What to Believe Continued.......

I blogged earlier in the week about all the media attention and pending controversy around  the Kony 2012 campaign.


I came to my conclusion to focus on the words and instruction of Jesus.

After researching
increasing my confusion
and  my awareness of
the suffering of real people
I did not want o turn a blind eye
a deaf ear
or a lame foot
and then foolishly blame
my passivity on
 a organization that may or may not have it all together.

I am responsible for my actions.
 I am accountable for my answer to God.

This I remind myself in light of the recent controversy regarding the organization responsible for the Kony 2012, Invisible Children.

Today if you google Kony or Invisible Children  you get this article about one of  the co-founders caught in a public act of disgrace.
 http://news.yahoo.com/co-founder-kony-video-group-detained-calif-232427950.html

The story by all news accounts is accurate.
 What was the cause behind such actions ?
A spokesman for the group is claiming health problems. 

I really don't know of any health problems that make people publicly masturbate.
But you know maybe I just haven't researched Web MD enough.

I could go a lot of places with this one but I will try to stay on course.


My children had the privilege of hearing  a young man who lived in Uganda and was taken into Kony's army by force (LRA), lost his parents to the murderous actions of this army.  He spoke about being so little that he couldn't  carry the weight of the guns they trained him on.

That is nothing but pure evil. That needs to be stopped.

  He was helped by Invisible Children ,first in a refugee camp and then with a school scholarship to come to the United States.  What they did for this young man mattered.


But the lesson I am taking away from this is to watch your witness.

This one individual's action may prove to be the determent of the campaign.
His actions may prove to be accidental or exaggerated ( it could be a medical issue, right ? like as diagnosed by Dr. Suess maybe.)
Sorry--- my sarcasm is showing

But no matter what happens the damage is done.

Some who were thinking about getting involved won't

Those who weren't sold on the Invisible Children, but were stirred to
find out about Africa might change their mind

But I hope not .

I hope what we take from this is the fact that
no man , no organization, no cause , no political party, no ruler, or leader on earth
is infallible. 
No one is beyond temptation  and no one deserves to have us put all of our eggs in their basket

Except

One

Only God is infallible. Only God can handle it all.
Only God can be counted on 100 percent.

So I hope that we learn two things from this:

Our witness matters and we need to be careful-
lots of eyes , believing and non-believing are watching and trusting us.

 We serve a huge and Mighty God who has all the instructions we will ever need in order to love and serve the world without excuse. 

at the waters edge

We have almost completed the water challenge--
and thank you for being patient with the
missed posts here and there

We will end the challenge on Christmas Eve
so Christmas Day all will be back to normal
as far as our lives and how we use water

but I hope that  our thinking will not be back to normal

I hope our thoughts seek and take on a new normal

I hope water takes on its own life
in our minds

That each time we use water we view it differently

and gratefully

But I hope our thoughts
turn
to words
and our words
turn to
actions

and I hope it doesn't end there

I hope our actions
turn into habits
and our habits turn
into our new character
and
then
it turns into
our destiny

I hope we (and I am meaning "I" here )  get
risky
get
bold
get
busy

Tomorrow's challenge is to
get to the water's edge,

and dive in!

Every time you drink a glass of water
P-R-A-Y
Pray for the thirsty

When you shower, brush your teeth, use the restroom
T-H-I-N-K
Think of Africa, Bolivia, Any where without

Any time you use water tomorrow
A-C-T
Act on behalf of those in need

 Give something                                     
Sell something

DO SOMETHING

3 times

The water challenge is winding down and Christmas is gearing up.

My challenge and hope in giving up something water related everyday
was so that we would consider how
fortunate we are to have a basic need
like water
met.

I hope awareness was also brought to how dependant we are
on water , and how difficult it would
be to go without it
for a single act i.e. cooking, showering. washing
or even a single day

As Christmas consumes our thoughts
I hope we as Americans
will not buy into all that we "need"
and realize that we have what we need.

I'm not pointing fingers

I'm looking in a mirror

I have everything I need

and most everything of what I want

 ( Mr. Rodgers says I'm low maintenance materialistically.  A corona, sunset  and family and I'm good --emotionally , well that is a different tale)

So this season our family has decided to skip the big gifts

We are headed to a cabin of a friend in NC for TIME together

No cell phone coverage (hadn't broke that news to the youngin's yet)

No cable

No Internet (wait for the scream  around the 23rd)

Just US.

