Here's the Scoop

As many of you had heard around the water cooler - I'm on my way to Africa in a few weeks. I haven't been blogging because I'm revamping my site [as you can see] so that I can blog while I'm gone, and because I'm not allowed to disclose a lot of information about my trip for reasons of safety and government security [some government people are accompanying us, who shall for this time remain nameless].


However, as Matt & I are going with Restore International, I thought this post from their blog would be helpful. This was posted in August as the planning for this and how it would all go down began...


ENJOY AND GOD BLESS

Remember Their Chains,


Miss Elizabeth Alvarez
SEEK JUSTICE
Isaiah 1:17

"Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment." Hebrews 13:3


August 17
Impacting a nation!
“Restoring the Twin Pillars of Truth and Justice”

Dear Friends:


The last few months have been a flurry of activity. Here’s an update:


Four of us from Gig Harbor traveled to Uganda where we were able to personally assess each of the proposals we have been considering. The travel team included Danny DeWalt, Tom Jonez, Jason Black and Dave Duea.


While in Uganda, we met with the Director of Rhema Ministries who has had a vision of rescuing minor girls from forced prostitution in the streets of Kampala, Uganda’s capitol. This has led to a signed agreement to partner with Rhema to rescue minor girls. We have agreed to call this the “Rahab Project.” We have further agreed to partner in this work with “Cornerstone” Ministries which operates a boarding school that will receive rescued girls (after an initial period of restoration in a group-home setting). We will rescue 30 girls by March 2007. This three-way partnership between Restore International, Rhema and Cornerstone leverages the strength of each partner to facilitate a long-term solution.


We were also able to meet with the Chief Justice of the Ugandan High Court to confirm plans to co-sponsor a conference for all of the Judges and Justices of Uganda. The purpose of this forum is to improve adjudication of cases where people require intervention by the courts to address human rights issues. This is a ground-breaking effort that will impact the entire national court system in Uganda.


Consistent with this, we will partner with the Justices this October and November to bring to trial cases that have been severely delayed in the northern city of Gulu because of the history of rebel activity. These “Gulu Sessions” will serve as a pilot project for other regions of the Country. US-based attorneys will write 150 case briefs as part of the effort to assist with this initiative.


The final project is the establishment of a secondary school (“high school”) in Attiak, a key city that has been ravaged by the effects of rebel activity in Northern Uganda. This school will train future leaders of the north and effect practical, tangible, restoration in this war-torn region.


In short, we have the opportunity to work with the victims of trafficking, the leaders of the nation and the young emerging future leaders in the north of Uganda. It is clear that the doors have swung wide-open for Restore International to have a strategic impact in Uganda at a pivotal moment in that nation’s history.


We are grateful for your continuing support as we press ahead with the goals and objectives we have shared with you. Please do not hesitate to be in touch if we may be of service to you in any way.


The Restore International Strategic Team