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# SIFAT - Servants In Faith & Technology

Sharing God's Love in Practical Ways

## Posts

- [Blog](https://sifat.org/blog/)
- [Worship on the Water 2026](https://sifat.org/wow2026/) - Worship on the Water 2026 Get ready for Worship on the Water (WOW) 2026! We can't wait to see you this summer on Lake Wedowee. Each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, local residents and lake visitors meet together for a casual worship service under the pines at
- [Worship on the Water 2025](https://sifat.org/wow2025/) - Worship on the Water 2025 Worship on the Water at Lake Wedowee starts May 25, 2025! Lake Wedowee friends: We'll see you on May 25th to kick off this year's Worship on the Water! Each Sunday at 9 a.m., we'll meet under the pines at Allen's Lakeside Marina. Our casual, nondenominational services are held each
- [GivingTuesday 2025 is Dec. 2!](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday2025/) - GivingTuesday 2025 is Dec. 2! Click here to download a PDF version. Hold the Rope! Dear SIFAT family, Great News! Generous donors have committed to match donations up to $70,000 toward our goal of $210,000 on GivingTuesday 2025! We are asking you to help SIFAT meet this goal on Dec. 2. This annual day of
- [Worship on the Water 2024](https://sifat.org/wow2024/) - Worship on the Water 2024 Worship on the Water at Lake Wedowee this summer … WOW friends, We are sorry to announce that WOW 2024 will be delayed this summer. With many unknowns for our location under the pines at Lakeside Marina, we waited as long as we could to plan, while also searching
- [Learn & Serve: New Retreat Programs!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-new-retreat-programs/) - Learn & Serve: New Retreat Programs Now Offered! Learn & Serve is excited to announce two new programming options for retreats! To continue to provide a diverse range of experiences connecting our participants to our brothers and sisters around the world, Learn & Serve has begun offering participants the opportunity to participate in a Refugee
- [GivingTuesday 2024](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday2024/) - Help SIFAT on GivingTuesday - Dec. 3! Click here to download a PDF version of this page! Dear SIFAT family, I am humbled and thankful for your prayers and support during the last 45 years. When SIFAT was founded in 1979, we had a budget of $12,000 and a call to help the poor learn
- [August 2024: A True Story About Pastor Obi](https://sifat.org/2024-08-obi/) - August 2024: A True Story About Pastor Obi Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT co-founder I just finished reading Pastor Obi’s final report from his most recent project funded through SIFAT’s Graduates’
- [June 2024: A Month in Pictures](https://sifat.org/2024-06-pictures/) - June 2024: A Month in Pictures Because our May/June 2024 update is mainly pictures, we are posting images of both pages. You can download a PDF version, too.
- [April 2024: Helping Hungry People Can Help Us, Too](https://sifat.org/2024-04-yurima/) - Helping Hungry People Can Help Us, Too Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT co-founder A search on my cell phone tells me there are 281 million migrants in the world today. The
- [February 2024: Samuel Continues Serving in Haiti](https://sifat.org/2024-02-haiti/) - February 2024: Samuel Continues Serving in Haiti Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT co-founder In 2010, Samuel graduated from SIFAT. Since then, he has been teaching his people in Haiti the things
- [March 2024: Spending Spring Break in Ecuador](https://sifat.org/2024-03-ecuador/) - March 2024: Spending Spring Break in Ecuador Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version.
- [GivingTuesday is November 28, 2023!](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday2023/) - GivingTuesday is November 28, 2023! 10 years of GivingTuesday! WOW! In 2013, SIFAT introduced a new opportunity for our donors to give, a “holiday” called GivingTuesday. We were excited about the concept—a global day of giving dedicated to honoring nonprofits and joining together to support them. This annual event has grown more than we could
- [October 2023: Fall Worship Night at SIFAT](https://sifat.org/2023-10-campus/) - October 2023: Fall Worship Night at SIFAT Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Kaitlyn Glenn, campus program assistant It is important to cultivate community at home and abroad to effectively share God’s love to
- [September 2023: Raphael Returns to SIFAT](https://sifat.org/2023-09-alumni/) - September 2023: Raphael Returns to SIFAT Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Tom Corson, executive director SIFAT Graduate Raphael has returned to SIFAT various times since first participating in our 10-week training practicum. He has
- [August 2023: Introducing a New Generation to SIFAT](https://sifat.org/2023-08-campus/) - August 2023: Introducing a New Generation to SIFAT Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Matthew Ivey, Student Minister, Brandon FUMC, Brandon, Miss. I first came to SIFAT around 2004 as a middle school student and
- [July 2023: Our SIFAT Family is a Blessing on this World](https://sifat.org/2023-07-ecuador/) - July 2023: Our SIFAT Family is a Blessing on this World Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Marie Lanier Narváez, Promotions and Marketing Coordinator I just returned from spending three weeks in Ecuador with two
- [June 2023: May Field Study Returns to SIFAT Campus](https://sifat.org/2023-06-training/) - June 2023: May Field Study Returns to SIFAT Campus Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Kathy Bryson, International Training Director, and Kaitlyn Glenn, Learn & Serve Program Assistant We recently completed our May Field Study,
- [Worship on the Water 2023](https://sifat.org/wow2023/) - Worship on the Water 2023 Worship on the Water at Lake Wedowee this summer … Our summer will officially kick off with the first weekend of WOW at Lake Wedowee! Please help us spread the word about our nondenominational worship services that will be held throughout the summer from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day
- [April 2023: Remembering Edwin Contreras](https://sifat.org/edwincontreras/) - In Memory of our Dearly Loved Brother — Cecil Edwin Contreras — In late March, we received word that our beloved engineer in Ecuador, Edwin Contreras, passed away. Written by Tom Corson, SIFAT executive director We can hardly believe that we were just standing beside you as you directed our SIFAT team building
- [Happy Easter!](https://sifat.org/easter2023/) - Happy Easter! It’s Friday, but Sunday is Coming More than 2,000 years ago, followers of Christ were hopeless. On a Friday, their Savior had been crucified on a cross, the most terrible way to die. The message for Christians is hope. It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming — and with it is resurrection and life
- [March 2023: SIFAT Intern's Appropriate Technology Learning Curve](https://sifat.org/2023-03-intern/) - March 2023: SIFAT Intern's Appropriate Technology Learning Curve Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Madison Gnoose, Learn & Serve Intern Appropriate technology is the most intimidating part of my internship so far. I did not
- [February 2023: SIFAT Grad Peter Impacts Lives in Kenya](https://sifat.org/2023-02-gpc/) - February 2023: SIFAT Grad Peter Impacts Lives in Kenya Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT Co-founder SIFAT works with our network of graduates helping them raise seed money to start their community
- [February 2022: Working Together During a Pandemic](https://sifat.org/2022-02-alumni/) - February 2022: Working Together During a Pandemic Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT Co-founder More than two years have passed since COVID-19 turned our daily lives and our work into a
- [July 2022: Serving Breakfast in Atucucho](https://sifat.org/2022-07-ecuador/) - July 2022: Serving Breakfast in Atucucho Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. To read previous updates about SIFAT Doctor in your House/The Golden Bread, click here. Written by Marie Lanier Narváez, Promotions and Marketing Coordinator Slowly, our
- [June 2022: Rebuilding in Bolivia](https://sifat.org/2022-06-bolivia/) - June 2022: Rebuilding in Bolivia Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Tom Corson, Executive Director In our Easter letter, we shared the sad news of a terrible flash flood that destroyed the school in the
- [October 2022: Worth the Wait](https://sifat.org/2022-10-ecuador/) - October 2022: Worth the Wait Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Marie Lanier Narváez, Promotions and Marketing Coordinator For 10 years, the church in Aida Leon, a neighborhood in the south of Quito, Ecuador, waited
- [Merry Christmas from SIFAT!](https://sifat.org/christmas2022/) - Merry Christmas from SIFAT! During this Christmas season, I want to thank our staff, supporters, board members, international mission teams, Learn & Serve participants, work teams, volunteers and our training graduates who are serving in hard places of the world for joining us in SIFAT’s ministry! Thousands of SIFATers across many countries are working together
- [GivingTuesday is Nov. 29, 2022!](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday2022/) - GivingTuesday is Nov. 29, 2022! Why is GivingTuesday Important? Since 2013, SIFAT has been part of the global GivingTuesday movement, which was created to get everyone to join together to give to charities — whether that is a donation of volunteer hours, needed items or financial resources. When we unite together, we can do great
- [September 2022: From Witchcraft to Worker for Christ](https://sifat.org/2022-09-venezuela/) - September 2022: From Witchcraft to Worker for Christ Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT Co-founder In 1994, SIFAT began training Christian workers at El Renuevo in Venezuela. Several years later, we had
- [August 2022: Lifelong Lessons from Summers at Learn & Serve](https://sifat.org/2022-08-campus/) - August 2022: Lifelong Lessons from Summers at Learn & Serve Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. This month, we are sharing two articles written by youth leaders that brought their groups to SIFAT this summer. One has attended Learn & Serve for years, while
- [April 2022: Happy Easter!](https://sifat.org/2022-04-easter/) - April 2022: Happy Easter! Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download our Easter 2022 letter. Recently, students in a one-room school on the way to Quesimpuco, high in the Andes of Bolivia, listened intently as the teacher explained the lesson. The
- [Worship on the Water 2022](https://sifat.org/wow2022/) - Worship on the Water 2022 Worship on the Water at Lake Wedowee this summer … Our summer will officially kick off with the first weekend of WOW at Lake Wedowee! Please help us spread the word about our nondenominational worship services that will be held throughout the summer from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day
- [May 2022: SIFAT Graduates Overcome Obstacles](https://sifat.org/may-2022-sifat-graduates-overcome-obstacles/) - May 2022: SIFAT Graduates Overcome Obstacles Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. In Nigeria, our SIFAT graduates Pastor Blossom and Aina are building a fence around their mission school, an action required by the government for all
- [March 2022: Spring Learn & Serve Retreats at SIFAT](https://sifat.org/2022-03-campus/) - March 2022: Spring Learn & Serve Retreats at SIFAT Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Marie Lanier, Promotions and Marketing Coordinator During March, our SIFAT calendar is beginning to remind of us pre-COVID-19 days. We
- [GivingTuesday2021: Together We Give](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday2021/) - GivingTuesday2021: Together We Give Download a PDF version to print and share with friends! Where has 2021 gone? That seems to be a frequent question, especially when we realize the holiday season is upon us. In stores, Thanksgiving paper products and Christmas ornaments are competing for shelf space and the possibility of making it into
- [September 2021: Interns Complete Internship at our Central American Training Center in Costa Rica](https://sifat.org/2021-09-costarica/) - September 2021: Interns Complete Internship at our Central American Training Center in Costa Rica Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT Co-founder For the past three months, eight interns from Honduras have been
- [October 2021: Final Phase of Construction in Aida Leon](https://sifat.org/2021-10-ecuador/) - October 2021: Final Phase of Construction in Aida Leon Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT Co-founder The long-awaited dream of having a safe place for the children of Aida Leon is about
- [August 2021: Ecuador's Children - the Hidden Pandemic](https://sifat.org/august-ecuadors-children-the-hidden-pandemic/) - August 2021: Ecuador's Children - the Hidden Pandemic Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Roberto and Monica Contreras, SIFAT Ecuador directors School closures have affected 4.6 million children in Ecuador. There are children and adolescents
- [July 2021: An Update from Isaiah in the DRC](https://sifat.org/2021-07-isaiah/) - July 2021: An Update from Isaiah in the DRC Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Sarah Corson, SIFAT Co-founder SIFAT’s graduate Isaiah Chot has worked for years rescuing children who were kidnapped and forced to
- [Uganda: Agape Needs Our Help!](https://sifat.org/agape-covid-july2021/) - Uganda: Agape Needs Our Help! Agape Total Childcare Center, the orphanage and school SIFAT mission teams built in Uganda, has been hit hard in recent weeks by COVID-19. Although Uganda had been spared during much of last year, it has now been declared a Level 4 country by the U.S. State Department and CDC because
- [June 2021: Summer at SIFAT](https://sifat.org/2021-06-summer/) - June 2021: Summer at SIFAT Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. This month, we share about summer at SIFAT in Alabama this year - Worship on the Water and Learn & Serve Retreats! Written by Marie Lanier,
- [Worship on the Water 2021](https://sifat.org/wow2021/) - Worship on the Water 2021 We're back! Worship on the Water at Lake Wedowee this summer ... After having to cancel WOW last year, we are so excited to be looking forward to seeing you in a few short weeks. It actually feels like summer now that we're looking forward to WOW. Please help us
- [May 2021: Meeting Immediate Needs in Ecuador](https://sifat.org/2021-05-ecuador/) - May 2021: Meeting Immediate Needs in Ecuador Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. We began SIFAT Doctor in your House/The Golden Bread in response to needs in the communities in which we serve in Ecuador because of
- [In Memoriam: John Carr, the SIFAT Gardener](https://sifat.org/john-carr-memorial/) - In Memoriam: John Carr, the SIFAT Gardener It is with heavy hearts and our deepest sorrow that we announce that our beloved gardener, John Carr, passed away unexpectedly on March 26, 2021. John made an impact on every person’s life who came on our campus from the beautiful landscaping he created to the delicious vegetables
- [March 2021: Easter in the Andes](https://sifat.org/2021-03-easter/) - March 2021: Easter in the Andes Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. We have shared this story in the past, and it is a good reminder that we can have an Easter celebration no matter where we
- [February 2021: SIFAT Doctor in your House 2020 Report](https://sifat.org/2021-02-ecuador/) - February 2021: SIFAT Doctor in your House 2020 Report Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. This month's article is the report submitted by Dr. Roberto and Monica Contreras about our programs in Quito, Ecuador, in 2020. To
- [Looking Back at 2020: A Year in Review](https://sifat.org/2020yearinreview/) - Looking Back at 2020: A Year in Review Each January, we mail contribution statements to all of our donors from the previous year. With this statement, we include a page of highlights from the year - successes that could not have happened without the support from churches and individuals that choose to partner with SIFAT
- [Merry Christmas 2020!](https://sifat.org/merry-christmas-2020/) - Merry Christmas 2020! Dear friends of SIFAT, When we sat down to write a Christmas letter last year, we were filled with excitement to start our 41st year of ministry. Plans were coming together for our international training events, teams were preparing for trips to Bolivia and Ecuador and our campus staff was scheduling groups
- [#GivingTuesday2020 is Dec. 1!](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday2020/) - #GivingTuesday2020 is Dec. 1! #GivingTuesday is Dec. 1! Make plans now to participate in this global holiday that embraces generosity and kindness. #GivingTuesday starts the giving season, reminding us what this time of year is truly meant to celebrate! While we are experiencing the effects of a worldwide pandemic, generosity can bring everyone together. In
- [October: A New Purpose for Don Jose's Land](https://sifat.org/2020-10-training/) - October: A New Purpose for Don Jose's Land in Costa Rica Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Kathy Bryson, International Training Director Note: Three SIFAT donors purchased land in Costa Rica this year for our
- [Ecuador: SIFAT Doctor in your House - October Update](https://sifat.org/2020-10-ecuador/) - Ecuador: SIFAT Doctor in your House - October Update Click here to learn more about SIFAT Doctor in your House program. June update July update September update Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download
- [September: SIFAT Doctor in your House Helps Ecuador](https://sifat.org/2020-09-ecuador/) - September: SIFAT Doctor in your House Helps in Ecuador Click here to learn more about SIFAT Doctor in your House program. June update July update Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version.
- [August: Learn & Serve Impacts Lives](https://sifat.org/2020-08-campus/) - August: Learn & Serve Impacts Lives Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Marie Lanier, Promotions and Marketing Coordinator This year has been unlike anything we expected at SIFAT. When 2020 began, our Learn & Serve
- [Ecuador: SIFAT Doctor in your House  - July Update](https://sifat.org/2020-07-ecuador/) - Ecuador: SIFAT Doctor in your House - July Update Click here to learn more about SIFAT Doctor in your House program. Click here to read our June update about SIFAT Doctor in your House. Dear Doctor in your House supporters, Because you cared, hundreds of children and the elderly in SIFAT projects in Ecuador have
- [June 2020: SIFAT Doctor in Your House provides food and medical care](https://sifat.org/2020-06-ecuador/) - June 2020: SIFAT Doctor in Your House provides food and medical care Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Marie Lanier, Promotions and Marketing Coordinator Because of COVID-19, our international mission teams were forced to
- [Ecuador: SIFAT Doctor in Your House](https://sifat.org/sifatdoctorinyourhouse/) - Ecuador: SIFAT Doctor in Your House Download a PDF version to print and/or share. Click here for the June Update that includes stories about some of the people who are benefiting from this project. Dear friend of SIFAT, As I sit at my computer to write with so many thoughts about all we are missing
- [Worship on the Water 2020](https://sifat.org/wow2020/) - Worship on the Water 2020 July 22 Update: Canceled for the rest of 2020 We love seeing each of you at WOW on Lake Wedowee during the summer. However, for the protection of everyone on our staff and those participating, we are canceling WOW for the rest of 2020. This decision was not made in
- [July 2020: Graduates in Action Around the Globe](https://sifat.org/july-2020-graduates-in-action-around-the-globe/) - July 2020: Graduates in Action Around the Globe Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Marie Lanier, Promotions and Marketing Coordinator SIFAT has been training community leaders in development for 41 years. As community needs change,
- [May 2020: A Humble Reminder from my Neighbor](https://sifat.org/april2020/) - May 2020: A Humble Reminder from my Neighbor Editor’s Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to the previous month’s donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by Kathy Bryson, International Training Director I recently visited Lisabet, our neighbor, as she was preparing a fire to cook traditional beans.
