Time for a reboot

Well, it's been almost 5 years since my last blog post, but today, I'm giving it a reboot!

My main reason for rebooting is that I want to use this blog, "Speaking Hope" to record my thoughts and some pictures as I walk the Camino de Santiago beginning May 18, 2018.

The Camino de Santiago, known in English as the Way of Saint James, is a network of pilgrims' ways serving to the shrine of the apostle Saint James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Many follow its routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth.

I've been planning this pilgrimage for several years as I've been interested in the journey since my good friend, Andrew Collins, walked the Camino in 2008. Like Andrew, I'm walking the Frances route, beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port and taking 31 days to reach Santiago de Compostela.

I've been thinking about this pilgrimage for a number of years and, I've been planning my May start for about one year. As well, I've been training for about six months. Now that my start date is under a month, I'm getting excited to begin.

You can join me on the journey via this blog, and I'll post pictures on my Instagram account under my username, 'neilostrander'.

BTW, I shot the sunset picture on my phone while visiting my Brother-in-Law's, Boat Lake ON cottage.

Strategic Partnership with Careforce International

Neil Ostrander, CEO of International Teams Canada (ITCA), and Philip Chester, CEO of Careforce International (CFI), are excited to announce a strategic partnership that will benefit both organizations as they work together to care for those in need in Canada and around the world.

Effective September 29, 2011, this partnership represents a bold next step for the International Teams partnership strategy, and one that will help ensure the long-term future of Careforce International. The agreement sets out a path where ITCA will run all the back-office functions, with a special emphasis on Online Services, while CFI continues as a separate charitable organization. CFI and ITCA will partner in program delivery and both organizations are expected to see an increase in participation and donor support over 12 months.

Philip says that the partnership will not only allow CFI to focus on the initiatives that are at the heart of who they are as an organization – providing resources to project partners, and sending short-term teams to assist those partners in the work they are doing – but will also assist in growing their constituency of supporters and establishing new programs. “Our research shows that sharing our resources will enable us to maximize and improve impact for our partners through increased efficiency in our operations. Biblically-based collaboration with ITCA will allow Careforce to transfer and share, to the benefit of both organizations. This will mean that Careforce and ITCA will be able to invest a greater percentage of donations directly to the programs and projects.”

Neil and the Board of Directors of ITCA have leveraged their experience, gained from ITCA’s other partnerships, to identify a number of benefits to this unique arrangement. “Nothing is being lost. In fact, we all have a lot to gain through increased efficiency. Partnering with Careforce allows ITCA to increase our program and operational capacity further and faster.  Together, we will help more churches who in turn help more widows, orphans and refugees.”

Both Neil and Philip are confident that the future of Careforce programs, partners, teams and overall vision is solid, thanks to a sustainable operational model that will be focused, lean and effective. They are available for more in-depth discussion of this partnership and encourage supporters of either organization to contact them directly with any questions.


Philip Chester
CEO, Careforce International
philip@careforceinternational.ca
905.639.8525

Neil Ostrander
CEO, International Teams Canada
neil.ostrander@iteams.org
519.669.8844

Global PartnerLink hires Wayne Johnson as new President and CEO

Former Head of Opportunity International Joins Forces with Global PartnerLink
Calgary, Alberta - March 5, 2011

Global PartnerLink announced the hiring of Wayne Johnson as the new President and CEO. Johnson brings over 25 years of sales, marketing, fundraising and international development leadership experience to Global PartnerLink from both private industry and the non-profit community. 

“We are thrilled to have Wayne join the Global PartnerLink team. His proven leadership, creative and innovative style, and international program experience will help us grow to the next level as an organization”, says Ned Benner, Chairmain of the Board, Global PartnerLink.

Johnson previously served as the founding CEO of Opportunity International Canada, Executive Director of a large Christian children’s camp in a major turnaround role, and as the Director of a niche marketing consulting organization, which served over 50 non-profits across Canada, Asia, Latin America and Africa.

“Bible translation is foundational to effective evangelism, church planting and discipleship. It is the missing key for many people groups who are marginalized and often the poorest of the poor. Literacy skills are also crucial, leading to improved education, health, job training, and cultural stability”, adds Johnson.

