Thirsty?

So tell me, what's your passion?  What are you hopelessly addicted to that you drink day after day after day.  My vice.....the good Dr.  Yes, Dr. Pepper is my nasty addiction.  Like smoking (except I kicked that habit YEARS ago thank goodness), I have to (or at least think I have to) have it everyday.

Yes, yes, I know it's pathetic.  My drug of choice is a sweet syrupy cola in a plastic bottle.  I prefer the mini bottles because they don't go flat as quickly.  And when I get busy or I'm working away at my desk it's not like I'm taking it through an IV so I don't want it to get hot and flat.  Hence, the smaller bottles stay cold because quite frankly they don't last very long.  But every time I try to drink a 20 oz it takes me all day.

Because it's so darn sweet I actually grow tired of it after some time (which can be months, but still it happens).  When this state of taste bud denial happens I reach for a Pepsi.

Some people are coke junkies.  And I'm not talking cocaine.  Strictly coca-cola.  And think of the many many uses we've been taught this little number can do!

Everything from meat marinades to cleaning battery acid from your car battery.  Works like a dream!  lol  But my all time favorite use that I've seen shared for Coke:


Got The Trots?? Keran from New Zealand wanted to share this Coke tip with us; "While living in Papua New Guinea as a child, my father and I got a bad case of the trots. (As you often do in 3rd world countries). We went to the Doctor, and he told us the most effective treatment would be to get a 2ltr bottle of coke, take the top off and let it go flat, and up to room temperature, then drink 1 glass every couple of hours. BINGO... all fixed up inside!" Thanks Keran... I won't be going out of the country with out a supply of Coca Cola!!

It's a new generation these days though.  Kids now drink Gatorade and Powerade which is really just hyped up sugar water if you ask me.  Yes, I know all the benefits of drinking and refueling your electrolytes.  We even use them once in a blue moon if someone in our house gets the flu.  It's easier to get a kid to drink blue powerade than it is to drink pedialyte.

And as a parent you find out these awesome POWER drinks will have you driving straight to the dentist.  Yes, the dentist.  These sugary drinks are the WORST things you can let your child drink as the sugar deposits that stick to their teeth will likely have you spending more in dental bills than the average person.

So, what should we do?  As a health conscious generation we have discovered bottled water!  Aaaaahhhh..... pure, crystal clear, cold, fresh, non-chlorinated WATER!  The best thing to quench your thirst.  And the best thing for your body.  Right?  We're told that we should drink a minimum of 8 glasses a day.  Which I'm guessing is equivalent to about 4-5 20 ounce bottles per day.  And I know some folks who actually get that much water a day.  When my kids are playing sports, I buy them bottled water rather than powerade's.  They may drink twice as much to keep hydrated but I'm okay with that (no sugar remember?!)

And with sooooo many options for bottled water, well it's pretty convenient to pick one up anywhere.  Gas station, vending machines, grocery stores, Wal-Mart (that's redneck for Macy's--couldn't resist, lol).  The possibilities are endless, the supply is NEVERENDING!  Have you ever seen a store that was out of bottled water?  You can even take those big jugs in now and fill them at your local grocer so you aren't drinking tap water.  Because face it folks, some people are bottle snobs.  Yes, I said it.  They refuse to drink from the tap.  Trust me.  My son has a friend that has never, NEVER, drank water from a tap.  The boy is 15 years old and thinks it's terrible that my son drinks tap water and claims the chlorine and other crap that's in it will decrease his health over time.  Seriously.  Scarey.

Yes, he thinks THIS is going to cause my son harm.  You wanna know what I'd like to share with this family? Just how idiotic this truly is.  You wanna know what I'd like to see this family do?  Drink this:

Think I'm being a bit sarcastic?  A bit dramatic?  Well, think again.  Because a great multitude of the world's population do just that.  This is the only source they have for water.  Life sustaining fluids.  

And don't think for a second that I 'googled' this image.  Yep, I googled the pop, the powerades and the bottled water.  But this, this is a picture my friend Christie shared with us last week.  She is living in Uganda, trying desperately to show them the love of Christ.  The love that other Christians are to poor out on the least of these.  This, dear readers, is where Christie and the people of the village of Bugabo get their drinking water.  Not from a tap, not with chlorine added to take away the parasites and make it crystal clear.  That's a luxury folks.  They have to go and fetch water and carry it.  

This sweet little guy is only four years old.  What do you have your 4-yr-old doing today?  I bet they're aren't packing water.  Preschool maybe?  But that's another post, and a soapbox of another kind.

