Hello friends!
I have been home a few months now. I’ve pretty much adjusted, but it still feels kinda weird. I wish I knew how to explain it better, but right now I don’t have a clue.
Anyway I want to apologize for not having posted any blogs about my time Nicaragua or my transition home yet. I am going to post some in the next 2 weeks. I really meant it! And I will be uploading videos I took to YouTube.
Moving on to the actual point of this specific blog post….
I am doing a thing, and I would love for you to join.
I want to continue supporting the organizations and some of the people I meet while on the trip. So each month I will be sharing about my experiences while on the trip, and I will be raising money for awesome stuff. And I need some super awesome and creative people to help me! You are reading this blog, so I figure you might be a super awesome creative person who could probably share cool ideas, help get the word out, and if you’re in my neck of the woods give a little time.
Please comment stuff or send me a Facebook message or email me at [email protected] if you have any ideas or are interested in getting involved in any way. I cannot do this alone. And I know things would be so much more fun with your help 🙂
I’ll give a timeline, and I hope it helps this whole idea make more sense.
September was my first month on the Race. I was in Manila, and I worked with Kids International Ministries (KIM) there. I will speak about my experiences and share pictures twice. When I do this there will be a time to prayer for the ministry and the people, and a love offering will be taken. I am raising money for the JAZ home, a home for girls and young women, I was able to spend time at. Currently it is home to 40 girls. It is an amazing place! I wish I could have spent more time there. They have some pretty big needs right now, including a new roof $30,000, educational costs $20,000, and kitchen work $10,000. I know that’s quite a bit of money, but if enough of us work together we can make quite a dent in it. Heck we could even raise it all. Might as well dream big and work hard! 🙂 So I will do my best to have at least 2 fundraiser a month. I am hoping for more.
October I was in Tacloban. I continued working with K.I.M. at The Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is a newer ministry center and has potential for so much growth. I am not sure exactly what we’ll be focusing on raising money for, but it will be positive things. I will share the specifics as soon as I know them. I will speak twice and have at least 2 fundraisers.
November I was also in Tacloban. I loved being there. Construction 3 days a week was tough but worth it. I loved going and giving out food, building relationships, dancing like a fool, and helping with needs as they came my way. Also the teams in Tacloban got every close to The Lighthouse staff. Again I’ll speak twice and have at least 2 events to raise money to support The Lighthouse and the people they serve.
December I was at a children’s home up on a mountain in Swaziland called El Shaddai. The view was beautiful, but the people were even more beautiful. El Shaddai ministeries needs to raise $300,000 to build a high school for the community where they are located. It would help approximately 400 students. I am particularly excited to be a part of this. I do not know how much school fees will cost for Bongiwe’s children yet, but we will need to raise the money during December, because fees will be due in January. So I will share twice about my time at El Shaddai, and there will be 2 fundraisers for El Shaddai and 2 fundraisers for Bongiwe’s children’s school expenses. Of course this is also around some big holidays, so it’s going to be a little hectic. But it’s going to be a lot awesome, too.
During January and February I was in Manzini, Swaziland. For the second time, I got to work with Xolani Moyo, one of my favorite humans. He works with Adventures in Missions teams who go to Manzini, but he also does a lot of sports ministry. Many youth and children do not have positive role models or mentors, and the sports ministry is a way for them to have fun but also get connected with people and mentors who care about them. And he has so much passion and a desire for the ministry to grow, but he is in need of money to make this possible. Sports equipment and training for leaders ain’t free. I am excited about continuing to work with him even while I am in the States.
Also during this time I reconnected with Noxolo (Precious) at a carepoint, and she could really use a new prosthetic leg and crutches. I am trying to figure out the best way to make this happen. So I’ll share about my experiences twice a month and have at least 2 fundraisers a month.
During March I will be focusing on REAP Granada. The group and our parents worked with them during the Parent Vision Trip. The have so many projects right now, I don’t even know how they manage it all. So I’ll check to find out what their biggest needs closer to March. I’ll share twice and have at least 2 fundraiser.
Then for April and May I was in Rivas, Nicaragua serving at Bethel Center of Hope. I miss all the children and the whole community really. Currently the center is having some well/water issues, so please be praying for that. I will also need to check closer to the Spring what their main financial needs are then. I will share about my experience at Bethel twice a month and have 2 fundraisers a month.
I really, really want to hear people’s ideas, and I want everyone who can be involved to be involved.
Please let me know if you want more information or are interested in helping in anyway.
And let me know if you’d be interested in buying Tshirts or bracelets.
Thanks so much for the continued support! Much love <3
