by the Rwandan Ambassador to France. He has returned and wants it back. Our landlord came by this afternoon to tell us. We do have a contract which states we have two months to move BUT that is not a very long time to find a house that is suitable for us, have any upgrades done to the house and move. God brought us this house from a pretty impossible situation and we're trusting him to do the same.

Serge and Jen

Toward Becoming Empathetic and dropping our denominational gaurds

I read the "Weekly Reflections" from the Henri Nouwen Society and this quote caught my attention.

The Baptist fellow recently was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, and I had no question about rushing to his side. His family stood solemnly at his bedside, where he rested with a Bible as well as the daily newspaper on his lap. When I approached, he clasped my hand with both of his and related his prognosis in an open, almost serene manner, and all our differences evaporated. After visiting briefly, I asked to pray over him. With one hand on his forehead and another on his cheek, I prayed not a Catholic prayer, or a prayer of any other denomination for that matter, but a heart-to-heart caring of one human being for another who names one God. My friend rose up from the pillow and sealed the moment with a heartfelt kiss of gratitude.
by BARBARA FUHRWERK

What moves me is the love that wells up in the face of life-threatening illness. Love that bridges barriers, love that transcends the theological arguments and love that compels genuine compassion and prayer.

As I near the end of my forty's, I'm struck by how much the gospel of Jesus seems to have grown over this decade. His reconciling work, his love for the poor and brokenhearted are so much 'bigger' than I ever imagined. I've seen his love in action, breaking down barriers between people who would by race, tribe or family be enemies -- but there they are worshiping together.

Followers of Jesus anticipate heaven, a place where all that is wrong with this life will be fully and completely changed -- and my weakness and hate will be replaced with love and perfection beyond imagination. I've been wondering if the mystery is really right here, right now. God at work through the words and example of Jesus, pulling people together who would easily find ways to be separated.

May the unity of spirit, the bond of peace, grip us in such a way that we early seek out those who are different from us and break the barriers with Jesus' love.

Big News for Michael

Michael completed his driving test today — and he passed!
His comment was, "That's a load off my mind!"
No kidding! Yvonne and I are thrilled for Mike and thankful to our friend Faith Morphy for her investment into him through her business, Young Drivers of Canada.
Faith did a little "pretest" with Mike last evening, which gave him confidence as well as, some last minute instructions. Thanks Faith!
If you want to congratulate Mike you can e-mail him at mike_ostrander@hotmail.com

Pictures of Brett in Manila (mom and dad too)

As you can see from these pictures, Brett spends time with people who live by a dump. For these squatters, these pictures represent a little bit of 'normal life'.

Included are a few photos of Brett's new apartment along with a picture of him with Jessemyn, a favorite from the church in the dump.

More Photos of our recent trip to Manila

Manila web album ... click the photo below!

Manila 2006

Brett's new apartment and gang ministry

As we started the gang ministry, it became clear to me that we needed a place close to where the teens live. A ‘safe place’ we could meet with them. I found a wonderful apartment in a nice neighbourhood that meets all our criteria, that is, the right location and it is big and cheap. It is a 2-bedroom apartment with two floors in a new building, which is in good condition. The landlord is great guy who lives two houses down and seems very supportive of me, my team and our ministry.

These are exciting times because we see so clearly, that God is leading us and guiding us, and with the gift of the apartment, I believe it will take our ministry to the next level. The community is accepting me (us) well, and many of the local kids know my name, so that is nice.

We were able to get some things for the apartment... a couch and chair, bed, and a fridge. The apartment needs to be set up for youth to be able to come in, watch a movie, sit and relax, and talk. The idea is that we meet with gang members one-on-one and separate them from the larger group. What is so exciting is that it is begging to work! Very soon, we will have a regular Bible study time as well.

The other night, I discovered that right beside my house there are kids from the same gang hanging out there and doing "tambay" which is so close to the English of "standby.” This gives my team and me regular access to a key group of youths and provides lots of opportunity for conversation time and for building trust.

As of now, we have about seven youth that we think we can take to the next step and present the gospel. It is hard because if we move too quickly in presenting the gospel we can turn them right off and make is so hard to get another chance. The hard part for me is that because they are from the low-income families it is more common that they do not speak English, so I do not really get to make the verbal presentation, which makes me sad, but I can do lots to help. I can encourage and strengthen my teammates Rodel and Jason as they are becoming bolder in their witness.

