There can be no up without down, front without back, left without right, hatred without love, good without bad. For we would have no understanding of any of these without the opposition. Bringing us to the greatest of understandings. Without doubt, faith could not exist.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
The Sounds of Heaven
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Food For Thought 41
Do we measure our success through our achievements or through those we help others achieve?
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
Sharing and Caring
We are sharing with you on one of our sister pages, and a link on our blog, a new page called Fix.com. Please check out their page, there is a lot of interesting and fun information. One of their articles is posted under our Passions For People page. Thank you so much for all of your love and support.
~GSET Team~
~GSET Team~
Friday, March 6, 2015
Food For Thought 40
The only thing we should hate is the hatred for love.
Elaboration: Every emotion is important. As we are not born with hate, we learn how to. During a period of time of horrible suffering my heart was filled with hatred. But I realize my hatred was simply confusion. What I have learned, as many will say that love is confusing, is that it is not. Unconditional love does not allow for hatred. As we all feel hate at moments in our life, it is an emotion that can be very valuable. As long as it does not lie in the heart for it will always lie to the heart. I've always longed to understand how something that we need and want so much, such as love, for ourselves is so hard to give to others. Whether you believe in God or not, take a moment of your time to read this first.
Elaboration: Every emotion is important. As we are not born with hate, we learn how to. During a period of time of horrible suffering my heart was filled with hatred. But I realize my hatred was simply confusion. What I have learned, as many will say that love is confusing, is that it is not. Unconditional love does not allow for hatred. As we all feel hate at moments in our life, it is an emotion that can be very valuable. As long as it does not lie in the heart for it will always lie to the heart. I've always longed to understand how something that we need and want so much, such as love, for ourselves is so hard to give to others. Whether you believe in God or not, take a moment of your time to read this first.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7New International Version (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
As you expect this for yourself, please take the time to accept that others need the same. For the only thing wrong with loving someone is not loving them enough. You can never love too much and there is more than enough to go around. Please share.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
GSET Mission Statement
We are currently in the works to unite all people, all voices. Setting up multiple pages via Twitter, Facebook, and a website. One of our many goals is to connect all bloggers. Giving people a united platform, forum, and the voice that is so rightly deserved. All talents, all gifts, all sorrows, all joy, all people we must share. Taking the importance out of the word media and putting it back into the word social. So many have something to say or are in much need and need help so. An example is linking multiple sites to our page/pages. An example is to use Twitter for others to advertise their blogs through tweets. We welcome all. We go by the motto a follow for a follow. Eventually connecting tens of millions of people. In our minds and Joshua's vision, to connect everyone into the source of our power: Love through each other. We do not want people to censor themselves as we all have passions and all have a purpose. Though anything of a sensitive nature, derogatory, racist, hate, pornographic, etc, we will not allow to be linked. And will not share. We are here for people to tell their story. To allow the power to lie within themselves. To unite each other as we all want and need to be heard. There are great things we can learn and use media/ social media for. But as individuals, we must remember that we are responsible for ourselves and each other. As through mass media, so many things become tainted and watered down. There are great mass media sources that help people create awareness and education. But an individual's voice that becomes united through caring, and always love, is reachable, again, it is deserved and we will attain this by joining together hand in hand, not allowing for degradation, segregation, or oppression. In simple terms, we will migrate, immigrate, but never regulate. so that we are not individuals of love or a nation of love, but a world of love. As this will be happening soon, it is all of our responsibility to join in. The more you give others a chance to have a voice, the more your voice will be heard. And it is a constant, infinite, circle that can not be stopped. So please share with us, share for us, as it is our mission to do this for every person. Let's share our spirit as we all have the same one. Thank you.
~GSET Team~
~GSET Team~
Apologies from the GSET Team
As of late we have been having continuous amount of trouble with our servers, which has been delaying our posts. And of course, sharing, caring and helping everyone. We will be adding more stories shortly. Thank you for following the page, sorry for the inconvenience. Please feel free to connect with us.
~GSET Team
~GSET Team
The Story of Phanice ~A Cry For Help
Names have been changed to protect the family.
Phanice came from a family of five. Her parents are peasant farmers from Western Kenya and One of her brothers is the sole financial support of her whole family; her parents, her siblings, his own family as he is married. Her husband, J, is the first born son in a family of seven, and he is also the only working man in his family as well. He supports his parents, and siblings.
