Too Long

It has been a while since I have blogged. I have not been able to connect to the web b/c I hurt my back and I have not been able to carry my laptop to school with me. I am doing better now.

Last weekend Lisa and I went with a few fellow Regent students to a music festival on Orcas Island, WA. It is called Wood Song Music Festival In the picture above you can see our travel companions (l-r Lisa (in pink shirt), me, Andrea and Carla). We had a fun time camping. We went swiming in a beautiful lake. You got to go next summer if you are in Orcas Island, WA area.

Canadian Baptist Ministries Update on Lebanon

URGENT Prayer Requests for Lebanon

Inspite of the recent turn of events in the Middle East, we thank God that our field staff and partners report that they are safe in Lebanon but ask for our prayers for the escalating military situation in Lebanon. Key infrastructure has been targeted, including bridges, electrical power plants and airports. The Israeli military response has made travel in and out of the country extremely difficult. The Lebanese Baptists are concerned about a group of 60 American short-term missionaries that are there with them and unable to leave at this time. Another group of 200 Shiite families has sought shelter at the Beirut Baptist School (BBS) in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in West Beirut. Because the ABTS is located in a relatively safe part of town, they may also be called upon to shelter two church groups currently in a hotel nearby.

* Safety. We thank God that our field staff—Elie and Mereille Haddad—and church partners are safe. Please pray for their continued safety, especially as they travel in and around Beirut to minister to those in need. Pray that the group of 60 American volunteers currently at the ABTS for a conference would be able to leave Lebanon and return home safely.

* Relief. The Sharing Way has committed USD$5,000 in emergency relief funds to help feed those seeking shelter at the ABTS and BBS and to support those in need. If you would like to contribute, please designate your donation: The Sharing Way – Emergency Relief. Some supplies are already becoming difficult to obtain, due to transportation difficulties and the stockpiling food by frightened families.

* Peace. Please pray for world leaders to intervene and mediate a peaceful solution for this conflict. Pray that stability will return before the CBM Youth Conference led by Jeff Carter in August.

* Leadership. Elie and Mereille Haddad are playing a key role in mobilizing the Lebanese churches to pray for this current situation and have begun to organize prayer meetings for the local churches. They are also challenging the churches to respond with action and compassion. They have already begun to

jerico beach

jerico beach
Originally uploaded by intransit.

This weekend Caleb and I sold some drinks to make some money at the Vancouver Folk Festival. We had a great time, but it was not very lucrative. We learned a lot and hope to rake in the dollars next year when we set up the super water station.

Save Buckingham!!!

I used to help out in the Buckingham Youth Brigade.
The neighborhood is now in jeapordy of being torn down.
Gentrification is threatening a beautiful community.
Historically Northern Virginia serves the interest of the
rich investors and there have been various neighborhoods that
have been torn down. There is a community near Potomac Yard
that had some beautiful murals that was torn down and now the only
remants remain in the pictures. I wish someone had saved the mural.
It has a powerful painting of the Virgen de Guadalupe.

It is not looking good for this neighborhood.
I knew this was coming and it came a year later than I predicted.
But the battle is on. So if you are intersted in saving this community
here is some info:

Apreciadas y apreciados amigos en Cristo,
(Please see English Below)

Por parte de Los Latinos Unidos de San Carlos Borromeo, quería invitarles a una reunión de emergencia sobre la gran crisis en la Comunidad de Buckingham Village de Arlington, en la cual es posible que más de 300 familias pierdan su vivienda, muchas de ellas son parroquianos de nuestras iglesias hermanas de Arlington.. Dicho evento tomará lugar este domingo en la Iglesia de San Carlos a las 2:15pm en Benedict Hall.

Debido a que la Junta Directiva del Condado de Arlington hará una decisión clave sobre el futuro de dicha vivienda este martes entrante (11 de julio- VEA MENSAJE EN INGLES ABAJO), los residentes del Buckingham Village nos hablarán sobre su situación actual y como nosotros los podemos apoyar de manera concreta. Todos están invitados – habrán refrescos.

Que Dios les bendiga Uds. y a todos y todas nuestros hermanos en peligro de perder sus viviendas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On behalf of Los Latinos Unidos of St. Charles Parich in Arlignton, I would like to invite you to an emergency education and action forum regarding the current housing crisis in the Buckingham Village Community on Sunday, July 9, at 2 p.m. in Benedict Hall.

Development plans for Buckingham Village could result in the loss of more than 300 affordable rental units. Please come and find out how you can help save affordable housing at Buckingham.

All are invited, refreshments will be served.

Peace and Grace,
Erik

Erik Manuel Giblin
Presidente
Latinos Unidos de San Carlos Borromeo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
De Gene Betit de la Parroquia Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz

PLEASE mark your calendars and plan to come out to the Courthouse (County Board Room on the third floor) this Tuesday at 6:30 PM. We will have stickers to identify you as a Save Buckingham Coalition supporter. You really don’t have to do much else but show up, and it’s an educational experience, one that could prepare you for more extensive action some time in the future!

In reality, this is something of a pep rally, so come on out even if you don’t feel peppy or even comfortable. Just your presence might save someone’s home!!

Gene
From: SaveBuckinghamCoalition@yahoogroups.com

Please plan to attend the County Board Meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM – regardless of the outcome of Monday’s meeting, we need your presence and support! Please remember that this is a public hearing and we are at the top of the agenda, so if you are interested in speaking on this matter, feel free to submit a speaker’s slip before they begin hearing speakers on this topic.

On Tuesday, July 11th, the County Board will have a public hearing on landmark designation, and will consider whether to advertise a public hearing to extend the Buckingham local historic district to include Villages 1, 2 and 3. In June, County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman, Board Member Walter Tejada and County Manager Ron Carlee convened a group consisting of County Staff, Paradigm representatives, the HALRB chairman and board members, and members of the Save Buckingham Coalition (SBC) to consider a variety of community preservation scenarios that would result in a negotiated solution. As of yesterday afternoon’s meeting, we do not have a final resolution; however, Ron Carlee and Stan Sloter are working toward a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). On Monday, our group will reconvene to obtain information about the MOU.

I will send out a status to this group on Monday with the results of that meeting.

Kathleen McSweeney
Save Buckingham Coalition

So who is going to win?

The last couple days I watched the World Cup Games. I was going for Portugal to win today, but France has a lot of momentum and they did very well against Portugal. I went to Vera’s Burgers with some friends from Regent. We had a great time.

Now there is a break and I can get back to the studies.
I am preparing for a class called Believing into Life on the Gospel of John.

The weather is phenomenal in Vancouver. We have had a wonderful time playing in the sun.