Keith Pickerill, Executive Director, Seamless Link, of the Christian and Missionary Alliance of Canada sees growth at Global PartnerLink, “…Two years ago Global PartnerLink was launched as a spin off from Wycliffe Bible translators. The objective was to dramatically accelerate the rate of scripture translation by working alongside organizations led and staffed by nationals, not westerners. There are still over 2000 languages around the world that still do not have the scriptures in their own mother tongue, or heart language,” explains Pickerill. “Wayne will help us as Canadians do our part in ensuring that people from every people, tribe and nation will be able to worship God in their own heart language… ”

Global PartnerLink works in 13 of the world’s poorest countries with 16 nationally led and staffed Bible translation and literacy organizations. They fund and facilitate 60 translation and literacy projects involving 80 indigenous languages spoken by over 3,000,000 people. Within 8 years Global PartnerLink plans on being involved in an additional 140 unreached languages and people groups.

www.globalpartnerlink.ca

Congratulations Wayne ... you will do a great job!

Fun Infographic on cell phone useage

Via: Online IT Degree

Hope: Year in Review

DAN PINK ON THE SURPRISING SCIENCE OF MOTIVATION

If you lead people, take 19 minutes and learn what science knows but business ignores!

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories -- and maybe, a way forward.

Mass Grave Project Video

Take a few minutes and watch this powerful story by Tim Sliedrecht.

Hope While Learning and Launching

This is more of a personal update so feel free to move on and read something more interesting like saving the forests in places like Ethiopia.

As I reflect back on the past couple of weeks, I continue to be filled with hope but I’m reminded that “August is the new September”! In the midst of the summer heat and bygone memories of “lazy days” the motor is revving as we push up to the start line that is “Labour Day”.

These are the days of concentration and focus on top priority activities. These are the days that where we take full advantage of the long hours of daylight, add snippets of recreational activity in an otherwise fully productive period.

Craig Bauman is fully in his role as COO as this was a “form following function” appointment. Craig’s leadership and steady manner has been the rudder of our national operations for some time ... and there was a chorus of ‘amens’ with his role announcement.

On the partnership front, we had good meeting with leaders from Northpark Church, London ON. It was a great process of them putting us through an assessment for partnership potential, values and mission alignment and landing on a discernment process as our next step. Great stuff! Deepens my hope for long-term effective partnerships that empower widows, orphans and refugees.

We’ve been on the journey of partnership with churches around the world and the indicators are good if not powerful that we are on the right track. Better said, we are on the same track with many leaders and moving in the same direction. This week alone, we signed a partnership agreement, drafted the next level for another, had several requests for exploring new partnerships and turned down a couple that don’t fit with iTeams Canada. Wow ... lots of activity ... lots of decisions!

We had a BBQ at our place with the people who will be involved in a major project to help iTeams build on the growing interactive use of our online presence. (That was a mouthful of a sentence!) As we build, you will see more about our partners, get easy access to global projects and lots of information “flow” -- like news, what’s happening now, reports and plans. Our leaders and partners will have greater access and greater influence and that too gives me hope.

My great hope for this project based on recent results that tells us what “you” are looking for!

I had some great conversations with our leaders in places like Austria, Athens, Wales, US, Australia, Philippines and here in Canada. I met with a number of “old friends” or is that “long-time friends” on a variety of personal and organizational items. My soul takes hope in these friendships as I find that I receive more than I give. I trust my friends feel likewise.

Yvonne, Luciana and Nickie

And as a special treat, Yvonne and I had dinner and mini-holiday with our Brazilian friends Nickie and Luciana. They are a great couple and a wonderful addition to Canada. Nickie is working on his masters in Hydrology while Luciana has an extensive resume in marketing and has just been hired by Research in Motion (RIM) starting today! (Mon Aug 23). Bright, dedicated, young and ready to sacrifice for their futures, their families, their friends -- knowing new Canadians like Nickie and Luciana gives me hope for our country’s future.

For someone like me, taking time to reflect back and look forward brings hope. My spirit runs on ideas and inspiration and out these I work to create optimism and hope. I find that many people, hope is in short supply.

So my question to you is ... where does your hope come from?

