I am so lucky...

Many days I get out of bed wondering how I could have been so lucky. It could me dealing with an earthquake or a tsunami. It could be me dealing with fear living in a country torn by war. It could be me sorting through the garbage in our back alley searching for enough recyclables to earn a little cash like that fellow I saw yesterday as I was leaving comfortably in my car. Life will be easier for him with the new black bins, he won't have to untie all those bags, sigh. So yes, I feel lucky. I thank my parents for the life they gave me and the country they chose for me.

This all came to mind today while reading a blog I follow that I want to recommend to you. Betty is on a week-long service trip with 10 students from her husband’s college to San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala. Today's blog is called...
I smell like smoke. I feel like worms.

I always enjoy Betty's words. I always benefit in some way from Betty's insight. I hope you will also.

later man, jan

Tomorrow is the 15th... WooHoo !!!

The 15th !!!
This is the day so many of us wait - not so patiently - for each month.
Kiva borrowers repayments are posted back to our Kiva Credit!!!

I have posted on this blog and and told most of my friends about Kiva.org over and over again...

but today I thought... hmm... perhaps I've missed someone.

This (old) video pretty much tells why I love to lend $25 to women around the world.

later man, jan



(link added because Facebook doesn't play the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMRhbdFMq_I&feature=player_embedded )

sending love and light to Japan and around the world...

try this distance healing meditation 6 minutes a day...

The main purpose is to fill the dense body with that healing neutral energy. It's not about anything but you. Once you have filled yourself & surrounded yourself with this loving energy, simply stay with it.

Sit down wherever you are; get comfy; and take in a big deep breath & let it out through you nose in a big way. Do this once more. And again.

Now, begin breathing slowly, deeply, in & out.

Going inside, let the breath flow through the body from feet to head; from head to feet & back to heart.

Now, just focus on the heart chakra area; breathe in; breathe out.

As you do this over and over, begin to feel, hear &/or see the heart chakra slowly growing with heat & light, pulsating; expanding.

When it feels right for you, let it expand outside the dense body & allow it to surround yourself. Feel the warmth, the love, the joy.

Breathe in; breathe out. Continue to feel the expansion as the energy of the heart chakra fills the space around you; and then, only if/when it feels right, let it out further into the room & yet beyond, further & further. Set your intention to send this warmth, love and yes, joy to all those hurting today in our world.

All the while, remember to breathe in; breathe out.
Do this for 6 minutes & that’s it. You’re done!

Now, go with joy into the day with your love-filled self! Thank you!

later man, jan

Forever Young. A song for Wootton Bassett

"This video has been especially commissioned to accompany the song for Wootton Bassett 'Forever Young'as a tribute to the people of Wootton Bassett and the surrounding area for the way they turn out in all weathers at the repatriation of our brave soldiers from Afghanistan.

Written by Alan Pettifer, the song features: Colette Cassin vocals. The City of Bath Junior Bach Choir directed by Adrienne Hale, Mike Stainer keyboards, Alan Pettifer guitar, Peter Lamb Bass and Julian Scott Drums. Matthew Walton from Wootton Bassett Brass and Brunel Brass, playing cornet as he does for some of the repatriations.

To make a difference to the families of the fallen,The 'Forever Young' cd single is available for £2.99 plus postage from: http://www.foreveryoungasongforwootto... http://www.Amazon.co.uk or as a download from: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cassincobjbc

It is a permanent way of remembering these sad times as well as all profits are going to 'Afghan Heroes', a charity set up to provide support for the families of those lost in conflict. This DVD is now available was filmed and produced by Roger Calcut of Wiltshire Media and all the cd artwork produced by Stephen Baron of 'Pope Baron designers'. All artists and contributors to the CD and DVD have given their time for free and we thank them all."

later man, jan

Happy Birthday Kiva

Happy Birthday Kiva from Kieran Ball on Vimeo.

later man, jan

Saying Goodbye...

Janet, my friend... I can't believe you have gone on ahead of me.



You were such a big part of my life. I know the last few months were a dreadful struggle. You held your head high and dealt with each blow as it came. Strong and courageous and determined to do things your way.

I will never, ever get my hair cut without thinking of you. Every senior moment joke that arrives in the email will remind me to send it to you. I'm sorry we couldn't take that last walk together.

Goodbye my friend.

How Was Your Summer ?

Was your summer full of busyness... or a refuge from our normal crazy lifestyle?

I spent some of my summer wondering why I was unsettled. I looked many places. Conversations with John and other friends. I read some books that had been patiently waiting their turn and I listened to radio or my music. I blamed my Dad for leaving me, and then realized how silly but also how sad that made me. I worried about my (grown-up) kids and wished I was where I could be of help in some way. I spent time in silence. I found as the days moved on that the best times followed the silence. After the silence, the friends and the books and the radio meant so much more. My kids are fine. And I'm not mad at Dad any more.

“When we enter into solitude to be with God alone, we quickly discover how dependent we are. Without the many distractions of our daily lives, we feel anxious and tense. When nobody speaks to us, calls on us, or needs our help, we start feeling like nobodies. Then we begin wondering whether we are useful, valuable, and significant. Our tendency is to leave this fearful solitude quickly and get busy again to reassure ourselves that we are ’somebodies.’ But that is a temptation, because what makes us somebodies is not other people’s responses to us but God’s eternal love for us.” - Henri Nouwen

later man, jan

My Dad... My Church...

I'm sure I have mentioned our church here - Living Spirit United Church...

Well perhaps not.. it's such an integral part of who I am that I don't really talk about it... unless we know people are looking for a church home, we don't really go out and advertise much. My, our family, since I was 12 years old.

