Missions
Missions
“Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.”
MISSIONS
from America to Asia & Africa
In 2010, I took off from my office in Silicon Valley with my high-tech start-up co-founding team as pro bono business consultants to SMEs + NGOs in Chennai, southeastern India for a short-term service assignment. While the entire cohort achieved astounding results with clients M-F during the workweek, it was during the precious weekends venturing off into the rural regions and spending time in their villages that captured my heart for this great nation.
That fateful summer ignited a fire in me to leave everything behind and pursue an undeniable conviction: I don't have the right to work on business solutions + policy reform for social justice + global poverty, if I don't spend time living among the people who inhabit these historical lands. My American public education and minority world business case studies were not easily applicable here unless I came to stay for awhile and integrated into direct experience. I ended up trekking 100,000+ miles across twenty more countries for the next five years, and the insights gained on the ground through partnerships in the field remain integral influences for me to this day.
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, INDIA // Visiting my friends in the village where Don & Margie Cook, co-founders of Hands on Houses work alongside nationals to build new homes together for destitute widows and their children.
Cabo Delgado, MOZAMBIQUE // Morning greetings from these children of the Makua village tribe, in one of the most remote areas of the nation without running water or electricity. I am commissioned by the missions school of Iris Global (conferred 12/2010), which miraculously feed well over 22,000+ children per day and serve the destitute, the lost, the broken and the forgotten in fifteen countries.
Zapote, Las Piñas, PHILIPPINES // This brave big sister & little brother pair come from a family with very little provision, as they lost their parents far too early in life. They are being raised by a relative in a shanty area of metropolitan Manila, the national capital and most densely populated city proper in the world. My country hosts Pastor Vince & Ophie Aguirre lead Wells of Joy Learning Center, where they educate and raise up many children like these with great care and Love. We are praying these little ones will have peace, provision, protection, and joy overflowing in their days to come.
“I started at the bottom and loved just one; and if you love one you can love many; and if many you can love all.”
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA // 2010 rēp venture: national consultants from southern India, international consultants from North America (US & Canada).
“Cry the gospel with your life;
Communicate through friendship.”
Pemba, Cabo Delgado, MOZAMBIQUE // 2010 Iris Global HS13 housemates of Canada, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States.
Cape Town, Western Cape, SOUTH AFRICA // 2012 rēp venture: American and local consultants representing seven nations of heritage, hosted by MP Stephen Swart of the National Assembly, ACDP, and Committees on Justice, Public Enterprises, Finance, Constitutional Review @ the Old Assembly Chamber, Parliament of RSA.
Friends in the Field
#GivingTuesday 2017 Global Edition
Special Feature: Friends in the Field
Friends in the Field
#GivingTuesday 2017 Global Edition
Special Feature: Friends in the Field
Hands on Houses
Don & Margie Cook // Republic of INDIA
Building new homes for destitute widows
// a project of the Equip Foundation
2010: I visited the Cooks' neighborhood on the outskirts of metropolitan Chennai, southern India while on pro bono business venture in the city. They are a remarkable couple I consider role models in my life - they walk with humble servant hearts, deep wisdom, and genuine kindness.
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Don & Margie became naturalized Americans by way of Kona, Hawaii. After retiring from their careers in engineering and education, they moved to the village of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, southeastern India in 2007 to build as many homes as they can for as many people in need as they can. They have 4 grown children (3 are married) and 6 adorable grandchildren.
JUSTICE RISING
Edison & Cassandra Lee // Dem. Republic of the CONGO
Building schools for children in war zones
2011: I had so much fun befriending Cass + Ed through our Iris Global reunion while they were just beginning to date ;) Cass was part of the very first global development school (HG1) in Mozambique that I also graduated from (I was HS13), and Ed had led the Iris effort in Zimbabwe.
Originally from Seattle, Washington and Saskatchewan, Canada, they spend about half of each year on the ground throughout JR sites in Africa, and the other half in Los Angeles, California.