TRAVEL REPORT: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakstan and Romania

Dear Family and Friends.

PICTURES:   Russia/St Petersburg/Hermitage Museum:                  https://cincopa.com/~AgDAl4NfTRpQ

               Kazakstan, Junior Olympics and a Meeting in Russia:                        https://cincopa.com/~AkEAC8NFnlP4

 

TRAVEL REPORT:  See Below

[Note re Saint Petersburg and the Hermitage Museum from  Wikipedia since most pictures are not captioned: 

The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest^[2][3] and oldest museums in the world, it was founded in 1754 by Catherine the Great and has been open to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display, comprise over three million items (the numismatic collection accounts for about one third of them)^[4] including the largest collection of paintings in the world. The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings along Palace Embankment, including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian emperors.

Travel Report for January 2017

Euro-Asia Division and Romania

The following is the first major trip of the year which lasted three weeks. Many names were left out but I am indebted to so many.  Once again, this trip, like many others, was life-changing for me.  I write as we are circling and circling and circling over Tokyo due to heavy winds.  This present trip will be followed another long one (4 weeks) to Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand for LEAD Conferences,   and then finally off to India for the last two weeks where we will have an advisory for union leaders and a training program for Gospel Outreach workers for the Deaf.  I will also visit orphanages and schools for the blind and deaf while there.  That report will be shared later.

Moscow, Russia

Moscow was the original destination of the invitation by the Special Needs Director, Pavel Liberansky, but it expanded from there.  The advisory (training) was held in the division office just outside Moscow.  The division office was purchased when the building was nearly completed as a children’s home or school (not clear).  It is a very nice but not elaborate facility.  In addition to office space, there are several guest rooms as well as a small cafeteria.  A very nice church was built adjacent to it. 

Moscow is a city of large/huge apartment complexes.  Rent, so it seems, is expensive when compared to salaries.  When converted into dollars alone rent seems on the low side. The graciousness of those who cared for us was very generous in every way. The food was exceptional--especially if you like me relish potatoes and soup/borsch the way I do!  The advisory was for union leaders throughout the division.  Their attention and interest was strong. Interest in Special Needs Ministries is well established in the leadership here though it is relatively new other that work with for the Deaf which has been going on for some time. I presented devotionals for the morning worships for the office as well as seminars for those who came to the advisory.  I am so encouraged as I visit the various “corners” of the world.  Just a few years ago there was little being done in Special Needs Ministries. However, I have yet to find a strong division program for Special Needs if it is not supported by the union leadership.  I have seen the work for the Deaf dwindle in my own division to only one denominationally sponsored pastor!    Independence is a good thing in some areas but it seems some divisions shy away from the resources the General Conference has to offer.  Synergy among all Special Needs Ministries is vital.

After a Special Needs advisory in Kazakhstan, I returned to Mosow in time to catch a city tour and a tour in St. Petersburg.  It was an amazing trip as you can tell from the pictures.  We visited many palaces and cathedrals whose beauty was breathtaking.  It was, however, sobering when we learned that the golden walls and doors and ornaments, etc., etc. was done while the poor financed the opulence in these places of worship and governance.  

As I write, I am on a 20 hour flight to Manila, Philippines. The division leadership there is very supportive of this ministry and have given strong encouragement to the union for their participation. 

Carrie, my wife, was supposed to join me on this trip but about a week before we were to leave, we learned that her 96-year old mother fell at home and broke three ribs.  Other family members with whom she was staying had to be gone.  She made the right decision to be with he mother – I have been truly blessed over the years with an outstanding mother and father-in-law. It’s the least Carrie/we could do. [Her mother died in February but just before her funeral Carrie’s sister, Sandi Carlson, collapsed while grocery shopping.  It was discovered that she has Acute Myloid Leukemia and is currently in isolation at a Portland, Oregon hospital.  She has now had two rounds of chemo therapy.  We are hoping she will soon be able to receive a bone-marrow and stem cell transplant. Cancer is plaguing so many of our friends!

St. Petersburg, Russia

The State Hermitage Museum is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums in the world, it was founded in 1754 by Catherine the Great and has been open to the public since 1852. The pictures depict the amazing beauty found there.

