Noteworthy - Shake Up

Matt Browning is a part of a small group of friends that we have been meeting with every Thursday night since we arrived. Within the safety of this group, we have shared our lives with one another... praying prayers, telling stories, sharing meals, shedding tears, and encouraging dreams. Matt arrived in Rotorua shortly before us. He left the security of a lucrative job to pursue a dream. 

Shake Up is a social enterprise designed to address youth unemployment, through job training and mentor relationships. "We are establishing a ‘smoothies, soups & coffee’ caravan so that struggling young people can receive wages from selling food – while also receiving practical certification, valuable work experience and further learning. Though our first priority is empowering our youth, we will operate as a business in order to stay sustainable – and after a set period of time we will help the young people find further employment – allowing us to take on a new group of youth. We aim to provide employers the trust to hire our currently-unemployed young people."


It has been a joy getting to know Matt and watching this dream come to fruition. After completing a successful crowdfunding campaign, the caravan has been purchased, the renovations are underway... and very soon Shake Up will open for business.

Last Sunday, we had a neighborhood business meeting with Matt. He taught us a little bit about social enterprise, explained why it is important to have job experience, and gave us some "insider information" about the Shake Up menu. We got to ask lots of questions and took a field trip to the Shake Up caravan work site. It was a great experience.

We are thankful to have known Matt during our time in Rotorua, and excited to see how Shake Up impacts the community over the next several years. Well done Matt Browning! 

Noteworthy - Les Misérables

This blog space has been all about lemonade for the past few weeks. I decided it was time to catch up on some other subjects... like roller derby, the book of Galatians and Les Misérables.

In our small group we are working through at Timothy Keller series on the book of Galatians. It is an old school version that we had printed and bound... but it looks it is now available in print.

Galatians is about grace. Les Misérables nails it. Last night we watched a clip and this morning I bought the movie (even though I have seen it before). It has been on repeat for the past six hours. I don't know that I have ever seen a more "noteworthy" movie. And guess what... they made a book and a play about the movie! Haven't read it - maybe someday.

Noteworthy - Living Water International

A few weeks ago when I was on my luxurious kidless jaunt across America, I had the pleasure of visiting my college roommate Sarah. She was getting ready for a trip to Guatemala with an organization I was vaguely familiar with -
Living Water International.

The first thing I like to do when I get curious about an organization is check out their ratings on Charity Navigator. It is a great resource for finding out about the financial health and transparency of organizations that you are considering supporting. Living Water checked out very well. Once an organization passes the "I'm not a crook" test. Then they get put on my, slightly judgmental, chopping block. Beyond being aligned with my beliefs and values there are two subtle things that make or break the deal when it comes to my support... snob. I watch videos, read purpose statements, asses web designs, critique language, and evaluate fundraisers... with two questions in mind.
 
Does this organization promote dignity? 
Who wants to feel like a charity case? Not me! Dignity is defined as: the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. Everyone deserves dignity. It can be easy for organizations (and individuals... like myself) to forget about dignity when we get "busy" saving the world. People can't thrive without it. HOPE International is an organization that won my heart for their attention to the details of dignity.

In this video, Katie Nienow does a fantastic job of explaining why dignity is critical in effecting sustainable change for people living in poverty.

Is this organization artful?
I assure you, being artful has roots much deeper than the hipster movement... think creation. It's more than just being cool. According to the dictionary... artful organizations are skillful in accomplishing a purpose, especially by the use of cunning or craft. I have pretty strong convictions about creativity - we were, after all, made in the image of a creative God. I like when organizations (and people) are a little bit clever. Be excellent on behalf of the people you serve! They deserve it. Laity Lodge takes the "win" for being the most artful place I have ever been. This beautiful essay by Steven Garber captures what makes Laity Lodge so unique.

Living Water International
There were a lot of factors that lead me to conclude that Living Water International is totally worthy of my support. But THIS was the video that tipped the scales. Dignified and artful. Sarah Nyangare Owiti, Sharon Awuor Owino and Mary Atieno Odhiambo - three Kenyan teens, in their school house, reciting (with electric passion) a poem about water... a resource I take for granted every day.

An eight year old's perspective
As I virtually "stalked" Living Water International, my eight year old son was looking over my shoulder. This is the video that caught HIS attention. He was primarily concerned with the fact that Lucy Marwa has to walk up a mountain (where there are scary baboons, snakes and monkeys) to get dirty water. 

The lemonade stand
Max didn't waste much time critiquing the validity of this organization. While I was taking an afternoon nap he started working. Picking lemons, cutting, taping, making signs, writing informational handouts for customers, recruiting an able-bodied workforce.

