Not Called! Did You Say? --William Booth-- Wiebe's Corner Quotes

'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world."

William Booth 'Founder of Salvation Army'

1829-1912

Vocational Training Feedback

I hope you found a couple of the past articles interesting on Ideas of Vocational Training for Youth and the International Situation (See June 2012 Archive), because I believe if you keep on reading this blog you hopefully will read more on this needful subject. The last week or two I have received a variety of articles down this nature. It is a time of research and critical thinking to see how it would be possible to make such a project fly. This is not a idea that is solely original to me by any means. Before I left to teach school with my wife in Belize, these thoughts started to really stir in my head. When I got there I found the deacon brother there had likewise been wrestling with the same issue. As time passed and I heard about some of the unrest with Nigeria and Haiti youth---it would come back. After my last trip to Haiti, I heard alot more about the situation there. Finally I share it here to share and discuss. If it is God's will--it will happen in it's time. The facts are that something needs to happen. The mission is open to ideas and why not develop them to give them more options to work with. Too me one of the keys is to look at the situation of our national brethren's shoes of these different countries. Alot of what I write is what I gather from conversations with them.


I e-mailed a certain brother and he sent me this in response to Vocational Training article. I greatly appreciated it's view points. 

1.       I like the idea to make the program two years long. In Nigeria, some of the young people are required to give two years of national service, usually working for the government teaching or something. Perhaps this program could fulfill that requirement. Also, a two-year program would be of sufficient length to provide substantial teaching and growth among the young people. On the other hand, how many of our young people at home are willing to commit themselves to a church program for two years? Some are, but certainly not the majority.

2.       Such a program would provide a definite spiritual benefit. Our youth members in Nigeria are struggling. Many young people are leaving home and congregational settings in pursuit of profitable careers and are struggling spiritually as a result.

3.       In Nigeria, we wouldn’t want to focus too much on agriculture. Many of the young people have no agricultural background, and trades are more likely to be successful. At the same time, I would certainly support having a garden or field plot. Such skills are useful for anyone to learn. I’m just saying that we shouldn’t focus overly much on agriculture.

4.       Running a salvage yard is an excellent idea. It would also work really well for the young people to run community projects such as garbage clean-up, recycling, etc.

5.       I think it would be quite easy to come up with a product to manufacture and sell. Many products are currently being imported to Nigeria due to lack of local industry, so I think the opportunities are wide open.

6.       I absolutely agree with Booker T. Washington’s principles. His story is inspiring.

From the “Industry Based Vocational Training” article”

1.       I agree with the need to start small. As we can see from the dollar figures given in the article, a project like this can be quite expensive. Recruitment for both instructors and students will be difficult. Perhaps an initial class of ten students and two teachers would be ideal. It might be best to start with one Nigerian and one North American instructor.

2.       I also agree that we should eventually use graduates of the program as instructors/helpers. This, in my opinion, is a crucial step for the project to become self-sustaining.

3.       It’s interesting that they required a 1:5 teacher to student ratio in the Philippines. That seems high to me, but I suppose it’s probably necessary.

4.       I agree with the thought that the students’ time should be highly structured. This is something that could probably improve in the American units, but it is especially important in other countries due to the lack of a general Christian culture.

The challenges I see:

1.       A project like this would require a major commitment from the local staff and brethren. I’m afraid this is likely to be the first and hardest challenge. This is not due to a lack of concern or spiritual vision from the local staff. The local staff are already extremely busy and overburdened, and a project like this would be a huge time commitment.

2.       The second major challenge I see would be difficulty in recruiting young members. In North America, there is a social expectation that young men and women should spend time in a unit. This is missing in developing countries. Also, it will be difficult for young people to commit two years of their lives to a project such as this.

3.       It would be unrealistic to expect such a centre to be self-sustaining during the first couple years of operation. The unit would require funding for initial capital costs and ongoing operational costs for at least the first several years. Such funding would have to come mostly from North America.