Also, I have already had some great conversations with my landlord. He has been teaching me about some history, and I have been talking about what I do, and even what it is to be a Christian. I am extremely confident that in time he will come to the lord, I see the desire for something great in his life, and I know only God with fill that longing.

I am excited and thankful that God has provided an apartment and a ministry base for our team. However, moving into this neighbourhood, new ministry, and new apartment has increased my expenses.

Therefore, to make our new apartment fully functional I am asking for some one-time donations to complete the set up. And I am asking for increase of $300 in monthly support.

I ask that you become part of the changing of the youth’s lives. The needs are so great, but the opportunities are even greater. Please join in on seeing lives transformed by the power of God.

I thank you for your support in prayer and finances already, but now is the time to step the ministry happening right now.

Brett Ostrander

PS. Please pray with me for safety, wisdom and guidance for that I know prayer is the most important. And pray for my teammates as well.

Calls for peace in Congo

Congo-Kinshasa (MNN)--The loser in Congo's landmark presidential elections, Jean-Pierre Bemba, rejected the results this week, vowing he would contest them.

Meanwhile, the incumbent president, Joseph Kabila, is trying to unite fractured parties to begin repairs to the infrastructure.

It's a move that will be the hallmark of what kind of administration Kabila wants to run. The infrastructure eroded under Mobutu Sese Seko's regime until electricity, communications, hospitals, schools and decent roads were regarded as luxuries.

Wages for state workers have gone unpaid for months, sometimes stretching out into years. That includes teachers, which, in turn, has seen a severe decline of education.

Although Kabila has already been in power for six years and not fixed these problems, the people are hopeful. Peace has been a newcomer to the region, and while it isn't absolute, it's not a full-blown civil war anymore.

click link for more ...
Articles - Mission Network News

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Our boy Brett

Brett Ostrander, standing at the Elora Quarry, Summer 2005

It's Sunday morning and usually we get a call from Brett who is serving the poor in Manila, Philippines. Not today however.

Yvonne and I spent a couple of weeks with Brett in October this year, and did a lot of "firsts". Brett leased his first apartment, purchased his first couch and chair, along with a bed and kitchen items.

Very fun for a mom and dad to be a part of milestone. However, what really thrills us is our son's love for Filipinos. He has great friends, like brothers and sisters. He moved into a neighbourhood that is full of people and lots of children and you can just watch him build relationships. I think he get's the big heart for people from his mother!

It's never easy to let you son go, and encourage him to move to the other side of the world, but Yvonne and I have great peace about this whole situation. He is where God wants him and that is enough for us. Yes, we do miss him and his Canadian friends.

Brett we love you and we are very proud of you. Mom and Dad.

Yea, right

Microsoft Exec Says Vista Is So Safe He Doesn't Need Anti-Virus Software

The security in the new operating systems has improved so much that Windows co-president Jim Allchin lets his son run a PC without anti-virus software.

Nov 10,:57 PM

Windows co-president Jim Allchin has said that Windows Vista, which met its release to manufacturing milestone earlier this week, is so superior to Window XP on security that he feels safe letting his own son run a PC without anti-virus software.

A prominent security analyst countered that that attitude would be fine as long as everyone using Vista was a seven-year-old.

During the Q&A portion of a telephone briefing with reporters Wednesday, Allchin said he was proud of Windows XP SP2, another operating system effort he led. "[But] there were things that we couldn't put in that product," he said.

"Don't misunderstand me, this is an escalating situation. The hackers are getting smarter, there's more at stake, and so there's just no way for us to say that some perfection has been achieved. But I can say, knowing what I know now, I feel very confident."

So confident, in fact, that his seven-year-old son's Vista PC lacks anti-virus software.

"Honestly, he doesn't have an antivirus system on his machine. His machine is locked down with parental controls, he can't download things unless it's to the places that I've said that he could do, and I'm feeling totally confident about that," Allchin said. "That is quite a statement. I couldn't say that in Windows XP SP2."

"Sure, if everyone treated their employees like seven-year-olds, and locked down their PCs 100 percent, how could a virus load?" said John Pescatore, a Gartner analyst and the research firm's resident security expert, on Friday.

