Phew!

This is going to be one of those crazy months where there is lots going on and the excitement sort of drains you.  My church's District Youth Council voted last night to support a youth GO Team for Swaziland in August 2012. This is so exciting to be helping a team be part of building libraries in Swaziland.  When I think of Swaziland, I cannot explain the sense of belonging that I have.  It's totally an unexplainable thing.  I've never been a fan of traveling or never felt the need to be part of different cultures.

I just feel an inward sense of commitment and family there.  Having said that, I want to tell you that this commitment is going to be keeping me busy for the next ten months!  This week alone, we are busy sorting through the mounds of books that have been collected.  Some of the books that we've received to date will not be appropriate for an elementary school library.  We're busy recycling those books in different ways.  Books that are damaged are being recycled in our Paper Recycler bin.  We receive a whole whopping $7/ton.  Although, we have a lot of neighbours around our church that are putting their own fine paper recycling in that bin and on the average of about every three weeks, that gets dumped.  The Paper Recycler then sends in a cheque for the tonnage.  Easy money and it goes toward Swaziland container fees.

Tonight we are going to the TD Canada Trust in Kitchener and are picking up furniture that is being replaced. I understand that we'll be getting several desks, credenzas, filing cabinets, chairs and office chairs.  Each of these items will be shipped at the end to Swaziland.  We'll be receiving three desktop computers this week as well and getting our internet hooked up.

Saturday, we'll set up a small display and information booth at a training day for church leaders in Oakville.    Sunday we are featured at the I.Can Foundation's annual Fashion Show Fundraiser.  Some of the proceeds there will be going to this project as well.  That wraps up at 4:00 pm and then we'll be driving to Stratford to present to a church there.  The Life Church in Stratford did a book drive for us the last time and they wanted to hear about an update.

November 14th, I'll be presenting to a Baptist Church in Kitchener.  They had read about us in the newspaper in March, 2011, and wanted to have more information.  I am not sure where this will lead but we'll find out.  Maybe they'll partner with us, or maybe this will encourage someone there to start a library in a country of their choice.  Who knows?  God will lead this project and others as He determines.

There are several more meetings and things going on this month.  I'll keep you updated as they progress.

Domain or no domain... that's the question

Over the last year, since we've started this project, several people have asked me if we have a website for the Swaziland Library Project.  "Uh... nope"... is the answer.  For two reasons 1.  I'm no technical wizard and 2. Why would you need one for a short term project?

What defines a "short term project" anyhow?  This library project has sort of taken a life of its own.  Over these last eighteen months of collecting, sorting, cataloguing, labeling, shelving and packing I was discouraged a gazillion times over.  I could never figure out why the "church", the larger body of Christ, not just my own local church, wasn't running with this ball.  Why was it that it seemed like so many people outside of the church thought it was a good idea but the church hung back and watched.  They encouraged from time to time, but why didn't they jump in?  Why was it that these outside people were running with the ball?  And why were they asking me for a website?

All I ever wanted to do was to help a vision Campbell had from a mission trip to Swaziland become a reality. Pack a few hundred books in a few boxes and call it a day.  Well the story wasn't mine to create.  I believe that Campbell was being directed by a force much stronger than his mother.  He was being directed by his Father.  Several times I wondered what the heck are we doing?  This doesn't even make sense!  Why us?  Does He really know what He's asking us to do?  Are we really doing what He wants us to do?   In writing this blog, I've had a revelation.  Almost two years later.  It isn't about them.  It's about me.  Who was I going to be?  Was I going to be like Noah or like the members of his community?  Was I going to listen to what Campbell was saying and get "building" or was I just going to watch?

This past summer at the Riverview Family Camp, Jim Chapman of Big Chap Ministries was our evangelist.  He said to do whatever God is asking you to do.  Do what you know He is asking you to do.  He said, "Look at Noah!  He was building a boat.  He was building a big boat while others stood around and laughed and watched this seemingly foolish man build something out of wood.  Noah and his neighbours hadn't even seen rain before.  Big Chap asked, "How many of those people were laughing when they were doing the back float during the flood?"  Noah had no idea why he was doing what he did, he just did it because he was asked to do it by his Father.  Noah encouraged others to join him earlier, but they didn't.   Noah completed a job that saved humanity and gave us a second chance.

These libraries were completed by people who followed a young boy's vision.  These libraries have the potential to save the children of Swaziland and give them a second chance.  So what does this all have to do with a website domain or no domain?  I'm not really too sure.  LOL!  I know that I have a free website up and running (well, there are a few glitches because, remember, I'm no technical wizard).  http://www.wix.com/stakra/libraryproject   But a name is important.  If I was going to buy a domain for this library project, it has to be a name that reflects what it is and what it is meant to do.  If you are reading this and are inspired with a domain name, please leave a comment.  Like what about www.rainingbooks.com?  What about www.arklibrary.com?

There's something about a name....  there's something about That name.

Gifts from above and those around us

You know... I just can't believe how generous people are when there is a need.  This Swaziland Library thing has just become such a witness of God's provision.

First of all, when this all started in October, 2009, Campbell & I had no idea what we were doing.  He said, "You know we don't know what we're doing,eh?"  I agreed and then he said, "We'll just have to keep telling people and asking people until someone knows something."  So, that's what we've done.

A former principal and friend is part of the I.Can Foundation.  She has been building little libraries in Brazil for about 6 years now.  So, she was an obvious person to ask.  However, her expertise is at the other end in training and she had never collected and sent a container before.  My church has Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Canada, and they do have experience in that.  They helped us co-ordinate that and guided us through the mounds of paperwork to satisfy Revenue Canada Agency.  We soon recognized that we'd need some sort of manner of cataloguing.  A co-worker researched that and found a great library software package and our District Youth Council purchased it for us.

