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Did Live 8 raise the awareness of Blood:Water Mission in the mainstream world?

Lowell I'm not sure. The interesting thing we experienced at Live 8 was that the artists who played weren't necessarily debriefed when they got there. It's funny, but we ended up being the experts to the media among all the artists—they were taken aback that we'd actually been there and could speak intelligently and personally on the subject. We knew more about it than even some of the MTV VJs who were saying, "What's going on is really bad. It's all about awareness." Awareness of what?

How does that knowledge continue to get refined, especially in light of the changes and challenges in Africa?

Mason There are growing pains within an organization, and we don't want to reinvent the wheel or be Compassion International or World Vision. But I think we have to continue to develop slowly and methodically. We have really talented people surrounding us, and the board is composed of amazing people who are really overqualified, but believe in what we're doing.

Lowell and Mason hold hope for the future of Africa and its people.

What is the spirit of the people in Africa you're serving?

Mason It's a spirit of gratitude and joyfulness, but they're also broken. They're losing family members. You can't go without hearing wailing because someone probably just passed away—probably from AIDS, but no one is saying that because there's such a stigma around it. Yet despite the suffering, the hospitality and the joy is so tangible and so challenging. It's an embodiment of their passion in the midst of their circumstances.

We don't really have a handle on that here in America. Africans value human life and live so close to the edge in terms of God's providence. They have more spiritual knowledge than I will probably ever have, just because in my world here in America, we're so satiated and immersed in ourselves. It's really fascinating to look at the suicide rates in America vs. Africa. They really value human life in these villages and understand their time is short and of great value.

Even though AIDS is now less of a taboo topic in Christian circles, there's still some stigma. What would you like American Christians to know about the pandemic?

Lowell Christianity is about imitating Jesus, and he didn't give his love according to people's behavior, sin, or religious affiliation. There's no reserving of his love based on what you've done, and that's the ultimate measure of what we should be striving for. I'm not saying it's easy, but I don't understand how people can't treat others any other way. I feel like maybe there's been some sight lost of that standard Christ called us to.

Why do you think Christians have strayed from that calling?

Mason Probably cutting Jesus' hair, making him look pretty, and having him speak English. He doesn't hang out with the prostitutes anymore, and he's not with the poor. Now he resides in the suburbs and big churches. Which is not to say out of spite that those big churches are bad, but I think the notion of Jesus' calling is so much more radical than what can be contained in a political party or a certain framework of understanding of what's Christian and what isn't. Following Christ is a call to a much grayer life than the black-and-white one we seem to want to live, especially in regards to those who we extend love to and who we can vote for.

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