Backstage Pass

Day 2 of Global Axxess: Project HALO

This is a montage of photos taken on day 2 by producer Zach as part of our World Vision Trip to Tanzania.

When Interns Attack

I was the victim of a savage attack from Intern Betty Rock While on the air.  All I know is she took my keys and when I tried to get them back she went all psycho on me.  I am sure if you ask her, she will tell you a completely different story filled with allegations and bald face lies, after all who are you going to believe...and don't say Betty

 

 

 

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

This is a montage of photos Zach took in Tanzania on Day 1 of Global Axxess: Project HALO (Helping Africa's Little Ones)

I Almost Can't Believe This Is The Same Girl

 

I was truly humbled to meet Mamaai and her family.  I had no idea what she would be like.  I only had the photo to go by.  I guess the old saying "you can't judge a book by it's cover" is true.  She was not what I expected.  She was happy and full of life.  This truly was a day I will never forget.

Day 3 Tanzania: Hands and Feet

Click here to see the rest of the photos from day 3

Day Three in Tanzania was bitter sweet for me.  I had a weird sense of despair and an overwhelming sense of why as I saw yet another day of unbelievable poverty and pain. I couldn’t help but wonder where is God in all this?  How do all the Bible verses I have learned about how God knows our needs and takes care of us apply in place this poor? I know money doesn't buy happiness but it does buy food.  The gravity of this place is hitting me all at once and I am having a hard time processing all of these thoughts.  Tomorrow I leave Tanzania and return back to life as I know it but I leave behind...people whose faces will haunt me forever

How do you forget a place were certain tribes don't name their children until after they are 5 years because the infant mortality rate is so high and the mothers don't want to get too attached.

When you get outside of your world you see how truly big it is and this tip is forcing me to challenge what I have always believed about the way God works.  We visited an AIDS clinic and one of the Dj’s on the trip told the people about the woman in the Bible who touched Jesus’ robe and was healed.  She then said they should touch his garment in prayer and be healed.  Am I crazy, or do I lack faith because I fully expect all of these people to wake up tomorrow and still have AIDS.  I tend to focus less on the hocus pocus of faith, and more on the practical.  I think the better plan is to pray for God to give them strength and make sure I do what I can to get them the medicine they need to live, but what do I know.  

Here is where I seem to be landing on my understanding of the way God works.  This is the world we live in.  These people and problems are real. I know God. Is powerful and could simply wave his hand and fix it but for some reason be chooses not too. Maybe he doesn't intervene because he knows it is good for us to step outside our little world to look beyond our problems and help those in need. I guess that is why he gave us hands and feet

The best part of my introspective and reflective day came when we got to implement the feet part of being the hands and feet of Christ  Today we got to see how simple acts of kindness from 15 thousand miles away made a tangible difference in the life of some children.  Max and Courtney donated shoes that made it halfway around the world to the feet of some needy children.  It truly was a privilege for me to carry their generosity to Tanzania and to put shoes on the dirty worn feet of these children.  No words were needed to see their gratitude.

I pray that God will give me the words to tell this story. To somehow impart to you how important sponsoring a World Vision Child is.  One of the first thing I have to do when I get home is make my daughter understand that helping people who need our help should not be an option and Regardless of where her dreams take her she has a responsibility to help make dreams come true for people who may have given up on theirs.

Click on the World Vision Link on Total Axxess.com to find out how you can sponsor a child that is in desperate need of your help.

           

Click here to see all the photos from Tanzania Day 2

Day two was a day of firsts.  It was the first time for me to meet Mamaai, my sponsored child.  It was the first time for me to meet people living with AIDS.  And it was the first time for me to eat goat…twice.  We’ll get to the goat in a minute.

Today was the first day that I realized how little I truly know about love and generosity.  I came barring gifts for my child Mamaai.  I was so excited to give her the kind gifts that that maybe she was seeing for the first time, but when I was all said and done she gave me a gift that will remain in my heart forever.  Her family welcomed me as one of their own.  We always talk about sacrificial giving but I think that is more a theory than a practice for most of us.  I could not believe the generosity and kindness her village showed to me, a complete stranger.  I was given and dressed in traditional Maasai clothing, complete with a hand beaded belt, chief stick, and Giraffe tail fly swatter.  This was already too much but it did not stop there.  They proceeded to bring out a feast of goat.  Obviously, this struck fear in the heart of my week stomach, but there was no way I would have dreamed of offending these wonderful people.  In their culture, it is rude to refuse a gift especially one of this magnitude.  For them to eat like this is rare.  Traditionally their meals consist of a goat milk tea and a porage of corn and milk.  If kids get this meal 2 times a day, they are very fortunate.  So giving us this feast was true sacrificial giving (just ask the goat).

They were very proud and could not wait to show me their village.  It is very surreal because it seems as if you have stepped back in time or are on the set of a movie.  Surely, no one in this day in age really makes a hut out of mud and dung.  Surely, no one in this day an age lives without electricity. Surely, no one in this day and age gets their drinking water from the same water their animals bath in, but these resilient people his is life…and it is a very hard life.  You can see it in the faces of people who look well worn beyond their years.

When it was time to go I realized that my first visit with them was no over but I hope it will not be my last.

The last stop of the day was the first time I wanted to cry.  Most of this trip has been pure joy but at this stop, I met two little girls who have less than nothing.  Their dresses worn torn and tattered, they had no shoes and I could not help but think what if this was my daughter.  I would want to do everything in my power to change this.  Sadly, their family can’t but we can.  Since this was our last stop I was almost out of gifts but thank God, I had two tings left that were perfect for these little girls.  I had one pair of flip flops left that were a perfect fit for one girl for who this was probably her first pair of shoes.  For the other girl I gave here a little flute.  She giggled wildly as she told us that she loved music.  I can honestly say that her giggle was probably the most beautiful music I have ever heard. 

