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.: ti Updates / Blog :.
.: A message to Sponsors of Children through TI :.
Dear Sponsors, If you have been sponsoring a child for the past three months or longer, you should have received the most recent update. We found that some of the e-mails we have on file no longer work and we are trying to stay away from using TI funds to send update out by mail. If you did not receive an update, please send us an e-mail to support@transformedinternational.org and we will make sure we update our records and send you the update on your sponsored child. From all of us at TI, thank you for your continued support. You are helping to transform the lives of a new generation. Regards, TI Support Staff
.: India Team Update from Faith :.
I feel like it finally hit me yesterday that I'm spending at least 3 months of my life in India. Phew.
We have discovered we are not good tourists. We liked seeing the sights we were shown, but none really stuck out or left me awe struck. I really desire to be among the people and live among them so it was hard to go do touristy things.
Instead of seeing the Taj Mahal we all decided to go see a leper colony instead. It was obvious it made our driver uncomfortable, but we went and spent time walking around the colony and learning about their lives and the place. The colony we went too was government run, but also funded by some private donors. I believe they said there was something like 58 rooms and 120 people living there. The interesting thing was, it is cleaner and nicer than most places you see on the streets. In a lot of ways their quality of life seemed better than what I've seen so far, at least from the outside looking in. A couple women there spoke English and we were able to ask them simple questions. When I walked, up one of the women asked me if I was Christian. I said yes and she said she was too. Her name was Miriam. I told her that was a Bible name and she said she knew that. When we asked her about her story she told us she lived inCalcutta and was connected with Mother Teresa's work there. She had a picture of Mary above her door and brought out a picture of Mother Teresa to proudly show us. Her family is Christian/Catholic too we learned. There wasn't the ability to ask them a lot of in depth questions about faith or anything and so the conversation was broken up in chunks of understanding and then the women just nodding because they didn't understand.
I was struck by the simplicity of something while I was there at the colony. The women wore little bangles on their arms and were nicely groomed with their hair in braids. They had on their colorful sari's and when I held Miriam's gaze long enough she'd smile really big then look down all sheepishly and shyly for a few seconds only to have her eyes dart back up really quick to see if I was looking at her still. If I was, she'd laugh. In a place set apart by their country as unclean and a place where they send people who cannot interact with society on even a basic level, they still have dignity and still care about something as basic as their appearance. I was struck by that for some reason.
You could probably pass by and see no hope through those gates, knowing that the people there are suffering and dying, yet, to the families and people there, and especially the Lord, they are still people, worthy of respect and a conversation. I was humbled and happy to be the cause of something as simple as a smile in Miriam's day and will remember her attitude and the excitement on her face when I said I was a Christian like her.
Some observances about India:
- The women are beautiful. The young girls have such piercing eyes and flawless brown skin. Some know they have a great smile and use it to their advantage often when asking for money (a common occurrence with women no matter what country I guess!). The older the woman, the more weathered her face and the more cautious her eyes. A smile from me to any of them is usually met with a smile back and searching eyes to see if I'll communicate anymore as I walk by. They are more reserved with the men, although they'll usually return a greeting.
- The traffic is so stressful that we have all discussed how it drains us to be driving around in it for long. I would rather walk everywhere if it weren't for the ear piercing horns multiple times per second that make me wanna crawl outta my skin.
- Every morning a thick fog hangs over the city I can't watch the sunrise, I just watch it get light outside. The weather here is ridiculously colder than we expected. There hasn't been a day yet that I haven't worn the fleece sweater I brought most of the day. I have to ask for an extra blanket because I am usually so cold at night. There is no humidity so far where we've been, but India is coming out of their winter season now so it should get warmer as we are here.
- There is garbage EVERYWHERE. When it rains, it doesn't smell fresh in the air, it smells like wet garbage, that was very telling to me. The filth and trash here was shocking...it still is. I can't believe how bad it is.
- The people are so busy in New Delhi that it's almost as if you don't exist when out and about on the streets unless you are buying something. If you don't move out of their way they'll run right through you. Thankfully, I have 3 men deflecting anything coming my way so I'm better off than most women walking the streets having to dodge people.
- I love the color in India. It makes my heart happy. Everywhere I go I see bright hues on the women and fabrics of amazing colors.
- Faith  
.: India Team Update :.
 Jaipur, India.