Almaty, Kazakhstan

With three days between meetings, it was suggested that we use that time to conduct an advisory (training event) in Kazakhstan, which we did.  Though this whole trip already had quite an intense itinerary, we are glad we made this extra stop.  It was good to see the support of the leadership of the mission.  I feel compelled to establish a firm foundation for this ministry before I retire in 2020 so anything I can do inspire, motivate and train and that is within my budget I try to do.  I see so many evidences of the Lord’s intervention – not only in my life, my career, but also countless others.  It just seems that this ministry has been put on “full steam ahead” by a Power that exceeds anything we do.

Our visit to Kazakhstan was in the southern part, the mountainous region where the city of Almaty lies.  The union mission office is located here—a beautiful recently constructed building. On Sabbath, we spoke in two churches.  We were impressed by both the friendliness of the members and by the quality of music—not just the special music presentations, which were spectacular, but also the people in the pews.  The response to our emphasis on “Special Needs Ministries” was encouraging.

The city is also the home of the 2017 World Winter Student Games (Olympics).  A small group of us took the gondola to the very top (3^rd level) where it is much colder than at the base) the day before the “junior Olympics” were to begin.  It was quite amazing to see all the preparation that goes into such events. We saw skiers, snowboarders practicing.  We looked down and saw the skating rink for the competitions – uncovered (no roof) and we understand it is the highest skating rink as far as elevation is concerned. We saw the large security force and we even saw the emergency team practicing taking individuals down the hill on the well-crafted stretcher. Quite spectacular is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension.  It is a beautiful brightly-colored building and was constructed in the late 1800’s and was made entirely without nails.  It is one of the landmarks of Almaty.  It is one of only a few structures that survived the devastating earthquake of 1910.  The Rakhat chocolate factory is a well-known tourist attraction though we never went there (but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get my share of chocolate while there!).   Apples, it is widely believed, originated in Almaty! They are delicious.

Leaving the dedicated believers and workers was difficult yet I’m confident we will meet again someday. Of special note were two interpreters for the deaf from Kyrgyzstan.  What a Christian spirit.  One is sponsored by Gospel Outreach.  We pray that the seeds planted regarding work for the Deaf and those with Special Needs will develop into a strong ministry for those are often overlooked.

Kiev, Ukraine

This was my second visit to Kiev.  Soon after my first visit, Dr. Jay Sloop, a physician from the northwest who had gone to Kiev to begin a health center, went missing and wasn’t found until about two years later.  He had gone to a park where I had gone with a friend. He went alone and never returned.  Such memories flooded my mind.  Life is indeed fragile.

The occasion to go to Ukraine was the annual GC Leadership Summit.  All speakers were given 20 minutes to speak and, of course, I was asked to speak about Special Needs Ministries.  Once again, the response was very encouraging!  It is so important to get the buy-in of leaders if this ministry is to become more than a “program”.  It is becoming a movement as leaders and laypersons grasp the heart of this work.  It is happening!!  We can settle for nothing less.  We often hear protestors within the church (outside the church too, of course) but I wonder why aren’t we protesting about the marginalization of those with Special Needs?   Some are never even given a chance to live.  I am reminded of the 56 million aborted lives between 1973 and 2014.  If we believe that we (everyone) is created in the image of God, then who are we to decide their fate.  It’s about giving them a choice too!   How can we be silent?  Far too often when this issue is raised in the United States it is confused with a political party. We must not let politics confuse the issue.

Bucharest, Romania

I’ve given up trying to make this a short report – believe me, however, it has been shortened.  Recently, I reluctantly accepted the invitation to add Romania to an already intense trip.  The union president and Duane McKey strongly urged me to go for at least one weekend to hold some evangelistic meetings for a special gathering of those with special needs.  I knew the group having spent four days with them last year.  Pastor George Uba and Daniel Constine lead out in what I hope to make into a global strategy for those who are disabled.  About 50 attended the meetings of which 90% (or more) were not members of our church.  The response was absolutely worth the extended trip.  What precious people.  Many were in wheelchairs.  I was never so proud to see an

