The World Race - Katie McFaddin

Jesus lives in Gulu

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

"Joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ" -E. Trueblood

The man pictured above wears a shirt every Sunday to church with a nametag that says Jesus. Jesus totally lives in Gulu. Our team has spent this month serving alongside Victory Outreach Church. We have stayed busy going to crusades, home groups and church- spending time in prayer, preaching, sharing our testimonies, organizing children's ministry, singing, dancing, etc.

When our team was leading the children ministry this Sunday, I asked Betty, a lady helping with the children's ministry, if she'd like to take a picture with my camera and she smiled shyly and said ok. Her face radiated with pure joy when she learned how to take the picture and saw the results of the image she captured- and I was overwhelmed with joy by her joy! I told her to feel free to take as many pictures as she'd like and so she took off with my camera for the next two hours. Betty took nearly 100 pictures! She ran back and forth from the main church service to the children's service, about 50 meters away capturing images of the preacher speaking, children working on crafts and then the congregation dancing and singing under the tent.

After the service, the pastor's wife said that I made Betty's day. I learned that she had some horrid experiences from the war. Lots of children, including girls, in Northern Uganda have been tortured and raped, and then forced to kill people and drink their blood, as young as seven or eight years old. Betty has never talked about her experiences, but she was taken into the bush under this regime.

This area has suffered in such a major way for a long time that every person either knows of, or is related to, or is themselves affected by the war. They are desperate for the gospel and to learn of the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ. We had so many people ask us for Bibles when we did door-to-door evangelism. The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few in this area. This weekend, our team will join in a church plant about 45 minutes outside of Gulu.

"Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted." -Isaiah 49:13

Beautiful Kenya

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What a month! Our team experienced 19 people accept Christ through evangelism and numerous people attend church through invitations we made door-to-door. Praise God! It's been an amazing month and in just a few days we're heading out to Uganda.

This month has really stretched me out of my comfort zone with teaching, preaching and evangelism. We've been so blessed by everyone we've met, especially at Deliverance Church in Lang'ata. They were like family. I truly felt like I was in South Carolina this month in a lot of ways. We even had collard greens a lot of time for dinner, which makes me happy :-)

Ken Virzi wrote a blog and created a video of our time in the Kibera slums. The children were so beautiful and joyful. I expected to see dire situations, but instead saw the most radiant faces. There is an amazing church, Deliverance Silanga, that works in the slums and we were blessed to work alongside them.

We also had an opportunity to go out to Garissa, a town that's about a six hour bumpy bus ride outside of Nairobi. It was amazing! The people are mostly from Somalia, and have come to this town in recent years. It is predominantly Muslim region, but we worked with some amazing people serving as Christian missionaries in that area, Ruben and Faith. We helped out at a school for 4-5 year olds and did some construction-ish work taking down thorn bushes to prepare for a new school site. Here are a few pictures of our time in Garissa:

Thank you all for your prayers & support. I wish I could skype and email more, but it's been really challenging with internet access and I think it will be this way for the next few months.

Jambo!

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Team Olur is living and working at a church next to largest slum, Kibera, in Nairobi, Kenya this month for ministry and it's been wonderful! So far we've taught a local school, visited a hospital, participated in door-to-door community outreach and helped the church with administration work. This week we're busy with construction work projects. The people are warm, the weather is beautiful and the food is delicious...sweet potatoes & collard greens. I feel like I'm in THE south! Internet access is very limited, but just wanted to say...Jambo!

The adventure continues...

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Team Olur has had an incredible time in Turkey this month. Once again this month, we've been asked to be as discreet as possible for safety purposes. Our contacts have been amazing and they are doing incredible things here in this country.

We've made some great friends along the journey. The people here are incredibly hospitable and very proud of their country.

My teammate Ashlee and I met two students at the university and they completely dropped everything they had planned for the afternoon to show us around the city and we ended our day with chai on the waterfront. We've had some great conversations this month.

Ashlee wrote a blog about an impromptu basketball game with a few boys in our neighborhood here. This is one of my favorite moments on the race so far!

Last weekend my teammate Kendra and I volunteered to help with children's ministry at an annual Christian conference in Turkey. We had a blast playing games, teaching, and learning Turkish with the kids, like head shoulders knees & toes, or baz omuz diz & ayak, diz ayak.

So, the adventure continues! Thank you for your prayers and support.

Peace and Joy!

The Day the Toilet Collapsed

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This month has been an interesting month for Team Olur. We arrived in Tel Aviv and traveled north to spend one night camping near the Sea of Galilee and then settled into our ministry site in a town in northern Israel for two weeks. Our team will finish this month serving in a southern town in Israel. Ministry has been very different this month. The contacts that weve worked with have asked that we do not share much information about their locations or type of ministry because of safety purposes.

So...I feel limited on what I can write, but one thing that I suppose I can write about is the quality team bonding time we've experienced this month. We've had some great team meals and so many have involved that delightful chickpea spread we know and love, hummus. The hummus in Israel is amazing and so prevalent. One night, Team Olur ate at a local restaurant in the village near our ministry site and each team member received enough hummus for four people. Well, all good things must come to an end because the hummus brought a wave a diarrhea to the team.

Our daily discussions inevitably veer toward the bathroom convo.

"How many Imodium tablets did you take today?"

"Is it more environmentally conscious to fold or crumple?"

"Do you prefer quilted or ribbed?"

The toilets are janky compared to the sturdy power jets back home. Though I should be thankful since soon we will be squating in latrines. Well...just after two days in our newest location, the toilet fell apart and hit the ground with water gushing everywhere. It was a dramatic event. We were all gathered in the living room, and one of my teammate warned us, "this toilet is missing a screw and any minute it could fall down..." and CRASH! It happened. And this is what happens when six Americans eat too much hummus.

We're feeling much better and perhaps we've adjusted to the diet. Our team will leave at the end of this week for Turkey. Please pray for safe travels and that God will guide and provide along every step of this journey. Thank you for your continued prayers & support. It's truly been an amazing month here in Israel and we've had some awesome opportunities to visit the country and witness Biblical sites, like Nazareth, Jerusalem and En Gedi.

