Going Home Letter

Go to our youtube page to check out our latest video created as Andrew and Ben were leaving Africa.

http://www.youtube.com/user/L4LVideo

Report Back

We're getting together on Friday night to spend some time sharing about our summer.  Andrew, Ben, and Erin will all be speaking about their time in Africa and we will have a few videos and lots of photographs.  We'll also be talking a little bit about Love for the Sake of Love's plans for the future and what God is currently doing in our organization.  We would love for you to come!
It will be at:
316 Seasons Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614

at 7:30 p.m. this Friday (September 3rd).

Stateside Update

We have roughly 260 days until we will be back out serving in Africa and potentially other parts of the world.  It sounds like a lot of time, but I know that it is going to fly by and that we have so much we need to accomplish by then.  Love for the Sake of Love seems to be growing bigger each day and it is truly incredible to see what God is molding it into.
Now that Andrew and Ben are back from Africa, we have been working nonstop.  Our main focus has been on figuring out some of the logistics for our mission trips next summer.  We have already had a lot of interest in these trips and it has been so exciting to see everything come together.  (If you're interested in coming with us, e-mail me at summer2011@loveforthesakeoflove.com and I'll send you some more information.)
We've also been trying to finish up the endless amount of legal paperwork to obtain our 501(c)3.  Andrew has been working on editing all of the photos and videos he took while in Africa.  We'll have these up on the website soon.  We are also looking forward to speaking at churches and other events to tell others about the work we're doing and what God has already done through our organization.  If you would like us to speak at your church or to another group of people, please let me know.

-Alison

Closure.

      

      I prayed for a boy that couldn’t walk that he would be able to run faster than the other kids. Broke a chain, that should have been able to hold up a bus, trying to get a bit out of a well. Helped to put an engine in an old range rover, only to find out that we needed parts like a starter and batteries that wouldn’t be in for a long time. Lost a soccer game. Got a multi-tool, nalgene, and 5000 shillings (60 bucks) stolen from me. Never saw a cheetah. And only learned a few more words of swahili.

      If i had any sense of direction to my life it would seam like i was going the wrong way or at least in circles. But the truth is that the entire time i have been blindfolded. And when you aren’t looking to go wherever you thought you wanted to be its easy to end up where God actually wanted to put you. 

     That boy still cant walk, the well is still broken and the car doesn’t run. But for just one second i saw the kingdom of heaven in that boys eyes, down in that well, and even while working on a car, and for whatever small price i paid to be there in that moment it was an expense i consider a gift to pay. 

     “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field”-Matt.14.44

AV- is coming home. 

L4L 

Co-founder

From the busy streets of Kampala, Uganda to the not-so-busy street of South Horr, Kenya, I have been apart of something bigger than myself.  

I have seen the incredible transformation of street children to honorable young men.  I have seen a man help reconcile an entire region once known for frequent and fatal tribal conflicts.  I have seen a guy give up his own bed and sleep on the floor for six weeks, simply because his guests needed a place to put their stuff.

What the people behind each of these circumstances all have in common is they are apart of something bigger than themselves.  They recognize the sacrifice and selflessness required to make a difference and bring about the change they want to see in the world.  They recognize what it takes, commit themselves to what they believe in and in doing so lift the lives of all around them.  I have seen these things.  And I thank God for that.

BK- out

L4L

Forerunner

"At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so in return their plenty will supply what you need.  Then there will be equality, as it is written: 'He who gathered much did not have too much and he who gathered little did not have too little."  2 Corinthians 8:14-15

Hey Folks,

       Its been a little while since my last blog.  A few weeks I guess.  Now I dont want to make excuses but there are several factors which play into being able to get on the internet.  First, everything at this camp is solar powered meaning the panels must receive enough sunlight before they can begin powering things.  This means it is at least noon before the computer can be powered.  Secondly, the internet connection comes through a satellite meaning that a decent cloud cover can result in no internet.  Clouds usually roll in most evenings and connections to the web is halted.  And thirdly, I'm in Africa, why would I want to be on the internet?

So there are my excuses/justifications, however you want to look at them.

        Anyway I wanted to point out something Andrew and I have noticed throughout the entire trip.  We've noticed that while Africa can improve in certain areas theres a few that need no improvement.  One of those is community.  Africans could teach a seminar on the principles of 2 Cor. 8:14-15 and the idea of communal sharing.  One reason for this is the fact that the economy doesnt move as fluently in Africa and the job markets are more barren, becoming more and more so the more rural you get.

        Today I was hanging out with a few guys who graduated high school a couple years ago and are doing some construction work at the camp.  I asked if they were working for Stakwell and they said no, they were volunteering.  It is either do that or loiter around the town doing nothing.

        A few days earlier I was hanging out with some other guys in the same predicament.  Graduated high school, dont have the funds to go to college so they volunteer at the primary schools as teachers.  Oh yeah, and most of these guys are tri-lingual, so pretty smart dudes.  Theres just a lack of opportunity.

          When we are at certain markets we will go from shop to shop with the same people coming along  and encouraging us to buy even though it may not even be their shop that we are in.  They work together and if we buy they will split our sale amongst themselves so that everyone has some.  

        So while it may be financial or locational reasons that promote this super-community lifestyle, its still cool to be a part of it.

         Lastly, a couple days ago Andrew and I hiked a mountain to a town on the other side and it was a nice change of scenery. Our guide was our Samburu friend named Jon who doesnt speak a lick of english but always has a good time.   After finally reaching the town on the other side of the mountain we were pretty hungry so we asked him to take us to food.  Fifteen minutes later we were standing in the middle of a football field, nowhere near food.  The "foo" sound in both must have caused the confusion.  Got to love language barriers.

        Anyway looks like some clouds might be moving in so im gunna go ahead and post this thing

            

   Ben

-co-blogger-