4.       One concern we have had in working with the Nigerian brethren in a business capacity is a lack of “spiritual capital”. I’ll send you a copy of an article that does a good job defining this problem. In brief, spiritual capital is defined as a business culture that is permeated with Christian practices and values, such as integrity, accountability, responsibility, honesty, humility, trust and a good work ethic. Even in North America’s current ungodly environment, we are still benefiting from a long heritage of Christian virtues in our culture. This has played a major part in our current economic success. Many of these virtues are largely missing in the cultures of developing countries, and this also affects our people. My current teaching program in Nigeria has been focusing on these aspects

Projects for the Poor: Ideas and Funds

Here is an article by R. Miller from Indiana who has spent 8 years in the mission in Paraguay for the Beachy-Amish. He runs a series of agriculture articles called Projects for the Poor. He chronicles the different experiments and projects that they implemented and their outcomes. I thought he had some interesting points and experiences to learn from.

Ideas and Funds

Before we get to far into the projects for the poor, there are two issues that are very important to take note of.

Ideas:

The poor folks have all kinds of ideas, they are sure they will work, all they need are some funds, and bingo

they will forever leave their poverty behind, never to be haunted again.

The missionary comes along and he has a whole lot of ideas, that he is sure that will work, however he does

not want to sink the capital in that is needed to start the idea, for fear that he will loose it.

The mission board usually has plenty of "white elephants" to take care of, they are extremely reluctant to release

funds for a number of reasons, number one is all the past flops that the missionaries have accomplished, so hence forth

very little funds are available.

So what could be a possible solution?

One of the important things, is to gather information, written information is helpful, however what I have experienced,

is to sit down with some one that is doing it, that is one of the best ways to gather some of the most beneficial tips, shortcuts and things to avoid. Find someone that is already doing it, even if it is on a very small scale.

Second do it on a small scale trial basis, and take notes, compare different ways of doing it.

If you find someone that is already doing it, ask for helpful hints, or if it is possible become involved and see if

you can help that person to become more efficient and productive with what he is already doing. We did that

with a poor family, that was raising Stevia, more on that in a later article.

Missionaries, if you want to get the foot in the door, spend just a wee bit of time with the local folks, especially

in their every day work, one simple suggestion, or an idea how to do it better, faster and maybe a donated small

piece of equipment, can make you friends for life, and opens the door wide to discuss deeper issues of life.

Funds:

This is a very complicated issue, the poor folks know exactly what they need, the missionary feels he has a good

idea how it would work, the mission board is sure it is another white elephant.

No funds from the board, the poor folks say this is a worthless missionary, if he can't help us put food on the table

there is no way he can show us the way to heaven, if he can't help us out of our poverty, there is no way we can trust

him for anything else.

After all this person left heaven "the USA" to come help the poor people, because they are the ones that need help.

Now any one in their right mind would not leave the USA, unless he has lots of money and loves to go out and help

other people. So all missionaries are rich, and if you explain that you are not rich, no problem, you still have all the

rich backing you up and there is unlimited amounts of money available to help them. 

No money = Worthless missionary!

Its interesting, the way to test if a missionary is worth something, is to see if he "loves" you enough to give you

a personal loan. This is like the sweet and sour sauce of mission life.

So missionary, if you really love someone, please do not make a personal loan to them, if they need it, just simply

give it. Then ask God to somehow give it back to you as he sees fit. You know, maybe you can recuperate it from

the birthday money people send to missionaries.

However, sometimes it comes in handy!!! I know it sounds like a paradox, one good way to rid your self of someone

that continually is asking for money, spend some time explain how a loan will work and that it needs to be paid back.

Give a small amount, one talent, usually the will go and bury it,  it ends right there. After all one talent is hardly worth the effort!!

A number of ideas on how to fund a project.

A. You can use your own money, but be prepared to loose it.

B. Find friends that like to loose money, and ask for donations, most mission boards require prior approval, for special projects.

C. Sometimes you find people in the country, that are looking for honest people to produce for them and they will fund it.

The last option has proved to be the most successful for me down here in Paraguay. Most of my friends don't like to

lose money!!

A good Christian friend from Germany, that does imports to Germany has given substantial amounts of money, for

us to experiment and go thru the process of the different kinds of projects, and also given valuable information on

how to compete in the international markets. More on that later.

Also a elderly Mennonite man, that has a heart for the poor, for two years gave interest free capital to get the peanut project

going.

