A Digest

The words of God in the New Testament are mostly radical. Radical love, Radical worship, and radical belief in God’s word are some of the concepts discussed. Today I was reading about the fact that we are not to judge others, and in my mind I began to question why we are told “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2But [takes] delight in the law of the LORD, And in His law meditates day and night” - Psalm 1:1. How then are we to determine these ones that are ungodly and sequester ourselves from their ungodliness, if we are to by all means interact, showing love, without judging them? What does it mean to judge in the Bible? Well in Matthews 7:1 – 6 Jesus explains through an analogy what judging others look like. If you are doing something wrong, you place judgment when you try to correct others doing the same thing, while you show no sign of change or when you have not corrected your wrong. This makes sense, because how then should you lead when blind, if your eyesight has not been corrected. So judgment in this context amounts to superimposing our beliefs, and not necessarily practice, on others. I mean granted when one walks in the council of the ungodly then he ultimately practices the likes of them, so how then should he point fingers at their wrongs, if he indulges in their ungodly behaviors or practice. I read a commentary from bible gateway, and I like the fact that the commentator compares judging others to usurping the role of God. If God is holy, then He remains the rightful judge of all. However Jesus indicates that should we want to express that attribute of God then we must albeit be in the same position as God himself, be holy. There are numerous ways we can do this, such as offered in Romans 12:2. We can be transformed by the renewal of our mind, notice this does not talk about the mind of others. Romans 14, also describes the law of liberty, that our differences should not be a cause for debate. You should not point a finger at someone who decides to be a vegetarian because you eat everything, and neither should the other fret over others who eat all. The bolt and nut of it all though is that we should not let what we do, cause others to fall. So instead of walking around with a log in my eye and pointing at others who have peck of woods in theirs, I can work on taking mine out and should they need it, lend a hand in taking theirs out as well. We are interconnected in this way, so that instead of eschewing the ungodly we set examples by our love, without indulging in their activities, but working on ourselves. This is definitely parallel to global thinking, where your perspectives only matters when those of others are considered.

Reflections on volunteer in Cartagena, Colombia

One step a time:

Everything starts as a bulb that lights. It may flicker a few times, or shine bright with the high of a surge then POOF! explodes. Yet when a bulb lights, its bright white gives a glimpse of the future. So should you properly manage this light, this bulb that flickered in the extremities of the neural entwines in your head, you will realize that a flicker does not mean it’s broken, but that you are starting something that you may need to put a little more attention to.

So once upon a time I had an idea to volunteer with children in Colombia, which begun as a flicker – Just an idea. I had been a member of six individuals from United States and Puerto Rico, who were fortunate to gain a need and merit based scholarship to do research in Cartagena, Colombia. For two months between 3rd June 2012 and 29th July 2012, my crew dubbed The CUNY LSAMP group worked with five other students from the Universidad de Cartagena on the quality of water and soil in different impoverished neighborhoods within the city. We were divided into a group of two and four, with each individual from LSAMP paired with students from the Universidad de Cartagena. Eduardo and Heidy would be my partners as we took soil samples from a small town called Zapatero to our labs, probing for materials that were unsafe for the inhabitants. I think the greatest joy one can find as a human is to help another. Truly, the feeling is spectacularly pure and outstanding; especially when the recipient does not have to pay…the satiation is infinite. I could see something in the faces of the individuals we helped as we explained our work to them. If you look closely into the eyes, albeit the soul of an individual at the receiving end of any aid of sort you see humanity, true appreciation no matter how hidden. Perhaps anyone searching for a cure to the madness the world sees today will find the cure in this- loving thy neighbor as thyself.

