Not just waiting on the world to change

So I was in the middle of working on my Mobilization assignment for Global Perspectives, when I left to have dinner with my wonderful friend Cindy. It is always encouraging to talk with someone who is growing in understanding the heart of Christ in similar yet still different ways...

which led to a conversation with Alicia. With all the ways that we are learning about what is going on in the world, there is still so much we don't know. But what we do know, we feel responsible for. We feel called to take action, not by our own ambition, but by the grace that is given to us ever so abundantly in Jesus Christ.

An example of something that is already being done? Arty recently got back from Kenya, working with the Hamms in Mathare Valley. They have been doing micro finance projects with families in the area, and posted the videos on youtube. 

I am excited and in wonder at what the Lord of the Universe will use our hearts to do. May we not rest in awareness, but move to action. May we not act out of our own ability, but by the power that is within us of the One who has defeated darkness. May we forget what we understand to be our own limitations, and embrace the limitless nature of the One who put these desires within our hearts. May we forget ourselves, and remember the Cross. May we stop asking Jesus to come into the dreams we have for our live, and humbly ask how we can fit into the plans He has for his kingdom. May we not judge the need because of the scars of sin, but accept the broken remembering the way we once were. May our love extend beyond emotion, move to compassion, find no limitation, and overflow out of an abundance of the One we reflect. May we stop and realize that there is nothing we can do to change the world, because the only thing that could rescue the world has already been done. May we not be paralyzed by fear, but spurred on in hope. May we never settle for lives of comfort, or fall into the trap that wealth equals success. As we pray and learn and live together, may we remain humbled and find rest in the presence of the Jesus Christ... 

My dear friend Becca reminded me of a song tonight... and I would like to share the words. Mind you, it is sung by the powerful voices of Shane and Shane.

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea:

A great high priest, whos name is Love,

who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,

My name is written on his heart;

I know that while in heaven he stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair,

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look, and see him there

who made an end to all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me

Halleluah! Hallelujah! Praise the One, Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the Risen Lamb

My perfect, spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I AM,

The King of Glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die

My soul is purchased by his blood

My life is hid with Christ on High

With Christ my Savior, and my God

With Christ my Savior, and my God

If war broke out in Ghana, would we even know.

My good friend Evan Human debuted this song last night. He told me about it a while ago, over conversations of Jesus, life and the violence in Kenya. Needless to say, my heart is continually burdened more and more for the people in Kenya. The question he asked in the song was... would we even know? The facts are... we don't. 

There may not be war in Ghana, but there is tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a multi-faceted war in Georgia (not the United States one.) There has been a huge ordeal in trying to make peace in Uganda (yes, it is the same war that Invisible Children is active in.) Do we know these things?

www.bbc.com has become a dear friend this past year. As Christians, we need to not only be informed but be actively in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world... along with the lost. I am only beginning to learn what this looks like in reality rather than theory.

The title of this is "a steady surge of questions" so here are my questions of the day (mixed with random thoughts...)

1. I have been reading about the recent rising death toll in Iraq. War is brutal and harsh. What are we to do as Christ followers. How are we to respond?

2. There is an organization I have just learned about called Kids with Destiny.

Read about it...

3. I leave for South Asia in 20 days. My how time flies! Here is a picture of my incredible team. Please be in prayer for us... Specifically regarding finances and spiritual warfare. 

4. Yet another article has surfaced about working conditions: this time in Jordan.

5. If anyone is curious about another site that keeps companies accountable, go to corpwatch.

6. This is where my next question comes in... What on earth are we to do in response to this? Do we stop buying clothes from all companies unless we are sure where they came from? Do we ignorantly not pay attention to these things, and feel like we can't make a difference, so why try? Do we care? How do we act as good stewards of the things that the Lord has blessed us with in this situation? 

7. And the last question before chapel today... I am done with school on April 29th :) Anyone want to help me move out?

Bad news... good news.

Let's start with the good. 

After touring American Apparel's factory today in Los Angeles, I got to see first hand the incredible way that this company treats their workers. I would put a link to their website, but I am not a fan of the images that are on it... so if you are really interested, you can find it on your own. The workers have so many benefits, from free massages on the job, to a health clinic IN the factory! Also learned that every worker at an american apparel factory WORLDWIDE gets paid US minimum wage. They also control everything from the material that is woven to the products that are designed... so the whole process except for the cotton (which cant be grown in LA) is sweat free... this makes me wonder about the cotton, but that is for another day.

Now for the bad...

Provacative images. I asked about the images that they use in their advertising, and he replied with the following: They do all their advertising "in house." They use normal people, wearing the clothes as people normally would. They save millions of dollars. They want their customers to feel sexy... so they use images that make the models (who are either workers or friends of workers) look sexy...

Not sure how i feel about this, but i am definitely not excited about it.