Warm lemonade brings out the neighbors
His efforts were not in vain. We had a crowd at our house all weekend long. Many were inspired and refreshed by Max's "kindof warm kindof cold" fresh lemonade. We met more neighbors this weekend than we have in our entire time here in New Zealand. The lemonade stand made a whopping sixty eight dollars...
a remarkable profit considering the poor location and unseasonable timing. It is winter in New Zealand, hence the kindof warm lemonade.

Lemon trees and next steps for the stand
One night when we were out with our small group I made a comment about the remarkable abundance of lemon trees in Rotorua. One of the guys said "yeah - if you buy a house in Rotorua and it doesn't have a lemon tree... you sort of feel jipped". The neighborhood kids picked all the lemons off of three trees this weekend. Max and Maggie are planning to ask kids at school for lemon donations, so that they can keep the stand running.

Lesson learned
It is really important to care about things like dignity
and artfulness. But while searching for the perfect organization... don't miss your opportunity to make lukewarm lemonade.

Thanks for doing important work kids. In my overly critical opinion... Living Water International is an organization very worthy of your time and efforts.

Noteworthy - Wonder Women

Over the past eight years I have read quite a few books in the "motherhood genre". A lot of them have been a bit underwhelming and left me hungry for a better conversation on the topic. Wonder Women is different. 

"Tone" is a big deal for me. If an author seems to be selling golden tickets or pushing a particular philosophy I am pretty quick to close their book and add their name on my mental "do not read" list... because I don't like simple solutions for complex issues (especially when they are laced with hints of judgment). It is probably also because I am stubborn and prideful and don't like to be told what to do - a subject for another post.

Kate Harris first caught my attention with an essay title Motherhood as Vocation. I loved her "tone". As a young "stay-at-home" mom struggling with questions of identity and calling this essay offered affirmation on a deep and profound level.
 
The subtitle for Wonder Women is "Navigating the Challenges of Motherhood, Career, and Identity"... and it does just that. I would take a navigation tool over a instruction manual any day. There are just too many factors in the motherhood equation.    

This book bolstered my confidence and encouraged me to push on towards the things that I am "pretty sure" God has made me to do. Deep down most of us know what is best for ourselves and our families... but there are LOUD voices these days and it can be hard to stay the course.

Happy Mother's day - go get this book. It offers a little taste of freedom and grace within the (often divisive) arena of motherhood. It is also a really quick read... a gift in itself, considering it's predominantly overtired audience. You can watch a quick trailer here.
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Noteworthy - Peter Pan & Adoption

Last week the 2003 version of Peter Pan was on the docket for family movie night. It did not disappoint (especially in comparison to some of the other movies we have endured as a family). There were lots of endearing qualities, but the one that had me in tears came at the very end...

Wendy, Peter and John are home safe. George and Mary have a changed perspective on what is most important in life. Five of the lost boys are welcomed into the Darling family... everyone (including crotchety Aunt Millicent) is celebrating.

In walks a distraught boy named Slightly... "I couldn't find their house, and now everyone has a mother except for me". With a splash of pixie dust, Tinker Bell transforms the heart of Aunt Millicent... she is overcome with a passionate conviction that Slightly is HER lost boy. I dare you to watch this clip without crying.

Pixie dust and magical fairies are not a part of the adoption stories that I have heard. Most of the time they are stories fraught with all sorts of trials and tribulations. Endless paperwork, unbelievable financial expenses, LONG waiting periods, stressful family transitions. But in the end, a lost boy (or girl) finds their home... and that is noteworthy.

There are somewhere around 13 million orphans in the world... and while most of us won't ever feel the pixie dust hit our temple and decide to expand our families through adoption, we can wildly support those who do.

One way to support someone that has made the decision to adopt... don't be a jerk. Keep your fears and doubts to yourself. I have heard almost humorous stories of resistance coming from family and friends. Trust that they know how scary it is... and chose encouragement. Beyond that... there are a million ways to support the cause. Get creative.




Here are a few fun adoption related links
Noonday Collection - jewelry that's changing the world
I'm Adopted - a children's song by Randall Goodgame
Under the Sycamore - a lovely photographic journey

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Noteworthy - The Lone Bellow

On my solo road trip to Gisborne, I was in complete control of the radio... it was glorious. I found myself driving along the Waioeka River pounding the steering wheel in rhythmic agreement with the my favorite trio... The Lone Bellow.

The only thing I love more than their music is the story behind it (which you can read in full on the "about" section of their website). "The native Georgian first came to songwriting via near tragedy... Two years ago, following a soul-searching trip he’d taken with his wife, Williams re-emerged with a stack of deeply personal songs -- tender but frank tales of romantic rupture and hard-fought redemption -- rooted in the country, folk and gospel of his Southern youth..."

In this day and age, you would be hard pressed to find a more heartfelt and believable album... but don't take my word for it - have a look and listen.