As part of the program we were assigned to a school in a town called Manzanillo. Without an itinerary we were tasked with teaching these students English and engaging them in an exchange of ideas by sharing our experiences with them as they did theirs. We listened, I listened to one of the youngest speak – not above ten years old. He said he wanted to be a pilot. Now this young boy had not been in an airplane before but he had seen some fly, and was marveled by it. This triggered a light in the darkness that was caused by the lack of resources, darkness where everything stayed stable, stagnated by the greed of others, because they refuse to give – because they refuse to help another. What did our presence do for this young boy?  Frankly only time will tell, but what we shared with him will remain with him for a long time. I remember as members of our group sat in a semi-circle with some of these young kids including the young boy, and showed some of the different types of planes that were built in the past and some of the new ones that are being built. A single light may shine the path, but many will illuminate and provide a better view for the next step. We taught the children a bit more of what we knew. Those who needed help with math, biology and English were not disappointed. They were even fortunate to learn some astrology from our coordinator, and scored us disgracefully in soccer.  So this young boy and his mates learned about ongoing activities world wide, what they needed to do to get there and the fact that these dreams of theirs were reachable. Our endeavors came to a close with a report on our findings in the towns which we delivered to a foundation called ProBoquilla.

These reports were then used to substantiate the efforts to provide aids to the towns that were affected by contaminants like fecal coliforms due to improper maintenance of septic tanks. The experience however left a lasting impression on me, one that kept pushing me towards another visit to Cartagena, Colombia.

So during the summer of 2013 I worked as hard as I could to save up some money with which I partnered with A Broaderview Volunteer to find an organization that works with children. A broaderview volunteer is an American based Non-governmental organization (NGO) that assists individuals who are interested in volunteering in ‘developing’ countries. I had researched ways I could undertake this project as officially as possible and found that working with organizations with already established reputations in the field would promote the success of the project. I had the zeal, the will, and the plan that was to make this lighted bulb one that was to leave an illuminated reservoir of information and un-padded experience for the children and myself. I however thought that no matter how indelible a mark my session with these children will be, I could be of practical help if I donated something to them at the end of my volunteer. I created a go fundme donation page, and marketed the idea to family and friends. Frankly I had not expected to exceed even fifty bucks but to my surprise I was able to raise more than nine hundred dollars. I believe in hope. I believe in the common good of all humans. Just as man is capable of an unthinkable evil so is he even more a greater good. In lieu of my inability to show enough gratitude, I will list the following individuals some of whom are close family and others close friends, who donated in support of my project:

John Boateng

Nana Nsaiah-Kordie

Leeann Moses

Mamoudou Diallo

Michael Boafo

Yaw Diko

Agnes Osei

Nana Agyenim

The only barrier that was to impede the progress of the volunteer was language. Yet that was countered by my one week class in Spanish with Milena Saavdera as organized by a broaderview volunteers, with of course the help of Karen Tarazona Barrios who was always by my side. On my first day I met with the director of the foundation and drew an intensive program that was to be carried out in two weeks. At 7:30am every morning I would walk from the host family to the foundation, then by 8:00am watch as these children ate. By 8:30am I lead the children through a bout of activities that may include English lessons, cultural education and exchange.  No, the children did not sleep at the foundation. The name of the foundation, Semillas de esperanza means seeds of hope.

During her description of what the foundation was all about, the director explained that these were at risk children between the ages of 7 and 17 who had been exploited and sometimes pushed into hard labor by their parents and precarious circumstances. The task of the foundation was to find these children and groom them for what they were meant to be- the future. So the foundation created programs that assisted these children with their academics and other extracurricular activities that spared them the harsh treatments of the streets. During my first meeting I shared with the kids my dream of becoming a doctor and why helping others was of immense importance to me, then I asked each child to share their dream. Each of them had a vision. Some doctors, others lawyers and entertainers. I went on to explain why I believe action is one of the most important aspect in attaining a vision, a stimulus to why I was with them.

The two weeks I shared with these kids were definitely worth it. At the end of the program I was shown a new construction that was to replace the foundation’s old premise. The project had begun yet was slow due to lack of funds. I analyzed the place and observed ceiling fans would need to be installed, this was confirmed by the director. So with the support I had I purchased 10 ceiling fans towards their new building. By now I am convinced you have as much interest in what I am doing as myself.

I am very excited with our new project which will send medical aid to Ghana. We are still in the program design stage but you can be the first to either donate or contribute to making this a success.  Here I will give you a brief summary about what we are planning:

We are locating certain remote villages in Ghana in a considerably deplorable state of health, once located there are two likely paths we hope to take:

1. Look at endemic disease cases within this neighborhood and assist in proper diagnostics and treatment

2. Do a medical screening where the diseases identified, will be addressed, where short care is required or patients will be assisted in obtaining proper care.

