Entries categorized as ‘Social Justice - Just-US’

A Sad Day In Kenya!

October 30, 2008 · 19 Comments

Many of you may of heard about or even seen the documentary called ‘Invisible Children’. If you’ve seen this film you will remember an amazing woman who, ultimately, introduced Jason, Bobby and Laren to the story of the Invisible Children. Her name is Mama Zipporah.

She is an amazing woman doing a work in Kenya that is bringing the hands and feet of Jesus to some of the most beautiful children in all of the world. She has become the mother of children that have been treated with the worst of the injustices anywhere in the world. She is a Saint, truly.

Much of the work that Mama Zipporah has done comes on the helms of her man, her husband, Papa Isaac (they call him). He’s the kind of guy that gave her his land (in Kenyan culture that is unheard of and totally radical) so that she could do the work God called her and them to do. He’s the kind of guy that works tirelessly towards the mission of justice, as he and Mama have adopted and house over 150+ children on their own.

Our church is very involved with the work that is happening at their home in Kenya called Huruma Children’s Home and we know them personally and love them quite immensely.

That being said I just received this email:

Today at 3:00pm in Kenya, Papa Isaac, Mama Zipporahs husband died suddenly of a heart attack.  Our heart is so very very sad for Mama and all the Children.   Papa was a tower of influence of Christ in that community and especially to Mama.  We are trying to figure out how to help her and the children right now.   So please pray for them and also Shauna (who is from Cornerstone working full-time @ Huruma) who is not sure how to help.

If you want to send a prayer or note the following are there email addresses:
Mama -  mamazipporah@yahoo.com
Caroline (Papa and Mama’s biological daughter) – naisy80@yahoo.com

I believe they would be encouraged by your prayers and support.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. PLEASE PRAY. pray for Gods peace to rush in and hug them close.

2. If you have ANY platform to raise awareness and/or donations for Huruma Children’s Home and this situation DO IT (Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Websites, literal Stages or any other creative way)! You can link them to my blog entry or directly to the Huruma Website. Email me if you have any questions brianwurzell@gmail.com

3. GIVE. Give them whatever you can. If you have a $1 or $5 or a MILLION and you can give…GIVE!! Because Huruma is such a grassroots movement (they don’t have the backing of World Vision or Compassion, etc…) Papa was a huge source of generating income for them, beyond some donations from a few relationships they have. any donations that you might be willing to make in the honor of Papa Isaac…which I think would be an INCREDIBLE expression of love to them in these day can be made by clicking the following logo (let’s blow them away with financial support, let’s build their dorm in his honor):


Please remember Mama, Caroline, the children of Huruma and the workers in these days as they grieve this very hard loss of a man that brought much joy, strength and balance to their home. Pray that the mission and work of Huruma would continue and that they would find so much love in the midst of their pain.

Listen to the words of this Psalm in light of it all:

Psalm 103

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Categories: Social Justice - Just-US
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Sonoma, Special Olympics and good family…

August 18, 2008 · 1 Comment

This past weekend I got to be with my love (promise) and my family in beautiful Sonoma County California. I have an Aunt and Uncle who live in Windsor, CA and they’re both doing some really amazing things to give back to those on the fringes.

 

You see my Uncle Steve, who I only knew in my 1st year on this earth (if that counts for knowing him), lived his life with Down Syndrome. He died when he was 13 back in 1982. From the stories I’ve heard about this kid he was a RIOT! There was never a dull moment with Uncle Steve and he lived as happy as a kid could. It was cool to hear some of the stories about him from his siblings this weekend, truly just a joy to everyones lives!

 

Well, my Aunt Susie and her husband Barry have taken on a project in his honor and this year marked the 10th anniversary of the ‘Steve Wurzell Memorial Tennis Tournament: Benefiting the Sonoma County Special Olympics’. 

 

My Aunt writes for the Business Journal in Sonoma County and I believe she is really using the platform she’s been given/worked hard for to work towards bringing a ray of hope to these people who live mentally, physically and emotionally challenged. Barry is also a lawyer in the area and is a huge support to what they’re doing.

 

The tennis tournament draws business leaders, corporations, wine industry types and, quite honestly, rich people to come out and give back. Friday they do a big tennis tournament that these folk compete in for some trophies and I’ll just say these people are pretty into winning a trophy. Later that night they do a HUGE event at a local winery called Rodney Strong. Each person buys a seat at dinner for some wild price and it’s a FANTASTIC night of honoring these amazing people who live their lives with some challenges.

 

ALL of the proceeds go back to COMPLETELY fund the Sonoma County Special Olympics. COMPLETELY FUND! anyways…I think that’s pretty amazing.

 

I was talking with my Aunt, yesterday, and she said that she set out 10 years ago with a vision to get funding for these kids, but, could have NEVER dreamed that they’d now be responsible for FULLY funding this program that for many of these kids is one of their only lifelines. 

 

One of my favorite parts about the event on Friday night was that they brought out the Special Olympians in a procession complete with Police Escort, torch, t-shirts, medals and US (the FANS). As the brought them in my Aunt had something even more special arranged for them…A HELICOPTER FLYOVER from the sheriffs department. I mean she done did it and she did it good!!! it was amazing. they came in through the dinner tables, we high fived them and they went to the stage where they just got cheered for and loved on. My Aunt took the time to write something very unique about each of the Olympians and would make it very personal to EACH of the kids. It really was quite amazing and it made me proud to know that we run the same blood.

 

I have to be honest though…it’s got me thinking…what am i doing to contribute to the Kingdom of God? I really believe that what my Aunt is doing is Kingdom work. She spends her time, money and heart with these kids and their caretakers (not to mention she has 5 of her own kids) just pouring everything she has into this program for these kids.

here’s a link to an article written about the sonoma special olypmics:

READ ABOUT IT

 

What’s got you thinking and dreaming today, this week, this year? short or long term. sound off!

 

 

Here’s some pics from the weekend too:


Categories: My Life · Social Justice - Just-US · Think!
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Leadership Summit – Catherine Rohr

August 8, 2008 · 2 Comments

I learned of a new ministry and opportunity for us to reach those that Jesus reached. namely, the imprisoned! Catherine Rohr from an organization called Prison Enrepreneurship Program (P.E.P.). Let me just say it’s a fantastic organization and if you don’t know about it…get to know it!!

Categories: Church Talk · General · Social Justice - Just-US
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