$9,745 to go!!

This has been on my mind for 6 weeks...

 

With 3 days to go, I am wondering if I will meet my goal.  This $15,000 will help my partner in Ethiopia, FOVC, continue the amazing work they are already doing to help 150 precious orphaned and vulnerable children in Shanto, Ethiopia. 

 

This Ethiopia journey hasn't been easy for me; I wrote about it last April.  However, I feel God leading me to continue striving to make a difference.  I wish I could go into detail but trust me when I say I see God working in amazing ways.  This is truly eternal work and I would love to have you be part of it by investing financially.

 

Here is the link to the donation page.  It gives more details about the fundraiser.

Defining Moments of Life

January 2011

Shanto, Ethiopia

What amazes me about this picture is the fact that I took it before I had ANY idea how it would impact my life.

The small classroom, made of mud walls and floors, had been packed with almost 100 people.  Backpacks of gifts had been handed out amidst lots of giggles, smiles, and joy.  Children and staff at a small Christian school in southern Ethiopia were rejoicing over the gifts and visit from our team.  The room emptied and I stayed behind to photograph a sponsor and their child.  After they left I found myself alone.  I glanced down and saw those shoes lying on the mud floor.  I picked them up, inspected them, set them on the desk, and took that picture with NO idea how my life would change.

I suspected that the owner of the shoes had outgrown them; I headed out to find the owner.  I asked a teacher to help me.  As the children all sat waiting for their lunch the teacher held the shoes up and spoke in the local language.  Soon a boy, around 11 years old, walked up.  His name was Israel.  I took him aside and was able to find him a used pair of shoes from our donations.  I washed his feet, gave him some socks and made sure the shoes fit.  Then I sent a VERY happy child off to join the others for lunch.  What happened next changed my life.

A few minutes later I walked over to take more pictures of the children while they ate lunch.  I noticed Israel in the background, head down, fidgeting with his new bag.  I walked over and realized he was crying.  My first thought was that something was wrong; I led him to a teacher who translated for me.  Israel was happy, those were tears of joy.  

A young boy's joy over a used pair of shoes was a defining moment in my life.  I knew I could not return home and ever live my life the same.

Today is GIVING TUESDAY.  After all the crazy shopping we are asked to give.  I personally think GIVING TUESDAY needs to come before BLACK FRIDAY, CYBER MONDAY, and the holidays in general.  Giving should come first.  

Thanksgiving is about thankfulness for all we have been given.  

Christmas is about the greatest gift of all, the birth of our Savior.

However, I don't think our society is going to follow my idea so I'll go with the flow and ask you to give today; please give to my little friends in Ethiopia.  To read more about the $15,000 I am striving to raise this holiday season follow THIS LINK.

Fundraiser #1 - Complete!

Last week I had a fundraiser for Ethiopia. You can read my original post here. It was a long and tiring week but SO worth it. My goal was to get as many people involved as possible. A dozen different families gave items to sell or loaned me card tables. Another couple, from my church, graciously offered me their 3 car garage and fabulous suburban location for the sale. Several of my neighbor kids help me sort donations, set up for the sale and worked at the sale. One in particular put in over 40 HOURS of his time. I am SO proud of him! In the end we raised $1400 that will help dig a well in Shanto, Ethiopia.

I visited Shanto, a village in the south, last January with a group of 27 other people from 6 states and 2 countries. It was an amazing trip that changed me forever! I am praying about returning with another team this next year.

The pictures below are from the last day of the sale. When the sale ended we hauled a van load of donations to the Salvation Army thrift store. All the remaining clothes, shoes and books were donated to a humanitarian and export business and loaded onto a container heading to Gambia, West Africa.

My oldest son helped on the last day of the sale!

My neighbor, Ariah Fine, wrote this great children's book called Clean Water for Elirose to help educate children on the global issue of clean drinking water. I had his book on display and sold several copies. To learn more about Clean Water for Elirose check out his website here. If you are interested in purchasing a book from me the proceeds with go to help dig a well in Shanto, Ethiopia. Leave me a message below or e-mail me.