These seem simply broken down but are far sophisticated as far as logistics and its execution, but your assistance will determine which path we will take and the ease thereof. My first project was like a dream yet with your assistance it became a reality. I already set the ball on this project rolling as I have medical students who are friends looking at the villages we will work with. The idea is there is nothing like a small donation. Thank you so much and come back to get updates.

What is in it for the World?

Is it a diabolic predilection that feeds into the rhetoric, completely covering the bane at hand or it is just mere human nature to create ideal situations as these and complicate them ourselves with interspersed idealistic interests. The Syrian bloody endemic began three years ago. Then, it was just a growing child realizing his/her capabilities and in a catalytic attempt trying to expand his/her prejudication. This has appeared to be one very long confrontation as like a parent unwilling to yield to the stubbornness of their child, the incumbent regime has solemnly vowed to crush any attempted effort at emancipation. Now of course the conditions are not any better than they started but this could have been curbed or even relegated to a less ridiculously debilitating situation than it is today. It is frustrating to learn or rather note that these things happen unfortunately as time elapse. Whenever they are of a bigger scope, so that material assets are lost, they garner enormous attentions and even influences. This however was thought to be by and for the Syrian people. I for one will, as much as possible avoid the possibility of conflict in the resolution of an issue, but for the relentless nature of our species I sometimes hesitate. I however think there are peaceful alternatives to any given situation.

The free Syrian army as this 'rebel' child will call itself, in defiance of the Incumbent Assad regime has sworn  to depose all that resist the 'revolution'. Now in his own words, a man many exhort as the brain of peace, a resolution of indifference in a dichotomized world of black and white, Nelson Rhuhulhalha Mandela states "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, my lord, if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." With emphasis on the very last sentence, “...if needs be...I am prepared to die”. If I am to choose sides, I will go for that of the free Syrian army, the rebels to oppression. Not that they are right, but that they have the guts to stand up against authoritarianism. I will hope that the free Syrian army were more like Mandela in their approach to resolving giant of a problem. Nonetheless this civil war as was labelled has spiraled into an unimaginable catastrophe because, whereas it was an organized opposition in the beginning between two factions, the imaginary lines that outlined their differences has meandered into more than a tunneling tributary. Islamic groups with self proclaimed goals completely unrelated to the safety and development of the country and its people have joined the fight. I can honestly confirm that initially this was not as big an issue but now my loyalties will not as much lie with the rebels, if I am to choose.  

But my main question here is what is in it for the world? This broadens the scope of the discussion from Syria, to central African republic to Indonesia and then Ukraine. Some say the Arab rising initiated by Tunisia had something to do with the instability that shook the entire Arabian peninsula. I join these noble folks in affirmation, but I conclude that this has actually been the trend in ages past. One thing (and here I may sound completely off topic) like capitalism can change the outlook of the world for a lifetime, causing a people to be suppressed and treated as nonentities. Another thing like nuclear weapons, can literally wipe the human race off the surface of the earth. All these are not frankly, at their pinnacles yet, but if the trend is not averted the next generation will not be around to marvel at the decay we have brought on our own selves. It begins with globalisation then as one arm is infected the others blindly follow its peril. Just imagine what would have happened had Egypt instead of jumping into chaos, analyzed an approach that is conditioned for Egyptians and their land what I will term ‘Egypt-specific’. No one can stop globalisation, hence nationalisation without ethnocentrism must be preserved. Nationalisation in that each state looks out for herself in development and advancement, perhaps with the help of the other but never entirely copying the others approach. The trend can easily be overlooked because on the surface it looks like a wave of good, sweeping across troubled lands. Globalisation is great, as it ensures communications, interconnectedness- a way to share knowledge for the betterment of the human race. An Akan proverb simply puts it as "sense varies in all heads". Nonetheless, we need to revise the trend, that is what the world can draw from the past and ongoing struggle. But how do you break away from this purposefully structured architectural construct of high and low?