Today started with visiting the Jordanian Speaker of the House and then the President of the Senate.  We had some lively discussions, generally in the Senate and mostly about the Middle East peace process.

As a result of the Arab Spring, Jordan passed a new electoral law that allowed voters to cast two ballots; one for a candidate in their constituency and one for party lists elected by proportional representation at the national level.  The Parliament in Jordan is made up of two bodies, the House and the Senate.  There are now 150 seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate has members appointed by the King and does not exceed half the number of the total Members of Parliament.  We ended our visit there by watching one if the two weekly sessions of parliament.  Absolutely fascinating compared to watching a House Session!

We also visited with the newly created Independent Election Commission, which was part of the reforms enacted and was established to oversee the election process.  It is indeed a fascinating time in Jordan.  As a matter of fact, around 70% of eligible voters registered to vote.  We met with the new director of the commission and he has a lot of work to do but learned a lot from the last election cycle.

After a great morning learning about the legislative process, we went out to visit the Jordanian International Police Training Center (JIPTC).  The center is ground zero for the transformation of US-allied security forces not only for the Kingdom of Jordan, but also for Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories.  After a briefing and watching some Palestinian forces running through a training exercise, we went out to a shooting range for a demonstration.

Mother Nature had another plan and I experienced my first massive sand storm!  Check out my photo on Facebook.  It was insane, but now I can check that off my bucket list!

That’s it for now from Amman!

Every human has innate survival instincts.  Every parent is protective of his or her children.  Today I witnessed something I never thought I would see, the absolute look of despair and the need to survive in the eyes of women and men in the Al Zaatari Syrian Refugee Camp along the north Jordanian border near Syria.

The human toll and suffering at the hands of another makes one wonder why the world response to the crisis of Syria is not more commanding, decisive, and united.  It is hard, no the word hard is an understatement, its unimaginable, when trying to comprehend the actions of one man and how his hold on power is so overwhelming that he cannot and will not do what is best for his people.

As families in Syria fear for their lives, that protective survival instinct kicks in, and people will do almost anything to survive.  In so many cases today in northern Jordan, I saw that.  Mothers and fathers were so desperate that they left their homes in darkness with just what they could carry to move into a tent pitched in the middle of the desert.

Please don’t misunderstand, the country of Jordan is doing more than any one nation should be asked to do. And just eight months ago, there was only desert where 120,000 people now live in tents and temporary mobile units.  Yes, the residents have food, some security, health care, and education.  But this is no way for families and children to live.  There is overcrowding and a sense of hopelessness in many of the eyes that I gazed into.  The international response has been good, but with 2,000 refugees fleeing Syria into Jordan every night, the camp is now the 4th largest city in Jordan and by the end of this year, another 500,000 refugees are expected to cross into Jordan.

I watched new arrivals today setting up tents in the outskirts of the existing camp boundary as the planners and managers of the camp prepare for the newest influx of residents.  It’s hot and sandy in the desert, there is frustration. Life at a refugee camp is heartless, families live there with their children and are secluded, refugees are deprived of any social interaction with the surrounding community. As frustration grows, and money runs low, social norms begin to break down.  Without the proper resources, Jordan cannot provide the correct level of security and gang violence beings to invade the camp.  Burglary, vandalism, and violence against women are on the rise and trafficking is occurring.

No words can come close to properly conveying what I saw today.  But I know one thing, countless people are working hard to ensure that as many people as possible remain safe and secure.  Despite this Herculean effort on behalf of Jordan and its international partners, there appears to be no easy solution to the Syrian crisis.  A reasonable and sustainable political solution must be found to address the Syrian crisis immediately.

Then and only then will these people be able to return home to their villages and towns  and the life they knew before coming here.  As I left the camp today, I looked out the window of the bus and thanked God for all that the world was providing to these people, prayed for resolution in Syria, and prayed that the inevitable clash of survival instincts and reality did not result in more pain and suffering for these people struggling to survive in a harsh place in a strange land.

Over the last few days, we have been privileged to visit some of the most amazing places on the face of the earth….I thought I’d share a few observations and tales….

Mount Nebo

Mount Nebo is one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan and the place where Moses was buried. A small Byzantine church was built there by early Christians, which has been expanded into a vast complex. During his visit to Jordan in 2000, the Late Pope John Paul II held a sermon here that was attended by some 20,000 faithful. On the highest point of the mountain, Syagha, the remains of a church and monastery were discovered in 1933.

The church was first constructed in the second half of the 4th century to commemorate the place of Moses’ death.  We were running late this day and decided to still go to the site.  Unfortunately, the church is under renovation, so we could not enter.  But we did head to the place where Moses was allowed to view the holy land and where God showed Moses the promised land and explained that he would not join those he had led from Egypt.  The weather did not fully cooperate either,  but I am told that when you stand where I was standing – and it’s a clear day – you can see, as Moses did, the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem.

We were able to see some things in the distance; however, dust and wind prevented it from being a clear vista.  Nevertheless, I was tremendously moved by standing in this place.  Jordan’s rich and treasured historic monuments are unlike any I have visited before.  This is a place where as you walk, climb, hike, or just visit the valleys, hills and plains of this country, the names of famous historical and Biblical persons, who have been woven into our collective human history by virtue of walking in these same places and crossing its rivers during their lives, are virtually everywhere.

As I walked back to the bus, I quietly reflected upon what this pilgrimage meant to me. And all I could think of was that when God chose Moses to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, Moses was unwilling at first. And after I got beyond the “Oh my God, I’m standing where Moses stood,” phase, I started to think about how many of us are reluctant to get up and do something even when God clearly has something else in store.  Visiting Mount Nebo was a reminder that when we feel that tug from inside, we need to listen because we don’t always know what God is trying to tell us to do.

The Ancient City of Jerash

For anyone fascinated with history, a visit to Jordan is a must.  But for Rome itself, I’m not sure I have ever seen so many wonderful examples of ancient ruins than in Jordan.  On Thursday, we visited the ancient city of Jerash.  Jerash is the site of the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa, also referred to as Antioch on the Golden River. Visiting Jerash is without a doubt one of the best preserved Roman cities I have ever seen, and sadly, I had never heard of it before this trip.

Recent excavations show that Jerash was already inhabited during the Bronze Age (3200 BC – 1200 BC). After the Roman conquest in 63 BC, Jerash and the land surrounding it were annexed by the Roman province of Syria, and later joined the Decapolis cities. In AD 90, Jerash was absorbed into the Roman province of Arabia, which included the city of Philadelphia (modern day Amman). The Romans ensured security and peace in this area, which enabled its people to devote their efforts and time to economic development and encouraged civic building activity.

The City of Madaba

After visiting Jerash and Mount Nebo, our final stop of day was a trip into Madaba.  The city of Madaba is known for its mosaics and religious sites like St. George’s Church.  on the original floor of St. George’s church are the remnants of church’s mosaic map of the Holy Land.

The Map of Madaba mosaic was discovered in 1896 and the findings were published a year later.  But the amazing thing about the Madaba Mosaic Map is that it is an index map of the region, dating from the 6th century!  With two million pieces of colored stone, the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns in Palestine and the Nile Delta. The mosaic contains the earliest extant representation of Byzantine Jerusalem, labeled the “Holy City.” The map provides important details as to its 6th-century landmarks and is one key in developing scholarly knowledge about the physical layout of Jerusalem after its destruction and rebuilding in 70 AD.

The actual map depicts an area from Lebanon in the north to the Nile Delta in the south, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Eastern Desert. The map may partially have served to facilitate pilgrims’ orientation in the Holy Land. All in all, the map depicts about 150 labelled towns and villages.

For me, perhaps the most exciting aspect of the map has been its use to locate and verify biblical sites throughout the holy land.  For instance, in 1967, excavations in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem revealed the Nea Church and the Cardo Maximus in the very locations suggested by the Madaba Map.  In February 2010, excavations further substantiated its accuracy with the discovery of a road depicted in the map that runs through the center of Jerusalem. According to the map, the main entrance to the city was through a large gate opening into a wide central street. Until now, archaeologists were not able to excavate this site due to heavy pedestrian traffic. In the wake of infrastructure work near the Jaffa Gate, large paving stones were discovered at a depth of 4 meters below ground that prove such a road existed.

The mosaic also identifies significant structures in the Old City of Jerusalem: the Damascus Gate, the Lions’ Gate, the Golden Gate, the Zion Gate, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the New Church of the Theotokos, the Tower of David and the Cardo Maximus.

What’ remains today of the mosaic map is amazing to see and I did take some photos of it that I hope to put on Facebook soon.  As I stood there looking at it, it was hard to believe that such a detailed map existed during the time is was created.  And again, to know that it substantiates some of the sites referenced in the bible is fascinating.

As I left the City, I ran into one small shop and purchased a memento to bring home.  The shop keeper and I exchanged a few words and he asked if I have enjoyed my visit.  I told him I had and that he has a beautiful country.  He replied that it was my country too.  That sentiment was repeated over and over.  The kindness and hospitality of the Jordanians was clearly visible wherever we traveled.  Our foreign assistance dollars this place have made a difference for the better of our two countries and that was exciting to see and hear.

