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Save This Date

Poverty---Power---Privilege.

How would you like to be able to listen in and be a part of a dialogue around this topic, by people who don’t just think about it but are doing something about it?

Well, you CAN.

Save this date: NOV 2nd Friday evening.

You won’t want to miss an opportunity to join us in hearing and interacting around this important topic on Poverty, Power and Privilege.

Our Forum will consist of Brian McLaren, Social-spiritual activist, movement planter, leader in the emerging church; Richard Twiss, Native American leader, activist and artist, and Claudio Oliver, South American pastor and leader and thinker in post-modern thought; Rose Madrid Swetman, pastor, leader in women's issues, inovative practitioner. Sign up now and make it an event!

Global Support is co-sponsoring this evening for Off The Map. Take a look at their web site. Our good friend, Jim Henderson, co-founder of OTM is hosting their National Conference, Off The Map Live, in Seattle, Nov. 1-3. Jim’s organization advocates that Christians ought to be known for a way of living that is generous and intentionally caring for others. We encourage you to see what Off The Map is up to--you might enjoy visiting this very entertaining and informational conference. You won’t be disappointed.


Global Support cordially invites you to an event
Friday, Nov. 2nd, at 7:30 p.m.
at The Vineyard

17712 – 15th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155),
featuring well known speakers and yourselves
to dialogue on the topic of Poverty, Power and Privilege.

All are welcome---free

No host Bar

Hope to see you there!

Musings on a River

As I sit beside the river in a secluded part of a wilderness area, I realize my soul is out of breath and that I needed to come here, to a place where God is so obvious so magnificent and yet so peaceful. It is here that I catch my breath. It is here that I can find my center again focusing on something bigger than the daily business of life that gradually shuts me down. I wonder why I don’t do this more often?

But where do other people go to find space to experience the rhythm of time alone, of time for reflection, or to experience stillness? A lot of people in the world will never have the luxury of time. I never really realized it before but, time is a luxury. We in the western culture have that luxury if we want to take it. Time where we can catch our breath.

So where do other cultures catch their breath? Do they need to? Maybe their cultures aren’t as demanding as ours? Or maybe they are more so. In many cultures life and death, survival under unthinkable conditions is demanding all of their time. There is no reflection time or rest for their souls.

I think about the kids in other cultures mostly. The ones that have been lured, kidnapped and stolen into slavery of all kinds and are now trapped in a life with no hope. I want to help give them hope back. I want to see that they have the luxury of time, of peace, of safety. A time to restore their souls. I know I want to be a part of any group that helps these kids catch their breath and decide for themselves what to do with the musings they come away with after their souls have been filled.


Diane

July Update

Global Support with a Mission
July 2007

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Chinese Proverb). We are in the single step phase of the infrastructure at Global Support, moving from one stepping stone to another. We are looking further down the stepping stone pathway, and someone is coaching us in where we put our feet.

Hired a Consultant
As promised earlier in the year to our Board, we have hired a consultant to help us look to the future with more clarity and effectiveness, helping us to thrive as we move forward to make a difference in the places we have identified to take our teams. We expect to see our thoughts and ideas that rattle around in our heads and on lots of scratch paper, take more tangible shape. We are bringing our team along in the process as well. Then together we’ll all have more clarity of vision, mission, planning and focus, strategy and more.

First Step

They say ability is like a check, it has no value unless it is cashed. We are hoping to cash in on some of our talents. So, in this first leg we will help identify ability and passions. The idea is that when we focus on our strengths and talents then we are all more effective in what we do. This should translate to being more successful, happy and fulfilled personally and collectively.

We will let you know.

Thank you so much for your continued support and help to Global Support.


Leigh & Diane
Global Support

DVD Global Support

We have created a DVD that gives a little history of Global Support and shows lots of images of the many people we have come into contact with during our travels. If you are interested in having a copy of that, please contact us at the email account, lbuchan@windermere.com or dellis@windermere.com. We'll be happy to send one your way. Thanks again.

April 21st Benefit

We wanted to give a quick update on the Benefit we hosted April 21st . From our perspective the entire affair was a roaring success. It was a gala affair with the beautiful surroundings at Pt. Edwards Charter Club high on a bluff overlooking the Puget Sound, snow capped mountains as the backdrop and a lovely patio area with a pool, not to mention the well appointed decor.

There were 30 plus auction items for people to mill around and attach their name to. It was entertaining watching people become quite invested in their favorite auction item. Everyone was assigned a name of an international city or area in order to participate. That name was used in the silent auction. Some people were in consternation and said, "Who is Dar fur?! They keep outbidding me!"

We had donations from a week in a resort at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to a night at the all star W Hotel in downtown Seattle, to a couple of nights at The Madison Condos high on the 14th floor in downtown Seattle with easy access to clubs, concert halls, Pike Street Market and all. One of the favorite items was a private plane ride overlooking Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helen’s. We ended up having that be donated twice, it was in such demand.

We collected over $16,000 for the evening as well as other moneys trickling in by mail. So, we were thrilled and are excited to put the money to good use.

We want to especially thank everyone who came and made this such an outstanding success; as well as big thanks to those of you who sent in donations but did not attend. We appreciate your help and couldn't do what we are doing without your care and your support.

First thing on the docket now is continuing to interview consultants that will help us with our Strategic Planning. We will report back on our Blog site as to how that is progressing. We also have two children in Peru that we help support, and will look at possibly taking a team there late summer or early fall of ’06. During the Strategic Planning process we will look at all aspects of the projects we support now and which ones we might investigate for the future.

Be Well, Be Warmed.
Quote: People are like sticks of dynamite...the power's on the inside. But nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.

Moving from anger to action.

I am continually appalled at the injustice that is dealt to the innocent victims of war, poverty and greed. My heart aches for the children, who disproportionately suffer in any tragic event. Often the last to eat and the first to work, they are the ones sold into slavery to pay off debts. They are ones stolen from their families to wage war, brainwashed, drugged and tortured, they become the innocent victims. Their hope for the future doesn't exist..

How can I, because of an accident of birth or genetics or economics, stand by and ignore their cry. How do I move from anger and condemnation to directed purposeful action?

Where do I turn?

Should I give my efforts to the aids orphans in Africa, but which country? The orphans are everywhere. In Zambia alone, virtually the entire generation between 20-35 has died from aids. Imagine the chaos that is left behind. Who is caring for the children that are left behind?

Or should I help the children sold into prostitution in southeast Asia. In Phnom Penh hoards of “tourists” come, in groups no less, to take advantage of kids that have no option but to comply or face grim consequences. During the after math of Katrina it was a race to see who got to the orphans first, the rescue organizations or the human traffickers.

Global Support is trying making a difference. We are staging ourselves for our next push forward into a new area of the world. To help more children, not just in Peru but in other parts of the globe. Doors are opening and we are seeing where they are leading. Come hear what we are up to and what we have done over the last year. We are carefully evaluating specific target areas and within each, specific groups that are already there, making a difference in the lives of these children. We are moving ahead and it is a challenge, but with your help we can do it. Compassion can not be complacent.

April 21st 2007 Benefit Fundraiser and silent auction. Point Edwards, Edmonds Wa. For tickets or more information contact Diane Ellis 206-730-0123

Mark Your Calendar!
Soon invitations will be coming your way…
Announcing the Global Support Annual Benefit.
Saturday, April 21st 7 p.m.
At the Pt. Edwards Charter Club
Lots of FUN, Food, Beverages, Auction Items, Prizes, Jazz, and much more!