- [#GivingTuesdayNow is May 5!](https://sifat.org/givingtuesdaynow2020/) - #GivingTuesdayNow is May 5 (Click here to see the e-mail version of this post.) SIFAT needs your support more than ever. Tomorrow, through #GivingTuesdayNow, your donations can help SIFAT continue our ministry to those in need throughout the world during this COVID-19 pandemic. #GivingTuesdayNow is an additional day of global giving and unity, when our
- [Happy Easter from SIFAT](https://sifat.org/easter-2020/) - Happy Easter from SIFAT Download a PDF copy of this Easter 2020 mailing from SIFAT Written by Kathy Bryson, SIFAT's training director I have met many incredible people who have overcome adversity and are determined to make a difference in the lives of others. I want to share Anner Sagustame’s story with you. Anner is
- [Medical Team Supplies Help Dr. Ruth Noemi](https://sifat.org/april-2020-letter/) - Medical Team Supplies Help Dr. Ruth Noemi Editor's Note: Each month, we mail an article with our contribution statements to that month's donors. Click here to download a PDF version. Written by SIFAT co-founder Sarah Corson An urgent call came to Benjo from Dr. Ruth Noemi Mamani in Quesimpuco, Bolivia. Because this is an isolated
- [SIFAT's Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak](https://sifat.org/coronavirus/) - SIFAT's Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak as of April 3, 2020 Click here to download a PDF of our March 12, 2020 statement. Click here to download a letter to group leaders of upcoming campus events. (March 12, 2020) April 3, 2020 Update Thank You to our SIFAT Family We always train mission team members
- [Quesimpuco: A Renewed Motivation in Bolivia](https://sifat.org/march2020article/) - Quesimpuco: A Renewed Motivation in Bolivia Editor's Note: Each month, we mail articles with our contribution statements. You can download a copy of the article to share with your church or civic organization. March 2020, Written by SIFAT Co-founder Sarah Corson Benjo Paredes and Ken Corson started CENATEC, a Christian nonprofit, more than 42 years
- [Graduate Project: Ministering in a Refugee Camp](https://sifat.org/graduate-project-ministering-in-a-refugee-camp/) - Graduate Project: Ministering in a Refugee Camp February 2020, Written by SIFAT Co-founder Sarah Corson Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any
- [Merry Christmas from SIFAT!](https://sifat.org/christmas-2019/) - Merry Christmas from SIFAT! “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 At this time of year, we want to THANK YOU for helping SIFAT share the love of Christ to so many people around the world. We sing the song “Christmas
- [#GivingTuesday2019 is Dec. 3!](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday2019/) - #GivingTuesday2019 is Dec. 3! #GivingTuesday is coming soon! Please save the date for Dec. 3 to participate in this global holiday that celebrates generosity and kindness by giving to SIFAT. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday buying season, #GivingTuesday starts the giving season, reminding us what this time of year
- [40 Years: Celebrating our 40th with New Books!](https://sifat.org/40-years-celebrating-our-40th-with-new-books/) - 40 Years: Celebrating our 40th with New Books! We convinced two men who had been very active in SIFAT to write their autobiographies for SIFAT to publish. On September 20, 2019, these authors gave their testimonies, and we held a book signing as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations. The two are as different as
- [Save the Date - 40th Anniversary Celebration](https://sifat.org/our-40th-fiesta/) - Save the Date - 40th Anniversary Celebration We are planning an exciting event to commemorate 40 years of Sharing God’s Love in Practical Ways and want you to be part of it! Mark your calendars to join our staff on September 21, 2019, on the Galilee Campus of SIFAT for a meal, tours of
- [Worship on the Water 2019](https://sifat.org/worship-on-the-water-2019/) - Worship on the Water 2019 Worship on the Water (WOW) starts this weekend! Sponsored by SIFAT, WOW is a casual, nondenominational worship service held at Lakeside Marina in Wedowee, Ala., Sundays at 9 a.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Each week features a different speaker and musician. Whether you are a local
- [#GivingTuesday 2018 - Nov. 27](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday-2018-nov-27/) - #GivingTuesday 2018 - Nov. 27 It’s #GivingTuesday time once again! Please save the date for Nov. 27 to participate in this global holiday that celebrates generosity and kindness by giving to nonprofit organizations, such as SIFAT. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday buying season, #GivingTuesday starts the giving season, reminding
- [Shopping with Purpose](https://sifat.org/shopping-with-purpose/) - Shopping with Purpose As you start shopping this holiday season, please remember SIFAT! There are many ways you can help SIFAT while choosing gifts for the important people in your life. SIFAT Village Store Did you know we have a gift shop on our campus? Gifts from around the world made primarily by family microenterprises
- [Ecuador: Intern Luci's Last Post](https://sifat.org/ecuador-intern-lucis-last-post/) - Ecuador: Intern Luci's Last Post Editor’s Note: High school junior Luci Bryson, daughter of SIFAT training director Kathy Bryson, is spending six weeks this summer as an intern with SIFAT Ecuador. Having already been part of Learn & Serve programming and training events both on our Galilee Campus and internationally, Luci is helping our teams
- [Ecuador: Intern Luci Checks In](https://sifat.org/ecuador-intern-luci-checks-in/) - Ecuador: Intern Luci Checks In Editor’s Note: High school junior Luci Bryson, daughter of SIFAT training director Kathy Bryson, is spending six weeks this summer as an intern with SIFAT Ecuador. Having already been part of Learn & Serve programming and training events both on our Galilee Campus and internationally, Luci is helping our teams
- [Ecuador: Intern Luci's First Week in Quito](https://sifat.org/ecuador-intern-lucis-first-week-in-quito/) - Ecuador: Intern Luci's First Week in Quito Editor's Note: High school junior Luci Bryson, daughter of SIFAT training director Kathy Bryson, is spending six weeks this summer as an intern with SIFAT Ecuador. Having already been part of Learn & Serve programming and training events both on our Galilee Campus and internationally, Luci is helping
- [Ecuador: Mission Team Members Needed!](https://sifat.org/ecuador-mission-team-members-needed/) - Ecuador: Mission Team Members Needed! We need you to join with us this year to serve the people of Ecuador! Several of our 2018 teams need extra members now to complete their teams. In February, SIFAT broke ground on a new construction project in Aida Leon in the southern part of Quito. Teams will be
- [Ecuador: New Regulations = New Concrete Equipment](https://sifat.org/ecuador-concrete-equipment/) - Ecuador: New Regulations = New Concrete Equipment In 2018, the Aida Leon project will break ground in Ecuador! However, new building codes and government regulations will not allow us to mix concrete by hand, as teams have done for the last 17 years in the traditional building style of Quito. SIFAT Ecuador's engineer, Edwin Contreras,
- [Kick Off the Giving Season with #GivingTuesday 2017](https://sifat.org/kick-off-the-giving-season-with-givingtuesday-2017/) - Kick Off the Giving Season with #GivingTuesday 2017 #GivingTuesday is Nov. 28! It’s #GivingTuesday time once again! Please save the date for Nov. 28 to participate in this global holiday that celebrates generosity and kindness by giving to nonprofit organizations, such as SIFAT. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday buying
- [Arrangements for David Bryson](https://sifat.org/arrangements-for-david-bryson/) - Arrangements for David Bryson It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of one of our close SIFAT family members with you. David Bryson, husband of international training director Kathy Corson Bryson, died this past Friday. A second memorial service is being held Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m. at Auburn UMC Founders
- [Merry Christmas from SIFAT!](https://sifat.org/merry-christmas-from-sifat/) - Merry Christmas from SIFAT! Thank you for being part of SIFAT in 2016! Dear SIFAT Family, This has been another wonderful year at SIFAT! A simple thank you is never enough to express our gratitude for your support of SIFAT and our work throughout the world. Your prayers, participation and donations allow us to
- [Shop with SIFAT for the Holidays!](https://sifat.org/shop-with-sifat-for-the-holidays/) - Shop with SIFAT for the Holidays! As you start shopping this holiday season, please remember SIFAT! We have several ways you can help SIFAT during this holiday season of giving while checking names off of your holiday list. Visit the SIFAT Village Store online Find unique gifts for your friends in family at
- [Training: Environmental Monitoring Training in June](https://sifat.org/training-environmental-monitoring-training-in-june/) - Training: Environmental Monitoring Training in June SIFAT is excited about an upcoming training opportunity to be held June 28-30, 2016, on our campus. The following press release is from the 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program, with whom we are partners for this conference. The 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program is partnering with five environmental centers
- [Ecuador: Safe in Quito after Earthquake](https://sifat.org/ecuador-safe-in-quito-after-earthquake/) - Ecuador: Safe in Quito after Saturday's Earthquake As you have probably heard, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the northern coast of Ecuador Saturday afternoon. The epicenter was more than 100 miles from Quito. Thankfully, we have talked to Dr. Roberto, our director in Ecuador, and he assures us that our project sites in Quito are safe.
- [2009 SIFAT Calendars](https://sifat.org/2009-sifat-calendars/) - 2009 SIFAT Calendars Our 2009 SIFAT Calendars are here! Order yours now! Each calendar features beautiful pictures from our projects in Bolivia and Ecuador. Inspiring verses and quotes accompany staggering statistics about world poverty, which SIFAT works to combat through our training and short-term mission teams. Fundraising Opportunity: We suggest you sell each calendar for
- [Risking Everything Arrives at SIFAT!](https://sifat.org/risking-everything-arrives-at-sifat/) - Risking Everything Arrives at SIFAT! SIFAT cofounder Sarah Corson's latest book, Risking Everything, chronicles the Corsons years as missionaries in the jungle of Bolivia. Drawing from articles she wrote with vivid detail at the time they happened, Sarah takes the reader into the reality of the world we live in...both then and still today.
- [Village Store Christmas Sale](https://sifat.org/village-store-christmas/) - Village Store Christmas Sale We are excited to offer items from the Village Store for Christmas this year. We are starting to build our online storefront, so check back often as we add new items. Currently, you can find books written by our co-founders Ken and Sarah Corson; merchandise to show your support of SIFAT
- [Online Shopping Benefits SIFAT](https://sifat.org/online-shopping-benefits-sifat/) - Online Shopping Benefits SIFAT Are you looking for online deals this holiday shopping season? If so, did you know many online retailers donate a percentage of each purchase to nonprofits, such as SIFAT? They do - and often have coupons, too! It gets easier with apps and coupons. From your favorite clothing merchants to office
- [Double Your Money on #GivingTuesday 2015](https://sifat.org/double-your-money-on-givingtuesday-2015/) - Double Your Money#GivingTuesday 2015 Matching funds can double your financial gift to SIFAT when you make an online donation on December 1! Don't get caught up in the holiday giving season, rushing from store to store, or site to site, to find the best sales to get everyone on your list the perfect present! FOR ONE
- [Bolivia: Mt. Bethel UMC Update 2](https://sifat.org/bolivia-mt-bethel-umc-update-2/) - Bolivia: Mt. Bethel UMC Update 2 The Mt. Bethel UMC mission team is currently in Quesimpuco, Bolivia. Each year, a group of men from Marietta, Ga., look forward to spending time together serving the people in this remote Andean village and sharing during devotions. SIFAT’s executive director Tom Corson, administrator Terry Haynes and board member
- [Bolivia: Mt. Bethel UMC Team Checks In!](https://sifat.org/bolivia-mt-bethel-umc-team-checks-in/) - Bolivia: Mt. Bethel UMC Team Checks In! The Mt. Bethel UMC mission team is currently in Quesimpuco, Bolivia. Each year, a group of men from Marietta, Ga., look forward to spending time together serving the people in this remote Andean village and sharing during devotions. SIFAT’s executive director Tom Corson, administrator Terry Haynes and board
- [Ecuador: Summer Intern Wrap-Up](https://sifat.org/ecuador-summer-intern-wrap-up-2/) - Ecuador: Summer Intern Wrap-Up Bethany Lake interned in Ecuador with us this summer. She has now been back for a few weeks, but wanted to share her final journals with us. Thank you, Bethany, for your service in Ecuador and for sharing your experiences on our blog! You can read Bethany's previous posts here (introduction)
- [Ecuador: Update from Bethany](https://sifat.org/ecuador-update-from-bethany/) - Ecuador: Update from Bethany Bethany Lake is sharing about her five-week internship in Ecuador this summer. She traveled to Ecuador twice as a middle schooler, participated in Learn & Serve with her youth group and just completed her freshman year of college. We look forward to hearing about her adventures this summer with our short-term
- [Ecuador: Meet our 2015 Intern](https://sifat.org/ecuador-meet-our-2015-intern/) - Ecuador: Meet our 2015 Intern Bethany Lake will be sharing about her five-week internship in Ecuador this summer. She participated in two trips as a child that made a lasting impact on her life. Bethany also attended Learn & Serve Summer Experience with SIFAT. She has regularly supported SIFAT, as we chronicled in the May
- [Spring 2015 Journal](https://sifat.org/spring-2015-journal/) - Spring 2015 Journal Our Spring 2015 Journals have been mailed. We also post each issue on the News page of our website. To read the latest issue, click here.
- [Worship on the Water 2015](https://sifat.org/worship-on-the-water-2015/) - Worship on the Water 2015 Worship on the Water (WOW) starts this weekend! Sponsored by SIFAT, WOW is a casual, nondenominational worship service held at Lakeside Marina in Wedowee, Ala., Sundays at 9 a.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Each week features a different speaker and musician. Whether you are a local
- [Bolivia: April 2015 Quesimpuco Update](https://sifat.org/bolivia-april-2015-quesimpuco-update/) - Bolivia: April 2015 Quesimpuco Update Ivan "Boo Lee" Roman, our Latin American Project Coordinator, will be sharing about SIFAT's Quesimpuco projects each month. This is his first update, and we are excited to be able to share about the wonderful work our graduates are doing in this isolated community high in the Andes Mountains. SIFAT
- [Learn & Serve: Meet the Spring Interns](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-meet-the-spring-interns/) - Learn & Serve: Meet the Spring Interns This spring, we are privileged to have three Learn & Serve interns volunteering at SIFAT. They help plan and implement our programming with the many school, church, university and civic groups that visit SIFAT. Always willing to serve, our interns - Laurel, Lee and Mac - have become
- [Ecuador: Team Members Needed Now!](https://sifat.org/ecuador-team-members-needed/) - Ecuador: Team Members Needed Now! Mission team members are needed by April 10 for a special VBS team to Ecuador on June 27 – July 5, 2015. SIFAT teams usually work with our graduates in Ecuador to build facilities for the after-school programs sponsored by Compassion International. These programs give children from very poor families, who would otherwise be
- [Learn & Serve: 48: A Slum Experience Recap](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-48-a-slum-experience-recap/) - Learn & Serve: 48: A Slum Experience Recap This January, we once again held an intense slum experience that lasted 48 hours. In this blog post, Learn & Serve Interim Director Becca Griffin shares not only about this event, but also some background and statistics about urban slums to help us better understand how about
- [Hope In Christmas](https://sifat.org/hope-in-christmas/) - Hope In Christmas Thank you for your support this year! We hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday surrounded by friends and family. Our office will be closed Dec. 24 - 25, and Jan. 1. We will have limited staff available Dec. 22 - Jan. 2. Remember, end-of-year donations must be postmarked by Dec. 31
- [#GivingTuesday is Back! ](https://sifat.org/givingtuesday-is-back/) - #GivingTuesday is Back! Last year, SIFAT received $108,080 in one day from donors during #GivingTuesday. Of that, $34,050 was matching funds provided by the Global Ministries of United Methodist Church. Overall, Advance projects raised $6.5 million on #GivingTuesday 2013! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who participated last year! This year, you have
- [Job Opportunities at SIFAT](https://sifat.org/job-opportunities-at-sifat/) - Job Opportunities at SIFAT Nov. 1, 2014 Update: We are no longer taking applications for these positions. Thank you for your interest in SIFAT We get questions about the possibility of working at SIFAT and how we find our staff. Guess what? SIFAT currently has openings for two positions: campus director and campus program manager.
- [Learn & Serve: Summer Experience 2014 Wrap-Up](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-summer-experience-2014-wrap-up/) - Learn & Serve: Summer Experience 2014 Wrap-Up This summer, 605 students and individuals -- from 31 different churches throughout 9 states -- attended our week-long Learn & Serve Summer Experience. They began each week living in our Global Village, picking food from the village garden and cooking foods more common to the 10 countries represented
- [Bolivia: Mt. Bethel UMC Men in Quesimpuco](https://sifat.org/bolivia-mt-bethel-umc-men-in-quesimpuco/) - Bolivia: Mt. Bethel UMC Men in Quesimpuco Our last Bolivian team of the year is in Quesimpuco this week. Each year, Mt. Bethel UMC takes an all men's team to this remote area high in the Andes Mountains. John Moxley, a former team member, has received a few phone calls from the team and shared
- [Worship on the Water 2014 ](https://sifat.org/worship-on-the-water-2014/) - Worship on the Water 2014 It's almost time for Worship on the Water (WOW) 2014! Sponsored by SIFAT, WOW is a casual, nondenominational worship service held at Lakeside Marina in Wedowee, Ala., Sundays at 9 a.m. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Each week features a different speaker and musician. Whether you are
- [35th Anniversary Commemorative Brick Fund Raiser](https://sifat.org/35th-anniversary-commemorative-brick-fund-raiser/) - 35th Anniversary Commemorative Brick Fund Raiser Since 1979, SIFAT has shared God’s love in practical ways with the poor in our world. Without our donors and supporters, this could not have been possible! To celebrate these 35 years, we are building a commemorative patio and fire pit alongside the beautiful Mad Indian Creek on our
- [International Mission Teams: 2014 Team Members Needed in Ecuador!](https://sifat.org/international-mission-teams-2014-team-members-needed-in-ecuador/) - International Mission Teams: 2014 Team Members Needed in Ecuador! Please join us in helping the children of Ecuador. SIFAT offers you that opportunity now! We need team members on several of our scheduled teams to Ecuador this year. Below, you will find dates for teams that need additional members and a summary of the project.