 

Happy Mouth heads to college next year ,

and our family life will be different.

It all went too fast and

 I am not dealing with it pitifully well.

But that is a whole nother story.

Now we will spend money ,

 its true, on things we want.

But we are systematically trying to wean ourselves from our current reality of MORE

 that we foolishly bought into.

To some our standard of living might seem modest. 

While we live next to the Joneses, we could care less about keeping up with them.

Much less socializing with them.

But we like everyone. spend our money where we want to.

And we are fortunate enough to have money  to do that -Above our needs.

But we are scaling back. 

We simply  do not need.

And it is a wonderful place to be.

I hope that my heart will continue to grow in ways that are pleasing to God.

I hope the girl in the mirror ( and no Michael Jackson lyrics please)

 looks way deeper into the reflection

I hope she sees needs that are yet unmet,

and then I hope she moves her feet-

away from the mirror

and towards meeting those needs.

Dig Deep Give Well has made a huge impact on our family.

Rollercoaster is planning on going next summer to Africa  as well.

We have plans to put in 5 wells next summer.

I hope you will join us in giving a basic need to so many,  and I hope you will consider giving it out of your wants.

That you will trade your wants for an other's needs.

And that each time we look in the mirror our reflection will look a lot more like Jesus than us.

I hope that like the Grinch who stole Christmas

that God will make my heart grow too big big to be contained .

And they will say in

"Wantville" that   her heart grew

three sizes that day.

Leftover

So today was filled with leftovers:

Literally:

Leftover Food, Leftover Time, and Leftover Lists!!!

I thought I was productive until I flipped the paper over and saw the rest  of the list!!!

Oh well.

We cooked nothing today. 
We used the good ole microwave and reheated a few things
(that didn't take water to cook the first time)

I had leftover hummus, croutons, chips, salsa, a graham cracker , some celery and a glass of milk!!

Now that's a leftover meal.



It did NOT look like this!

 I'm not even sure what the kids had.



We all ate in shifts
, and no one ate at the table b/c I can't even see it!!

We have a wee bit of decluttering to do!!!

So random eating in various locations does not exactly equal the" little house on the prairie" moment
but I thank God its not the Simpsons!

So bellies full we are off to bed -
Another day beckons and I need the energy for the "leftovers" on the LIST!!

Tomorrow's challenge is this :  NO cleaning that requires water!!

Yeah you're off the hook- 

if anyone questions you tell 'em  Bamamama put you on a water challenge and your staying true!!!

Not buying in?

Well I'll leave you  with a favorite quote from one of the funniest women in history:

My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance. ~Erma Bombeck

A watched pot never boils

tomorrow's challenge is simple:

Don't do any cooking that requires water.

No boiling the spaghetti

You can't even watch the pot- and ensure it won't boil.

No rice, No hard boiled eggs...

you get the picture

Time to Move

Oops I failed to post Day 7 which would have been Saturday
and then I failed to post the challenge for today!!
I am so sorry!!!
My only explanation is that I had a terrific weekend!!!!
My family and I had loads of fun!!
Mr. Rogers and I actually cooked together
and no one was injured!
We did the Once a Month Cooking Plan
But we only prepared one week.
Needless to say He chopped, I baked

He stirred, I spiced
and now we have 7 meals frozen and ready to
whip out when the holiday season gets busy!!

Rollercoaster and I went to MamaRiceCake's house for craft night on Saturday
and had a blast.



Forrest went to basketball camp, had a friend over and was good and grumpy
for it on the way to church.
Alas, Happy Mouth is on restriction (nothing like senior year to slack off) and
we made her run all our errands for us since she couldn't go anywhere else!
She whined about what unfair parents we are, a pure sign we are doing something right!!
Anyway back on track. I did manage to not shower today
so I am calling that a score for a waterless challenge!

Tomorrow will be Day 9 and the challenge is this:

Do not wash your face all day.

This one is a bit dear to my heart for a good reason
My friend Lisa Brodie, that started Dig Deep Give Well with her husband Curtis,
 was so moved by something she saw while on medical mission in Africa about 5 years ago.

There was a young girl about 7 who had a baby on her back in a sling.
Not uncommon for this culture,
 as young girls are put in charge of younger siblings while the motherss work the fields.

