In this issue:

Tears of Joy and Expressions of Gratitude
By: Paul Kroeker, Director, Outtatown Discipleship School

Gathered under a grass roof, on a dirt floor and a with a few bare bulbs providing a circle of light, the Outtatown students sat with the families that were about to receive their first home.  They had joined together to celebrate the goodness of God, and the work that had taken place under the hot sun in Rio Hondo, Guatemala. Their homes were nearing completion and the students would soon be leaving town.  

There was so much to say, and though the "Spanglish" was broken, the emotions and the love ran deep as I saw famlies hugging our students, and with tears in their eyes take the time to first of all thank the Lord, and then to express their love and appreciation for each student individually.  

There was the deaf mother, who along with her husband and children, were about to receive a home in a wooded area near the river.  A single mother raising two children, grasped Heidi, one of our leaders in a strong and tearful embrace as she explained that this was a dream they had never thought possible.  

When you see the broken shacks and despairing situations they have come from, you understand the tears of joy, the expressions of gratitude.  Nothing in their previous situations had suggested that this would ever be possible, and yet, here they were, moving into a wonderful four room house, approximately 400 to 500 square feet of safety, protection and love; a place to call home.  

Our students had "done us proud".  In a conversation with the habitat director, he indicated that these young people, 27 students and four leaders, had been remarkable.  They had worked very hard.  Their day had been filled with laughter and expressions of joy.  There had been a few water fights when the heat got to them.  And throughout they had been a witness of God´s love through their hands their feet and their humble spirit.  

This year Habitat is celebrating the completion of 25,000 homes, and CMU students have contributed 85 of those over the years of involvement we have had through the Outtatown program.  The Habitat slogan this year is "House teams; 25,000 dreams become a reality" (rough translation of Equipo Casa, 25 mil suenos hechos realidad.  

As we were leaving, the director pulled me aside and said, "please promise that we will see you again next year".  It was impossible to say anything other than, "Yes, the Lord willing we will be here again."

Unity in Diversity: Bridging the Cultural Gap in South Africa
By: Marcus Fowler, Assistant to the Director, Outtatown

An eclectic blend of emotions colour the conversations I have with residents of the "new" South Africa. Many feel joy, optimism and hopefulness; emotions that were mostly foreign to them just 14 years ago. Others feel fear, despair and frustration as the country they've lived and prospered in for so many years is changing drastically and rapidly before their eyes.

I spent most of last month in South Africa with our students and Site Leaders. This was my fifth trip there since my first year as an Outtatown Site Leader back in 04/05. On each visit, I sit in with the students for lectures on South African history and Conflict Transformation. I also spend a lot of time meeting with our South African partners to discuss new initiatives, program improvements and to build relationships. Our various partners provide representation from the four main people groups (Black, White, Indian and Coloured) and they come from various professions and backgrounds such as church and para-church leadership, education, youth work, business leadership, politics and adventure/tourism. We talk about program issues and catch up on life, but as always, I like to take the opportunity to ask them how they're feeling about the many changes that are taking place in the country, and what it feels like to try to find unity in diversity - especially in a country that was ruled by the Apartheid system until just 14 years ago. The responses I get are as diverse as the South African people themselves:

Two white business owners take me out to a nice restaurant, where over kudu and ostrich steaks they express their fears about Jacob Zuma, the controversial new leader of the African National Congress (ANC). There are rumours that Zuma will introduce a communist style governance in the ANC that will make it very difficult for whites to own and run a business, or worse, a governance in the style of Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe.

Pastor Mpho, a black community leader and democratic advocate, gathers the students on their first night in Soweto - one of South Africa's largest townships. He answers questions about the state of the country and explains that although there are considerable challenges with crime, HIV/AIDS and infrastructure deterioration, residents should remain positive. Because of Apartheid, many black fathers were forced to leave their families in the rural homelands in order to find work as labourers or servants in the urban centres. Sons growing up fatherless, a direct result of the Apartheid system, is the reason for many of the country's problems which should improve with opportunities for black education and economic empowerment, as well as community outreach and leadership from the churches.

