Where have all the Pine Trees gone?

Slow drivers, flat landscape, cowboy boots, Whataburger, mega-churches and the 101 different taco restaurants echo what I know to be true….I’m not in Georgia anymore. There is not a pine tree in sight. But, within sight are three different Sonics. Sonic is to Texas what Waffle House is to Georgia and what Starbucks is to any urban city. There seem to be two on every corner.

Here is the question that any non-Texan is thinking….Julie, why are you in Texas?

Well, for those of you who haven’t had the chance to ask me “What are you doing now?” Let me get you up to speed.

So, Julie, what are you up to now?

I am working for Harmony Project International (or HPI) in Ft. Worth, Texas….at least until the end of January.

Why only till then?

HPI only has the funds to pay me until then. I feel like God has given me a lot of talents and professional skills just for a job like this one….so, I am going to work hard while I am with HPI…whether it is just until the end of January or for the next three years.

Cool, what is HPI?

HPI exists to help bridge international outreach efforts of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. It is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Our main function is to act as administrator of funds for projects identified by the HPI Board of Directors. Currently, Livingstone International University (LIU) is our only project.

Okay. So what do you do for HPI?

I do whatever needs to be done. I am the only person working full-time for HPI so I get to do a little bit (or a lot) of everything.

Hmmm….I still don’t understand what you do, but tell me about LivingStone International University?

I love talking about LIU! LIU was a dream of the missionaries who have been working in Mbale, Uganda for over 15 years. For years, they have been planting the seed of this dream in anyone and everyone. Get this, only 1 in 1,000 people in Uganda will attend university. In 2006, over 55,000 young Ugandans qualified to attend university. Unfortunately, the current situation only has the capacity to educate 34,000 students a year at the university level. Can you imagine….only 34,000 students? That’s roughly the size of my alma mater, the University of Georgia. 34,000 students wouldn’t even fill the Georgia football stadium half-way.

While I was working in Mbale, I saw the need and caught the vision of LIU. But, this dream is quickly becoming more of a reality. Last year the government granted permission to legally begin developing and constructing LIU. We have already purchased 60% of the land designated for LIU and we are praying for funds to complete the land transactions.

So, why do you have to be in Texas to work with this project?

The majority of funds for HPI have so far come from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with Richland Hills Church of Christ being the initial financial supporter. Luckily, a member of Richland Hills has offered to host me for several months…making the transition much easier.

What is it with all the Sonics in Texas?

Who knows – maybe Texans just look for opportunities to spend more time in their trucks.