http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qgBwGl89BM
Hopefully the video posts… It is something I made up on one of my days off as I prepare for this trip. The video addresses what we will be doing- Sports camps, child ministry, orphan care, befriending prostitutes, offering hope, truth and love.
Where am I going?
Bulgaria Rwanda Kenya Mayasia Nicaragua Guatemala
Romania Uganda Thailand Cambodia Honduras
JULY: Bulgaria
The Population of Bulgaria is 7 351 234 people, 73% of which live in the city or village. Many of the villages were influenced by the Greek. There have been many wars in which they were defeated… They managed to survive WW2, and dispite the economic control that reigned from the government, in 1989 things began to change. They had democratic development and are now part of the European Union.
http://bulgariatravel.org/en/dynamic_page/76
AUGUST: Romania
The population of Romania is 21,400,000 . 1.9% of that population is Gypsy. When the gypsies arrived in Romania they were the slaves of the landowners. Their freedom did not come until 1851. They began to speak Bayesh. Now they mostly speak Romany. They are still seen driving carts on the sides of the road. Also they live in villages and towns, some living in large beautiful houses that stand out amung the other romanian houses. Similar to Bulgaria, Romania also come under communist control and overcame it in 1989.
http://www.eliznik.org.uk/RomaniaHistory/minority-gypsies.htm
http://www.romaniatourism.com/economy.html
SEPTEMBER: Rwanda
The population of Rwanda is 11,370,425 (July 2011 est.). This is an estimate as the country has to take into account the excess mortality because of AIDS. Aids causes shortened life expectancy, higher infant mortality and this changes the expected lifespan population. The Twa and Hutu people are the natives to Rwanda. The Tutsi arrived in 1300. From the controlof the British to the Belgian, they were not free in their own land. In 1957 liberation began, however things went terribly sour…1994 the Rwandan military began to massacre the Tutsi's. Its not until 1995 that the UN steped in and began to help the Tutsi's from the extremist Hutu malitias. Although Rwanda has made great progress for independance and democracy, the effects of the genocide are still real and being delt with currently. Those on trial are still being tried.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14093322
http://www.indexmundi.com/rwanda/population.html
OCTOBER: Uganda
The population of Uganda is 34,612,250 (July 2011 est.). Like Rwanda this is an estimate based on the reality of AIDS. The median age in this country is 15 years old. 1875 the Bugandian King allows missionaries into the country. In 1900 Britain signed an agreement with Buganda which gave it autonomy and turned it into a constitutional monarchy controlled mainly by Protestant chiefs. In 1973 war between Uganda and Tanzania began. It lasted until about 1993, at which point things begin to change towards democracy. In 2002, the Lord's Restistance Army (LRA) became active along the borders of Uganda and Sudan. Attacts on villages and mass murders lasted until 2006, when a peace treaty was designed, and worked out until 2009. In the mean time there were floods with massive devistation. Needless to say this country has suffered much, and the unrest has yet to settle.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14112446
http://www.indexmundi.com/uganda/demographics_profile.html
NOVEMBER: Kenya
The population of Kenya is 41,070,934 (July 2011 est.). This estimate also reflects AIDS in the population and the mortality rate that is associated with it. The median age here is 19 years old. In the 19th century the Masai entered Kenya, although not a large tribe, their reputation of being strong warriors and the attacks on surrounding tribes gives them power. In 1885 Germany and England began to share rule with the Sultan. In 1920, Kenya was established as a colony, and with this came racial inequality. The Native Africans were not seen as equals and put on reserves. In 1952 to present, war, civil unrest, and ethnic conflict remain in occurance.