As the books started to be collected, it wasn't long before a space was needed.  A man, that owned space downtown Cambridge donated 1100 square feet of space heated and lit.  We needed boxes to pack boxes, Staples donated those.  We needed library supplies and I.Can Foundation, Brodart & Carr McLean donated that.  We needed a computer when ours crashed and Hagey Computers came in and worked their technical magic and got us up and running again

We needed volunteers to help sort, catalogue, pack and they just kept on coming!   When we go back to see how much was spent out of our fundraised dollars to do the administrative side of things, we really only had to spend money on the internet connection and some ink refills.

Great cloth bags donated today!

So it's no surprise this next phase of the Library Project has generous givers.  Someone is supporting us through a 1200 foot warehouse space that is being leased for a period of time for us.  This is prime real estate and isn't cheap!  Earlier this week, we had someone with some shelving to donate.  Yesterday, I got a call from Jacquie Rashleigh with an offer of three computers to go to Swaziland after we are done using them.  Today, a supportive parent came in with cloth bags that she'd made and wondered if they'd make good book bags.  They were pretty cool!  I thought we should sell them here to raise funds for the J.A.W.S. books.  If there are any left over, we'll send them.  How thoughtful is that????  I was sitting here tonight when a person from my church is getting new furniture at her place of employment and they are willing to donate desks, credenzas and filing cabinets!

I'm always in awe of the fact that people are so giving.  Most of these people don't even know me personally and are just so willing to help children and teachers so far away.  I wonder if they recognize that God is using them too.  He is using them to respond to a need in our world to care for His children.  I still think it is absolutely crazy that He uses me in this way too.  I am just grateful I can be useful.

Moving Day!

 

Yesterday, at 2:55, Jocelyn took me to the realty office to pick up the key to our Swaziland Library Drive warehouse!  Our warehouse is located on the busiest road in Cambridge, and the plaza has a Timmies, my dentist office, a greek restaurant, pizza store and a nail salon - and now - A Library Warehouse for Swaziland!
Jocelyn and I had to pick up my grandkids and then she dropped me back off at home.  Soon, Stacey, Campbell and I packed up my car with cleaning supplies and boxes of books, the old desk top computer and headed off to the new warehouse.
It was pretty cool to finally be able to start to see this next phase of opportunity for those Swazi kids.  Campbell moved some items into a closet that were left behind by the previous tenants.  Stacey vacuumed and I cleaned the bathroom and front windows.  We emptied my car and headed home.
A half hour supper break and I went to exchange cars with Jennifer; her van holds much more then my car.  At the church we moved the 2200 books that a young girl in Cambridge had collected at her school in June.  She collected all of those books in just 10 school days!  Thanks so much!!!!
Jocelyn met us with two fellows from our youth group to help.  I am so thankful that we have a warehouse space on street level!  Coming up that flight of stairs at the church with those boxes reminded me of the aches and pains we felt having to carry up boxes and boxes up two flights of stairs at the last warehouse.  We stopped back in at my house to pick up another 10 boxes that we didn't have room for on our first trip and now for our second load to be unloaded.
Now, back to Jocelyn's to attempt to move the 3/4 full garage of books.  That took us actually another four trips of a truck and a van packed to absolute capacity!  Thankfully one of our other young adults from the church showed up with another youth and he was able to transport people in his car as Jocelyn and I drove the vehicles.
Around the second trip from Jocelyn's, I noticed a police officer had driven passed and then parked in the lot behind the warehouse.  As we drove off, I mentioned it to them when we got back to Jocelyn's.  The guys thought maybe the officer was checking out the underlights of the car that the young adult was driving.  However, when we got back with the third load, the officer drove around the building once more and stopped us to see what we were doing.  The conversation went something like this:  Officer:  "Excuse me, who are you?"  Me:  "Oh, we are the Church of the Nazarene & the I.Can Foundation.  We are setting up a warehouse for books for Africa."  Officer:  *puzzled look*, sighs, "What are you doing?" Me:  "We are unloading shelving at the moment because we are setting up a warehouse for Swaziland, Africa."  Officer: "What about the truck at the back?"  Me:  "Oh, we have the shelving, they have the books."  Officer:  "They have been unloading for a while, eh?"  Me:  "Sure have!  We still have 1/2 a garage to bring yet."  Officer:  "Oh, yeah?  Ok.  Thanks so much, we'll see you around."  Me:  "Yes, we will!"  As I thought to myself, maybe you will be back to see what exactly we are doing.
Finally, we gave the door a final lock at 11:07pm, drove over to Jenn's to exchange vehicles once again and then put this aching body back to bed.  11 trips full!
As I was laying down on my soft bed, I reflected on the day.  This is the Thanksgiving weekend.  I am so thankful for so much and yet, how often do I really express that to those that have impacted my life in order for me to be thankful.  I need to do that more.  Then I thought of the people in Swaziland.  I heard over and over in my head their gratitude whenever we would show up somewhere with a box of books or even just a physical presence to help with the HIV/AIDS task force, Gigi's Kitchen or the Ntondozi Child Development Centre.  God has guided me and my family along this Swaziland journey.  He has crossed cultural paths in order for me to recognize what I do have to be thankful for and then to see how others who have a whole lot less than I do express their thankfulness so much more openly and graciously.  The smiles of the Swazi people are felt from deep within their being - while our smiles are often fleeting.  This truly is a Thanksgiving weekend.  Thank you, Lord, for... can't write at the moment... tears are streaming down my face.  I can't even begin to say all that I am thankful for.  But I am.