- [Learn & Serve: 48 A Slum Experience 2014 Retreat](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-48-a-slum-experience-2014-retreat/) - Learn & Serve: 48 A Slum Experience 2014 Retreat Abuja, the gleaming capitol of Nigeria, is filled with neatly landscaped roads and extravagant buildings. It’s wealth, however, is matched by its poverty. The creation of the capitol city of Abuja in the 1980’s displaced many people from the area as well as created an attraction
- [Learn & Serve: Fall 2013 Retreats Wrap-Up!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-fall-2013-retreats-wrap-up/) - Learn & Serve: Fall 2013 Retreats Wrap-Up! It’s been a busy fall for Learn & Serve at SIFAT! We have had so many wonderful groups from across the southeast come to our campus in Lineville, AL for L&S programming. As we slow down for the winter season, we wanted to share a glimpse of this
- [Get Involved: UMC #GivingTuesday Dec. 3 - Matching Funds Double Your Donation!](https://sifat.org/get-involved-umc-givingtuesday-dec-3-matching-funds-double-your-donation/) - Get Involved: UMC #GivingTuesday Dec. 3 - Matching Funds Double Your Donation! Have you often wanted to stretch your giving to include one more orphan, one more hungry family, one more youth longing to study? When you make an online donation on December 3, your gift will double! FOR ONE DAY ONLY, on December 3,
- [Learn & Serve: Birmingham Youth Support SIFAT Training Graduate in Nigeria!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-birmingham-youth-support-sifat-training-graduate-in-nigeria/) - Learn & Serve: Birmingham Youth Support SIFAT Training Graduate in Nigeria! Pastor Ogbatabo is a pseudonym for one of our SIFAT graduates and trainers in Nigeria. Because of his work in a violent area, we want to protect his identity for his safety. Pastor Ogbatabo submitted a proposal to SIFAT, which was approved as a
- [International Project Update: Pastor Ogbatabo's Cookstove Training in Nigeria ](https://sifat.org/international-project-update-pastor-ogbatabos-cookstove-training-in-nigeria/) - International Project Update: Pastor Ogbatabo's Cookstove Training in Nigeria Pastor Ogbatabo is a pseudonym for one of our SIFAT graduates and trainers in Nigeria. Because of his work in a violent area, we want to protect his identity for his safety. Pastor Ogbatabo submitted a proposal to SIFAT, which was approved as a SIFAT international
- [International Project Update: September Training in Zambia](https://sifat.org/zambia-september-training/) - International Project Update: September Training in Zambia Letson Kachoronga is already leading training sessions at the United Methodist Conference Center/SIFAT Training Center in Lusaka, Zambia. Letson participated in last May's Field Study at SIFAT and also taught some of the agricultural classes. Letson uses Foundations for Farming techniques to teach sustainable agriculture that produces significantly
- [Learn & Serve: Goodbye Summer!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-goodbye-summer/) - Learn & Serve: Goodbye Summer! As summer ends and school is starting back, Learn & Serve (L&S) would like to thank all of our participants for making L&S Summer Experience 2013 such an amazing program! During our seven sessions, we had 393 participants from eight states across the southeast and midwest. Participants joined us in
- [Training - Field Study: Rocket Stoves](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-rocket-stoves/) - Training - Field Study: Our 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
- [Training - Field Study: Water, Water Everywhere](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-water-water-everywhere/) - Training - Field Study: Water, Water Everywhere Our May Field Study was held on SIFAT’s campus May 12-25. Sarah Murphree, SIFAT co-founder Sarah Corson’s great-niece, participated this year. She has been blogging about her experience and giving readers a glimpse of what types of appropriate technologies and community development topics are being presented, as well
- [Learn & Serve: Summer 2013 Spaces Still Available! ](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-summer-2013-spaces-still-available/) - Learn & Serve: Summer 2013 Spaces Still Available! There are still remaining spaces at SIFAT's Learn & Serve Summer 2013 Experience! This summer at Learn & Serve, the topic of "Missions" is being discussed. Missions is an increasingly popular topic in today's churches and youth groups. We are all interested in how to foster more "missions-minded" congregations
- [Training - Field Study: International Night](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-international-night/) - Training - Field Study: International Night Our 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
- [Training - Field Study: A Night in the Slums](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-a-night-in-the-slums/) - Training - Field Study: A Night in the Slums Our 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
- [WOW 2013 starts May 26!](https://sifat.org/wow-2013-starts-may-26/) - 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
- [Training - Field Study: Meet One of Our Teachers](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-meet-one-of-our-teachers/) - Training - Field Study: Meet One of Our Teachers Our 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
- [Training - Field Study: Lessons in the Garden](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-lessons-in-the-garden/) - Training - Field Study: Lessons in the Garden Our 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
- [Training - Field Study: In a world of differences, we are all just the same](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-in-a-world-of-differences-we-are-all-just-the-same/) - Training - Field Study: In a world of differences, we are all just the same Our 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
- [Training - Field Study: An Outsider's Perspective](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-an-outsiders-perspective/) - Training - Field Study: An Outsider's Perspective Our 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
- [Training - Field Study: Green Pasta](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-green-pasta/) - Training - Field Study: Green Pasta Our 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
- [Training-Field Study: Greens Powder - the Next Cure to World Hunger?](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-greens-powder-the-next-cure-to-world-hunger/) - Training-Field Study: Greens Powder - the Next Cure to World Hunger? Our 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
- [Training - Field Study: Bugs for Dinner](https://sifat.org/training-field-study-bugs-for-dinner/) - Training - Field Study: Bugs for Dinner Our 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
- [Ecuador: First 2013 Medical Team](https://sifat.org/ecuador-first-2013-medical-team/) - Ecuador: First 2013 Medical Team Last week, we posted about this year's first international mission team from the Auburn University Schools of Building Science and Nursing. You can read about the construction part of the team working in Puengasí here. Just as a reminder, Jeff Etheridge of Auburn University Photographic Services documented the trip. In
- [Ecuador: First 2013 team returns!](https://sifat.org/ecuador-first-2013-team-returns/) - Ecuador: First 2013 team returns! Our first team of the year spent their spring break from Auburn University serving the communities of Puengasí and Marianitas in Quito, Ecuador. The Schools of Nursing and Building Science took a combined team of 35 students and faculty, including three pharmacy students and a pharmacy alumna. This year, Jeff
- [Uganda: Firing the Stove (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-firing-the-stove-jackson-update/) - Uganda: Firing the Stove (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two years and
- [Uganda: Growth of Agape Christian Academy (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-growth-of-agape-christian-academy-jackson-update/) - Uganda: Growth of Agape Christian Academy (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two
- [Uganda: Building Relationships (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-building-relationships-jackson-update/) - Uganda: Building Relationships (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two years and are
- [Uganda: Sunday at Agape (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-sunday-at-agape-jackson-update/) - Uganda: Sunday at Agape (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two years and
- [Uganda: Exam Time (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-exam-time-jackson-update/) - Uganda: Exam Time (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two years and are
- [Learn & Serve: March Madness!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-march-madness/) - Learn & Serve: March Madness! While the world is gearing up for NBA March Madness 2013, the Learn & Serve staff is ready to hit the court for one of our busiest months of the year! March brings many groups to SIFAT’s campus for a variety of programs. L&S currently has more than 15 events scheduled
- [Uganda: Sunday Church (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-sunday-church-jackson-update/) - Uganda: Sunday Church (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two years and are
- [Uganda: More Teaching and Visiting Sam (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-more-teaching-and-visiting-sam-jackson-update/) - Uganda: More Teaching and Visiting Sam (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two
- [Uganda: Tuesday and Wednesday (Jackson Update)](https://sifat.org/uganda-tuesday-and-wednesday-jackson-update/) - Uganda: Tuesday and Wednesday (Jackson Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two years and
- [Uganda: Sunday and Sickness](https://sifat.org/uganda-sunday-and-sickness/) - Uganda: Sunday and Sickness (Jackson's Update) Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga’s project for the past two years and
- [Uganda: The Jacksons arrive at Agape!](https://sifat.org/uganda-the-jacksons-arrive-at-agape/) - Uganda: The Jacksons arrive at Agape! Glen Jackson, a member of the SIFAT board of directors, and his wife Marie are currently in Uganda for a month visiting Agape Total Childcare Center. Glen and Marie have gone on short-term mission trips to serve at SIFAT graduate William Nsubuga's project for the past two years and
- [Learn & Serve: "48: A Slum Experience" Retreat!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-48-a-slum-experience-retreat/) - Learn & Serve: "48: A Slum Experience" Retreat! January 19-21, 2013, eighty participants and thirty-four staff stepped into the life of over one billion people on the planet at “48: A Slum Experience”. This intense retreat allows high school participants, adult leaders, and college-aged staff to experience life in an urban slum environment. This year,
- [Reminder for End-of-year Giving](https://sifat.org/reminder-for-end-of-year-giving/) - Reminder for End-of-year Giving We know many of our supporters want to get one last donation to us for credit for the 2012 tax year. Remember, your online donation must be made before midnight on Dec. 31, and any checks mailed to SIFAT must be postmarked by Dec. 31. If you want to designate your
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- [Merry Christmas!](https://sifat.org/merry-christmas-3/)
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- [Learn & Serve: "48: A Slum Experience" January 2013 Retreat! ](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-48-a-slum-experience-january-2013-retreat/) - Learn & Serve's "48: A Slum Experience" Retreat Coming Soon - Sign up Now! Although forty-eight hours may not be enough time to travel to a developing country and back, it is enough time to get a glimpse into the everyday life of over one billion people on our planet. This coming January, Learn & Serve
- [STM Update: Articles from Auburn EWB Team](https://sifat.org/stm-update-articles-from-auburn-ewb-team/) - STM Update: Articles from Auburn EWB Team Auburn University's Engineers Without Borders team traveled to Quesimpuco, Bolivia, with SIFAT in August as part of a five-year commitment to serve the people of this region. The most recent issue of Auburn Engineering, a magazine produced by the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, features a cover photo
- [Raise money for SIFAT while shopping online!](https://sifat.org/raise-money-for-sifat-while-shopping-online/) - Raise money for SIFAT while shopping online! Are you finding lots of great Cyber Monday deals today? Before you purchase online, STOP! Did you know that you can raise money for SIFAT by using GoodShop? More than 2,500 retailers donate a percentage of each online purchase to the charity of your choice.Learn more below, then
- [Alumni Update: Dea Lieu of the Ivory Coast passes away](https://sifat.org/alumni-update-lieu-dea-of-the-ivory-coast-passes-away/) - Alumni Update: Dea Lieu of the Ivory Coast passes away We are very sad to bring you news of the death of one of our beloved partners in ministry, SIFAT graduate Dea Lieu. He died in the hospital on the morning of November 20 of an infection in his lungs. We do not have details
- [Learn & Serve: Intern Update!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-intern-update/) - Learn & Serve: Intern Support Update! A few weeks ago, you got to meet our Learn & Serve interns for the year. Beth, Faniel and Hamp have been hard at work both in and out of the SIFAT office helping support and lead Learn & Serve retreats as well as other events. One component of the L&S Internship
- [Learn & Serve: Fall 2012 Retreats](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-fall-2012-retreats/) - Learn & Serve: Fall 2012 Retreats Fall 2012 is shaping up to be a busy season for the Learn & Serve staff! We have over thirty retreats and events scheduled for this fall for a wide variety of groups. These groups are coming from all over the southeast to spend time on our campus and
- [Learn & Serve: Meet Our New Interns! ](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-meet-our-new-interns/) - Learn & Serve: Meet Our New Interns! A letter from Addison Shock, Learn & Serve Program Director: Greetings from Learn & Serve! The weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. Fall is upon us! Fall is my favorite season of the year, as it is for many people in the southern United
- [Learn & Serve: Summer 2012 Worship, from Abstract to Concrete ](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-summer-2012-worship-from-abstract-to-concrete/) - Learn & Serve: Summer 2012 Worship, from Abstract to Concrete Learn & Serve Summer 2013 Worship Leader Becca Griffin tells her perspective on how worship at Learn & Serve this past summer provided a bridge for students between concrete and abstract expressions of faith: Many of the words that are used in singing/teaching/talking about faith
- [Uganda: Agape Total Childcare Center opens school today!](https://sifat.org/uganda-agape-total-childcare-center-opens-school-today/) - Uganda: Agape Total Childcare Center opens school today! As many of you may know, Agape Total Childcare Center in Uganda had to move last month from Lugazi to Mukono. Because of unforeseen circumstances, William is forced to open the Agape Christian School now; he has been given one month by the Ministry of Education and
- [Learn & Serve: Spring Intern Information!](https://sifat.org/campus-programs-spring-intern-information/) - Because of the increased participation in retreats, we are now looking for campus interns. These interns will assist, direct and lead retreats during both the fall and the spring. They will model the lifestyle of Jesus to the participants of our Learn & Serve program. Interns will live on our property in community with other
- [Learn & Serve: Campus Interns Needed for Fall 2012, Spring 2013 and Summer 2013](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-campus-intern-for-fall-2012-spring-2013-and-fall-2012-summer-2013/) - Learn & Serve: Campus Interns Needed for Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and Summer 2013 Because of the increased participation in retreats, we are now looking for campus interns. These interns will assist, direct and lead retreats during both the fall and the spring. They will model the lifestyle of Jesus to the participants of our
- [Bolivia: Video from AU EWB Team](https://sifat.org/bolivia-video-from-au-ewb-team/) - Bolivia: Video from AU EWB Team The Auburn University Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter served in Bolivia August 2-12 as part of a long-term commitment to Quesimpuco. Since this is the EWB team's third trip, the AU Office of Communication & Marketing (OCM) sent a media team to capture video and photos of the service
- [Worship on the Water 2011 details](https://sifat.org/worship-on-the-water-2011-details/) - Worship on the Water 2011 details It's almost Memorial Day weekend, which means Worship on the Water (WOW) is about to begin! As always, come by boat, come by car, come as you are.This is the second year WOW is being sponsored by SIFAT. We're excited about seeing each of you at Lakeside Marina at 9
- [SIFAT participates in Alabama Gives Day on Feb. 2!](https://sifat.org/sifat-participates-in-alabama-gives-day-on-feb-2/) - SIFAT participates in Alabama Gives Day on Feb. 2! On February 2, 2012 the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, in partnership with the Alabama Broadcasters Association, is taking one day to harness the power of individual contributions statewide. Never before in our state have Alabamians had the opportunity to come together in such a unique and
- [International Mission Teams: Team members needed in Ecuador!](https://sifat.org/international-mission-teams-team-members-needed-in-ecuador/) - International Mission Teams: Team members needed in Ecuador! Have you always wanted to go on a mission team, but maybe your church didn't offer the opportunity? Or, perhaps you have just been waiting for the right opportunity? SIFAT can help! Several of our scheduled mission teams to Ecuador need additional team members. Below, you will
- [SIFAT pitches in to help Hurricane Irene relief in the Bahamas!](https://sifat.org/sifat-pitches-in-to-help-hurricane-irene-relief-in-the-bahamas/) - As Hurricane Irene hit the Bahamas last Thursday, Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT) staff member Addison Shock joined pilot Cameron King of Bahamas Habitat to prepare for an immediate response to the storm’s destruction. The next morning, they flew supplies to Eleuthera, Bahamas, where Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH) is located. SIFAT and Bahamas Habitat
- [This week: May 16](https://sifat.org/this-week-may-16/) - We missed posting for a couple of weeks, but don't think we haven't been busy at SIFAT! Highlights: CARES, retreats, speaking at churches and a short-term mission leader training with UMC Global Missions and preparing for this week's field study. It never seems to slow down. Here's what's going on this week at SIFAT: All
- [This week: April 18](https://sifat.org/this-week-april-18/) - What is This Week? Click here to find out more. Sunday, April 17 - Associate minister Rob Haynes and some others from Fairhope UMC are here for a few days visiting and learning more about our programs and ways they can continue their involvement with SIFAT. Monday, April 18 - A group from the Wesley
- [This week: April 11](https://sifat.org/this-week-april-11/) - What is This Week? Click here to find out more. April 11-14: Clear Lake UMC (from Texas) work team on campus - They're working on the duplex and education building. April 13: Trinity UMC from Birmingham comes for a campus tour. April 14-15: Montgomery Catholic Prep School visits for an Learn & Serve (L&S) Retreat.
- [This week: April 4](https://sifat.org/this-week-april-4/) - What is This Week? Click here to find out more. Wow! It's another week of retreats and campus activities. April 5-8: L&S Retreat - Pamela Day group April 6-8: L&S Retreat - Spring Valley School April 7: CARES - multiple groups April 8-10: Auburn UMC Family Retreat - As part of their retreat, they'll be
- [This week: March 28](https://sifat.org/this-week-march-28/) - We're starting a new weekly blog post - This week! One frequently asked question we receive is what do you do when the international practicum isn't going on or it isn't the summer. We want to give you some insight into what happens all during the year at SIFAT, so on Mondays, we'll post what's
- [Granny, we will miss you!](https://sifat.org/granny-we-will-miss-you/) - Please pray for the Corson and Murphree families this week. SIFAT cofounder Sarah Corson's mother, Mrs. Winnie Murphree, passed away Monday afternoon at the age of 100. Mrs. Winnie, or Granny as she was known around SIFAT, was a retired schoolteacher and United Methodist pastor. She blessed the lives of many people in Randolph County and seemed
- [Haiti: One year anniversary of the earthquake](https://sifat.org/haiti-one-year-anniversary-of-the-earthquake/) - Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. One year later, SIFAT continues to install water purification systems to provide clean, safe drinking water to a country torn apart by the devastating earthquake, hurricane and cholera outbreak. Can you imagine being thirsty, but knowing the water you drink may be contaminated with
- [L&S Retreat: Sign up now for MLK, Jr. Weekend!](https://sifat.org/ls-retreat-sign-up-now-for-mlk-jr-weekend/) - 48: A Slum Experience By 2011, one-sixth of the people alive will be living in an urban slum. By 2030, that number is expected to double. Imagine, a third of our world living in a slum village somewhere around the world. As more people move from rural villages of our world into dense cityscapes, they
- [Intern Update: Goodbye Ixiamas](https://sifat.org/intern-update-goodbye-ixiamas/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. She is now in her second year as an intern. Much has happened since my last post. First of all, I am now home, and I will not be returning to
- [This week: Book signings and Santa photos!](https://sifat.org/this-week-book-signings-and-santa-photos/) - This week is going to be busy for our SIFAT staff, but you have several opportunities to get involved. Check out the schedule below to see what's happening! Tuesday, 4-6 p.m.: Sarah Corson will be at His Place Christian Resources in Lineville, Ala., for a book signing as part of His Place's Christmas Open House.
- [Intern Update: Shortages, wildfires and news](https://sifat.org/intern-update-shortages-wildfires-and-news/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. She is now in her second year as an intern. We are still having long lines to get gasoline, and we may soon be without since there is another blockade in
- [Intern Update: Back to the same old routine](https://sifat.org/intern-update-back-to-the-same-old-routine/) - On August 1, the last of our guests left. Troy is back to the USA and college classes, while Bolivar traveled to Santa Cruz for some additional training in well drilling. It was really quiet around the Internado, especially after having guests here since June. We did have some excitement on August 6, which is
- [Training: Invest in a Community Leader](https://sifat.org/training-invest-in-a-community-leader/) - Our Practicum students begin arriving today! Are you interested in becoming a part of their experience here? Read more below in the article that appears in the Summer 2010 Journal, which will be mailed this week. Each year, community leaders from developing countries come to the SIFAT campus in rural Alabama for 10 intensive weeks
- [Intern Update: Visitors](https://sifat.org/intern-update-visitors/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. She is now in her second year as an intern. The last two months have been very busy with visitors at the Internado. On June 14, Rachel’s parents, Marcia and David
- [Ixiamas: See what's happening in the jungle!](https://sifat.org/ixiamas-see-whats-happening-in-the-jungle/) - We have two YouTube videos to share with you. The first video shows some of the well drilling that Bolivar Sanga is leading in communities near Ixiamas. Troy, our summer intern, shared about the drilling in his previous posts. SIFAT learned how to use this manual drilling system from Water for All International. If you
- [Intern Update: Still drilling in Ixiamas](https://sifat.org/202/) - Troy Wetherholt is one of our summer interns in Ixiamas, Bolivia. He arrived in Bolivia June 12 and will post to our blog about his experiences. Troy has been helping SIFAT graduate Bolivar Sanga drill water wells in communities near Ixiamas. Plans had been made to provide the community of Santa Fe with a well,
- [Intern Update: Meet Troy ](https://sifat.org/intern-update-meet-troy/) - Troy Wetherholt is one of our summer interns in Ixiamas, Bolivia. He arrived in Bolivia June 12 and will post to our blog about his experiences. Troy joins Becky and former intern Olivia (summer 2008), who returned for a month this summer. After a long sleepless overnight flight to La Paz and bumbling through customs
- [Learn & Serve 2010: Week Three](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-2010-week-three/) - June 13 - 18, 2010 was an absolute BLAST!!! We loved having so many groups from so many different walks of life on our campus learning and growing every day. Last week, we hosted three churches from Alabama, one church from Georgia, one church from Mississippi, and one church from Illinois for a total of
- [Tell us about your SIFAT experience!](https://sifat.org/tell-us-about-your-sifat-experience/) - Short-term mission teams, our international field study training participants and Learn & Serve youth groups have been coming and going since May. Wow! There are so many different perspectives and experiences to share, but SIFAT needs your help. Did you go on a life-changing trip to Bolivia, Ecuador or Zambia? Are you a student, chaperon
- [Learn & Serve 2010: Meet Your Counselors!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-2010-meet-your-counselors/) - We are SO excited to introduce to you.... YOUR Learn & Serve Counselors for summer 2010!!! (From top to bottom, left to right - Hillary, Hamp, Taylor, Leah, Leigh, Lauren, Bryan, Carter) All eight of the counselors arrived at SIFAT last weekend and have been spending their entire week preparing for an INCREDIBLE summer. This
- [Learn & Serve 2010: Week One](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-2010-week-one/) - Our first week of Learn & Serve was absolutely incredible! We had 102 participants from 5 different churches from the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. The youth and adults enjoyed spending their time worshiping in the Quonset Hut, meeting new people in their SPEAR groups, being rained out of the Global Village...twice!, playing fun
- [Intern Update: Shortages](https://sifat.org/intern-update-shortages/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. She is now in her second year as an intern. The joys of having power on a regular basis after the blockade opened up and the arrival of fuel was short
- [CARES 2010: Spring Season ](https://sifat.org/cares-2010-spring-season/) - The CARES (Creative Academic Resources for Educational Success) Program is a practical way for students young and old to experience and learn about Asian, African, and Latin American countries and cultures through hands-on activities. This spring was a wonderful time to host our CARES Around the World programs! We hosted 737 participants over a span
- [Zambia: A building begins](https://sifat.org/zambia-a-building-begins/) - Tom and Peggy recently traveled to Zambia. While there, they were able to meet the University of Alabama at Birmingham's team of Engineers Without Borders and spend time on the project site. Dave Barnhart, of Trinity UMC in Birmingham, will be helping lead the first SIFAT short-term mission team later this year. Dave joined Tom
- [STM Update: Auburn UMC in Quesimpuco, Bolivia](https://sifat.org/stm-update-auburn-umc-in-quesimpuco-bolivia/) - Auburn UMC sent a team of college students, vets, medical professionals and others to Quesimpuco, Bolivia, from May 14-24. Because the project is in such a remote location high in the Andes Mountains, internet access is unavailable. Team leader Scott Middleton has been contacting his wife Lindsey, who is sending us updates, via satellite phone.
- [STM Update: University of West Alabama Wesley Foundation](https://sifat.org/stm-update-university-of-west-alabama-wesley-foundation-7/) - A short-term mission team from the University of West Alabama’s Wesley Foundation will be in Ecuador May 8-15. Please pray for them as they serve the children and adults at Dulce Refugio in Villaflora, Quito. They will be posting throughout the week about their experiences. May 13 Today was the last day at the worksite.
- [STM Update: University of West Alabama Wesley Foundation](https://sifat.org/stm-update-university-of-west-alabama-wesley-foundation-6/) - A short-term mission team from the University of West Alabama’s Wesley Foundation will be in Ecuador May 8-15. Please pray for them as they serve the children and adults at Dulce Refugio in Villaflora, Quito. They will be posting throughout the week about their experiences. May 12 On Monday night, one of our team members,
- [Intern Update: Blockade](https://sifat.org/intern-update-blockade/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. She is now in her second year as an intern. April 12 was Kid’s Day in Bolivia, so the Internado decided to have a celebration for the kids of Ixiamas. We
- [STM Update: University of West Alabama Wesley Foundation](https://sifat.org/stm-update-university-of-west-alabama-wesley-foundation-5/) - May 11 - Body of Christ by Genevieve Baughman The theme for today seems to be the body of Christ. Nearly everyone mentioned something to this extent during our evening devotion. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s look at the start of the day, and then we’ll work on up to the closing meeting.
