heaven on earth

i had the privilege of seeing hillsong united this past saturday (as I do every year). and as every year, they put on an amazing show and had 15 000 people singing, dancing, and worshiping with them.

phil dooley was replaced this year with someone from the hillsong college. he talked about how although heaven and earth are 2 separate places, sometimes it's possible to catch glimpses of heaven on earth. at the times when the naked are clothed, the hungry are fed, and the thirsty are given a drink, heaven is brought to earth.

as a Christian, i have the opportunity to bring heaven to earth. through me, God can show His glory and love. i think that's amazingly powerful. i, in all my failures and shortcomings, can provide glimpses of heaven's glory on earth.

13 Facts about Malawi

why 13? because i'm leaving in 13 days.

13. One Canadian Dollar = 134 Malawian Kwacha
12. The national languages are English, and Chichewa
11. It is nicknamed "the warm heart of Africa" due to it's friendly people
10. It is among the world's 10 poorest nations, with GNI per capita is $596USD
9. Canada recently removed Malawi from it's "aid priority" list
8. Dominant religions are: 55% Protestant, 20% Catholic, 20% Muslim
7. President Bingu wa Mutharika was recently re-elected for a second term with "fighting corruption" as a priority
6. Lake Malawi is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the endemic fish showing specialized evolution
5. Almost 90% of Malawians live in rural areas
4. Maize(corn) is the staple food
3. Average birth rate per woman is 5.9 children
2. 14% of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS
1. The Blackberry is now available in Malawi

Oh man 13 days.

education: opening doors everywhere

- - - - -   Degrees Awarded   - - - - -                         

Degree: Bachelor of Mathematics                                 
Honours Operations Research, Co-operative Program 

Confer Date:           June 12, 2009

i did it. i actually did it :D

many days throughout my undergrad, i would sit and despise studying. sometimes due to the content, and other times due to sheer lack of motivation. it was at these times that i'd remind myself that education is a privilege. it's a privilege and it's empowering.

everyone has their own motives for educating themselves. education itself provides countless benefits: it equips one with tools needs to earn an income, immerses one in a field which they are passionate about, and it expands networks. however, i think the most important benefit of education is that it provides one with tools needed to make a positive impact on the world. education is a catalyst for human development.

i believe that my degree combined with my co-op experience has and will continue to open my doors for my future that otherwise would have been unreachable, nonetheless openable (is that a word?) i now have the knowledge, the skills and the network i need to begin to do my part in this world. to take a step forward from being a bystander and to begin to tackle pressing issues of my time. i am no longer a student stuck in libraries, but now more than ever, a global citizen.

i don't think an education is a free pass to create your own life, but a downpayment to enhancing lives.

the world is changing. jobs are being lost, systems are broken, and the world rests on the hands of everyone. not just humanitarians, but developers, accountants, architects, musicians, and everyone in between.

like sam davidson, nicholas negroponte, and jessica jackley, i will choose to use my education and skills set for change. i imagine a world in which every grad will also choose to do so, and that world is amazing.

on the right track.

i just finished the blue sweater and recommend it to anyone with even the slightest interest in international development. it is not a book which details all the problems of the world and leaves you depressed, nor does it paint a picture that going overseas with good intentions results in groundbreaking change instead, it is one that details the harsh realities of development and details the depths of the sacrifices that Jacqueline Novogratz's passions took her in her quest to seek justice.

Favourite lines/lessons:

...what is important is that individuals bring what they do best to the world.

...we need more people with tangible skills to contribute to building solutions that work for the poor.

Just start, don't wait for perfection. Just start and let the work teach you.

i don't think i need to expand on any of these because jacqueline says it best. it makes me think about the "thing" renjie, ruby, nick and i are working on and it gets me so excited. we're on the right track team.

almost...

total needed: $5500.00
grand total : $5030.50
________________
balance: $469.50

almost there. almost :D
god, i am truly amazed.

thanks everyone SO very much :D