Phanice and J have three beautiful children together. Two daughters, R and E, and a 10 month old son. J is a primary school teacher. The income for teachers in Kenya even is more meager than here in the United States. It is not enough to support their family, especially having to support J's parents and siblings as well. They own a small piece of land that they garden for their own use, and Phanice sells any extra to supplement their income. Their eldest daughter R is in form 3 which is the equivalency of the 11th grade in the United States. She is only 15 years old, advanced and very intelligent, kind and sweet. She is eager to learn and excells at it. Their second daughter, E, is 12 years old and passed her primary exams with flying colors, but has not been able to join high school because their familie's small income is not enough to pay they school fees. Something that we take for granted here in the United States, is a free education. To even provide enough for food, clothes and medication for their middle child who has chronic illness has been a struggle and it has forced them to take out loans just to get by. And now they can not afford to send their two intelligent and kind hearted daughters to school. It is about $984 USD per year for high school, and $884 USD for their daughter in primary school and this is for a public eduation. Nothing compared to the average $10,000 per year for a private school tuition in the United States. They are already in the middle of the term for school, and have missed so much of their lessons, that they would have to catch up very rapidly just to stay with their class.
Most people in Kenya do not finish a formal education. The low salaries paid to workers and high school tuition fees makes it difficult to impossible to go to school. Most of the people in Phanice's community live in poverty, fighting just to find access to clean water. A lack of education, poor farming methods and poor roads causes an economic downfall, making it impossible for the people to ever get up, much less get ahead. Local farmers are forced to sell their products at or below cost because of poor roads making it impossible to transport to a higher paying market. Due to HIV/AIDS, poor health facilities and a high unemployment rate, there are many orphans left to survive on their own. The weather in Kenya affects food production. Their dry weather drives high fuel and power costs affecting all aspects of commerce, from manufacturing, raising prices in the market, corruption, tribalism and insecurity. Land Title Deeds are hard to get and affects the borrowing capacity of families and businesses who can use the titles as collateral.
Kenyan laws make it difficult to find funding from other countries. They have a bill waiting to be passed that limits foreign funding to 15% of their total annual budget. They have local and national taxes that all residents have to pay. Education is supposed to be paid by the government in Kenya, but broken promises and teacher strikes lead to the financial burden of tuition for many Kenyan students. Teachers will often go on strike, they will reach a negotiation with the government, but the new agreement will not be honored past the first payment. Their annual stipends in their schools are as low as $12 USD per student, not even enough to cover the cost of supplies for only the classroom, much less that of the students. During long teacher's strikes often times the elder students will strive to teach the younger. Teachers salaries are as low as $190 USD per month and does not include any medical coverage or any of the benefits that teachers are accustomed to here in the United States.
Phanice and her family have dreams. She dreams of a better education for her children. For them to have a college education, a brighter future and easier life. She dreams of acquiring land to start a large scale commerical farm that will enable her to export her produce and employ her fellow Kenyans providing much needed economic growth to her area, to help her fellow Kenyans to prosper. She dreams of having a successful business in cell phones and accessories, or possibly cosmetics. Her husband is a teacher with a dream of starting his own school. With a passion for the orphans who are left all alone, with no one to pay their school fees or to even provide a meal. As the government pays teachers very little, he dreams of having his own school where he can help even the helpless to get in education and change the lives of the people in their community for a better future.
If you or anyone you know can assist Phanice's family, please share and contact Phanice via Twitter@phanice07
Phanice came from a family of five. Her parents are peasant farmers from Western Kenya and One of her brothers is the sole financial support of her whole family; her parents, her siblings, his own family as he is married. Her husband, J, is the first born son in a family of seven, and he is also the only working man in his family as well. He supports his parents, and siblings.
Phanice and J have three beautiful children together. Two daughters, R and E, and a 10 month old son. J is a primary school teacher. The income for teachers in Kenya even is more meager than here in the United States. It is not enough to support their family, especially having to support J's parents and siblings as well. They own a small piece of land that they garden for their own use, and Phanice sells any extra to supplement their income. Their eldest daughter R is in form 3 which is the equivalency of the 11th grade in the United States. She is only 15 years old, advanced and very intelligent, kind and sweet. She is eager to learn and excells at it. Their second daughter, E, is 12 years old and passed her primary exams with flying colors, but has not been able to join high school because their familie's small income is not enough to pay they school fees. Something that we take for granted here in the United States, is a free education. To even provide enough for food, clothes and medication for their middle child who has chronic illness has been a struggle and it has forced them to take out loans just to get by. And now they can not afford to send their two intelligent and kind hearted daughters to school. It is about $984 USD per year for high school, and $884 USD for their daughter in primary school and this is for a public eduation. Nothing compared to the average $10,000 per year for a private school tuition in the United States. They are already in the middle of the term for school, and have missed so much of their lessons, that they would have to catch up very rapidly just to stay with their class.