You see, people really do have to drink water like this.  Everyday.  Because we know that we must have water to survive.  It sustains us.  So, you drink what's available.  But, as my son's classmate likes to point out how all the 'preservatives' in tap water are bad for his health, people fail to realize just what BAD water can do for you.  

It doesn't make you chubby and healthy.  Remember looks can be deceiving.  It makes you bloated and wormy.  Yes, wormy.  Just like we treat our pets for worms to keep them healthy.  When we go to these measures to care for the health of a pet yet pay no attention to God's people hurting around the world.  Needing simply fresh clean water.  What have we become?   

You know, years ago (decades even) we could claim ignorance.  We didn't have things like internet, wi-fi, heck even television!  So we knew very little of how people in other places lived.  In other states, much less on the other side of the world.  

What is our excuse now?  

That it IS the other side of the world and why should we care?  It's not our problem.  Out of sight, out of mind.  These people choose to live this way.  If they wanted something better or different they would do something about it.  

Really?

REALLY?

Reeeaaaallllyyyyy?

As Christians we are called to care for the least of these.  Jesus tells us of this repeatedly.  REPEATEDLY folks.  It's not a 'duty'.  It's a command.  And there are several ways we can be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Some like Christie (love ya girlfriend!) make the BIG sacrifices and give up their life of 'normal'.  Their urban lifestyles tossed aside to live a life of serving as a missionary.  Some pray.  Others give.  What I'm asking of you is to consider giving.  Giving to their fund to build a borehole.  A simple well for their friends and family to obtain fresh water.  

We all know that beneath the earth's surface is water.  God has given us everything we need to sustain life on this earth.  The book of Genesis tells us all about it.  But when some of God's people struggle to obtain what they need to live a healthy life, it's up to more of God's people (that's us!) to help provide it.

How can you look into these beautiful faces and not be stirred to help?  Not want to provide basic needs for them to grow and thrive.  

♥ This is Cate, Resty & Henry ♥

♥ Mastulah & Ali ♥

This woman couldn't........

We ♥ you 'Chuwidgety'! (Christie)

And certainly I couldn't.  We (between my husband, my daughter and my sister) are currently sponsoring 5 children from this village.  Five beautiful gifts from God.  (Cuz we all know God doesn't make mistakes and he certainly don't make no junk! :)  right?!)  But we're doing more than that.  We're helping by contributing to the fund to raise money to get that borehole.  To be able to provide fresh clean water to the faces we have grown to love and care about.  These people have become a part of our family.

Can you go back to your desk, your work, your Dr. Pepper without thinking about someone else needing fresh water?  To help with the borehole simply click THIS LINK and you will be taken to Christie's blog.  You can read more and see videos of the village and daily life she is living in Bugabo.  More importantly....is that little DONATE button on the sidebar!  Specify in your paypal donation what you want the funds to be used for.  (i.e. borehole, sponsorship)  Yes, I included sponsorship there....  go ahead, really step out of your comfort zone why don't you?  Sponsor a child AND give them clean water!

If I had enough money, I'd pay for that borehole myself.  But it's going to take more than me.  It's going to take the body of Christ (all of us Christians!).  Unless of course Donald Trump is reading this post, and then Mr. Trump, feel free to paypal compassinmyheart@yahoo.com approximately $10K and we'll scratch this off the 'Faith List'.  ;)  I'll personally send you a thank you card!

Visiting Orphans

WOW!!!  Yep, you read that right!  You can win a FREE mission trip to a country of your choice!  Visiting Orphans is giving away a free trip to one lucky winner, and it could be you!  I have to throw in..... I hope it's me! But hey, anyone that can receive an opportunity to practice "Pure Religion" (James 1:27) would be incredible and we live for nothing more than to serve our Lord.

We've had the chance to serve in missions work in Haiti in 2009 and oh what a blessing it was.  Just when you think you are going to help and serve someone else (which you DO!!) the Lord surprises you and blesses you beyond measure.  Some of you have read my posts before on our trip and you can certainly look through the archives and read them.  But what I can tell you is this:  "Once our eyes have been opened, we can't pretend not to know...." (Proverbs 24:12)  Your life will be forever changed and your heart for the orphan will burst with a desire to better serve our Lord.  You will learn exactly what it means by feeling able to “deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34)  

Please visit their site and enter to receive a chance to win. Click HERE to find out how.  You can also check out MY CRAZY ADOPTION and enter the giveaway that's going on there to receive more chances to win!  Good luck!!!  I'm anxious to see who will be serving with visiting Orphans in 2011!!!