But that's not going to happen. And in the real world, Windows Vista does need anti-virus software.

"As soon as you allow users to load anything, and everyone will allow that in Vista, then you need AV [anti-virus]. For two reasons, one small and one big," said Pescatore. "The small reason is the hope that it will block viruses and worms. But the big reason is so that you run an AV scan once a week and remove viruses before they can cause too much damage."

Another Vista opinion that Allchin put forward on Wednesday got better reception from Pescatore.

"It's my opinion that the severity of the [security] bulletins will be less [in Vista than in XP], as well as the number will be less," predicted Allchin. "That's to be proven, so we'll see about that. Vista will have issues in security because the bar is being raised over time, [but Vista] is the most secure system that's available, and it's certainly the most secure system that we've shipped. So I feel very confident that customers are far better off by using Windows Vista than they are with anything that we've released before."

Windows Vista will reach corporate volume license customers this month, and consumers on Jan. 30, 2007

reset in a new location

Speaking Hope is back. I've reset my blog in a new location so stay tuned for new posts and perhaps some past posts.
Neil

Seems like September

August has always been a good month for "ramping up" ... planning, getting new things ready for the onslaught of the fall, etc. Not this year however!

Insane, or just shy of it would describe how this August started! However, I'm thrilled that a ton of this activity is related to mobilization. More teams, more individuals, more projects and more resources -- mobilization the way we like it!

I'm writing this entry today because it is a little quieter. Also, to be fair, I should note that we took some time away in July and enjoyed a wonderful cottage at Chesly Lake. So ... this is not complaining ... just a note about our current reality.

But wait ... what will September look like?

Sorry plight of world's refugees - Hamilton Spectator

The world has become an increasingly hostile place for refugees fleeing war, persecution and violence. As a consequence of the 9/11 attack on the United States, more countries are making it more difficult for refugees to enter. Borders are being tightened, making it harder to seek asylum.

Developed countries have also heightened screening and reduced the number of refugees they absorb due to fear of terrorism. The United States reduced its maximum refugee intake to 70,000 in 2002, down from 90,000 in 2000 and 142,000 in 1992. The European Union is following suit.

Refugee advocates point to the "third safe country agreement" between Canada and the U.S. as one of the tougher measures meant to reduce refugee claimants. (When landing in Canada or the U.S., a refugee cannot apply for asylum to the other country and phase out the appeal procedure. A rejection is final.)

This Wednesday is World Refugee Day and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees wants to bring attention to the plight and perseverance of millions of men, women and children who are forced to flee their homelands due to insurgency, oppression or persecution.

It is estimated 20 million to 25 million people around the world are victims of forced displacement. Of this figure, 14 million are considered to be conventional refugees who fled their country because they have a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

As a signatory to the Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture, Canada has a legal obligation to refugees on Canadian territory. Each year, Canada accepts thousands of refugees as a part of its commitment to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. It works closely with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was created in 1951 to help in the settlement of 1.2 million European refugees left homeless after the Second World War.

Government estimates indicate that between 1979 and 2001 about 409,526 people came to Canada as refugees. More than 200,000 arrived as government sponsored refugees and over 170,000 were privately sponsored. In 2004, just over 25,000 refugees were accepted in Canada. Most refugees make Ontario their home and Hamilton is one of the top three cities where refugees settle.

Despite a popular belief that our country accepts too many refugees, Canada is not listed among the world's leading destinations for refugees. In fact, the majority are found across national borders near their homeland.

Those who make it to Canada are faced with growing suspicion and are often unfairly labelled as scapegoats for societal ills. Some in our community see them as a drain on the public purse.

"These refugees get everything for free," said one caller on a radio talk show. "As a Canadian, I have less rights than these people who just got off the boat."

And if any newcomers dare complain about the way they are treated, they are immediately told, "Why don't you go back where you came from?"

Every day around the world, people are fleeing their homes and starting over. They are ordinary people trying to escape the daunting circumstances of war and persecution.

Despite the challenges they face, refugees are a courageous group who overcome tremendous odds. They flee hardship in the search for hope through asylum and protection.

World Refugee Day hopes to increase public awareness about refugees and their struggles and the indomitable spirit of survival. We, too, can play a role in debunking myths about refugees.