Friday

We left the hotel earlier today then we had all week.  With our official meetings over, and my head filled with information and details, and my suitcase overflowing (and I’m sure heavier then the weight limit) with handouts, presentation materials, and books, we packed our bags and set out for the our four hour ride to Petra.

We were just happy to get out of the bus.  It was a pleasant enough ride and the accommodations were fine, the ride itself was slightly uncomfortable, bouncy, etc.  But the trip was well worth the effort!  What an amazing journey.  From he first time I watched the Indiana Jones movie that featured Petra, I always wanted to visit this place.  And it did not disappoint!

Petra

At more than 2,000 years old, this city appears to be half as old as time itself and as you wonder through the old city streets, you cannot help but wonder what life here must have been like.  This city is indeed one of the greatest archaeological treasures of the world.

Tucked quietly in the mountains of southern Jordan, between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, Petra was once the strategic location along early trade routes between the Middle East and northern Africa. Its people were some of the original architects, artisans and tradesmen prospering until trade routes changed and the Romans eventually took over. Now a United Nations World Heritage Site, the eroded areas are protected for future generations to enjoy.

The ancient main entrance to Petra was breathtaking.  It was a 1,200 meter long (or 4,000 feet) deep and sometimes narrow gorge of stunning rock formations and artwork.  Just when you think you’re done, there is another twist or turn, and then you come face to face with the iconic image of Petra, the Treasury, or Al-Khazneh.

The main influence in the construction of theTreasury was Hellenistic and stands an impressive 141 feet tall, and 100 feet wide.  We walked further through the city to see the Street of Facades and the city theatre.  Scattered high above the streets and well into the mountain sides, you could see caves that were bored into the rock formation and acted as homes to local residents of the time.  We also walked the colonnaded street, which was added after the city was incorporated into the Roman Empire.  This street led through the city center and is flanked by temples, public buildings, and shops.  It was absolutely breath taking.

Petra is beautiful.  It stands as a testimony to past civilizations, their desire for order, their commitment to education, and their passion for architectural and civil engineering dominance.  Despite the fact that we walked through Petra for nearly two hours, archeologists estimate that only 20% of the original city has been unearthed and that Petra was once home to a thriving ancient city of 30,000 people.

Wadi Rum

Although our day in Petra was perfect, the weather turned as we drove south to Wadi Rum, a huge desert reserve area in southern Jordan protected by the Jordanian government.

Upon our arrival at the campsite, we were shown into a large square tented courtyard and offered teas, dates, and cookies. The area was laid out in a Bedouin-style, with rugs and cushions everywhere.  We waited there until our rides were ready to tour Wadi Rum and head to our campsite for the evening.  Wadi Rum is another amazing place seemingly frozen in time.

We boarded two 4×4 pickups and bumped past titanic stone sculptures of Wadi Rum. The pickups stopped a few times to awe at the beauty of it all.  At one point, I found my own piece of the desert to reflect at what God had created in this place. We arrived at our camp, fully set up in Bedouin style, and enjoyed tea, explored the area and got settled.  As we waited for dinner, we took the opportunity to introduce a western classic to our Bedouin and Jordanian hosts – s’mores!  I’m not sure what they thought about our description of a s’more, but once they got the hang of, they seemed to enjoy the process and the end result.  There is nothing like “S’more Diplomacy” to build relations around the world!

The camp just housed our delegation, and there was dining, live music, dancing, great fellowship, and exploration.  We watched as our hosts pulled our dinner out of the ground after cooking for hours beneath the sand.  The meal included lamb, chicken, rice, and vegetables all cooked together.  Our Bedouin host also made fresh bread he flattened and cooked on a heated inverted wok kept on the fire.  Unbelievable!  The hot dishes were served with an assortment of hummus, salads, and sauces.

After things settled down, several of us decided to sleep under the stars instead of in our personal tents.  At this point in my day, I would normally check emails, voice mails and send a dozen or so text messages, but none of that was happening this night. No phones, no computers, just the age-old art of conversation under intense and unblinking stars.

Once everyone was in bed, I sat in our campsite and gazed at the rock formations surrounding our home for the evening and heard nothing. Nothing but my thoughts. For the first time in my life, I heard absolutely nothing. It was as startling as it was refreshing and peaceful. Just me, the earth and the air. I slept under the stars and awoke as soon as the sun began to rise and the formations around me were painted a different color than the night before and even more beautiful.

Wadi Rum wraps its guests in a warm tranquil embrace that makes it difficult to board a 4×4 to head out of the park in the morning.

Bethany Beyond the Jordan

On Saturday, our last full day in Jordan, we left Wadi Rum to make our way towards the Dead Sea.  Before checking into the hotel, we had one last antiquity in this amazing country peppered with antiquities and holy sites.  We set out for a place knows as Bethany beyond the Jordan.  For me, this may have been the most moving of sites visited during this trip.  I truly felt that this was in some ways a part of my Christian journey and a pilgrimage of sorts.  I didn’t think that when we set out, but by the end of the trip, visiting mount Nebo, Madaba, and this site were collectively overwhelming.

I certainly acknowledge that no one today knows where Jesus was baptized, but we do know that John the Baptist hung out in this region of the Middle East.  We know that Jesus and John were together at some point during John’s ministry and we know, from historical records and archeological finds that somewhere in the general region I was is indeed the place where John and Jesus connected together.  To know that I was walking on this holy ground was moving, inspiring, and a bit overwhelming.

The area I am talking about is about a 45 minute drive from Amman, and slightly north of the Dead Sea. For the three past year and a half, the Jordanian Department of Antiquities has systematically surveyed and partially’ excavated a series of ancient sites that collectively make up one of the most important archaeological discoveries in modem Jordan.

The site excavated reveals the settlement of Bethany, where John the Baptist lived and baptized. The Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River, and Mt. Nebo. Archaeologists believed they have unearthed the cave where John the Baptist lived and the area is also associated with the biblical account of how the Prophet Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire, after having parted the waters of the Jordan River and walked across it with his anointed successor the Prophet Elisha.

The Madaba map depicts two concentric circles at the site, which have variously been interpreted as symbols for the hill itself, the nearby caves, or the spring. The remains of a large church immediately adjacent to and east of the river include fine colored stone pavements and mosaics, Corinthian capitals, and column drums and bases, all from the late Byzantine period. This church may have been built in the Byzantine period to mark the exact spot where people believed that Jesus was baptized and where John lived and preached his baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins. This is the site that visited.

After visiting this ancient site, we went down to the Jordan River’s access point on the Jordan side of the river.  There we could see the Jordan River’s current day flow, and across the river – which could not have been more than 15 feet wide – we witnessed baptisms taking place on the Israeli side of the Jordan.  Believers dressed in white robes were immersing themselves in the river at one entry point while beliefs from Ethiopia were being baptized slightly down river.  On the Jordan side, a group was gathering to celebrate the baptism of a newborn child in the Jordan.

As we ascended the steps back up the embankment, we visited a small Greek Orthodox Church, the Church of John the Baptist, and entered the church to look around.  The church was more of a small chapel than a church, but the mosaics, and paintings inside were beautiful, including the altar.  I lite a candle and said a few prayers for some friends and family who I know are having a tough time and again, a second wave of emotion came over me.

As we exited the church to head back to our bus, I looked up at the bell tower next to the church and saw three or four white doves perched in the tower.  That was about all I could take at this place and whether or not this is the exact location of the baptism, it was one of those moments in one’s faith journey that is life-changing.  It is a visit I shall never forget and it is one that will stay with me long after my return home.

The Dead Sea

On our final night in Jordan, we stayed at a hotel on the Dead Sea.  The temperature at this point had gone from pleasant most of the week, to extremely warm at this place. My walk to the beach was long and steep.  The Dead Sea is the lowest land point on earth.  People travel from all over the world to slather themselves in nutrient-rich mud from the Dead Sea and to float in its salty and mineral filled waters. Legend says it was the Queen of Sheba who first believed in the mystical healing powers of this age old sea. Then Cleopatra traveled from Egypt to build the world’s first spa there, later sending her armies in place of her to bring back their precious minerals.

I decided to walk into the sea and check this out. There was a warning sign at the entry point that stated one should not spend more than 20 minutes in the sea at a time.  Not the signs we usually see in the US.  ”Watch for Rip Tides,” “lifeguard on duty,” and so forth.  No, at the dead sea, just an ominous warning that too much exposure to the salt will harm you, so I guess 20 minutes or less is the right level for healing!

My assessment….the water was warm, salty, and after just a quick walk in and placing my right arm in the water (presumably to heal a nasty bout of poison ivy that has been with me for two weeks now), I felt slimy and slippery.  You can immediately feel the minerals in the water on your skin.  I couldn’t wait to take a shower.  But it did feel cool.  By the way, my arm looked 50% better by the time I returned to my room – I guess the Queen of Sheba was onto something.

I stood on one of the numerous balconies to watch one of the most dramatic sunsets I have seen.  As the sun lower itself over the Dead Sea, I was happy over the thoughts of seeing my family again, but sad to see the sunset on this amazing journey through Jordan.

