$2005
Raised$4020
Goal
Are you familiar with the phrase, “Ubuntu”? It is a traditional African saying that means, “I am because we are.” It is both the founding principle for Comfort the Children International (CTC), and a recurring theme in my own personal narrative.
In the summer of 2010 I traveled with the first Community & Faith team to Maai Mahiu, Kenya. It is a small village on the edge of the rift valley about an hour north of Nairobi. Maai Mahiu was a town with no sewage system, running water, major industries, or infrastructure. The rate of HIV/AIDS was incredibly high, as it is located on the major truck route that runs through East Africa. In short, there was much to be done.
That was the context into which CTC came onto the scene. However, they didn’t go about “changing” life in Maai Mahiu as many non-profits or aid organizations may do. CTC has built a holistic community development model from the ground up. Meaning, they have empowered the people of Maai Mahiu to create sustainable change for themselves through health, education, economy, environment, and community initiatives.
The people of this town half a world away are a major part of the person I am striving to become. Their authenticity, courage, and abiding joy have unquestionably shifted my perspective on life. The opportunity to witness them seeking to serve others, and care for the widow and the orphan before self, has been deeply humbling. I have been inspired by all they have accomplished and have been transformed in my faith in ways I could never have imagined. I am grateful to consider so many of the CTC team my chosen family.
The opportunity to lead a second team of students from the Episcopal Student Center at the University of Texas this January is incredibly important. Students from our team in 2013 boldly returned for a summer internship a few short months later, joined the ranks of the CTC Tribe, and continue to be some of the most dedicated ambassadors for the work happening in Maai Mahiu. This year’s team will travel far to witness the power of living in a community where Ubuntu is the foundational principle. This work of transformation will continue as we expand the ranks of the CTC family.
I hope you will consider being a financial supporter of this trip. With incredibly high airfare costs, twelve days on the ground will cost $4,500. Trust me when I say the “cost” of this trip cannot be measured in dollars, as the impact will reach far beyond our time in Kenya. Anything from $5 to $500 would be a tremendous help in reaching my goal. Giving is incredibly easy on the CTC website. To make a donation, please follow the instructions below.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support as we embark on this journey.
Gratefully,
Beth
Please simply click the “Donate Here” button and designate that you’d like to make a one-time donation. Once you arrive on the donation page, please designate "Volunteer Trip" and then add "Community and Faith, Beth Magill" in the proper box.
**All donations are tax deductible!