Traveling to Haiti

January 13, 2012 By Sandra View Comments

It’s been two years since the devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. As I read about some of the developments and setbacks since then, I was struck by the powerful, raw emotions conveyed in the photographs taken by Carl Juste of The Miami Herald.

I would love to someday go to Haiti to experience what life is like and help out in some way. Several people that I know have traveled there to help bring hope and restoration to this country.

Laity Lodge Youth Camp went on a second trip to Haiti last summer, and plan to return on spring break this year. Dan King AKA Bible Dude has chronicled his involvement in The Unlikely Missionary. He will be returning to Haiti in February.

Ellen Palmer has been a committed board member and activist for International Child Care for many years, traveling to Haiti and Dominican Republic countless times. She was on the island, though not in Port-au-Prince, when the quake happened.

Thank you for all you do to help bring hope and restoration to this country. Perhaps someday I will be able to travel with you!

Filed Under: General, Visionary People Tagged With: ,

Quotes from Barack Obama's Speech

November 5, 2008 By Sandra View Comments

One of the best speeches ever… not just words, but truth we can take to heart. Regardless of party or ideology.  At this time, of economic struggles and global challenges we need to come together, “in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.”

I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how theyll make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who wont agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand….

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

~ Barack Obama, Victory Speech November 4, 2008

Full text and videos at Huffington Post

Filed Under: Quotes, Visionary People

Oprah's Ambassadors Program

May 27, 2008 By Sandra View Comments

Perhaps this new project is one reason Oprah decided not to renew The Big Give TV show…

Yesterday “The Oprah Winfrey Show” presented the O Ambassadors program, a joint project of Oprah’s Angel Network and Free The Children. It aims to connect young people in North America with people around the world to create lasting change. This school based program provides a curriculum for local educators who lead their student club in activities that raise funds for development projects and increase awareness of global issues. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Visionary People

Oprah Winfrey Provides Funds; Discussion for Non Profits

May 20, 2008 By Sandra View Comments

Oprah Winfrey’s show The Big Give hit the air waves this spring encouraging giving in a reality show format. While it was moderately popular (but far from being a hit) and ABC says they’d go for a second season, they announced last week that they would not renew the show at Oprah’s request. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Visionary People

Teaching Math More Than About Numbers

May 5, 2008 By Sandra View Comments

Since I first proposed the topic of the blog writing contest which Jim is running over at Top School Fundraisers, I’ve been pondering who out of all my K-12 and college teachers I’d consider to be my favorites. My mind first went to the kind, patient elementary school teachers who I recall fondly. But after reading Angela’s post about her math teacher, one person jumped out as being one of the absolute best. And that was my high school math teacher, Mr. Bennett.

norman bennett First off I will say I am by no means a math wiz and math was probably my least favorite subject! But somehow he was able to explain the ides to me in a way that I could understand. If the class didn’t quite get how to work a math problem he kept answering our questions, rephrasing things and doing “just one more problem” until we did get it. He never wanted to leave anyone behind.

When I got to college I realized just how lucky I had been to have Mr. Bennett as a math teacher. Even with a study partner and trying my best I had to drop college algebra since I was squeaking by with a low C. The next semester my new teacher seemed to have a similar knack as Mr. Bennett and I actually got an A. Though I was thankful that as an art major that was the only required math course!

Of course it wasn’t his skill with numbers that impressed me the most. It was his character and personality. He infused his trademark humor into class and his hilarious presentations on awards day were legendary.  He simply exuded an optimistic view of life.

When not in the classroom Norman Bennett spent his free time in front of a camera or on stage. He performed in local theatre but has had many small speaking roles in major films. In a recent interview for a Sherman TV Station he admits that he tends to be typecast (basically playing himself) but he doesn’t seem to mind.

When I heard he’d retired a couple of years after I graduated I knew he wasn’t likely to sit still too long. One day my mother-in-law phoned us up and said to turn on the TV, Mr. Bennett was on Wheel of Fortune! Not too long ago we rented the film Infamous and there he was again.  Even after all this time, Mr. Bennett is still teaching by example — you’re never too young, too old, too anything to enjoy life as the blessed adventure it can be.


Filed Under: Visionary People
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