A dozen or so young adults are gathered at a pub to watch the soccer match in a predominantly white, middle class suburb of Johannesburg. A rather inebriated university graduate is celebrating his last night in South Africa before leaving for London the next day. I question him as to the reason for his departure and he explains that South Africa is now under a new, subtle form of Apartheid where whites no longer have opportunities. “Affirmative action” limits the jobs they could be considered for even though they may graduate top of their class. Since the early 90's, an estimated 250,000 whites have left the country to pursue greener pastures in countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

It really is fascinating to observe the growing pains of an evolving nation from an objective point of view. However, remaining objective is a significant challenge. Most of the world feels empathy for the blacks of South Africa, and rightly so. Apartheid forced them into subservience and took away their dignity and basic human rights. I have become good friends with Pastor Mpho and other remarkable black Christians in South Africa and I feel anger and resentment at the way they were treated. However, I can't help but also feel empathy for the whites, even though I am absolutely opposed to the system of Apartheid and agree that reparations in some form are necessary. In conversation after conversation, I hear about the frustration and sadness about what is now happening to them in the form of consequence for the offences of Apartheid. I sometimes feel like a school child that watches as the class bully receives punishment from the teacher. On the one hand, I feel like he deserves it because he was clearly wrong, treating others unfairly and with disrespect. But on the other hand, I empathize with him because his consequences are very harsh. I feel a bit sheepish also because I know that I, too, have bullied people in my class, but seem to have escaped facing similar consequences. Haven't we North Americans also treated our Aboriginal people unfairly and with disrespect? Will we be called to face consequences for our actions, also?

I feel an obligation to discuss thoroughly the issues of conflict resolution, and what it means to find unity within diversity with our students. It is too easy to learn about Apartheid (or reverse Apartheid, for that matter) and allow ourselves to become self righteous and judgemental towards the perpetrators. We ask the students what they think South Africans could do to bridge the cultural gap with their neighbours, and then turn the question on ourselves: What can you learn about the difficulties in South Africa to help you bridge the cultural gap with your neighbours in Canada?

South Africa is a beautiful country full of people with an equally beautiful spirit. But they are experiencing growing pains as they attempt to transition from diverse and separated, to diverse and unified. It is a difficult time for many of the residents, but God can perform miracles and can unify and reconcile South Africa.

The most inspiring commentary I heard while in South Africa was from a man of black and white mixed race in Cape Town. After listening to the laments from a white business owner reflecting on the frustration he feels about the ANC government and his future in South Africa, I turned to the coloured man sitting quietly beside me. I asked what his opinion was, since coloured people often had the most difficult time being not fully white, nor fully black. He replied:

"I see difficulties in the current South Africa, but this is nothing new. I have grown up always surrounded by racism and bigotry. Am I worried about the new government and the fate of our country? No, because my hope doesn't rest with this government or any government. My hope and my strength are found only in the Lord."

I am reminded that despite the seemingly insurmountable problems facing South Africa and many other countries, our hope is not found in any earthly power, but in Christ, the hope of nations.

Top 10 Ways to Pay for a Year on Outtatown

Are you thinking of going on Outtatown this year but don't know how you're going to afford it?

A year on Outtatown is incredible, maybe even life-changing. But it is expensive. The cost of the program is $12,800, plus the cost of airfare to either Guatemala or South Africa.  Even though this is an incredibly low price for such an amazing year, you may not be able to afford it. So what do you do?

First of all, break it down...

• Approximately one-third of the cost is room and board. You might be paying that much or more no matter where you are.
  
• Another third of the cost is for the missions/service component of your year. This is a chance to make a difference in the world, and believe me, after you have built someone a home or befriended an orphaned child, you will know that you have made a difference. We encourage students to fundraise this portion of their costs by partnering with their local church.
  
