Before I left for my yearlong Humanist service trip with Pathfinders Project, I gave the impression that I was most looking forward to traveling—visiting other countries, seeing cultural sites, and … [Read more...]
Pathfinders Project
#monthofmeaning
Pathfinders is over. It's was a life changing year. I fear I cannot begin to relate the hundreds of encounters, experiences, and moments that contributed to that change. But I can relate the lessons I … [Read more...]
The Pathfinders in Uganda: Humanism, Science, and Colonialism
At Kasese Humanist Primary School (KHPS) in Uganda the students have a formal debate once a week. One debate I witnessed as a teacher there had the proposition: “Science has done more harm than good … [Read more...]
Getting Out of the Dumps: Ana’s Story
Ana moved to Guatemala City from a rural village when she was twelve-years-old. Ana came alone and did not speak Spanish. She could not read the language she did speak, the Mayan K’iche’. At markets … [Read more...]
Interbeliefs Under One Roof
Rarely am I hesitant to answer the question, “what is your denomination?” (or some variation of the question). I realize I am quite lucky in this regard. (Not to mention how lucky I am that this a … [Read more...]
Unreconcilable Beliefs: Humanism, Witches, and Human Rights
Before I went to Ghana I had no idea there were witches there. For me witchcraft accusations were of historical interest, not a contemporary concern. How wrong I was. Witchcraft accusations are … [Read more...]
Serving Water
Today I spent two hours washing all my clothes by hand. All my clothes except the ones I was wearing. That’s five shirts, two pairs of pants, one pair of shorts, four socks, five pairs of underwear, … [Read more...]
From Just Us To All Of Us
I am not sure if awe inspiring authentic communities can be defined, but recent travels lead me to believe that I might know them when I see them. To truly witness such community is to become a part … [Read more...]
How to Build a Latrine in Haiti
Want to know how to build a latrine in the rural mountains of Haiti without roads or electricity? Let me help with my step-by-step guide. Follow it carefully and you will have a latrine (or 20) in … [Read more...]
A Tale of Two Communities
How can we refuse those who come? A constant refrain as we visited Kukuo, a camp for alleged witches in northern Ghana, was that the accused women are part of the larger community not merely … [Read more...]
Building Community
In La Fond-Jeanette, the village in Haiti where we spent a month building latrines with Children of the Border, there are no roads. There is no plumbing. There is no electricity except from a few … [Read more...]
Interfaith Lessons Learned from a Witch Camp
Kukuo, in northern Ghana, is home to a camp for alleged witches. There women who have been accused of witchcraft come looking for safety. They come looking because if they stay home they are in … [Read more...]
Surprising Smiles with Accused Witches in Ghana
In Ghana, like much of Africa, belief in witchcraft is quite common. So are witchcraft accusations. The vast majority of accusations are levied at old women. Who can no longer produce children. … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Female Traveler Part II
Our first night in Ghana we stayed at a hostel just across the street from the beach—not too shabby. Naturally, almost immediately after dropping our bags, we were at the beach. We split up and the … [Read more...]
Toppled White Castles in Africa and America
I visited two slave castles recently—Cape Coast and Elmina in Ghana. I am rarely so aware of my skin color. I’m conscious that white privilege is why I am even able to say that. It is absolutely … [Read more...]
Gye Nyame Blog Post
I have never been so enveloped by religion as I have been in Ghana (and Uganda). I say this having spent time in Lhasa; Varanasi, India; Jerusalem; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Before you ask, … [Read more...]
Silly Obruni
Ghana is blue. I don’t mean it is sad, I mean it is tinted blue. So many light bulbs here are blue. I’m not talking in bars and clubs other places that are trying to achieve a certain atmosphere. … [Read more...]
Encountering Racism as a Tourist
In Uganda I am shackled by my outsiderness. I cannot be totally myself, because I am not just me. I am America. With so much animosity toward Americans around the world, whether I like it or not, … [Read more...]
Barbed Wire Fences
Almost every window in Uganda is protected by bars. Pretty, decorative bars, but bars nonetheless. The doors too are barred. While I am used to only screen doors protecting my regular doors in the … [Read more...]