Chasing Solomon

CHASING SOLOMON MINISTRIES to support GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

Dear Friends,

Christmas 2008, I had the opportunity to do a “Chasing Solomon” conference in  Kenya, Africa. While we were there, I had a chance to participate in a number of the ministries that had been started there by Global Connections.

My “chance” introduction to the Puckett family happened one day at My Friends Place Deli in Ridgeland. Hal Lott used to let me put copies of Chasing Solomon at his restaurant. Anna Puckett happened to be in there one day and picked up a copy of the book because she had heard about it. About that time, I walked into the restaurant and Hal told her, “that’s the guy that wrote it right there.”

Anna began to share with me about their family trips to Kenya and how Global Connections had been started as a result of those mission trips. She said I would have to go one day. When Chasing Solomon was finished, I made a promise to God that I would go and share about this wherever I was invited. I thought that probably meant Jackson, Brandon, Water Valley, etc. but not Kenya. But a few weeks later, at another “chance” meeting in Jackson with the Bishop of the African Gospel Church, I was invited to do a conference that Christmas in Kenya.

I was very excited to learn that A.B. Puckett was going to be in Kenya at the same time, and that we would be able to spend several days with the Global Connections team and their programs. My world was turned upside down as a result of that trip.

I have never seen so much need in my entire life. Sure, I had seen the pictures on TV but to see it first hand was when it became a reality for me. For days, we drove around the country of Kenya and saw who knows how many millions of people. We were told that most of them lived on $1 per day. That’s right…$1 per day. I got to visit with a beautiful lady named Anne who had HIV Aids and had been cast out to the outer edges of her slum. She knitted these beautiful shawls and if she was fortunate, she would sell them for fourteen dollars. We were told that she would have to stretch that $14 for 3 months.

We saw orphanage after orphanage and heard stories of babies being left at the gates because the parents had now way to care for them. We had the opportunity to see a feeding program for hundreds of widowed ladies who were being taken care of by one lady from England, who had moved to Kenya to care for these ladies.

I got to see Kibera, which is one of the largest slums in the world. The needs there can’t be expressed in words. So much need there.

The thing that struck me the most was who was there in Kenya responding to the overwhelming needs of that country. I didn’t notice any huge humanitarian organizations. What I noticed in a big way was groups like the Puckett family’s Global Connection ministry. Simply, a family who had seen the needs of their fellow man while on a mission trip, and responded out of their love of God and love of mankind. The Global Connection organization family is full of some of the most loving, compassionate, selfless people I have ever known. I invite you to get to find out more about them by visiting their website: (www.globalconnectionsonline.org)

I think people have two choices when seeing the needs in Kenya, which are in fact overwhelming. One, they think this problem is too big for them and think there is nothing that can be done to help. Or two, they say I can only do what I can do but I will do what I can. And it’ is in the spirit of the latter, that the needs of Kenya are being taken care of…one child at a time…one widow at a time….one Aids person at a time….one meal at a time.

It is an honor to help support Global Connections this year as we embark on our Team N2N  ”Riding with a Mission” 2010 Blue Ridge Parkway bike tour. We invite you to help us by helping Global Connections. We will need some major mojo to be able to finish this 469 mile mountain parkway bike ride. Download a flyer at (Blue Ridge Fundraiser)

Please make a difference in somebody’s life by making a donation to Global Connections.

Thanks for your friendship, interest and support.

Scot Thigpen