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
 No, my strength comes from God,
  who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
Psalm 121:1,2 The Message

Conservation of Ethiopia’s Church Forests

Conservation of Ethiopia’s Church Forests by bugcounter:

Closer view of Debresena church forest- South Gondar, Ethiopia (Photo–Alemayehu Wassie)
My primary reason for this trip to Ethiopia is to lend a hand to a team of researchers who are working to conserve the biodiversity of Ethiopia’s church forests. Ethiopia’s Christian heritage is about as old as the religion itself. The land that churches are built on are considered holy land and are spared the harvesting of trees for building material, fuel, and agricultural land.

Some of these forests are 1,500 years old and exist as “hot spots” or reservoirs of biodiversity. We will survey the relative distribution and abundance with special focus on assessing the ecosystem services that insects provide (as pollinators, herbivores, seed dispersers, and agents for seed germination, and nutrient cycling). With this data, we will make recommendations for conservation and management of these last remnants of Afro-montane forests of Ethiopia.

Another important part of our work here is to empower Sunday school children as the future stewards of these forests. We will engage children in the observations, surveys, and appreciation of their local insects. Because this conservation priority, the sites that were selected are adjacent to elementary schools with active Sunday school programs.

Craig Bauman appointed Chief Operating Officer

Craig and Leilani Bauman

I’m pleased to announce that effective August 1, Craig Bauman has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of International Teams Canada, a strategic move that I feel will help us build even greater capacity as we work together on our common goal of helping churches help the poor.

Craig has been with IT Canada since 1999, most recently as our Director of Operations. As we’ve moved toward greater partnership with churches in recent years, Craig has taken a strong leadership role in the redesign of our systems and agreements, helping us to become significantly more effective as a result. As COO, he will continue to push forward with these initiatives, while also overseeing the management of our international programs, as well as our Finance, IT, and HR departments. Craig will continue to report to me, and staff in those areas will report directly or indirectly through Craig.

The Board of Directors has been very encouraged by Craig’s leadership over the past 11 years and have expressed their appreciation for Craig’s ability to increase the scope of his leadership and contribution to International Teams as his level of responsibility has grown.

On a personal level, I’m excited to begin working with Craig in this new capacity. The past number of years have seen solid growth in partnership with churches in Canada and around the world, and I very much believe that the stability he offers is foundational for our next phase of growth and ministry. Craig leads people and processes very well, and has a unique personal touch that ensures he is well-liked and well-respected within our organization and beyond.

Please join me in congratulating Craig on his new role.

Check out their family blog at Paths of Life

My friend Tim writes about "Within a Yard of Hell"

Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.  C. T. Studd

Athens at the height of the Financial Crisis

I was in Athens last week for a networking meeting of Christians working to care for refugees in Europe.  We made a brief visit to a ministry center in the heart of the city where I worked nine years ago, and it really shook me.  The situation when I lived there was desperate, but desperate is no longer a sufficient description of this place.  No picture would do justice.

Thousands of immigrants and asylum seekers find themselves stuck in the cycle of Greece’s overwhelmed and broken bureaucracy, living in hovels or just in the parks, dreaming of a way out.  Many have fled persecution and violence in extreme forms, while others left behind “only” abject poverty and hopelessness.  At certain times of the day, the street turns into an overwhelming and intimidating sea of faces from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa.  Inside an alleyway entrance to the center we were visiting, 50 Afghan women with children in tow lined up to collect basic food staples.  One man asked for money to buy medicine for the sick baby girl he was carrying, but we had to say no.

A few years back that same street became home to a methadone treatment center for drug abusers.  Now hundreds of addicts crowd the sidewalks — shaking, wavering and bobbing about with weak knees, seemingly oblivious to the world around them.  In a desperate search for their next fix, men and women drop their pants without shame or take turns stabbing each other in the back of the neck looking for a vein.  They’ve lost all sense of dignity and are lost in some other world, but it’s the needles in their shaky hands that make me shudder as we navigate the street.

In this same zone legal and not-so-legal prostitution runs rampant both day and night.  Women from Africa and Eastern Europe are lured in with promises of jobs and a new future only to be forced into sex slavery.  Some are physically held in confinement.  Others are kept through psychological and emotional abuse involving tales of impossible debts and threats of harm to their loved ones should they flee.  Brothels are lined up one after another, marked with simple white light bulbs left on outside the doors.  The men exiting brothels into the daylight look sheepishly at the ground, avoiding our gazes, and hurry on their way.