Happy Thanksgiving!

All things are possible...

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Greetings from Israel!

After spending a month serving in Bulgaria, the entire squad of 43 World Racers joined together in Istanbul, Turkey for a time of debrief. During debrief, teams were switched around a bit and I'm excited to share with you my new team! Since we were brought together in Turkey, our new team name is Olur, which is the Turkish world for possible. My teammate Ashlee put this video together of the six of us last night...just all of us in our elements. Meet my new team!

All things are possible to him who believes.

Mark 9:23

Photo Recap of Bulgaria

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our team paired up with Team Fuel this month to serve in Bulgaria. We began the journey in Petrich, Bulgaria for a few days and moved to Sandansky, Bulgaria.

Staining wood at the Evangelical Baptist Church in the city of Sandansky...

Painting trees and picking up pinecones at a women's shelter atop a mountain in the south of Bulgaria...

I gave my testimony at a gypsy church near Sofia, Bulgaria...

We spent a few days serving in a village named Dobrimirka, working with Mission Possible, and now we're currently serving in Veliko Tarnovo. We're heading back to Sofia tomorrow to continue to serve for the remainder of the month.

God has provided for us each and every day in such amazing ways! We are so blessed and I'm learning to rest more and to be content in every circumstance.

Prayer & Support Update...

Thank you for your prayers & support. Please continue to pray for us as we head to Israel to serve next month. Please pray for team unity, health and safety. Thank you for your financial support as well. As of today, I am funded up to $9,800 and just in need of $4,000 additional for the remainder of the race. Praise God!

I'm so grateful for your prayers & support!

11 Facts about Bulgaria

Sat, 3 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bulgaria

1) About 85 percent of the population is classified as ethnic Bulgarian and about 9 percent is Turkish. Small groups of Armenians, Roma (Gypsies), and Greeks also inhabit the country.

2) 83 percent are Orthodox Christians, 12 percent are Muslim and 5 percent are Jews, Roman Catholics and Protestants. For more than 40 years the Bulgarian government promoted atheism, to which an estimated 65 percent of the population subscribed in the early 1980s.

3) The Bulgarians were the first to use the Cyrillic alphabet in the 9th century, and is currently used in Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine and Serbia.

4) The official language is Bulgarian, spoken by about 90 percent of the population. Turkish is the largest minority language.

5) Bulgaria was dominated by the Communist Party from 1946 to 1990.

6) About 80,000 Bulgarians live in Chicago according to the census report; unofficial reports have claimed a larger number. Only five cities in Bulgaria have more Bulgarians living in them than Chicago does.

7) Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria.

8) Bulgaria has a high literacy rate. Education is free and compulsory for children from the ages of six through sixteen. There are more than 20 colleges and universities in Bulgaria, including the University of Sofia, founded in 1909.

9) The main ingredients in Bulgarian food are lamb, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and yogurt.

10) Soccer is the most popular sport; the Bulgarian soccer team became a source of national pride when they competed in the semifinal round of the 1994 World Cup, an international soccer tournament held every four years.

11) Nodding your head up and down means "no" and shaking your head side to side means "yes!"

Chocolate Pear Cake Recipe

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I love fruit. I have seen more fruit trees, apples, grapes, pears, plums and more, while walking along the sidewalks and observing yards and homes in Romania and Bulgaria. Fruit is in abundance and it is the most tasty, beautiful fruit Ive ever had.

Before coming on the World Race, one of my major goals/ hopes/ desires for this year is to ultimately bear spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I crave this more and more in my life.

But how does God bring fruit in our lives?

I was reading John 15, and in verses 1-2, Jesus says "I am the vine and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be more fruitful"

The part of the verse that says "while ever branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be more fruitful" made me stop and think. So this means that even when we are bearing fruit, exhibiting love, peace, joy, patience, etc...God continues to prune us to be more fruitful. The process never ends and we are to be more fruitful in our Christian walk.

For me personally, I think that God grows me by taking me outside of my comfort zone. Even over the past two months, I've realized how easily I become settled, complacent, comfortable. But God continually moves me and challenges me to grow. He shows me that I need to keep moving and pressing forward.

God wants to groom and condition us constantly, and trim away anything and everything that hinders growth. I know that I am not always aware of it at the time and praise God for getting me into shape. He knows what needs to be stripped away, but ultimately he has the plan. And so once again this month, I find myself in a new place, with new people, and confronted with new issues, and though it's unsettling and Im a little unsure of what this month will hold, I can only praise God for what he is doing right here and now, how he's changing me through these processes, trust him and desire this spiritual fruit in my life.

Looking back on Romania, I learned hospitality's a big part of the culture and the cooks at Oaza were so creative with cooking fruit. Meals unite people together in a uniquely special way and the children's home at Oaza dished out love at each meal. We had so many amazing fruit jams and fruit desserts over the past month.

One of my favorite desserts was a Chocolate Pear Cake that I am determined to try to make when I get back to the U.S. or whenever the opportunity arises. Patri (pictured left) kindly translated the recipe to me in English and I tried to convert the measurements from her interpretations. Like most good cooks, she doesnt follow a recipe exactly but just measures the ingredients out of habit.

Feel free to try and let me know how it turns out for you. It was amazingly delicious!

Romanian Chocolate Pear Cake

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup flour
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons pear jam
1 teaspoon baking powder
4-6 cored & chopped pears
16 oz. baking chocolate
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons milk

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place parchment or wax paper at the bottom of the cake pan and grease the bottom layer of the pan with butter.
2. Next arrange pear slices in the pan and sprinkle over with cinnamon. Break the baking chocolate in chunks and set aside.
3. In a small bowl mix dry ingredients including flour, cocoa and baking powder and set aside.
4. In a large bowl beat butter and sugar and slowly add eggs, vanilla and jam and mix well.
5. Beat half of flour mixture into the mixture. Add milk and mix well. Then add the remaining flour mixture and beat to produce a smooth batter pouring over the top.
6. Place the chunks of baking chocolate on top.
7. Bake for approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:103

Extreme Home Makeover, Romanian Style

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After nearly two weeks serving in the Bujac neighborhood, the team just wrapped up efforts cleaning, moving, organizing and painting a beautiful two-story house into shape for the Oaza Ministry. According to our contacts, we arrived at the perfect time to work on the house since they plan to begin new community outreach activities in the next month, including reading, music, arts and homework help for the children in the neighborhood.