This 16 year old put in a full 40 hours helping me with the sale.

I was thrilled to donate the remaining clothing, books and baby items to a family from Gambia. They ship a container over every 6 weeks. Part of the items go to the Red Cross and local schools. Other items are used in their families business in Gambia.

I hope to do more fundraisers in the future. I have lots of ideas :)

Grand Total - $1400

$1400!!

Tired, so tired, must go to bed, more tomorrow, I promise!

$1100 - Day 2

I have raised $1100 so far!! I am exhausted, so this will be short.

One customer gave me $300 today. I was blown way!

My neighbor friend helped me again and is planning to come tomorrow. So thankful!

I found a powerful video. PLEASE take a second to watch. Click here.

If you want to donate to my fundraiser please click here.

Here are a few pictures I took for fun.

$620 - Day 1

I woke up at 4:15 a.m. I am tired but excited that we are $620 closer to digging a well in Southern Ethiopia. One of my neighbor friends helped at the sale today. He was SO helpful! My friend's mom helped today. It was great to have the support!

To read more about my fundraiser click here.

This is why!

My neighbor, Ariah Fine, wrote this great children's book to help educate young children about the lack of clean water in this world. To find out more check out his website by clicking here.

Self Portrait

If you would like to make a donation but can't come to my garage sale you may donate online by clicking here.

Garage Sale Fundraiser

My big garage sale fundraiser starts tomorrow! Tonight I spent 4 hours setting up. I am exhausted and have to be up at 5 a.m.! A HUGE thanks to my young neighbor gals for helping me, to my friend who is hosting the sale and to her mom for all her help!

Child Sponsorship

I visited an organization in Ethiopia called Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (FOVC). Last fall they launched their child sponsorship program. In January, I had the privilege of taking all the sponsorship pictures. Several of our team members were already sponsoring children. We were able to meet them face to face and receive the letters they wrote to us.

Larry and Kathy reading the two sponsorship letters they received. Below is Kathy and one of her two sponsored children.

I can't tell you how incredible it was to meet my sponsor child! It was wonderful. I am SO thankful I found out about FOVC and went on this trip. It changed my life!

Sharon, who is heading up the sponsorship program, receiving a sponsor letter and helping Desalegn pass out the gift sent over by the sponsor family.

LeeAnn and Kevin receiving their letter.

Desalegn had so much fun passing out these gifts!

This precious girl received a gift from her sponsor family. It came in a beautiful gold box all wrapped up. She didn't know to open the box. She thought the beautiful box was the gift. We helped her open it and Julie helped put on the beautiful necklace that the box contained.

After our team returned home and shared stories many more children were sponsored. If you would like any information on child sponsorship click here.

These children live in a village with 2 unfiltered wells. I am raising money this week to help dig another well (which will be filtered). The well will provide the FOVC children access to clean drinking water. If you would like to donate to my fundraiser click here.

Mondays are for LOVE!

I forgot to post my Mondays are for LOVE! yesterday. It was my 39th birthday. I was busy getting ready for my fundraiser. I took a packed van load of donations over to my friend's house. She is hosting the sale since she lives in the ideal location. THANKS AMY!!

I love Dan because he always supports my efforts to help others. Whenever I talk with him about a need I have heard about, he usually response, "So how much money are we donating?"

Thanks Dan for letting me go to Ethiopia and work hard at making a difference in the world. Also, thanks for bringing home Panera Bread for dinner. It was delicious! Thanks for letting me have the whole evening to run errands and do prep work for the fundraiser. Thanks for helping me have a fabulous birthday!

The Shoes

As part of my fundraiser I am writing each day about my trip to Ethiopia. The story below was a defining moment in my life. Changed me forever!

