Training – Field Study: International NightOur May Field Study is currently being held on SIFAT’s campus May 12-25. Sarah Murphree, SIFAT co-founder Sarah Corson’s great-niece, is a participant this year. She will be blogging about her experience and giving readers a glimpse of what types of appropriate technologies and community development topics are being presented, as well as a look into who some of the participants are. A 2012 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Sarah recently directed and produced two short films, one taking first place in the 2013 Nashville Film Festival. She is currently working on her third film, a documentary about Camp Koinonia.
One activity that takes place during the training program is international night. On this night, students from different countries prepare a native dish. This year during international night, students enjoyed a diverse meal of foods from Haiti, the Congo, Honduras, Bolivia and the Philippines. This was one of my favorite nights in training so far. It was a wonderful evening that I wish everyone could experience one day.
 One evening, international participants cooked native dishes for everyone to sample. It was a great time to get to know one another better and to try new types of food! Training – Field Study: A Night in the SlumsOur May Field Study is currently being held on SIFAT’s campus May 12-25. Sarah Murphree, SIFAT co-founder Sarah Corson’s great-niece, is a participant this year. She will be blogging about her experience and giving readers a glimpse of what types of appropriate technologies and community development topics are being presented, as well as a look into who some of the participants are. A 2012 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Sarah recently directed and produced two short films, one taking first place in the 2013 Nashville Film Festival. She is currently working on her third film, a documentary about Camp Koinonia.
Tonight was a night I shall never forget. It was my first time to experience the slums at SIFAT. The Slum Experience is a program offered at SIFAT where high school students, adult leaders and college-aged staff experience life in the slums. During global training, we get a taste of this. Tonight was that night. Addison Shock, Learn & Serve director, divided us into families and led us down the wooded path to the slums where we would stay for three hours. We had no knowledge of where we were going or what to expect. This is how the majority of people enter the slums. People don’t choose to live here. Often times, they come across the slums in search of a place of safety. People never expect to stay here long, but with little knowledge of what else is out there and where to go, sometimes the slums seems like a diamond in the ruff.
 SIFAT’s Urban Slum simulates what life may be like for an estimated one billion people in the world. WOW 2013 starts May 26!
Each summer, SIFAT sponsors a casual worship services at Lakeside Marina on Lake Wedowee. Different speakers and musicians – most from the local area – lead Worship on the Water (WOW) under the pine trees. As WOW’s motto says, “Come by boat, come by car, come as you are!” Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the summer season. Services continue each Sunday at 9 a.m. through Labor Day Weekend. We’ll see you there!
Training – Field Study: Meet One of Our TeachersOur May Field Study is currently being held on SIFAT’s campus May 12-25. Sarah Murphree, SIFAT co-founder Sarah Corson’s great-niece, is a participant this year. She will be blogging about her experience and giving readers a glimpse of what types of appropriate technologies and community development topics are being presented, as well as a look into who some of the participants are. A 2012 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Sarah recently directed and produced two short films, one taking first place in the 2013 Nashville Film Festival. She is currently working on her third film, a documentary about Camp Koinonia. Dr. Martin Price, founder of ECHO, came to speak with us about urban gardening, agricultural options for small farmers and managing a nonprofit. Martin and his wife, Bonnie, drove from Florida to educate us on these pressing topics.  Dr. Martin Price, founder of ECHO, taught us about urban gardening, agricultural options for small farmers and managing a nonprofit. Training – Field Study: In a world of differences, we are all just the sameOur May Field Study is currently being held on SIFAT’s campus May 12-25. Sarah Murphree, SIFAT co-founder Sarah Corson’s great-niece, is a participant this year. She will be blogging about her experience and giving readers a glimpse of what types of appropriate technologies and community development topics are being presented, as well as a look into who some of the participants are. A 2012 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Sarah recently directed and produced two short films, one taking first place in the 2013 Nashville Film Festival. She is currently working on her third film, a documentary about Camp Koinonia. One night during our first week of training, all the participants travel down the red dirt road to Ken and Sarah Corson’s house. SIFAT co-founders Ken and Sarah open their home to the students at SIFAT to enjoy a meal together and allow time to share stories and good company. After dinner, the students have the chance to get up and perform their talents and share cultural stories.  Ken and Sarah Corson opened their home to the Field Study students for dinner and an evening of cultural exchange. Singing, stories and laughter ensued! |
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