Adventist Church crowded with wheelchairs and canes. Some, only a few, were mentally challenged but I’m proud to call them some of “my own.”  Surely they also have a need to feel like they belong somewhere.  Don’t they!  Some were bent and twisted from cerebral palsy.  To think that dictators in the past would have had them executed (in a variety of ways) because they were not “right” in their “form.”  Looking at them and their open hearts I saw the image of God.  Dignity is a gift from God but sometimes we are the “blind” ones.   It is an inherent quality that is not given because of what we can do or not do. The dignity is inherently there but some of us need to learn to see it and treat it as such.  My first first “evangelistic” sermon for this group was entitled, “Celebrate What’s Right!” It was the first time I ever began evangelistic meeting with this topic but such is the impact this ministry has had on me.  It only makes sense to start with what’s right and see where things went wrong rather than the other way around.  Mine was a call to come back to the relationship with God that we had at the very beginning.  The response was very positive.  I was not expecting any decisions for baptism after only four presentations but four made the decision to be baptized. Because of the accepting church of Pastor Uba they already felt loved and God’s Word had already spoken to them. I am deeply moved as I see God work.  The world is in a mess but we have a hope that is greater than any problem Satan can throw at us.  Keep looking up!  -- Larry Evans

Travel Report: Romania -- Rise & Walk

September 9, 2016 Travel Report: Romania (Rise & Walk Association for Persons with Disabilities)

The travel and related assignments for the past several weeks has made it difficult for me to write regular reports. Missing at this time are reports for South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. Each was insightful and inspirational!! We hope to write a summary report of these in the future.

PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS: https://cincopa.com/~AsPAyt9SHYwB 

Short movie clip (good for 14 days):   https://cloud.druva.com/home/link/browser?ll=AAAGjwABEzUAAALYuWoVubuZoS-xIa7lCAdVKSh6-Pc%3D


 Highlights of the Organization.

Most of my work with Special Needs Ministries in the past few years has focused on the work for/with the Deaf. With my now expanded responsibilities (extended to also include those with physical, mental disabilities and orphans) I looked for places where a ministry for those with disabilities was in place. I found one in the Euro-Africa Division and specifically in Romania. I altered my personal schedule to accept the invitation to attend. I had first visited the church of Pastor George Uba in Bucharest about three years ago – at that time I even referred to it as the “wheelchair church.” What I did not seem to realize at the time was that from this central church 20 branch groups of the Association were to form and be organized into what is called “Rise and Walk Association for Persons with Disabilities.” The membership of the Association has grown to 3000 with 1500 volunteers all in Romania. While organized and sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Association is open to all faiths including those who may not have a religious life at all. While it refers to itself as a “non-confessional” church, the Adventist pastor and his team of Adventist leaders coordinate an adapted Sabbath School, participation in Christian sharing, prayer, singing, poetry, mission offering, evangelism and seminars to help meet spiritual needs.  The Sabbath is a unique day on the camp's calendar of events.  Branch, also called subsidiary, meetings occur monthly on Sundays. Every effort is made to identify with persons who have disabilities and then recruit them to be part of this ministry and service to the community. Pastor Uba has been interviewed multiple times by the press as this ministry speaks to the needs of the wider community.

 My Experience, My Observations

What I attended was a “camp” held on the grounds of our former seminary in Romania. At one time during WWII it was taken over by the army but not long ago was returned to the church. This provided inexpensive lodging, cafeteria, recreational/social rooms and a large meeting hall. I went not expecting to speak although as it turned out, I was asked to speak three different times. My role, however, was quite insignificant. I went to observe and learn and I certainly did. I arrived a few days after the camp had begun. Paralympics were underway.  The day I arrived there was archery and wheelchair racing – some motorized and some not. While there was a sense of competition the real focus was on participation. It was a fun time, a social time and a team-building time. Social interaction is a vital part of the whole event. There were a number of blind in attendance. I especially remember the hour and a half that I spent with Camellia who is blind. During an excursion trip we had some slack time. Knowing that she liked to walk, I offered to lead her on a walk. It was an amazing experience for me and the most time I had ever spent one-on-one with a blind person. I had done some reading as how best to help a blind person but this was the real thing. Informing her of uneven ground and obstacles were expected. What wasn’t expected was when she asked what color the sky was and how tall the mountains were. She described colors with music – bright colors and more dull colors were compared to major and minor keys in music. I lifted her hand pointing it to the top of the mountain so she could sense the heights of large mountains surrounding us. She heard things that I dismissed as insignificant but she drew meaning out of what I overlooked. Her sense of smell was amazing. We found fir trees and twisted the branches to get the scent only to discover that some firs have a stronger scent than others. I also discovered her passion to be involved in ministry. She asked how she could become more active. She wanted to help others. She is very articulate and offered to translate from English into Romanian the materials I have for the deaf.  I found this to be an amazing gesture of the blind wanting to help the Deaf! On another day, I was introduced to another blind lady.  She had asked to visit with me and was led to where I was. I learned that her husband had been killed in an accident leaving her with the care of her daughter. Her request was simple but ardent: "How can I become involved in a some kind of ministry?" Over and over again people attending this Association asked how they could help others. They drew no artificial line between the disabled and those not disabled. In their hearts they wanted to find a purpose for their lives and for them that meant helping others.  Their willingness emphasized why I really don't like the word "disabled" (though in itself there is nothing wrong with the word.)  I prefer the word "differently-abled."I don’t remember hearing them complaining about what others were not doing for them! The issue of “rights” of those who are disabled was never discussed with me. Nevertheless, I do believe we as a church and as a society we must address some serious needs. My sense of my own responsibility grew each day I was there.  I discovered I had more pride than want I wanted to admit. In a sense, living with the blind, the Deaf and the physically and mentally "disabled" redefined what the "image of God" is all about.  A person, so I am experiencing, is or should first be defined by their heart and not by their appearance, by what they are and not the sounds they make or what they can or cannot do.  Each manifests in a different way the "image of God."