Before...

After...

We have been so blessed this month by serving alongside our amazing contacts, Scott & Paula and Spencer & Lynsey. They have gone above and beyond anything we could ever imagine, and they have been so hospitable and generous to our group and have amazing testimonies of God's work in their lives from serving with this ministry in Romania.

Yesterday, we had the honor of visiting a gypsy village about two hours away from Arad, Romania and we were invited into the home of one of the children served by the Oaza ministry, and was recently reintegrated with her family. The house below was built for her family and she continues to receive visits and support by Oaza.

We had a blast playing with the children in the village. Their JOY is amazing. With the little they have to our eyes, the kids were incredibly joyful and healthy.

The two pictures above are thanks to Shannon Morgan. Our team is leaving for Budapest, Hungary for one day to celebrate my teammate Ashlee's birthday on Friday! And on Sunday night we will head to Brasov, Romania for the Awakening Conference for the remainder of this month. It's pretty exciting because all four of the World Race squads will unite in Romania for this conference. Plans for next month have changed, as our contacts with Egypt fell through...we are praying and asking God to lead us to the next country assignment in the Eastern European region.

Thank you for your prayers & support!

Romania

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So the tent was rolled away (praise Jesus!) and our team started serving last week in Arad, Romania, a city near the border of Romania and Hungary. After a 12 hour train ride from Bucharest to Arad, we are settled in a children's home with eight boisterous children for the next couple of weeks.

Check out www.oaza.com for more information about the home and the ministry. We are partnering with two families, Scott and Paula Dunn www.thedunnsinromania.org and Lindsay and Spencer Ball www.livingonfaith.com, from the United States that have been called to serve Romanians in this area.

We've spent our days here painting, moving, organizing and cleaning a house that will be used for reading and music clubs for the children, and spend time with the kids at night. I honestly felt so useless in Ireland as I shared in earlier blogs, but I'm loving the work and spending time here and already a little sad about leaving. The picture below is the children playing at a picnic on our first night:

Praise Jesus I'm not sitting in a cubicle. The weather is amazingly beautiful, sunny skies every day. We're eating lots of carbs...potatoes, bread & pasta. Thankfully, the area is really safe for us to go for a run. There's a lot of construction work taking place on the streets, ditches and large concrete pipes everywhere, since the EU has just started funding development work for water and sewage system for the neighborhood. We're really blessed with warm showers and we're able to drink the water here. A few teammates are feeling sick, but not from the water.

Please continue to pray for our team, that we can be unified and continue to grow in Christ, and that people can see Jesus in how we live, what we say and what we do during our time here. Thank you for your prayers & support!

farewell to ireland

Sun, 6 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Proclaim Isaiah 61, departed from Ireland and landed in Romania earlier this month. Street ministry in Galway, Ireland was a challenge in that the outcome is not quantifiable or immediately visible. The group of World Racers completed the job in scattering seeds, sharing our testimonies, passing out tracks, and pray that God cultivates hearts in Ireland.

God's timing is perfect.

Isaiah 61:11 says, "For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations"

It's sad to say goodbye, and I have the feeling I'll say this over and over and over. The team visited the Cliffs of Moher on our last Sabbath day in Ireland. I was literally blown away by God's awesome creation. Ireland's beauty is breathtaking and reflects God's power, glory and majesty.

...a few pictures along the road...

Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes, the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

practice hospitality.

Sun, 6 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At Abundant Life Church, I had the honor of meeting and knowing two amazing ladies, Jacinta and Michelle, who define this verse in Romans 12. Michelle (pictured below) cooked a feast and invited 20 World Racers into her home. It was a tremendous blessing as our meals consisted of porridge, peanut butter, fruit and tuna wraps on most days.

I met Jacinta on that day and learned that she planned to move to a new house and in need of some help with cleaning and moving. I offered that team Proclaim could help with these efforts and so we spent a day away from the street evangelism to clean windows, iron curtains, sweep, mop floors. Jacinta tremendously blessed us in return by hosting me and my teammates Ashlee, Brandy and Kendra in her home before she even moved in herself. We were blessed with popcorn, tea, warm showers and a movie night, Cool Runnings, mon. Michelle made chicken curry and did all of our laundry that night, too.

Unexpected blessings. Their graciousness, joy and hospitality is indelible.

a rainy weekend in ireland...

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I am sitting at the Spinnaker Hotel Lobby, located up the road from our campsite and I am grateful for some free time and internet access to sit down and write. Our time in Ireland has provided rare internet opportunities as we've stayed busy night and day with ministry, meetings and worship services.

Our team is missing a valuable member this week, Shannon Morgan. Shannon left for Mississippi two days ago to celebrate her fathers life and legacy with her family and friends. Her father, Mark Morgan, passed away after battling cancer. Her father was a remarkable man and had a tremendous impact on the community as a pastor. We had a worship service on Thursday night before Shannon's flight, and there was not a dry eye in the room as Shannon called out to God and expressed her desire to continue to walk in faith each and every day and draw closer to God in the midst of the pain. Shannon wrote a beautiful blog here about her daddy earlier this summer.

I am learning so much about living in community. I used to have a ton of "me" time, but not so much these days, and that's a good thing! I was designated as our team finance person, and I've enjoyed this responsibility along with budgeting, planning and cooking meals for our team. Serving in a practical way is fulfilling and enjoyable. What I'm not so crazy about is our ministry assignment. We have been tasked, along with team Silas and team Triumph to spend approximately three hours each day in street evangelism. My teammate Kendra has written about the experience here, and I share her feelings completely. Street evangelism is a challenge for me. I'd much rather build a house for a family in need or hold an orphan, but approaching strangers on the street to share my faith makes me break out in hives. I have some friends that I've known for over a decade, and I have never had these types in-depth conversations with about faith. It is definitely a wake-up call to me. The Kurt Cameron approach is pretty intense and methodical. Overall, I think it's great practice during our first month and this experience has made me realize that every bus, train and plane ride presents an opportunity to be real and personally share about God's love and grace for us as sinners in need of a savior.