I think it is the unrestrained evil in this little triangle of Athens that strikes me most.  Overt, abusive, degrading evil is tolerated.  Police officers wander the streets in a show of power.  They spend most of their time checking immigrants’ documents while casually observing the drug deals an arm’s length away.  It’s like the authorities have given up, having resigned this section of the city to unrelenting darkness, perhaps only hoping to isolate it from the eyes of tourists.

I’m sure this must be what hell feels like.

Missions, At Home & Away

ELMIRA, ONTARIO - For many International Teams staff members, the question of whether to serve at home or abroad is a complicated one.

Marcee Groen, an IT Canada staff member, spent several years serving in Bolivia and is currently investigating the possibility of establishing an International Teams program there, or the possibility of returning there herself. Marcee spent four years working at a girls' home in Santa Cruz before returning home in 2009. She says her main focus during her time in Bolivia was to provide pastoral support, mentoring, and accountability for the girls in the home, most of them abused and abandoned and ranging in age from 2-20 years old.

Many of them were behind in their schooling and suffered from behavioural issues in addition to the complicated issues of their sexual identities and the social stigma that surrounded their lives. Marc?e tells the story of one young woman with whom she had what she called a love-hate relationship, saying 'She wanted me to be her mom, to fill that role in her life, but she would frequently mouth off or throw things and tell me she hated me. I had to learn how to show the love of Christ to someone who was so distorted in her own view of herself.'

Marcee returned to Canada and became IT's Co-Director of International Programs in 2009, where she is responsible for providing accountability and support to IT's partners in countries like Sudan, Romania, Rwanda, Ecuador, and others. She became the female supervisor of the Welcome Home refugee house in early 2010, where she lives and focuses on both the practical side of running the house as well as offering support and evangelism to the refugees who live there, hearing their stories bit by bit and looking for opportunities to talk with them about Christ.

She loves her work in Canada but still misses the girls she worked with, and is returning to Santa Cruz for a 5-week trip this spring to investigate the possibility of a new partnership with International Teams. 'I still feel a high sense of responsibility to the girls I worked with. Even though this is not an IT project anymore, they've given me the freedom to wrap up what I started. I'm really hoping to figure out if I still have a place in Bolivia, and mostly to figure out if we can start a new international program there.'

In the meantime, Marcee says she keeps imagining her reunion with them. 'I keep imagining walking in and seeing the girls for the first time in eight months, reuniting with them and reconnecting with them ... I'm really looking forward to being back in the sounds and smells of Bolivia, and finally speaking Spanish again!'

How Great Leaders Inspire Action: Simon Sinek @ TED

Do Not Oppress ...

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.
Zechariah 7:9-10

Social Innovation Article : The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle (August 18, 2009)

Social Innovation Article : The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle (August 18, 2009)

Posted using ShareThis

Heading Home

Its the last day of our wonderful time in the Philippines. The wedding is "fun and done". A family dinner, one more sleep then travel home.

Hard to believe that our baby (Brett) is getting married tomorrow, and in the Philippines. Looking forward to a great day!

Media Hype

About this Video

During 13 days, up to May 6, WHO has confirmed that 25 countries are affected by the Swine flu and 31 persons have died from Swine flu. WHO data indicates that about 60 000 persons died from TB during the same period. By a rough comparison with the number of news reports found by Google news search, Hans Rosling calculates a News/Death ratio and issue an alert for a media hype on Swine flu and a neglect of tuberculosis.

Words of Anguish

"Confront me with the truth and I'll shut up,
show me where I've gone off the track.
Honest words never hurt anyone,
but what's the point of all this pious bluster?
You pretend to tell me what's wrong with my life,
but treat my words of anguish as so much hot air.
Are people mere things to you?
Are friends just items of profit and loss?

Job 6:25-27 The Message

I've been thinking about this passage of Job quite a bit recently. From my own journey, to those close to me who go through really tough times. Sometimes our words do "belong to the wind", because we speak from our pain. More difficult to deal with however, is the feeling that our words fall on deaf ears and we become less human for a moment.

I am thankful that Jesus hears me whenever I cry out, he hears my groans as clear expressions of a heavy heart. Yes, he does hear and I know that with certainty. But, if I'm fully honest with myself, I still need a person to look into my eyes as they listen to me, and to acknowledge my feelings. Then my humanity is restored and I can journey on and give myself to others in that same kind of 'human listening'.

Powerful Song and Lyric