The Powerful but Silent Testimony of a Person with Down Syndrome  

I know some complain about the length of my travel reports, so if that’s your case then by all means stop reading. But I must tell you about the person with Down Syndrome. As often is the case they are some of kindest and most caring people you will ever meet. They are also very sensitive. You will see the picture of one such person in the link above to the pictures I'm including with this report. He appointed himself to lead the music whenever there was music.  So the group accepted him leading the music up front or at other times blowing his whistle during the paralympic "races."  Once again I had to pause and ask myself, "What really is abnormal' behavior?"  His song his unabashed song leading, his whistle blowing or is my prideful culturally correct behavior more out-of-step with the image God had intended?  The real truth came, however, came when I observed him crying and wiping his eyes when he heard the group sing the words “Blessed Assurance.” The words, "blessed assurance Jesus is mine" spoke powerfully to his heart.  Words that I can so easily sing and almost take for granted.  Can you imagine how he will respond when Jesus comes!  Must he wait for  until then for that assurance?  I don't think so.  He seems to have found it now.  Some day, an even more complete assurance will come and in ways that far exceeds his and our understanding . . .   perhaps even now his understanding actually supersedes my own! Over and over again I had to ask myself while in this group – who really is the teacher? Them or me. While there, they were clearly teaching me. 

Balloons and More Balloons

 The Association and those with disabilities are not without moral convictions. Transporting about 150 individuals, many in wheelchairs, to the city square of Brasov was no easy task. [Be sure to see those pictures and captions.] Blind, deaf, crippled, some without legs and others without the use of legs or arms, boarded two large buses and two additional vans and headed for town. Once there, the filling of balloons took place. Then with felt pens, the words “Thanks for Existing” were written on the balloons in Romanian. In many societies today, babies and adults who have serious disabilities are given less value and in many cases babies are aborted. Since Roe vs Wade in 1973 there have been 54 million abortions!  Hitler “exterminated” 270,000 disabled individuals. Can you imagine the impact of seeing “an army” of disabled individuals converging on a city square thanking individuals of a community for the privilege of existing! Who could raise the moral conscience more clearly than they? 

 Community Night

 After a stimulating Sabbath School and church program, the community was invited to the Saturday night program.  Churches from the surrounding area were invited.  The program consisted of personal testimony, music and poetry readings and spiritual challenge. The talent and spirit was extraordinary. I was asked to share my vision for the global ministry for those with disabilities. I was followed by, and more importantly, Pastor Uba sharing his own vision for the Association. The evening meeting was an amazing climax for the camp. Later that same night, around a bonfire, awards and comments of appreciation were given to the staff and volunteers.  Once again I was reminded that volunteers, those who neither put pride nor money before ministry, can do more to shake a culture and a society than the most eloquent politician or . . . preacher.

September 9, 2016

Travel Report:  Romania (Rise & Walk Association for Persons with Disabilities)

The travel and related assignments for the past several weeks has made it difficult for me to write regular reports. Missing at this time are reports for South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda.  Each was insightful and inspirational!!  We hope to write a summary report of these in the future.