I cannot begin to adequately describe in any way that does it justice, the things, people, and experiences I have been privileged to witness this week. This is a fascinating country. Generally, westerners have misconceptions about the Middle East. Americans especially tend to think of places in this part of the world, as menacing places, but nothing is further from the truth when it comes to this country.

Jordan’s people are friendly and open. Many speak or understand English. The nation’s capital, Amman, is a city filled with neighborhoods, shopping districts, restaurants and people. It only takes five hours to drive from Jordan’s northern borders to its southern-most city.

Jordan has its share of incredibly difficult issues to overcome. It is the 4th poorest water resource country in the world. It has a population of 6 million, and Palestinian refugees add 2 million to that number, while the crisis in Syria has resulted in 500,000 new refugees and the prediction that as many as 500,000 more will follow by the end of the year. Unemployment is high. There are 13 Palestinian refugee camps here, some since 1949. There are three Syrian refugee camps in Jordan that house some of the 500,000 plus Syrian refugees.

Jordan, unlike its neighbors, has no natural resources to speak of. They import most of their energy needs and food. Their geographic boundaries place them in one of the toughest neighborhoods on earth. They are bordered on the east by Israel, Syria on the north, Egypt in the south, and Iraq and Saudi Arabia to the west.

It has weathered the Arab Spring. It is resolved to change in light of those protests all around the region. They have embraced some democratic reforms and while their democracy doesn’t look like ours, they are embarking upon their own grand experiment.

It’s not immune from terrorism. The 2005 Amman bombings enraged its citizenry who call that day, Jordan’s 9-11. The bombings were a series of coordinated bomb attacks on three hotels in Amman, Jordan, on 9 November 2005. The attacks killed 60 people and injured 115 others. The explosions—at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Radisson SAS Hotel, and the Days Inn—started at around 20:50 at the Grand Hyatt. The three hotels are often frequented by foreign diplomats.

Despite their challenges, their difficult economy and the regional challenges they face, the Jordanians are some of the most gracious people in the world. They have given more than any one country should be expected to with respect to the helping with the Syrian crisis. The demands on infrastructure, a weak job market, and utilities, especially water, by the addition of 1,000,000 people in a short period of time – or nearly 20% of your country’s population – are staggering.

The people of Jordan seem patient for now. But continued stresses on everyday Jordanians by the country’s generosity cannot and should not be taken for granted. This situation is just not sustainable. The regional impacts of unrest in this stable and reliable ally cannot be understated.

The people here always smile. They go out of their way to say hello. Jordan’s strength is her people and their resolve. The next few years will be critical for this small nation. Jordan is the keystone in any process that impacts Syria, peace in the Middle East, or relationships with the Arab world. She is an ally in a region where the United States has few friends. We must continue to support and encourage our friends in Jordan for they might be the last best chance the world has in this part of the world.

Twenty hours is a ridiculously long time to be on a plane. But, I guess that’s what happens when you travel to the other side of the earth. To a place located south of the equator. It’s now Saturday morning and while we left Washington on Thursday, we are now just 60 minutes from escaping the plane. Don’t get me wrong, the ride was amazingly comfortable, the staff very helpful, and I actually got some shut eye as well. I just feel like I’ve been imprisoned and I have one hour left in my sentence.

Upon landing, it will be 6:30 am here and this is our only free day in Malaysia. I hope to check in, clean up, unpack, and visit the city before our official meetings begin tonight.

Visiting the City…

Or how to kill yourself your first day in KL after a twenty hour flight! I think our group should receive an award for making the most out of 7 hours of free time in Kuala Lumpur. After a fast turn around this morning, we set out on our adventure through the city, hitting all of the city’s key attractions, all while facing what felt like 100 degrees and higher humidity than I’ve ever felt before.

Any perceived notions I may have had about Kuala Lumpur were shattered today. This is a vibrant, modern city with a vast infrastructure and bustling neighborhoods. Kuala Lumpur has an estimated population of 1.6 million. The population’s diversity is amazing. Which is the key reasoning for the incredibly mix of ethnic and cultural influences you find here.

From the “just because I thought you might like to know” files, Malaysia’s constitution declares Islam the state religion while protecting freedom of religion. The government system is closely modeled on the Westminster parliamentary system and the legal system is based on English Common Law. The head of state is the King, but he is known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He is an elected monarch chosen from the hereditary rulers of the nine Malay states every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister. In 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained its independence from British rule. Kuala Lumpur remained the capital through the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.

The geography of Kuala Lumpur is characterized by a huge valley known as Klang Valley. The valley is bordered by the Titiwangsa Mountains in the east, several minor ranges in the north and the south and the Strait of Malacca in the west. Kuala Lumpur has a tropical rainforest climate, which is warm and sunny and complete with regular rainfall. Temperatures tend to remain constant with maximums between 88 and 91 °F and minimums ranging between 72 and 74 °F. Apparently, the temperatures have never gotten higher than 103 degrees and have never fallen below and have never fallen below 58 degrees. My kind of weather!!

Since the 1990s, Kuala Lumpur has played host to many international sporting, political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One Grand Prix. And this week they are hosting the third international “Women Deliver” conference with 5,000 delegates from all over the world, including me and my colleagues from the Congress. Kuala Lumpur is also home to one of the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia’s futuristic development.

Malaysia is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialized market economy. Since independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5% for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fueled by its natural resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism. In 2011 the GDP (PPP) was about $450 billion, the 3rd largest economy in ASEAN and 29th largest in the world. In 1991, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir bin Mohamad outlined his ideal, called Vision 2020, in which Malaysia would become a self-sufficient industrialized nation by 2020. And several independent sources confirm that Malaysia not only has all of the right ingredients to become a developed nation, but they are also well on their way to meeting the Vision 2020 goals outlined by the government. After touring around yesterday, I cannot believe that they will not do so!

Exploring the city was wonderful, and we decided to do so using the Hop Off Hop On bus, which costs RYM 38 or about $13.00, for a two and a half hour drive around the city with 28 different stops. We decided as a group to hit some of the highlights and began our journey around 10:45 with our first stop in Kuala Lumpur (KL as the locals call it) at Petaling Street, KL’s very own Chinatown! As you might imagine, Petaling Street was a hive of sound and activities. The street seemed to be a bargain hunter’s paradise, with stall after stall of what started to seem like the same stuff….but you know what I mean! I did see Chinese herbs, food specialities, and tons of imitation goods. I understand that at night, Petaling Street transforms into a lively and vibrant night market.

We decided to walk to two other sites, the Sri Mahamariaman Temple and Central Market. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest and richest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur. Founded in 1873, it is located at edge of Chinatown. In 1968, a new structure was built, featuring the ornate ‘Raja Gopuram’ tower. From the temple’s inception, it provided an important place of worship for early Indian immigrants and is now an important cultural and national heritage. The temple catches your eye on an otherwise crowded and busy street. It is the most elaborate Hindu temple in the country and its gate tower is adorned with ornate sculptures of Hindu deities. The floors and walls inside are marbled with Italian and Spanish tiles. Outside and all around the temple, we found multiple street stalls with hand crafted flower tributes for believers to purchase and place in the temple.

After the temple, we continued our journey and found our next destination – The Central Market. Its an old building – built in 1928 – but it had air-conditioning, a by pleasant surprise on this warm and muggy day!

The building has won awards for its architectural design and was founded in 1888 and originally used as a wet market. It has since been classified as a Heritage Site by the Malaysian Heritage Society and it is now a landmark for Malaysian culture and heritage. Today, Central Market is arranged in a stall concept, representing the traditional market that has existed in Kuala Lumpur since the 1800s.

After Central Market, it was back on the bus! Our next stop, Little India! Ok, this was just a drive by, but this block was a huge project unveiled by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Malaysia’s PM. Little India is an area that caters to KL’s Indian community and includes shops and stores that carry Indian specialities and goods. There’s a 35-foot fountain at the center of this part of town, an information kiosk at Jalan Thamby Abdullah and a three-story Indian bazaar at the end of Jalan Tun Sambanthan. The brick-paved Jalan Tun Sambanthan is lined with white street lamps and creamy-yellow arches with purple embellishments to match the newly painted purple buildings along the street.

Our next stop was also a drive-by…we saw the Istana Negara or National Palace. This was the official residence of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia. It stands on a 28 acre site, located on the slope of a hill of Bukit Bintang overlooking the Klang River, along Jalan Syed Putra. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is one of the few elected monarchs in the world.

The 14th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong is Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah. His reign began on December 13, 2011 after his election by the Conference of Rulers. He previously served as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1970 to 1975. He is the first ruler to hold the position twice, as well as the oldest elected to the office at 83 years old. The installation of the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong was held on 11 April 2012, at the new Istana Negara at Jalan Duta. This building is now used a museum.

We also visited the National Museum. It is a palatial structure built in the style of Minangkabau architecture. Located atop a hill on Jalan Travers, it provides an introduction to the history and culture of Malaysia.

Our next stop, Lake Gardens, is Kuala Lumpur’s first large-scale recreational park. It is located in the heart of the city and established in 1888. Lake Gardens served as place of refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city during colonial times. It contains large sculpted and manicured gardens and a host of attractions. Among the tourist attractions located here are the National Monument, deer park, Hibiscus garden, Orchid Garden, Kuala Lumpur Bird Park and Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park. Lake Gardens, we learned, is also the where the Malaysian House of Parliament is located. So, hopping off at this location was a must! The Malaysian Parliament is divided into three components: Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Senate and House of Representatives.

