Toyota’s Ideas for Good Challenge

Friends & Compassion International Peeps – My cousin, Stephen Brown has come up with an idea for a Self Contained Mobile Water Purification Unit. He is one of the top five in the Solar category for Toyota’s Ideas for Good Challenge. This idea just happens to be one that could be instrumental in changing the lives of many people around the world. If Stephen wins, he will have the opportunity to meet with some top scientists and engineers at Carnegie Melon University to concept and create his idea. Please check out the following link and VOTE.

http://yourideasforgood.com/gallery?idea=2425

VOTE for Stephen B. You can VOTE ONCE A DAY until April 30.

Below is Stephen’s explanation of the water purification unit (this is what you’ll find on the ideas for good site):
Every 20 seconds a child dies from water related disease and nearly 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. We don’t realize these facts because water is so cheap and available here in the United States. My idea to make the world a better place would be use TOYOTA’S Solar Ventilation Technology to build self contained water purification systems for people who do not have access to this precious resource. The solar powered pump can circulate water through a filter while the UV exposure kills the bacteria in the water. The water could circulate through a purification sensor which can measure when it would be safe for drinking and other uses.

Praying….

Praying for Compassion.

Praying for Ecuador.

Praying for my little Alexandra.

I love this little 11 year old girl. But tonight she is HEAVY on my mind. When I think of her tears well up, and if you know me that’s not hard for me to do.

 Joy?

Sorrow?

Blessed! Blessed! I’m BLESSED! I have not received any mail from this precious child of God, but that is not important and I will NOT overlook my blessing!

So I’m praying.

Eating supper – praying. Does Alexandra’s family have food tonight? Are they comfortable?

Bathing my son – praying. One of Alexandra’s chores to fetch water for her family. How far does she have to walk? Is it safe? How clean is the water? Is it safe? Oh my Lord, Father God she is so young PLEASE watch over her. Oh how I need to see my life as a Blessing!

Women’s Bible Study – praying, praying, praying. Praying for young Alexandra. Praying for the other child in the home (that’s all the info I have). Praying for her parents. Her community. Lord let her know that I’m praying. That you are with her!  That she is never alone! That she is WORTHY!

In the shower – still praying.

So I’m posting this blog, praying that COMPASSION will tug on your heart and you too will pray.

Score one for Compassion!

I have just written a 3 page letter to a little girl who I have never met, and have never received a letter from. But God is amazing!

I prayed before I started writing for God to guide me and my pen and in just a few minutes 3 pages were handwritten, and a card for a friend who does not receive any mail. I'm blessed to have fantastic blogging friends who post their ideas and I am grateful!  

Thanks Blogging Buds!!

Sponsor Envelope

It has been a while since I have posted a blog. It’s hard to find the time. My little man has been sick seems like he is well for 2 weeks and when week 3 rolls around time to batten down the hatches cause here we go, again. Also being a full time bookkeeper outside the home is a little “taxing” at times, but for the most it’s the best job ever!  So about 2 weeks ago I stopped by the mailbox on the way in and found the sweetest envelope! My sponsor envelope had arrived! Thanks to a fellow blogger and her information I had already went online and sent a family gift and a Christmas gift hoping that it was not too late. So I got out the Alexandra’s information card with her picture on it and showed it to Little Man…

Little Man, “Her cute!”

Me, “I know. She’s our new friend who lives far away.”

Little Man, “Look her wink at me!”

Me, “No, I don’t think so. She has one bad eye and can’t see out of it. (Coving one eye) This is how she sees.”

Little Man, “I will pray to God that he fix her sick eye.”

Me, “That’s so nice of you. Let’s pray that God will keep her and her family health.”

Little Man, “Look, her mad!”

Me, “No, she’s not mad. I think that she is shy and forgot to smile.”

Little Man, “Well, when I see that girl I’m going to say, Smile like this!”

I am continually amazed at how a child sees things. How honest, pure, and uncomplicated.

So next, the dreaded first letter. How am I to write to a young girl? What do I say? How do I start? Thanks to this great lady who shared this link on just how to do that. And thanks to this wonderful lady who has written devotions for her compassion children and shared them I was able to get my first mailed letter underway.

Now when I’m in town my eyes are on the lookout for item that can be sent by mail to Alexandra.

I’m praying that this compassion child and her family will be blessed. So now at bedtime prayers we are praying for a young lady and her family. For enough food, good health, and enough. Just simply enough!

The opposite of poverty is not wealth.
The opposite of poverty is enough.
Wes Stafford- Compassion International



Leap of Faith, No A Leap of Compassion!