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The Noteworthy Section

The "Noteworthy" section of this blog is a casual catalog of things (people, places, projects, music, websites, etc) that have inspired or encouraged me... things that have had a "Noted" impact on my life.

I always assume that I will remember the details of things that have changed me... the color, the context, the story, the beauty, the connection, the depth... but more often than not, I forget about them... and it's a shame.

Songs that have made me weep, books that have provoked me to act, films that have changed my perspective, people that have transformed a culture, organizations that elicit courage... artful things that I have failed to fully appreciated.

"Noteworthy" is my attempt to capture, acknowledge and remember the beauty in this place.

Noteworthy - Roller Derby and Sexual Slavery

At the risk of sounding redundant... I am love, love, loving roller derby.

This past week we have been recruiting women for the next round of "freshmeat training". On Tuesday, I somehow managed to finagle myself into a front and center position for the Sulphur City Steamrollers photoshoot with the Rotorua Daily Post (even though I still have no idea what I am doing and am the least tough and intimidating person on the team).

I channeled my inner mother - put on my best mean face and (as you can clearly see in the photo) "accidentally" pushed my left bicep out with my right hand. Awesome. When I got home I started reflecting on what had just happened...  and got a bit anxious.

So I did what I habitually do when I get anxious or board, frustrated, angry, lonely, unmotivated, etc... check social media (problem. working on it). I got curious about the red X I kept seeing. As it turns out, February 27th was the day designate to "END IT" by shining a light on the fact that there are 27 million men, women, and children around the world trapped in slavery.

If there is something worthy of a REALLY ANGRY face, it is slavery... and perhaps more specifically (in my opinion) sexual slavery. I added an extra does of "crazy" in the photo, for emphasis and dramatic appeal... but in all seriousness - can you imagine anything more horrific than realizing you or your child had been sold into sexual slavery? Let it sink in for just a minute.

There are a lot of ways to get educated on the topic of sexual slavery... but the hardest part is having the stomach to handle the terrible truth of it all. I remember seeing the movie Trade several years ago - shock, rage, horror, disbelief, and physical sickness.

Below is a 40 minute video with personal stories of 3 real-life-human-beings who were slaves and found freedom. Good News. My favorite organization doing work to promote justice in this arena is
International Justice Mission... check it out and END IT!

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Noteworthy - Project Loop & the 50/50 Auction

Brent Humphreys is the newest member of the family and we are thrilled to have him. He and (the very talented) Jamie Boone got married in some exotic location earlier this year and had a lovely (so I heard) Texas reception about a month ago. We missed it - because we live on the other side of the world. There are very few misfortunate things about living in New Zealand - the absence of family and special friends is chief among them.

Brent (who I have yet to meet), is a professional photographer by day and a (pretty darn creative) entrepreneur / philanthropist by night. Over the past several months I had been hearing bits and pieces of what they were up to with Project LOOP in Taylor Texas (just outside of Austin)... but when I finally saw this ESPN interview, I got the big picture... and was blow away.

Here is the condensed version (for all you busy people who don't have time watch the video or check out the website)
* creative kids who need skills and direction
* creative professionals who want to give back
* Project LOOP (Lesson's On and Off The Pavement) connects them and they do really cool things together...
* In fact... they are doing a really cool thing together RIGHT NOW.

LOOP students wrote letters to over 100 celebrated artists from the art, music and skateboarding world inviting them to collaborate with Project LOOP to raise money for a skatepark in Taylor, Texas. The finished works is being AUCTIONED LIVE HERE right now.

There are some unbelievably beautiful (and functional) pieces of "one off" art that are currently listed at steal prices.

In summary - if you:
a) like to skate
b) know someone that likes to skate
c) like to help creative kids
d) like adults who help creative kids
e) need a gift for a creative, skater kid, who likes art

Then go to this link and bid like there's no tomorrow... and don't forget to tell your skater friends. 

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Noteworthy - Q Focus: Women & Calling

Q Focus - Women & Calling
This past weekend in New York City, 200 women gathered to learn, connect and collaborate around the topic of women & calling... more specifically "how women can faithfully embrace the life, gifts and skills God has given them." I would love to have been there.

Q: Ideas
I have been a long time admirer of Q : Ideas and the posture they take in matters of faith. I appreciate their conversational approach on really important (and sometimes controversial) topics. Some of my favorite essays and videos are found in their archives (I am particularly fond of the social sector section).

The speakers
What immediately caught my attention was the phenomenal speaker line-up. 
A few notes on five of the twelve speakers...