PICTURES WITH CAPTIONS:  https://cincopa.com/~AsPAyt9SHYwB

Short movie clip (good for 14 days):  https://cloud.druva.com/home/link/browser?ll=AAAGjwABEzUAAALYuWoVubuZoS-xIa7lCAdVKSh6-Pc%3D

Highlights of the Organization

Most of my work with Special Needs Ministries in the past few years has focused on the work for/with the Deaf. With my now expanded responsibilities (extended to also include those with physical, mental disabilities and orphans) I looked for places where a ministry for those with disabilities was in place.  I found one in the Euro-Africa Division and specifically in Romania.  I altered my personal schedule to accept the invitation to attend.  I had first visited the church of Pastor George Uba in Bucharest about three years ago – at that time I even referred to it as the “wheelchair church.”  What I did not seem to realize at the time was that from this central church 20 branch groups of an association were to form and be organized into what is called “Rise and Walk Association for Persons with Disabilities.”  The membership of the Association has grown to 3000 with 1500 volunteers all in Romania. While organized and sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the association is open to all faiths including those who may not have a religious life at all.  While it refers to itself as a “non-confessional” church, the Adventist pastor and his team of Adventist leaders coordinate an adapted Sabbath School, sharing of Christian sharing, prayer, singing, Christian poetry, mission offering, evangelism and seminars to help meet spiritual needs on Sabbaths.  Branch, also called subsidiary, meetings occur monthly on Sundays.  Every effort is made to identify with persons who have disabilities and then recruit them to be part of this ministry and service to the community.  Pastor Uba has been interviewed multiple times by the press as this ministry speaks to the needs of the wider community.

My Experience, My Observations

What I attended was a “camp” held on the grounds of our former seminary in Romania.  This provided inexpensive lodging, cafeteria, recreational/social rooms and a large meeting hall. I went although I was asked to speak three different times.  I saw my role, however, as insignificant.  I went observe and learn and I did.

I arrived a few days after the camp had begun. Paralympics were underway.  There was archery and wheelchair racing – some motorized and some not.  While there was a sense of competition the real focus was on participation.  It was a fun time, social time and a team-building time. Social interaction is a vital part of the whole event.

There were a number of blind in attendance.  I especially remember the hour and a half that I spent with Camelia who is blind.  During an excursion trip we had some slack time.  Knowing that she liked to walk I offer to lead her on a walk. It was an amazing experience for me and the most time I had ever spent one-on-one with a blind person.  I had done some reading as how best to help a blind person but this was the real thing.  Informing her of uneven ground and obstacles were expected.  What wasn’t expected was when she asked what color the sky was and how tall were the mountains.  She described colors with music – bright colors and more dull colors were compared to major and minor keys.  I directed her hand to the top of the mountain so she could sense the heights of large mountains surrounding us.  She heard things that I dismissed as insignificant but she drew meaning out of them that I overlooked.  Her sense of smell was amazing.  We found fir trees and twisted the branches to get the scent only to discover that some firs have a stronger scent than others. I discovered her passion to be involved in ministry.  She asked how she could become more involved.  She is very articulate and offered to translate materials I have from English into Romanian.  She willing accepted to translate some materials I have for the Deaf into Romanian.  On another day I was introduced to another blind lady who had asked to visit with me.  Her husband had been killed in an accident leaving her with the care of her daughter.  Her request was simple but ardent:  How can I become involved in a some kind of ministry?  Over and over again people attending this Association asked how they could help others.  I don’t remember hearing them complaining about what others were not doing for them! The issue of “rights” of those who are disabled was never discussed with me.  Nevertheless, I do believe we as a church and as a society must address some serious needs. My sense of my own responsibility grew each day I was there.

I know some complain about the length of my travel reports, so if that’s your case then by all means stop reading.  J  But I must tell you about the person with Down Syndrome.  As often is the case they are some of kindest and caring people you will ever meet.  They are also very sensitive.  You will see the picture of one such person.  He appointed himself to lead the music whenever there was music.  What really got to me was when I observed him crying when he heard the words “Blessed Assurance.”  Can you imagine how he will respond when Jesus comes!  His heartfelt assurance will come in ways that far exceeds his understanding . . . or perhaps his understanding actually supersedes my own!  Over and over again I had to ask myself while in this group – who really is the teacher?  Them or me.  It clearly was them.