They are survivors, not victims. They don't need our pity or handouts. They only seek our support and encouragement to help them become contributing members of their new community. On Wednesday, Settlement and Integration Services Organization will host a special breakfast at Liuna Station for World Refugee Day. All are invited.

Freelance columnist Evelyn Myrie lives in Hamilton

Getting the job done

Half way through the major upgrade and all systems are running smoothly. However, it is a well-known corollary to Murphy's Law, "That if everything is going well, you have failed to check something!" We trust that this is simply not true in our case!
Karl with Alan and Steve ... playing with/praying over the SQL Server

I should note that Dann Farquhar from ITUS has provided strategic help to Karl during this systems upgrade project. As of Friday, we were running test batches and the initial user feedback from Rhoda is "good".

Please continue to pray with us as Alan has a big job in converting reports to the new version and a number of the new features will be added this week, tested then rolled out to an initial set of users.

From my standpoint, it is good to have great people who not only have skills, but dedication and heaps of intrinsic motivation.

Way to go team!

More refugees sneaking into Canada: study

Canada's refugee agreement with the United States is forcing more people to try to enter Canada illegally, a study from Harvard says.

The report, Bordering on Failure, says the number of refugee claimants at Canadian border crossings has dropped by more than 50 per cent in the past 18 months.

However, the researchers say that doesn't mean fewer people want to settle in Canada. They believe refugees are trying to find other ways into the country, including human smuggling.

"What we found was dramatic decreases in legal border crossings," said Deborah Anker, a Harvard law professor who co-wrote the study.

"There were a number of reports from NGOs [non-governmental organizations] who had been contacted by refugees who were applying for asylum with relatives who had entered Canada without authorization." (International Teams is one of those NGOs)

Anker said the connection is clear: Fewer refugees are trying to enter Canada legally because of the new safe third-country agreement that came into effect just over a year ago.

The agreement was intended to reduce the number of refugee claims at the border by designating the United States as a safe haven.

The problem, Anker said, is that many migrants don't consider the United States a safe haven.

"We are really in a very troubling situation in terms of refugee protection in the U.S.," she said.

The study backs up a report by the Canadian Council for Refugees.

Janet Dench, executive director of the council, says the number of refugee claims has dropped to about 4,000 from 9,000 in the year before the agreement was signed. And she says illegal crossings are on the rise.

"We do know that some of them are finding a way of getting into Canada irregularly," Dench said. "This is what we were frightened would happen. They have no recourse but resort to dangerous methods of crossing borders."

Please continue to pray witth us as we respond to needs of people who get caught in our political systems!

Finding his way in San Jose

Great Story ... great connection to our friends work with Rising Above as Johnathan's dad is board member.

GARY MASON - Globe and Mail Update

VANCOUVER -- Jonathan Cheechoo can still remember those first days away from home, away from his family, a 14-year-old kid crying himself to sleep most nights in a stranger's home.

His dad also remembers those nights. Mervin Cheechoo often cried himself to sleep too. As did Jonathan's mom, Carol Anne. There would be more tears spilled whenever their son used one of the calling cards his dad gave him and he dialed home to tell his parents that's where he really wanted to be.

"Those calls weren't easy," Mervin recalled the other day. "There were always lots of tears and I'd say, 'Jonathan, if you want to come home, come home. It's up to you.' But by the end of the conversation he'd always say, 'No, I'm going to stick it out. I'll be okay.' "

Mervin laughs. "Turns out it was a good decision."

There have been lots of great stories in the NHL this season. The return to form of Jaromir Jagr. The brilliance of Alexander Ovechkin. The greatness of Sid the Kid. But there hasn't been a warmer one than that of Jonathan Cheechoo, the Cree Indian from Moose Factory, Ont., who Thursday night scored his 52nd and 53rd goals of the season.
As of yesterday morning, Mr. Cheechoo was second in the goal-scoring race, one goal behind Mr. Jagr with two games to go for both players in the schedule. His San Jose Sharks, meantime, were fifth in the Western Conference and riding a hot streak heading into the playoffs.

While the revival of Joe Thornton's career in a Sharks uniform has garnered most of the attention around the team, it's been impossible to ignore the mind-blowing year his triggerman has had. Mr. Thornton and Mr. Cheechoo clicked from the moment the former Bruins centre arrived in San Jose in a Nov. 30 trade last year.