With a bit of perseverance, a organized approach and a willingness to work, we can make a huge difference in the

lives of the poor, financially and it opens the door wide, to present the gospel to them.

Please submit additional ideas for fund raising techniques.

submitted Dec. 10, 2011

By Roman Miller

Paraguay

Daily Sunday School Devotional Readings

Here is a Sample:

Lesson 6, O Wretched Man!

Today’s Quote: There is no man living who isn't capable of doing more
than he thinks he can do. Ford, Henry

July 6, 2012 Law and Spirit

Galatians 5:1-7

King James Version (KJV)

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us
free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.2 Behold, I
Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothing.3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that
he is a debtor to do the whole law.4 Christ is become of no effect
unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen
from grace.5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
righteousness by faith.6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by
love.7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the
truth?

New International Version (NIV)

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and
do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark
my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,
Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every
man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the
whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been
alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through
the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we
hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself
through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to
keep you from obeying the truth?

If you would like to have an email address added to the list, have
suggestions or support please send them to
DailySundaySchoolReadings@gmail.com .

Ravenhill on Personal Accountability

Someone once said to that great scholar, Daniel Webster, “You have a colossal mind.  What is the greatest thought that you have ever had?” He said, “I’ve thought about many things, but the most awesome, the most terrifying, the most shattering thought I’ve ever had, is my personal accountability to God one day.”

Leonard Ravenhill

Judgment

Farming Techniques and Ideas that could be Used in Central America and the Caribbean Projects

Jesus fed the multitudes with a limited amount of resources and we are told little is much when God is in it. Today's farming is going to massive industrial operations that crank out commercial crops, but there will always be the small farmer of the poor that feed or supplement their families from their gardens. Let's use the resources available to help them succeed. I have been investigating different ideas for programs that could help the agriculture of our brothers and sisters in Central America and the Caribbean. To be effective, yet economical with the least amount of cumbersome kind of change is a challenge. For instance if you introduce equipment or parts that can brake down your project may be doomed to failure if those parts can not be readily repaired or in supply. I have come across some recommendations of a Dr. Roland Bunch that has done a considerable amount of work in Honduras. He gives us a few pointers to consider before we get started.


Dr. Roland Bunch
 A leading proponent of an approach to rural agricultural development in the Third World that favors self-motivation and self-reliance and sustainable, "people-centered" agriculture.


 Argues that for technologies (and these kind of projects) to be successful:
 
1. There should be rapid, identifiable gains for the farmers. 
2.The process should be initiated using a small number of technologies. 
3.Farmers should be encouraged to avoid all forms of dependency and be capable of taking over programmes when development agencies leave. 

Sourced from

http://www.fao.org
 /SARD/en/init/1364/1402/1408/index.html
I really want to get his book:

Two Ears of Corn: A Guide to People-Centered Agricultural Improvement

Some Suggestions for Agriculture (Not related with above book)
These are ideas I know of especially being implemented in Haiti


1. Terracing


Like our Church has been doing in Haiti. It holds moisture and keeps hillsides from eroding. Crop improvements of 100% have been reported. The only problem is that it takes continued prodding to keep this going. It is not that natives do not grasp its importance or master it's design and construction. It is just enough work that it requires alot of trust for one neighbor to help you build your terraces and expect you to return in a timely manner to complete his. The system has been to pay money or food to get and keep these projects rolling.



2. Road Building


Allows produce and supplies to reach their market.



















3. Tree Nurseries


In Haiti it costs about 10,000 US dollars to set up a tree nursery to supply the area with fast growing mahogany and oak trees for reforestation. It is a set up of poles holding up a netting to protect tender plants from hot sun. These set-ups can be used to distribute and sell fruit trees that are suitable for the area. The money made can be used to employ full time gardener. To date these projects have proved to need continued outside support.




4. Tilapia Fish Farming
A fast growing lower maintenance fish that can be grown in cages in rivers or lakes.















5.Poultry barns 



6. Disease Resistant Goats and Sheep





 7.Magic Circle, No Till  and Organic Farming

In relation to Dr. Roland Bunch here are some of their suggestions of building up the soil naturally without the use of fetilizer.