- [STM Update: University of West Alabama Wesley Foundation](https://sifat.org/stm-update-university-of-west-alabama-wesley-foundation-4/) - A short-term mission team from the University of West Alabama’s Wesley Foundation will be in Ecuador May 8-15. Please pray for them as they serve the children and adults at Dulce Refugio in Villaflora, Quito. They will be posting throughout the week about their experiences. May 10 - When is the Last Time You Drank
- [STM Update: University of West Alabama Wesley Foundation](https://sifat.org/stm-update-university-of-west-alabama-wesley-foundation-3/) - A short-term mission team from the University of West Alabama’s Wesley Foundation will be in Ecuador May 8-15. Please pray for them as they serve the children and adults at Dulce Refugio in Villaflora, Quito. They will be posting throughout the week about their experiences. May 9 - Genevieve Baughman Part of the team met
- [STM Update: University of West Alabama Wesley Foundation](https://sifat.org/stm-update-university-of-west-alabama-wesley-foundation-2/) - A short-term mission team from the University of West Alabama’s Wesley Foundation will be in Ecuador May 8-15. Please pray for them as they serve the children and adults at Dulce Refugio in Villaflora, Quito. They will be posting throughout the week about their experiences. March 8 - Wilson Kendrick We arrived in Quito, Ecuador
- [STM Update: University of West Alabama Wesley Foundation](https://sifat.org/stm-update-university-of-west-alabama-wesley-foundation/) - A short-term mission team from the University of West Alabama's Wesley Foundation will be in Ecuador May 8-15. Please pray for them as they serve the children and adults at Dulce Refugio in Villaflora, Quito. They will be posting throughout the week about their experiences. May 6 - Wilson Kendrick It is hard to believe
- [Exploring Appropriate Technology in the Classroom](https://sifat.org/exploring-appropriate-technology-in-the-classroom/) - Students from the McWhorter School of Building Science at Auburn University recently participated in a class project on building structures using low-cost available items for people living in the developing world. Then, they visited a local third grade class at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School to get their help making 4x4 wall panels that could
- [L&S 2010: Register before it's full!](https://sifat.org/ls-2010-register-before-its-full/) - Have you made plans for summer 2010? Whether you are an individual or a youth group, we have space available for you at Learn & Serve 2010! Weeks Two and Five have opened up again because of cancellations, which means you just got an early birthday present. You can still register for camp now. Visit
- [Intern Update: Easter Chicken Sale](https://sifat.org/intern-update-easter-chicken-sale/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. She is now in her second year as an intern. Yay! The heat has broken for now in Ixiamas! Easter Sunday blessed us with a thunderstorm and cooling winds. It finally
- [Training: International Edible Insect Conference](https://sifat.org/training-international-edible-insect-conference/) - Did you know that almost 80 percent of the world's population includes insects in their diets? More than 1400 species of insects are edible. Insects are a valuable source of critically needed protein and micro-nutrients. What are the pros and cons of promoting insects as a solution for world hunger? Why does the Western attitude
- [Learn & Serve: Coming soon...get ready!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-coming-soonget-ready/) - Limited space if available - have you registered yet? Visit the L&S site for more info. We have a new video - have you seen it?
- [Intern Update: Back in Bolivia](https://sifat.org/intern-update-back-in-bolivia/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. She is now in her second year as an intern. The last few weeks have gone by so fast it is hard to believe. God blessed me again with a companion to
- [Learn & Serve: Summer staff opportunities and more!](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-summer-staff-opportunities-and-more/) - Wow! It is already February 2010, which means summer is almost here! Did you know that we have already filled THREE weeks of summer camp? Our Learn & Serve (L&S) staff has been busy talking to youth directors and leaders. However, we still have several weeks of camp that have spots still available. Register now
- [Haiti Update: Tom & Trey back in the U.S.](https://sifat.org/haiti-update-tom-trey-back-in-the-us/) - Tom and Trey made it back safely late Wednesday night. We will have more details about their trip and some photos posted next week - so keep checking for updates and news about future plans in Haiti. Thanks for your support and prayers!
- [Haiti Update: Tom and Trey](https://sifat.org/haiti-update-tom-and-trey/) - Since our last post, Tom and Trey have witnessed two aftershocks in Jimani. They are safe, and the clinic and orphanage didn't suffer any damage. However, the Haitian patients and refugees are frightened. They moved from sleeping inside the building to outside. During the first aftershock, many jumped from second story windows because they were
- [Haiti Update: Tom & Trey on the ground](https://sifat.org/haiti-update-tom-trey-on-the-ground/) - Tom and Trey arrived in the Dominican Republic yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. They traveled to Jimani, which is near the Haitian border, to a hospital sponsored by The Jimani Project, one of HERO's partners. They were unable to purchase the car batteries for the water filtration systems because yesterday was a national holiday. Today, they should
- [Haiti Update and News Articles](https://sifat.org/haiti-update-and-news-articles/) - Plans have changed so many times during the past few days as we plan how SIFAT is getting involved with the Haiti relief effort. We told you our first plan on Monday. We always tell mission teams to remember to be flexible - and flexibility has been key this week. However, God is opening doors
- [Our Haitian Graduates and Friends...](https://sifat.org/our-haitian-graduates-and-friends/) - As most have been doing this week, our staff has watched the news and video footage of the devastation in Haiti. Checking Facebook and email to hear from SIFAT graduates and friends is the only way to communicate. Below is what we have been to find out so far. We will update as we receive
- [Haiti updates: Graduates and Friends of SIFAT](https://sifat.org/haiti-updates-graduates-and-friends-of-sifat/) - We have more news from some of our graduates and friends... William Hatcher is back in the States. He and his team all made it home safely. Pacius, a 1996 graduate, lives away from Port au Prince, but he has opened up is small home - 20'x20' - to 30 people needing a place to
- [SIFAT is taking water purifiers to Haiti](https://sifat.org/sifat-is-taking-water-purifiers-to-haiti/) - On Friday afternoon, our executive director Tom Corson and 2009 graduate Trey Reed were given an opportunity they couldn't turn down - a chance to leave Thursday, Jan. 21 to travel to Haiti with a group of medical personnel and relief workers from HERO, Haiti Emergency Relief Organization, a nonprofit based in Huntsville. Air travel
- [Merry Christmas and Happy New Year](https://sifat.org/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year/) - Merry Christmas! The SIFAT office will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 in celebration of Christmas. We hope you enjoy this holiday season with your friends and family. We will reopen on Dec. 28. Reminder: If you are planning to make an end-of-year contribution to SIFAT, your gift must be dated and postmarked by Dec.
- [Intern Update: Home for the Holidays](https://sifat.org/intern-update-home-for-the-holidays/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. Leaving the Internado
- [Concert in Mississippi](https://sifat.org/concert-in-mississippi/) - Another DecembeRadio concert is being held in Mississippi. The proceeds are going to missions, and SIFAT is one of the organizations that will benefit. Other bands performing include God Speed 3, Seven Glory and Sarah Reeves. When: December 2, 2009 at 6 p.m. Where: Forrest County Multi Purpose Center Hwy 49 S, Hattiesburg, MS More
- [Cyber Monday can help SIFAT!](https://sifat.org/cyber-monday-can-help-sifat/) - Did you brave the lines on Black Friday or watch football while enjoying a leftover turkey sandwich? If you decided to wait and find online deals today, your shopping can help SIFAT. Two great sites - iGive.com and Goodshop.com - let you choose stores that will donate a percentage of your purchase to the nonprofit
- [Office Closed - Thanksgiving Holidays](https://sifat.org/office-closed-veterans-day/) - The SIFAT office is closed today, Nov. 26, and tomorrow, Nov. 27, for the Thanksgiving holidays. We will reopen Monday, Nov. 30, 2009. Happy Holidays from the SIFAT staff! We hope you have a wonderful time celebrating with your friends and family.
- [Mission Team Update - the Paulks in Africa](https://sifat.org/mission-team-update-the-paulks-in-africa-3/) - Gerald and Sue Paulk are currently in Uganda on a mission trip sponsored by Four Corners, a ministry with whom SIFAT has partnered many times. SIFAT executive director Tom Corson and international team coordinator Peggy Walker are also on this trip. While in Africa, they are serving with William Nsubuga and his son Sean at
- [Mission Team Update - the Paulks in Africa](https://sifat.org/mission-team-update-the-paulks-in-africa-2/) - Gerald and Sue Paulk are currently in Uganda on a mission trip sponsored by Four Corners, a ministry with whom SIFAT has partnered many times. SIFAT executive director Tom Corson and international team coordinator Peggy Walker are also on this trip. While in Africa, they are serving with William Nsubuga and his son Sean at
- [Mission Team Update - the Paulks in Africa](https://sifat.org/mission-team-update-the-paulks-in-africa/) - Gerald and Sue Paulk are currently in Uganda on a mission trip sponsored by 4 Corners, a ministry with whom SIFAT has partnered many times. SIFAT executive director Tom Corson and international team coordinator Peggy Walker are also on this trip. While in Africa, they are serving with William Nsubuga and his son Sean at
- [Fundraiser for SIFAT: Pictures with Santa](https://sifat.org/fundraiser-for-sifat-pictures-with-santa/) - For the second year, Alpha Kappa Lambda at Auburn University and the employees of Photographic Services will be taking photos with or without Santa in front of Samford Hall. For a $15 donation, participants will receive two 5x7 prints and have the opportunity to purchase more. Click here for more information. Date: Tuesday, Dec. 1
- [Youth Leaders - New Event Information!](https://sifat.org/youth-leaders-new-event-information/) - SIFAT's Learn & Serve staff are debuting a new youth event during the MLK, Jr., holiday weekend. On January. 16-18, 2010, we invite you to come experience 48: A Slum Experience. Students and leaders will live in our urban slums for 48 hours, during which they will have to meet their basic human needs. You
- [Intern Update: Puerto Ruso and Sapecho](https://sifat.org/intern-update-puerto-ruso-and-sapecho/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. Another month has
- [Intern Update: The month without Rachel](https://sifat.org/intern-update-the-month-without-rachel/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. I survived the
- [SIFAT on Facebook](https://sifat.org/sifat-on-facebook/) - We are now on Facebook. Visit the SIFAT page and add us as a friend! Don't forget SIFAT also has a cause on Facebook, where you can help us raise money by donating online, setting fundraising goals and getting birthday gifts donated in your honor.
- [Intern Update: Time Flying](https://sifat.org/intern-update-time-flying/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. Wow, I can’t
- [Practicum 2009: Introducing Katherine to our Blog](https://sifat.org/practicum-2009-introducing-katherine-to-our-blog/) - The 2009 Practicum has begun! This marks our second week of classes. Most of last week was spent learning "the basics" - computer and Internet training, cross cultural studies and learning important Southern words/phrases, such as y'all. This fall, one of our American students, Katherine Harrison, will be writing about her experiences for our blog.
- [Book your CARES field trip now!](https://sifat.org/book-your-cares-field-trip-now/) - The dates for our 2009-2010 CARES events are now posted on our website. Visit www.sifat.org/cares to find out more information. Space is limited, so make your field trip plans now! The CARES program is an educational field trip for all age students, including public, private and home school groups (and scouts and church groups, too).
- [Concert to raise funds for SIFAT](https://sifat.org/concert-to-raise-funds-for-sifat/) - Brookhaven UMC is hosting DecembeRadio this Sunday, Aug. 30th, at 6 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Arena in Brookhaven, Miss. Proceeds from this concert (tickets are only $10!) will help us finish Mama Yoli's House. DecembeRadio won the 2009 Dove award for Rock Album of the Year. We hope you come out to enjoy this Christian
- [Finally finished with Immigration!](https://sifat.org/finally-finished-with-immigration/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. Yeah! I have
- [Summer Intern Katie: Part Two](https://sifat.org/summer-intern-katie-part-two/) - Two summer interns joined Becky in Ixiamas, Bolivia. Although they did not post throughout their time, we asked them to share about their experiences. This is the fourth (and final!) part in a multi-post series. My first weekend was a little long to be honest. We worked on the chicken coop, went to the internet
- [Summer Intern Katie: Part One](https://sifat.org/summer-intern-katie-part-one/) - Two summer interns joined Becky in Ixiamas, Bolivia. Although they did not post throughout their time, we asked them to share about their experiences. This is the third part in a multi-post series. Well, my name is Katie Acker, and I’m from Ohatchee, Alabama. I just graduated high school, and I’m about to move to
- [Summer Intern Chas: Part Two](https://sifat.org/summer-intern-chas-part-two/) - Two summer interns joined Becky in Ixiamas, Bolivia. Although they did not post throughout their time, we asked them to share about their experiences. This is the second part in a multi-post series. So prepare, because this might be long and it might be mushy. Sorry. I’ll start with the Holy Spirit because truly He
- [Summer Intern Chas: Part One](https://sifat.org/summer-intern-chas-part-one/) - Two summer interns joined Becky in Ixiamas, Bolivia. Although they did not post throughout their time, we asked them to share about their experiences. This is the first part in a multi-post series.  I was begged to write this. I’m not much of a blogger, so this was one of the last things I
- [Winter Vacation](https://sifat.org/winter-vacation/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. The last three
- [Visiting new places near Ixiamas, Bolivia](https://sifat.org/visiting-new-places-near-ixiamas-bolivia/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. This is my
- [Back in Ixiamas!](https://sifat.org/back-in-ixiamas/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intern in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. Finally after six
- [](https://sifat.org/144/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intetn in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. Life is definitely
- [SIFAT offers Field Study to address Hunger and Malnutrition](https://sifat.org/sifat-offers-field-study-to-address-hunger-and-malnutrition/) - People interested in participating in SIFAT's community development training often cannot take part in our 10-week international Practicum. This spring, we are offering a two-week Field Study Course highlighting hunger and malnutrition. Kathy Bryson, our international training director, has written a letter below to those interested. At the bottom of this post, we have included
- [A Bolivian birthday, mp3s and a field trip...](https://sifat.org/a-bolivian-birthday-mp3s-and-a-field-trip/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intetn in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. What an exciting
- [Internado Animals](https://sifat.org/internado-animals/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intetn in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. I can’t believe
- [Website Updates](https://sifat.org/website-updates/) - Short-term Mission Team Leaders: We have updated the team leader info page with new versions of some of the forms. To view this page, click here or go to www.sifat.org/tlinfo.html. The forms are at the bottom of the page. If you have questions, please contact us. For general information about SIFAT's short-term mission teams, visit
- [Intern Update](https://sifat.org/intern-update-3/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intetn in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. We are continuing
- [Intern Update](https://sifat.org/intern-update-2/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intetn in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. I have been
- [Hola from Bolivia](https://sifat.org/hola-from-bolivia/) - Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intetn in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. It doesn’t seem
- [iGive - another way to donate!](https://sifat.org/igive-another-way-to-donate/) - Do you ever want to give more to SIFAT, but find that you don't have much spare change to contribute? We have many ways of donating to SIFAT - financially, volunteering, wish list items. However, you can sometimes give indirectly to SIFAT by continuing your daily routines! Using the Internet can help SIFAT! In the
- [Constance returns to Nigeria!](https://sifat.org/constance-returns-to-nigeria/) - Happy New Year! Constance, one of our 2008 Practicum graduates, has recovered from a successful surgery and is now back home with her family. She arrived in Nigeria on New Year's Day. In her e-mail to us, she excitedly told of reuniting with her family at Sunday morning worship on Jan. 3. During January, she
- [Merry Christmas](https://sifat.org/merry-christmas-2/) - Merry Christmas from the SIFAT staff!We hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your friends and family. The SIFAT office will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will reopen on the 26th. ---- Remember, if you want to donate and have it credited to your 2008 tax returns, it must be dated and
- [Mi Ultimo... Ciao!   Vicky](https://sifat.org/mi-ultimo-ciao-vicky/) - Greetings from SIFAT, Alabama! I should have written this a week ago, coming back here in the USA, I slid back to the norm (?) of  busy, busy  and fast -track American life. Anyway, here is to share with you my last couple of days in Bolivia, and also to share some of my reflection on my 7 -month life
- [Bolivia Bridge Project Completed!](https://sifat.org/bolivia-bridge-project-completed/) - We have exciting news to share - the bridge project in Quesimpuco, Bolivia, has been completed! Bolivar Sanga, the SIFAT engineer overseeing this project, called right before the SIFAT staff sat down for Thanksgiving lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 26. He e-mailed some photos of the bridge to us, and we wanted to share these with
- [Good- bye Ixiamas](https://sifat.org/good-bye-ixiamas/) - I have my final farewell from Internado and Ixiamas folks last Thursday. Since most of the kids have left school and Internado at different times for the last 2 wks, I have been saying good bye for the last 2-3 weeks. Our dorm supervisor for the girls left about 3 weeks ago also. Our oldest
- [Here.Now- Vicky](https://sifat.org/herenow-vicky/) - Here´s a letter I posted to the SIFAT staff last weekend. I want to thank the Lord for those who have been praying for me and with me for the Internado folks. Also I thank the Lord as once again has shown that He is a God of impossibilities. About same time last year, when the
- [On my last few weeks...Life goes on in Internado](https://sifat.org/on-my-last-few-weekslife-goes-on-in-internado/) - Hola de Ixiamas! Believe it or not, I only have 3 weeks left here in Bolivia, and only couple of weeks with the kids! I am having all kinds of mixed emotions. The kids at the Internado finishes their school year by the 3rd week of November. I will be in the USA for 2-3 weeks in
- [Practicum News ](https://sifat.org/pra/) - We have asked Practicum student Becky Forrest to let us publicly post the recaps e-mails to friends and family. Becky is an American and has just begun full-time missions after 29 years as an accountant. Through her posts, we hope you will understand a little more about what the Practicum is and what students are
- [Practicum News](https://sifat.org/practicum-news-2/) - We have asked Practicum student Becky Forrest to let us publicly post the recaps e-mails to friends and family. Becky is an American and has just begun full-time missions after 29 years as an accountant. Through her posts, we hope you will understand a little more about what the Practicum is and what students are
- [Hola from La Paz...Internet classes](https://sifat.org/hola-from-la-pazinternet-classes/) - Hola from La Paz! I`ve been here in LaPaz this week for visa stuff. Again, I thank God for working it out. Prior to coming here it was quite an ordeal. Last week, I was in Rurre for my visa extension (again), then to La Paz for the US visa. However, in the middle of this travelling,
- [A Bugs Life,,, A Hike to the Falls- Vicky](https://sifat.org/a-bugs-life-a-hike-to-the-falls-vicky/) - Hola again from Bolivia.... I mentioned in my previous writing that bugs and insects have been a normal part of my  life here in the jungle of Ixiamas.  I wrote also that I was beaten by giant ants and wasp. To continue with my story. One time, I was cleaning my room; suddenly I noticed a
- [Practicum News](https://sifat.org/practicum-news/) - We have asked Practicum student Becky Forrest to let us publicly post the recaps e-mails to friends and family. Becky is an American and has just begun full-time missions after 29 years as an accountant. Through her posts, we hope you will understand a little more about what the Practicum is and what students are
- [SIFAT Update](https://sifat.org/sifat-update/) - What's been going on at SIFAT? A lot! We've finished Learn & Serve for the summer and welcomed Practicum students. Schools and groups are coming weekly for CARES field trips, not to mention the retreats on weekends. Wow. Busy! We have asked Practicum student Becky Forrest to let us publicly post the recaps e-mails to
- [A Chaco Day, A Bugs Life- Vicky](https://sifat.org/a-chaco-day-a-bugs-life-vicky/) - Chaco Day, A Bugs Life, The last few weeks have gone by quickly and here are some of my adventures here in the Amazon Forest. Chaco Day. Few weeks ago, for 2 weekends, the Internado folks  (workers and kids) had to go to chaco  (farming field) to work. Its about 3 miles from the Internado
- [Hola again!](https://sifat.org/hola-again/) - Once again, I apologize for my poor writing from last time. Im sorry for grammatical and typo error. I meant to say last time, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not break". (Please excuse my writing as English is not my first language.And I am still struggling to learn my fourth language-Spanish) Just a
- [Back to Ix,,,Rachel´s Day & Mini-Olympics](https://sifat.org/back-to-ixrachel´s-day-mini-olympics/) - " Blessed are the flexible, but they shall not break". I think the last time I heard this word was from Nate Paulk (SIFAT). However, prior to coming to SIFAT and relearning this principle, I had learned to live with this early on my in the missionfield. It is actually the grace of God that helped
- [Still in La Paz](https://sifat.org/still-in-la-paz/) - Still in La Paz. I thank God for the opportunity to visit more La Paz while sorting out my visa issue. Yesterday I had to make an appeal with the Migracion office to get the 59 day-visa intended for Filipinos, as the border gave me only 30 days,,,After prayer and asking for favor, the same guy
- [Vicky - visa and back from Peru.](https://sifat.org/vicky-visa-and-back-from-peru/) - I got back !I made it back, thank God !!Though I was only out for a day from Bolivia, I m so glad I was able to get back with no hassle.. I had to go to Peru yesterday to get a new visa. However before leaving the country I went thru some ordeal with visa issues.