Most people in Kenya do not finish a formal education. The low salaries paid to workers and high school tuition fees makes it difficult to impossible to go to school. Most of the people in Phanice's community live in poverty, fighting just to find access to clean water. A lack of education, poor farming methods and poor roads causes an economic downfall, making it impossible for the people to ever get up, much less get ahead. Local farmers are forced to sell their products at or below cost because of poor roads making it impossible to transport to a higher paying market. Due to HIV/AIDS, poor health facilities and a high unemployment rate, there are many orphans left to survive on their own. The weather in Kenya affects food production. Their dry weather drives high fuel and power costs affecting all aspects of commerce, from manufacturing, raising prices in the market, corruption, tribalism and insecurity. Land Title Deeds are hard to get and affects the borrowing capacity of families and businesses who can use the titles as collateral.
Kenyan laws make it difficult to find funding from other countries. They have a bill waiting to be passed that limits foreign funding to 15% of their total annual budget. They have local and national taxes that all residents have to pay. Education is supposed to be paid by the government in Kenya, but broken promises and teacher strikes lead to the financial burden of tuition for many Kenyan students. Teachers will often go on strike, they will reach a negotiation with the government, but the new agreement will not be honored past the first payment. Their annual stipends in their schools are as low as $12 USD per student, not even enough to cover the cost of supplies for only the classroom, much less that of the students. During long teacher's strikes often times the elder students will strive to teach the younger. Teachers salaries are as low as $190 USD per month and does not include any medical coverage or any of the benefits that teachers are accustomed to here in the United States.
Phanice and her family have dreams. She dreams of a better education for her children. For them to have a college education, a brighter future and easier life. She dreams of acquiring land to start a large scale commerical farm that will enable her to export her produce and employ her fellow Kenyans providing much needed economic growth to her area, to help her fellow Kenyans to prosper. She dreams of having a successful business in cell phones and accessories, or possibly cosmetics. Her husband is a teacher with a dream of starting his own school. With a passion for the orphans who are left all alone, with no one to pay their school fees or to even provide a meal. As the government pays teachers very little, he dreams of having his own school where he can help even the helpless to get in education and change the lives of the people in their community for a better future.
If you or anyone you know can assist Phanice's family, please share and contact Phanice via Twitter
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Food For Thought 39
If you're needing a friend, I'm here. But if you're wanting a foe, look elsewhere.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
Food For Thought 38
Freedom is a choice brought to fruition through a united voice.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
Monday, March 2, 2015
Food For Thought 36
Fulfillment comes from purpose, derived from dignity, lived in conviction, through the bond of love.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
Sunday, March 1, 2015
From the GSET Team~Joshua's Diagnoses
As of now we have been notified of Joshua's current diagnoses. He has a cancerous brain tumor, Cushing's Disease, Addison's Disease, with two tumors on his adrenal glands, several tumors within his internal organs, one being cancerous on his hip that has metastasized. All three layers of his stomach muscles are herniated/torn. Several torn muscles, ligaments and tendons, a multitude of bone spurs and calcium deposits. Several fractures in his hand, including a broken thumb. Both carotid arteries are clogged. Sciatica. Embolisms throughout his entire body. Lyme's disease. Compression in his spine that has fused several vertebrae together that has grown into a sharp peak in between his shoulder blades. Ulcerative colitis. Several discs and joints that are slipped and out of place. Cerebral edema. An imbalance in the occipital fluid. Severe swelling and inflammation. A slightly torn urethra tube. Swollen glands. A slight tear in the lining of his heart. A hole in his esophagus. Electrolyte imbalance. Intractable Pain. Some of his blood work showing that his white blood cell count is over 120,000. And his red cell is lower double digits. And several other minor problems, considering these other diagnoses. He has lived his life in health. Not drinking, never doing drugs. Occasionally enjoying a cigar, maybe even a cigarette. The doctors are astounded, not only that he is alive, but that he is functioning in any way at all. There's no explanation of why he has been stricken with these illnesses let alone alive; most men could not survive one. And he has been without treatment for over 99% of these for many years. And of course he is seriously malnourished and dehydrated. Some of the damage in his body is so bad that it has twisted his muscles, ligaments, tendons and even his skin. This man deserves healing and never to be sick again a day in his life. We are all in shock that he has been doing his best to live his life when he should have been dead years ago.
