This week I am asking the students what they are inspired to do, so stay tuned for the answer.
After eating Papa John’s pizza, we got these awesome t-shirts!
Alex had had too much Catnip tea (yes, really, catnip). It actually seemed to affect his focus. He walked out of Peace and said “Ooooh, school busses.” That was when I realized it was time to cut him off of the catnip. When I teased him about it, he responded: “Don’t judge!”
The event itself was a blast. I had my former AVID student and current intern, Shawn on my right, and newer Hilltop Scholar, Asia, on my left.
Here are my notes from the two major speakers at the event:
Craig Kielburger, Founder of Free the Children
Craig stopped reading the newspaper because the headlines always had so much violence and human suffering. He talked to Desmond Tutu about this, and Tutu told him the headlines are God’s “To Do List.” We should see the headlines as a calling, not a negative.
Craig was first inspired when he was 12 and read the story of a Pakistani boy who had been sold into slavery, escaped, and spoke against child slavery around the world. He said “Every child has the right to hold a pencil, not a tool.” He was killed at age 12.
Craig was so upset by this story that he spoke in front of his class and asked them to help him. 11 friends said they would help him. They began the first chapter of Free the Children. That was in 1995. There are now 4000 chapters world-wide.
He talked about ways we can help:
• Participate in the November 20 Day of Silence
• Make sure we buy products that are not made in sweatshops
• Adopt a village.
MINGA: Craig told a story about working in a Mexican village and there weren’t enough workers to get the school built in the time allotted. The village chief called a “minga.” People came from all over the area, some walking 5 hours to get there. When someone calls a minga, you just go. It’s a coming-together for the common good.
The chief asked how you would say “minga” in English. The English-speaking workers finally said, “it’s like a riot, but for good!”
Desmond Tutu
Old people (he called them “Oldies”) are repetitive, they tell the same stories over and over.
God is omnipotent. He created everything without our help. This omnipotent God wanted the help of a human partner.
Moses and God talked and God persuaded Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt and the Exodus occurred. Moses did this even though it endangered his life.
The Angel, Gabriel, talked to Mary and asked her to carry the son of God in her womb. She said, “I’m a decent girl, ask next door.” But she was finally convinced. God needed her help to bring Jesus into this world.
God waited. The omnipotent became impotent. He waited for a human partner.
In February 1990, Nelson Mandela was let out of prison. In 1994, South African Blacks voted for the first time.
Everyone in the anti-apartheid movement collaborated with God t make freedom happen. It has always been that way. We have to provide the fish and bread so God can feed the hungry.
It’s not spectacular things that we have to do. Sometimes it’s just sitting on the bus and refusing to move.
We spend trillions on instruments of violence and destruction. We could use that money to provide clean water, food, housing, and health care around the world. God says, “When are they going to get it? 1.5 billion of my children go to bed hungry! 6 million killed because of discrimination.” God looks on and sees disease, poverty, war, corruption.
What did God feel about Bin Ladin being shot in front of his children? And of people celebrating at his death?
But then God looks at Tacoma and sees the sparks and starts to smile like the sunshine through the rain. He says “That’s exactly why I created them.” (He did a little dance here.) God smiles and says, “Thank you, Tacoma.”
Diamond and her KidREACH kid.
Vince and his lovely mom.
Diamond is ready for the show!
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