oh canada

My time with my sister Donja, bro-in-law Tim, nieces Alyssa & Ashlyn, and nephew Aidan were full of fun and special memories! Highlights included a day at Centre Island on Lake Ontario, just a ferry ride away from Toronto. Watching the last half of the Italy-U.S. World Cup game in Little Italy. A Sunday afternoon on a local lake and enjoying a ride on Tim's boat. Watching the a Brasil World Cup game at a sports bar. Taking Aidan to Tim Hortons (the coffee and donut place on every corner of Canada) for "Tim Bits" (doughnut holes). Seeing the movie "Cars" with the kids. Watching Game Seven of the Stanley Cup finals at a sports bar. Yes, I was rooting for Edmonton! Playing house with my nieces. Playing cars and being tackled by my nephew. Backyard BBQ. And just enjoying one another!

Here are a few picture highlights....

sari bari blankets available soon

Many of you have asked for more info on purchasing these blankets. Sari Bari is a WMF-sponsored business initiative of WMF Kolkata that employs women who want to escape the sex trade. These women are hired and trained to make one-of-a-kind, handmade vintage blankets out of used saris. For more info see my blog post below. There is now a way to be notified when the Sari Bari website is live and when blankets are available to purchase. Just email Melinda at melinda.snader@wordmadeflesh.com to be added to the Sari Bari update list.

world cup fever in toronto

Spending a fun week here in Toronto with my sister, bro-in-law, and sweet nieces & nephew! Catching more World Cup fever here! Fun games this weekend! Watched the Italy-U.S. game in Little Italy here. Tons of Portugal and Brasil fans in that part of the city, too! Good times! More soon on my days here!

world cup

The World Cup started last Thursday. It only took me four days to learn all the games are broadcast on the Univision spanish station, channel 34, here in So Cal. (Thanks Marisol!) Dah, David!

So, for any of you who care...who you rooting for and who do you predict will go all the way on July 9? Post your answer here in comments. Just for fun.

Hear our cries, O God

"Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless."
Psalm 10:12

Tonight we gathered for worship and prayer on behalf of the poor. Psalm 10 served as our language of lament. This table of candles stood in the center of our circle. Each candle represents an individual or group of people suffering from poverty and oppression somewhere in the world. It was a powerful image to remember the poor, the broken, the suffering in our worship and lament on their behalf.

06-06-06

So, far...so good! It's noon on 6-6-06 and so far the end of the world has not arrived on my birthday! Hopefully, I can just make it through dinner with my family beofre it happens! My google search for 06/06/06, included women inducing labor before today, Slayer Day, the new Omen movie, and Christian rapture predictions. So, this is a test...if I put 06-06-06 in this post enough, will the "Where's Dave Bayne" blog now be included in search engine results??

sari bari blog

Some of you may remember my sharing about a new ministry of Word Made Flesh in Kolkata, India. Sari Bari provides an opportunity for freedom for women trapped and forced into the sex trade. I was blessed with the opportunity to meet the first three women of Sari Bari when I visited Kolkata in April. It was a gift to see the smiles and joy on these women's faces as they sang praises to Jesus and showed me their first sari blankets. A day I will not forget!

"The name "Sari Bari" comes from two symbols: a sari is the traditional clothing worn by Indian women. In India, saris represent the essence of womanhood. The word "bari" in Bengali means "house or home". Our hope is for Sari Bari to be a safe home where women, who have been exploited in the sex trade, can have their dignity as women restored. By providing a way out of selling their bodies, we believe that these women will have the opportunity to find healing and freedom."

Check out the new blog for a sampling of the beautiful blankets being produced. More info will be posted on the blog soon about how you can purchase one of these blankets later this year.

www.saribari.blogspot.com