We wanted to post this, not only for Joshua, but for the fact that people misunderstand that there are many who are living with struggles, hardships, disease, and they could be our neighbor. And people must be made aware of this. In the year 2015, this should not be going on. Many people get sick, but no one should have to suffer. No one should have to be as strong as Joshua is. To see these diagnoses on a piece of paper that was faxed over to our team from his wife, obviously was so much more detailed, None the less it is shocking. All anyone ever sees from Joshua is a smile or hears is encouragement, or feels love from him. We don't know what the meaning of this is. But from our hearts, here at the GSET team, we must believe there is a purpose. We knew he was suffering, but had no idea, truly, how torturous this must be for him. And how he has any sanity left at all. And, as told to us from his wife Anna Bella, they have no idea where to start, or what to do. Almost every surgery would have to be done at the same time. They're all connected. It's just unbelievable and surreal. We think it's time that people start reaching out to this man. Though he may not speak of it, obviously he needs it, just as we all do. Every person that is suffering, every person that feels alone, it is our responsibility to let them know that they are loved. As Joshua always says, For we are our brother's keeper. Let's start with Joshua and reach out to everyone and take care of each other in love. We must help others so that this injustice does not happen. Because what this shows is that it doesn't matter how much money you have, your title, your race, that this can happen to anyone. How many people are suffering with just one of these things and are going untreated, for any reason. Yet there is no reason, in the year 2015, for this to be happening. It's time that people start reaching out, for those who have taken an oath to help others, need to start doing their job. Every life is precious. Everyone deserves health. But no matter if the disease is curable or not, everyone deserves proper treatment. We all have the same needs. Whether you are starving physically, emotionally or spiritually, it's time to step up and do more. for many, as it is for Joshua, this is life or death. But there is no need for people to suffer and have no peace. As Joshua always says, The meaning of life is giving everyone's life meaning. A lot of people can look at this situation and other situations somewhat like this and it gives them a reason to not believe in God, but for the fact that Joshua is still alive and doing what he's doing, how can you not believe? And when you don't, you're depriving a person of their purpose. and that all things happen by chance in people's lives are meaningless, living and dying in vain. We here at the GSET team don't understand any of this. But we can not accept that this is all there is to be had. We hope that God hears our prayers and heals this man. If his dies, it would be of no consequence as it would turn more people away from the Lord, but being healed by the hand of God or him getting the surgeries and they are successful, , the story of this alone would change the world. Again, giving life meaning and purpose and most of all hope.
~GSET Team~
We wanted to post this, not only for Joshua, but for the fact that people misunderstand that there are many who are living with struggles, hardships, disease, and they could be our neighbor. And people must be made aware of this. In the year 2015, this should not be going on. Many people get sick, but no one should have to suffer. No one should have to be as strong as Joshua is. To see these diagnoses on a piece of paper that was faxed over to our team from his wife, obviously was so much more detailed, None the less it is shocking. All anyone ever sees from Joshua is a smile or hears is encouragement, or feels love from him. We don't know what the meaning of this is. But from our hearts, here at the GSET team, we must believe there is a purpose. We knew he was suffering, but had no idea, truly, how torturous this must be for him. And how he has any sanity left at all. And, as told to us from his wife Anna Bella, they have no idea where to start, or what to do. Almost every surgery would have to be done at the same time. They're all connected. It's just unbelievable and surreal. We think it's time that people start reaching out to this man. Though he may not speak of it, obviously he needs it, just as we all do. Every person that is suffering, every person that feels alone, it is our responsibility to let them know that they are loved. As Joshua always says, For we are our brother's keeper. Let's start with Joshua and reach out to everyone and take care of each other in love. We must help others so that this injustice does not happen. Because what this shows is that it doesn't matter how much money you have, your title, your race, that this can happen to anyone. How many people are suffering with just one of these things and are going untreated, for any reason. Yet there is no reason, in the year 2015, for this to be happening. It's time that people start reaching out, for those who have taken an oath to help others, need to start doing their job. Every life is precious. Everyone deserves health. But no matter if the disease is curable or not, everyone deserves proper treatment. We all have the same needs. Whether you are starving physically, emotionally or spiritually, it's time to step up and do more. for many, as it is for Joshua, this is life or death. But there is no need for people to suffer and have no peace. As Joshua always says, The meaning of life is giving everyone's life meaning. A lot of people can look at this situation and other situations somewhat like this and it gives them a reason to not believe in God, but for the fact that Joshua is still alive and doing what he's doing, how can you not believe? And when you don't, you're depriving a person of their purpose. and that all things happen by chance in people's lives are meaningless, living and dying in vain. We here at the GSET team don't understand any of this. But we can not accept that this is all there is to be had. We hope that God hears our prayers and heals this man. If his dies, it would be of no consequence as it would turn more people away from the Lord, but being healed by the hand of God or him getting the surgeries and they are successful, , the story of this alone would change the world. Again, giving life meaning and purpose and most of all hope.
~GSET Team~
Food For Thought 34
Always be aware of another man's journey for you never know when it will intertwine with your own.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
Joshua's Joys ~Hospital Stoagie
In true Joshua fashion, took off with his IV bag, found a storage room, snuck a stoagie into it, yes he got caught, but worth it. Three years of continuous illness, three weeks of chemo, several days in a coma, nothing can stop this man. And he's sexy as hell.
Food For Thought 33
The willingness to learn will give you the opportunity to teach.
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
~Joshua Jet Vaughan~
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