We spent some time visiting the Orchid Garden, which has over 800 species of exotic Malaysian orchids. The orchid is truly exotic and special flower and i have never seen so many of them in one place at one time. Despite how beautiful this park was, everyone told us a must see was the bird park and we needed to visit that before our at ran out! Across the street from the Orchid Garden is the KL Bird Park, a fascinating and slightly uncomfortable park that puts people inside a giant aviary.

I must admit, I felt like I was entering that scene in Jurassic Park! The KL Bird Park is a 20.9-acre public aviary in the city. It is a popular tourist attraction in the country, receiving an annual average of 200,000 visitors. The Bird Park houses more than 3000 birds representing more than 200 species in an enclosed aviary. 90% are local birds and 10% were imported from overseas. Feeding time at the Eagle enclosure was frightening when the other birds got all excited about the eagles getting lunch.

One the way back to our hotel, we passed the Masjid Negara, the national mosque of Malaysia. It has a capacity of 15,000 people. Originally built in 1965, it is a bold and modern approach in reinforced concrete, symbolic of the aspirations of the newly-independent Malaysia.

Our last stop for the day was the Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s tallest twin buildings. A mix of offices and commercial, the towers are huge and a part of the KL skyline. As we cut through the building to get to our hotel, we saw the famous mall inside the towers.

After a quick shower, we all ran to our dinner and briefing to discuss the week’s goals. At 9:00 pm, an extremely long, exhausting, but productive day finally came to an end!

Getting here was a challenge and on the day we landed, we took advantage of our limited free time to explore the city. But on Sunday, the real work began! All day long, we participated in interactive and engaging round table discussions with some of the world’s most engaged and passionate people on the issues that I believe are vital to the United States. It was a pre-curser to the rest of our week in KL.

We are here to participate in the 2013 Women Deliver Global Conference. This is third international conference of its kind intended to bring world leaders and experts in the field together to discuss one aspect of our foreign assistance agenda. The Women Deliver conference builds on commitments, partnerships, and networks mobilized at the groundbreaking Women Deliver conferences in 2007 and 2010, fighting to end the deluge of preventable deaths that kill approximately 287,000 girls and women from pregnancy-related causes every year.

Many people back home wonder why the United States is engaged in funding activities like global health concerns and sometimes its hard to explain. But when you’re in a place like this, surrounded by people who address these concerns daily, it’s more than clear why.

Despite the fact that many people view foreign assistance as unnecessary – particularly in austere budgetary climates – I would argue that drastically reducing foreign assistance is not the answer to balancing the budget, nor is it our best interest as a nation.

To help frame the discussion, its important to note that sixty percent of people questioned in a CNN/ORC poll conducted early in 2012 said they’d like to put foreign aid on the budget chopping block; however, at the same time, the public grossly overestimated how much the U.S. is spending on foreign aid. Americans estimate that foreign aid takes up 10% of the federal budget, and one in five think it represents about 30% of the money the government spends. The reality is, it amounts to less than one percent of our budget and I contend, it may be one of the most important annual expenditures and investments we make.

We are a nation blessed with an abundance of wealth and opportunity and I firmly believe that we have a moral responsibility to invest in the world around us. For one percent of total federal spending, the United States is able to respond to humanitarian needs, promote a more secure world, help those most in need around the world, and spur economic development to improve people’s lives. But just as important as our moral responsibility in this arena is the fact that these precious taxpayer resources are an investment in America’s long-term national security.

No matter your political persuasion, it is a fact that the money we spend on global health and development is a cost effective investment. The threat of terrorism and extremism are two of this generation’s greatest challenges. Families all around the world want the same thing. A happy, healthy family, one that promotes and stabilizes the family unit, that leads to a strong village filled with hope and optimism for tomorrow, which leads to stable governments, stronger economies, more friends abroad, and ultimately, a peaceful world.

While it might sound naive, it is the truth….promoting peace and stability through effective foreign assistance ultimately means the promotion of healthy societies, which are often the best defense against extremism and protects our overall national security interests.

Today’s briefings and discussions focused more pointedly on women’s health and we had robust discussions with numerous groups working on the ground. We heard from advocates like Mandy Moore and Barbara Bush, plus numerous experts from the field. Funding programs that improve the health and lives of girls and women in the developing world is a smart investment for the United States. Every year of schooling for a girl increases her future earning potential between 10-20 percent. Simply ensuring skilled care during a delivery would reduce maternal deaths by 74%.

Women are important contributors to the global economy. They make up 40% of the global labor force and more than 60% of the workers in agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. When women thrive, families flourish, communities do well, and nations grow.

The math is rather simple, investing in women pays dividends. I am looking forward to meeting experts from the field over the next few days and the dynamic conversations that will follow!

Our week in Kuala Lumpur is almost over and we’ve had an amazingly busy and informative week of meetings, briefings and field visits. Whether visiting with the Malaysian government’s ministry of health, touring government facilities, sharing thoughts with one of the 4,000 delegates from around the world, or participating in roundtable discussions with experts in the field, I have been immersed in the issue and focus of the conference.

In 2000, all UN Member States committed to eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which aim to significantly reduce extreme poverty and disease, ensure environmental sustainability, and enhance international coordination around development by 2015. That means that 189 countries committed to ending extreme poverty worldwide through the achievement of these MDG’s. The MDGs are the FIRST and ONLY international framework for improving the human condition of the world’s poor.

MDG 5 — Improve Maternal Health — set a target of reducing maternal mortality by three-fourths by 2015. And that has been one of the key focal points of this conference. Every year, between 350,000 – 500,000 girls and women die from pregnancy-related causes.

Medical solutions exist, but increased government attention is needed to implement policies to improve the supply of and demand for services that will help. While the numbers of deaths are decreasing, the progress is not enough or fast enough to meet the MDG goal by 2015. Almost all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; especially vulnerable are poor women. In fact, maternal mortality represents one of the greatest health disparities between rich and poor and between the rich and poor populations within every country.

Interestingly enough, providing the essential services needed to make significant improvements in maternal health are estimated to cost less than $1.50 per person in the 75 countries where 95% of maternal mortality occurs. The great majority of maternal and newborn deaths can be prevented through simple, cost-effective measures.

For instance, using a country closer to home, in Haiti, the maternal mortality rate is the highest in the Western Hemisphere with 350 deaths per 100,000 live births. In comparison, the rate in the U.S. is 12.7 deaths per 100,000 live births and Afghanistan’s rate was 1,600 deaths per 100,000 live births (2002). Several programs in Haiti have trained over 700 traditional birth attendants to assist with child birth since only 37% of all births in Haiti take place in a health facility.

Thanks to these attendants, pregnant women in Haiti have increased access to trained assistants who assist with safe deliveries. Identifying signs of high-risk pregnancies, and referring at-risk pregnant women to health facilities for care. In Afghanistan, thanks to skilled birth attendants and access to education about pregnancy, the maternal mortality rates went from 1,600 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2002 to 327 deaths in 2010.

Achieving MDG 5 is not only an important goal by itself, it is also central to the achievement of the other MDGs: reducing poverty, reducing child mortality, stopping HIV and AIDS, providing education, promoting gender equality, ensuring adequate food, and promoting a healthy environment.

The U.S. is a leader in funding these programs, but this is not just a U.S. government problem. It’s one that will take government, in partnership with other donors, governments, academia, the private sector, religious institutions, civil society and individual advocates.

Failure to invest in the maternal health of women in developing countries is a missed opportunity for development in those countries that need critical development gains the most.l

As someone who has worked on international development issues from my desk in Washington, I was excited to participate in the 2013 Women Deliver Conference last week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The conference afforded me an amazing opportunity to listen and talk to a variety of people from 149 countries about their experiences and views related to the health and well-being of women and girls. A recurring theme that emerged from the week was the issue of women’s sexual and reproductive health. I have never written about reproductive health before, but I’ll credit that up to never spending a week at a conference focused on maternal and reproductive health before this experience.

Since returning home, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the issue of reproductive health and I firmly believe that we need to start thinking about this issue in a different way – through the lens of a woman or a young girl in a developing country, and with an eye on equality.

In the U.S., we all face the reality that a majority of young adults engage in sexual relations outside marriage, and we educate our kids to wait to have sexual relationships – preferably until marriage. But as parents, we also want to ensure that they know how to protect themselves when they decide to engage in such activities.

This was a key part of the international dialogue I participated in; however, on the international front, in many poor or developing countries, access to reproductive health includes a very different reality.

That reality is that girls and women’s rights are systematically violated in too many places around the world today. (I would encourage anyone reading this or interested in this issue to check out the trailer, and the movie called Girl Rising, an innovative new feature film that highlights the struggles of women and girls around the world). In some cultures, it is still considered acceptable for a husband to beat his wife for not having sex. In too many places, girls are forced into marriage at far too young an age. HIV disproportionately impacts women. In many cultures, when reproductive health options are available, a woman’s male partner often vetoes her decision to use those options.

