The mythical bird, the Phoenix was said to have a 500 to 1,000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of myrrh twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. It's a pretty dramatic story dating back to around A.D.170 with implications that exist today...or at least the synopsis of the story, death and life.
In composing this blog entry I hearken to the news in Honduras today. News about the political unrest, the poverty, the demise of some parts of the infrastructure of this culture, and the contributions many passionate individuals and organizations have provided through the years to help the marginalized and are now hesitant to engage. It has been a slow, difficult death in some ways. Pain and suffering have been evident yet, amidst the din a new day is arising. A renewed hope is growing and those who have availed themselves in this advent of change will be stakeholders in Honduras' future.
This is the where the Phoenix rises. I am hopeful you are inspired to engage in this next chapter of Honduras' future.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Representing Hope...
A personal perspective by Brian Crowe, Executive Director of Special Missions Foundation
I’ve had the great privilege of witnessing first hand the broad scope of humanity – its wealth and opulence and its deep poverty and despair, but most assuredly, the opportunities for hope. This exposure to the polar opposites in sociology has provided a unique perspective into the human culture. I’ve been amazed, surprised, affirmed, contemplative, challenged, but most of all, blessed to bear witness to the good, the bad and the promise of humanity. Recently I traveled to India to participate in yet another chapter in the great variety of mission opportunities I’ve experienced in my short 46 years. In India I worked in 3 orphanages of children who are all victims of the caste system. We set up a pilot project providing medical, dental, and optometric care for these kids, most of whom have never visited a doctor in their lives. I’ve been blessed to personally serve domestically throughout the United States, into Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, South Africa and now India. Through mission outreach and response I’ve felt a real sense of responsibility to provide my friends, family and those with whom I come in contact my reflection and reminder of the needs of others. One of our fundamental mandates as citizens of this world is to ensure the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, the welfare of the marginalized is secured and the fragile ecosystem of our planet is protected. It can be accomplished through the collaborative efforts of all of us working at it through our individual gifts and talents.
My current employment includes the role of Executive Director for Special Missions Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit humanitarian service organization. In this capacity I work in collaboration with nonprofit organizations and individuals that serve around the world, all addressing these identified needs through their specific method. Special Missions Foundation is essentially a hub of information sharing, project and mission development, an accountability facilitator, and a vehicle in securing resources that effectuate mission goals and objectives. This organization has been in existence for over 10 years, making notable impact in the lives of thousands who are desperately in need of support or are in crisis.
At this time, Special Missions Foundation (SMF) is in a crisis of our own. Without adequate funding to support our operations, we will be unable to facilitate addressing the needs children like those I worked with most recently in India. At this time SMF is literally in the midst of developing programs and strategies to continue in response in areas throughout Honduras, Nicaragua, Myanmar, India, Africa, and the United States. There are many other opportunities we would like to consider as well, working within the capacity of our resources however these future considerations are in jeopardy.
I make a personal request for you to consider joining our family in response to the needs of others. Essentially, we are seeking visionaries who share in our passion to connect resources to needs. Due to the economy cooling, our primary donor source that has funded our operational budget has expressed their inability to sustain their contribution. As such, we are actively asking for support to help ensure our viability for nonprofits and individuals serving internationally. Our financial support runs through the end of this month at which time we will be forced to consider other strategies for continuance if in fact, operational resources cannot be gained.
If this speaks to you I urge you to consider partnering with us in response effort soon. To be clear, we are not simply asking for donation. My personal philosophy is to engage in collaborative relationship that provides for the biggest impact. SMF offers limited opportunities for Board Membership selecting donors who embody the same philosophies in humanitarian care and candidates who have expressed an interest in facilitating in nonprofit leadership. This invitation occurs through direct dialog, assessing strengths and needs for our leadership board structure. Special Missions Foundation is a tax exempt organization as a registered 501(c)3 (EIN#74-2918194). Please visit: www.specialmissions.org/donate, annotating this contribution as "undesignated".
I truly thank you for allowing me the privilege of making this plea and most especially, for supporting our efforts in humanitarian service outreach. I sincerely hope you’ve been inspired to consider ways in which you would like to support and participate in partnership. This truly isn’t a singular response but a corporate effort and I continually look to ways with which we can make that difference in the world.
Bless and be blessed!
Brian
I’ve had the great privilege of witnessing first hand the broad scope of humanity – its wealth and opulence and its deep poverty and despair, but most assuredly, the opportunities for hope. This exposure to the polar opposites in sociology has provided a unique perspective into the human culture. I’ve been amazed, surprised, affirmed, contemplative, challenged, but most of all, blessed to bear witness to the good, the bad and the promise of humanity. Recently I traveled to India to participate in yet another chapter in the great variety of mission opportunities I’ve experienced in my short 46 years. In India I worked in 3 orphanages of children who are all victims of the caste system. We set up a pilot project providing medical, dental, and optometric care for these kids, most of whom have never visited a doctor in their lives. I’ve been blessed to personally serve domestically throughout the United States, into Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, South Africa and now India. Through mission outreach and response I’ve felt a real sense of responsibility to provide my friends, family and those with whom I come in contact my reflection and reminder of the needs of others. One of our fundamental mandates as citizens of this world is to ensure the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, the welfare of the marginalized is secured and the fragile ecosystem of our planet is protected. It can be accomplished through the collaborative efforts of all of us working at it through our individual gifts and talents.
My current employment includes the role of Executive Director for Special Missions Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit humanitarian service organization. In this capacity I work in collaboration with nonprofit organizations and individuals that serve around the world, all addressing these identified needs through their specific method. Special Missions Foundation is essentially a hub of information sharing, project and mission development, an accountability facilitator, and a vehicle in securing resources that effectuate mission goals and objectives. This organization has been in existence for over 10 years, making notable impact in the lives of thousands who are desperately in need of support or are in crisis.
At this time, Special Missions Foundation (SMF) is in a crisis of our own. Without adequate funding to support our operations, we will be unable to facilitate addressing the needs children like those I worked with most recently in India. At this time SMF is literally in the midst of developing programs and strategies to continue in response in areas throughout Honduras, Nicaragua, Myanmar, India, Africa, and the United States. There are many other opportunities we would like to consider as well, working within the capacity of our resources however these future considerations are in jeopardy.
I make a personal request for you to consider joining our family in response to the needs of others. Essentially, we are seeking visionaries who share in our passion to connect resources to needs. Due to the economy cooling, our primary donor source that has funded our operational budget has expressed their inability to sustain their contribution. As such, we are actively asking for support to help ensure our viability for nonprofits and individuals serving internationally. Our financial support runs through the end of this month at which time we will be forced to consider other strategies for continuance if in fact, operational resources cannot be gained.
If this speaks to you I urge you to consider partnering with us in response effort soon. To be clear, we are not simply asking for donation. My personal philosophy is to engage in collaborative relationship that provides for the biggest impact. SMF offers limited opportunities for Board Membership selecting donors who embody the same philosophies in humanitarian care and candidates who have expressed an interest in facilitating in nonprofit leadership. This invitation occurs through direct dialog, assessing strengths and needs for our leadership board structure. Special Missions Foundation is a tax exempt organization as a registered 501(c)3 (EIN#74-2918194). Please visit: www.specialmissions.org/donate, annotating this contribution as "undesignated".
I truly thank you for allowing me the privilege of making this plea and most especially, for supporting our efforts in humanitarian service outreach. I sincerely hope you’ve been inspired to consider ways in which you would like to support and participate in partnership. This truly isn’t a singular response but a corporate effort and I continually look to ways with which we can make that difference in the world.
Bless and be blessed!
Brian
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