So....where will you decide to go?  El Salvador, Costa Rica, Haiti, Ecuador, Honduras, China, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, India, Ukraine 

See what Amanda (the girl in charge at VO!) has to say about WHY they are giving away this trip!

Visiting Orphans Heart from Amanda Lawrence on Vimeo.

National Adoption Month

Choose to give HOPE.....

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

60 Feet

Another way you can serve, check out 60 FEET.  So many children in the world die for diseases and infections they contract by drinking dirty water.  When only 60 feet below the earth's surface is clean, fresh water.  God provided all we need when He made the earth perfect.  It's a shame that we don't know how to utilize it's resources, or those of us that do choose not to share them.  Nathalie chose to begin a ministry in Uganda to help the children and people she discovered on a mission trip. See what they are doing and watch this clip.  Check out their website and choose to serve today by helping with their ministry.

Nathalie from Sixty Feet on Vimeo.

Catching Up!

We've been updating facebook regularly and thank everyone for following there, but have been a bit neglectful of the blog!  :)  So we're going to share a few updates and things we've been up to.  Thanks for sticking with us!  Keep watching for more exciting news in the very near future!!!!  =)

Remember the WIPHAN organization that we were supporting with sponsorships and the Warm Up WIPHAN campaign?  Well, here is a thank you from them for those who helped keep them warm during their winter season.  :)  Remember WIPHAN stands for WIdows and orPHANs.

A Warm up Wiphan Thank You! from Wiphan Care Ministries on Vimeo.

Remember you can help children and women in Zambia through WIPHAN by clicking HERE.

Mocha Club Update!

How cool that we can receive updates on where our sponsorships are going and how they are helping in Africa! Remember THIS POST where we invited you to join with us and Mocha Club to support Orphans in Africa?  Well, now you can see what the guys have been up to for the last three months with the support that they receive through this awesome opportunity!

See what happened on Char & Skiff’s last 10 days in Africa…living in rural Zimbabwe and Ghana, eating local food, and hanging with folks at several Mocha Club projects – the Zimbabwe orphans in Bulawayo, the Grace Orphans and the Grace AIDS project in Sunyani, Ghana…



So, if you haven't done so already.... won't you JOIN US in supporting this ministry in Africa?! It's only $7 per month (the cost of two mochas!) and you receive a FREE t-shirt when you join!  Seriously!  What are you waiting for?!  :)

World Water Day & New Financial Aid!

There are lots of things in the works for JHAM!  We have some exciting events coming up this spring and summer to benefit the orphan and advocate for adoption!  We're so excited to share those things with you in the VERY NEAR future!  We're going to be meeting later this week to get some things in place and start the new season off right!

TODAY..... is World Water Day.  You can 'celebrate' with us and get one of these:

When you buy a water bottle, 15 Africans get clean water. That means fewer women in Africa will have to walk six kilometers to collect water. And because of this, they won’t be carrying the 44 pounds of water that they normally carry on their heads that whole way. Think of what they could do with all the time and energy saved.

That’s not the bottle’s whole impact, though. Now, you can use your “Ripple Effect” water bottle instead of having to buy bottled water. You save money, and fewer plastic bottles end up in landfills, where they can take 1000 years to decompose.  By refilling your water bottle from the tap, you save the energy and resources that otherwise would have been used to manufacture, ship, and dispose of plastic water bottles. With over 50 billion bottles of water being consumed yearly, that’s a lot of energy!

Now consider this: the amount of water used in one flush of a toilet is the same amount as an average person in Africa uses all day for washing, cleaning, cooking, and drinking.

In fact, 311 million Africans lack access to clean drinking water. That’s roughly 45% of the population.Some of you might be thinking this is because there is no water in Africa, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Only 4% of the total renewable water available in Africa is used yearly due to a lack of wells, pumps, reservoirs, and other irrigation systems.  Shocking statistic, isn’t it?

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

NEXT is a new resource we found for Adoption Funding!  Awesome site!  Awesome folks fighting for the plight of the orphan!  Check them out by clicking the logo and 'about us' link below!  We hope this will be a valuable resource to someone in search of financing to finalize their adoption!  

Mocha Club

Joint Heirs has formed a team with Mocha Club to help with orphan care and vulnerable children in the Darfur area in Africa. You can join us in this endeavor to provide help to the 'least of these' by joining our Mocha Club team by clicking HERE.

