Sunday, February 25, 2007

"Be The Change..."

A few hours left.


A few hours until I leave Canada for 13 months. A grand adventure awaits, but it's so much more than just an adventure. It's a change. A change in perspective, a change in thinking, a change in values, a change in who I am.


Do I feel ready? Well that depends on what you mean by ready. I most certainly do not have the level of technical and practical knowledge that I will need to do my job. I do not have the cultural knowledge that I will need to understand the livelihoods of the local people. These will come with time and hard work.


What I do have are tools to find out what I don't know, tools to find out how to learn it, and the attitude to learn. I recognize that I cannot have impact without understanding the local context. I will need to learn how people live, what they value, what they fear. I am excited about this. Even now as I sit here and write this in Toronto, I can't wait to get started. I can't wait to see Zambia, to breathe her air, to meet her people, to hear her music.


Change starts with me. It starts with you. These are not self-centered statements. They do not mean that we alone hold the power to initiate change. Change must first happen within us, our attitudes, our actions, before external change can be brought about. If I hope to create change while I'm in Zambia, I must first change myself. This past month has been an incredible learning experience. I have been pushed to expand my comfort zone, to look at things from a new perspective, with an open mind. I have taken the first steps of a long journey toward change.


"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi


11 comments:

JFreeman said...

Wow Trevor, I can't believe it's come this quickly for you.

I know that you have the heart and the ability to do this. You're such an amazing individual, Zambia, and any other country is blessed to have you helping out.

We're praying for you, and we'd like to help in anyway possible.

Unknown said...

Trevor,
Kathy and I are so excited for you. This will be an amazing experience and we are so proud of you.

We know that God will watch over you, guide you, and use you to do good work.

We will continue to support you in prayer and look forward to hearing about your travels and life on the ground soon.

Take care.

Sue Matthews said...

Trevor,

Who knows when you'll be reading this after your long, long trip to Zambia, but we're also praying for you, for a safe trip and a smooth adjustment once you arrive.

I'm sure it will be pretty overwhelming for the first bit, but you're as prepared as you can be and you're ready to learn what you don't already know.

God bless you and keep you healthy and safe!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Trevor,
It fells like just yesterday that you had announced your acceptance...and now the time is here.

I am very excited for you! We will be thinking about you and praying for you. You CAN make a difference.

"Believe in miracles 'cause I'm one. I have been blessed with the power to survive. ... I believe in miracles. I believe in a better world for me and you." The Ramones

Anonymous said...

Welcome to Zambia Trevor!!!

Eagerly awaiting the moment you catch your breath and write your first post.

Can't wait to hear how you're feeling and get your impressions!

Ash

Kyle said...

Here we go, brother.

I hope you're enjoying the greatest week of your life.

L. Pilgrim said...

Trevor! By now you must have so many new things to think about, I can only imagine!

Debb and I will continue to pray for you. So much of what can be accomplished begins with attitude, and its one thing I've always admired about you, your overwhelming positiveness.

You said:
"Change must first happen within us, our attitudes, our actions, before external change can be brought about"

I can tell you from first hand experience, what a difference can be made when you first decide to ask God to help you improve the world around you!! It most certainly starts from within! Daily expect it to happen by his grace... because it will!!

I'm so encouraged by your willingness to "go" and "do" what God has put in your heart... and can't wait to hear more about it all! Pictures, pictures, pictures!!

Curtis and Mich's Dad said...

Hey Trevor: How can typed words say how i feel. When I moved here you were a child and now you are going to put into practice all you have learned in school and from your faith.

Our prayers of course will be with you

Kerri said...

Hey Man,
Dave and I are thinking about you all the time, and definitely praying for you. You'll do a great job and be a blessing to everyone around you.
Let me know if you want anything sent to you. See, because you are doing such a great thing and are so far away, you can pretty much ask for anything and people will feel compelled to give it to you. Take advantage of that, once you're home it's back to normal.

Anonymous said...

Trev,

I'm so glad you have been welcomed with open arms into the Zambian people.
I can't wait to seee how you will be used during these next 13 months. We are so proud of you!

Alton and I will continue to lift you up in our prayers.

Blessings little cuz!