Ebola and the Plague of Fear

 Ebola and the Plague of Fear  Field Info, news, Togo, Update  Comments Off on Ebola and the Plague of Fear
Aug 122014
 

EBOLA, Togo’s grand mobilization for prevention. The headlines could not be more clear. The full page color add taken out by the Ministry of Health told citizens to report to a medical facility if any of a list of symptoms developed. The instructions were clear and simple.

The Western media churns out reports of more cases and televises opinionated “experts” arguing over what the best response should be.  Even while the bicker millions of people ponder the implications of a disease that has no cure and means almost certain death to anyone without access to the best Western medical treatments. Continue reading »

 Posted by on August 12, 2014

Quick Tips: Cooling Your Laptop

 Quick Tips: Cooling Your Laptop  Tech  Comments Off on Quick Tips: Cooling Your Laptop
Aug 072014
 

Heat is a real problem for computers. And here in West Africa we have plenty of heat. It can make them behave erratically and will seriously damage hardware.  If you have an actively cooled device (aka, a device with a fan), pay attention! Following these simple tips will save you frustration from lost data and money on costly repairs in the long run… not to mention it will keep your local IT rep happy. While this article might be written to those living or planing to live in West Africa, these tips will benefit anyone in any climate. Continue reading »

 Posted by on August 7, 2014

Rebuilding the Technology Walls: Arrival

 Rebuilding the Technology Walls: Arrival  news, Togo  Comments Off on Rebuilding the Technology Walls: Arrival
Jul 052014
 

It’s amazing the perspective you can get in just a short time. Before I left I had spent months preparing, asking questions and researching about Togo I read about it’s culture. I studied it’s language. I trained to refine my understanding of the Bible. I inquired about the technical setup and tried to gain a scope on the mission that I was being sent to do. And despite all those long months of preparation I have gained more insight in two weeks. That is not to say that somehow those were wasted months; quite the contrary. What I learned then has been invaluable. But the complete disruption of everything you know, the upheaval of all that is familiar, when you begin thinking to yourself, “what have I gotten myself into,” you put trust in God that He is in control.

After arriving at HBB and getting to know all of the staff I set out to start my mission.  But where should I start?  Continue reading »

 Posted by on July 5, 2014
May 022014
 

I am. It is a statement of belonging, of association, of  identity. Humanity is polarized by identities. Identity tells us who we are and where we belong. You might say, “I am English. You are French.” Nowhere, recently it seems, has this polarization become so pronounced as in the debate about homosexuality, marriage, and the church. But is seems that the church has lost itself. It is divided over whether to embrace, accept, or condemn. While some open the pulpits others raise protest signs.

But lets look at it from a personal perspective. I frequently hear someone say it like this; “I am a Christian and I am gay.” Or, “I know that God say that I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t help it.” Or the assumption that if you are a true Christian then you can’t feel as you do toward the same sex.

Christians stumble over the question of whether someone who is homosexual should be permitted in a church. The question is asked, can they really be Christian? There is no shortage of opinions and there is a seemingly great disconnect between what the bible commands and what is acted out. But surely an all-knowing God was not so ambiguous on an issue over which He utterly destroyed two cities and thousands of people (Gen 19). Continue reading »

 Posted by on May 2, 2014

Interstates and Dark Mountain Roads

 Interstates and Dark Mountain Roads  Uncategorized  Comments Off on Interstates and Dark Mountain Roads
Mar 052014
 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.” (Psa 105:119)

I’m a planner, a thinker, a problem solver. I don’t like driving blind. I like to see the whole road ahead before making decisions and moving forward. I’m not risk averse, but rather risk mitigating.  The same is true when going to a new field. There are many unknowns.  I can plan; I can prepare. God gives direction and I do my best to follow it but the best laid plans of men are only the plans of men. It is at these times that God speaks in a small, quiet voice and says, “trust me.”

A few years ago my family and I were enroute to weekend backpacking spot in the Allegheny Mountains . Due to our work schedules we had a late afternoon start for a drive that would take several hour.   In the beginning the interstate was broad and we could see the road ahead for miles. But, inevitably night fell and clouds blanketed the dimming sky concealing any hint of light. Continue reading »

 Posted by on March 5, 2014