GOD’S VENTURER :: by J&S

More videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/SamehAndJoAnneWong  



December 30, 2009

Sa3idi :: Too Much to Say about India...

   
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Sa3idi_Too_Much_to_Say_about_I.zip (1441 KB)

"Sanju" - a face of Indian child-labor. He needs to sell a particular quota per day. If not, his 'owner' beats him. "Too much fighting," he sighs. I bought hair clips from him and got him a chicken roll for dinner. Sweet kid, sad situation.

India is such a stark clash of many worlds, existences, realities.
Incredible India, Intense India...

Next year, we go to explore another one of the zillions of people groups - the Sikhs of Punjab.

 

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December 30, 2009

Sa3idi :: Week 24 in Kolkata, India

     
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Sa3idi_Week_24_in_Kolkata.zip (113 KB)

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Putting the Bengali EV & MOB to use...

 

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December 30, 2009

Sa3idi :: Week 23 in Kolkata, India

       
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Sa3idi_Week_23_in_Kolkata_Indi.zip (161 KB)

It was beautiful and fulfilling to visit friends who JoAnne met on past APMC outreaches to Fiji & India. We got to speak and minister in the programs they now lead. These friends are now settled in Kolkata, West Bengal. We've all grown so much and even entering new apostolic positions...

 

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December 28, 2009

Sa3idi :: Asian Christmas Rock

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December 28, 2009

Sa3idi :: Week 22 in Jaipur, India

     
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Sa3idi_Week_22_in_Jaipur_India.zip (33 KB)

Hanging with our Nepali friends, Daniel and Ricky. Our Create International centre in Jaipur is comprised of several people groups of India.  Many of the staff speak 3 to 5 languages - Hindi, English, Nepali, and their native state and village dialects.

We had a fun time teaching in Create India's School of Frontier Media - Sameh got into it with sharing on camerawork, taking interviews, shooting dramatic dialogue, cross-cultural drama work; and then helping the students do it themselves. One student directed a Hindi-speaking scene for the first time. JoAnne taught a bit on Documentary Filmmaking and shared her experiences with writing the script for the Kyrgyz mobilization piece last June. 

Our favorite aspect was just building relationship with the students and staff. Sometimes the best thing to do is be a listener, so others can freely pour out their heart, their dreams & visions. It is just what some needed at the time. 

India has one of the greatest numbers of Muslim un-reached people groups, as well as thousands of UPG's overall, which is why it is strategic to have a ministry centre there focused on their peoples.

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December 28, 2009

Sa3idi :: Transit in Bahrain

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December 1, 2009 - Christmas decor in the Bahrain Airport. A funny thing thing to observe in a Muslim Kingdom, but...I guess Santa is a global icon!

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November 28, 2009

Sa3idi :: Week 21 in Alexandria

     
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Sa3idi_Week_21_in_Alexandria.zip (359 KB)

Since returning to Alexandria from the Emirates, we have had "reconciliation with Egypt." Kolehaga helua, helua! (everything is "beautiful!")

We don't need to get angry or frustrated any more because we know what to expect. Furthermore, we do have pity on the lost; realizations about the uncertainty and, often, ignorance that people may live in here. Can't blame 'em for those habits; after all, what do they know to do about it? En shaala. What's done is done; we learned a lot, and it's a new day.

Well, the air has been crisp and cool, much more enjoyable. We could sit on the seaside corniche, and finally ignore the litter along the shore. Eid Al At7ha brought the most obnoxious mosque-screeching I've ever heard, but we did get to see the ANCIENT SCROLL ROOM at the Great Alexandria Library with our Australian friends who came into town!

We received Sameh's new Egyptian ID, and also the long-awaited sexy muted-teal NEW EGYPTIAN PASSPORT! Complete with electronic barcodes! He is SO happy with this new toy. My Egyptian immigration status is in process, which means I might also have a sexy muted-teal NEW EGYPTIAN PASSPORT in a few years.

In honor of this city that has hosted us generously -- Iskandrea -- we write this blog according to your Egyptian humour: Thank you for your time; thank you for your zillion cups of tea!  I had fun shopping at your Fathalla grocery stores. Sure, your salad is wilted, it’s a bit more trafficky and hard to get around... The roads are paved with chunky asphalt, oh my engineering colleagues would have cried. But you always ask me if I need tea. God bless you. =)

God can take our hardest experiences and turn them into good - Romans 8:28 tells us He is working out the good for those who love Him. 2 Corinthians 4 tells us our momentary light afflictions are producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

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November 19, 2009

Islamic Art & Architecture:: UAE

     
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Sa3idi_Islamic_Art_Architectur.zip (151 KB)

White marble all the way through the Sheikh Zayed mosque in Abu Dhabi. Beautiful use of light and pattern. See the 99 names of Allah inscribed in the main prayer hall - the mosque was built for the purpose of sharing Islam with visitors from around the world. 

Expressive of opulence, yet openness to sharing culture & beliefs...

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November 19, 2009

Sa3idi :: Week 20 in Egypt

In Egypt, I had been inspired to eat flatbread dipped in labnah (thick herbed yogurt) and zaatar (mixture of Syrian spices). It's what Paul the Apostle ate in his new movie...

We watched the new film release called Damascus Speaks - produced by Maissa Salom and Life Agape Media in Syria. It is the story of Paul's conversion (formerly named Saul, known for persecuting the Christians of the early Church) after a radical encounter with Christ. It takes place on the road to Damascus, and many old landmarks of his journey still remain. The film makes the city of Damascus proud with all its shots of spiritual significance. 

Damascus Speaks also reveals Syria's heritage according to history paralleling the Bible. Using both reenactments of old and modern-day footage interspersed with the drama, we realize legacy for Syria today, as well as for us personally. Paul had radical example, reckless abandonment to Christ, and continued all his life where no one has gone before.

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November 19, 2009

Sa3idi :: Week 18-19 in Dubai

     
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Sa3idi_Week_18-19_in_Dubai.zip (167 KB)

Burj El Arab - Most expensive hotel in the world.
Burj Dubai - Tallest man-made structure ever built.
Dubai Mall Aquarium - Largest viewing panel in the world.
Dubai Metro - Longest single track in the world??

It was hard to keep track of all the record-breaking artificial wonders, but surely Dubai is a sight to behold. Some call it "virtual & plastic, need something more down-to-earth." But some just love it ~ fascinating stuff in the 21st century. 

You can pretty much get whatever you can think of, like organic cereal or choose from a couple dozen varieties of exfoliating face wash. Start a business in a couple weeks in a Free Zone. Get your iPhone unlocked; find any sort of cuisine you are craving, although not nearly tasting like the real thing. 

Our best buy though, was a metro card valid for 5 years! It was symbolic of a little 'stake of inheritance' in the land. En shaalah.

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