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Conviction and Energy

January 29, 2012

By Simon Chambers

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Since my last entry, Jose and I have flown from Chihuahua City to Mexico City. We have left behind our friends and colleagues at the Women’s Human Rights Centre and met new friends at Kinal Antzitek.

I’ve just gotten back to my hotel room at 7pm after a “light” day that was only 9 hours of meetings.  But they were fantastic meetings!

At the beginning of the day, we had a chance to get to know the various Kinal staff who were working with us for the day, and to introduce ourselves.  We did this using a method I use with my Church School class every time I’m teaching: we gave our name and answered two questions about ourselves.  When I use this with the youth at my parish, I come up with questions on the spot that allow a bit of silliness and a chance to get to know things that you wouldn’t know about someone necessarily even if you’d known them for years (what’s your favorite color of Smarties and do you eat them last for example).

The questions we were asked at Kinal were a little more focused on our purpose: “What motivates you to do your work” and “what gives you energy”.

After we had had a chance to share our passions for our work, the session finished with the quote of the day.  And it is that quote that I want to focus on in today’s energy.

When you find your conviction, the energy starts to flow.

Initially, I didn’t think much about the quote.  But as the day went on, I saw it lived out.  And as I thought about the other partners we have visited on this trip in Juarez and then Chihuahua, I realized that it was true of everyone I had met and worked with in the last week.

All the partners we have met have been incredibly dedicated to their work, their passion.  Each organization has a different focus, but all the staff share the same conviction for their work.

Having met them, I can tell you it’s contagious.  The days are long, and it’s difficult to keep track of everything that’s happening, but the energy that flows through our time with the partners is truly amazing.

At the end of our fifth day in Mexico, I am energized for our time tomorrow at the Kinal offices with a representative from the Canadian embassy, and then our drive to Guerrero state to visit some of the people and projects Kinal is engaged in there.

So thanks to all the partners, all the PWRDF staff and volunteers, all of you who read this who share your conviction that this world should be a world of justice and enough for all.  Together, we will channel our energy into achieving those ends.

Because when we have found our convictions, the energy will flow!

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