Balloons and More Balloons

The Association and those with disabilities are not without moral convictions.  Transporting about 150 individuals, many in wheelchairs, to the city square of Brasov was no easy task.  Crippled, some without legs and others without the use of legs or arms, boarded two large buses and two additional vans and headed for town.  Once there, the filling of balloons took place.  Then with felt pens, the words “Thanks for Existing” were written on the balloons in Romanian.  In many societies today, babies and adults who have serious disabilities are given less value and in many cases babies are aborted.  Hitler “exterminated” 270,000 disabled individuals. Can you imagine the impact of seeing “an army” of disabled individuals thanking individuals of a community for the privilege of existing!  Who could raise the moral conscience more clearly than they?

Community Night

After a stimulating Sabbath School and church program, the community was invited to the Saturday night program.  The program consisted of personal testimony, music and poetry readings and spiritual challenge. I was asked to share my vision for the global ministry for those with disabilities.  I was followed, and more importantly, Pastor Uba sharing his own vision for the Association. The evening meeting was an amazing climax for the camp. 

Travel Report: Israel, PREXAD Tour 2016

July 2016 Travel Report: Israel Dear Friends and Family, Pictures:http://www.cincopa.com/media-platform/test?fid=AMLAYltonql0 In June the division presidents joined the General Conference presidential group for a study tour in Israel. The group is called PREXAD or President’s Advisory. The guides for this trip were Mark Finley, Asst. to the President for Evangelism, and Michael Hasel, archeologist and OT scholar at Southern Adventist University. Each had produced either a book or detailed syllabus for the trip. It was a great trip not only for the biblical insights but also for the comradery that is so essential for the working relationship we need to have with each other. So much could be said but one incident does stand out in my mind. We had arrived at the new dig underway by Michael Hasel and his team. While there two busloads of student arrived who were led by their teachers. One of our group happened to over hear their lecturer talk about the excellent work being done by a Dr. Hasel. You can imagine their excitement when they realized and were introduced to Michael right there! There was applause and expressions of gratitude for the work he has done and is doing! A pretty special moment for the rest of us. There is much more that could be said but my travel reports have been a bit long lately. The captions on the pictures can tell part of the story. The pictures were all taken with my cell phone! It’s a long story but I arrived in Israel without my camera but ended up with it when I returned home! So glad for the cell phone camera. This trip was followed by a trip to South Africa where we conducted an “advisory” (training program) for the union Special Needs Ministries leaders and a few others. I’ll send that report later. It was another exciting trip – for me it is exciting because I am reminded over and over again that our members have been waiting for this emphasis on the Deaf, blind, those physically and mentally challenged as well as the orphans/vulnerable children of the world. The time has come! Within the next few weeks I will be in Ghana, ASI (Phoenix, AZ), Kenya, Uganda and Romania. In each case we have the opportunity to share the vision, see the “movement” catch-on regarding those who have been marginalized for generations. We have much to do. Please pray for the continued momentum. There are other developments in each of the 5 Special Needs areas but it is really too early to report. We have formed another task force called “Caregiver Task Force” that will address the needs of those who are giving supportive care of those in the 5 Special Needs areas. Some exciting possibilities have been discussed. State tuned.

Budapest, Hungary June 2015

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Young Adult Focus Groups Conducted in South Africa/Swaiziland--Feb 2015

The following slides give a glimpse of some of the focus groups that were conducted. The enthusiasm and commitment of these young adults was very encouraging. While a greater understanding of holistic stewardship is needed the possibilities are staggering. We must not miss this opportunity to link arms cross-generationally to teach and to be taught. Dr. Paul Shongwe coordinated the visits and was a terrific inspiration and assist during the entire trip. It is our plan to return in September for a cross-generational training program.

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South African Game Parks -- Feb 2015

The primary purpose for this trip to South Africa which also included Swaziland was to interview young adults regarding their understanding of stewardship. We did conduct 7 focus groups bringing the total for this research project to 31 different focus groups in 16 different countries. While there we took in two different game parks: Kruger National Park and Addo Elephant Park. Absolutely fascinating to drive in the the natural habitat. No doubt we were the intruders but the animals seemed to be accustomed to such visitors.

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