Contemplating Christmas - Part 4

In case you've missed them, here are parts 1, 2, & 3 in this series.

    -Dig a well.  When we want water, we turn on the faucet.  And when we do this, we are confident that we aren't going to get sick or die from the water we're drinking.  All over the world, millions upon millions do not have this luxury.  When they want water, they have to hike miles away with jugs multiple times a day just so they can have something to drink or to wash clothes or take a bath in.  Many don't even have this option; these people only have dirty, parasite-infested water to give to their already malnourished children.  Children aren't able to attend school because they're sick.  Children who aren't educated become adults who are unemployable, so the cycle of poverty continues.  Water-borne illnesses are devastating to families & communities, & they're completely preventable!  We gave money toward the digging of wells in Uganda through Give Uganda Water, which is an organization founded & run by members of Covenant Life Church.  According to their site, just $23 provides clean water for one person for the rest of their life!  How awesome is that?!  They've already built 3 wells, bringing life-giving water & eradicating water-borne illnesses & death.  They have 3 more scheduled, which need funding.  They aren't the only ones digging wells, either!  World Vision has a way to donate towards wells also.  It's a wonderful feeling to know that we're helping give clean water to those who haven't previously had access.

Contemplating Christmas - Part 3

This is part 3 in a series on how Michael & I have changed the way we celebrate Christmas through gift-giving.  If you haven't read parts 1 & 2, you might be somewhat confused.

     -Buy a goat.  This will get you some humorous reactions!  Last year, we bought 2 goats from World Vision.  Not for ourselves or our families, but for 2 families that we will most likely never meet - at least this side of heaven.  These goats - & the plethora of other farm animals that you can buy - help to lift families out of poverty.  Families are helped by the food supplied by the animals (milk from the goats & eggs & meat from the chickens, for instance), they are able to multiply the animals, they sell the animals for money & feed, the manure fertilizes their crops - which brings in even more income . . . it's simply amazing how much just one animal helps!  We watched a video featuring a widow - & mother of 6 - whose life was completely transformed by just one goat (which became 14)!  Of course, I cried to see how we could impact the lives not only of these families, but of their surrounding communities as well!  And telling family & friends that you bought a goat in their honor for Christmas is wonderfully fun!  Check out World Vision's gift-giving catalog; animals aren't the only option available.

 

Contemplating Christmas - Part 2

Yesterday, I told y'all that we're changing the way we celebrate Christmas, mainly in that we're not buying gifts for ourselves or the adults in our lives.  We have some other ways to give gifts that don't stuff our already overflowing closets & drawers, ways to give to others who are in need.  Doing this has warmed our hearts.  We hope you'll join us in . . .

     -Sponsoring a child.  We sponsor two precious children - a beautiful boy & girl who live in Ethiopia - through Compassion.  There are other organizations that have child sponsorship programs as well, like World Vision.  We chose Compassion (& fully endorse World Vision) because of the connection to the local church & because of their financial transparency.  We love that these organizations aren't about giving hand-outs, but extending a hand-up, not just financially, but educationally, & - most of all - spiritually.  Our babies are learning about Christ while their families are being helped out of dire poverty through education.  We spend $38 a month per child, which is completely doable, even for a one-income family like us!  And I have to tell you, I cried when we got our first picture from our boy, Abel.  To see the drastic difference in his hair, his skin, even his eyes from his sponsor picture took my breath away!  To think that we have a hand in saving these precious children & making sure they know of Christ - well, it's a gift from God to us.


Compassion International from Student Life on Vimeo.