Hail Rastafari,

I will answer for myself as I have saved $ for five years to take my family home to Kenya to meet there family as well as to Ethiopia to firm up our works with bridge building.

By saving $ for myself and my family to travel to East Africa I have been able to support econonically once on the land in Ethiopia some of the elders and needed projects ocurring on the land in Shashemene in a small way. I have also been able, as I know the I has as well, to better overstand the challenges facing the community by being there on the land with the people and being present at a historical community forum on December 18, 2004(roman calendar).(Ras Nathaniel please send your address and I will link you with a video of this important meeting which formed a 15 person delegation to represent the communities needs to Mr. Meles)
Our works are to support the repatriation community by bringing educational service programs to the area each December. This helps to provide a bridge of resources to the community. Also we are working on building an Endowment Fund for annual scholarships to support ones in coming on these educational service journeys. We have linked with different representatives of each mansion in the community to share our intentions and have recieved open doors to cooperation.
So the question being if we should have given the $ for an Elder to trod. I know that there will be more opportunity for Elders and Black Rastafari to trod by Queen Debra and I firming up our relations in Ethiopia towards building the overground railroad bridge to support Repatriation.
I cannot answer for another.
For the record I have also given what little I can each time someone has requested funding for the Elders or for your own works with IRIE.

The key is intention and manifestation through Jah Guidance.

It would be refreshing for the so called "white rastas" to work towards raising funds for Elders in the Diaspora or maybe for Elders on the land now holding firm. Rather than buying another T-Shirt and CD or bag of herb use this $ to put collectively with others and ask your parents for some to.

Bless up yourself and may the Most High Guide the works for the appropriate development of Africa.
Ras Liontree