The one statistic that best illustrates the role Mr. Thornton has played in Mr. Cheechoo's success is this: Of Mr. Cheechoo's 53 goals, 46 were scored after Mr. Thornton's arrival. You could also argue that Mr. Cheechoo has had almost as great an impact on Mr. Thornton's remarkable season.

If Mr. Cheechoo doesn't convert Mr. Thornton's passes, Mr. Thornton doesn't get many of his assists. As of Friday, Mr. Thornton had 94 of them (36 of them off of goals by Mr. Cheechoo). Combined with his 28 goals, Mr. Thornton was tied with Mr. Jagr for the league leader in scoring.

Mr. Thornton, however, prefers to push away any attention in the direction of his soft-spoken teammate.

"It's a great story," Mr. Thornton says. "And one that should be told."

And a few lockers down in the visitors' dressing room at GM Place, Jonathan Cheechoo, 25, is talking about his unlikely journey, the one that took him from his tiny native village of 1,600 on a remote island in James Bay, a half-hour snowmobile ride from Moosonee, a 15-hour train ride north from Toronto.

And a world away from the Shark Tank, the glittering home of San Jose's NHL team that sits amid the million-dollar homes and high-tech office complexes of California's Silicon Valley.

"When I first left home to go play bantam in Timmins I didn't have a clue about anything," Mr. Cheechoo says. "I had to do laundry and everything and I'd never done it before because my mom had always done it."

"The first time I did it all my whites turned blue. I tried to fix it by washing them with bleach but I forgot to add water. It was just pure bleach and it destroyed all my clothes."

Being away from his family never got easier. Not when he was 15 or 16 or 17 playing in the Ontario Hockey League for the Belleville Bulls. He never stopped missing his parents and brother and sister, never stopped missing the hunting trips he used to take with Mervin and all Mervin's brothers and Mervin's dad, George.

Whenever he got a few days off at Christmas he'd make the long trek home, even if it was for only a day or two. When it came time to head back to the big city there were always more tears.

"Yeah," he recalls. "Christmas was always the hardest. It never got any easier."

Jonathan Cheechoo will tell you that he wouldn't be where he is today without his parents. Without Ted Nolan too.

Mr. Nolan, aboriginal himself, attended a hockey school in Moose Factory when Jonathan was 13. Then a coach with the Buffalo Sabres, Mr. Nolan saw some talent in the kid but he knew no one would ever see it if he stayed on the reserve. It was Mr. Nolan who encouraged the Cheechoos to allow their son to move to Timmins to play bantam.

"There are a lot of great native hockey players," Jonathan Cheechoo says in an interview. "But so many are reluctant to leave their families and communities. Our families are very close and tight knit. A lot of kids have a hard time surviving outside them. Or they'll leave and then come home after a month.

"That's why you probably don't see as many native people in the NHL. It's not that there aren't lots of talented native players, there are. They just find it hard to leave home to get the kind of exposure and training and competition you need to get to have any realistic chance of making it in the NHL."

Mervin Cheechoo - Pastor and counselor with Rising Above

Mervin Cheechoo agrees. Now a pastor of a native church in Sudbury, he also works for Rising [Above], a counselling group for aboriginals.

He believes making that break from families is sometimes essential if native kids are going to learn how to handle adversity and face the many different types of hardship that life throws at you, whether you're a hockey player or a teacher.

Some of the adversity his son faced came in the form of prejudice and racist taunts that would be hurled at him in different hockey arenas.

"I'd ask him about that a lot," he says. "It's sad to say but it's a reality of the world we live in, even today. We never got into specifics about what people were saying, I just told him to always be proud of who he was. I told him that people who spoke that way often didn't feel good about themselves so needed to put other people down in order to make themselves feel better.

"I told him it was not his problem but theirs. We tried to instill in him to have pride in his native heritage. Never be embarrassed by that."
By the time Jonathan Cheechoo was playing major junior hockey in Belleville, bus loads of friends and family would often make the trek down from Moose Factory, a hockey-crazy town if there ever was one, to watch him play. They would all hang around after the game to talk to him. The children of the village who were along for the ride regarded him as a hero.