- [Parades, Farewells, and LaPaz](https://sifat.org/parades-farewells-and-lapaz/) - We ended our time in Bolivia by being the proud participants in Ixiamas`parade in honor of Bolivian independence day...Being the only gringos, we definitely stood out, but had a blast just the same.  Spirits were high as we prepared for two parades in less than 24 hours. Tuesday night, the kids marched with their classes and carried
- [Update from Hermana Vicky](https://sifat.org/update-from-hermana-vicky/) - Hola hermanos, hermanos, amigos y amigas! (Hello to brothers, sisters and friends) Here’s to share with you some of the highlights for this past summer in the Internado. (which is suppose to be the winter in Bolivia) After 3 weeks of vacation, (mid June to first week of July) the children all came back for the
- [Pageants and Puppies.](https://sifat.org/pageants-and-puppies/) - The last week has been rather quiet around the Internado. Rachel is back and we are so glad to have her. Unfortunaelty she had to return to a lost puppy, sneakers. We did everything in our power to return her before Rachel got back, announcements over the radio in town, we even offered a reward.
- [Join us in Celebrating Ken and Sarah's 50th Anniversary!](https://sifat.org/join-us-in-celebrating-ken-and-sarahs-50th-anniversary/) - You are invited to help the SIFAT staff celebrate our cofounders Ken and Sarah Corson's 50th wedding anniversary at an informal cookout on August 16 at 10 a.m. Since leaving directly from their honeymoon to serve in Cuba, their marriage has been a legacy to missions, with almost 30 of their 50 years together given
- [When the kids are away the interns will... eat. ](https://sifat.org/when-the-kids-are-away-the-interns-will-eat/) - Granted the title insinuates that all that we did while the kids were away is eat, which is not true, but it was one of the enjoyable things we partook of while they were absent. While the kids were away spending time with their families we decided to dine on a few more traditional dishes
- [Ladrillos, Slap-yo-mama, fire torches, and a puppy](https://sifat.org/ladrillos-slap-yo-mama-fire-torches-and-a-puppy/) - The UMVIM group from South Carolina has only been here for three days, but you wouldn´t guess it by the amount of wall they´ve bricked. The second floor is really starting to take shape. Two of the exterior wall spaces are almost done, and one interior wall is halfway up. All of the exterior wall
- [The Grand Finale blog post of Bryan/Abby](https://sifat.org/the-grand-finale-blog-post-of-bryanabby/) - The good news is that Sifat readers will no longer have to endure our blogs. The bad news is that we have said our goodbys to some of the most amazing people we have had a chance to meet. Today, I made my way here to Rurrenabaque with the last group of this year. Abby,
- [El Tigre, Ferro-Cement, and Goodbye`s](https://sifat.org/el-tigre-ferro-cement-and-goodbyes/) - Tuesday morning we headed out bright and earlyto embark on our journey to El Tigre. Riding on top of the truck (my new favorite mode of transportation) plus the free live entertainment provided by the group from St. John`s made the trip not only bearable, but a whole lot of fun. The kids in El
- [Lab in a Suitcase](https://sifat.org/lab-in-a-suitcase/) - International Aid's Lab in a Suitcase training will be held on SIFAT's campus August 10-12, 2008. Imagine you are in a jungle area with no electricity. The nearest medical lab is days away. You need to make a diagnosis to determine which life-saving medicines to give... Learn how to use International Aid's convenient, portable medical
- [More Vacation, Pampas and Hard Work](https://sifat.org/more-vacation-pampas-and-hard-work/) - Our vacation too rurrenbaque was INCREDIBLE. When we set out...we had no idea what was instore for us.  The pampas tour sent us swimming with alligators and dolphins and searching for anaconda´s (WE FOUND ONE!!! or rather our guide found one...but we got to touch one!) and we have pictures to prove it. We saw lots of beautiful birds...many alligators and
- [Three little pigs rewritten.....](https://sifat.org/three-little-pigs-rewritten/) - So, the Internado here in Ixiamas is raising three pigs they keep in a small shelter toward the back of their property. With the kids gone on vacation, the responsibility of feeding our oinking little friends fell to me. When I went to fill the feed trough on Saturday night, things didnt quite go as
- [When There is no Eye Doctor](https://sifat.org/when-there-is-no-eye-doctor/) - A team from from Georgia came here from June 15-19, They  left last weekend with Rachel to Rurre and to LaPaz. The team had been a great blessing to us as well as to the townsfolk with the eyeglasses they brought. We had about 100 people that came for 2 days, (I dont have the exact number).
- [Vacation?](https://sifat.org/vacation/) - The kids winter vacation officially started this week, and most of them have gone home. This means that our work has just begun. While the kids are gone we each have a project that we are working on. Hopefully they will all get done! Eugenia, the cook, also gets vacation so the gringos have become
- [Are you searching for a way to help SIFAT?](https://sifat.org/are-you-searching-for-a-way-to-help-sifat/) - Do you often turn to your computer to search about a topic in the news, a restaurant menu or maybe even a phone number you need? Now, using GoodSearch, you can search the Internet and raise money for SIFAT at the same time. For each search, GoodSearch donates one penny to SIFAT. One penny may
- [So, we got the internet back!  :)](https://sifat.org/so-we-got-the-internet-back/) - When our contruction efforts were done for the day, I was greated with the news that we can, once again, communicate with the outside world. There is not a whole lot of news to report, other than the fact that we can now read the e-mails you guys send.... Because last weekend was the aneversario
- [](https://sifat.org/95/) - Dear faithful readers. Sorry it has been so long since our last post. The internet in Ixiamas has been down for over a week, and who knows when it will be back up. Rachel, Mateo and I came to Rurre last night to meet the team from Christ Community Church, hence we have internet for
- [SIFAT Remembers: Experiencing the Integrated Gospel](https://sifat.org/sifat-remembers-experiencing-the-integrated-gospel/) - We've gotten a little behind in posting cofounder Ken Corson's SIFAT Remembers articles from the SIFAT Journal. The following article appeared in the April Journal. You can download the SIFAT Journal on our news page. Because of our experiences of working with the church in Cuba, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and later in Bolivia, we
- [Estamos Aqui! (WE ARE HERE!!)](https://sifat.org/estamos-aqui-we-are-here/) - We are HERE (in LaPaz). After a little bit of a delayed start in Miami (a couple of hours) we finally made it to LaPaz to meet Isaac´s smiling face. It was such a joy to see him in his SIFAT hat that matched mine...it felt like home! He helped us get into a hotel,
- [Fishing con Hermana Vicky](https://sifat.org/fishing-con-hermana-vicky/) - Fishing One Saturday, I told the small kids we could go fishing in the river. Whenever I wash clothes in the river , I noticed that there were many fish. Judith told me sometimes the small boys go fishing. Others heard me told the little ones, and they got excited too. I asked the small
- [The Journey Has Ended...](https://sifat.org/the-journey-has-ended/) - We finally caught our flight to Rurrenabaque yesterday and began the treck to Ixiamas. We took a bus, then a ferry across the river, then hopped on the back of the truck for the 4 hour drive to the Internado. We met Rachels parents and sister who are incredibly nice. The drive was beautiful. The
- [We are the students](https://sifat.org/we-are-the-students/) - We are almost finished with our first week here in Ixiamos, and it has been very educational. This week we definitly started off as the students, starting with me and Olivia's lesson on peeling carrots, potatoes, and onions, (there really isn't a special method, it's pretty self explanatory, which we learned from the look on
- [Practicum Alumni Update](https://sifat.org/practicum-alumni-update/) - John Partor '00, Ebenezer Browne '05, Richard Vah '06 and Elizabeth Tulay '05 are Practicum graduates who returned to Liberia and are making a difference in their country. Read the following article about their latest accomplishment. The Rev. John Partor, Pastor Ebenezer Browne, Pastor Richard Vah and Elizabeth Tulay organized a four-day sustainable agriculture seminar
- [ Campus Events Update](https://sifat.org/campus-events-update/) - Today, three groups came to SIFAT to tour our campus and learn how we "share God's love in practical ways" from Alabama. If your group is interested in coming for a tour, contact Haley Lewis, lewish@sifat.org. Tours are available on Thursdays throughout the year. Our eight Learn & Serve counselors will begin training on Monday.
- [Happy Mother’s Day para mi papa!](https://sifat.org/happy-mother’s-day-para-mi-papa/) -  Rachel asked me to teach computer and English lessons. I have almost 6 classess a day, and a Chinese class with 2-3 boys. And a session/playtime with the elementary kids, 6 of them.. I think my favorite is my time with the elementary kids. We just read stories and play and do crafts. Its more
- [Welcome Vicky!](https://sifat.org/welcome-vicky/) - Vicky, a 2007 Practicum graduate, has traveled to Bolivia to intern with us in Ixiamas. She e-mailed this to us last week after experiencing problems with the Internet in Ixiamas that wouldn't let her post to the blog. Below is the e-mail she sent to let us know she finally arrived. Keep checking back for
- [April e-Journal](https://sifat.org/april-e-journal/) - Sharing God's Love in Practical Ways                         April 2008 We hope you've had a great April. Spring is in full bloom on campus. You can read summaries of the articles in this month's Journal below. To download a complete version of the SIFAT Journal, click here or go
- [Intern Update](https://sifat.org/intern-update/) - Addison and Jarred are back in the States! They arrived in Atlanta late Friday night/early Saturday morning. Thank you for all the prayers during their time in Bolivia. Vicky should be in Ixiamas now. She sent an e-mail letting us know that she arrived in La Paz without any problems and will try to blog
- [Last Day](https://sifat.org/last-day/) - It is the last day. Jarred and I board a plan for Santa Cruz, Miami, and then Atlanta tommorrow at 6:45am. Since tuesday we have been staying in El Alto with Filex and Christina Toremino and their three beautiful children Paula, Nicole, and Israel.  Filex is Mateo's brother (Mateo being the director of the Internada). We went
- [More information on Field Course Study](https://sifat.org/more-information-on-field-course-study/) - Are you interested in learning practical skills to address hunger and malnutrition in the developing world? SIFAT is partnering with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Sparkman Center for Global Health to offer a 10-day field study course on SIFAT's international campus near Lineville, Ala. To get the latest information about this year's
- [Cusco, Peru](https://sifat.org/cusco-peru/) - Addison and I arrived in Cusco last night around 1030. We met a couple of guys from Chicago, the first Americans we have seen besides Rachel and Terry. They hitched a ride with us to our hotel and then left. Cusco is a neat city with somewhat of a European feel. Today we are taking
- [El Tigre](https://sifat.org/el-tigre/) - This past saturday Jarred, Mateo, Rachel and I took all our boys to El Tigre. El Tigre is a smaller villiage about 35 miles north of Ixiamas. We left early Saturday morning and after the four hour drive we arrived to one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The road turned into
- [The Well at the Hospital](https://sifat.org/the-well-at-the-hospital/) - We cased early this morning and backwashed for about two hours. We started to develop the well and were getting a rebound of three meters which on the well at the Internado we got only about a meter maybe. We continued to pump the well and develop it and we could not pump it dry,
- [The Wells](https://sifat.org/the-wells/) - Our first test well that I talked about earlier we hit rock at about twenty meters. There was water on top of the rock so we cased and started to develop the well. It started rebounding and we were able to get about two liters a minute. It is water but it is not enough
- [Field Course Training announced](https://sifat.org/field-course-training-announced/) - SIFAT is partnering with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the Sparkman Center for Global Health (www.sparkmancenter.org) to offer periodic seminars/workshops combining the best in academic research with appropriate technologies in a community development context to address basic human needs essential to good health. This two-week intensive program will cover food and nutrition
- [Me and Jarred back together again.](https://sifat.org/me-and-jarred-back-together-again/) - I made it to RRbake this morning at about five fourty five. Me and Jarred are going to take two days and relax here in RRbake for Holy week. Jarred knew I was getting in this morning but he did not know it would be so early. It scared him when the owner of the
- [Rafting.....](https://sifat.org/rafting/) - So the first day that me and Jarred arrived in Rurre we just hung out and decided to book a tour. We shopped around and finally with much thought decided on a rafting tour we had found. The company was Donato tours and this was a unique tour only they offered. We say a few
- [Okie Dokie..](https://sifat.org/okie-dokie/) - Last thursday night on the bus from La Paz to Rurre my camera was stolen on the bus. I did not realize it until later the next night and I thought I had left it on the bus or something. Me and Jarred went back to the terminal asked the man working if they had
- [Animal Planet](https://sifat.org/animal-planet/) - Last night Jarred and I walked into our room after supper and Jarred noticed that there was a bat flying around. This was not our first encounter with bats. There was one in the other room one night and we could not get it out. Being volunteers of SIFAT and being very up to date
- [The Well](https://sifat.org/the-well/) - We are starting the well on monday. We have most of the things we need and are set to go. Please be in prayer the whole process. Addison-
- [The first test well](https://sifat.org/the-first-test-well/) - We started work on the well this morning at eight. It went great and we made great time. At four thirty this afternoon we hit bedrock at 19 1/2 meters. We will try tommorrow morning to see if it is just a thin layer and we can break through but if not we will head
- [March e-Journal](https://sifat.org/march-e-journal/) - Our e-Journal was sent out yesterday. Do you want to be on our e-mail list? If so, send a blank e-mail to info@sifat.org with the subject line "subscribe", and you'll be added. If you received the e-newsletter, the link to download the Journal has been corrected below. Wow! A lot has been happening on our
- [Meet our 2008 L&S Counselors!](https://sifat.org/meet-our-2008-ls-counselors/) - Learn & Serve (L&S) begins in less than two months! Our eight counselors will begin training the last week in May, and students begin arriving the first week of June. You can see our counselors by heading over to the counselor page on the L&S site. We still have room available for individuals or youth
- [Join SIFAT's Cause on Facebook](https://sifat.org/join-sifats-cause-on-facebook/) - Last week, Jeremy Steele contacted SIFAT wanting to help us set up a Cause on Facebook. Working with SIFAT staff, Jeremy has made this idea a reality. If you are unfamiliar with Facebook, it is a social networking site that allows users to add one another as "friends" and show their personal interests and activities.
- [SIFAT Remembers: Merging Faith and Technology](https://sifat.org/sifat-remembers-merging-faith-and-technology/) - This is the fourth installment in our SIFAT Remembers column, written by cofounder Ken Corson. This article was published in our February Journal, which you can download here. At the time I was discovering a more practical theology, one that served human needs---physical as well as spiritual. Schmaucher’s ideas, based on small scale and self-help
- [A Different Easter/The Present Riseness of Christ](https://sifat.org/a-different-easterthe-present-riseness-of-christ/) - Since this week has been a little slow with the kids gone and us having a couple of days off in Rurrenabaque, I had alot of time to think. One of the things I have been thinking about is Easter weekend. I thought about all of this things I will miss and how that its
- [World Water Day tomorrow](https://sifat.org/world-water-day-tomorrow/) - Did you know that World Water Day is tomorrow, March 22? Lifewater International sent an e-newsletter about this observance and why it happens. World Water Day is officially being observed in 69 cities across the US. During the entire week, many restaurants are asking that you donate $1 for your free water; the money collected
- [Bolivar arrives in Bolivia](https://sifat.org/bolivar-arrives-in-bolivia/) - Bolivar Sanga, our engineer overseeing the Quesimpuco bridge project, arrived in Bolivia this morning. He will be working with communities in the Quesimpuco area to get preliminary work on the bridge site ready for the first team coming in May. A road to the site must be cut, so materials can get to the site.