Women and girls in developing nations are more likely to become mothers at a young age. We know that pregnancy during adolescence has serious health impacts for girls and their babies. There are complications from pregnancy and childbirth – which is the leading cause of death among girls, aged 15-19 in developing countries.

Approximately one in three women will experience gender-based violence in her lifetime. In some pacific countries, more than 60% of women and girls experienced violence at the hands of their partners.

I met a woman from the Congo at the conference. We were discussing access to female contraception and she explained to me that access to female condoms in her village have been transformative because women and girls are now using these resources when walking miles to the wells to get water. The incidence of rape is so great, that these women and girls have decided to use female condoms to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

In developing countries, desire for smaller families and the motivation for healthy spacing of births has steadily increased. Yet, 222 million women in developing countries do not have the ability to determine the size of their families, or have a say in the planning of their families.

MDG 5 — Improve Maternal Health — has two sub targets. Target 5A set a target of reducing maternal mortality by three-fourths by 2015, while Target 5B set a target of universal access to reproductive health.

The achievement of the MDGs is strongly underpinned by the progress that the world makes on sexual and reproductive health. It is a pillar for supporting the overall health of communities, in particular, that of women. Ill health from causes related to sexuality and reproduction remains a major cause of preventable death, disability, and suffering among women. Apart from the health consequences, poor sexual and reproductive health contributes significantly to poverty, inhibiting affected individuals’ full participation in their own social and economic development.

I was surprised to learn that the world has not made as much progress on this front as is needed to meet MDG5 by 2015. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have shown little progress in recent years; some have even lost ground. Globally, the rate of death from pregnancy and childbirth declined between 1990 and 2005 by only 1% per year. In order to be on track to achieve MDG 5, a 5.5% annual rate of decline was needed from 2005 to 2015.

During my week at the conference, our group was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Melinda Gates. We were all enlightened and her comments during our conversation were extremely helpful to me. Mrs. Gates stated that when she talks about health with women from developing countries, they explain to her that their job is to feed the children. They explain that if they cannot space out their births, they cannot work or properly care for and feed the other children. In many places, Melinda explained that while condoms might be readily available, women – due to cultural perceptions – couldn’t even fathom negotiating the use of condoms because it means they are suggesting that their partner might have AIDs or that she is trying to say she has AIDs.

The Gates Foundation does not fund abortions, and has it right when they state that we need to put girls and women at the center of this debate. We need to start trusting one another and realize that “family planning” is not code for anything else in this debate.

As the week progressed, I became certain that the only way for the world to begin to correct this problem is for us to start trusting one another and to look at this issue as an equality rights one, not something else. Advancing equality among boys and girls and men and women is a goal we can all support.

I am confident that if we are successful in achieving equality, many other aspects of this problem begin to fall into place. Perhaps, once achieved, we might even begin to have a significant impact on achieving MDG5.

Just think of all the good that could come from advocating for ensuring that women and girls have the right to access maternal and reproductive health care. Treating women and girls all around the world equally might eradicate early and forced marriage, keep girls in school, give women a say in their family planning, and end gender-based violence.

One of my take-aways from the conference was that women’s rights and access to maternal and reproductive healthcare must be a highlight of our global development agenda. The issue is too important to ignore, or be mired in obtuse political innuendo. With the right focus and attention, we can ensure that sexual and reproductive health is readily available and sustainable for all women.

Related articles

• Serra Sippel: Time to Deliver for Women: The Post-2015 Agenda (bruceandsallywitt.wordpress.com)
• Over 4,500 world leaders, advocates, call for continued investment in girls and women (ghanabusinessnews.com)
• OP-ED: The Nexus Between Women and Development (ipsnews.net)

Emotions flooded every inch of my body as Susan and I prepared to watch Catherine take to the Kennedy Center Stage and perform a scene from The Diary of Anne Frank with her fellow cast members from West Springfield High School (WSHS) on Sunday evening.

Our drama department won several nominations for their work on The Diary of Anne Frank, including Supporting Actress in a Play, Ensemble Cast in a Play, Supporting Actor in a Play, Play and Catherine’s nomination of “Lead Actress in a Play.”  Because the school received a Cappies Nomination for Play, they were able to select and perform a scene for the Gala.

As I write this, I still find myself sitting on cloud nine.  I was more nervous for the performance than the award – the award would be icing on top of the cake.  When I saw my daughter on the stage at the Kennedy Center, my heart skipped a beat. I felt emotions that I have not felt since the first time I saw her in a performance.   And as the scene unfolded, I was overwhelmed and could not contain myself.  She was poised and confident as she performed in front of a sold-out audience of 2,400 people.

When the performance ended, which I believe the cast delivered without a flaw, I sat in my seat and contemplated what just took place.  Nothing else needed to happen for me at that moment.  I contemplated the journey of the last few months and how we all wound up at the Kennedy Center on a Sunday evening in June.

Then it dawned on me – while education is a life long journey, it starts with a spark.  A bright spot.  A bold thinker.  A motivator.  An inspiration. Someone who is willing to walk the journey with you.  Every child needs to have a caring adult in their lives, and most of the time, that caring adult (not always a parent) is someone who plays a key role in that child’s life – like a teacher. A good teacher inspires children and ignites a child’s imagination. In the process, this major force in a child’s life instills a life-long love of learning.

I’ve been fortunate to have a few of those wonderful teachers in my life, the ones who walk the journey with you.  The ones you know you can always say in touch with.  I still remember how Mrs. Deschamp taught me to love math in the seventh grade and in my college years, Dr. Ellen Smith and Dr. Gary Maris walked the journey and inspired me to be where I am today. And to this day, I stay in touch with a law school professor who inspired and mentored me, Rebecca Morgan.

So it should come as no surprise that as the husband of a phenomenal kindergarten teacher who inspires her children every day, I want that special person(s) to be a part of the educational journey of my children.  For Michael, it was a psychology teacher; for Thomas, a guidance counselor; and for Catherine, a drama teacher.

While I know and believe in my heart that Catherine is talented and has a passion for being on stage, this “segment” of the journey could not have happened without a guiding and encouraging force by her side.  That force is the newest addition to the West Springfield High School (WSHS) faculty – Bernie DeLeo.  There are many talented and dedicated teachers at WSHS.  But I am so pleased that in my daughter’s sophomore year at WSHS, she had an opportunity to work with Mr. DeLeo.

It was refreshing, exciting and encouraging to see him interact with Catherine and other students throughout the year.  Susan nudged Catherine to try something different last fall – trying out for WSHS’s fall play – and without knowing that, Mr. DeLeo recognized and nurtured her to take that “nudge” all the way to the Kennedy Center on this evening in June.

He inspired her and pushed her slightly outside her comfort zone.  He saw something in her that perhaps she didn’t see in herself.  He believed in her, tugged her and pushed her to the next level.  And it turned out to be a magical night.  After the performance, the gifts of the evening kept on coming when I heard the words “and the Cappie goes to…Catherine Ariale.”

Catherine’s journey will continue.  I am not sure where it will end up, but I am pleased that in addition to her parents, she has someone who is a motivator, an inspiration, and  a mentor to be her navigator along the way.  There is something so special about the teachers in our lives who play key roles in our education, our growth and our development.  There is something even more incredible about those teachers who go above and beyond and possess the gift that inspires children and ignites their imaginations.

I cannot wait to see what is next on this remarkable journey that was sparked by an amazing teacher.

What joyous news!  I could almost hear the bells ringing this past Sunday as I sat in church and learned that Burke Presbyterian Church had called a new pastor – actually a pastoral couple!

As I sat there, I heard gasps of excitement, some concern, and wonderful blessed anticipation from my fellow congregants.  I know that our Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) worked diligently throughout the year and reviewed, discerned, interviewed, wondered, and prayerfully considered all those who felt called to be a part of our church family.

Likewise, I know that our Session carefully, faithfully, and prayerfully reviewed the PNC’s recommendation and the business side of calling a co-pastorate to Burke and approved a motion to offer the terms of call for this co-pastorate.  I know that these statements are true, not only because I know the individuals involved and voted in a congregation meeting to accept their discernment, judgement, and decisions, but because I know that this system of governance works in a prayerful and respectful way.

And now we wait!  After all the anticipation and then the announcement, I still have to wait…..it sort of feels like Advent in Summer!

And just like Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christmas, our summer Advent at Burke will be filled with expectant waiting and preparation for our new pastors.  Just like Advent, I suspect as we wait and prepare for our new pastors, it might be easy for some of us to lose sight of the profound spiritual importance of this time in our church’s history.

I have decided to try to do with my Summer Advent what I often fail at doing during my real Advent season – balance the sacred part of the Advent season with all of the other things that might be floating around in my head about how a co-pastorate will work at my church.

I am planning to address my expectant waiting with the knowledge that my leaders have done the hard work and now its up to me and my fellow congregants to make time for quiet reflection and prayer as we prepare for the arrival of our new pastors.

Just think of the possibilities that co-pastors can bring to Burke!  What an adventure we are about to embark upon – interestingly enough the word “advent’s” English root is “adventure.”  How convenient for my closing paragraph!