Kate Harris (top middle) - When I read Kate's essay Motherhood as a Vocation a few years ago, I wanted to share it with every mom that I knew. I was thrilled when I learned that she would be one of the speakers at the Laity Lodge Women's retreat I attended earlier this year.  If I could, I would pre-order Kate's unwritten book... she has good things to say and I am thankful for the perspective she brings to the conversation on women and calling. 
*** Update - Kate Harris DID write a book ***

Shauna Niequist (bottom middle) - The night I finished reading Shauna's first book (Cold Tangerines) I took a picture. It was in 2009, before instagram (and my moderate obsession with cataloging every moment of my life). It changed the way I think about words and stories and I wanted to remember the impact it had on me. I sent her an (overly gushy) message about how much I loved her book and she sent me a kind response the next day. I am in the middle of cooking through her most resent book Bread and Wine - it is delicious.

Kathy Keller (top right) - Kathy Keller is a writer, editor, and co-founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (a church that has impacted my life from a far). She and her husband Tim wrote a marriage book that I love - The Meaning of Marriage. Her bio made me curious and eager to hear her thoughts - "she has often felt like a woman without a country, being called both a feminist and a complementarian, both ill-fitting labels. Having raised three sons in the City and answered two and half decades of confrontational questions regarding the role of women, Kathy finds the honest, aggressive engagement of ideas exhilarating." 

Deidra Riggs (bottom right) Deidra Riggs is the managing editor for The High Calling - an online community that I became familiar with through Laity Lodge. Her topic (the role of rest) was the most interesting and applicable in this particular season of my life... having run myself ragged over the past few years. I spent 16 of the past 1095 days (three years) at Laity Lodge (family camp and retreats). I don't know where I would be if those 16 days were erased from my life. It is one of my favorite places to find rest and direction.  

Rebekah Lyons (bottom left) Rebekah and her husband Gabe are the cofounders of Q Ideas - ideas for the common good. She is the author of a book revealing her own battles to overcome anxiety, depression, and consumer impulses. A year and a half ago (before this book was available and after I read this post - Why are the Women Fading) I sent Rebekah an overly gushy email (trend) - asking if she had plans to write a book... on a topic that isn't addressed often enough. She sent me a kind response letting me know that she was in the process of writing Freefall to Fly. I got it right before we left for New Zealand and haven't had a chance to read it yet - looking forward to it. 

For $79, you can watch the event online... but unfortunately not in New Zealand. 

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Notewothy - For Freedom, Jenny & Tyler

Jenny & Tyler have a new album out and there are so many reasons why this news is noteworthy... where to start?

I met Jenny and Tyler for the first time when they were just barely out of high school - before they were Jenny & Tyler. They were friends of some of the college kids we knew through Young Life. I was so very impressed with them and their group of friends - all students at the University of Delaware... impressed, inspired and a little bit intimidated.

They were shinny and bright with a hopeful optimism... like I was in college. It was a humbling season for me... but I grew, thanks in part to the fresh perspective those students brought into my life.

Fast forward 8 years... Jenny & Tyler are married with a brand new baby girl and a very successful music career. Their music is moving... I listed to their last album (Open your Doors) for the first time walking through the Nashville International Airport terminal... a wave of emotion took me straight to the nearest family bathroom, where I cried for 20 minutes. I am thankful for the hard work they do and for the beauty they add to the world of music.  

So back to the great news about their new album and the top three reasons why I think it is noteworthy

1. Best news first... 100% of the proceeds go to an organization that I think is doing some of the most important work in the world. Yes... every single penny goes towards life-altering, culture changing, restorative work. I believe in this organization and the people they hire (including one of those very special college students noted above). 

2. It is a cover album... with really good songs. Cover albums can be sketchy depending on the taste of the artist. Jenny & Tyler clearly have very good taste. I cried again (listening to the Scientist) - but this time it was in a slightly cleaner bathroom.

3. There are a few amazing artists featured on the album - Sara Groves, JJ Heller, Levi Weaver. One of the best parts of watching Jenny & Tyler work their way up in the music industry is seeing the people that have supported and encouraged them along the way. Fun to hear a few of those voices on this album.

In short... buy the album. It will be the best $6.99 you spend all year.  

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Noteworthy - Art House America Blog

When Art House America pops ups on my facebook feed announcing a new round of posts, I begin scheming... because planning a moment to myself can be a bit of a challenge these days. But when Andi Ashworth posts a new essay, the stakes are even higher... I could hardly wait to read this.

I always want it to be a nice moment - when I can sit down in a quiet room with a blanket (maybe even some dessert and a warm beverage) and savor every word. It is a less enjoyable reading experience when you are locked in a bathroom with your laptop and children screaming requests on the other side (I know this from experience).

I became familiar with Art House America when I read Andi's book Real Love for Real Life - the art and work of caring... it transformed my domestic life and gave me a fresh vision for home and hospitality. The Art House America Blog has become a huge source of inspiration and encouragement. It is a place where I can always count on finding life-giving essays on topics I care about.

I found a moment... it was nice.

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