The other reports of the day:

Good news: 

Merrick emailed me some websites and I have more good news. Here is another link to a site that shows stores around the United States that offer items that are made "free trade" and "sweat free." There are some sweat stores... from things to recycled flip flops, to clothes made with bamboo there are some sweet options :)

And the bad news:

Starbucks and Victorias Secret may be two of girls favorite places to shop. Good coffee and quality garments that matter most... Unfortunately I am not confident in either of these places anymore. 

Here is a story about Starbucks attempt to be "free trade" and an article about Victoria's "Not so sexy" working conditions... 

All I can say at the end of today... is the more I learn and get closer to a conclusion... the more questions that arise. I have yet to find answers to this huge issue which is becoming bigger in my reality every day.

The Hall of Shame

Here is a list that many have been asking me about. The top companies that know about the mistreatment of their workers, and have turned a blind eye.

Some that might surprise you? American Eagle, Hanes, Guess, Dickies, Wal-Mart (Still!!!!)...

Statements of the poor. Facts about poverty.

We hear these statements. We read the facts. Until we have met the people, seen the sights, breathed in the smell… we are separated. The disconnect between us, and them seems like a world away.

But it is the same world. Different languages, same God. Desperation met with silence from the world of luxury and comfort.

We are critical of guilt laden attempts to make us care.

We give money, feel better… Two percent satisfying our conscience.

The cycle continues. Where is change?

Has the body become preoccupied with clothing itself in finery that it forgets its hands can move? Has our brain been immobilized by overanalyzing our disagreements?

Blessed...

To be a blessing. It is a theme found in Scripture and that holds true in every breath of creation. Yesterday marks the end of my 19th year of life... which means I turned 19. Strange, yes, but many traditions are! 

I have never really understood birthdays. In fact, I have often felt sad around my birthday because somehow I expected to feel appreciated more than is necessary. Honesty is brutal sometimes. It's bruises, contrary to their physical connotation bring understanding in their pain. The concept of gifts is something I also don't totally know how to address... I don't want to hoard them, yet everyone loves receiving presents!

As I am being refined, I am learning this lesson: If we are blessed to be a blessing, then even gifts that are given to us by humans also fall into this category.

I say this with excitement, but awe as I am only beginning to understand what this means.

Let's break that down with an example, too many lofty words in that sentence.

The incredible man that I am privileged to call my boyfriend got together 15-20 people who love me (friends and family) and purchased me a brand new macbook. I cannot say how overwhelmed I am that they are so sacrificing and loving... I spent the first couple hours just playing with it, enjoying the many wonders that come upon entrance to the apple family.

BUT - even this gift is for the glory of the Lord! I have just made the decision to become a graphic design minor (It is a huge need in the developing world, and non profits that work within it.) 

To group my thoughts together by the impacts they have had on my life...

1. A double minor in graphic design and global studies

2. A deeper understanding of the incredible friends I have been given.

3. Appreciation of my Father and little brother despite their humanity.

4. Frustration with the oppression that our world is saturated in... 

5. An opening of my eyes to the world of clothing and sweatshops. Join me on Friday if you are too....

6. A peace that even though I am overwhelmed, overcommited and stressed... the Love of God is ABUNDANT and my SUSTENANCE.

This was rather stream of consciousness style... Lo Siento mis amigos! As I grow as a writer, hopefully the readability will improve :)

Taken with the newest blessing in my life:

The wonderful man who put it together:

Consumer.

We are American.

Our very definition gives us the title as a consumer. I am not taking this opportunity to say whether that is bad or good... It is simple a fact.

The bad comes in when we realize we are ignorant consumers.

Do we know... DO I KNOW... where the clothes I am coming from were made? Could I be supporting the mistreatment of children of God, by what I choose to wear?

Merrick got the opportunity to hear Shane Claiborne speak a few weeks ago at Vanguard. He shared a story of a boy working at a clothes factory. This boy had a face disfigured by a large gash that went down his face. He told the story of how he got it: He had not been working fast enough so the boss had strucken him. When he began to bleed on the clothes, his boss got a match and burned the gash shut so that the bleeding would stop.

This story is sick. It sounds fake: made up for a shock factor. And yet it is the reality of many sweatshops that exist in the world today. Sweatshops that produce the clothes that we choose to put on every day. I am still trying to wrap my mind around what this means. Research which companies have fair trade. Find out about other conditions which are unfair and what I can do to have a part in change.

Here is a blog I found that reports current fair trade issues.

I have had no motivation to write a few papers this week... so my time has been spent here. It is a list of hundreds of sites of companies that only use fair trade and organic products.

There are even organizations that exist to organize boycotts and keep companies accountable.

We have probably heard about the wal-mart contreversy in their unfair wages and use of sweatshop clothes, but did we know that target is not much better? And Forever 21 as well?

I am not trying to spread bad things about these companies, I recognize that they are owned by people just as human as myself... and I am still trying to find the truth. It is so hard to sort through everything, but I am convinced that as a Christ Follower I cannot blindly support the injustice that is THRIVING in this industry.

I would love to hear your thoughts. This is a conversation that is only beginning