Arrival in Galway

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our team arrived in the blustery city of Galway this afternoon and set up camp for the remaining two weeks in Ireland. Our campsite is directly beside the coast. I'm a happy camper. Tomorrow, we will begin working with Abundant Life Church. I'm really excited about actually getting to work tomorrow with ministry and service. Our team walked around this afternoon to figure out the city and to get acclimated and we were surprised to see so many people taking a swim in the freezing, tumultuous water! Last week during our training sessions, my Jonah-like tendencies were re-emerging, and I started to question this trip and simply look for excuses or a way out, but I know that I totally need to be obedient, abandon my selfish ways, stand firm and completely focus on God and finish the race, no matter how rough the waters become. I can't believe I've been here for less than one week so far. This time has been very full of experiences in such a short amount of time, and the World Race staff have done a great job with organizing all of our training sessions. I am still adjusting to this new way of life and it has not totally sunk in yet. I'm enjoying spending time with the team and lovin' Ireland. I hope to have more time soon to write emails and blog.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support.

Love & Cheers!

Camping in Dublin

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just a quick update to say hello and share that we made it to Dublin safe and sound! It has been wonderful catching up with everyone here on the race since the last time we were together in May.

The flight was roughly eight hours. I had a cramped middle seat, and praise God I slept like a baby. And thankfully so, because we hit the ground running on Wednesday morning after touching down in Dublin. First we set up our tents...

We're really blessed to have warm showers and free wi-fi in the tents!

Our team competed in a scavenger hunt on Wednesday. We lost, but had a blast seeing the sights. The purpose of it all was to introduce us to the city, stay within budget, figure out transportation and get us out of our shells to talk with folks in Ireland along the way. We saw some amazing places like the St. Patrick's Cathedral...

For the remainder of the week, we our continuing to regroup with a few training sessions. Next week, we're off to Galway for two weeks!

Meet my team!

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One of the great things about the World Race is the online community. While prayer and research brought me to this particular mission trip, I was really drawn to the World Race after spending hours reading blog after blog of racers on the field, how God's at work in their lives and the lives of the people that theyd meet.

I'd like you to meet my team! During training camp in Georgia, our group of 80 formed smaller teams of 6-8. The teams were formed somewhat organically through natural friendships we made during the week and also through a series of group activities. They are incredible and I'm looking forward to serving together this next year with them!

Anthony

Ashlee

Brandy

Don

Kendra

Shannon

We're launching in just 11 days to the first assignment in Dublin Ireland...woohoo! Thank you for your prayers & support.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Thailand

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Thailand

1) Thailand literally means "land of the free." Thais are proud that their country never came under European colonial rule. Formerly called Siam up until 1949, its history dates back 1,000 years.

2) Thai is the official language and 95% of the people are Buddhist. There are about 26,000 temples in Thailand.

3) The King is recognized as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, the Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and Defender of the Faith. King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the longest reigning Thai monarch and the longest reigning current monarch in the world.

4) Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice, and Thais domestically consume over 100 kg of rice per person per year. Rice is considered the country's lifeblood, and many families earn their living harvesting the crop in the country's central basin, the largest and richest region for growing rice.

5) Thailand is also one of the world's largest producers of rubber, which is grown in the southern peninsula. Incisions are made in the rubber trees to collect a sap-like extract in small buckets attached to the trees and this is the primary source of natural rubber.

6) In rural villages, the home is usually a simple wooden house raised on posts. Domestic animals like water buffalo, pigs, and chickens are kept below the house, while the family lives above in a single room. Each child is assigned certain duties according to age and ability, such as leading the buffalo to graze or caring for younger siblings while parents work the fields.

7) Education is compulsory up to and including the ninth grade. The number of children who drop out of school and migrate to cities has been increasing every year. The government provides free education through the twelfth grade.

8) Rural poverty has prompted many families to move to urban centers in search of employment and a better quality of life for their children. Bangkok is the capital and largest city of Thailand.Poverty in the city is often more dismal. Child labor, prostitution, HIV infection, and drug addiction harm many children.

9) Thailand has the third highest firearms related homicide rate in the world.

10) Barbers are usually closed on Wednesday because Thais think it will bring bad luck to cut their hair that day of the week.

11) Muay thai, a form of martial arts and similar to western boxing, is the national sport of Thailand.

More Facts...?

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

That concludes the 11 day "11 Facts about 11 Countries" series!

Actually it doesn't have to end. Please feel free to add more facts in the comments section. I love learning about the history, the politics, the culture, the cuisine, geography, public health issues, and more about our 11 countries.

Sorry that I didn't reference the facts. oops! Most of the information came from Wikipedia, World Vision, National Geographic and other seemingly reliable sources. Please let me know if you discover corrections needed or updated information.

Another note to mention, this entire 11 country route is subject to change at anytime. Our team will go where God leads, and that may be just anywhere...

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Cambodia

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cambodia

1) The Cambodian flag is the only flag in the world that features a building.

2) Cambodia has the longest alphabet in the world with 74 letters.

3) 1 in 236 Cambodians is disabled, making Cambodia the most disabled country on earth.

4) After the war in Cambodia, 4 million existing landmines continue to cause casualties. It will be another ten years before all the landmines are removed or destroyed. Each month there are between 300 and 700 amputations due to land-mine injuries.

5) Angkor Wat was built by King Suryavarman II (1131 to 1150). The word Angkor is derived from Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language) and means city. Wat means temple. It is the largest religious structure in the world, and it was discovered by French explorers in the nineteenth century declaring it the Eighth Wonder of the World.

6) Cambodia was under French control from 1863 until 1953.