I got into New Delhi, India, early Friday morning ready for at least a few complications as far as customs and getting my luggage in one piece; as is the case with most travel. After I breezed through customs and found my luggage only a few minutes after, I thought to myself that it really wasn’t a bad way to start our adventure. We hopped in a taxi to our hotel, where we would set up a sort of “home base” for the next couple of days. Happy to see the rest of my team that was waiting for me, and happy to be done with the initial part of traveling, we all decided to crash for a few hours before we would start our day.
Delhi is a busy city… It is home to about 12 million people, and it would seem as if all 12 million are all trying to get to the same place at once. The streets are filled with an outrageous number of vehicles, horns, and people on motorcycles and bicycles. We wandered down the road for a while until we found a tourist information office, if there was a place that we could get most of our questions answered that would be it. We got great information as well as set up a time to meet with the two guys that worked at the counter… to talk about the bad parts of Delhi as well as the parts of India that were connected to sex trafficking. In a matter of hours we had found a couple of necessities as well as received some general, but helpful, information in regards of our time here!
We are waiting until late January to meet up with a contact here in Delhi, so we decided to pass the time by traveling to surrounding towns, not only because we wanted to see more of India, but it turned out to be cheaper to travel than to stay in Delhi. We are excited to see a different side of India than the capital, as well as see what the other cities have to offer. We are all pretty comfortable with the plans that have unfolded so far, and it has been amazing to see how God has shown up for us even in these first couple of days.
- Evan
.: Neema 2 Begins :.
 Yesterday the Neema 2 Project began with a new group of at risk teen girls and teen mothers. The youngest being a tiny15 year old girl with a 1 month old baby. The girls and TI staff gathered to go over the rules and expectations of the program. The girls were overwhelmed with joy as they heard about all the things they will be learning. They will have three full days a week of intensive sewing classes. The other two weekdays will focus on counseling sessions run by TI’s social workers Anne. She will also spend time working with them on basic life skills. Eric, the country director for TI, will spend a session each week with the girls teaching them basic business skills on how to begin a business from nothing.
 
The girls had their first sewing class this morning in the fully equipped classroom where each girl has her own sewing machine to learn on. 
The construction continues as the walls are quickly going up. The crew hopes to have windows and doors in this week and begin the final layers of bricks next week.  
I’m thrilled to see the lives that this program is going to change. Most of the girls had no hope at all. Many of them having been raped, are looked down upon by the community. But with a trade and business skills, these young women will quickly gain the respect of their surrounding communities, showing that they can make a difference through hard work. Hope has been restored. - Daniel
.: Teen Mother's Get Fresh Start :.
 Thanks to the generous donation from a family in Pennsylvania, another group of teen mothers from the Shimo slums graduated from a sewing school put on by TI and our talented sewing teacher Joyce. These 4 girls went through an intensive one year program that taught them basic and some advanced skills in sewing, one of the most practical trades for women in Kenya. Upon finishing the program, each girl got to take home a sewing machine and was given the tools she needs to begin a business for herself. Their lives were never be the same as they have been given a huge chance to succeed. Joyce will be taking her teaching skills to the new Neema project which launches next week. 15 to 30 at risk teens and teen mothers will get training in sewing and hair dressing through the one year program. In addition to learning a trade, the girls will be discipled by our qualified staff and taught business skills, giving each of them the boost they need. Thank you to those from Pennsylvania who support this group of girls from the Shimo slums and for all who are continuing to support the Neema project. - Daniel
.: Ugly Christmas Sweater Benefit Concert :.
 Last month Jonathan Wood and Payton Buckley hosted a benefit concert in Hermosa Beach, California to raise money for new computers for Transformed International. The “Ugly Christmas Sweater” benefit concert hosted different bands from the area and all proceeds were donated to buy netbook computers for the office and field staff for the TI team working in Kenya. The computers will allow them to do updates and reports from the field as well as keep in touch with the supporters from the U.S. and Canada. The concert was a huge success as about 70 people came to support the event and raised more money then was expected. A special thanks to those who gave their time and donated financially to make the event so successful. Also, thanks to the bands who entertained and drew a great crowd. Thank you Jonathan and Payton for planning, organizing and running the whole event and giving towards and partnering with the work that TI is doing for the children and families in Kenya.   
.: TI India, the adventure begins... :.