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad21
http://www.indexmundi.com/kenya/demographics_profile.html
DECEMBER: Thailand
The population of Thailand is 67 million. Thailand means "Land of the Free" and was named such in 1939.In 1942 Thailand declared war on Britain and US, but the Thai ambassador in Washington refused to deliver the message to the US. In 1973 student riots in Bankok overthrew the miliatary. This unstable new government lasted only 3 years. Economic trouble began in 1997 and people were forced back to their countries of origin. In 2004, Islamic attacks began and killed more than 100 people. Also, in 2004, there was a tsunami which killed thousands of people. There is a lot of political unrest, even when democracy is in goverment, riots and unrest remain. Also, as of recent years and current times, Thailand and Cambodia are not on good terms. Warring on the borders.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1243059.stm
http://exploredia.com/thailand-population-2011/
JANUARY: Malaysia
The population of Malaysia is 28,728,607 (July 2011 est.). The average age is 27 years old. Starting in the 1800's and into the 1900's this country was ruled by the Japanese and the British. They had anti-chinese riots in 1969, as the Chinese were economically successful. Malaysia's worst ethnic clashes occured in 2001 between the Maya's and the ethnic Indians. In 2004, they also were effected by the tsunami. 2005, a state of emergency was declaired due too a fire. In 2006-2007 over 60 000 people displaced due to flooding in the south.
Malaysia is a source of human trafficking. Key traffickers are usually members of organised crime. 65% of those who are being trafficked (victims) are forced labour. Men, women and children from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, and the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are forced into hard labour or sexual expliotation.
http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/malaysia
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15391762
http://www.indexmundi.com/malaysia/demographics_profile.html
FEBRUARY: Cambodia
The population of Cambodia is 14,701,717 (July 2011 est.). This estimation is based on the prevalence of AIDS in this country. The median age is 22 years old. France was the protectorate in 1863 and while Japan took over during the second world war, France regained protectorate in 1946. In 1953 Cambodia became independent of France. In 1965-1970, Cambodia faced bombing from the US (attempting to attack the Veitnamese), North Veitnamese and communist geurriillas attacks.
1975, also known as year zero. This was a time where money became worthless, city dwellers became agriculteral workers, basic freedoms were revoked, and religion was banned. The country is renamed. The death toll was a least 1.7 million within a three year span. In 1977, war with Vietnam begins. Geurriillas run rampant. In 1994, peace is attempted and the Khuma Rouge guerriilas surrender (responsible for genocide). Starting in 2008 to current, Thailand and Cambodia are not on good terms.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13006828
http://www.indexmundi.com/cambodia/demographics_profile.html
MARCH: Nicaragua
The population of Nicaragua is about 6 million people. Originally populated with the Aztec people, it was settled by the Spanish in 1522 and gained independence in 1838. In the early 1900's the US army sent a small detechment to aid the country in establishing government. Between assasinations, dictators and guerriillas, there has been a lot of unrest in this country. In 1998, hurricane Mitch left the country devasated. 9000 killed, 2 million were left homeless and there was billions of dollars in damages.
http://www.compassion.com/about/where/nicaragua.htm
www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107839.html?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua
APRIL: Hunduras
The population of Hunduras is 8,143,564 (July 2011 est.). This is an estimate due to the prevalence of AIDS. The average age is 21 years. Initially discovered in 1502 by Christopher Columbus. In 1525, Spain invaded and was then taken over by the British buccaneers. In 1821, Hunduras brokes free from Spain but joined Mexico. In 1840 they gained full independence. The 19th century to the 20th century, the US aided financially, and war brokes out with surrounding countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua under a dictatorship. Also at this time there was guerriilla forces present. In the late 1980's liberal government is formed. In 1993, control of the police was transfered in to civillian authorites from military rule. 1998 Hunduras is also effected by hurricane Mitch. In the year 2000, over 1000 childern were put to death simply because they were homeless. These death squads were backed by the police.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1225471.stm
http://www.indexmundi.com/honduras/demographics_profile.html
MAY: Guatemala
The population of Guatemala is 13,824,463 (July 2011 est.). The average age is 20 years old. Indigenous to the Maya people, colonized by the Spanish in 1523. In 1821 it separates from the Spain and joined Mexico. In 1839 Guatemala became fully independent. In the 1840's it is ruled by a conservative dictator. Then in the late 1840's a liberal leader in introduced, the people begin growing coffee, and develop a military. In 1944, land given to the peasants with no land. In 1976, thousands of people are killed and thousands more became homeless due to an earthquake. In 1981, around 1100 people killed by anti-government guerriilla death squads. Since the year 2000, drugs and drug related incidents have caused many deaths and corruption.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1215811.stm
http://www.indexmundi.com/guatemala/demographics_profile.html