If Advent is a season of the year when we open our eyes, ears and hearts to going on an adventure with the God of the Bible, I hope all of our eyes, ears, and hearts are open to the possibilities, blessings, and endless adventures we are about to embark upon as we expectantly await the arrival of this new couple whom God has called to be the newest part of our church family.

As we often say here at Burke, “For behold, I am doing a new thing…..” Isaiah 43:19, and I cannot wait!

The dome of the US Capitol building. Français : Image panoramique du dôme du Capitole des États-Unis d’Amérique| (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Ander Crenshaw, official portrait, 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today a journey ends. Frankly a journey I never intended to take, but one that has filled my life with joy, my career with fulfillment, and my person with accomplishment. I have learned more than I ever thought possible. This journey has been one of the greatest loves of my life.

There have highs and lows. Legislative victories and defeats. Political battles fought and won, sometimes lost. Government shutdowns, landmark legislative initiatives, Supreme Court decisions – like President Bush’s victory and Gay Marriage. Inaugurations, State of the Unions, Visiting Heads of States, and the Presidential funerals of Presidents Reagan and Ford. The final fly-over of the Space Shuttle.

It has been an amazing ride indeed. I have seen the world – without enlisting in the Navy – met heads of state and helped direct public policy. I believe that the work we engaged in on the Hill touched the lives of people we do not know – hopefully always in a positive way. I have worked on the Hill during the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama Administrations.

When I started this career, the street in front of the Capitol was an open roadway – right in front of the steps leading into the building!  I will never forget the sights and tragic sounds of a terrorist attack on our country.

I witnessed the challenges to a Member and his staff of working in the minority and the heavy burden of governing while in the majority. And through it all, I have followed a dream – from my first day on the Hill as an Intern for then Congressman Bill McCollum in 1983 to the Chief of Staff for Congressman Ander Crenshaw today.

I have been blessed to work for two of the finest men who have ever walked the halls of the nation’s Capitol. I have made more friends than I can count. And most importantly, I am honored to say that I served alongside the most amazing and talented staff in Congress.

I recently parked on the Capitol Plaza and waited for the Congressman to exit the building after votes and looked up at the Capitol Dome against a clear blue early evening sky. It was a majestic site. From the very first time I walked in front of the Capitol and its impressive Dome, it has always represented the strength, diversity and resolve of a free people. While Congress has taken hits over the years, and more specifically over the last few weeks, that Dome remains a testament to our national motto, “E pluribus unum,” out of many, one.

Grasping that concept is hard for many who have lost the ability to engage in the art of dialogue, the discipline of discernment, and the statesmanship of compromise.  Watching this concept in action is even harder. It’s not always pretty, but when you think about all the peoples, races, religions, view points and ancestries that exist in the United States today, it’s hard to imagine that anything gets done.

Yet, at the end of the day, the system works – generally – as envisioned. Being a part of that process – even with its warts – has been remarkable and gratifying.

It is a bittersweet time for me as this fascinating, fast paced, challenging, and incredible journey comes to an end. I am excited for the next chapter of my life, but today, I am fondly reflecting on my life as a Congressional Staffer.

Sometimes we overlook our local high school as venues for compelling theatre and once again West Springfield High School did not disappoint. Last night I saw “Nerdicus (My Brother With Autism)” and I left the auditorium wanting to see more of this thirty minute, one act original play written by Bernie DeLeo – the Drama Teacher at West Springfield.

“Nerdicus (My Brother With Autism)” premiered last night as part of West Springfield High School’s annual Winter One-Acts festival. I have had the privilege of working with a few national disability advocacy groups – like the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and Autism Speaks – over the last few years to promote some legislation on Capitol Hill and what I saw last night reminded me of the countless stories I have heard from these families over the years. While Nerdicus alludes to – as best as you can in a 30-minute act – some of the challenges that a family, and particularly, a sibling, might encounter in day-to-day interactions with a brother with Autism, the one act captured the other side of life in such a home. In this short one act, the cast drew me into the love, respect, and humor of daily life in the Miller home.

The play, written by Bernie DeLeo, is 90% autobiographical. The play stars senior Austin Morrison as Eddie Miller, based very much on Mr. DeLeo’s own son Charlie. Bernie stated that “Austin is on the autism spectrum and he been taking drama classes since middle school. I’d cast him in all of the plays last year because drama had been an appropriate social outlet for my son – and I was determined to include Austin to give him that opportunity as well. It’s Austin’s senior year now, and he’d never had a lead – so I wanted him to go out with a bang. He’s very similar to my own son in many regards, and he’s doing a terrifically funny job. There’s a movement these days to cast people with disabilities in roles that require characters to have disabilities; as a parent of a child with a documented disability, I decided I need to put my money where my mouth

was – and I’m so proud of Austin.”

Mr. DeLeo is the father of a teenaged boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. And his one act is really about his daughter Sophie, who is two years younger than Charlie and attended high school with her brother. The play examines how having a sibling with a disability affects the other sibling who does not. Mr. DeLeo stated that his son “had some pretty eccentric behaviors that drove his sister, a typical, easily-embarrassed high school girl, crazy.” Many of the scenes on stage come right from the DeLeo home – such as when Charlie, obsessed with Greek and Roman history, showed up at the bus stop one morning wearing his ‘Nerdicus’ armor having an imaginary battle with the Visigoths.

Last January, the West Springfield Drama Department staged a one-act play about autism – and

won the Virginia High School League district, regional and AAA state drama championships with it. The Other Room by Ariadne Blayde is about Austin, a teenaged boy with high-functioning autism who tries to connect with a fellow classmate – but the voices in his head, presented on stage by warring actors, doom that budding relationship.

“But something nagged at me every time I watched the play,” confessed DeLeo. “Sure, I loved that people gasped and cried at the end of the play – that’s what you want as a director, for the play to evoke a visceral, emotional response from the audience. But it left people with the feeling ultimately that to live with autism is a sad and tragic thing – whereas in my experience, it has been anything but that. It’s not without challenges, but more often than not, life with my son Charlie is quite funny.” And so, in the summer months of 2013, DeLeo sat down to write a comic version of a teenaged life with autism.

Nerdicus is not unique. The passion and amazing talent found at our local high schools, and the dedication of the actors, directors, and stage crews, is something that can be found at countless high schools in our communities. Finding compelling theatre just down the street at our local high school has been one of the many joys of being involved in the West Springfield High School theatre department. I hope you have the chance to check it out yourself – it might just move you as it has moved me!

One acts run again tonight (January 31, 2014) at WSHS from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at Door 6 (6100 Rolling Road in Springfield, VA). Tickets are $10 and available at the door. On Saturday, Nerdicus kicks off the VHSL Patriot District one-act competition at Lake Braddock High School (9200 Burke Lake Road, Auditorium – Door 14, Burke, VA). at 10:00 a.m. Admission is free, and all plays are open to the general public.

*****UPDATE******

The one act NERDICUS marches on!  The play was the 1^st place runners-up last weekend and on Saturday, February 8, the play heads to the Regional Round at Lake Braddock High School at 3:30 PM.  So, it you missed it last week, want to see it again, or help Autism Awareness,  come on out to support these amazing actors and share this great news with your friends and family.

Photo credits: Catherine Ariale

Three of the greatest moments in my life have been the arrivals of each of my children. All three of them were gifts from God, entrusted to me and my wife to raise with patience, unconditional love, forgiveness, grace, and spiritual guidance. As we shepherd these gifts through life, we keep looking forward knowing that one day it will also be our responsibility to let go and allow our children to be who they were born to be. I always looked upon that day as being a parent’s “graduation day.” And like many other milestones in our lives, a day of pride and celebration.

Susan and I had our first “graduation day” recently as we assisted our eldest son move to Boston. And yes, there were feelings of celebration and excitement for his new adventure and the fact that he is now beginning his journey into adulthood, there was also more melancholy than I ever imagined. As we drove away from his new apartment, I found my mind filled with snapshots of the last 24 years – from holding my newborn son in my arms 24 years ago to watching him graduate and receive his Masters degree a few weeks ago.  I saw images of being his soccer coach, attending Cub Scout events, Boy Scout camping trips, first days of school, hiking out west, high school performances and everything in between.

I am not sure that I was ready for graduation day – even though I know he is. When I first held Michael in my arms, I recall never before feeling so amazingly overwhelmed with responsibility. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Holding him for the first time and staring into his little eyes, I realized that I would do anything for this new life. And I knew on that day, that at some point in the future, he would grow up to be an amazing young man and begin his own journey in the real world. I know in my mind that he was and is a gift from God and that my role was to simply care for him – temporarily – until he was ready to leave.

Well that day arrived, and it was much harder than I ever expected. I have dropped him off at camp, college, and grad school before. But this was different. I always knew he would be back at some point. But this time was for real. This was our graduation day. Something we have worked hard for over the last 24 years, something we knew was coming, and yet, something I was totally unprepared for.

As we left Boston, I know that Michael begins his new life in a new place, and we begin a new relationship, one steeped in this “post – graduation day” environment. I have come to know that there may be nothing more complicated in life than relationships between parents and children, and I pray that in this new environment, God helps me know, understand and navigate this next stage of my life as a parent.