Next week a group of 4 Individuals from Reno will be heading to India to begin a self funded research trip to see if some of the models TI has developed in Kenya will be able to be put to use there. Every few weeks I will post updates from the team about their adventures. Please remember to keep them in your prayers as they venture into new areas and will surly face many adversities. - Daniel I fly into Delhi, India on the 12th of January. There I will meet up with the three others from Reno; Faith, Nate, and Scott, and the adventure will begin. Our hopes for the next couple of months will be to find out as much information as we can about the sex trade, as well as the existing ministries that are in place to combat one of the ugliest realities of our world today. Our time there will take us throughout the country and will hopefully give us an accurate, real world depiction of the sex trade as well as the appropriate place for T.I. to help. We hope to find out a part of this battle that we can either help alongside an existing ministry, or possibly start up a branch of T.I. to address the problem in the most effective way. As my departure gets closer, and the reality of the work that we hope to be doing becomes clearer, I am overcome with many different emotions, the most prevalent is a combination of fear, and excitement. Fear of the unknown, and excitement because I know that the way I see my Father show up will be something that will change my life. ~Evan
.: What’s Next? A note from Daniel... :.
I remember 8 years ago, almost to the day, I boarded my first flight to Kenya, none the wiser that I would spend almost 1/3 of my life here. I love it when God writes my story for me… A few weeks ago I booked one way flights back to the U.S. for me and for Ashlie. So strange not knowing the exact date we will return to Kenya. Lord willing, sometime in 2013. I often ask myself why I came to Kenya in the first place. I most certainly didn’t have a passion for the poor African children. My motives, at first, were selfish. I was looking for an adventure and a place where I could figure out my life. Looking back at the experiences I’ve walked through, adventure and life direction were accomplished. The more recent years drew me into a less self centered motive and brought me to an understanding that my purpose is the follow the Lord wherever He leads, not to make a name for myself, not to obtain earthly treasures, but to walk in obedience. As we begin to pack up our few things, I’ve been spending more and more time reflecting. I’m humbled by the grace of my Father who has carried me through this season, protected me, provided for all my needs. And the greatest thing is the character development and growth He caused in me. So What’s Next? Ashlie and I head to the States early February. We plan to spend a few months with each of our families, both in California and Nevada. We will also fit in some traveling and speaking, one of my favorite parts about being in North America. Since even before we were married, we began to pray about starting a branch of TI in another third world country with a focus on a discipleship program for young adults from Western cultures. In October, we plan to spend a few months exploring these options and visiting ministries who are doing the same kind of things we would like to do. Through my time in Kenya, the Lord has impressed upon my heart that discipleship is one of the most important responsibilities we have as followers of Christ, and at the same time, its one of the weakest areas of today’s church. It’s Scary… I have a lot of anxiety about being in America for more than a few months. Kenya has become home and where I feel like I have purpose, being anywhere but here feels scary. The Lord is reminding me of my perceived “need” to be in control. I’m convinced that control and having faith in the Lord can’t occupy the same space in a man’s soul. So the more I try to be in control, the more my heart struggles with trusting the Father’s plan. I don’t like change because I’m not in control. But at the same time, I crave it as it causes me to grasp onto the only firm thing in my life, my relationship with God. I still have a lot of anxiety… Some people have asked who will be overseeing Transformed International since I won’t be in Kenya full time. Thanks to technology, it will be easy for me to continue to oversee the general operations of TI from anywhere in the world. Just because I won’t be sitting at my desk in Kenya doesn’t mean that my heart and leadership for the work in Kenya will change one bit. I am passionate about the people and projects that TI is serving. Taking that extra look… I find myself gazing off in the distance, taking that extra look at my surroundings, trying to capture a mental picture of the faces of each child, of the beautiful country around us, enjoying a long ride on my motorcycle. After 8 years, I know these coming weeks will fly by and the next time I come to Kenya, things won’t look quite the same. This season is over, leading into a brand new one. More adventures, more tears, falling more in love with my Creator and enjoying it all with my best friend who happens to be my most wonderful wife. I’m excited to walk out what’s next. - Daniel
.: Neema Construction Update (The roof is on) :.
 After a few weeks off, Adam and the construction crew is back to work at the Neema Project working on the dorms. This week they finished the roof and the foundation, next step, bricks, bricks and more bricks.
We are looking forward to launching this pogrom this month and seeing the lives of young woman transformed.
  
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