Do you wanna Harambee?

I have a new project with some friends -- "Harambee"! This is a project that aims to "help Africa help itself". We will help fund education and health projects in Africa, while at the same time educating the world about Africa -- its culture, its problems, its strengths.

Harambee Intl was started in Rome in 2002, and Harambee USA was founded in NYC in 2007. But very few people have heard about Harambee ("All together for one" in Swahili) here in Los Angeles. We are trying to change that.

Projects to be funded include: Educating women in Kenya and the Cameroon, and teachers' training programs in Sudan and Kenya.

We are in the "gestation stage" and are about to cook something up for Harambee. Will keep you posted!

http://harambee-africa.org/

Questioning the Politics of Gay Marriage

A penny for your thoughts?

All of us have people in our lives who are gay -- a close family friend, a boss, a brother, maybe even a father. We love them and want the best for them. But personal feelings aside, have we seriously thought about the implications of gay marriage?

As gay marriage attracts more followers and more correctness in today's politics, I am starting to wonder about a few things... Rights always come with Responsibilities. Rights without Responsibilities would be licentiousness, and Responsibilities without Rights would be oppression. But what are the responsibilities that naturally come with gay rights? And what are gay rights anyway, and why do we need gay marriage? Is this something good for the future of our children and of society?

God and the Barber

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
"I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.

Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he
saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

"You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.
"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because
if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.""Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Wanted: Jobs!

So many of my own family members and friends are looking for jobs these days -- which are getting fewer and far between, it seems. I thank God everyday for my own job--which I love--at a university by the Pacific Ocean.

But did you know that my job is "the fruit of many prayers"? 2 years ago, I desperately needed a job after my post-grad stint at USC ran out. I was on a work visa and can not be unemployed for even a day. Besides, I take 100% financial care of my 78-year old mom and her sister. The USC stint was unstable and senior administrators around me were getting nasty. I was in a tight spot. I applied to around 70 jobs within and outside the US for over 2 months... nothing.

So we -- my mom, my friends -- started storming heaven for the perfect job for me! We prayed to St. Josemaria Escriva (see link below for the novena), Don Alvaro Del Portillo, and St. Anthony. I NEED THAT JOB!!!!

And then, I got a call for an interview! The interview was set for January 9, 2008 -- the birthday of St. Josemaria :) Two weeks later, I got the job offer -- on the feastdays of both Don Alvaro and St. Anthony. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

So... if you are ever in a tight spot like I was almost 2 years ago -- apply for all the jobs you can find and pray like crazy! It worked for me!

http://multimedia.opusdei.org/pdf/en/novena_for_work_remake2.pdf

When life can be so 'daily'

Do you sometimes think that life can be so ... daily? Well fret not -- the "daily" can be made "holy". One of my favorite saints is having an anniversary this June 26th -- St. Josemaria Escriva. He preached on the sanctity of ordinary life. Everyday life -- your joys, sorrows, traffic blues, job worries, dinners with friends, dealings with significant others -- all can be offered up to God and be converted into a prayer. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is too "boring" to be sanctified. It is not always easy of course -- I can give in to frustration during a slow trip on Hwy101, get snarky at my hubby over something petty, or surf the web during work-hours -- all these are distractions from the path. When I remind myself that each moment of every day can be made holy, and I stay on the path, I feel more at peace at the end of the day. Try it, you might just like it :)

Love Language Minute: Distorted Anger

I am a big fan of Gary Chapman's books. I usually receive emails on his pieces called "Love Language Minute". I thought I'd share this one on "Distorted Anger":

Why do people get angry? I believe we get angry when our sense of 'right' is violated. But we have two kinds of anger: Definitive anger: When someone has wronged us. Distorted anger: When things didn't go our way. Much of our anger is distorted. The traffic moved too slowly. Our spouse didn't do what we wanted. This distorted anger is still very intense and must be processed. Here's a question: Would it be helpful if I shared my anger with someone? In sharing it, might I improve things for everyone? Or, should I simply let it go? Whatever you do, do something positive. Don't hold anger inside. Anger was meant to be a visitor, never a resident.

Going to NYC for Film Festival

Flying to NYC tonight to attend the Staten Island Film Festival -- my first film fest! -- where hubby's indie moving is showing. Movie is "Redirecting Eddie", a romantic comedy with sibling rivalry as its theme. It's a fun little movie with great music :)

Hubby is hoping to sell the movie. Note though that unlike any other movie -- 50% of the revenues go to children's charities (Children's Craniofacial Association, and Stump's R Us).  

Exciting :)

http://www.redirectingeddie.com/