I first heard someone use the phrase “thin place” a few years back at a Montreat Conference. I had not thought about that phrase before, but during my entire time in Montreat – and on each subsequent visit – I became more and more enthusiastic about this notion of “thin places.”

As I understand the term’s use, “a thin place,” describes those unique places in our lives where the boundary between heaven and earth is especially thin. It’s a place where we can sense the divine more readily. I would go so far as to say we even have “thin moments” in our lives, like our wedding ceremony or watching the birth of a child.

Whether it is a thin place or a thin moment, the intimacy with God is extraordinary. The barriers that seem to separate heaven and earth evaporate and perhaps, just maybe, the stage is set to allow God more deeply in. Perhaps these places and moments help create an environment that allows for life-transforming experiences to take place.

I am certain that there are hundreds of thin places for each of us, but I want to share two of the most amazing thin places that I have had the blessing of experiencing. Most recently, I helped to lead a group of 22 youth and adults on our journey to attend the 2014 Montreat Youth Conference. I arrived in Montreat full of the normal anxiety that any leader might have. I wanted to make sure we traveled safely, we were ready to register properly and I wanted the participants (especially our first-timers) to enjoy their time at my favorite thin place.

A few days later and this amazing place softened hearts, opened minds, and the Spirit was present. An amazing sense of calm came over me and I was able to watch as our group transformed into young people excited to be in Montreat, able to embrace new relationships, and speak of God and their relationship with Him in a different and authentic way.

For me, many things stood out as special moments from our time at the Youth Conference. But the words of the Keynote leader – that what you reach for has everything to do with what you are rooted in – resonated deeply with me. What I realized is that I like what I reach for when I am around dynamic young people, excited adults, and Montreat.  I like what I reach for when I see a young person question his or her faith and instead of discarding those feelings, embrace the possibility that God is at play in his or her life.  The bottom line is that I like what I reach for when I am in a “thin place.” My time in Montreat once again helped center me and equipped me with the tools I need to step back outside the gates of this wonderful place. It is truly a gift that I wish everyone could experience.

I discovered another one of these special places during a recent trip to Jordan. During this business trip, I took some time to visit the Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus. This protected region of Jordan is truly holy ground. John the Baptist walked the region. There were churches from different denominations built in this preservation area. As we visited the site believed to be where Jesus was baptized, I sat along the old riverbed and a slight breeze blew through the hot arid air. I looked up and saw two or three doves flying in the sky against a bright blue backdrop. We walked down to the river bed and I saw countless Christians being baptized in the waters – some from the Jordanian side of the river and some from the West Bank portion of the river. It was a site I will never forget. As we walked back up the path to where our vans were parked, I saw the bell tower of The Orthodox Church of John the Baptist.

There, sitting in the window of the tower, I saw a white dove perched. I stared at the dove and a second one flew up and landed next to him. For that brief moment in time, I felt like I might be walking and experiencing one of the thinnest places I have ever had the privilege of visiting. There was no doubt in my mind or body that God was present at that place, at that time.

I believe there are many thin places in our lives.  Whether you visit a biblically historical site or you find yourself in the mountains of North Carolina – I hope we all keep our eyes and hearts open for those unique places (or moments) where the boundary between heaven and earth is especially thin. It is truly a gift to experience them.

Tonight the efforts of countless advocates, legislators, former colleagues and congressional staffers converge as the U.S. House is poised to consider the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2013 on the House Floor.

A little over eight years ago, a group of concerned parents and advocates visited Ander Crenshaw’s office with an idea to create equality in the tax code for disabled individuals in this country. I took that meeting because one of my neighbors and former colleagues was part of the group. We sat and talked for a long time and together we laid out the foundation for the first version of what we know today as the ABLE Act.

Each subsequent Congress we pushed for more cosponsors. We educated more offices. We re-drafted key provisions based on input from families, legislators and stakeholders. We worked as a group of dedicated and committed individuals to draft and introduce the best legislative proposal we could – and today we have a proposal that can actually impact the lives of millions with disabilities in the United States.

When we set out on this journey, I recall telling the advocates that this was not going to be easy. I never knew it would be eight years later before we would see our first Ways and Means Committee mark-up of the bill, or our first Senate Finance hearing on the proposal, or actual consideration of the bill. But here we are, with 380 Members of the House joining Mr. Crenshaw and 74 U.S. Senators joining Mr. Casey in a broad bi-partisan, bi-cameral effort to pass the ABLE Act of 2013.

I saw ABLE as one of those “why doesn’t this already exist” moments in my professional career. As my good friends from NDSS, Steve Beck and Sara Weir said, “By enacting the ABLE Act, we aren’t asking Congress to create a new program or give us a hand out, we are asking Congress to give the disability community the chance to provide and save for themselves through savings tools that all other Americans have access to today.”

When the idea was first presented to Congressman Crenshaw, his response was focused and right to the point – if the federal government encourages Americans to save for their retirements through 401(k) plans and for education through education savings accounts or 529 plans, why not expand that to folks with disabilities? That became his guiding principal. These existing tax-deferred saving plans are now such a fundamental part of how families prepare for the future we barely think of them as public policy. But of course they are.   The ABLE Act applies this successful model to help people with disabilities and their families save for costs they will likely encounter down the road.

Of all the amazing things I had the privilege of doing during my tenure as a Congressional Staffer, leading the charge for Mr. Crenshaw on this bill will always be one of the highlights of my career. It was such a pleasure to work with so many dedicated staffers on the House and Senate side who helped us in guiding this proposal through the process, and it was equally memorable to meet so many constituents of this cause – not just in Florida or Pennsylvania – but from all over the country. Since my departure from Mr. Crenshaw’s office, I have been working on behalf of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to continue to work with some of the most incredibly dedicated people I have met – from the NDSS, to Autism Speaks, to the ARC (to name just a few) – to get to this point.

Tonight we stand at the precipice of one of those unique moments in history – when a simple idea from a group people becomes a legislative proposal that is actually considered by our lawmakers. The ABLE Act represents what is best about our legislative process.

I will be watching with great anticipation, hope, excitement, and pride as ABLE is brought to the floor and when it passes, I will have one of the biggest smiles on my face and in my heart knowing that some sense of equity will be afforded to some of our nation’s everyday heroes.

Almost nine years ago, a group of people entered my office for the first of what would be countless meetings on the problems and potential solutions faced by families who have children with disabilities.  We talked for hours about the inequity of the situation, the concerns of long term financial security, and I saw the passion and dedication of this group of people.  And while I did not know it at the time, they would all become my friends.

The Beck family during the ABLE Act Debate in the House, December 3, 2014

Chief among this group was a man named Steve Beck.  I got the sense that Steve was new to this lobbying/advocacy role he was about to embark upon.  But he was a natural because he was lobbying on behalf of something he was passionate about, his family and particularly his daughter Natalie.  Steve and I grew close as we pushed for the creation of what would ultimately become the ABLE Act.

I became reliant on Steve’s straightforward and candid input on ABLE.  He would become a trusted and valued liaison to me and Congressman Crenshaw’s office over the course of the last nine years. The two of us would present together at national conferences on ABLE.  And we even began running into one another on a regular basis after we learned we both lived in the same area of northern Virginia.  Most recently, last weekend at our families’ favorite local hangout, Spartan’s Restaurant.

Steve attended my retirement party when I left Congressman Crenshaw’s office last December and I remember him stating that he rarely “liked coming into DC at this hour, but he couldn’t miss my celebration.”

I high-fived and shared a toast with Steve in the Chairman of the Rules Committee’s private office off the floor of the House Chamber just a few days ago when we both watched with excitement as the ABLE Act passed the House.

Little did I know that that toast together would be the last time I would see this man who became my friend over the last nine years.  Steve was one of the many driving forces behind the ABLE Act and there is a hole tonight in our ABLE family as a result of his death.

His warm smile, friendly handshake, compassion, and love for his family and the ABLE cause will be deeply missed. My prayers go out to Catherine and the entire Beck family for their loss, but I hope they know that Steve touched so many lives in such a positive way.  The hesitant advocate who entered my office nine years ago leaves behind his wonderful family and a legacy in the ABLE Act that will help countless families around the United States.

I hope that in some small way, knowing that provides some comfort to those missing Steve Beck tonight. Thank you Steve for your energy, commitment and most of all your friendship.

A few years back, I applied to five colleges when trying to decide my future.  I wanted a school that would prepare me for what I knew would be my graduate work – law school.  The process was simple.  Find the right schools, do well in high school, and be well rounded. When application time came along, the formula was to apply to a reach school, a safe school, and anything in between.  It all went according to plan.

Fast forward 20 or so years and repeat the process for child number one and child number two.  Once again, everything seemed to go according to the plan. Enter child three. She uttered eight words that turned this tried and true process into some sort of fight till the death amongst potential applicants – “I want to be a musical theatre major.”

I must admit this whole musical theatre major thing was brand new to me.  I had no idea that we would be thrust into some alternate universe where nothing I had experienced as a college student or a father helping his first two children through the college process mattered.  Dance lessons, voice lessons, college coaches, auditions, pre-screens, call backs and BFAs were all new words that became part of my vocabulary.

