Today Our Saviour’s hosted Journey to Jamaa. A program produced by World Vision. We are very excited because Our Saviour’s is actually the first church to host this brand new program!

Taking place during the Sunday worship service, Journey to Jamaa brings home the reality that worship is something you do with your whole being—heart, mind, hands, and feet. Journey to Jamaa allows your congregation to see poverty through the eyes of two Ugandan orphans, experiencing their journey from tragedy to hope. Each participant is invited to learn more about poverty by personally experiencing the story of one character in the narrative parable, told through film. You’ll learn about the needs of children around the globe and how World Vision is helping children, families, and communities experience life in all its fullness. Grow closer as a church family—on your Journey to Jamaa.

- Journey to Jamaa.org

The video is very powerful and shows the types of conditions these children live with… every day of their lives. It shows heartbreak, struggle, frustration, joy, love, kindness, compassion and understanding. It will bring tears to your eyes and will call you to action!

You can make a difference!!!

By sponsoring a child through World Vision you can enable them to experience the fullness of life that God offers.

More than 1 million children live on less than $1 each day! These children and their families are all too familiar with poverty. By sponsoring a child you can provide them with the basics such as food, clean water and love. By writing to them and getting to know them you will be helping them and encouraging them in so many more ways than just food and water.

If you decide to sponsor a child, let me know what his or her name is and send a picture or blog about them yourself!

[Images by: World Vision]

On World Water Day, Monday, March 22, charity: water will launch UNSHAKEN, a campaign to help Haiti recover by providing long-term water solutions.

One-third of the nation lacked access to safe drinking water before the quake; now, the situation is devastating. charity: water plans to provide sustainable water projects to serve at least 40,000 people through UNSHAKEN. 100% of donations directly fund water projects.

www.charitywater.org/unshaken

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A little over three months ago I announced on this blog that I was going to do something special for my 25th birthday. My goal was ambitious, to raise $5,000 to build an entire well that would bring clean drinking water to a village of 250+ people. My campaign on mycharitywater.org ended yesterday and you all exceeded my expectations!

We raised $1,276!!!! We brought 63 people clean drinking water! That is awesome!

So here’s what happens next:

1. Once a campaign is closed, the money raised is combined with other fundraisers and 100% of it goes to charity: water’s partners on the ground.
2. charity: water’s partners have already identified the communities most in need of clean water, and once the money reaches them the work will start.
3. With the local community’s help, the water project is constructed and a health worker provides sanitation and hygiene training to the village.
4. In 12-18 months we, all of you that contributed to my charity: water campaign, will receive GPS coordinates, photos and information about the project that these specific dollars helped to fund!

So you can bet that there will be another blog post here when that time comes. I want to thank you all one more time for your generosity. If you did not get a chance to donate and you wish to do so, you are always welcome to DONATE HERE. Below is a list of all who donated to this specific charity: water campaign. Thank you!

[click the image to enlarge]

Let’s do it again next year!!!