- [Retreats, Retreats, Retreats!](https://sifat.org/retreats-retreats-retreats/) - Wow! The spring season of campus events started strong. Last week, two groups took part in separate retreats. Lovers Lane UMC from Dallas, Texas, brought youth from their deaf ministry to SIFAT for a Learn & Serve style retreat. The students even braved the cold weather during the Global Village Overnight Experience. Our staff enjoyed
- [The Well and Leaving](https://sifat.org/the-well-and-leaving/) - We finished the well yesterday. It is recharging to thirty meters. Usually we need it to recharge to about fifteen from the top, being fourty one meters but Don Juan will pump it until it is recharging to the top. We finished about middle of the day yesterday and then we went to the homestead
- [All Quiet](https://sifat.org/all-quiet/) - All is quiet at the Internado. I took Rachel to the bus place this morning. I would say station but its more where they just park the bus. She is going back to La Paz in an attempt to resolve some residency issues. That makes me the only Greengo at the Internado. I think it
- [February SIFAT Journal](https://sifat.org/february-sifat-journal/) - We received our February Journal's from the printer today. If you're on our mailing list, you should have already received yours or be receiving it soon. Are you not receiving the Journal and would like to be on our mailing list? You can send your name and address to Marie Lanier, lanierm@sifat.org, to receive a
- [We have almost finished the well...](https://sifat.org/we-have-almost-finished-the-well/) - Monday morning we left to go finish the well Teo, Darwin, Benito, Teos son, Don Juan, and myself. We planned to camp for one night or so. We got to the drill sight unloaded our stuff and started cleaning out the hole. You have to clean the hole of all the stuff that has settled
- [Lessons of Love from an Egg Sandwich](https://sifat.org/lessons-of-love-from-an-egg-sandwich-2/) - I guess about two weeks ago now, we were on our way to Santa Cruz via La Paz. Every Sunday and Thursday, there is a big market in El Alto, a large suburb if you will of La Paz. We were going to look for supplies in the market and I think Rachel asked Cristina,
- [37 hour trip back to Ixiamas](https://sifat.org/37-hour-trip-back-to-ixiamas/) - Rachel, Mateo´s brother Felix, his son Israel, his brother-in-law Marco, and I left La Paz yesterday morning at 630 am. We made excellent time all the way to Sapecho. A 10 or so hour trip in a bus, we made it in less than 7. Right outside of Sapecho, we had to wait an hour
- [More from the Wallers](https://sifat.org/more-from-the-wallers/) - Yesterday was good we woke up and Mr. Terry decided that he just needed to send us in to camp because the rain had been so bad...it usually is about a fourty five min drive to the drill sight that is not far away ,but because the roads are so bad it takes a while.Â
- [Oh what a humble hero....](https://sifat.org/oh-what-a-humble-hero/) - So someone has got to tell the real story of what happened to Mr. Jarred Griffin. It was a warm morning in March a crew had gone out to drill and on the way had stopped to check out a model homestead. Upon arrival we all noticed the two rather large windmills that soared over the
- [the part that got deleted](https://sifat.org/the-part-that-got-deleted/) - So they have two little girls Margarita and Mary Lou. They are the coolest little girls ever the oldest Margarita reminds me of Kennedy..(boo she is three days younger than you)...the youngest is six and a little spark of energy. They both speak english and spanish and its really funny. There household communicates in half
- [No one was hurt....](https://sifat.org/no-one-was-hurt/) - Rachel and I left Santa Cruz last night around 6:30, an hour later than the scheduled departure time. That should have put us in La Paz around 10 or 1030 this morning. We arrived at the bus terminal after 130 pm this afternoon. Raise your hand if you want to know why..... I was sleeping
- [The Wallers](https://sifat.org/the-wallers/) - (Sorry for spelling in advance) Hello sorry I have not posted in so long...I have been slacking while my counterpart is on the ball. Wow, a lot has happened in the past few days. Santa Cruz is amazing. We were there for one night as Jarred said and its was glorious with the AC and
- [SIFAT Remembers: Holistic ministry](https://sifat.org/sifat-remembers-holistic-ministry/) - This is the third installment of SIFAT Remembers. Ken Corson, cofounder of SIFAT, is writing this article to remind supporters (both old and new) about how SIFAT came to be, the beginnings of SIFAT and memories through the years. This article comes from the section he has titled the character of SIFAT. While we were
- [Santa Cruz](https://sifat.org/santa-cruz/) - We arrived in Santa Cruz around 11:30 this morning. The bus ride was much smoother than the ride north towards Ixiamas. It is night and day difference from La Paz. The city itself is more modern looking and the people are mostly mestizo rather than indigeneous. Terry, the Baptist missionary (or as Tom says "mercenary")
- [Onward to Santa Cruz](https://sifat.org/onward-to-santa-cruz/) - Rachel, Addison, and I will be leaving for Santa Cruz tonight around 7 or 8 and should arrive there around 11 am tomorrow. From there, I believe we will be riding with the group from Texas another 2 and 1/2 hours to another town. For the next few days we will be receiving well drilling
- [It all began Sunday night at 7pm  ](https://sifat.org/it-all-began-sunday-night-at-7pm/) - Sunday night, Rachel told Addison and Jarred that the van to Rurrenabaque would be leaving at 4 a.m. Monday morning and they would need to be up by 3:30 in order to make it into town before the van departed. They slept peacefully, as if it was the night before Christmas and all through the
- [Una Buna, los chanchas, and el moto (ordinary day)](https://sifat.org/una-buna-los-chanchas-and-el-moto-ordinary-day/) - Yesterday, Addison and I went to put a tree out of its misery. We needed a couple of good size trees to use as a supporting frame for when we begin the drilling process. Addison had already begun chopping a tree that met our qualifications. It also happened to be the one of the prettiest
- [SIFAT Remembers: Inclusive, not exclusive](https://sifat.org/sifat-remembers-inclusive-not-exclusive/) - This is the second installment of SIFAT Remembers by Ken Corson, cofounder of SIFAT. After Cuba, Sarah and I went to the missionary language school in San Jose, Costa Rica. The school was a mosaic of missionaries in the last half of the 20th Century: Catholic, Protestant, Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, high church and things in
- [Upcoming events](https://sifat.org/upcoming-events-2/) - First off, a hen just walked past my chair in the internet cafe. In other news, Addison and I will be going back to La Paz on Monday night. I am guessing we will arrive there around 10 pm Tuesday night if all goes well. I am not sure what the itenirary is but we
- [Trip to the Hospital](https://sifat.org/trip-to-the-hospital/) - So after supper Rachel asked me if Jarred and I had any plans. (This is last night) We were planning on maybe playing chess with some of the kids and perhaps watching a movie. ha...she needed us to take two of the girls to the hospital because they needed teeth pulled and could not wait
- [SIFAT Remembers: The Character of SIFAT](https://sifat.org/sifat-remembers-the-character-of-sifat/) - In the January issue of the SIFAT Journal, we introduced a new column, SIFAT Remembers, written by SIFAT cofounder Ken Corson. Between issues, extra columns will be published on our blog. The first few columns are all written on the topic of the character of SIFAT. We want these columns to focus on accomplishments, struggles
- [For Mrs. Karen](https://sifat.org/for-mrs-karen-2/) - I was mistaken. The name of the cereal is chocapic...not chocpita
- [Mama Yoli's House ](https://sifat.org/mama-yolis-house/) - At our team leader training over the weekend, Dr. Roberto updated the attendees on the progress at Mama Yoli's House. The two photos show the difference a year of teams makes for the community of Atacucho. Mama Yoli's House in January 2007 Mama Yoli's House in January 2008 Cecilia shared many examples of how the
- [A new year in Ixiamas!](https://sifat.org/a-new-year-in-ixiamas/) - The school year has started again here in Ixiamas. Most of the kids have come back from next year, and it is so good to see them again. They have grown so much in just two short months, just like the grass has grown incredibly fast with all the rain. We have 30 kids so
- [Mary Beth´s Shelf ](https://sifat.org/mary-beth´s-shelf/) - So today Jarred and I woke up expecting a normal day. That was before we were placed with the task of putting together Mary Beth´s shelf. It all started when I was going down to the river to put up a rope swing for the boys. I was seeing if Jarred wanted to come along
- [weekend activities and the sink](https://sifat.org/weekend-activities-and-the-sink/) - As Addison said in an earlier post, we met Andreas, the farm hand, on the road last Monday after we had walked a good ways out towards Two Trees. He said a bunch of words we didnt understand, showed us some rice stalks, and shook his head no. He said Sabado and Domingo. With this
- [Birthday, Chaco, and Moto](https://sifat.org/birthday-chaco-and-moto/) - So the internet has been down for three days because of the winds from the south out of patagonia. All is well though. My birthday was sunday and it was great. I spent is with Mateo, Judith, Jarred, Andres, Rachel, and Pastor. They made cupcakes with bananas. They shoved them in my face or tried
- [STM Team Leader Training Weekend](https://sifat.org/stm-team-leader-training-weekend/) - Our short-term mission (STM) team leader training will be held this weekend, February 15-17, 2008, on our campus. Peggy Walker, international team coordinator, and Kathy Bryson, international training director, are planning a great weekend for our leaders to learn about SIFAT, cross cultural bridge building and trip preparation. If you are a team leader, please
- [Finally Ixiamas.](https://sifat.org/finally-ixiamas/) - Hello everyone we finally made it to Ixiamas. It was a long ride that started yesterday at about twelve and ended today at about three. We rode all night and probably slept about two hours so we are pretty tired but glad to be here. On the bus I sat next a man named Carlos
- [The Journey Continues](https://sifat.org/the-journey-continues/) - Rachel, Mateo, Judith, Addison, and I arrived in Ixiamas about two hours ago. We are all fairly tired from the 26 hour trip from La Paz. I think Addison and I had about 5 hours combined sleep since Friday morning. Ixiamas seems to be a nice little town but we atill have some exploring to
- [La Paz cont. ](https://sifat.org/la-paz-cont/) - Hola everyone, all is well. Last night we went to the Bolivia vs Peru soccer game and it was quite amazing. Bolivia won 2 to 1 so big victory for the home country. I have never been to a game with so much energy at certain points. It was a blast. We caught a soccer
- [La Paz](https://sifat.org/la-paz/) - We made it to La Paz! The flight went well and all is good. Jarred got stopped at both security checkpoints because he is a pretty suspicious person, but other than that no troubles getting into the country. Woke up at 4 am on the plane to catch the sunrise, it was amazing. We flew
- [Interns leaving for Bolivia](https://sifat.org/interns-leaving-for-bolivia/) - Jarred Griffin and Addison Shock are flying to Bolivia today. They will be serving in our internado in Ixiamas as interns for three months. While in Ixiamas, they will be posting to the blog to keep everyone updated about their experience. Please check regularly for their posts.
- [Packing](https://sifat.org/packing/) - As I packed for the three-month trip last night, I hit a wall when my bag was completely full and I still had several things left to put in it. At first I was frustrated, and then I smiled and thought to myself, "Jarred, you are such an American." I began to see things as
- [Sharing SIFAT with others](https://sifat.org/sharing-sifat-with-others/) - Yesterday, Marie attended Pinson UMC's mission night. Pinson invited several agencies and organizations through which their members participate. We look forward to helping Pinson's members become more involved with SIFAT. On Wednesday, Jan. 9, Marie will be speaking at the Golden K Kiwanis' monthly meeting in Carrollton, Ga. She is looking forward to introducing this
- [Learn & Serve pages updated](https://sifat.org/learn-serve-pages-updated/) - The Learn & Serve (L&S) section of our website received a facelift! Check it out at www.sifat.org/learnandserve. L&S is SIFAT's summer experience for mid-high through senior high students. Both youth groups and individuals can attend. If you are interested in becoming a counselor or attending, contact L&S director Jamie Waldhour, waldhourj@sifat.org. Sessions begin on Sunday
- [Merry Christmas](https://sifat.org/merry-christmas/) - The SIFAT staff wishes you a merry Christmas. We hope you enjoy this holiday time with your friends and family. The SIFAT offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25, to observe Christmas. Until 2008, catch up on SIFAT's news by reading the December Journal.
- [International Festival set for Oct. 19](https://sifat.org/international-festival-set-for-oct-19/) - On Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT) will open its campus to the public for SIFAT’s International Festival. The night, hosted by SIFAT’s 22 international students, will give guests a taste of 12 cultural heritages through food, music, song and dance. The students are community leaders participating in Practicum, a 10-week
- [Upcoming Events](https://sifat.org/upcoming-events/) - Nate and Marie will be at Mt. Bethel tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. participating in Jubilee. If you are attending the event, please be sure to stop by and say hi! They will have displays about Learn and Serve and our short-term mission trips, both of which Mt. Bethel participated in last year.
- [Paint, New Carpet, Lots of Sweat](https://sifat.org/paint-new-carpet-lots-of-sweat/) - While preparing for the Fall Practicum, we realized that our Education Building needed some updating and maintenance. Our staff and a work team from Alexander City Methodist Church in nearby Alexander City, Ala., have "flipped" the interior in record time. Since our longtime appropriate technology volunteer, Dale Fritz, recently moved, we turned his former workshop
- [Practicum Alumni Update: Philippines](https://sifat.org/practicum-alumni-update-philippines/) - Josie Alcantara, a 2006 graduate from the Philippines, held a training seminar on chocolate molding production and packaging to Globe McKay-Sheraton Village homeowners on June 13, 2007. Chocolate molding production is a microenterprise livelihood program of the low-income homeowners in this community. SIFAT Philippines, the Living for Jesus Ministries and the support of homeowners’ association
- [Calendars are working!](https://sifat.org/calendars-are-working/) - The calendars on the website are now fully operational. Thank you for understanding as we strive to get everything working correctly. You can find the calendars on the youth and children page and the training page. As our 2008 short-term mission teams get finalized, we will add a calendar on the missions page. To go
- [Have you noticed a difference?](https://sifat.org/have-you-noticed-a-difference/) - www.sifat.org has changed! Have you noticed the differences? We now have an e-newsletter and update list you can register for, online calendars, online donations and current photos and information. During the process of getting our new site finished, please "pardon our progress" - we still have some minor problems to work out and fix. The

## Pages

- [Home](https://sifat.org/) - Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT) provides community development training to grassroots leaders and serves alongside them in international projects. We connect North Americans to those in the developing world through first-hand simulations and experiences on our campus in Alabama.
- [Worship on the Water](https://sifat.org/get-involved/worship-on-the-water/) - Worship on the Water Worship on the Water (WOW) began under the leadership of Chuck and Evelyn Smith and Oliver and Sandra Kitchens and with support from Community LIFE Church. They saw a need for a casual, nondenominational service in our local community, especially for weekend visitors enjoying recreational time on Lake Wedowee. In 2010, SIFAT sponsors Worship on the Water on Lake Wedowee each summer. This casual worship service starts at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings and is held at Allen's Lakeside Marina.
- [26-08: John Brown / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/john-brown-nigeria-4/) - Pastor John Brown continues providing better mobility for people in Nigeria. This is his fourth project: Project: To provide custom improved wheelchairs to physically challenged poor people in Nigeria Summary: Physically challenged men and women in Nigeria use crudely constructed, low profile, mobile units made of a simple board with roller skate-like wheels that
- [International Projects](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/) - International Short-term Graduate Projects To help victims of hunger and lack of basic needs overcome the tremendous forces that impoverish them, SIFAT trains church and community leaders to address the needs of the whole person--body, mind and soul. Training is the beginning, but not the end. Those who come to learn need seed and
- [26-05: Jhony / India](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/jhony-india/) - Jhony's ministry in India is adding a sewing center to train adolescent girls and young widows with a marketable skill. Project: To provide a dedicated sewing machine center for adolescent girls and young widows to be trained in machine sewing, tailoring, machine embroidery, hand embroidery and fashion design. Summary: Due to religious taboos, feudalism
- [26-03: Peter / Kenya](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/peter-kenya-7/) - Peter is a SIFAT graduate from Kenya. He has successfully led five previous projects: 17-15, 19-02, 19-12, 20-08, 21-09 and 23-01. Project: To provide a dairy program that will generate income for women and will provide skills and employment for youth. Summary: The Jiinue Self Help Group is a registered community group located in
- [25-08: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria-9/) - Pastor Obi, a SIFAT graduate from Nigeria, reaches out to rural communities with medical aid. He wants to address the root cause of sickness by getting clean drinking water for these families who keep getting sick. He has successfully completed eight previous projects 17-11, 18-05, 18-06, 21-01, 23-02 and 23-04, 24-04 and 25-6. Project:
- [26-06: Rhoda / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/rhoda-nigeria/) - Rhoda wants to bring safe drinking water to her community in Nigeria. Project: To provide clean drinking water resulting in improved health to the Tim community of Bwonpe village in Nigeria. Summary: Women and children in this community often spend up to three hours in the morning and possibly again in the evening searching
- [26-07: Geoffrey / Bangladesh](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/geoffrey-bangladesh/) - Geoffrey's project will provide a safe place for school children at Light of Hope to play. Project: To build a rooftop playground with play equipment for a school that currently has no area for children to play. Summary: The Ashar Alo school (Light of Hope) with 162 students, located in Sayed Nogor Dhaka, Bangladesh,
- [Ecuador](https://sifat.org/international-missions/ecuador/) - Ecuador SIFAT's office in Quito, Ecuador, is directed by Dr. Roberto and Monica Contreras. Since 2000, SIFAT has helped with the spiritual, social and economic development in 67 of the poorest urban-marginal and poor rural communities in Ecuador. SIFAT has trained pastors and community leaders in Ecuador, and our mission teams have helped by building
- [Learn & Serve](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/) - Learn & Serve Learn & Serve (L&S) is a ministry of SIFAT that provides an opportunity for Americans to gain a holistic view of the developing world. Throughout the year, churches, universities and school groups visit our 176-acre campus to learn through interactive programming and simulations. A simulated rural Global Village and Urban Slum are used
- [Our Staff](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/) - Our Staff Click each picture to learn more about our staff members! International Staff 2025-2027 Board Of Directors Our Board of Directors serve three-year terms. They meet semiannually, and each director is an independent, voting member. Terms end as follows: 2025 2026 2027 Bert Blanchard Scott Kramer, Ph.D Brian Cain Bill Brawner, DVM, Ph.D
- [L&S 2025](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/retreats/) - Learn & Serve Retreats Whether you are interested in a weekend retreat or our summer Learn & Serve week, let us help you plan the best trip for your group! Find more info below or by using the menu to the left, see available dates and get started by filling out our Group Interest Form.
- [25-04: Michael / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/michael-uganda-6/) - Michael’s ministry in Uganda is starting a new project to help teenage girls learn vocational skills to provide for themselves and their families. Michael's past projects are 16-01, 17-04, 17-09, 17-13, 21-05 and 22-06. Fully Funded! Project: To promote self-reliance and sustainability for teen mothers and school dropouts. Summary: Most girls in the remote
- [25-02: Isaiah / DRC](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/isaiah-drc-4/) - Isaiah’s ministry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo provides vocational training to vulnerable children. Here, his students are learning to pour decorative bricks that are used at the school and also sold to help support this ministry. His past projects are 17-03, 19-11 and 23-08. Project Funded! Project: To help orphans and vulnerable
- [About Us](https://sifat.org/about/) - About Us SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology), a nonprofit Christian organization, provides training in community development in hard places in our world. Christian leaders learn self-help skills for basic human needs including physical and spiritual needs, social and economic. SIFAT raises awareness of needs and global issues, providing opportunities for people to get involved
- [Staff & Internships](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/staff-internships/) - Learn & Serve Staff There are multiple ways to get involved with Learn & Serve! Whether it be through an internship during the fall and spring, on weekends volunteering at a retreat, or through our summer staff, we would love to invite you to be a part of Learn & Serve! Check out all of the
- [24-07: John / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/johnbrown-nigeria-2/) - John Brown, a SIFAT graduate in Nigeria, previously led project 24-02 and has been a leader in SIFAT's training across Africa. Project Funded! Project: To provide custom improved wheel chairs to Physically Challenged Poor People in Nigeria Summary: Physically challenged men and women in Nigeria use crudely constructed, low profile, mobile units made of
- [24-05: Daniel / India](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/daniel-india-3/) - Daniel* is a SIFAT graduate, who works in community development in his home country of India and beyond. He has successfully led projects 22-01 and 22-08. Project Funded! Project: To enable 250 future Christian missionaries with the an in-depth understanding of sustainable practices for community development with a training of a few income generating skills to help
- [24-04: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria-6/) - < Pastor Obi reaches out to rural communities with medical aid. He wants to address the root cause of sickness by getting clean drinking water for these families who keep getting sick. He has successfully completed six previous projects 17-11, 18-05, 18-06, 21-01, 23-02 and 23-04. Project Funded! Project: To drill a borehole well
- [24-02: John / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/johnbrown-nigeria/) - John Brown, a SIFAT graduate from Nigeria, has worked with SIFAT for many years to recommend participants for training and to interview potential candidates. He has also implemented SIFAT training in seminaries in Nigeria. Project Funded! Project: To install borehole or shallow wells in as many as 11 villages in the Jipal community in
- [24-01: Samuel / Haiti](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/samuel-haiti-6/) - Samuel, a SIFAT graduate from Haiti, has successfully led training and agricultural projects in four communities: projects 19-06, 20-04, 20-06, 21-06, 22-05 and 23-05. Project Funded! Project: To teach 35 women in the Jannot community agricultural skills to produce food for their families and to sell produce in markets to be able to feed
- [24-03: Samuel / Haiti](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/samuel-haiti-7/) - Samuel, a SIFAT graduate from Haiti, has successfully led training and agricultural projects in four communities: projects 19-06, 20-04, 20-06, 21-06, 22-05, 23-05 and 24-01. Project Funded! Project: To improve the nutritional and economic life of 30 families and other community members in the Vallue community who have escaped violence in the capital city
- [International Missions](https://sifat.org/international-missions/) - Mission Teams Short-term Mission Teams and International Projects Part of SIFAT’s vision is to bridge the First and Two-thirds Worlds. One way we do this is by providing ways for North American churches and organizations to become personally involved with international projects, helping empower our SIFAT graduates with their work. Our short-term teams serve at
- [Machachi](https://sifat.org/international-missions/ecuador/quito-machachi/) - 2022-2024: Machachi with SIFAT Graduate Anita Flores ASAMBLEA DE DIOS VALLE HERMOSA In the beautiful Valley of the Volcanoes, Pastor Rafael and his wife Anita have established an outreach of their Asamblea de Dios church in Villaflora, Quito. Always wanting to care for more children in need, they have expanded their ministry into Machachi,
- [News](https://sifat.org/about/news/) - SIFAT News You can click on one of the links below to learn more about SIFAT in the news or to read archives of our newsletter, The SIFAT Journal. If you have links to news articles or would like to submit something for the SIFAT Journal, please e-mail journal@sifat.org. News Articles about SIFAT Journal Archives
- [Programming Options](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/retreats/retreat-programming-options/) - Programming Options Choose from the following elements to create a customized retreat for your group. Meals are included in some of the programming, but are also available through our cafeteria services. Our staff will facilitate your time on SIFAT's campus, or our amenities are available for rental for your own programmed retreat. Download a Retreat
- [Summer Experience](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/retreats/summer/) - Learn & Serve Summer Experience Summer 2025 Check back soon for our theme announcement! What to Expect Students will go through the full SIFAT student experience. Groups will arrive 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon and will pack up to leave Thursday morning following breakfast. During their time on SIFAT's 176-acre campus, youth will engage in daily
- [Spring Break](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/retreats/spring-break/) - Learn & Serve Spring Break Experience Spring Break 2024 Already have summer plans, but still want a Learn & Serve Experience? Schedule your Spring Break trip now! Email learnandserve@sifat.org for more information and to reserve your dates. Contact us today to schedule an overnight (or two!) during March or April for your group!