One day at FOVC I found the shoes pictured above laying on the ground. By the looks of them I suspected that the owner had outgrown them and had toes hanging out. I took the shoes to a staff member and he identified the child. It was a boy name Israel who was around 12 years old. I was right about the toes hanging out. I immediately talked with Lory, our team leader, and she said to go ahead and find a pair of shoes for Israel.

I found a pair of used ladies white tennis shoes and grabbed a new pair of socks. Israel grinned as I brought them over. He put on the socks and slipped on the shoes. I tied them for him and checked the position of the toes. They were a perfect fit. He continued to grin and headed back to join the rest of the children.

A few minutes later I went over to the children to take some more candid shots. I noticed Israel standing in the background crying and I thought he didn't like the shoes or that another child had been mean to him because he got shoes and they didn't. A staff member translated for Israel. He was happy. He had tears of joy!

This was the most moving moment of the entire trip for me. I held that little boy and we both cried. His were tears of joy and mine were tears of sadness and confusion. It is hard for an American to imagine a child crying over shoes. Not really cool shoes that they wanted for Christmas but a used pair of ladies tennis shoes that meant his toes didn't hang out anymore. A pair of shoes that would keep his feet healthy on the dirt road he walked everyday. It was a moment that I don't ever want to forget. It was a moment that changed my perspective and my life.

Why Ethiopia? A Fundraiser!! & Getting The Kids Involved

This past year I heard a story of a woman who lost her husband. If that wasn't painful enough she soon had to face the reality that she couldn't feed her children. It led her to a life changing decision. She relinquished her parental rights so that her young child, who was physically struggling, could have the chance to be adopted, leave the country and live. That story broke my heart. It inspired me to take a trip to Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia I saw beautiful landscapes, lots of smiles, rich culture and wonderful people. I also saw lack of purified water, clothing, education, food and opportunities to provide for one's family. In a small village, called Shanto, wonderful work is being done. FOVC (Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable Children) was started in 2006 by Desalegn Daka. After graduating from college he felt God calling him to go back to his home village and literally help the orphans and widows. It was my privilege this past January, to go and see FOVC, meet it's staff and the precious children and widows that they are helping.

Desalegn Daka founder and director of FOVC. A man who has given up SO much to care for the poorest of the poor.

After returning home I decided that my life would never be the same. My perspective has drastically changed and I have a deep desire to make a difference in the world. Want to help me?

Shanto has a population of 8,000 people. There are 2 unfiltered wells. FOVC is raising money to dig an additional 2 wells (with filters) in Shanto. This water is desperately needed. On June 9-11 I am having a HUGE garage sale fundraiser. Many people have donated items, my friend is hosting the sale and I hope to raise enough to dig one well, approximately $15,000.

A local well outside of the village of Shanto.

Here is the best part. You don't have to come to my sale to donate. You can donate online starting today!! My 39th birthday is tomorrow. I have a matching donor. Donations starting now until midnight tomorrow will be matched (up to $200). Since this is a garage sale fundraiser you can donate a garage sale amount. How much would you spend at a garage sale? $5, $10 or more?

Please consider making a donation and doing something to help make the world a better place.

Today several of my neighbor kids helped me sort donations. It was hot out but they worked SO hard in my garage. I just love my neighbor kids. My husband and three boys stayed in the house and cleaned it for me (an early birthday present). It was a great day!

This little guy blew me away with his leadership and organizational abilities. He helped SO much!

My husband has 2 artificial legs. We noticed an old foot sitting on a shelf. We laughed and tried to guess how much money it would bring if we added it to the sale.

We all had fun modeling the donations.

A dear friend is hosting the sale. She lives in a fabulous surburan location. I think I will have 2 full van loads of donations to take to her house.

It was SO hot today. After we were done the kids cooled off with the hose.

My goal is to help my 3 boys and all my precious neighbor kids understand how blessed they are to live in a country with endless opportunities. Also, to teach them to think of others first. I am trying to involve as many people as I can in this fundraiser. I would love for you to be a part. Donate today!

"Many hands make light work."