7) The country continues to recover from 25 years of civil war and the brutal Khmer Rouge communist regime, which ruled from 1975 to 1979. 200,000 people were executed during the regime and it is estimated that 2 million people died from disease and starvation as a result of Khmer Rouge's policy. A 1984 movie, The Killing Fields, tells the story of this tragedy and today, the best known monument is located in Choeung Ek.

8) 50% of the population is under the age of 15.

9) Cambodia has one of the highest deforestation rates. Since 1970, the country has been denuded with forest coverage area decreasing from 70% to about 3%.

10) Most Cambodians do not know or celebrate their birthdays, nor do they celebrate Christmas. Instead, they have an annual Water Festival which celebrates the rains that sustain life in Cambodia.

11) One child in seven dies before age five, many from preventable diseases such as polio, diphtheria, and malaria.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Vietnam

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Vietnam

1) Vietnam is the largest exporter of cashews in the world, as well as the second largest exporter of rice and coffee.Vietnam also produces corn, potatoes, rubber, poultry and fish.

2) Vietnam is famous for its bio-diversity and has six biosphere reserves. The country is covered with rugged land and dense forests. River deltas contain rich soils that are highly suitable for crop cultivation, especially rice. The tropical climate includes a monsoon season that extends from May to October, as well as frequent typhoons that cause flooding in the northern coastal areas.

3) More than 20 million people in Vietnam ride a bicycle.

4) The history of Vietnam has been a turbulent one. In the 19th century, the country was absorbed, along with Cambodia and Laos, into French Indochina. Communist-led forces within Vietnam battled for independence after World War II, prompting the 1954 Geneva Agreement that divided the nation into North and South. The 20-year Vietnam War followed. The Vietnamese Communist Party has been in power since the reunification of the country in 1975.

5) More than half of the nation's population lives in poverty, with an unemployment rate hovering around 25%.

6) The Vietnamese government is attempting to alleviate problems that have resulted from rapid population growth (with 86 million people and currently the 13^th most populous nation worldwide) and over-crowded cities by resettling millions of urban residents into the sparsely inhabited mountains and upland plateaus.

7) Vietnam consists of 85% Buddhist, 8% Christian and 7% Caodaism or other religions. Though Buddhism is the most popular, a small percentage of Vietnamese families actually practice Buddhism. Although the Vietnamese constitution grants freedom of worship, the Communist government suppresses any religious groups that it considers to be a threat to national security.

8) Vietnam has 54 different ethnic groups. The largest one is Kinh (or Viet) who make up 88% of the population. The official language of the nation is Vietnamese, a blend between Chinese and Khmer (the official language of Cambodia). Tribal languages are also spoken by many people living in the mountains.

9) Traditional weddings are one of the most important ceremonies in Vietnam. Up until a few decades ago, arranged marriage was common. In modern weddings, brides usually change into three different gowns during the reception. Her dresses are usually composed of the Western white wedding gown, a second Western dress to be worn at the end of the evening during the dancing, and a third traditional Ao dai (a tight-fitting silk tunic worn over pantaloons) to be worn during the traditional table visits to personally thank the guests for coming.

10) Craving, say steamed pig brains? Vietnam is known for its wide array of culinary treats. The country is different from the North, South and Central. The North's cuisine is more traditional, the South is sweet and the Central is the spiciest.

11) The potbelly pig is a beloved pet in many households.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Tanzania

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tanzania

1) Tanzania lies between the Great Lakes of Africa: Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa. In the northern area sits Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa.

2) 95% of Tanzania's population is of Bantu origin, representing more than 130 tribes; the other five percent of the population are Asian, European, or Arabian.

3) The climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in the highlands. Natural resources include hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, and nickel.

4) Swahili is the official language of Tanzania. Tanzania's population has been estimated to consist of roughly one third each Muslims, Christians and followers of indigenous religious groups.

5) April 26th is Union Day in Tanzania, celebrating the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar as they gained independence from Britain and formed one country in 1964.

6) Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world with most families living on less than $1 a day.

7) 80% of Tanzanians farm or fish at subsistence levels, producing coffee, sisal, tea, cotton and cattle. Other industries include agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), oil refining, diamond and gold mining. Tanzania exports gold, coffee, cashews, manufactured items and cotton.

8) The AIDS pandemic has taken a toll on Tanzania, with about one in ten living with HIV/AIDS and over one million children orphaned.

9) There is an acute shortage of teachers in Tanzania. Over the past ten years, school enrollment for Tanzanian children has risen significantly, but only 20% of Tanzanian students go on to secondary school as a result of this shortage.

10) Tanzania has a rich and diverse wildlife, including black rhinos, the Kori bustard (the world's heaviest flying bird), elephants, wart hogs, baboons, zebra and more. Tanzania is home to the Serengeti Plain where the white-bearded wildebeest embark on a massive annual migration.

11) In 1960, Jane Goodall arrived at Gombe Stream in Tanzania to study chimpanzees.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Uganda

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Uganda

1) While soccer is the most popular sport in Uganda, cricket has experienced rapid growth. Recently in the Quadrangular Tournament in Kenya, Uganda came in as the underdogs and went on to register a historic win against arch-rivals Kenya.

2) The terrain includes swampy lowlands, a fertile plateau with wooded hills, and a desert region; the climate ranges from tropical to semiarid. Though the country is landlocked, many lakes, including the majestic Lake Victoria, cover almost one-fifth of the country. Natural resources include copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, and salt.

3) A name in Uganda will tell you a lot about the person. A person could be named for the tribe of their maternal or paternal grandparent. The name could reflect the person's place in the family. The name will often tell you if the person is a male of female.

4) There are more than 20 ethnic groups in Uganda, including the Bagandas, Ankoles, Basogas, and Itesos. English is the official language, but Swahili, Ganda (or Luganda), and other languages are widely spoken. There also is a significant refugee population, representing Sudan and Rwanda.

5) About 80% of people work in agriculture, growing crops of coffee, sugar, tobacco, potatoes, corn, and cassava.

6) More than 84.9% of people live on less than $1 a day.

