Running the Race: May 2011

Monday, May 30, 2011

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

I will praise you, O LORD my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your live toward me..(Psalm 86:12-13a).

(I know it's not multitude Monday today, but this somehow didn't post on my blog last night)

Continuing to give thanks...
#1666-#1680

-great sportsmanship at track and field day

-100% effort at track and field day

-finding joy and smiling in everything she does

-my fan/supporter/cheerleader/best friend, etc.

-opening the pool!!!!

-enjoying freezing cold water

-just being goofy!

-a break from the rain

-running my second race

-great fundraiser

-yesterday, friends in Ethiopia holding their 2 girls (for forever)! and coming home soon!!

-friend getting a court file number (sooner than expected)!

-dirt between in the finger nails

-hubby who keeps a positive attitude

-pillars of the church

Sunday, May 29, 2011

"...like a champion rejoicing to run his course" (Psalm 19:5).

Ok, perhaps I wasn't the champion in this race, but as the Run for Wells T-shirts say, "Together we can make a difference"!!! I felt like a champion to be part of such an amazing event. Praise God that this year, Hope International raised over $45 000!! All of the money goes to support a life-changing water project for the village of Gwada in Southern Ethiopia. I am so grateful to my sponsors who together helped me raise over $600 for wells in Ethiopia. Thank-you!!!!

Monday, May 23, 2011

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"

(Romans 15:13).

Because of the work of the Holy Spirit, 6 more children will receive hope in the Lord Jesus Christ after this weekend through Compassion. What an amazing Sunday we had yesterday as we spoke in a very small local church about the work of Compassion. Praise God that lives are being transformed, children are being taught about the gift of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ, and the Gospel is being spread! Compassion and the local church are helping children discover hope for today and a brighter future. Children's' practical, ever day needs like medical care, food and education are being met through Compassion's ministry in Jesus' name!

Continuing to give thanks...
#1648-#1665

-the work and ministry of Compassion

-a GREAT Compassion Sunday

-the humbling experience of speaking in a local church

-6 more needy children, like Rehima have been sponsored

-the mischievous smile/laugh

-sewing marathon

-my sewing partner

-school crafts and artwork

-hanging out/relaxing at my sister's house

-visiting with an old high school friend

-Daddy and daughter holding hands, walking along in the long grass

-warm weather

-flower sales beginning to "blossom"

-less stressed husband!

-husband still having time to bring Jesse to soccer practice

-LOTS of laughs playing games at my Mom's

-dirty feet and hands from gardening

-starting fresh -a new week

Monday, May 16, 2011

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"[God] tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart" (Isaiah 40:11).

The Lord took one of His sheep home this week. My friend's dad was a kind, compassionate, loving man who truly lived out his faith.
Continuing to give thanks... (#1631-1647)

-God's comfort for my friend's family
-the testimony of faith and the legacy left behind by one of God's Kingdom builders
-the inspiring challenge from my friend in honour of her dad, "You've been so blessed, now be a blessing to others"
-celebrating my hubby's birthday

-father sharing an interest in electronic games

-father sharing an interest in reading

-an affectionate father

-a sensitive father (feeling badly for killing a deer that morning)

-first time getting out the sprinkler

-having fun exploring water

-sports teams day at school

-going out as a family even during this very busy season!
-a night out with Nicole
-turning around from helping Jesse do his homework to see all my dishes done!!! (thanks, Hon)
-meeting new adoptive mommies and visiting with old adoptive mommy friends
-the public profession of faith of our nephew (and many young people)!

-lots of giggles on the couch

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Run for Wells

“ If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” Proverbs 21:13

I am very excited about an upcoming race that I will be running in. On Saturday, May 28, I will be running 5 km in Kilbride in the Run for Wells race http://www.runforwells.com/ (through Hope International Development Agency). All donations and 100% of net proceeds will go to HOPE International. Funds will be used to bring clean water to the people of Ethiopia.

Please click on this link to go to my personal donation page if you would like to join my in my efforts to support Hope International and the people of Ethiopia.
http://www.runforwells.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=462886&lis=1&kntae462886=317EA1D14F294EFBB0DC2C2BF8FE9D37&supId=325849749
(OR, you could sign up and run the race as well)!!!!

It takes just $35 to provide one person in Southern Ethiopia with clean water for life! You can make a difference through the 2011 Run For Wells!

Here are some pictures that we took (of woman and girls collecting water) while we were in Ethiopia bringing home our precious baby girl.

In most developing countries in Africa, it is usually the girl’s or the mother’s job to collect water for her family. A typical woman in Africa has to walk 6 hours every day to collect water for her family. This is about the amount of time you spend at school each day. The amount of water she can bring back (about 20 litres) is equal to the water that goes down the drain with 2 flushes of a toilet. The route the woman has to travel to get the water can be dangerous... There are wild animals and steep rocky hills to climb. Most of the time, she is barefoot.

For the majority of Africans, the main source of drinking water comes from streams, rivers, swamps, open shallow wells, and rain water collected from roofs. Often, this water is contaminated from the mud after a rain storm and from animals using the same water source.

When a well is built in a village, the well being of the villagers dramatically increases. People can have better sanitation and less disease. They also have clean water to be used for growing food to feed their family.

Please consider supporting Hope International and the people in Ethiopia.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

From Ethiopia

"From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward" (Proverbs 12:14 TNIV).

Ok, well, Curtis is not exactly from Ethiopia, but these Dummen geraniums from Red Fox are! Paul was pretty pumped to receive these cuttings from Ethiopia (with an Amharic newspaper included)! He also had the unique opportunity to visit the greenhouses in Ethiopia where these geraniums came from!! It is such a blessing and so rewarding to grow and ship geraniums from a greenhouse (that provides work for MANY people) from Ethiopia! It's a great looking crop!