  To create a magic circle, make a hole about SIX feet in diameter and eighteen to thirty-six inches deep. Form the extracted soil into a ring around the circle. In the ring, plant four to six banana plants. In between these, you can plant an equal number of taro and sweet potato plants. Fill the center with organic materials such as banana trunks, leaves, or kitchen scraps, and the area will be fertilized. The hole will keep the material in one place. Now you will have an area full of plant life which absorbs sunlight, leaving no light or space for weeds.
http://www.organicpanamapermaculture.com/magic-circle.php


Soil: Soil that is rich has 25,000 varieties of bacteria inside each spoonful and millions of individual organisms. Sterile soil has the minerals but not in forms that the plants can use. Plants find the minerals in usable forms when the soil is filled with life like bacteria and fungus.
http://www.organicpanamapermaculture.com/soil-and-fertilizer.php


8. Irrigation and Wells

Jacmel Earthquake Survivor: Christian What Do You Suggest?

I was in Haiti a month ago doing interviews for testimonies for the "Haiti Book" of our Church's involvement in Haiti. Here is a story as told from a woman that is attending Church in Oriani for a year. Her story touched me as we listened. A beautiful young lady with two children trapped in a evil cycle that makes her grow discouraged. To those that know there are millions like her. 

However with God all things are possible. Also the prayer of the righteous avails much. 

As I was working the other day it seemed the Spirit told me to post this story here so that people can pray for her. Also there may be people that go their way without knowing that  there is a cry outside your door----- seeking for what you take for granted. If we knew the power of prayer....... I could say more, but it is more important to hear what she has to say. She is like your sister out there, please think and pray. Thanks.

(Her mother is dead, her mother was superstitious and caused much grief to keep her other sister from going to Church. This girl lives in a dilapadated house virtually without much support other than her married sister in our church..):

I am 25 years old. My story is that I am a sinful woman. I have been very wicked and bad. I have two children on my hands to show what my sins are. I was a person that loved to sin. In my heart I loved the carnality of the world. My heart is now heavy with all that and I long for the day that God can wash my heart clean. I have been coming to church most of the time since last year. This last year I have not gone back to my sins in the world. I have been able to do this but I still do not believe my heart is free. The thing that I need from God is his Spirit and I do not know if he has done that for me.

I am poor and men come to me to offer food for favors. I do not want to go back to this. I need two things. These things are holding me back. I need a man to live with and provide for me. I hate this system we have of men offering me food to help me with my children to use me. I have nothing.  The second thing is that I need a better place to live. My mother is dead so there is no one to help me with my children. Some people probably told you I am not a person worth helping because I am not from here, and I will soon be gone. No, I am not that kind of person. I found the church. I want to stay. This is my home now. I am just in a struggle to know how to live.

I was in Jacmel during the earthquake and survived while a lot of my friends had died.  Jesus gave me grace not to die.  I was at a friend’s house with a man. A lot of his friends died. I loved the sins of the world much, so I was with this man watching a film. There was noise coming from the television. When the earthquake happened we heard and felt something that was not coming from the television. We thought it was a helicopter flying over.  No one died in the house we were in. Jesus saved all of us sinners because he loved us. He gave us a chance. We ran out of the house and then realized it was an earthquake. The whole city was completely covered in dust. Even though we could not see very far we could see houses were flat on the ground.  We went to the airport. We ran to this big field where there was no house to fall on us. We ran to the airstrip and there were a lot of people crowded in there. At midnight we were still there. The ground shook again the second time. We were terrible scared, but a bunch of blancs came there and brought food and drinks. They started giving us money to get taxis rides back to town. Someone gave me enough money to catch a ride all the way back to Oriani. I never went back since. That’s my story of the earthquake. It was chaos. Dead people were everywhere. There was a dead person and there was a dead person……..

2012 Lastic Canyon Haiti Irrigation Project Update

To Lastic Friends everywhere -

We haven't been reporting recently, but we still have been busy. In the last update sent on February 20, 2012, I stated that we were planning to come/go back to Haiti for an organizational meeting. Neil and I did return for several days of meetings in early March. At this time we have both a Operational and a Capital Improvements Budget approved.

