On 11 June, the 2010 FIFA World Cup FINALLY began in South Africa. The country has been anticipating the tournament for more than six years! As the first African nation to host the World Cup, it seems South Africa has a lot to prove. The energy around Johannesburg is exhilarating! It seems South Africans are ready to welcome the world with opened arms. I have to admit, I’m not the world’s biggest soccer fan, but I’m definitely excited about the next 30 days. Ke Nako : )

To read a South African perspective, here’s an article from the South Africa: The Good News website.

And just fyi, ‘Ke Nako’ is both Sesotho and Setswana for ‘It is time.’

In mid-March, an article entitled Leaders’ Lavishness Gives Rise to Lifestyle Audits ran in the New York Times.

There are few things in life that bother me more than government officials taking advantage of the very people they are entrusted to help. Corruption within the South African government has long been a significant problem. After the fall of apartheid, South Africa was able to become more fully involved in the international community at-large. But with this increased participation came a closer spotlight on the activities and interests of officials in the “new” South Africa.

But it’s not just South Africa…it appears that corruption runs rampant over the entire continent, and much of the world.

An organization called Transparency International publishes an index measuring ‘perceptions of corruption.’ The aim of Transparency International is to bring people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. Huguette Labelle, the president of Transparency International, makes a compelling argument as to why corrupt governments are particularly harmful to those living in poverty. Her points are as follows:

• Corruption has dire global consequences, trapping millions in poverty and misery and breeding social, economic and political unrest.
• Corruption is both a cause of poverty, and a barrier to overcoming it. It is one of the most serious obstacles to reducing poverty.
• Corruption denies poor people the basic means of survival, forcing them to spend more of their income on bribes. Human rights are denied where corruption is rife, because a fair trial comes with a hefty price tag where courts are corrupted.

Transparency International also lays out some important factors in eliminating corruption:

“Stemming corruption requires strong oversight by parliaments, a well performing judiciary, independent and properly resourced audit and anti-corruption agencies, vigorous law enforcement, transparency in public budgets, revenue and aid flows, as well as space for independent media and a vibrant civil society.”

It is undeniable that governments play an important role in either helping to eliminate poverty or further exacerbating the problem of poverty within their borders. As citizens, we must demand accountability from our leaders and transparency from our governments.

Below is an image of the 2009 CPI (Corruption Perception Index).

As the Johannesburg Training Manager for Paradigm Shift, a large part of my job is helping to train local volunteers to serve as Business Trainers within our program. Business Trainers facilitate all of our business training materials for our entrepreneurs, including: the Business Experience Course, the Business Growth Course, and the Business Advancement Course. Our Business Trainers are all business professionals with a wide range of business experience and an incredible heart to serve the poor entrepreneurs of Johannesburg. It has been such a blessing to work with them and to play a part in this ministry.

Starting this month, I am sending out a monthly publication called, Business Trainer Times. The purpose of this newsletter is to help the trainers feel connected to one another, to suggest facilitation tips and to serve as a reminder of why we do what we do.

Below you will find the first issue of the Business Trainer Times : ) Click on the image to read the newletter!

Tammy and me posing with the "Botswana Society" sign

One of the best parts about living and working in South Africa is having the opportunity to visit other southern African nations. I absolutely LOVE to travel and experience new cultures, so it has been such a blessing to be able to spend time exploring this new and different continent : )

This past weekend my roommate and I, along with our friends Dave and Greg, made the 5 hour trek to the capital of Botswana, Gaborone (pronounced Haa-Bore-Own-Eh by the locals). Botswana is an interesting study of a post-colonial sub-Saharan African country. Earning its independence from the British in 1966, Botswana has been one of the most stable (and least corrupt) countries in all of Africa. According to the U.S. State Department, since gaining its independence, Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression…Gaborone is a fairly small town, and there were probably only half a dozen buildings with more than four floors… However, there did seem to be an encouraging level of equality amongst the residents of Botswana–as opposed to the vast disparities we experience here in South Africa.

Overall, we found the people to be WONDERFULLY hospitable and we thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely weekend in Gaborone! …now I just can’t wait for my next adventure!!

Greg and me preparing to eat a southern African delicacy...mopani worms!

Check out this 3 minute slideshow to get a glimpse of my life (and work) in South Africa!

The drive was just over five hours and the terrain was absolutely beautiful! It was great to get outside Jozi and experience a little bit of rural Africa. We spent about half our time in Mbabane (the capital city) and the rest of our time hiking in the Ngwempisi Gorge.

My first experience traveling abroad truly endeared me to the third world. A few years ago, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Mumbai, India.

Ever the typical American, it seemed like everything “Indian” shocked me. The food, the smells, the modes of transportation (have you ever ridden in a rickshaw before?), the quiet gentle culture—you name it, I was out of my element.

But I also discovered one constant on that trip, and that is God’s love. Not only did God use our team to move through the college campuses of Mumbai, but He also moved through me. Everyday of the month leading up to my trip, I prayed for God to give me His heart for the Indian people. What I wasn’t fully expecting…is that He would do it!

As a result of my experience, I became far more aware of global issues. I had a new compassion for the pain and suffering that consume the poor. And just as equally important, I had a new boldness and confidence in my faith.