7) More than a half million people are living with HIV and AIDS. The consequences of this disease has caused life expectancy to drop, infant mortality to increase, and 940,000 children have been orphaned following the deaths of parents or guardians.

8) Prosperous at independence in 1962, the country was brutalized under the chaotic regimes of Milton Obote and Idi Amin, when as many as 800,000 Ugandans were murdered. In 1986 Yoweri Museveni, leader of the National Resistance Army, came to power and, despite continued military and economic challenges, restored stability to a large extent. Museveni was elected president in May 1996 in the first popular election for president since independence-and reelected in 2001.

9) In 1998 Uganda sent troops into the Democratic Republic of the Congo's civil war. It withdrew the last of its forces in 2003-and thousands of Congolese crossed into Uganda to seek asylum.

10) Uganda continues its battle against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)-an extremist rebel group in northern Uganda backed by Sudan. An estimated 10,000 children have been abducted by the LRA to be trained as soldiers, and approximately 1.5 million families have left their homes as a result of violence and the fear that their children will be kidnapped. For more info on the LRA history, watch Invisible Children, it is an absolute must-see.

11) Matoke is the name of the plantain or banana of Uganda, where they are a staple crop. In Uganda, plantain bananas are often wrapped in plantain leaves and steamed until tender. Pancakes are a special treat and not what you would expect. Smashing small sweet bananas into cassava flour makes the Ugandan pancake. The mixture is then fried in oil.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Kenya

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kenya

1) The equator divides the country almost in half. The sun rises and sets at around 6:30 year-round. Kenya also is home to the second highest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kenya. In spite of its location along the equator, Mt. Kenya remains snow-capped throughout the year.

2) Kenya has only two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. One in two Kenyans lives below the poverty line. Many families are nomadic cow and goat herders. They spend the dry season, December to March, searching for lush pastures. They return for the rainy season, April to November, when their own land can provide adequate food for the animals. Soil and weather conditions, including drought, can threaten the food supply. Only 17% of Kenya's land is suitable for farming. The rest is arid and subject to frequent dry spells.

3) Kenya was colonized by the British and gained independence in 1963. Kenya is home to more than 42 different ethnic groups. English and Kiswahili are the official languages of Kenya, and a number of indigenous languages are spoken. Typically children learn their local tribal language at home and perfect their English & Kiswahili in school.

4) Most Kenyans are Christian (45% Protestant and 33% Catholic). There is a large amount of Hindu believers in Kenya (about 500,000), along with approximately 10% Muslim, mostly living on the coast.

5) There are more than 65 national parks and wildlife preserves. Wild animals such as lions, giraffes, buffalos, elephants, zebras, leopards, and flamingos are found in the country. Nairobi has many restaurants that serve everything from monkey to antelope.

6) 41% of Kenya's population lives in cities. Rural Kenyans generally live with their extended family in a cluster of huts. Since most babies are delivered at home, official birth certificates are often not available. Instead of birth dates, parents recall that a child was born during a particular season or special event.

7) The movie Constant Gardener was shot in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, which is the largest slum in Africa. The book was banned in Kenya because it depicts corrupt Kenyan officials (Kenya ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in the world by the Corruption Perception Index) but the director, Fernando Meirrelles, talked the local authorities into allowing the film to be shot in Kibera.

8) Malaria afflicts approximately a half-billion people annually (roughly the population of the United States, Canada, and Mexico combined), resulting in approximately one million deaths. The burden of disease is located largely in sub-Saharan Africa. Heavy flooding in 2006 has increased the health risks for refugees in Kenya, as the standing water is a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Kenya is home to refugees from Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia.Western Kenya has intense malaria transmission; on average, each person receives 150-300 infective mosquito bites per year. Malaria accounts for roughly 5% of deaths in Kenya and 30% of outpatient hospital visits.

9) HIV has had a devastating impact in Kenya. The overall HIV infection prevalence is estimated at approximately 7.4%, and in some groups such as pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, rates are as high as 25-30%.

10) Although the Kenyan government provides public education for children up to age eight, approximately 1.7 million children do not attend school.

11) The most popular sports in Kenya are cricket, track and field, boxing, soccer, volleyball, rugby, tennis, and field hockey. Kenyan athletes, particularly Kalenjin (known as the "running tribe" from the west of Kenya) continue to dominate the world of distance running.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Israel

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Israel

1) Israel is bordered by Lebanon in the north, Syria and Jordan in the east, Egypt in the south-west, with most people living along the Mediterranean coastal plain to the west. The rugged hills of Galilee lie to the north, and the desert plateau, the Negev, to the south.

2) About 90% of Israel's population lives in approximately 200 urban centers, some of which are located on ancient historical sites. Israel's population has grown ten times since 1948.

3) Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. Most of the population speaks English. Of its 7.4 million people, the majority religion is Jewish with 80% of the population, followed by 16% Muslim, and 4% Christian and other religions.

4) Food plays an important role in nearly all Jewish celebrations. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated by dipping apples in honey in hope for a sweet new year. Hanukkah is celebrated by the consumption of foods cooked in oil to commemorate the miracle of a small quantity of oil lasting eight days during the Second Temple Period. Matzo, unleavened bread, is one of the symbols of Passover, a holiday which commemorates the Israelites Exodus from Egypt as recorded in the Bible. In late spring, Shavuot marks the peak of the new grain harvest and dairy foods are enjoyed throughout the country.

5) Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, lies 800 feet below sea level and is located by the River Jordan. It is the first city to be taken by the Israelites after being encircled by Joshua's army in 1250 B.C. Today, it is home to about 20,000 Palestinians.

6) Jerusalem is the capital and largest city, with a population of 750,000. It is in the center of the country, straddling the border between Israel and the West Bank. The city has been continuously settled for more than three thousand years and is home to many sites of historical and religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. These include the Dome of the Rock, the Wailing Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, among others. The Old City is divided into quarters: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian.