- [Retreats](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/retreats/retreats/) - Learn & Serve Retreats We invite you to bring your group to SIFAT to experience a Learn & Serve retreat! Although Learn & Serve may be most known in the past for its summer experience, life-changing experiences are also offered throughout the year through a retreat. We partner with groups and organizations to meet their
- [ATW Field Trips](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/retreats/field-trips/) - Around the World (ATW) Field Trips Around the World is an interactive day trip for all age groups. Through this program, students are provided with an opportunity to participate in hands-on activities with an international perspective, while focusing on the geography and cultural studies of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Additionally, this program introduces students
- [Donate to SIFAT](https://sifat.org/donate-to-sifat/) - Donate to SIFAT SIFAT depends on your gifts to continue sharing God’s love in practical ways. You may make a donation in any of the following ways: Online. To make a donation or payment online, please click the donate or payment button in the sections below. By check or money order. Mail a check or money
- [Staff Only](https://sifat.org/staff-only/)
- [23-02: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria-4/) - Pastor Obi reaches out to rural communities with medical aid. He wants to address the root cause of sickness by getting clean drinking water for these families who keep getting sick. He has successfully completed four previous projects 17-11, 18-05, 18-06 and 21-01. Project Funded! Project: To drill a borehole well in Gbo ll
- [23-07: Robert / Cameroon](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/robert-cameroon-1/) - Robert, a SIFAT graduate from Cameroon, is implementing agriculture techniques and sustainability practices he learned at SIFAT to help his community have food security and economic growth. Project Funded! Project: To create community food security and resilience by bringing local farmers together to market their corn and learn improved crop yield appropriate technologies. Summary:
- [23-06: Blossom / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/blossom-nigeria-1/) - Blossom and his wife, Aina, are both SIFAT graduates. Together, they have led multiple projects for their community and school. Check out their other projects here: 17-01, 19-03, 19-08, 21-03, 21-07 and 22-04. Project Funded! Project: To construct a greenhouse to produce vegetables and fruits year-round to help feed Hazel Academy school students and sell
- [23-05: Samuel / Haiti](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/samuel-haiti-5/) - Samuel, a SIFAT graduate from Haiti, has successfully led training and agricultural projects in four communities: projects 19-06, 20-04, 20-06, 21-06 and 22-05. Project Funded! Project: To improve the nutritional and economic life of 50 families and other community members in the Allegre community. Summary: In the remote mountains of Haiti, women are desperate
- [23-04: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria-5/) - Pastor Obi reaches out to rural communities with medical aid. He wants to address the root cause of sickness by getting clean drinking water for these families who keep getting sick. He has successfully completed five previous projects 17-11, 18-05, 18-06, 21-01 and 23-02. Project Funded! Project: To drill a borehole well in Manakabo Community,
- [23-08: Isaiah / DRC](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/isaiah-drc-3/) - Isaiah’s ministry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo focuses on providing vocational training and rehabilitation to former child soldiers. His leadership keeps this ministry growing successfully. His past projects are 17-03 and 19-11. Project Funded! Project: To purchase a mobile cement mixer to aid in the making and selling of decorative concrete blocks, while
- [Shop with Purpose](https://sifat.org/get-involved/shop-with-purpose/) - Shop with Purpose Did you know that when you shop online, a portion of your purchase can benefit SIFAT? Thousands of retailers donate percentages of each purchase to the charity you choose - SIFAT! Both iGive and GoodShop allow you to set up free accounts, bookmark your favorite stores and offer coupon codes to help
- [Sarah's Garden](https://sifat.org/get-involved/sarahs-garden/) - Sarah's Garden To celebrate SIFAT's 35th anniversary, we began selling commemorative bricks to create a peaceful retreat on the banks of Mad Indian Creek, which runs through SIFAT's campus in Alabama. This on-going fundraiser is a way to remember a loved one or honor a person for a special occasion. Sarah's Garden has become a
- [23-03: Yurima / Venezuela](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/yurima-venezuela-2/) - Yurima is using her SIFAT training to improve her garden’s infrastructure and expand training to more people in her community in Venezuela. This is a continuation of her first project, 22-07 Project Funded! Project: To teach nearby communities to prepare an organic garden while learning about composting, mountain microorganisms, solar projects and how to produce
- [23-01: Peter / Kenya](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/peter-kenya-6/) - Peter is a SIFAT graduate from Kenya. He has successfully led five previous projects: 17-15, 19-02, 19-12, 20-08 and 21-09 Project Funded! Project: To teach improved agriculture productivity using three principles of conservative agriculture (CA), i.e. minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop rotation/diversification and to train government CA officers and staff, as well
- [22-04: Aina / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/aina-nigeria-6/) - Aina and her husband Blossom are both SIFAT graduates. They are committed to serving their community and have successfully completed past projects: 17-01, 19-03, 19-08, 21-03 and 21-07. Project Funded! Project: To build a secure fence or wall around the Academy School in northern Nigeria to avoid children being kidnapped. Summary: The Academy School
- [22-06: Michael / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/michael-uganda-5/) - Michael's two interns survived being child soldiers during a civil war. They are now learning agriculture, appropriate technology and God's Word with plans to return to their community and share their new knowledge. Project Funded! Project: To train two interns. Summary: SIFAT graduate Michael has a goal to establish a training center for young
- [22-07: Yurima / Venezuela](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/yurima-venezuela/) - Yurima is using her SIFAT training to improve her garden's infrastructure and expand training to more people in her community in Venezuela. Project Funded! Project: To begin a school garden project to teach communities in Venezuela. Summary: The Jezreel Garden is a school garden to teach communities in Venezuela to prepare an organic garden
- [22-08: Daniel / India](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/daniel-india-2/) - Daniel* is a SIFAT graduate, who works in community development in his home country of India and beyond. Project Funded! Project: To equip evangelists and missionaries in India with best practices in community development and teach income generating skills, since they will initially be going into missionary work without pay. Summary: This project, under
- [University Collaborations](https://sifat.org/training/university-collaborations/) - University Collaborations En Español SIFAT partners with universities to bridge the best of academia with the needs of communities around the world. We welcome faculty and students interested in international community development and meeting basic human needs to interface with SIFAT SIFAT collaborates with universities specifically to: Offer training for university students at SIFAT in
- [Conferences](https://sifat.org/training/conferences/) - Conferences May 15-30, 2023: Promoting Community Development and Appropriate Technologies for Basic Human Need Designed for international community leaders invested in changing their communities May 19-28, 2023: World Hunger and Poverty: Practical Skills to Make a Difference Designed for university students and community leaders interested in international development Offered in partnership with the University of
- [Global Training](https://sifat.org/training/global-training/) - Global Training In addition to our international training program based in the USA in Lineville, Alabama, SIFAT holds trainings periodically in other countries. SIFAT alumni are also involved continually in organizing their own trainings to teach others what they have learned in their own countries. click a country below to find out more... Bolivia |
- [Field Study](https://sifat.org/training/field-study/) - Field Study Curriculum En Español Field Training in World Hunger and Malnutrition: Practical Skills to Make a Difference Do you want to learn practical skills to address hunger and malnutrition in the developing world? Come join us at SIFAT's 176-acre international training campus on May 19-27, 2023 for an intensive hands-on learning that will give
- [Team Leader Information](https://sifat.org/international-missions/team-leader-information/) - Team Leader Information We want to help make it as easy as possible for you to plan a meaningful mission trip for your group. SIFAT serves in many countries on approved projects of our SIFAT graduates and always at the invitation of these graduates. We call this short term teams for long term development. Usually
- [Aida Leon](https://sifat.org/international-missions/ecuador/quito-aida-leon/) - 2018 - 2021: Aida Leon with SIFAT Graduate Pastor Wilson Bastidas Address: Transversal H Area Comunal #2 y Guasuntos – IGLESIA ESPERANZA ETERNA On a small, steep plot of land with a breathtaking view of Quito, a project called Gotitas de Esperanza / Little Tears of Hope, was transformed by SIFAT teams and supporters.
- [Glo Cuthbert](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/glo-cuthbert/) - Glo Cuthbert Retired Glo, who has a background in nursing and the medical field, is retired and now owns Suds-R-Us coin laundries with her husband, Tom. She is a member of Clanton First United Methodist Church, where she serves as co-director the FUMCC mission committee.
- [Kaitlyn Glenn](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/kaitlyn-glenn/) - Kaitlyn Glenn Program Assistant Kaitlyn grew up in Ashland, Ala., and is a graduate of Auburn University. She was a flex staff intern at SIFAT in 2019, which encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree in community development through Kansas State University. She plans to complete her studies in August 2023. She is excited that
- [Josiah Corson](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/josiah-corson/) - Josiah Corson Campus Program Manager Josiah has been around SIFAT his entire life and has felt a strong calling to serve here since his senior year in high school. Josiah has served as seasonal staff since 2017 and joined as a full-time staff member in 2020.
- [Tom Corson](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/tom-corson/) - Tom Corson Executive Director Tom, son of SIFAT co-founders Ken and Sarah Corson, was born in Puerto Rico, and his childhood was spent there and in Alabama, Bolivia and Haiti. Tom went to college at Miami Dade Community College in Florida and obtained his aviation degree from Hesston College in Kansas. After spending several years
- [Caroline Corson](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/caroline-corson/) - Caroline Corson Campus Coordinator Caroline has been serving at SIFAT during summers since 2017, while she went to art school. She has felt called to missions since high school and is feeling blessed to be working and living at SIFAT with her husband Josiah.
- [22-05: Samuel / Haiti](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/samuel-haiti-3/) - Samuel, a SIFAT graduate from Haiti, has successfully led agricultural projects for his community. Fully Funded! Project: To contribute to improving the nutritional and economic life of 40 families and other community members in the Rivière Plate community near the town of Petit-Goâve. Summary: In the remote mountains of Haiti, women are desperate to
- [Our Podcast](https://sifat.org/about/our-podcast/) - Our Podcast Because misconceptions exist about poverty and why people live in poverty, our Glimpses podcast takes a look into the individual lives and stories of those with whom we work to help us understand the realities surrounding those living in these conditions. Host Josiah Corson, grandson of SIFAT co-founders Ken and Sarah Corson and
- [Global Health Day](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/retreats/global-health-day/) - Global Health Day Learn & Serve's Global Health Day is a program to help students think critically and to educate about the daily struggles faced by people in the developing world. Students will explore our Global Village and simulated health situations and have the chance to come up with ideas for creative solutions. Our staff
- [Short Term Mission Teams](https://sifat.org/get-involved/short-term-mission-teams/) - Short Term Missions Our short-term mission teams currently serve SIFAT graduates in Ecuador and Bolivia. Most trips are 8-12 days in length; costs vary depending on the project and airline rates. Learn more about leading a mission team or joining an existing team on the international missions section of our website. Are you interested in
- [Marie Lanier Narváez](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/marie-lanier/) - Marie Lanier Narváez Promotions and Marketing Coordinator Marie grew up near Castleberry, Ala., and attended Auburn University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in public relations in 2006. While in college, Marie realized that she wanted to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector, so she could make a difference in other’s lives. She
- [21-09: Peter / Kenya](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/peter-kenya-5/) - Peter is a SIFAT graduate from Kenya. He has successfully led four previous projects: 17-15, 19-02 and 19-12 and 20-08. Fully Funded! Project: Improved income among widows and widowers in the Chepseon area of Kenya. Summary: As a result of the pandemic, many widows and widowers have lost their jobs. This project will support 60 widows and widowers through
- [21-07: Aina / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/aina-nigeria-5/) - Aina and her husband Blossom are both SIFAT graduates. They are committed to serving their community and have successfully completed past projects: 17-01, 19-03, 19-08, and 21-03. Project Funded! Project: To create a poultry farm for people in Nigeria that are out of work and have little hope for employment. Summary: Many Nigerians are facing
- [20-02: Huber / Bolivia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/huber-bolivia/) - Huber has become director of CENATEC and is leading its revitalization and plan of sustainability. Project Funded! Project: To provide a one-year salary for the director of CENATEC during its revitalization. Summary: CENATEC was founded in Benjo Paredes and Ken Corson in Bolivia and is the idea from which SIFAT was born. This project will
- [21-04: Benjo / Bolivia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/benjo-bolivia/) - Benjo is founder of CENATEC, SIFAT's sister organization in Bolivia. This sign at the poultry farm shows government certification indicating that this poultry farm being partially funded by this project meets all government requirements for safely raising edible chickens for sale. Fully Funded! Project: To raise chickens for sale in the local market of Sapecho,
- [2021 Spring](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/2021springsmallprojects/) - "Sometimes, a little thing can make a big difference in one's life." - Sarah Corson, SIFAT co-founder S21-1: Differently Able Students Learning Handicrafts by Awon in India S21-2: Solar Dehydrator to Preserve Food by Hector in Honduras S21-3: Raising Pigs by Moises in Honduras S21-4: Improving Access to Micronutrients and Vitamins by Josue in
- [Bert Blanchard](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/bert-blanchard/) - Bert Blanchard Account Manager, Uniform Color Company Bert is a ramblin' wreck from Georgia Tech with a degree in industrial engineering. He has spent his career in the plastics manufacturing industry. Bert is married to his college sweetheart, Julie. They have three adult children and one grandson.He is active in the Walk to Emmaus
- [21-05: Michael / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/michael-uganda-04/) - Michael stands next to one of the current wooden dragon fruit trellises. Concrete trellises will soon replace these. Fully Funded! Project: To provide trellises for 250 dragon fruit plants to help fund a bi-vocational institute in Kayonza Village in the Luweero District of Uganda Summary: This project will produce dragon fruit that will be
- [21-03: Aina / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/aina-nigeria-4/) - Aina and her husband Blossom are both SIFAT graduates. After serving in many countries in Africa, they have returned their native Nigeria. Project Funded! Project: To build a secure fence or wall around the Academy School in northern Nigeria. Summary: This is a continuation of Project 19-08. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid inflation,
- [20-08: Peter / Kenya](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/peter-kenya-4/) - SIFAT graduate Peter uses agriculture to minister to those with whom he works in Kenya. Project Funded! Project: To promote sustainable food production and consumption to combat malnutrition in Kenya. Summary: Peter is a SIFAT graduate from Kenya. He has successfully led three previous projects: 17-15, 19-02 and 19-12. Because malnutrition is a major
- [20-06: Samuel / Haiti](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/samuel-haiti-2/) - Samuel, a SIFAT graduate from Haiti, has successfully led agricultural projects for his community. Now, he dreams of helping them filter their drinking water to prevent disease. Project Funded! Project: To provide filters for clean, safe drinking water for 160 families in a community in Haiti. Summary: Family members living in Samuel’s community in
- [21-01: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria-3/) - Pastor Obi reaches out to rural communities with medical aid. He wants to address the root cause of sickness by getting clean drinking water for these families who keep getting sick. Project Funded! Project: To drill a borehole well in Wuro-jato Jada, a rural community in Nigeria, to combat the illnesses caused by lack
- [Shelby Dickey](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/shelby-dickey/) - Shelby Dickey Learn & Serve Coordinator Shelby, a graduate of Toccoa Falls College, was a Learn & Serve counselor for three years. She led an international mission team to Ecuador with SIFAT and has had a heart for our organization since her first experience as a participant in Learn & Serve experiences. Shelby served as
- [Group Reservations](https://sifat.org/learn-serve/reservations/) - Retreat Reservations Thank you for considering SIFAT as the site of your next retreat! We are excited about the possibility of partnering with you in ministry. Please review the simple steps below to discover how to book a retreat. Review our Retreat Packages and our Retreat Programming Options. Review our Campus Facilities. Contact our staff to
- [Bolivia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/bolivia/) - Bolivia For teams wanting a more rugged mission experience in a remote mountainous Andean village, Bolivia might be the place for you to serve. SIFAT has a great need for teams in the Andes Mountains of Quesimpuco; contact Peggy Walker at internationalteams@sifat.org for a unique mission experience. Printable Quesimpuco Information Some 13,500 feet in the
- [20-05: Sam / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/sam-uganda-3/) - Sam, through his organization Friends of the Needy, needs to add facilities to the land purchased for a vocational school. Project Funded! Project: To build facilities for a vocational school to train women and at-risk young people in a community with high unemployment. Summary: Sam, a SIFAT graduate from Uganda, leads an organization called
- [19-10: Paul / Pakistan](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/paul-pakistan-3/) - Paul* founded a Christian school in rural Pakistan. Project Funded! Project: To buy a four-wheel jeep for a Christian school in rural Pakistan. Summary: Over many years, a SIFAT graduate established a Christian school in Pakistan, a place where education for girls and Christianity is, to say the least, a big challenge. In 2017,
- [19-08: Aina / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/aina-nigeria-3/) - Aina and her husband Blossom are both SIFAT graduates. After serving in many countries in Africa, they have returned their native Nigeria. Project Funded! Project: To build a secure fence or wall around the Academy School in northern Nigeria. Summary: The Academy School is in the open and needs a fence or wall around
- [20-01: Martha / Liberia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/martha-liberia-4/) - Martha and her husband, John, continue their work in Liberia through Frontline Christian Ministries. Project Funded! Project: To provide needed training equipment for a vocational school in Liberia Summary: SIFAT provided funds for four new classrooms in an earlier project (Project 19-9). This current project will enable the school to have needed tailoring, cosmetology
- [20-07: Raphael / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/raphael-nigeria-4/) - SIFAT graduate Raphael and his wife Helen work with refugees within Nigeria and at-risk women to help families survive. Project: To train disadvantaged women in business and skill acquisition, so they can become self sustaining and provide for their families. Summary: Raphael, a SIFAT graduate from Nigeria, has successfully completed three graduate projects: 17-02,
- [Contact Us](https://sifat.org/contact-us/) - CONTACT US Servants In Faith And Technology 2944 County Rd. 113, Lineville, AL 36266 phone (256) 396-2015; fax (256) 396-2501 Staff Contact List For questions about our Practicum and training, contact: International Training Director Kathy Bryson brysonk@sifat.org For questions about scheduling an event on campus, such as a retreat, field trip, work team, tour,
- [19-12: Peter / Kenya](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/peter-kenya-2/) - Because those living with disabilities in Kenya are often living as outcasts, Peter is helping create a chicken and egg business, so that they can earn a living. Project Funded! Project: Because people with both physical and mental disabilities are often shunned in Kenya, they cannot find jobs. By establishing a chicken and egg farm
- [Villaflora](https://sifat.org/international-missions/ecuador/quito-villaflora/) - 2009 - 2010, 2014: Villaflora with SIFAT Graduate Anita Flores Address: Galte S 9-29 y Av. Rodrigo de Chavez - IGLESIA ABREO E LIMA From 2009 through 2011, SIFAT mission teams served at a construction project with SIFAT alumna Anita Flores, her husband Pastor Rafael and their family in the Villaflora neighborhood. Their church
- [Puengasi](https://sifat.org/international-missions/ecuador/quito-puengasi/) - 2011 - 2013: Puengasi with SIFAT Graduate Pastor Oswaldo Buitron Address: Obrero Independiente Calle O Lote 182 y Desquina - IGLESIA PUENGASI From 2011 through 2013, teams worked with SIFAT graduate Pastor Oswaldo Buitron in Puengasi, a poor neighborhood outside of Quito. Construction teams built the first and second floors of a multi-purpose building
- [Calderon](https://sifat.org/international-missions/ecuador/quito-calderon/) - 2014 - 2017: Calderon with SIFAT Graduate Pastor Raul Flores Address: Calle Carapungo y Eliseo Pintado esquina - IGLESIA "JESUS ES EL CAMINO" SIFAT short-term mission teams served in Calderon for three years. Calderon is a poor community located on the northern outskirts of Quito. Teams worked with SIFAT graduate Pastor Raul and his
- [17-13: Michael / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/michael-uganda-03/) - Michael continues working with women help them out of poverty in Uganda. Project Funded! Project: To continue the project of giving coffee seedlings to widows, so they can earn money to pay their children’s school fees. Summary: Michael, a SIFAT graduate who is now bishop of 24 churches, started a nursery to grow coffee seedlings
- [19-02: Peter / Kenya](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/peter-kenya-3/) - Peter is training women how to raise goats to provide an income. Project Funded! Project: To provide 60 women a pair of goats and teach them to raise the goats and market the goats’ milk. Summary: Baringo County is one of the driest counties in Kenya. Most inhabitants are pastoralists whose main source of livelihood
- [19-03: Aina / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/aina-nigeria-2/) - Aina and her husband Blossom work in the community of Zargun in their native Nigeria. Project Funded! Project: To restore an abandoned poultry farm in the Zargun community to provide nutrition, employment and manure for the crop farmers. Summary: This project to restore an abandoned poultry farm in Zargun Kamang, Nigeria, was undertaken to address major
- [17-11: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria-01/) - Obi leads his church to reach isolated villages in the bush of Nigeria. Project Funded! Project: To provide clean, safe drinking water to the community for disease prevention. Summary: Pastor Obi has reached out from his church to minister to isolated villages in the bush of Nigeria. Originally, Obi wanted funds to pay for his
