silence...remembrance...and peace

Today is going to be a pretty busy day for me. I was so tired when I woke up this morning, but I finally dragged myself into the office, coffee in hand, and sat at my desk. I was the first one here. I like to not turn on the lights. It feels quieter without those flourescent boxes shining their fake light on me. So, I just sat here for a few minutes, enjoying my peaceful silence....listening, praying....then I started making a list of everything I had to do....and the lights came on =(

So, I resolved to turn to my computer, and today's date flashed up....March 25th. Today would have been my Papa's 94th bday, but he went HOME almost two years ago.

Happy Birthday Papa! We miss you!

So, before I get started with work, just want to remember him and what a great grandfather he was! There is so much peace in knowing we'll see him again soon!

Walk for Water

Charleston has tons of nonprofit organizations and charities....which means there is always a "cause" to walk or run for. I remember going to "Walk for Life" marches with mom when I was little, but I've never really had much interest in doing them since then.

This Saturday, a few friends and I did decide to participate in the Walk for Water to benefite the mission of WATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL. I've met a couple people who work for them and several volunteers and I'm impressed...not only with their organization...but with the simple yet huge needs that exist!

•  One out of every eight people in the world, roughly 884 million, lacks access to safe water. (WHO/UNICEF)
• At least 2.6 billion people, about 41 percent of the global population, do not have access to latrines or any sort of basic sanitation facilities. (UN WATER)
• 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day, one every 20 seconds. (UNDP)

I know there are tons of needs and "causes" out there, but this still amazes me! And to think how often I let the water run while I brush my teeth. And for all you cynics, yes, I realize that water I wasted would not be given to thirsty children had I saved it...but that's not the point! In today's world, we are not that separated from the poor. We can get anywhere in the world in less than a day! We have more than we need of EVERYTHING and we take it all for granted! How can we be okay with the above stats? There are so many needs it can become overwhelming, but we shouldn't let that stop us from starting somewhere, right?

So, Saturday, we walked 3.5 miles around downtown Charleston carrying big water buckets....and halfway through the walk, we filled them with the unsanitized water that most of the world drinks (and we sometimes refuse non-brita water?!) and had to carry it back the other half of the walk. It was pretty cool. Not that thiis answered the world's thirst problems, but it was a step in the right direction....haha...no pun!

Check out Water Misson's Website - they're awesome! http://www.watermissions.org/statistics-and-links

"but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14

Matrix it out!

It's March madness, right? We have our own version at Habitat! We host week after week of college student groups who spend their spring break building with us. These groups raise money to donate to us, then on top of that pay for their travel to Charleston and instead of laying out on the beach all week, they build with us! Amazing kids! (yes, I'm old and call college students kids now) And so much fun!

These guys exemplify what service should be like....fun! Yes, we work hard, but as they put best, "we like to party"....


From PA, to OH, to IA, to WI...they travel and we do our best to make sure they have a great experience!

Last week, we were going to grill out at Waterfront park with the group from BGSU in Ohio...well, it rained hard ALL DAY....so we were stuck having dinner in our office building. We thought it was going to be a total bust, but they got to meet the family they were building for....they played hide-and-go-seek with the Hudson kids....some played cards.....it was fun!

Do you really give a.....?

I read this really aweome blog this morning http://www.relevantmagazine.com/worldview/features/19766-a-world-divided.

It got me thinking....in two weeks I'll be in Honduras building with Habitat. I know our mission is amazing and I believe our work will truly benefit one family in particular and hopefully the community as a whole. But what will the impact of our trip really be? Are we actually narrowing any gap between poor and priveledged? Do more trips need to be taken? Or are these trips actually being effective? Are we going just to ease our conscience and feel like we've made and effort to give to the poor? So we can return home and live comfortably with all our wealth thinking we can have both. "I'll enjoy all God has blessed me with as long as I take a trip to help others every so often (not to mention enjoy some new cultural experiences)." Or "I'll make a donation and even give over 10%. (which won't sacrifice any standard of living I'm accustomed to (but it's over 10% so I think that counts)." Or, "you know some people need to be givers, no goers. I'll just give and hopefully my money will give food or clean water to a family."

These aren't all bad thoughts...but they're not good...and they certainly are not solutions. It seems like we just make excuses in our heads to somehow rationalize our own way of living. It seems weak! Obviously, one person can't end poverty, right? So, we'll do what we can and hope for the best?

And why is it that we give when big things like the Tsunami in SE Asia or the earthquake in Haiti or even Hurrican Katrina happen....but on a daily basis, we ignore the needs of those that live in the same neighborhood as us? Do we only give when it's convenient? Only when we have a structured schedule for volunteering or a payment plan set up for us so all we have to do is click "submit."?

Maybe what I'm getting to is that we do give....in many ways with money, time, sweat, etc....but is any of it a sacrifice? Sure, I could save money and go lay on the beach for a week instead of building in Honduras with Habitat, but what am I actually giving of myself to do this? I'd say most of us are going for culture and travel experience just as much as our desire to give to these people. Not to mention, why does it bother me a little when people come back from mission trips...and they always have a picture with one of the poor kids in the community....proof or something? Just look at google images for mission trips and you'll see what i'm talking about:

No answers. Just thoughts. And wondering if we really do everything that we can?

Read the blog...it's good!
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/worldview/features/19766-a-world-divided