In the meeting where much of this took place, at our suggestion, everyone also agreed to pay for their water based on land area. In the past when water has been available, they paid based on the number of hours water was delivered to their garden. This seemed to make for a lot of conflict - somebody had to monitor and record the time, and there were questions about whether the water was flowing full, or if somebody upstream was sneaking a little of the side, etc. An annual fee based on area based seems to have much less potential for conflict.

A snag in the plans occurred when we discovered that nobody really knows how much land they have! Our budget is based on the total watered acres, and I believe that to be a fairly solid number, but when it comes down to an individual farmer and his bill, nobody knows! The community asked us to determine the area of each property, and after a small discussion, in which they unanimously promised to accept the results, we agreed to take this on.

Some time was spent in planning, and we finally kicked off the mapping project on May 9th. The CPS unit located on the north side of PAP provided most of the effort, and their House Papa, Waylan Litwiller, was an enthusiastic leader. The local water committee provided each of the two or three mapping teams with a local guide who knew each farmer's name, and sometimes an interpreter as needed. While standing in each field, the perimeters were discussed and agreed upon, a field number was assigned, the field was traced out onto a high precision aerial photo of the area, and a log kept of that information that includes the farmer's name. In the case of difficult boundaries, the mappers used a 200' and a 300' tape measure to verify distances. I used my precision GPS to spot check the work, and to determine some boundaries in tall corn, in the banana groves, and other places where measuring was difficult. After a few days, the Unit Papa and boys had the project well in hand, and I could feel comfortable with returning home.

The mapping continued right along. The day's work was uploaded to me every night, and I started to compile and draft the results. The mappers turned in maps for anywhere from 50 to 100 gardens per day, so I did not keep up. They also kept track of areas that needed to be checked with GPS because of difficult circumstances as noted above. To date, the smallest garden mapped and calculated is 1323 sq. ft. (0.03 acres), and the largest is 2.1 acres.

Toward the end of the project, I returned to help for a few days and covered the areas that had been reserved, as well as generally helping to advance the mapped areas. It seemed that water was flowing everywhere we walked, so we were often working in muddy ground, but as I observed to the rest of the workers, it doesn't seem too bad when you know its mud made with Lastic water!

The field work was finally finished on June 4, and the semi-official count for gardens being irrigated is 1,217!!! 1,217 families able to raise more of their own food! We observed heavy farming activities, with brush, weeds, cactus, and thorn bushes being cleared, and a wide variety of crops being planted. The early corn that was irrigated up in February is well over our heads, the bananas are thick and lush, and we saw various beans, squash, melons, garlic, papaya, sugarcane, tomatoes, citrus, and other crops growing well.

The next step is to finish calculating the area of all the farms, prepare maps for the water committees to use, and prepare a "water rights" certificate for each grower. At this time we will also check over the maps to be sure every irrigated property is accounted for. This feels like it is a big job, but we're working through it, and hope to be done in mid July. At that time we will again return and meet with the water committees and keep the process of organizing moving along. Anybody with AutoCAD experience that is interested in helping is more than welcome to contact me! Maybe we can share the load.

A very vital part of the whole project is the 9 km of pipeline that was installed in the late 90's. Per the records it has 2.5 km of ductile iron, and 6.5 km of PVC, most of which is encased in concrete. We feed water into the top end, and take it out down at the bottom about 2200' lower in elevation, but we have done almost nothing to the pipe along the way, and mostly have only a very general idea where it lies within the river bed. This year during rainy season the river bed shifted in the larger channel, and the erosion uncovered a section of the pipe. At the place it was exposed it was concrete covered PVC. The force of the water driven rocks eventually knocked off some concrete and cracked a hole in the PVC, which soon filled with rocks, and plugged the pipe. When I was in the area in early May we were able to clean out some of the debris, but we could still not get the water flowing. We also used Raymond's dozer to partially re-route the river to stop the immediate damage.

Raymond has recovered very well from his surgery, and the docs gave him the green light to go back and build roads. Raymond and Vera returned to Haiti the last part of May, and Raymond took the final unplugging and repairs to the pipe in hand, and had his dozer working about 3.5 days in the river, both burying the exposed pipe, and further re-routing the channel. This work was finished and the water is flowing steadily once more. Right now we have no other plan but to keep an eye on the situation. Hopefully the pipe will stay intact for many more years.