7) Tel Aviv is a more modern city, and the commercial and industrial capital of the country. It is in fact a combination of two cities, Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Jaffa's history dates back to biblical times, whereas Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 by European Jewish immigrants. The third-largest city in the country is Haifa, in the north. It is the country's main port and also is an industrial center. Israel has a variety of industries, including food processing, textiles, diamond cutting and polishing, metal products, military equipment, high-technology electronics, and tourism.

8) Bethlehem was home to Jacob, Rachel, Samuel, Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, David and the birthplace of our savior, Jesus Christ. Today, Christians and Muslims live in Bethlehem.

9) Israel was re-established as a country in 1948, and since that time has fought six wars with Arab neighbors. An agreement has not been made to recognize a Palestinian state for a number of reasons. One chief disagreement is that Palestinians want their capital in Jerusalem. Israel maintains Jerusalem is its capital, and that its status is not negotiable.

10) Israel receives more media coverage per capita than any other country in the world.

11) Israel has more museums per capita than any other country. Israel draws 2 million tourists a year.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Jordan

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jordan

1) Jordan shares borders with Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Jordan is almost landlocked but for a short coast on the Gulf of Aqaba. The Dead Sea (the lowest point on earth) is to the northwest and the Red Sea to the southwest.

2) The ancient city of Petra is one of the world's great archaeological sites, located in the desert of southern Jordan.The Nabateans inhabited Petra 2,000 years ago and carved extravagant buildings, temples and tombs out of solid sandstone rock.

3) Arabic is the official language, and English is widely understood. The most popular religion is Muslim with 92% Sunni, followed by 6% Christian and 2% Shia, Druze, etc.

4) Jordan is one of the most peaceful and safest countries in the region. In the Global Peace Index, Jordan was ranked as more peaceful than the United States. Jordan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

5) In 1923, after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Transjordan was designated a British mandate. Jordan became independent in 1946. Following the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948-49, the country annexed the West Bank-but lost it to Israel in the 1967 war. Jordan currently has a constitutional monarchy.

6) Jordan is home to sizeable number of refugees. The Arab-Israeli wars have brought Jordan approximately 1.5 million Palestinian refugees. In 1990, Kuwaitis who left Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion fled to Jordan. Recently, Jordan has seen an influx of Iraqis. 750,000 Iraqis, half of which are children, are estimated to be living in Jordan now.

7) 60% of the population in Jordan is under the age of 24, and 70% of youth who are one year out of school are still unemployed. The country is experiencing a "youth-bulge" that is the result of 30 years of growth rates that exceeded 3.4%.

8) Queen Rania of Jordan has pushed for education reform, fighting for better school facilities and mandatory English language training. She set up the Madrasati initiative aimed at renovating Jordan's most dilapidated public schools and installing new computers.

9) Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental problems in Jordan as the country has limited natural resources, particularly oil and water. Jordan has an economy based on agriculture and phosphates. Other industries include petroleum refining, cement, potash, clothing, mining, fertilizers, medicines, light manufacturing and tourism. Jordan joined the World Trade Organization in 2000 and hopes to grow its economy through reforms and increased trade.

10) Aubergines, chickpeas, lentils and beans are common in many Jordanian dishes. Rice and khoubs (flat Arabic bread) are staples. Jordan produces wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, sheep, poultry, stone fruits and strawberries. A popular local dish is called mensaf, stewed lamb in a yogurt sauce served on a bed of rice.

11) The new release, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, was partially filmed in Jordan. Other movies filmed in Jordan include Lawrence of Arabia, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Mummy Returns and Mission to Mars.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Egypt

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Egypt

1) Egypt is defined by desert and the Nile, the longest river on Earth. The Nile flows north out of central Africa. About 95% of Egyptians live along the Nile-on less than 5% of Egypt's territory.

2) Egypt is Africa's second most populous country after Nigeria, and it has the highest population in the Arab world.

3) The official language is Arabic, however, English and French are widely understood. The most popular religion in Egypt is Muslim (mostly Sunni) with about 94% of the population practicing this religion, but there is a sizeable Coptic Christian population of seven million.

4) Egypt grows cotton, rice, corn, wheat and cattle. Kushari is a mixture of rice, lentils and macaroni and is considered the national dish. Hamaam (pigeons) are stuffed with seasoned rice & grilled and is considered a delicacy in Egypt.

5) About 40% of rural school children are anemic.

6) The death rate for children under the age of five in Egypt is 41 for every 1,000 births, while the neonatal death rate is 33 for 1,000 births, representing over 60,000 child deaths per year.

7) 25% of the country's 71 million people live below the poverty line of less than $1 a day.

8) 54% of rural Upper Egyptian girls, ages 13 to 15, are not enrolled in school, compared to 11% of boys.

9) Ancient Egyptians created many innovative things including glass, writing, ink, paper and bowling. Also, Egyptians have been credited with inventing the 365 days calendar and the 24-hour division of the day.

10) Some 20,000 to 30,000 people were mobilized to construct the Great Pyramid at Giza for the pharaoh Khufu; at 147 meters (481 feet) high it was the tallest monument in the world for thousands of years-until the 19th century.

11) 2.7 million children are in the workforce, and the major industries include textiles, food processing, tourism and chemicals. The primary exports include crude oil, petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products and chemicals.

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Romania

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Romania

1) Romania's Danube Delta is a World Heritage site and is the second largest delta in the whole of Europe.

2) In June 1995, Romania applied for membership in the European Union and as of 2007 approval was granted. Previously, Romania was ruled by oppressive Communist regimes.

3) Ethnic Romanians comprise 89.5% of the population; other groups include Hungarian, Roma, and people of Ukrainian, German, Russian, and Turkish heritage.

4) Romanian is the official language, although Hungarian and German also are spoken.

5) While health care is free, facilities are overcrowded and do not have the necessary equipment and medicines to properly treat patients. Problems such as inadequate nutrition, drug use, and alcoholism add to the country's health needs.

6) Romania has had a high incidence of HIV infection that occurred between 1987 and 1991 as a result of the use of unscreened blood and blood products coupled with the repeated use of contaminated needles.