I was once again reminded of how so little goes so far here.  We made sure to leave money for her ADP caseworker with specific instructions to buy these two little girls new dresses.  I only wish I could be here again to hear that beautiful little giggle when she gets her new dress.  
The last first in this day amazing experiences is this is the first time I have been so hungry.  I have not eaten much in the last 4 days and the truth is I would not want it any other way.  For me to feel even just a twinge of what these kids feel seems like minute price to pay to better understand how much these people need out help.  Together you can give a child a life changing first.  When you sponsor a child, you make it possible for them for the first time to not go to bed hungry.  Please consider making a first impression that will last a lifetime in the life of these wonderful kids.  Just click the World Vision logo at the bottom of TotalAxxess.com 

This is why we came. Click here to see Day 2 pictures of our trip to Tanzania.

 

My first day in Tanzania was overwhelming to say the least.  We only drove 2 hours away from the nearest modern city( I use the term "modern" very loosely) but somehow we stepped back in time.  Back to a place where the first order of business for the day is survival.  Back to a place with no fast food, no grocery stores, no Home Depot, no electricity, no running water, and no indoor bathroom.  Life here is anything but easy.  The people here are very proud, hardworking and, giving.  They have nothing but still insist on treating you like royalty offering you the best of the little they have, it is both humbling and admirable at the same time.

Perspective is a peculiar thing.  These people are happy and very grateful for what God has given them.  But we look at them and think they were given the short end of the God stick.  So if they are so happy, why help?  I know I asked myself that question.  The answer I came up with is happy doesn't equal healthy.  You can be content and still be dying from cancer.  These people don't need our help to be happy they need our help to feed their families, to educate their children and to learn about teh God we calim to serve.  This is truly doing what Jesus told us to do.  To be his hands and feet and to help people who cannot help themselves, is a privillage not a punishment. 

I have never been to a place where so little can do so much.  people here live on less a year than we waste in a weekend.  This is not about feeling guilty for what we have.   I am honest enought to know I am not moving to Africa to run an orphanage.  This is about being responsible with all that God has given us.  With great blessing comes great responsibility.  We are not going to wipe out poverty in Africa but we are not called to do that.   We are called to move when God moves us.  I hope that you will consider helping us with Global Axxess: Project HALO (Helping Africa's Little Ones).  You won't end poverty for the country but you can end it for one child.  Click on the World Vision link at the bottom of TotalAxxess.com to sponsor your very own child.

I have seen first hand the tangilbe difference sponsoring a child makes, but he funny thing is we are here to help change their lives but somehow I know I will never be the same.
 

Meet the Newest Member of Wally's Family

If you have listened to the show you know I have been involved with getting kids sponsored through World Vision.  I would like to introduce you to my child.  Her name is Mamaai, she lives in Tanzania and she is the newest member of our family.  She doesn't have a mom and a dad and she lives with her relatives and two brothers.  When my family decided to sponsor another child we all went through pictures of available kids individually without discussing it till we each came to a decision.  The Cool thing is we all landed on Mamaai.  I am actually going to Tanzania to meet her in January.  I know this will be a life changing trip.  One that will probably have as big of an affect on me as it does on her. 

 

 

This is Zach's newest family member.  His name is Muru.  I think it is cute how he has Zach's hair line.  Mamaai and Muru are just two of the reasons we are going to Tanzania.

These are kids that have less than nothing but you can help us change that by becoming a World Vision Child Sponsor at World Vision

ARE WE THERE YET?

This is the route we are taking to Tanzania.  The best part is it will only take us nineteen and a half hours and 4 planes to get there.  Zach made this cool Google map Click here for an easy zoomable map.  Then choose SAT view and you can see satellite images of the places we will be. 

 

View Larger Map

God Calls Us To Be His Hands and Feet...and Flip Flops

As part of our trip we are taking stuff with us to leave behind in the villages.  This cool guy from Indiana drove all the way to Nashville to bring us a giant box of flip flops to help make a difference in the lives of people he has never met and that is what this is all about!

A Light Snack!

I am a very picky eater so I am a little nervous about the food we will be served in

Africa

.  I don't want to appear ungrateful but I have a weak stomach.  So to avoid a possible international incident I packed some snacks to fill up on during my week there.  With all the preservatives in this food I should live to be 1000.

 

Gabe Real when He was Real Small

Gabe Real is not only Toby Mac's hype man but he is also a great singer in his own right.  It probably comes from the fact that he is the son of Gospel music pioneer Leon Patillo, who has been asked to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration.  I am sure Gabe will get the call to do it in 4 years as soon as more people hear his music.  You can check out the song we played tonight on the show from Gabe Real called Baby Boy.  

 

Wally is a Total WiiK

My daughter got a Wii for Christmas so today we had our first Family Wii Tournament.  Now I am slightly competitive and compulsive which together is a really bad combination.  The picture below is evidence of this.  I spent over an hour making a made a spread sheet complete with graphics just to keep score.  So I have come up with a new phrase for people like me, who are way too into their Wii.  It is a combination of Geek and Wii.  I am Officially a Total Wiik!

The New Intern Betty Game Is A Drag...Literally

While you hear music on the radio we amuse ourselves by coming up with new games to play with Intern Betty Rock.