We're hoping to do some more mapping of the farming valley this fall. I think we have only enough land with canals to use about 60% of the water we can deliver, and there are certainly some additional districts that have good farm land, but right now there are no canals servicing them. I know that to get water to most or all of the additional areas will require at least some pipelines, so the planning/engineering needs to be done and then the most feasible areas selected and worked on as we can. It seems maybe we are not quite done with everything there is to do . . .

Pastor Relates Dream this Morning

We don't put a lot in our dreams but they do seem to make for interest when we hear them over the pulpit. Our brother stressed emphasis on practical living and down played dreams. Anyways the dream consisted of a road. The Gospel road. The speaker was a aboard a wagon that was on that road. They knew the end of time was close and were looking to the East. There was a mist or a fog obscuring the horizon so they could not clearly tell what was happening. There wagon as near as he could tell was moving byitself. They came up to a tree with a man standing on a platform tied with large shackles. They called up to him to ask him to join them, but he was content and happy to be chained there. The wagon kept moving on. They met a fearful man that ran up to their wagon and told them, "Christ is surely coming". They invited him to join them, but he was to fearful and ran off. Finally the speaker came to a field and looked out and seen himself out working in the field. The men in the wagon called out to him to come back and ride with them on the road. As he came he still had a tool in his hand. They told him to leave it there that he would not need that. The speaker relating the dream was having emotion creeping up on him at this point. 


What impressed him was these verses came to him from Isaiah 35:8-9

 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there.

Ideas for Vocational Program for Youth

A Vocational Training Center For Latin America and Africa (Namely Haiti, Nigeria, and Belize)

These are just ideas to exchange to build on so action can be made in the future.

Goal and Purpose:

·         A more or less self-sustaining vocational center for teaching national church members vocational training and also giving them a sense of responsibility for their countrymen’s spiritual and humanitarian needs.

·         A combination of a CSI Boy’s Unit, Boy’s Prep Bible Class, and Vocational Training rolled into one

·         Also would be a buffer zone for experimental projects and aid programs initiated by the states like chicken farming, tilapia, etc.

·         Would provide a (unofficial) future leadership pool, just like how CSI and Mission programs benefit the States by allowing boys to give voluntary service to God.

·         Would provide a labor force to help man CSI projects, tract work, and humanitarian work.   

·         Introducing the responsibility to the young men of the importance of taking personal responsibility in tract work, disaster relief projcts, humanitarian projects, and foremost, a sense of responsibility to the Great Commission as is learnt in our CSI programs.

What it Would Consist of:

·         A farm plot where attendees would endeavor to grow farm produce to the benefit of the facility and to improve local breeding stock and experiment with local farming practices.

·         A Work Shop to learn fabrication, mechanics, and other trade training as they become available, possible motorbike repair and salvage

·         A School Room for Bible Study, English or other language courses, Basic Trade Courses, Mathematics and science, and Health and an introduction to medical.

·         A Dorm for Attendees

·         Housing for Overseers and Teachers

What Would Be the Program

·         It would be under the supervision of the National Staff

·         Complete two years of service (or what ever time frame of commitment to complete the program)

If an individual shows aptitude to a trade and looks like is capable to operate independently-------------------- a loan, leased equipment or a teaching position to train future attendees could be rewarded.

A limited pay program could be initiated similar to CSI where either a sum can be saved for after service living or if family difficulties exist--- a program where the money could be used to support their parents I need. A lot of this would depend on local staff, liaison, or further discussion.

·         Similar to New York City missions it would be required that boys attend and participate in devotions and Bible study and memorization on a regular basis

·         It would be desired that a language study of English be a first to help them and also to give greater flexibility in finding textbooks and learning manuals. The language would be invaluable to them for later work opportunities.

·         A major emphasis would be placed on agriculture. It would be mandatory for all boys to help raise gardens to support with feeding and selling produce for the facility. It also would be a excellent place to experiment with new crops, crop rotation, improving breeding stock, etc. All work would be done as is done locally. Hoes and machetes would be the main implements, etc. We do not want to create a “Little America”, but rather want them to develop initiative as they learn more about science and biology. Grafting, a tree nursery, bee keeping, there are many things to learn. These coupled with simple classes on biology and science in a classroom setting could later give tools for these boys when they decide they want to go back to farming the family plots.

