Monday, November 28, 2011

Monday Mania - 27 Days. . .

. . .'til Christmas!

Sorry I haven't blogged in forever. Didn't mean to do that. :P

Anyways... GUESS WHAT?!

Crosby's back! :D

ANNND...

NBA'S back! :D

Love it.

Okay, back to Christmas. It's officially Christmas at my house...! Christmas tree, Christmas Kisses, Christmas decor outside... I'M SO EXCITED! :D

So, the next few weeks will be Christmas songs... What else? Here's the first one:



And a little reminder that I'm doing the Vow of Silence on Wednesday, so don't expect any tweets, blogs, emails or facebook posts from me. And definitely no WORDS from me. ;)

And, if you would consider supporting me by donating to Free the Children at my online fundraising page, it would mean the world to me! THANK YOU!!! <3

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

Friday, November 18, 2011

Dear Happyness...

I sit at the desk in my room, my pen and the tri-fold, “meet your sponsor”, fill-in-the blank letter for your new sponsored child sits on the table in front of me.

I think back to a few years ago, when I sat at this same desk, with the same letter outline in front of me. But that time, it wasn’t addressed to Happyness in Tanzania, it was addressed to Annu in India.

I sit there, and realize how much I’ve changed in these few years.

To Annu, I wrote excitedly, listing my favourite things, etc, not really thinking too much, just LOVING the idea of changing her world. [And that we did, for a wonderful year or so with her.]

Today it is similar. I write excitedly, thinking and praying about all the possibilities this new relationship holds. I fill in my sponsor and child numbers, my age and occupation, my family. My favourite colour and animal. But then I get to “favourite food” and I stop.

Two years ago, I wouldn’t have stopped. I didn’t stop. But today I do.

I think and my mind begins to wander.

I eat everyday. I guess my favourite food might be pizza, or shepherd's pie. Does Happyness eat everyday? If I asked her what her favourite food was, would she have one, or would ANY meal at all be a blessing in itself? Was there time for favourites in her world, or in her mere 5 years has she had to learn that she should take whatever is given to her?

My mind wanders more.

I think about myself at five. Not a care in the world. The biggest problem in my life then was trying to pronounce “hospital” correctly. At 5, I thought about Barbies and kindergarten “drama”, playgrounds and play dates, and what colour crayon to use. I did not think about my next meal, or about running errands or helping in the kitchen. Happyness’ child pack tells me she does think about these things. At 5, I lived [and still do!] with both my wonderful, loving parents. Happyness’ child pack tells me her parents are gone, and she lives with her grandmother.

I think about the leaves of salad I tossed in the trash at lunch, because there just wasn’t enough dressing on them. I’m pretty sure Happyness and her grandmother would’ve eaten it. And I’m pretty sure I should’ve eaten it.

My mind wanders beyond this one child, and I catch myself turning individuals into numbers again. Millions of children dying of preventable diseases. Millions starving and malnourished. Millions uneducated... Millions, millions, millions.

“Millions” is a lot.

I come back to the letter in front of me.

And the letter’s existence gives me hope, because it’s so much more than just a letter. It’s a symbol of a connection between me and Happyness... A connection between the first world and third world. It’s a symbol that poverty is on it’s way out... We’ve shown poverty the door, and now we’re well on our way to giving it the final boot. Poverty CAN be ended in our lifetime.

But you know, that can seem overwhelming, this “ending poverty” business.

“I can’t change the world.” You say.

And you’re partly right. You can’t.

But Jesus can, and [this is where you come in] He’ll use you.

Katie Davis says it best:

"...I have learned that I will not change the world.
Jesus will do that.
I can, however, change the world for one person”

So, so true.

So, that letter. It represents the power of one. One sponsor, one child, one letter, one relationship.

Sure, individually I may not be able to change the world in one breath, because Jesus will do that. But I can change SOMEONE’S world. And eventually, after a couple someones, then a few someones, then as many someones as possible, He WILL change the world through me. And you. I believe that with all my heart.

But today, I start by changing the world of one.

And today, that ONE is Happyness.


P.S. I'm guest blogging at Compassion Canada's Advocate Network, The Loop today! Be sure to stop by and say "HI!" :)


Will you change the world of ONE today? Please click here.


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Forgive Me?

Ohhh Man. I missed my Monday Mania post this week AND hen't blogged at all in... how many days? Sorry guys!

Anyways, I was on a retreat all weekend with my youth group [and it was amazing, by the way. ;)] so I didn't have my usual time to write my post on Saturday and Sunday and in between now and then well, you know how life gets.

The only thing that kept my feet on the ground was pressing "rewind" and "play" button on the things that I learned and reflected on over the weekend...

This generation, MY generation, will change the world. The internet allows us to connect all across the globe, and because we are the first generation that fully knows how to use this resource, we can and will use it to change the world, much like how the printing press was used to change the world 500 years ago.

The question is: Will we listen to God and change the world for HIS glory?

Once in awhile, especially when life gets the craziest, pause, quiet down, forget about your to-do list and just listen. Listen to God, because he is there. Waiting for you to be willing to listen.

Will you follow?


Here I am. Lord, send me! -Isaiah 6:8

Monday, November 7, 2011

The Vow of Silence

Yeah, that's right... On November 30th, I'm taking the Vow of Silence.

The girl that was born talking is going silent for the silenced for 24 hours!

If you don't know what the Vow of Silence is, allow me to explain... You give up your voice for 24 hours, and get people to pledge money and support you - by the hour, minute, or the whole day! :) Where does the money go, might you ask? To the super awesome organization Free the Children, who will be using the money to provide education, alternative income, clean water and healthcare to those living in the third world.

That's what I'm doing.

No talking. No facebook. No twitter. No blogger. Minimal texting and note writing [Only in emergencies or to explain what I'm doing. :)]

So, today I'm asking two questions:

1. Will you support me? :)

Click HERE to go to my online support page. Canadian donations of $10 or more will be eligible for a tax-deductible charitable receipt. THANK YOU! :) <3

2. Take the Vow yourself?

Go to www.iamsilent.com for more info! :)


Mania

Did everyone enjoy their extra hour over the weekend?! [I didn't. I was having nightmares about the Leafs losing 7-0 to the worst team in the east. -.-]

Anyways! Bright in the mornings now! :D [Maybe I'll ACTUALLY be able to open my eyes at 7AM now. Haha.]

Yesterday, The Meeting House [My church]'s regional sites got to hear Tony Campolo speak [Oakville heard him live last week, we get the podcast this week. :)]. He was wicked awesome. ;) Funny, throught-provoking, challenging... Great stuff! :) I'd encourage you to hear his message here.

Dr. Campolo is speaks for World Vision, and as a church family, we set a goal to sponsor 1000 children from Malawi, all from the same village. Still waiting to hear if that goal was reached. Although our family advocates for Compassion, we decided to help out with the goal and sponsor a boy from Malawi! Meet Moses:


Isn't he sweet? His birthday's in 5 days! :)

Anyways, here's today's song, None but Jesus by Hillsong United. :)



In Tony Campolo's message, he said that fifty 95-year-old people were asked, "If you could do life over again, what would you do differently?" and all the answers were centred around these three things: risk more, reflect more, and do more things that will live on after they are gone.

So this is my question for you today: Are you risking, reflecting and leaving a legacy? When you're 95, will you wish you did those things, or will you say, "I gave it my all."?

More importantly, will you say, "I gave JESUS my all."?

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one the the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' -Matthew 25:37-40
  
Take a risk, do something that will last after you're gone, sponsor a child!
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