The baby had a runny nose and eyes, due to a simple cold,
 and flies were all over her as the congestion was pouring out of her .

Lisa asked a doctor nearby why they didn't clean the baby.

The doctor's reply is what moved my friend to ACTION.

He said" There is no clean water for even the simple act of washing this child's face off.
 Over 80% of what we are treating in this village could be prevented if there was access to clean water."

This resignated in Lisa's heart and she let it lead her to MOVE.
My prayer is that we allow God to stir our hearts to beat so quickly that it results in the ultimate blood flow to our FEET!

As you feel a bit "icky" today  remember that all we are really doing is postponing   our water events.

We will eventually turn on our faucets and receive clean water.

Think today of those little ones who not.

But do not stop there-  let your thoughts bear fruit
May they consume us until everyone receives.



DDGW 2010



Day 5

Today was interesting.
 My hands are drying out from all the
Hand sanitizer I used!!!

I had to pick a day that I was teaching preschool>
Oh well so much for planning.

Anyway tomorrows challenge is pretty simple

Don't wash any clothes or dishes.



That's really not me!

 I'm taking it at a free pass to lay off the laundry.



Okay this could be me


Let em know if you have chosen something different
and what it meant to you.

I would love to hear your stories!!!


Photo courtesy of anntaitor.com

1 in 4

I did not fail today. I didn't have a coke or tea!!
Tomorrow's assignment is--- and I know this is going to gross everyone out

but try to think of the immunity building opportunities!!

Here goes:
Do not wash your hands for an entire day.

Grossing you out?

Think you might pick up a germ or two?

Afraid you might get sick?

You might ,

But is probably will not be deadly.

In Africa it very well is.

1 out of 4 deaths, under the age of 5 worldwide are  due to

Water Related Disease.

To bring this alive: 

Take a look at the picture of the children above

There are 8

1 out of 4 can die--  that is 2 children gone from the 8

1 out of 4 are dying.

So what does not washing your hands tomorrow have to do with this;

and how could it possibly help save anyone?

YOU can help

YOU can change statistics

YOU can change history

I hope by giving up something water related each day

it will cause you to be mindful

and grateful.

Mindful of another's plight

and grateful enough to give.

Give your prayers, give your time , give your money.

Dig Deep Give Well is just

one organization that builds wells in rural Africa.

It has made a difference already in over 5,000 peoples lives.

Check out the web page for facts,solutions and opportunities.

 (http://www.digdeepgivewell.org/)

Pray with us

Come to Africa with us

Inspire your community, school, place of worship to be the solution for the 1 in 4.



No dice on ice

okay  I messed up
I am all into the water challenge and yet in the midst of my day
I had to do a chick fa la drive thru

all in between  school, tutoring and b-ball practice
I somehow forgot to eat ..........
and I swear I was going to pass out or eat my own liver if I didn't
get some food.

so after getting my kids meal with lemonade I realize
that my drink has ice in it and I am a loser

Hope you were more successful.

Anyway I am way tired
Mr. Rogers is out of town for his yearly hunting camp

when the girls turned 13, 10 and 6  he felt the need to relieve a little stress
and hunting was the only legal killing he could do. 
But that's another story

Anyway  I'm turning in early tonight

Tomorrows challenge is this:
No sodas, pop, cokes  whatever you call em'

They all need water to make them  and they are off the list for tomorrow

and remember why we are doing it and think of those who dont have the same choices

and I let it make you act on thier behalf.

let me know if you did better on the ice gig

One Down 29 to GO

okay y'all I am headed to bed and I will NOT
get my customary glass of cold water
I was so one of those kids who asked "for a cup of water" about 3 times and drove my parents crazy.

I am opting not to brush my teeth
I already feel fuzzy.....

I will go to bed thirsty and wake up thirsty

BY no means do I mean to suggest that I am
as thirsty as those in Africa or other parts of the world that lack clean water.

I am just trying to get closer to their situation than I was before.
And I hope you will to so that
together things can change.



I will probably really notice the thirst as I wake throughout the night.

I keep a glass of water by my bed and drink out for it when I get dry.
I'm pretty sure I do it in my sleep.

But not tonight.

That being said, the water challenge for tomorrow is :  (drum roll please)

Do not use any ICE. 

