Whether we realize it or not we all train at home. We are all personal trainers. Home training is more than Pilates, more than exercise, more than our physical shape. The way we train at home involves elements of physical, social and spiritual exercise. If a client strengthens their core at Home Training, LLC, then my hope is they learn to use their core during all activities, not just during Pilates. Clients thus extend their practice into their daily life. If we train our kids to use good manners at the table, then this training hopefully extends beyond our home. If we train as a family to work together then this training extends to working together in school, in the community, and in the world. At church today our pastor was sharing the importance of being an "extension" of God's love. If in our church home we learn of God's love for us but never extend it beyond the walls of our church then for what purpose was the training? God's love was never intended to simply stop with us but to extend beyond us. A few friends recently embarked on a journey to extend God's love all the way to Africa.
Prior to their departure we met for lunch and I told Kara, "Have a great trip to the Congo." Certainly it was the first time in 39 years that I had ever said those words, and perhaps a poor choice of words considering it was hardly a vacation. Kara and friends from Kettlebrook Church went to the Democratic Republic of Congo to identify how we in Wisconsin can make a difference in a region of the world struck by deadly conflict. Through connections with Heal Africa and The World Relief Organization, these friends were extensions of God's love, reaching out to women and children who have experienced horrific trauma and tragedy in the midst of a civil war.
The war affects us because the commodity which is central to the fight is that of minerals. These minerals are paramount in the technological age, particularly for development of cell phones and digital cameras. I only understand about 1% of the situation which is why I have asked Kara to share a guest blog of her experience when time permits. She is speaking at the Jackson Community Center Wednesday night (March 2) from 7-8:30 with the rest of her team to educate the community on the situation and how we can help. Awareness and education is important. Join me if you can to learn more about the situation and the important role you can play in resolving the cycle of violence and aid in healing.
I am in awe of people like Kara who willingly "pick up the cross" and leave family behind to answer a call greater than themselves. At the same time, Kara is quick to humbly explain that the story is not about her service to Africa, the story is about the survivors in Africa and how they are faithfully working to help others recover in the midst of their own pain. In addition Kara believes it was a great honor to go to Africa, certainly not a sacrifice.
For myself personally, it is again a wake-up call of the comfort and ease we often take for granted. My family lives with abundance, to the degree that our environment cultivates a sense of entitlement and selfishness. Kind of like children, the more I have, the more I want. Compared to the significant part of the world that lives in true poverty, with constant personal threat and epidemic illness from a lack of clean water, I have numerous advantages seldom even appreciated. It is by becoming a part of the rest of the world, rather than hiding out at home (and trust me...I am way too comfortable at home!), that we extend ourselves beyond a comfort zone of prosperity and into a zone that demands us to be industrious, generous, educated and productive. To be an extension of God's love.
The least of what I can do is design a fundraiser using exercise to extend beyond myself and generate aid for those who need it. That was one of Kara's messages from the Congo...YES! Our money is useful to the women and children of the Congo and they do receive it from organizations like Heal Africa. I have to be honest, I don't see myself flying to the Congo anytime soon, but I can pray, I can support, I can educate myself and others. There are local friends who will personally take our love and extend it to forgotten regions of the world. Stay tuned for more from Kara and her Congo experiences!
I have attached a couple of videos that I found helpful in better understanding the conflict. They are disturbing...they make me uncomfortable...which is probably why I need to watch it...they motivate me to pray. Thank you for reading!
Prior to their departure we met for lunch and I told Kara, "Have a great trip to the Congo." Certainly it was the first time in 39 years that I had ever said those words, and perhaps a poor choice of words considering it was hardly a vacation. Kara and friends from Kettlebrook Church went to the Democratic Republic of Congo to identify how we in Wisconsin can make a difference in a region of the world struck by deadly conflict. Through connections with Heal Africa and The World Relief Organization, these friends were extensions of God's love, reaching out to women and children who have experienced horrific trauma and tragedy in the midst of a civil war.
The war affects us because the commodity which is central to the fight is that of minerals. These minerals are paramount in the technological age, particularly for development of cell phones and digital cameras. I only understand about 1% of the situation which is why I have asked Kara to share a guest blog of her experience when time permits. She is speaking at the Jackson Community Center Wednesday night (March 2) from 7-8:30 with the rest of her team to educate the community on the situation and how we can help. Awareness and education is important. Join me if you can to learn more about the situation and the important role you can play in resolving the cycle of violence and aid in healing.
I am in awe of people like Kara who willingly "pick up the cross" and leave family behind to answer a call greater than themselves. At the same time, Kara is quick to humbly explain that the story is not about her service to Africa, the story is about the survivors in Africa and how they are faithfully working to help others recover in the midst of their own pain. In addition Kara believes it was a great honor to go to Africa, certainly not a sacrifice.
For myself personally, it is again a wake-up call of the comfort and ease we often take for granted. My family lives with abundance, to the degree that our environment cultivates a sense of entitlement and selfishness. Kind of like children, the more I have, the more I want. Compared to the significant part of the world that lives in true poverty, with constant personal threat and epidemic illness from a lack of clean water, I have numerous advantages seldom even appreciated. It is by becoming a part of the rest of the world, rather than hiding out at home (and trust me...I am way too comfortable at home!), that we extend ourselves beyond a comfort zone of prosperity and into a zone that demands us to be industrious, generous, educated and productive. To be an extension of God's love.
The least of what I can do is design a fundraiser using exercise to extend beyond myself and generate aid for those who need it. That was one of Kara's messages from the Congo...YES! Our money is useful to the women and children of the Congo and they do receive it from organizations like Heal Africa. I have to be honest, I don't see myself flying to the Congo anytime soon, but I can pray, I can support, I can educate myself and others. There are local friends who will personally take our love and extend it to forgotten regions of the world. Stay tuned for more from Kara and her Congo experiences!
I have attached a couple of videos that I found helpful in better understanding the conflict. They are disturbing...they make me uncomfortable...which is probably why I need to watch it...they motivate me to pray. Thank you for reading!