- [17-10: Sam / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/sam-uganda-01/) - Sam oversaw this well project, which provided safe drinking water and simple irrigation to a community overcoming severe drought and famine. Project Funded! Project: To provide safe, clean drinking water and simple irrigation to the community. Summary: In 2015 and 2016, the Maya community was badly affected by a severe drought and famine. In the
- [17-06: Martha / Liberia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/martha-liberia-01/) - Martha and her husband John are both SIFAT graduates. They survived civil war in their native Liberia and now serve their community. Project Funded! Project: To purchase a gari processing mill to protect workers’ health and increase production tenfold for the community women. Summary: Martha’s community needs a Gari processing Mill (machine) and storage/warehouse for
- [17-07: Bola / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/bola-nigeria/) - Bola is training teachers to train their students on how to avoid cholera and waterborne illnesses. Project Funded! Project: To train 100 teachers in cholera waterborne illness prevention. Summary: Bola is training 100 teachers in ways to avoid cholera and waterborne diseases. Each session will be with 50 teachers and is given over three days. Bola
- [17-05: Paul / Pakistan](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/paul-pakistan-01/) - Paul* founded a Christian school in rural Pakistan and needs to add high school grades Project Funded! Project: To add a 9th grade to the school for Christians and Muslims in rural Pakistan, so that students can finish high school and further their education. Summary: In 2002, Paul* began a school for girls that went
- [18-06: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria-2/) - Pastor Obi is addressing the root problem of diseases facing communities in which he works - the lack of clean drinking water. Fully Funded! Project: To drill a borehole well in Eve, a rural community in Nigeria, to combat the illnesses caused by lack of clean drinking water. Summary: The borehole well is targeted
- [18-07: Bullen / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/18-7-bullen-uganda/) - Bullen, a 2015 SIFAT graduate, is working with refugees from his home country of South Sudan who have fled to Uganda because of civil war. Fully Funded! Project: To build a simple community church with a garden next to it in a South Sudanese refugee camp in Uganda. Summary: Bullen, like more than one
- [19-09: Martha / Liberia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/martha-liberia-3/) - Martha and her husband John are both SIFAT graduates working in their community in Liberia. Project: To build four classrooms for job skills training classes for children in Liberia. Summary: As a result of low employment, many parents in Martha's community of 20,000 in Liberia cannot afford school fees. In 2010, Frontline Christian Ministries'
- [19-07: Sam / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/sam-uganda-2/) - Sam, through his organization Friends of the Needy, needs to buy land to build a vocational training school. Fully Funded! Project: To purchase land in Uganda that will be home to a vocational training school in a community where unemployment is high. Summary: Sam, a SIFAT graduate from Uganda, leads an organization called Friends
- [19-06: Samuel / Haiti](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/samuel-haiti/) - Samuel is working with women to teach them agricultural methods to help them provide for their families. Fully Funded! Project: To teach 50 women agricultural skills to produce food for their families and to sell to be able to sustain their produce and earn some income. Summary: Women will be taught to raise sweet
- [19-05: Paul / Pakistan](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/paul-pakistan-2/) - Paul* founded a Christian school in rural Pakistan and needs to add a computer lab for his students. Fully Funded! Project: To build a computer lab for a high school in rural Pakistan with primarily female students. Summary: In 2002, Paul* began a school for girls that went through the 8th grade. With the
- [19-04: Oswaldo/Ecuador](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/oswaldo-ecuador/) - Pastor Oswaldo's church and SIFAT international teams built a new facility for an after-school program for the Puengasi community of Quito. Now, they are adding a computer lab for the children and youth to use. Project Funded! Project: To provide a computer center for use in the after-school project in Puengasi for at-risk children
- [19-01: Anita/Ecuador](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/anita-ecuador/) - Anita and her husband Pastor Rafael lead their church's after-school program, which looks for creative ways to keep the children involved as they grow into adulthood. Project Funded! Project: To purchase electronic equipment (console, amplifiers, microphones, screen) and musical instruments (drums, keyboard, electric guitars) for use in a music classroom. Summary: The church in
- [16-01: Michael / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/michael-uganda-01/) - Michael is starting a coffee project so 500 families can earn an income to pay school fees. Project Funded! Project: To create a nursery for growing co?ee plant seedlings to provide 500 families funds to pay school fees for their children. Summary: Michael wants to create a nursery for growing coffee plant seedlings. Michael is
- [17-04: Michael / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/michael-uganda-02/) - Michael is helping his community relearn how to grow coffee to provide income for their families. Project Funded! Project: To finish the seedling project to provide a total of 500 families 50 seedlings each. Summary: This is a continuation of Michael’s first phase (Project 16-1), which would provide a total of 500 families 50
- [17-03: Isaiah / DRC](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/isaiah-drc/) - Isaiah helps former child soldiers receive job skills training and rehabilitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Project Funded! Project: To install a roof on the new classroom building for the former child soldier rehabilitation center. Summary: Isaiah works to rehabilitate former child soldiers forced to serve in the rebel armies during civil war
- [17-02: Raphael / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/raphael-nigeria-01/) - Raphael and his wife Helen work with refugee families from northern Nigeria. Project Funded! Project: To purchase 6.5 acres of farmland and teach the refugee men how to farm to provide for their families. Summary: Since 2008, nearly 2 million people have fled their ancestral homes in northeastern Nigeria trying to escape terrorists. These refugees
- [17-01: Aina / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/aina-nigeria/) - Aina and her husband are both SIFAT graduates who work in a rural community in Nigeria. Project Funded! Project: To provide clean drinking water to the Zargun community members and improve their health. Summary: Women and children in Aina’s community often spent up to three hours in the morning and possibly again in the evening
- [18-05: Obi / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/obi-nigeria/) - Pastor Obi is addressing the root problem of diseases facing communities in which he works - the lack of clean drinking water. Project Funded! Project: To drill a borehole well in Alawe, a rural community of about 2000 people in Nigeria, to combat the illnesses caused by lack of clean drinking water. Summary: The
- [18-03: Martha / Liberia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/martha-liberia/) - Martha and John, once refugees, returned to serve the people of Liberia. Project Funded! Project: To build and install a solar power system for a computer laboratory that will be used to conduct computer skill training for the community of Zubah Town. Summary: Martha and her husband John, both SIFAT graduates, serve in Zubah
- [18-04: Sam / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/sam-uganda/) - Sam, a SIFAT graduate in Uganda, is leading his community to be more food secure. Fully Funded! Project: To mobilize the community to food security and other microenterprise projects. Summary: SIFAT graduate Sam is helping his community become more food secure by teaching participants in his project simple drip irrigation techniques, such as plastic
- [18-01: Bruce / Zambia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/bruce-zambia/) - Bruce, a pastor in Zambia, is teaching people how to raise pigs and goats to combat poverty and raise funds for the school sponsored by his church in one of the poorest communities in Lusaka. Fully Funded! Project: To help alleviate poverty levels in one of the poorest (third hungriest) nations in the world
- [18-02: Pam / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/pam-nigeria/) - Pastor Pam is establishing a palm oil plantation for the community in which he works in Nigeria. Fully Funded! Project: To establish a palm oil plantation to provide palm oil at a reasonable price for his community in Nigeria, and in the long-term phase, to be able to provide safe drinking water, better education
- [16-02: Samuel / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/samuel-uganda/) - Samuel, administrator at Agape Total Childcare Center in Uganda Project Funded! Project: To provide a salary for Agape's administrator, Samuel Summary: Samuel has been volunteering his time to Agape Total Childcare Center and Agape Christian Academy (ACA) in Mukono, Uganda, for years. Without a salary, he struggled to support his family. Samuel runs the business
- [17-08: Raphael / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/raphael-nigeria/) - Raphael helps uprooted persons fleeing terrorism in Nigeria and needs land for agricultural training. Project Funded! Project: To buy four and a half (4.5) acres of land to use for refugees to grow their own food and have a small income from the surplus Summary: During the last nine years, nearly two million persons have
- [17-09: Michael / Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/michael-uganda/) - Michael's youth program needs fruit trees in Uganda. Project Funded! Project: To train 50 youth in agricultural techniques to contribute to the eradication of poverty, food insecurity and fostering a lasting quality of life for the local children in Michael's village. Summary: Michael, a 1997 graduate of SIFAT's training, plans to work with about 50
- [19-11: Isaiah / DRC](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/isaiah-drc-2/) - Isaiah's ministry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo focuses on providing vocational training and rehabilitation to former child soldiers. Project Funded! Project: To purchase a block making machine that will generate income for the rehabilitation services and job skills training provided for former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Summary:
- [Covenant Parterships](https://sifat.org/get-involved/covenant-parterships/) - Covenant Partnerships Since SIFAT began in 1979, our financial support has come from individuals and churches. Long-term partnerships with churches of different denominations are the foundation of our survival, especially during the early years when SIFAT was establishing itself and building infrastructure. We can name so many churches that came to build our facilities, began
- [Bill Brawner](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/bill-brawner/) - Bill Brawner Retired
- [Brian Cain](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/brian-cain/) - Brian P. Cain Lawyer, Holt, Ney, Zatcoff & Wasserman, LLP Brian graduated from the University of Georgia in 1984 and from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1987. He has been with the law firm Holt, Ney, Zatcoff & Wasserman, LLP in Atlanta since graduation. Brian represents commercial real estate developers, owners and
- [17-16: Raphael / Nigeria](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/raphael-nigeria-2/) - Raphael and his wife Helen are working with refugees in Nigeria. They have bought land to teach men better farming practices and are now focusing on training women with microenterprise and business skills. Project Funded! Project: To provide training for 50 of the most vulnerable, internally displaced women in northeastern Nigeria. Summary: Nearly two
- [Training](https://sifat.org/training/) - Training Learn concrete ways to make a difference in the lives of the poor around the world: purify water build a latrine raise small animals for protein and income start a village revolving loan fund for microenterprise promote safe motherhood learn sustainable agriculture combat child malnutiriton with leaf protein extract prevent tropical diseases teach adults
- [17-14: Isaac / Bolivia](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/isaac-bolivia/) - SIFAT's work in the Quesimpuco area (Chaupirana Valley) continues with a water project benefiting schools. Project Funded! Project: To provide clean water (water filters, filter training and health education) to eight school districts in the Chaupirana sector of the municipality of Pocoata in Bolivia Summary: A lack of clean water has long been an
- [17-12: Paul / Pakistan](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/paul-pakistan/) - Paul* founded a Christian school in rural Pakistan and needs to add high school grades Project Funded! Project: To add a 10th grade to the school for Christians and Muslims in rural Pakistan, so that students can finish high school and further their education. Summary: In 2002, Paul* began a school for girls that went
- [17-15: Peter / Kenya](https://sifat.org/international-missions/international-projects/peter-kenya/) - Peter is serving among women and youth in Kenya. Project Funded! Project: To train vulnerable women and youth in skills to strengthen economic empowerment Summary: Peter's project is designed to train women in skills that will allow them to do the following four things: Learn how to pool their money with others to establish
- [International House](https://sifat.org/about/our-campus/international-house/) - International House Housing A fun way to stay close to swimming and programming activities Sleeps 26 4 suites Full kitchen and living/dining space Deck overlooking swimming hole $15 per person per night E-mail learnandserve@sifat.org to make a reservation!
- [Our Campus](https://sifat.org/about/our-campus/) - Our Campus We want to be a resource for you! Set on a 176-acre farm in rural Alabama, the SIFAT campus offers multiple ways for you to utilize the land that God has given us. Year-round, we partner with individuals, groups and organizations to meet their unique needs and objectives. We do our best to
- [Lodge](https://sifat.org/about/our-campus/lodge/) - Lodge Housing Perfect for large groups Sleeps 75 2 bunk rooms 4 suites Large meeting space with AV Full kitchen Porch overlooking Mad Indian Creek Minimum 25 $15 per person per night E-mail learnandserve@sifat.org to book!
- [Britt Carter](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/britt-carter/) - Britt Carter Executive Vice President, Prestige Staffing Britt Carter was born and raised near Atlanta and currently lives in Marietta, Ga., with his wife Elise and two daughters, Bayley and Brooke. He has served as Executive Vice President for Prestige Staffing since 2002. As EVP of the IT staffing division, Britt has led efforts
- [Scott Kramer](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/scott-kramer/) - Scott Kramer, Ph.D. Professor, Auburn University Scott is a Professor in the McWhorter School of Building Science, within the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction at Auburn University. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Auburn University and Ph.D. in Learning Design & Technology from Purdue University. Since 1993, Scott has taught
- [International Missions](https://sifat.org/faqs/international-missions/) - International Teams FAQs We divided the following into five sections to help you find the answers to questions you may have about SIFAT international teams. The five sections are general, funding, travel, health and country-specific. If you still have questions after reading these answers, please contact our international team coordinator at internationalteams@sifat.org Section 1: General
- [Wish List & Donations](https://sifat.org/get-involved/wish-list-donations/) - Wish List & Donations Wish List SIFAT often needs specific items that we do not have in our budget. If you would like to make a donation of a new or gently used item we may need, please contact our Campus Administrator or check back soon for our new wish list. Take a SHARE in
- [Uganda](https://sifat.org/international-missions/uganda/) - Uganda Printable Uganda Information 2014 PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) Project History William Nsubuga moved to the United States as a political refugee after surviving the Rwandan genocide. In 1997, he attended SIFAT’s community development training, and although he lived in Birmingham for the next 10 years, he never forgot what he learned at SIFAT and never
- [Basic Needs Institute](https://sifat.org/training/basic-needs-institute/) - SIFAT Basic Needs Institute En Español The SIFAT Basic Needs Institute works with grassroots communities to promote community development. Purpose Statement SIFAT’s Basic Needs Institute works with marginalized communities to develop local capacities to meet their own basic human needs with dignity so that community members may be empowered to fulfill their
- [Practicum](https://sifat.org/training/practicum/) - Practicum Join with grassroots community leaders from around the world to learn practical skills to help the poor help themselves in a context of Christian Community Development. Come to SIFAT's International Training Campus in Lineville, Ala., for the 10-week practicum in appropriate technologies and Christian community development. Application Process Practicum Application Spanish Practicum Application Reference
- [Get Involved](https://sifat.org/get-involved/) - Get Involved SIFAT welcomes others to join us in the exciting journey of allowing the Spirit of God to change our perception and alleviate some of the alienation and lostness in our world today. There are multiple ways you can be a part of the ministry of SIFAT! If you are interested in applying to
- [Giving](https://sifat.org/faqs/giving/) - FAQs Giving 1. Is my gift tax-deductible? Yes. SIFAT is a 501(c)(3) organization, registered with the IRS to receive tax-deductible donations. Each month you contribute, you will receive a receipt for tax purposes. 2. May I specify how my gift is used? Yes, you may specify that you are contributing to a specific project or
- [Directions](https://sifat.org/about/directions/) - Get Directions
- [Diana Cline](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/diana-cline/) - Diana Cline Accountant Diana became a part of the SIFAT family during April 2012 with 23 years of accounting experience and 18 years nursing experience. She loves the Lord and was blessed with the call to work at SIFAT after praying for the Lord's direction.
- [Art Stephenson](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/art-stephenson/) - Art Stephenson Retired Art joined the SIFAT Board in 2015. He resides in Houston, Texas. During the last six years, he led construction teams from two United Methodist churches in Texas to serve on the SIFAT Galilee Campus. The past two years, he has also led short-term mission teams to Ecuador. Art’s work career was
- [Ben Camp](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/ben-camp/) - Benjamin Camp, MD, FACEP Director of the Emergency Department and Chief of Staff, Tanner Health System Ben is an Emergency Medicine physician who currently serves as the Director of the Emergency Department and Chief of Staff at Tanner Health System. Ben and his family have been involved with SIFAT since its inception. His first mission
- [Campus Work Teams](https://sifat.org/get-involved/campus-work-teams/) - Campus Work Teams SIFAT is seeking work teams of all skill levels and all ages to help us steward the property that God has given us! Set on a 176-acre farm in rural Alabama, the SIFAT campus offers multiple ways for your team to get involved through service and be a part of God’s ministry
- [Calendar](https://sifat.org/about/calendar/) - SIFAT Calendar
- [Terry Haynes](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/terry-haynes/) - Terry Haynes Administrator Terry grew up in Alabama and graduated from Jacksonville State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a minor in economics. Later, he graduated from the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University in Trust Banking. Terry spent 13 years in trust banking and retired from Pierson Chevorlet, Inc., as
- [Kathy Bryson](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/kathy-bryson/) - Kathy Bryson International Training Director Kathy, daughter of SIFAT co-founders Ken and Sarah Corson, was born in Costa Rica and spent growing up years in Puerto Rico, Bolivia and Haiti. Kathy attended Asbury College and Wheaton College, majoring in sociology (with a focus on human needs and global resources) and biology. Later, she received a
- [Resources](https://sifat.org/about/resources/) - Resources Printable Resources SIFAT Brochure International Missions Brochures: Ixiamas Bolivia Quesimpuco Bolivia Ecuador Uganda Zambia
- [Learn & Serve](https://sifat.org/faqs/learn-serve/) - FAQs Learn & Serve Coming soon!
- [Our History](https://sifat.org/about/our-history/) - Our History The idea of SIFAT was conceived in the jungles of Bolivia in 1976 when Ken and Sarah Corson and their four children moved to Sapecho to be pastors of a Bolivian Church. Realizing that the homesteaders there needed more than spiritual nourishment, Ken and Sarah began to work in integrated development with the
- [Appropriate Technology](https://sifat.org/training/appropriate-technology/) - Appropriate Technology Coming soon.
- [Roberto Contreras](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/roberto-contreras/) - Roberto Contreras Ecuador Director
- [Ken & Sarah Corson](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/ken-sarah-corson/) - Addison Shock Co-Founders of SIFAT Since Ken and Sarah Corson started their life together in 1958, they have served in seven Latin American countries and three states. In these places, they tried to understand the roots of poverty and how to empower the poor to take control of their own lives. In May of 1979, SIFAT
- [Edwin Contreras](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/edwin-contreras-2/) - Edwin Contreras Ecuador Project Engineer
- [Peggy Walker](https://sifat.org/about/our-staff/peggy-walker/) - Peggy Walker International Teams Coordinator Peggy received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama. After a career with Eastern Airlines as a flight attendant, Peggy became a Realtor in Pensacola. Soon after her first mission trip in 2000, Peggy started to volunteer as manager of the SIFAT Village Store, where she worked
- [FAQs](https://sifat.org/faqs/) - FAQs Have a question? Check out the tabs to the left for answers and FAQs!
- [Training](https://sifat.org/faqs/training/) - FAQs Training: Practicum 1. What is the goal of the SIFAT Practicum? The goal of the SIFAT Practicum is to make disciples for Jesus Christ who comprehend the integrated, holistic teachings of Jesus; who minister to the total person, body, mind and spirit; who understand how communities and groups can develop to the full potential
- [General](https://sifat.org/faqs/general/) - FAQs General 1. How do you pronounce SIFAT? 'SEE - FAT' - just like the letter 'C' and the word 'Fat', with the accent on the 'C'. 2. What does the acronym "SIFAT" mean? SIFAT stands for Servants in Faith and Technology. SIFAT was incorporated as the Southern Institute for Appropriate Technology, which is still

## Categories

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- [Ixiamas](https://sifat.org/category/short-term-mission/bolivia/ixiamas/)
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- [community outreach](https://sifat.org/category/community-outreach/)
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- [SIFAT Projects (non-team)](https://sifat.org/category/short-term-mission/sifat-projects-non-team/)
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- [Monthly Statement Article](https://sifat.org/category/marketing/monthly-statement-article/)
- [Costa Rica](https://sifat.org/category/training/costa-rica/)

## Tags

- [service learning](https://sifat.org/tag/service-learning/)
- [bolivia mission team](https://sifat.org/tag/bolivia-mission-team/)
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- [church service](https://sifat.org/tag/church-service/)
- [#GivingTuesday](https://sifat.org/tag/givingtuesday/)
- [fund raising](https://sifat.org/tag/fund-raising/)
- [donations](https://sifat.org/tag/donations/)
- [giving](https://sifat.org/tag/giving/)
- [SIFAT alumni](https://sifat.org/tag/sifat-alumni/)
- [refugee camps](https://sifat.org/tag/refugee-camps/)
- [SIFAT Training](https://sifat.org/tag/sifat-training/)
- [#GivingTuesdayNow](https://sifat.org/tag/givingtuesdaynow/)
- [relief](https://sifat.org/tag/relief/)
- [COVID-19](https://sifat.org/tag/covid-19/)
- [coronavirus](https://sifat.org/tag/coronavirus/)
- [Atucucho](https://sifat.org/tag/atucucho/)
- [Villaflora](https://sifat.org/tag/villaflora/)
- [Aida Leon](https://sifat.org/tag/aida-leon/)
- [campus](https://sifat.org/tag/campus/)
- [Learn & Serve](https://sifat.org/tag/learn-serve/)
- [SIFAT Doctor in your House](https://sifat.org/tag/sifat-doctor-in-your-house/)
- [Southern Institute for Appropriate Technology](https://sifat.org/tag/southern-institute-for-appropriate-technology/)
- [Costa Rica](https://sifat.org/tag/costa-rica/)
- [year in review](https://sifat.org/tag/year-in-review/)
- [mission teams](https://sifat.org/tag/mission-teams/)
- [international missions](https://sifat.org/tag/international-missions/)
- [fall festival](https://sifat.org/tag/fall-festival/)