He was just 18. He was happy to be a good kid, to keep his nose clean, to never embarrass his parents, family or tribe, but being a role model seemed a bit much.

“Back then it was a bit of a burden,” says the younger Mr. Cheechoo, who would be drafted 29th overall by the Sharks in the 1998 Entry Draft. “Now I'm a little older, more mature, and I don't mind. I like talking to kids, meeting groups of school child from native schools like I will today.

"If somehow my presence makes them feel better about their lives, their chances, whatever, hey, I don't mind talking to them. I consider it an honour, really."

Sharks coach Ron Wilson has been around enough 50 goal scorers to know what they look like and think like and act like. There was Pavel Bure in Vancouver, Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya in Anaheim and Peter Bondra in Washington.

"They all made it look so easy," Mr. Wilson says about the ability of those players to score goals.

"Cheech [Cheechoo] makes it look so goddamn hard."

Even Mr. Cheechoo acknowledges he wasn't born with the natural gifts of a goal scorer. He's got where he is through hard work. Everyone says that. When Mr. Wilson first saw Mr. Cheechoo he figured he would be a third-liner in the NHL with the potential -- potential -- of maybe one day sneaking onto a second line somewhere.

"You see him and he stumbles around and he looks off balance but he never falls down," Mr. Wilson says. “But then you see that drive and hunger to score. All those guys I've had who scored 50 goals had that same thing, that something in their eyes as they got closer to that red light.

"There's a drive they have that I can't explain, maybe they can't either. They want to score so bad they'll do anything."

Doug Wilson, the Sharks GM, says the most impressive thing about Mr. Cheechoo's season hasn't been the number of goals he's scored, but the number that were game winners.

Ten.

"That to me is the most impressive thing," Mr. Wilson says. "When the game is on the line he's come through."

Joe Thornton can't explain something as real as the chemistry two hockey players sometimes develop. He can't explain why he and Mr. Cheechoo -- who recently signed a five-year, $15-million (U.S.) contract extension -- have made magic this season, but he does offer these observations about his line mate.

"There are a couple of things," Mr. Thornton says. "He never misses the net with his shot and that's huge. He's also a right hand shot and I like playing with right hand shots. I never catch him off guard with a pass; he's always waiting for it. And he usually always gets the meat of his blade on the puck and he usually fires it up top in one of the corners. As a goalie it's pretty tough to stop the guy."

It's the spring hunt in Moose Factory.

The schools are closed and the boys and their fathers and their uncles and grandparents and just about everyone in town has left for their hunting camps. They are after geese — as many as they can get.

"Jonathan's Grandpa [George] got two yesterday," Beatrice Cheechoo, Jonathan's grandmother, says over the phone from Moose Factory.

"Jonathan loved to go hunting with his grandpa. He used to tell me that when he finished high school he was going to live in the bush in Moose Factory and hunt all the time. When I think about that now I just laugh."

She is a proud grandma. She watched Jonathan score his 50th goal on television thanks to her satellite dish. She screamed and screamed. She wanted to get up and dance but her 72-year-old knees wouldn't allow it.

She turned on CBC radio the other day to hear two kids from Moose Factory talking about Jonathan and how he has become a role model for them.

"Most of the kids in town just do drugs and alcohol," she quotes the boys as saying.

Chief Patricia Faries, the first female chief of the Moose Cree tribe in Moose Factory, acknowledges there is a lot of social dysfunction in her village. There is a lot of drug and alcohol abuse among kids and adults. She says in a telephone interview that the impact of Jonathan Cheechoo's achievements on the community cannot be overstated. "Because it all becomes real for the kids," Chief Faries says. "It shows them that anything is possible and not just in hockey. It shows them that we weren't meant to abuse drugs and booze, that there are other things out there to pursue.

"It's about having a dream and chasing it. It's real with Jonathan, we're seeing it. It's all positive and healthy and can only help us here. He's a star and he's from Moose Factory.

"Who would have imagined?"

gmason@globeandmail.com

My Profile

Born 1957, married to Yvonne 1982 - Sons: Michael 1985 and Brett 1988 -
Joined International Teams Canada 1990 and became CEO 1997

- Follower of Jesus since 1963 -

From my teen years to the present, I've been inspired by these verses penned by the apostle Paul from Ephesians 4 ...

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."