I.S. Program Updates

Part II: Pemba Highlights

February 10, 2010 – 12:41 pm
By Geoff MacNeill | Posted in I.S. Program Updates Comments (0)

Iris Ministries was founded by Rolland and Heidi Baker back in 90’s. Both of these people inspire me in their Christian faith. The ministry in Pemba operates as an orphanage/church plant/ indigenous pastor training/missionary school/ village feed/ and a lot more. I am staying at their main base, but they have many throughout the country.  This base is approximately 75-100 acres in size and is located right next to the Indian Ocean.  How neat is that?  I love the ocean! I am happy to be here during the rainy season (even though it has rained very little) as the land is now green.

The missionaries here inspire and encourage me by their walk with God. They are spiritual, but very down to earth.  I have been able to meet lots of missionaries and become friends with them because it is a slower time at Iris.

My duties include helping out in the kitchen and teaching English to children.  In the kitchen, I mostly hand out plates to the children and collect them at the end of meals. I have also been going to a nearby village called Meize.   Meize is where I am teaching English to 35 kids so far.  The kids seem excited to be excited to learn English, and I am happy to help them learn. However, I am a bit nervous as there is no set curriculum so I’ll need more of God’s grace for thinking outside of the box.

In a surprise turn of events I’m also helping with prison ministry. I forget how this all came about, but last week I found myself in a truck headed for jail. We were there to preach, pray for the sick, and give food. This was a bit of a stretching experience, but God is good and was faithful to give me strength.  I enjoyed my time there. The inmates weren’t intimidating, more welcoming than anything. Being in prison and praising God with the inmates was an amazing blessing. African’s have great voices and love to sing.

The last thing that I’ll mention involves hugs. The kids here . . . love them, especially the little ones. Sometimes when kids come up to me they open up their arms and smile, as if to say, “pick me, pick me.” Their needy eyes make picking them up such an easy decision.

Blessings,

Geoff

Part 1: Pemba

January 25, 2010 – 2:12 pm
By Geoff MacNeill | Posted in I.S. Program Updates Comments (0)

“And let the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us…”
Psalm 90:18a

“Salama!” This is a greeting from the local Makuwa language.

After approximately 36-40 hours of travel, I finally arrived in beautiful Pemba, Mozambique! Exiting the plane, I was instantly greeted by African weather; hot and sunny!  Dr. Don Kantel (founder of SSU), met me at the airport.  He and his wife Elizabeth are the base directors here at Iris’ Pemba location. I am also blessed to have him as my internship supervisor.

Setting out for Iris was a short drive, but the lack of time did not hinder African culture from revealing itself. Women dressed in colorful attire, usually a parcel on their head, balancing it oh so well. Men and boys walking to and fro as well, some sell things, others are just going places. Fish is a fairly hot item on the markets here; you see lots of it for sale along the main ocean drag to Iris. Cars, trucks (with an over-load of people in them) and motor bikes cruise the narrow roads. And palm trees and baobabs (big trunked trees) root themselves in the country side.

When Don picked me up, he had a young girl with him – Talma. Let me tell you a little about her, it will help you understand a little about Iris Ministries….
She was born in Tanzania but her parents had sent her away to her aunt’s house in Pemba; they didn’t want her. In Pemba, she was abused severely and her aunt used her as cleaning aid. She eventually ran away and came to Iris looking for help. And it was here that she found help. But recently she has been in danger of returning to her family in Tanzania; her aunt’s crooked desires. Don and others have been trying to stop this. As of yesterday, I found out that after prayer and practical effort, the mother of this little girl has allowed her to stay with Iris! Praise God. Talma is very happy. Like Talma many of the kids here at Iris (approx 170) have disturbing pasts, but God is restoring them. Amen.

Thank you to all of those who made this trip possible; especially Dr. Kantel, Dr. Gregg Finley, the Kadatz’s, and my very supportive and loving parents. I would also like to thank Jesus, the Great Shepherd, for loving me and leading me here.

Also, thanks to all those who wrote in my send off journal – reflecting on your words of encouragement has been valuable.

Blessings,
Geoff

New Faces on Campus (And Around the World)

October 14, 2008 – 4:58 pm
By Kendall Kadatz | Posted in I.S. Program Updates Comments (1)

SSU’s newly residented Travel Co-ordinators Shelley and Kendall Kadatz checking in here at SSU’s travel blog.  We’ll be using this blog to keep our dedicated readers up to date on everything travel around the university.  So whether you’re looking for updates on travel study terms to Asia, Europe, Greece & Turkey, or the just launched Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) and Bachelor of International Studies (BIS) programs, check in regularly to see what’s happening.

Aside from our own thoughts, we’re also interested in hearing about your reflections on travel at SSU.  Whether you’re a professor, staff member, alumni, current student, parent, board member or in any way connected with our truly unique programs here, we’d love to hear about and share your experiences and reflections with the larger SSU community.  Who knows, we might even seek you out and ask for a contribution that we’ve heard about and believe would be valuable for others to hear as well.

Some pieces to forward to in the near future include developments in the new BAIS/BIS programs and the Asia Travel Study term that starts this January.

Keep tuned in and we’ll keep you posted.

Kendall and Shelley