• The final third of the cost is for your university education. Many of our alumni claim that they learned more on Outtatown than they did in their three or four years of formal university education that followed. Outtatown students don't just learn about Christianity, the needs of the world and the dynamics of living in a faith community - they live it first hand. In addition, students can earn up to 18 university credits through CMU. Student loans and some scholarships and bursaries are available.
  
• The last portion is the international flight cost (the price of getting “out of town” – see the pun?).

As you can see, when broken down, the entire cost doesn't seem quite so daunting. In order to help make it even a bit easier, here are 10 suggestions of ways to pay for a year on Outtatown:

1. Pray. The very first thing you should do is pray about this.  Is this something that you feel called to do?  Every year is important in life, but those first few years out of high school can be monumental – imagine giving one year to God – one year to dream big about what God wants you to do; to discover your gifts, your passions, your calling in life.  Start by asking God to guide you about this decision and about the money you will need to accomplish this goal.
   
2. Talk to your parents. Sit down with your family to find out if they think this is a good idea. Are they able to help you with part of the cost?  They always wanted you to go to university, remember?  In fact some parents have set money aside for education in an RESP, and this program qualifies.  In addition, there will be a tax receipt for the educational and missions portions of this program which you or your parents can use to reduce the cost of the program.
   
3. Save up some cash. How much money can you personally earn & put together between now and the beginning of September? Create a budget for yourself and start putting some of the money you earn into a savings account. If your parents are willing to help you with part of the cost, you might suggest that they match whatever amount you earn yourself. This way you are partnering together to make this year happen.
   
4. Mission Trip Support. Most church congregations help students who are going out on short-term mission trips. While this is much more than a mission trip, it involves a lot of service opportunities and our job is to bring you back ready to serve and contribute to the ministry of the local church. So, we encourage and allow students to fundraise 1/3 of their total by partnering with their home church. Click here for more information on fundraising through your church.
   
5. Take out a Student Loan - The Outtatown program is a qualifying educational program and students may apply for funding from the Canada Student Loans Program, or through a local bank or educational agency. Click here for more information on Government Student Loans.
   
6. Talk to your relatives. You may find that your grandparents or some of your uncles and aunts are very supportive of this idea and would love to help you achieve your goals. We suggest that you talk to your parents about this first, but they may have good ideas of people who would be interested in helping as well.
   
7. Apply for scholarships and bursaries. Often employers will have some kind of scholarship for the children of employees. Many communities have leadership scholarships or grants that are designed to help young people achieve remarkable goals in life – the Outtatown program would qualify and you may be eligible. For more information on leadership scholarships and bursaries that you would qualify for through CMU, click here.
   
8. Hold a massive Garage Sale. Most of us have tons of stuff lying around the house that we don’t use anymore. Why not sell off some of your stuff to earn some money and clear out your room at the same time? You could even talk to friends and family to see if they would be willing to donate their old stuff to you to sell at your garage sale.
   
9. Put together a fundraising event. A car wash, a special dessert night, a concert; use your gifts and interests to create a party or a significant event. Tell people what the cause is and charge a small admission fee. Show the Outtatown DVD and provide information about what you are planning to do.  You’ll be surprised at how willing people are to support you.
   
10. Apply for the Outtatown program and pray. Yes, I know, it sounds a bit like the first thing on the list but it is that important. Applying to the program is a step of faith. Some students have found that God’s answer is “wait a year” and they have then taken a year to put together the money that was needed. Others have found that their prayers were answered more quickly. If this is something God has put upon your heart, then talk openly to him about your hopes and dreams. Work diligently to do your part. And then, if you are interested, apply for the Outtatown program as a step of faith that opens a door to a year of great adventure.

Bonus idea – Live Simply!  In the Outtatown program you will be visiting people who have almost nothing, especially compared to the average North American. A good way to prepare for this year is to examine the way we live - you and I as North Americans tend to buy things we don’t need and to live a life style that wastes a lot. We need to think about this and see if we can direct more of what we have towards a great purpose. A year with Outtatown could be part of that move toward a life of purpose, making a difference in this world.