Today, I’m calling Senator Cornyn (202-224-2934) about S. 891, the Congo Conflict Minerals Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Senator Cornyn to cosponsor Senate Bill 891 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! And may God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
I apologize for my laxness in my updates as of late. I confess that this has been a hard week and that the stress of other things in life has pushed my efforts here from my mind far too much. My husband and I are in the process of buying a house, and the process has been much more complicated than anticipated. Because we are fairly low income, we are receiving assistance from the City of Denton. This financial assistance is the only reason we started looking into purchasing a house in the first place. However, the city’s help has so many strings attached and so many hoops to jump through that we’ve been wobbling back and forth as to whether it’s even possible to appease the city to get the funding. Due to amazing, above-and-beyond help from friends, specifically the SWEAT Team of Denton Bible Church, I think this is all going to work out, but it has not been without much worry and anxiety. Also, we found out last Friday that due to a large budget shortfall in the school district in which he works, my husband will most likely lose his job at the end of this school year. I’ve already mentioned that we are fairly low income by American standards, so this is a hard blow. My part-time work is certainly not enough to support us. We have faith in God’s provision in this area, but what I believe in my heart doesn’t always make it to my gut. On Saturday, I started to experience some pretty frustrating pain in my shoulders and neck that I assumed was triathlon-training related, but as time has gone by it’s become clear that it’s a physical sign of my current stress level. I finally was feeling well enough to exercise today (swim, bike, and run!) which helped work off some of that negative energy, but I still need to force myself to relax and to hold on to the peace that Christ provides.
It is humbling now to return to my blog and be reminded of why I call; that the suffering of so many in this world is so great, and when I compare even my current situation to theirs, my troubles and trials are so small. Truly, I have been given much, and I do believe that much is then expected of me, including loving and seeking justice. I have seen God’s goodness in my life, but I know that many who suffer have barely caught a glimpse of that in their time. I want them to taste and see that God is good, just as I have and more.
I know my current troubles are barely worth the time I’m taking to write about them, “for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) Still, I would ask that if you read this, you would pray for Taylor and me. May we all rest in the peace of Christ, no matter what turmoil we find ourselves in in this world. And may my neck and shoulders follow suit!
And now, to call on the behalf of people who are suffering so much more than I am. Today, I’m calling Senator Hutchison (202-224-5922) about S. 891, the Congo Conflict Minerals Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Senator Hutchison to cosponsor Senate Bill 891 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! I thank you for your prayers on behalf of Taylor and me, and I pray that God would bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Today, I’m calling Senator Cornyn (202-224-2934) about S. 891, the Congo Conflict Minerals Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Senator Cornyn to cosponsor Senate Bill 891 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! And may God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Congress is currently in the midst of their April recess and will not reconvene until the 11th, so I’m taking a short breaking from calling. I have been calling for almost a year now, so it’s beneficial for me to take some time off and evaluate. Thursday of last week I got to hear Paul Rusesabagina, the man who was the real life inspiration for the film Hotel Rwanda, speak at UNT. I had recently grown discouraged in my efforts and really needed to hear some encouragement. Thankfully, Rusesabagina’s talk fit the bill. One thing he repeated was that someday we will all face history, we will all face judgment, and we must consider our current actions in light of that. Did we stand for justice? Also, his main advice for how UNT students as young Americans could fight for justice was to call, email, and write letters to their Congressmen. One specific issue he requested that the audience make noise about was the war over conflict minerals in the Congo. Sometimes it is so wonderful to hear someone say that your efforts are on track! To learn more about the life of Paul Rusesabagina, check out his autobiography, An Ordinary Man.
I’m also currently reading The Long Loneliness, Dorothy Day’s autobiography. Here’s an excerpt that challenged me today:
Our desire for justice for ourselves and for others often complicates the issue, builds up factions and quarrels. Worldly justice and unworldly justice are quite different things. The supernatural approach when understood is to turn the other cheek, to give up what one has, willingly, gladly, with no spirit of martyrdom, to rejoice in being the least, to be unrecognized, the slighted.
God loves justice, and we are to also. However, may we always pursue justice in the context of eternity, as those who are looking forward to a Heavenly kingdom when all will be made right. There is much fighting we can do that is within our worldly rights. But may we, like our Savior, give up our worldly rights for the eternal. Goodness, how that grates on the flesh!
May God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Today, I’m calling Representative Burgess (202-225-7772) about H.R. 2478, the House version of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello. My name is Allison Kami and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about what’s happening to children in central Africa at the hands of Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army. I’d like to ask Representative Burgess to cosponsor House Bill 2478 to help bring peace and stability to that area.”
Please join me! If you’d like to learn more about the actions of the LRA and why this bill is so important, please check out this report by Human Rights Watch about recent actions of the LRA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This evil and brutality can not be ignored.
May God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Hello, and if you happen to be one of the lucky people benefiting from spring break this week, then happy spring break to you! Taylor and I are fortunate enough to both work in the public school system, so we get a week off as well. What am I doing with the time off? Hopefully getting healthy (I’ve been sick since Thursday) and getting ready for the triathlon on Sunday. My whole training schedule is kind of a wreck because of my illness, but I think I should be able to get through the race in one piece. Also, I get to go on some dates with my husband! Three cheers for spring break.
Today, I’m also calling Representative Burgess (202-225-7772) about H.R. 4128, the Conflict Minerals Trade Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Representative Burgess to cosponsor House Bill 4128 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! And may God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Yesterday, S. 1067, the Senate version of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act, passed! This is a huge step. Now, we need to wait on H.R. 2478, the House version, to come up for a vote. It’s currently still in committee. Hopefully this momentum from the Senate will coax along the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Today, I’m calling Senator Hutchison (202-224-5922) about S. 891, the Congo Conflict Minerals Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Senator Hutchison to cosponsor Senate Bill 891 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! And may God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Today, I’m calling Senator Cornyn (202-224-2934) about S. 891, the Congo Conflict Minerals Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Senator Cornyn to cosponsor Senate Bill 891 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! And may God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Today, I’m calling Representative Burgess (202-225-7772) about H.R. 4128, the Conflict Minerals Trade Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Representative Burgess to cosponsor House Bill 4128 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! And may God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
Today, I’m calling Senator Hutchison (202-224-5922) about S. 891, the Congo Conflict Minerals Act. Here’s what I’m going to say:
“Hello! My name is Allison Kami, and I’m from Denton, TX. I’m calling to express my concern about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I’d like to ask Senator Hutchison to cosponsor Senate Bill 891 to help end the funding of illegal militias in the Congo.”
Please join me! And may God bless you and your neighbor through you today!