Yes ice, that would be frozen water. :)

So no ice in the teas which might just mean no ice tea

Hang in there my Southern Sisters!!!

See you tomorrow

Water Challenge Day One

Today we made it back home to Sweet Home Alabama.

It's always good to see family but oh how sweet it is to be home.......

Tomorrow we are going to decorate for Christmas .
I love this part of Christmas....
everyone else .....
well not as much.

So looks like tomorrow will contain a bit of Forced Family Fun
or the triple "F" as we refer to it at times

But it also start the 30 day water challenge.

So to start things off I will make it simple.

In the a.m. I will brush my teeth
S-L-O-W-L-Y  

and I will think about how easy it is to get it straight out of the faucet.

I will be glad it is cold and doubly glad it is clean.

But at night the challenge for me and you will be this:

Pretend that after your evening meal you have NO available water.

So that means no sleepy time tea for me,
or chocolate milk for the kids (it it takes water to make it -its off limits)

and (brace yourself for the grossness)
NO BRUSHING MY TEETH.

Now I have crashed out of exhaustion before with out  polishing the pearls,
but this time I am going to do it because "I will have no water."

Now you and I both know we do- but I am going to act  like I don't and dwell on that a bit.

I am sure it will start to bother me
and in the morning when my smile is covered with the velvet funk
I (along with others) are going to notice.

So there is Sundays challenge : NO WATER RELATED ANYTHING AFTER DINNER

I'll let you know how it goes
I plan to greet Mr. Rogers with some love first thing in the morning
I am sure we will be equally "freshtastic!!"

Waterless Days

 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Everyone is in the mood to be thankful,
to remember all they have been blessed with
 and all that God has done for them, especially this past year.

We all think of the basics:
 family,   friends,   jobs,
homes,  food on the table,
clean water to drink,
access to medical care,
freedom..........
and on  and on.

And then it is as if Friday brings out the dark beasts
 of complaining,
short sightedness,
greed and negativism
that we allow the other 364 days of the year.

Know wonder they call it Black Friday!!!

But here is what God has laid on my heart  :

The Water Challenge.

We as a family are involved in providing wells in Tanzania.(www.digdeepgivewell.com)

Happy Mouth recently went to Africa
this summer to help provide a well in the village of Ndevesi .
Don't bother trying to find it on google earth
 it doesn't show up!!-now that's "remote" !!

And yes I need to blog and provide more pictures (senior year is killing me!!)
So here it is the challenge and I hope you will join me:

• Everyday I will be blogging on water.
• I have listed everyday things that we do with water.
• Each day I will and challenge you to give up one aspect of water and

DO WITHOUT.

This will continue until Christmas Day
 and for extra measure of compassion
 I have thrown in a complete water fast day on the 15th of December.
(click on the link for instructions)

The challenge will start on Sunday November 27th  and end on Christmas day- 

30 waterless days

I hope you will join me

I realize I have 3 followers but if you ll re post

 then together we can bring more awareness

of Africa's water crisis and cultivate of  attitude of gratefulness

 instead of taking for granted the basic blessings of God,

 that here in America and other developed countries we have everyday.

Tomorrow I will post the "ways of water" 

(all the ways we use it)

and challenge you to pick a different one everyday to give up.

 And please let me know what you did and how it went!!!

Until then- enjoy your Thanksgiving ,

 undoubtedly made with water, and

celebrate the enormously costly gift of Living Water through Jesus!!

I can't wait

She has had the time of her life

She has laughed and danced with prescious children

She has walked miles for water

She has helped prepare a goat for slaughter

She has eaten goat intestine

She has fallen asleep while being gaurded by Massai Warriors

She has seen elephants. lions, and zebras- Oh MY!!

She has taught the Massai the tune of Sweet Home Alabama

and now  she is on her way home  and I am about to burst

I can't wait!!!

but more than all ..........................

She has worshiped a Mighty God

She has sought and found her heart deep in a land called

AFRICA.



A picture worth 1,000 words of comfort and joy

This picture is from the all girls orphanages in Tanzania .

My sweet Happy Mouth is in the middle .

This is a sweet loving picture for many reasons.

I am so glad they are there holding, loving those who long for it.

These sweet children have very little and what they did have , their parents

were taken from them.

Yet look at their faces

Smiling , Playful, Tender

Look closely at Happy Mouth (blue dress, brown braid) she

has a pair of little hands at the bottom of her braid!!