So on Wednesday I let go of the tree, shimmed up , and I stepped out on that limb called faith. For months now my mind has been mulling over sponsoring a child from an underprivileged county. I had went as far as to talk it over with the hubby a few times. And we women know when you talk it over with the hubby, it is important! I had a whole list of excuses. For those of you who know me - I’m a list person. I like a To-Do List, a Kroger List, and a List of Errands. Maybe I’m a list person because I’m forgetful.

Anyway - - I have an friend who sponsors two child and she’s bogging about “her children”. And she has a bogging buddy who bogs about “her children”. So I think well I’ll just cruise on over to that website and just look. I thought well I’ll look thought the boys who are round little man’s age. And then I thought “Look at the girls. To so many girls are of little value.” So I looked through the girls between the ages of 10-14. Young ladies who are out of that cute little girl stage. Then I saw her, Alexandra, a 10 year old girl who is blind in one eye. My heart melted. OH PLEASE LET ME HELP HER! Next I was signing up to sponsor Alexandra . I am so excited! I know that Jesus will bless me and her!
I call the hubby and ask what he’s doing for lunch and he is B-U-S-Y. OK, so off to collect lunch. Hubby finds time to have a quick bit in the car and this is what happens.

Me: (cue heart to stop beating) I might have done something that you might be upset about.

Hubby: OK, What?

Me: Well you know how we talked about maybe sponsoring a child?

Hubby: Yeah.

 Me: We are sponsoring a little girl. (hold breathe, no turning back)

Hubby: Does all that money REALLY go to the child?

Me: Yes, like 89% of it does.

Hubby: OK, I think that’s a good idea.

So I tell him what little bit I know about Alexandra.

It takes about 15 days for a sponsor to receive information about her “new edition”. I have learned two things so far.

1. God gently guides us through our friends. So surround yourself with Godly people.

2. 15 days is a long time to wait. It’s so sweet that God is teaching me some needed patience in this “get it now” society!

Finding Answers in Kroger

The month of October has been challenging to say the least. Little man has either been recovering from surgery or sick. Sleepless nights. Changing medicine. Fevers. Vomit. Continually coughing. So Sunday I missed church to go get caught up on some paperwork at work and to go to Kroger. Both were necessary. When I was checking out I was behind a mom and a toddler and bless her heart the toddler was past ready to go. I thought boy I know how that mom and toddler feel. Glancing away I noticed a magazine “Southern Living, One Dish Meals” that would be great “easy prep, quick cleanup”. You had me at “easy and quick”. OK, you’re going home with me. But wait what’s that “Cooking Light” just look at that southwestern-style taco salad “Fast Healthy Meals in 30 Minutes of Less” in my buggy it went.

What’s This?  

How Did This Get Here?

Is This A Joke?

“Ready to Win Over Worry and Anxiety” by Thelma Wells. Thelma Wells. Thelma Wells as in earlier I read a devotion by her in the Women of Faith Bible? I think “Donna, this is, NO this could not be the same one”. So I think I’ll just glance at the back and see what it says. And these are the bullets in the middle of the back cover:

·         Remove worry’s mask of normalcy

·         Evaluate the impact of big and little worries in your life

·         Explore how faith in Christ will help you conquer anxiety

·         Discover how to stop anxiety as soon as it appears

·         Find ways to add upbeat, life-building thought to each day

WOW! The middle bullet is what stuck out. My clingy little man! I’ve passed my anxiety on to him. I had learned this a few days earlier, but was not sure how to address the issue. OK! I hear you, Jesus, it stops here! In Kroger I find myself telling Jesus, “Hey let’s work on this thing together!” I don’t want to pass on my insecurity down to my child. The child you have blessed me and my family with. I know that if I can work on my anxiety and worry then little man will see that in me. I understand that children learn by example. So I’m going to work. Work gloves on. Work boots on. Bible open. Tissue on hand. Bring it on!

Then I begin to wonder in the car. . . why was it so easy to pick up a cooking magazine and see one behind that one that I picked up and then of all thing a book?

The covers looked yummy! 

I want my cover to reflect my insides! So tonight my journey begins. To quote the back cover:

“WORYY AND ANXIETY HAVE TO GO!”

Skittles

Today little man had some Skittles from preschool and this is the short conversation that took place between him and his dad.

Dad:  What do you have?

Little Man: ‘kittles

Dad:  Can I have one?

Little Man: NO

Dad: Why not?

Little Man: Cause they good! Even the yucky ones are good!

Oh Sweet Jesus, the things you teach me through a 3 year old. You love all of us even when we think we are “yucky”!