By joining the team you donate a mere $7.00 per month to help these children. When you join the Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry Mocha Team you receive a FREE t-shirt also! You can find details on how to obtain your shirt on the Mocha Club site or contact Renea or Joy through the sidebar contact info on this blog to help you! We'd love to have you join us!

This is an excerpt from the Mocha Club site about the project we are sponsoring:

HIV/AIDS, disease, and war have taken the lives of so many parents in Africa, and that has left orphans for us to care for. These orphans have no form of child services or housing, and therefore are left to fend for themselves, often alone in the desert or the bush. In the Darfur area, the number one cause of death was wild hyena attacks, because the orphans had no safe area to sleep at night. They are also extremely vulnerable to slave raiders when they are left alone.

We provide the children with safe housing, protection, and complete care - food, education, spiritual direction, medical care, and vocational training. And this is only the beginning, as our goal is to develop these children into future leaders in their own communities. Join Mocha Club members in caring for the next generation of Africa – children of hope and dreams.

Each month we will be providing updates on exactly where your money is going, we may even be able to include video, podcasts and other blogs showing your efforts in helping! Thank you!

Widows & Orphans - WIPHAN

One of my bloggy friends, Andrea, is wanting to spread the word about their organization called WIPHAN. They are in need of sponsorships and we want to share with everyone we know (or that reads about us!) what you can do to help!

I know first hand what sponsorship can do for a child. We love our sponsored child in Haiti and it's such a blessing to see her and know what we are doing to help change her life and her family's life. But even greater is the blessing she is for our family. We have changed hearts and changed lives because of Smerelda and children like her. We needed Smerelda as much as she needed us. This week I'm going to be sharing nothing but sponsorship blogs and posts! So fasten your seatbelts! It's going to be a bumpy ride! But one you'll enjoy I'm sure!

From Andrea's blog:

Wiphan was started just 3 years ago…and we’ve just had our 501 non-profit status for TWO years. It went from one friend of ours—to our family—to 3 more families…and we had a board! For awhile—it was just us + 450 orphans + 150 widows. We trusted the Lord to provide the thousands of dollars of month we would need to run–and He has always provided. Last year we started our sponsorship program to invite OTHER FAMILIES to join us! I would LOVE to see all TWENTY of our children who still don’t have sponsors sponsored by Friday!

OK—so how can you help?! We need voices! We need others who have hearts for orphans to speak with us! And if you have a blog—well, you have a voice and you probably have lots of readers!!! The MORE people we refer to the Wiphan site…the MORE people will find out about Wiphan and our sponsorship program!

Zambia isn’t really open to adoptions…so for these kids–the only hope is for them to be cared for in country. We have TWO schools and 450 kids—with MANY MORE who would LOVE to be in our program. BUT before we can grow–we need to find sponsors for the children on our list. Many of our children waiting for sponsors are “older children”. Maybe you don’t qualify for adopting an older child–but you could sponsor one!Maybe your budget really is too tight–but you could blog about them and be their voice!

† Can You Help?

Please visit this sweet family's blog and if you feel led to give, please donate to help this mama get to her sweet baby boy. His name is Keshawn and he is such a cutie. I found their link through another bloggy friend and discovered they will be traveling to pick up Keshawn in just a few short weeks but still need a bit of funding for travel expenses. They need $2,500 to cover their travel to Ethiopia on the 28th. If you are unable to 'chip-in' financially through the fundraiser link on their blog at least take the time to stop and pray for their family. Pray for the funding to come, for travel mercies and for a safe journey home with their beautiful son. Thank you!!!

Please visit their blog:

Nations Around Our Table

Romans 12: 8

If it is encouraging, let him encourage;

if it is contributing to the needs of others,

let him give generously;

if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;

if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

† National Adoption Month • Day 4

The following is a documentary, "I Am Because We Are", that was shared with me from another bloggy friend. It does take some time to watch, but so worth it. Just when I thought I knew what we were up against with our mission my heart was touched even deeper. Please find some time to sit and view this video. Even if you have to set aside 15 to 20 minutes here and there. Look beyond the fact that a celebrity is bringing it to your attention. Don't let the focus be on her, unless you ask yourself why is she the one doing this instead of so many others....including ourselves. The photography and stories are stunning and inspiring, yet they will shock you and tear at your heartstrings. Allow yourself to see the urgency to simply love. Please find time this week to watch "I Am Because We Are".

I know the girls' (Joy and Melinda) have their hearts in China and Guatemala. For good reason, that is where God has called them. Mine is in Haiti and Africa. I'm just wondering what He has in store for me there... I wait for His timing for the answer. Wherever God calls you, please follow. It may be one of these countries, it may be in your own backyard. God's people, needing us, are all around.