Twirling her hair. All you can see is the hands just playing with her hair.

It is so sweet.

She has a child balanced on each leg and one playing with her hair!!

But I see more...

and forgive me if it is selfish

I see my baby

Smiling

Happy

I see her and I miss her

but

I see her content

I see her joyful

and my fears

and my worries

melt away

and my prayers

are

not in vain.

God has been so faithful through

out the whole Africa adventure

and I keep praying for Him

to spiritually prepare her

for all that she will do

see and experience

and for all that He has for her.

That smile

is

God

at

work!

Good news from a distant land

I will just ler her say it.....
(the typos are related to the sleep or lack there of.....

I have no other way of putting info out there except for via facebook from an incredibly slow computer at a missiony home we were so BLESSED to stay at tonight!!!
We have hot(ish) showers :) yesterday we visited an orphanage for young girls
 i made a friend named Razeeke her name literally meaning "i have nothing"
 makes my heart ache these orphans brought tears to my eyes
 not only tears of sorrow but tears of extreme joy
 as they sang Jesus loves me in english for us
 they also taught us a song which i can not get out of my head
 it is in swahili but the english version means
 God is able therre is no one like you father.
 Today we visited an orphanage out in the bush very dry and dusty area and it is a 11 mile drive
 that took 2 hrs and 40 min because it was up a mountion and all the roads arre dirt
 we got to talk to a massi warrior who told us of his process of killing a lion
so much more has happened but because this computer is so slow
 im gonna have to wrap it up even though my mother is probley the only one reading this!
love you all pray for the windmill well to be completed in time -Ash.




That is the best news!!!  and I want every one to read it!!!

July 12 ? 13 ? a.m. or p.m.?

I am trying to keep up communications with mydaughter as much as possible.
With Tanzania being 8 hours ahead
 it is getting confusing.

Happy Mouth Hey Telled me this morning telling me it was 7 p.m.
 and it was dark so she was on her way to bed.

I don't think the plane ride had a whole lot of sleeping going on.

So to recap:
 She left DC at noon--  flew until midnight (our time)
which is 8 a.m Tanzania time the next day July 13th

Then 2 hours later they board a plane for Mt Kilamonjaro airport

 and arrive in Tanzania at 12:35 p.m. (T time)

So after customs check and a meal

                                                           it was time to hit the sack at 7 p.m

She was the poster child for exhaustion!!!

The Hey Tell she gave me was great

 It is so nice to hear her voice!!!

If you don't know what the Hey Hey Tell is check it out on then link.

It is kinda like a walkie talkie but uses data and wherever Wifi is , it is free.

It is saving us a bundle and its way better than a text !!!

The friend she is with above is documenting their travel on her blog

check it out at http://leahgwin.posterous.com/

Countdown

The number of days until Africa-

and only 18 hours on the flight to read .


Anyone see a pattern here?

Africa -17 Days away

Well  Wed has come and gone  and I have done one project
A pitiful one........
I spray painted 3 candle holders form the dollar store .
That's it
My BIG  think off the I Want To List
Blah  
I have 5 more steps to go before the project is finished. 
Hey Rome wasn't built in a day!!

I have too much going on  and its good things!!

I spent Thursday  with Happy Mouth and preparing for Africa.

She has a beautiful hot pink trunk


filled with all things Africa!!

Baby wipes (for the only form of "shower" she can take)
2 packs of Wmart panties (they will go down the "hole"-not making the trip back)
Flashlight and extra batteries
Sleeping bag (deluxe sleeping accommodations in the tent)
Hand sanitizer (aka hand wash)
Bible (travel size to leave with the village)
Journal (So she can record all the adventure)
4 long dresses (respectable cultural dress)
Passport necklace (so she doesn't SET IT DOWN ANYWHERE)
Shock proof, water proof camera (in other words Happy Mouth Proof!!)
A international travel text plan (for the 2-5 days she will actually be in a service area)

That's is what is in her trunk

This is what is in her heart:

Passion (to go where God calls her)

Excitement (for all things new)

Adventure ("I will drink the blood clot -it is supposed to be good luck")
 Insert a horrific look on my face here.
and most importantly

Hope (void of all fear)

I think she will be fine.


I on the other hand  am accepting all tequila donations.