Changing the World One Family at a Time

Our family decided to really focus on Jesus this year.

  Christmas is all about Jesus, but sometimes we get caught up in the lights and trees and presents for others and lists for ourselves.  Jesus gets placed to the side and we remember Him on Sunday morning for an hour in church.  And then life goes on and it is busy, busy, busy.  

So this year I was challenged to really do something special for Jesus.  Something that would help our family look outside our own little world and give to our Savior this year for Christmas.  

I brought this challenge that had grown in my heart to my family.  The kids embraced the idea whole heartedly.  They wanted to find a gift to give to Jesus.  I suggested that they raise money to buy an animal for a family through a program that World  Vision offers.  I knew that my kids could make a difference, but had no idea what an impact they could have.  My 5 and 7 year old little girls wanted to raise $200 to buy a sheep and a goat.  I tried to talk them out of it.  That was a lot of money for two little ones to raise.  But they were determined and Daddy and I supported them $100.  I wanted them to see what God could do through them when they gave their all to Him. 

So the girls made brownies.  Lot and lots of brownies.  The girls made these treats all by themselves (with lots of supervision) and they loved every minute of it.

Of course they had to taste test the batter.

Measuring out the ingredients.

The girls also made cinnamon ornaments to sell.  Our home smelled like cinnamon for many days.  They had fun mixing up the dough, rolling it out and cutting out the ornaments.

Last week, they raised $200.  I told the girls that we could be done selling things since they made enough for their gift for Jesus.  Hannah looked up at me and asked if they could keep going.  Then they could give Jesus another present for His birthday.  What could I say, but YES!!!  I was so proud of them for working so hard to make a difference.  They ended up raising $240 in just over three weeks.  I was blown away by what two determined little girls ended up doing.  I love that God can take the least of these to make a difference in a few families lives.   Today we were able to buy a goat, a sheep, a family mosquito net, vegetable seeds and medicine for families through World Vision.  Every one that bought a brownie or an ornament, thank-you so much!!!

Here is the mosquito net.

A goat!

Vegetable seeds for a family.

I want to do more

I just spend a delightful evening with my Uncle  Dan and Aunt Rita.  We sat around our bonfire (my favorite thing to do), talked and enjoyed smore's.  This was my Aunt Rita's first time to have them and of course she loved every bite.  Well come on, who doesn't love chocolatey marshmallowy goodness between two graham crackers.

The girls are tucked into bed and my sweet heart is watching a movie with friends.  I am snuggled up on the couch with a blanket and my computer.  Me time is so nice.  I love the quietness and the stillness when I am left to myself.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does I treasure it and make the most of it.

I have been thinking a lot in the past few months about missions, the poor and the orphans.  Some of the blogs that I read have really challenged me to think about this and meditate on what I can do.   These are some of my favorite blogs.   I have fallen in love with their families.  They challenge me to think about the world through God's eyes.  Check them out!
A Place Called Simplicity, International Voice of the Orphan, Sit a Spell

 I so want to go on missions trips and stay for months in places where I could serve the least of these every day.  This is not the right time in my life to do that and I get that.   My kids are little, we have a house we can't sell and I have a good job that allows us to pay the bills and have health care.  Someday though, I will go where God calls and spend time where He wants.  For now, this is where He wants me to be.

In the mean time, what can I do?  I want to make a difference.  I build relationships with those around me.  Take meals to those that need it.  Paint and clean for the Lord for those that need it.  Pray daily for those God puts on my heart.  But I want to do more.

 A bit ago I was reading a post on Sit A Spell.  They were talking about a group in Haiti that teaches the people there how to make jewerly out of cereal boxes.  They then are able to sell this jewerly to people in the states and make enough money to keep thier families intact.  Moms and dads that would be placing thier children in orphanages to keep them alive are now able to keep thier beautiful treasures with them and love them.  Got Cereal Boxes  This is amazing!  Someday they will be self sufficient.  Until then, they need people to send them cereal boxes.  That got me thinking.  I can do that!  I have the time to flatten my cereal boxes and put them in a box in the garage.  Even the kids can do it.  Maybe if I do this, one child can be kept with her parents.  One child won't have to spend the rest of her life living without a mom and dad, without love and security.  I can do this.

Will you do it with me?  Will you collect cereal boxes and give them to me so that we can send a bunch to this amazing organization in Haiti?

I want to know what you are doing for Him.  How does your family make a difference here in the states or over seas?

Prayer Bulletin Board

Last year after a Missions Sunday at our church, I was trying to figure out a way to help our family pray more consistantly for our missionaries.  I remembered that my mom had set up a world map with missionaries pictures around it in our dinning room. We would pray for a missionary every dinner.  We were able to see their families and look on the map to see where they served the Lord.

I decided to try that with my family.  I went to the local teachers store and bought a small bulletin board, a world map and some pins.  The whole thing cost about $20 dollars.  We cut the world out and pinned it up.  That Sunday I got a few prayer cards from the missionaries that had spoken.  So we put them up and talked with our little girls about who they were and how they served the Lord in the country they live in.  Then we put up the pictures those we support.  This has been a great way for the girls to remember to pray for those we support.

We love getting new pictures of our missionaries.  We pray for the Writebol's as they work on the air planes in Africa.  We pray for Jeanne as she works with the children in South East Asia.

We pray for Rommel, our child from Compassion International.  We just started supporting the Child Survival Program in Uganda, Africa.

Mission India is awesome and the girls love seeing the passport to India on their website.  It is important to help the kids learn about who we are praying for and how they serve the Lord.

How does your family remember to pray for missionaries or others that need your prayers?