Firstly I would like to introduce our brand new YouTube Channel!  Thanks to Dave Tebbutt!  Dave arrived 2 weeks ago and is documenting our experiences for us so that you can see in short 5 minute video’s what’s going on here with us!  Please check it out at:  http://www.youtube.com/doppenbergrita

Secondly,  I have to say, thanks for all the words of encouragement these past 7 weeks.  It has been rough at times but overall life here is amazing.  I love the place… the people… the work we are doing…. I love it all.   Sure it’s tough to be surrounded by so much poverty… but it is also so uplifting to be surrounded by so much joy.

When I get down its mostly because of frustration.  There is so much to do here and we are held back by the constraints of money.   We are at the mercy of the donations of others…. and that is a very difficult place for us to be.  Many people have never been here… and they have not seen what we are surrounded by every day and thus they do not fully understand.   People who are so full of a joy that we hardly know in Canada and yet living a life so full of hardship we can barely comprehend.

I see people every single day that look 50+ when they are 30 due to hardship… I see people every day who work hard for next to no money…. I see people every day that want to work and can find no work and therefore cannot support their families…. I see people every day that are hungry and have no means to eat…. I see people every day that are tired… hungry… thirsty…. …… What I do NOT see every day is people who are sad…. They are happy… they are full of joy…  they are full of hope….

What I want is to not only give them hope… I want so desperately to give them a future…  I listen to Hermana Mercedes and her dreams… dreams of a future for the poor.  Dreams of hope and equality for all…. I share that dream.  I want to put a call to action out there to anyone reading this…. Will you consider sharing that dream with us and becoming a part of bringing hope for the future to those that need it…. ?

http://www.ctenc.ca/ritadoppenberg/