Movies, Media, and Missions

Before you say "wait a minute.. I thought this was a missions site about your travels and stuff." Well we are at home and as I brought up in the previous post.. part of our goal in the next 5 months back in PA is promoting missions awareness. It doesnt have to be boring or complicated.. -Heck, there are alot of resources out there. Lets utilize them! Below are movies that depict many issues on my heart and Im sure on God's heart over the past few months... awareness,... injustice,... what are we gonna do about it!?

Movies I would like to see:


Tsotsi
2005
IN Jo-burgh SOUTH AFRICA. After shooting a woman (Nambitha Mpumlwana) and driving off in her car, a ruthless thug (Presley Chweneyagae) is surprised to discover he isn't alone, kept company by a crying infant in the backseat. But through his efforts to care for the baby, he slowly rediscovers his capacity to love. Writer-director Gavin Hood helms this Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, based on the novel by Athol Fugard.


Rabbit Proof Fence
2002
Australia's aboriginal integration program of the 1930s broke countless hearts -- among them, those of young Molly (Evelyn Sampi), Gracie (Laura Monaghan) and Daisy (Tianna Sansbury), who were torn from their families and placed in an abusive orphanage. Without food or water, the girls resolve to make the 1,500-mile trek home. Meanwhile, a well-intentioned tracker is trying to return the girls to the authorities.

Movies I would recommend:


END of the SPEAR
2006
Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen) returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family's legacy. The result, in this film based on a true story, is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father's killer and impacts both of their lives forever.
Review: I would recommend this to anyone that isn't going to be quick to judge the cultural and religious intentions of this story. I was inspired by the grace, forgiveness, and strength implied in the plot. By the way this is a true story.


HOTEL RWANDA
2005
Amid the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the savage butchering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, one ordinary hotel manager (Oscar nominee Don Cheadle) musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix co-star in this powerful film -- often described as an African Schindler's List -- directed by Terry George.
Review: After meeting people that actually survived the holocaust in Rwanda.. I wanted to watch this again. The look in Don Cheadle's eyes throughout the movie is the same look I saw in the South African refugees. Do not watch if you have a weak stomach or heart.


BLOOD DIAMOND
2006
In war-ravaged Sierra Leone, diamond smuggler Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) learns that a local fisherman (Djimon Hounsou) has stumbled upon a gigantic gem, and he offers to reunite the man with his family in exchange for the diamond. When Archer befriends a journalist (Jennifer Connelly) tracing "blood diamonds" that finance terrorist groups, he's faced with a choice between riches and humanity. DiCaprio and Hounsou each earned Oscar nods.
Review: This is quite a bit more romanticised than the rest of the selection here.. but not any less heart-wrenching and conviction. This began my curiosity for "fair trade". GOOGLE IT! Oh and side note Leonardo isn't that bad either,.. I was amazed at his accurate South African accent.

CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH:






Just an idea to be part of something bigger:
Nothingbutnets.net (above) The United Methodist Church and the NBA paired up for a campain to fight against Malaria using misquito nets. Isnt that great? "SEND A NET SAVE A LIFE". "the Nothing But Nets campaign has engaged hundreds of thousands of individuals to help achieve the UN goal to end malaria deaths by 2015."




Movies and notes about them are from Netflix.com, and Ad campain photos found at 10thousanddoors.org
(United Methodist campain to make church a verb- liveing and active as we are called to (in the bible),uniting as people. Instead of just a "noun"- the building or place we go to.)