• Day 4 •
Today, ask the Lord to help your church congregation to feel His heart for the orphans as seen in Psalm 68:5-6 "A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families..."

† National Adoption Month • Day 2

Promo for "3 by 3 by 3" Documentary from David Watson on Vimeo.

The video from the Weimer family can also be found on their blog Blessings from Ethiopia. What an awesome family.

• Day 2 •
Today, pray for your pastor to have guidance and provision as he seeks to follow the Lord's commands to care for orphans.

† What Now?

† 147 Million

Most people will tell you when they begin their journey to adopt that they don't have the money, but God will provide. Which in every situation I have heard about or read about there's not one single family that has complained that they couldn't do it. That God didn't help them.

There are 147 Million orphans in the world. You may not be able to save them all, but you can save one. If you don't feel led to save one (or perhaps two!) on your own.... you can save dozens, hundreds even! By supporting those that choose to adopt in other ways. Today is one of those opportunities.

147 Million Orphans is a site designed by two mothers with 13 children who are bringing orphans home and giving them a family and feeding those left behind waiting for families. They are running a special for the next 48 hours before they launch a new 'web store' selling t-shirts, bags and more to raise funds for adoption expenses. Check them out, buy a great tee and support the children. I bought two! :) LOVE the designs! Plus, it would make a great gift for someone and Christmas time is a'comin! Blessings today.

Advocating....
Renea

† New Blogs

I know we all have plenty to do no matter what our day involves, but sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the roses... I mean read the blogs! :) They are daily inspiration for me and sometimes devotional, and almost always just a chance to bring a little extra joy into my life. Hope you find this week's blogs as inspiring as I did!

• Do They Have Salsa in China? These twin girls crack me up!!! They will keep you smiling and laughing for days just remembering the funny things they do and say. From their post this morning "No Man" I literally LOL...yep, I started laughing out loud and Tanner ask what was so funny.
• Blessings From Ethiopia has many posts that make you think. The questions and doubts you may have about family size, or birth order, sibling groups, older kids adoption, these people have it down pat. :) They had three biological children and then adopted a sibling group of three. Then ANOTHER sibling group of three. Nine children. They are amazing and a blessing to read their blog.
• Blessed is a family of 9. Seven children total, only two birth children and the rest born in their hearts. Joy has some amazing posts, one of which you'll need to scroll down for when she was ask by a checkout clerk in the store if she treats her children differently because some are adopted. I myself have to remember that people only ask questions like this because they don't know. It's our job to enlighten others and advocate for adoption. It's a wonderful gift from God, just as our own biological children are.

† AB's

What are AB's you ask? Adoptive Bloggers! I thought it would be a great idea to share once a week a new blogging family and their journey with adoption. I've yet to find anyone who said they regretted their decision to follow the call of their Lord in expanding their family. Not one who said they wish they wouldn't have done it. :) So, for those of you still sitting on the fence maybe there will be stories of encouragement or maybe just the smile of a certain child that melts your heart into submission. Encouraging, promising, loving, inspiring....that's what these blogs are to me. I hope you enjoy them too. Since we're just starting out, you definitely need at least a couple of places to surf right? So I'm sharing three new sites this week. Enjoy!

• Our first is No Matter What. Visit the Neil family and their two daughters from China. They are in the process of adopting their third daughter. Awesome blog, beautiful girls! Great photography! Someday I wish I could meet all these wonderful people.

• Take your next click on over to Longing for Lucy Lane and visit the Johnson Family. This is one of my personal favorites. I visit Kristi's blog daily and their daughter Lucy Lane from Africa is so stinkin' cute and you will just fall in love with their family that includes 4 biological children as well. Her sisters have adopted from Africa also and her older sister Kelly is a huge advocate for orphans and adoption also. You'll find many awesome links in her sidebar.

• Next, head on over to Building Blocks and visit Todd and Amy. They have 7 children. To quote Amy, "4 the regular old way, 2 adopted internationally from Guatemala, 1 adopted through the foster system." Beautiful family and Amy has developed a fund called Pass It Forward Adoption. Her family has an 'adoption jar' that they put extra money into as well as take donations and pass it forward to other families needing funding during their adoption process. You're gonna love this blog too.

I hope these families will inspire you. It helps to see others I think and their life experiences. Knowing you can adopt weather you have no children yet, have small children, or a whole house full. God will bless you when you follow Him. Wherever you are in your journey to adoption, we pray for you today. Happy Monday!

Advocating....
Renea