We hired 2 new ministers - both 'girls' from my advanced view point - a year ago...

Life is exciting - fresh - something new everyday in our church family.

Today Traci spoke about living in the NOW. She and Jenn acted out the Mary/Martha story. Showed me in action how to look at my priorities. About setting aside the cares of the past, the worries about tomorrow. Being present in the now, looking for strength from the source that is deep within my soul but usually ignored in my day to day living...

In Dad's life story (which I seem to have been typing for years) he speaks at one point about that four letter word - LIFE - getting in the way of what is most important. He was making reference to relationships. Family and friends and places on his 'to-do' list that he regrets he missed.

I think we all have regrets. I hope we all have time in our life to act on those regrets before time runs out. I've bought the paper, it's time now to print Dad's story, there is no more to add.

Time ran out on Dad, but I truly think he was done with it before it was done with him. He gave what he had to whoever crossed his path, as long as he was still able to say "Hello my love, you're looking good today". I like to think that Mum is putting the sugar in his tea once again and for all eternity. That's what eternal Love is. Being together in some way that is still the deepest mystery to those of us still searching.

I give thanks for my church family. For all those who will be joining to celebrate his life this coming Wednesday. For all those who have had to send regrets. He left his influence behind... his example of how it truly is possible to love every person by finding that spark of the Divine in each one.

Bye my daddy,
Good Night, God Bless

Nothing Stops a Bullet Like a Job

I just cranked it up and listened to the whole 48 minutes while shuffling papers here...

... much better than listening to the radio spewing noise...

It was worth every minute and makes me stand taller and just get on with it !!!

later man, jan

Mully Children's Family...

I can't tell this any better than Evelyn... this is what she announced at church on Sunday...



For the last couple of years, we at Living Spirit United Church have been so busy getting the right ministers in place and getting ourselves on our feet and organized, that we have not had an out-of-the-country Compassionate Ministry fund raiser. I believe we’re on the right path now, ready to move forward, and I think that it’s time to begin making a difference outside our church walls again – this time, by contributing to a children’s charity that is saving literally thousands of children’s lives in Kenya.

This morning, I have 5 minutes to introduce you to the Mully Children’s Family (or MCF), a non-profit Christian organization that rescues children who are orphaned, abandoned, and living on the streets in Kenya. It was founded just over 20 years ago by one man, Charles Mulli and his wife Esther.

Charles Mulli himself woke up one morning at age 6 to discover that he was completely alone – during the night, his family had abandoned him. He survived for the next 6 years by begging. At the age of 12, he found a job that provided what to him was a miracle: food to eat every day, and shelter – but there was no hope for an improved life in the future. After several years, an acquaintance introduced him to a Christian group, and he found such hope for the future from the experience that he too became a Christian, and began what can only be described as a very personal relationship with God. He did well at his job, and was noticed by his employer, who recommended him for another job with more responsibilities. There he met his wife, and again he did well at his job. He decided to start his own business, bought an old Ford Cortina and started a taxi service between two cities in Kenya. His taxi service was reliable, he played inspiring Christian music on the trips, and soon EVERYONE wanted to use his taxi – and his business flourished. After a number of years, he made a fortune, and was living very comfortably with his wife and 6 children.

However, Charles never forgot just how it felt to be an abandoned child, and he was haunted by the knowledge that there were so many thousands of street children surviving in the same terrible circumstances. He felt called – no, that’s too weak a word – he felt COMPELLED by God to do something about it, and was so convinced that it was his mission in life to help these children that he sold EVERYTHING he and his family owned. He went personally out into the streets of the cities, seeking out children, feeding them, inviting them to be adopted, and taking them into his own home when they agreed. You can imagine what chaos it created in the lives of his wife and family when they had children living in their home who had been until that time surviving by any means they could: prostitution, drugs, alcohol abuse, you name it. They somehow survived it all, and the family grew larger and larger.

Charles and Esther Mulli adopted children into their family, fed them, clothed them, housed them, schooled them, gave them spiritual guidance, and trained them for jobs. They built dormitories and schools and hired teachers. They started a farm, irrigated crops with river water and built greenhouses to help supply food for the growing family.

They have had amazing success with their mission.

In the 20 years since the Mully Children’s Family was founded, over 7,000 former street children, drug addicts, and the abandoned have been rehabilitated and have graduated from MCF with high quality skills and education and are well integrated in society.

At the moment, the Mully Children’s Family is caring for 2,013 boys and girls between the ages of 1 week and 24 years.

I am hoping that you can find it in your hearts to support this life-saving organization. I am.

One month from now, in a bicycle relay race, my three team mates and I will be cycling 1,332 kilometres from Calgary to Winnipeg in 4 days to raise funds to cover the costs of food that cannot be grown on the MCF farm. Canadian dollars go a long way in Kenya - $100 will provide all non-farm food needed for one child for a year.

I don’t have time to tell you more right now, so I’m inviting anyone who wants to hear more about the race, my goals for this fundraiser, or the Mully Children’s Family, to please come talk to me at coffee time. Thank you!

-Evelyn Ko


1) Mully Children's Family
The Achievements page and News page (click on buttons at top) are particularly interesting, and there are lots of photos if you click on the "Flickr" button on the bottom right of the page.

2) there's a promotional video of the team Evelyn is riding with posted here ("Gogos" (the team name) is African for "Grandmothers")

3) During the race (July 17-22), you'll be able to track the location of Arvid, the ultra marathon cyclist (and, I think, the location of all the other teams, too) as they are going to track us by GPS, on the HotPursuit2010 website



for more info on how to donate, just contact me...
later man, jan