7) Natural disasters and environmental degradation contribute to the struggle to rebuild the economy. Widespread poverty persists due in part to government bureaucracy and corruption.

8) Typical foods include potatoes, cabbage, onions, beans, grains, eggs, and cheese.

9) The unemployment rate is 6.1%, and 25% of the population live below the poverty line.

10) In 1976 in Montreal, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was the first to score perfect tens at the Olympics.

11) Romania is home to about 6,000 brown bears. Romanian authorities have launched an operation to relocate the bears to remote mountainous regions since people have been injured or died from attacks.

July Newsletter: Goodbye handbags, Hello backpack!

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With Gratitude

I'd like to start out by saying how grateful I am for your prayers and support. I am truly humbled and overwhelmed by your kindness, encouragement and generosity in supporting me on this mission.

This will be the final newsletter before take-off. During this next year, I will make updates at my blog address: katiemcfaddin.theworldrace.org. Please feel free to make comments along the way. Unfortunately, I may not be able to check or respond to email too frequently while traveling.

The departure date is officially set for August 11. Our team of 84 will fly from New York City to Dublin, Ireland to embark on the first assignment. Part of my journey to the starting line has included a move. After two years in the Washington D.C. area, I am now in South Carolina for the final month of preparation.

As I was driving a large Uhaul van last week, I felt relieved and concerned at the same time while thinking about how my packing is going to be so much more simplified and reduced in size this next year. I came across one World Racer's post-race blog and it reminded me of the challenges and simplicity with this lighter load...

-For 6 out of the 11 months, I have slept on the floor on a 2 inch thick pad

-I wore the same outfit anywhere from 3-7 days in a row (okay...sometimes a LITTLE longer)

-I have hand-washed my clothes in rivers, lakes, bathtubs, and buckets. Sometimes we found it easier to just get in the shower with your dirty clothes on and wash them while still on your back.

-I learned that electricity is a luxury, not a necessity

-I took "bucket showers" with freezing cold water for showers on numerous occasions

-In Mozambique, we cooked over an open fire with canned food for dinner, lived off of bread we made ourselves with peanut butter for breakfast and lunch, and had NOOO bathroom facility

-On the way to Malawi, three of my teammates had ALL of their packs stolen along with a guitar. We were in such a primitive area that they relied on us for clothing, tents, sleeping bags, etc.

-I walked 2 hours roundtrip in Mozambique to take a shower from a well and get clean drinking water every day for 2 weeks

-I have lived with A/C for approximately 6 days (maybe) out of 11 months

-2-3 times a month, I travel from country to country with two backpacks strapped to me that cumulatively weigh over 75 pounds

-I have rotated between seven shirts, three pairs of pants, and two pairs of shoes for 11 months

...and I constantly ask myself, can I really do this?! I will trust in God each step of the way. So in conclusion, please continue to pray that Christ can use me for His glory and that I may die to my selfishness.

Goodbye handbags, hello backpack!

Prayer Request Updates

Jesus Christ will be glorified by the work and actions made on this trip

Team Health and Travel Safety

Team Unity

Physical, Spiritual and Financial Preparation

Hearts will be open to hear and receive the word of God

Support Raising Updates

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement & giving.

Each missionary on the World Race is asked to raise a minimum of $13,800 to cover the very basic expenses.

It is truly a small amount for a year of ministry, and I have faith that God will continue to provide as always. The great news is that I currently have $5,600 in my account.

A one-time or smaller monthly contribution would be greatly appreciated. Tax-deductible contributions may bemade at my blog page, http://katiemcfaddin.theworldrace.org under the tab "Support Me" in the left-hand column.

If you'd prefer to mail a check please make it out to Adventures in Missions and write "Katie McFaddin" in the bottom-left hand corner, and mail to this address:

Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470

If you have any questions or comments for me, please let me know. Thank you for your support, and may God richly bless us on this journey together!

"I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do everything in Christ who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:12-13

11 Facts about 11 Countries: Ireland

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ireland

1) The Irish tricolor flag, created in 1848, was designed to reflect the country's political realities. Orange stands for Irish Protestants, green for Irish Catholics and the white stripe for the hope that peace might eventually be reached between them.

2) A bizarre Irish birthday tradition is to lift the birthday child upside down and give his head a few gentle bumps on the floor for good luck. The number of bumps should allegedly correspond to the child's age plus one.

3) Irish, or Irish Gaelic (a Celtic language), is the country's first official language and is taught in schools, but few native speakers remain. English is the second official language and more common.

4) In 1859, Irish scientist John Tyndall was the first to correctly explain why the sky is blue.

5) Ireland ranks towards the top of the European lists in reference to teenage suicide, pregnancy, drinking, smoking, and unwed mother rates. Cocaine and heroin use is rapidly on the rise amongst all socio-economic levels, and divorce (previously illegal until 1997) is a new issue for families to adjust to, with a 70% increase over just four years.

6) 40% of the Irish population is under the age of twenty-five, and sixty percent is under age forty. Construction, employment and immigration rapidly changed Ireland in 15 years into a cosmopolitan nation. The main work industries in Ireland are related to mining, brewing, textiles, food products, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism.

7) Ireland is rich in natural resources including zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat and silver. Ireland produces turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef and dairy products.

8) Although official statistics vary due to difficulties in monitoring movement within the open-bordered. European Union, estimates for the number of Eastern Europeans - mostly Poles - living in Ireland range from 150,000 to 300,000. Since the mid-1990s Ireland also accepted an estimated 30,000 asylum seekers, especially from Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.

9) Parts of north Dublin, chiefly Parnell Street and nearby Capel Street, are developing into the country's first Chinatown.

10) In AD 432, St. Patrick from Britain is one of the earliest Christian missionaries traveling abroad. He was captured by Irish raiders at the age of 14 from Britain, and enslaved in Ireland for 6 years before escaping back home. He became ordained as a bishop in Britain and returned to preach in Ireland. He was self-conscious about his writing skills.

11) The tune of the "Star Spangled Banner" was composed by the great blind harper Turlough O'Carolan, who died about 35 years before the American Revolution.