·         Work Shop Training would provide training on the fundamentals of Metal Fabrication, Mechanics, Carpentry, and Electric.

·         Would be desirable if there would be a two man crew of CSI boy from the states that would operate this project. It would be a trying work. The goal would be to teach the fundamentals and the use of tools and tool safety. The goal would be to increase the ability of the establishment to be able to fix wells, build houses for needy, build latrines, build solar lamps or cookers, etc. As the need arouse short-term volunteers from the states or hired tradesmen from the area could provide more indepth training.

·         Also there could be a program for the operation, maintaining, and leasing of taxis motorbikes. It may be possible to come up with a Tuk-Tuk like in Guatemala or building a three wheeled version for more serious hauling, etc. It could be the program may promote a salvage yard for parts to have a motorbike repair shop. Leasing bikes to young men in the program to provide extra funding. They would be trained to properly maintain their bikes.

These would take the oversight of possible NA volunteer personal until there was enough graduates to take up the strain

·         If there was a way to construct and sell items like solar lamps, water filters, or if there was a demand from CSI to build handicap carts, crutches, tools or implements.

·         Automobile Driving Training, Auto vehicle maintenance, tire repair, etc.

Schooling would depend on the needs of the program. Bible Study would be foremost, than English, then basics on Health, Science, and Mathematics. Singing would hopefully be a nightly occurrence. It would be stressed that this effort depends on God’s direction on their lives and how much they are willing to sacrifice of their self to help themselves and their brethren find suitable jobs as Christians. This facility is merely to help them find the tools and resources needed to make it work. 

There would be a Mission Outreach on a given day to pass out gospel literature, sing in hospitals or some kind of activity to initiate these young men to giving service to God as the door would open.

It seems that the voluntary mission outreach, disaster relief, and volunteer units given to our youth in NA have blessed us bountifully. It just seems that if this opportunity could be combined with the need for our national youth to find employment….. I personally have attended two units and I taught a school term in Belize. I found these to be a blessing and a boon to my Christian development. It is not for everyone, but it has also proved that work units can help young men by introducing them to new trades.

Also I have notice is that a people need to be reached by their own people. When I travel to foreign countries I notice a cry from Latin Americans to be reached by people of their own skin and culture. However opportunity needs to be sparked to make this work. It is not the sole burden of the white missionary to overextend himself. However natives need the opportunity to have the same benefit to be able to give time and service to their countrymen. How many of us would have given service if we were not present at one of our fellow brethren’s report or if we were not supported by the Church to give a couple month’s, or year’s service to the Great Commission. Too many Latin American youth men need to be nurtured into finding direction out of the dilemma they find their self today. We say no higher education, but what are the alternatives.

I am absolutely a nobody in this struggle, but I do care enough to take out of my time to think and pray for my Brethren around the world. As I look at my family and at the opportunities I enjoy, I have to remember my brethren and their struggles where it is not so. We say it is solely their fate, but as I consider the rich man and Lazarus… I want to be sure I am faithful in being available to my brethren in need.

It seems we are today haunted by the ghosts of Camp 45. Not all was loss. Mistakes were made, but we can learn from those mistakes and rather strive to teach our young men how to fish vs. giving them a fish to eat today. Tomorrow’s Church is what would benefit. We have gave instruction, but today we need Fathers to show the way through this problem.

All these suggestions are just that. I have no agenda other than planting the seeds of ideas for men of action. I have no ambition other than to see the Lord’s work get down. I have no interest in recognition anyman can say these were his own ideas as long as it produces good fruit. May the work in whatever form it takes be blessed.

·         Added Inspiration can be found by Booker T. Washington and Washington Carver in the establishment of Tuskagee in hard economic times and in a time of opposition.

“The school expressed Washington's dedication to the pursuit of self-reliance. In addition to training teachers, he also taught the practical skills needed for his students to succeed at farming or other trades typical of the rural South, where most of them came from. He wanted his students to see labor as practical, but also as beautiful and dignified. As part of their work-study programs, students constructed most of the new buildings. Many students earned all or part of their expenses through the construction, agricultural, and domestic work associated with the campus, as they reared livestock and raised crops, as well as producing other goods.”