Just when we started getting comfortable with all of this, we learned something else as audition season began – we had entered one of the most competitive, cutthroat, dog-eat-dog processes I have ever experienced.   It was the Hunger Games, the Musical Theatre version, and Catherine was our Tribute!

Law School is competitive.  Veterinary School is difficult.  Musical theatre is insane!  I learned that some schools consider 1,500 applications for 18-20 spaces.  Instead of applying to 4-6 schools, these kids have to apply to 14 or more school because of the difficult odds associated with being selected.  Part of the process includes the special games to cull the herd, also known as Unifieds. This is an intense extended weekend long process where families bring their Tributes to one of three venues.

We decided to travel to the northern district called New York for the games.  There are also culling competitions in Chicago and Los Angeles.  During this thrilling weekend, Tributes navigate through the city to find one of several studio locations for their interviews.  Their support teams are with them to watch, help carry clothing changes, dance shoes, water bottles, and provide moral support. Frankly, I’ve never seen so much Lycra and spandex in one place in my entire life.

Some of these interviews have parental components where you quickly learn that the students might be more intelligent and composed than their parents. Some interviews have rounds, which require candidates to check the callback list in order to move on. After several of these interviews, the day is over only to begin again the next morning.

Catherine’s drama teacher talked about this process for some time.  It sounds surreal, cruel, daunting, and the stuff that makes a great fictional novel.  But until you live it, breathe it, and experience it for yourself, you can’t explain it or appreciate it.

The truth is, when you are a part of this process up close and intimately, you gain a whole new level of respect for the young people who choose this career path.  Each day, they are tested over and over again, audition after audition.  Sometimes they find their names on the callback list, while in other cases, their hopes and dreams are extinguished with the simple posting of a list.

Yet, they go on.  No matter where this journey takes these kids, they have more poise, determination, and discipline than most others their age.  They have learned important life lessons before ever leaving for college, including important organizational skills, how to conduct oneself in a job interview, and rejection. And that makes them all winners in these Hunger Games.

And so without too much ceremony, the “end” that we have been planning for and talking about for the last two years has arrived.

The last of “the last high school (fill in the blank)” for all our children took place this summer. The last BPC IMPACT Back Home Concert, the last high school graduation, the last high school performance, the last high school youth conference – you get the picture! It all really started to hit me last week when Catherine sang in church for the last time before heading off to college.

The parenthood thing has been an amazing journey and in a few days, we officially close the books on the high school years.  The next chapter has yet to be written, but for nearly half my life, I’ve played what I believe has been the single most important role of my entire life – being a father. It is the role that I have so enjoyed and so loved (most of the time). Almost nothing compares to holding the title of dad, father, Johnny, Pops.

I know that doesn’t change this week but we begin to cross the bridge that changes the relationship between a child and the father or parent forever. I liked this role and I loved this time of my life. And don’t misunderstand what I am saying – I may feel this ominous change ahead, but it is indeed balanced by feelings of happiness, pride, excitement, and optimism for the future. But I guess at the same time, I guess I am experiencing a small dose of grieving.

With one foot firmly planted on and comfortably set in the sands of being the parent of a teenager, its time to cross the bridge. I’m just not sure I am ready. Of course, this is not foreign territory. Yet there is something so very unfamiliar, and even a little uncomfortable about it, that it is unsettling. I suspect I am missing the comfort that comes from the fact that even though the other two were older, I always had that other foot firmly planted as the father of a high school student. But, without that, it’s all new again.

I’ve thought about this and tried to plan for it in my mind. But nothing can prepare you for the intense impending change that is about to occur. I take comfort in knowing that we are not alone and many of our friends are right there with us. And countless others have been here before as well. Nevertheless, as we cross another “last____” for the summer, I realize that it is truly the last of the lasts.

Grief can come from any type of separation, ending or change in our lives. And as I walk across the bridge, I know deep down inside, despite my excitement, I should not bury the grief. Sending off the last kid to college means the end of my experience of being the kind of dad I have been for the past 25 years. After today, I have to realize that my children are becoming independent and do not need me in the same way as they had before. I know that is what is supposed to happen.

I never thought that launching the kids would be so difficult. And, despite preparing for all the lasts this summer, putting Catherine’s belongings into the car and driving her to NYC always was “at the end of the summer.” The end of summer is here. And now, as Susan and I launch her, we will drop her off at college, and wave goodbye.

With that simple, unceremonious act, it will end. We will move on to a new chapter. But it will be important to allow us to grief as well. Twenty-five years is a long time to hold the position of mom or dad, and with that final wave, it seems like “Dad, Inc.” is closing up shop.

I know I will eventually be relieved and excited; however, today I can’t help but feel a bit hollow.

Once again, I wish we could just get to the heart of the matter and strip away the comments that tend to color our arguments and incite the opposition unnecessarily.

I am certain I do not have all the facts, but what I do know is that there is some honest question and doubt over the way in which a Planned Parenthood is currently operating. The debate around this matter should not be a conversation about health care for women or the funding of abortions in the United States. The debate should strip away that rhetoric and focus on what is right and wrong.

Because of that simple fact, we need to take stock in some facts before acting. Let’s try to do that –

• Planned Parenthood uses both Federal and non-Federal funds to provide a range of important preventive care and health services, including health screenings, vaccinations, and check-ups to millions of men and women who visit their health centers annually.
• The reality is that PPFA provides contraceptive services, sexually transmitted disease services, cancer related services, pregnancy/prenatal/midlife services, abortion services, and other services.
• Planned Parenthood conducts 1 million screenings for cervical cancer, and 830,000 breast exams annually.
• Planned Parenthood conducts roughly 300,000 abortions annually, among the 5 million people the organization serves (26% of which are teenagers under the age of 19), and due to restrictions, federal resources are not used to fund abortion services.
• Planned Parenthood is a federation of nearly 85 independent Planned Parenthood affiliates around the U.S.
• Planned Parenthood is staffed by 27,000 staff members and volunteers.
• According to the organization, 75% of their clients have incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
• Planned Parenthood’s net revenue increased 5% to total of $1.21 billion in its organizational fiscal year ending on June 30, 2013, according to the most recent annual report I could find. About 45% of that revenue–$540.6 million–was provided by taxpayer-funded government health services grants.

I do not think that anyone could argue that Planned Parenthood doesn’t serve a sector of our society that desperately needs healthcare services. But there are a few other facts that we need to consider as well:

• Someone at Planned Parenthood messed up – they were caught on tape implying, saying or admitting to things that may or may not be at the core of the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Planned Parenthood receives 40-45% of their revenues from federal tax dollars.
• Women have other options for seeking primary care, contraception, STI testing, and cancer screening besides Planned Parenthood.
• In addition to the tens of thousands of U.S. doctors and hospitals providing this type of care, there were 1,048 federally qualified health centers in the U.S. which provide women cancer screening, contraception, and STI testing.
• The tapes that have everyone upset appear to demonstrate illegal activities regarding the selling of fetal tissue by the organization – violating several laws and potentially committing a felony.

Much of the controversy leading up to today’s debate stems from a lack of widespread public knowledge of who buys and sells fetal tissue, what it is used for, and what the law allows regarding its purchase and sale. It includes lack of information on how the tapes were “edited.” I too was disheartened and disgusted after reviewing the tapes. But I began searching the law and tried to discern what is currently allowed under the laws of the United States. Frankly, after reviewing the materials available on line, I am not certain which laws apply or do not apply to the actions alleged on the tapes.

For instance, scientists have been using such material in medical research for decades to study (and possibly develop cures for) a number of diseases and medical ailments. Federal law indicates that agencies may sell fetal tissue that has been “donated” for that purpose (through abortion), but they may not profit from it. According to federal law, agencies may only charge for the processing and shipping involved in transferring the material from donor to purchaser, but the law doesn’t regulate how much they may charge.

The bottom line is that there is ambiguity about the law surrounding the set of facts at hand. Additionally, there seems to be some evidence that Planned Parenthood (or some of their representatives) acted inappropriately. Since Planned Parenthood lobbies for and accepts federal resources, any Member of Congress or the President, should be clear on all the facts before allowing them or any grant recipient to continue to use federal resources for potentially illegal purposes.

So, rather than being bogged down in politics, or semantics, it makes sense to hold agencies or organizations accountable for the way in which they utilize those resources in the operation of their organizations. If Planned Parenthood acted inappropriately, or in the worst-case scenario, illegally, they should be held accountable.

The fact that Planned Parenthood does good things for women and men requiring healthcare is irrelevant. Those good deeds do not, nor should they, give the organization a “pass” on the fact that they might have engaged in bad actions, or have a few bad actors on their staff.

Does that mean that we should advocate for a defunding of the organization’s resources for a full year? Perhaps not.

However, any recipient of federal funding is subject to upholding the law and the restrictions that come with accepting those federal dollars. That same standard must be applied to Planned Parenthood.

Our system of government and law dictates that federal funding for Planned Parenthood – and any other organization that allegedly abuses the law – at the very least be frozen until all the facts can be sorted out and any applicable laws are researched to ensure that no laws have been violated.

That is something we should all be able to support.

Note: the United States House of Representatives considered two bills related to this subject today. H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 (which passed by a vote of 241-187) and H.R. 3504, the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (which passed by a vote of 248-177).