Martyns in Africa » Media

Trip to Malindi

Allison — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:47:59 +0000

Our kids are such great flyers! Here is a pic from our quick flight to join Baba. Avery made Larson laugh with a puppet show, thanks to the air sick bag.

Thankfully both kids LOVED the water. We had a large and small pool at the gorgeous home we stayed in. There was access to the beach a five-minute walk away. It was such a treat to have great weather all week and enjoyed all the time outside.

New way of action for relief

Allison — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:00:18 +0000

I cam across an article that shares some new ways of thinking and organization actions during times of outbreaks, particularly Cholera. This was of interest to me as the article mentions, rainy season has started in many lands and could bring with it Cholera. I love that organizations our learning from other countries like Bangladesh. I would think they would have much more appropriate and adaptable solutions for places here in Africa. If you have a minute or two please check out the full article on the NY Times site

A Distant Boat

Allison — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:34:23 +0000

Here is a preview of what the reasoning and hopes are for the feature film Taylor gets to take part in with the On Field Media team.

Photo of the Day (10/16/09)

Taylor — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:16:54 +0000

(Gathering supplies in Malakal)

Sisay is an SIM missionary from Ethiopia. He is one of the first missionaries to be sent from an African church. He is also quite unique in that he is our only African missionary who is not married. He returned recently returned to Sudan for his second term.

Photos of the Day (10/15/09)

Taylor — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:51:41 +0000

The young taxi drivers are a blast to talk to (with my very limited Arabic). I asked this guy if I could take his photo from the back seat. When we arrived at my home, he requested that I take more photos. It’s very common for the guys to pose in front of their vehicles. Someday I’ll make a post with all the guys ‘chillin’ on their cars and vans.

Photo of the Day (10/14/09)

Taylor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The Malakal port is very busy. There are often many soldiers around checking travel papers and making sure things are not being smuggled and just keeping general order. These guys were hanging around while we loaded up a small boat to send food to SIM’s Nutrition Village where malnourished kids go to regain their strength.

Photos of the Day (10/13/09)

Taylor — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:58:35 +0000

Going out for ‘breakfast’ around lunch time is a great treat. It usually consists of mashed beans (ful beans) a few chunks of meat (sometimes) and bread.

And then we go out for coffee (boon) or tea (chai). The photo above is a very typical set up for a lady making up coffee and tea.

Photo of the Day (10/10/09)

Taylor — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:40:22 +0000

The current fad in Malakal is to wear shower caps when you are out and about.

Photo of the Day (10/9/09)

Taylor — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:10:20 +0000

Henrick is a missionary with DMG (serving with SIM) in Sudan. His ministry takes him all over Upper Nile State. He travels with Sudanese pastors, sharing about Christ in outreach events where he plays the Jesus film and speaks before and after, encouraging them to accept Chris as their savior.

Photo of the Day (10/8/09)

Taylor — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:08:28 +0000

Taken in Western part of South Sudan. The kids were all bathing naked in a sand pit used to build the large roads coming through.

Happy B’day Nana

Taylor — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:24:39 +0000

Shaking Things Up – MSF Video

Taylor — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:07:01 +0000

Once in a while media/communications/marketing does something really good. Problem is that ‘good’ is completely relative. MSF has come under some heat on a recent video they did.

MSF, better known in the US as Doctors Without Borders, does some amazing awareness campaigns. To say the least I am very impressed with the quality of their advertising projects. No doubt this turns into dollars and volunteers for them. I’m sure you can understand that this particular component of an organization is of great interest to me as it’s the very reason I am in Sudan with SIM.

Just before we left for Sudan they came through Dallas with their ‘A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City’ project. Though Allison and I did not get the chance to experience the ‘camp’ we did sit through some Q&A sessions they held at REI to find out more about the organization. They do a lot in Sudan and we see them often.

Recently they released a video titled ‘boy’. I want to give warning as this can present a VERY difficult viewing, so do so at your own risk of having many emotions to deal with at the end.

While this clip evokes some strong emotions, this was no doubt the intended effect. I often use my emtions as my gauge to find if something has grabbed my very inner being to be stretched. MSF has fully reached into my heart, perhaps to the point of intrusion. Have they gone too far? Have they taken too much emotion from me? How will my emotions impact my actions? How will I react? Should I react? Do they want me to react? I offer no answers, only the suggestion that we know ourselves deeper after seeing and engaging something like this. Engage God, ask, pray & request that He reveal himself to you in a new way. Seek answers in his Word.

On the flip side, MSF has done an equally well produced video ad with a very positive spin on it. Though it does show some short clips of theatrical pain, overall the piece is very ‘light’.

This clip evokes much less emotion to search through. We just enjoy the good work someone is doing and give them a slap on the back, maybe a few dollars.

Thanks to @bill_easterly for giving me a heads up to the video.