no_more_TOUR

Like all good things, the National Tour: Suburban Safari had to come to an end. But it was nothing less than an inspiring, life-altering, three month adventure.

I dropped everything in my life from January until July to join this adventure, and to inspire people in every region of the country through the stories of the children of northern Uganda. It wasn’t easy, and I got to endure setbacks like breaking down 4 times in one week and all that comes with living out of an RV with 5 other people. But despite the bumps in the road, the tour was a huge success and my life is forever changed.

From February 1st until the Global Night Commute on April 29th, we (all 7 tour teams collectivly) had over 700 screenings in 38 states across America. We went to colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, boarding schools, catholic schools, churches, youth groups, jewish temples, coffee shops, punk rock shows, skate shows, benefit concerts, classical concerts, dodgeball tournaments, house parties, Walmart parking lots, parks, bookstores, libraries, mexican restaurants, aide organizations, NGOs and even Capitol Hill. I heard senators say that if we don’t act children will die. I saw the tears of the high schoolers, and I heard the innocent question of 10 year-olds who don’t understand how one man can hold 1.8 million Ugandans hostage.

Every day, and at each of these screenings, I saw lives change. I watched the youth of America be inspired as they viewed the film for the first time. I watched their hearts break for Jacob and Tony, and then saw them move into action by setting up more screenings, helping with the Global Night Commute, holding benefit concerts, and raising thousands of dollars through bake sales (which I may have had too many of their goodies), all to end the war in Uganda and to put more children through school.

This adventure not only impacted the thousands of people at the screenings, but it changed my life as well. Below is an excerpt from one of my journal entries while on the journey home. If read on please know that your gifts over the past 6 months kept me on this adventure that changed lives every where it went.

Much Love and gratitude,
Clint

Wed, May 8th, 2006 - Phoenix, AZ
The tour is over. We’re on the way home and I must ask: What did this tour mean, and what’s the one thing that could sum up this tour? To provide an answer will most likely be to come up short in expressing the tour but I’ll forge forward with my attempt regardless.

My answer: People being awoken to who they really are or were created to be.

I have seen such beauty come from people who have seen the story of the Invisible Children. Truly their response has brought them to become the story themselves.

This tour brought a story to town that stirred within people the greater idea of equality. They looked upon a grave injustice and had their hearts and minds shook. People were awoken to do what they love –to chase their passions and love those around them. It seems the only thing we have to offer to a people experiencing such an atrocity is our strengths or passions. It is from humbly using them that working together becomes possible and that those around us become empowered to do the same.

I saw people who long ignored their neighbor adopt to their purpose in life loving their neighbors and then realign their passions to support such a purpose. I saw people who long ran from the idea of their Creator turn to pursue a life under His authority. I saw many things like change and equality find fruition in people seeking to become the change they wanted to see in the world; but, above all I saw people learn to seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend the orphan and begin to plead the case of the widows.

Personally I have been changed the same way. I have come into contact with a life that is vividly lived under the authority of Adoni and I am different. B/c of equality and love for my neighbor for the first time in my life I can see the strengths of another person and their talents and rally behind them for their success. Rather than being intimidated or jealous or thinking highly of myself b/c I know someone who is better at a skill than most I now have an understanding that all these talents and strengths are people being people and can work toward a greater good.

So have you heard the story of the Invisible Children in northern Uganda, you just may want to become apart of their story.

dayAFRICA?

Oh what we can learn from Africa. Except as a geographical appellation, Africa does not exist. In fact, it is a geographical area full of people each with their own ideas, dreams, talents, and desires. So what can we learn from a people striving for survival? Their life is endless toil, a torment it seems they endure with astonishing patience and good humor. A swollen belly and lack of one dollar are okay for these people, at least in the eyes of the people who have it to give. I long to be among these people, to walk alongside them and learn about life, and to give what I can give.

Since my last adventure to Africa I have grown, I have matured, and I have learned to see people. I want to go back to these people who endure the odds of survival with patience and good humor. I want to learn to live as we find food, medicine, and clean water to have with it all.

My heart is restless. Im not sure how or when Ill get back to these people but I must learn how to help empower the people Ill be around. I heard Bono knocked on Bill Gates door to say you changed the world once, why don't you change it again.

We can use where we're at and what we've been given (materially and talents) to help change the world. Isn't it good news that a man need not to wait start changing the world...to start giving mind to seeking justice, to start yielding thoughts to relieving the oppressed, to start defending the orphans, to start pleading the case of widows -to do good, to love.

dayPOST_TOUR

I have learned over the past 5 years there is nothing more beautiful than a person. People we are the most beautiful part of this world. Trees, plants, animals, flowers while each has its own unique quality and adds to the beauty of this world people just bring a bit more to the table.

I find more beauty in a wrinkle on the “perfect” collar shirt, peach fuzz on a girl’s upper lip, and a rock star professing his love for his wife over romancing with another, than I do in the most glorious sun rise through a valley or wild African violets on the side of Lupanga Peak.

There is a concept of wholeness within the Hebrew culture -more a concept of whole peace- its called "shalom." I have asked these questions literally hundreds of times: "what would the city look like that exists in shalom; what would it take to get to this place?"

I have yet to establish a definitive answer but I believe it might be a place where people get that they are the most beautiful part of this world and get that those around them are the most beautiful parts of this world.

How better to demonstrate this belief than by taking practical steps towards equality. What if we could put an end to the idea that kids in Africa can have swollen bellies from malnutrition b/c they live in Africa; what if we were to empower those around us rather than fight to show them how better we can do the job?

All this just to say a little about myself: I am currently wondering how I am going to spend my energy investing in the empowerment of people by investing in health, food production, education, access to clean water, and essential infrastructure within their communities.

Who knows maybe I'll just mention to you that people need such things like clean water, food, community, and healthcare but aren't getting them and with love you'll go change the world.