Helping in Haiti

I'm sure that most of you are thinking, as I am, of the situation in Haiti and how individual families might be affected.   I urge you to find an organization to support and give a little or a lot, as you are able, to help during this time.

 My personal favourite is Compassion International - an organization dedicated to helping children in poverty, in Jesus' name.  Here is part of an email that I got from them this morning.

The catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12 has resulted in unfathomable chaos and devastation for hundreds of thousands of children and families.  Compassion sponsors and donors serve more than 65,000 children in Haiti. At least a third of them live in the areas that were hardest hit.  The people of Haiti desperately need our help and hope.  Compassion International is working rapidly to assess the situation and determine the full extent of damage:
• Sadly, we anticipate there will be many deaths.
• We anticipate thousands of children and families will have lost everything.
• We anticipate many of our church-based child development centers will have been destroyed.

Without a doubt, the children we serve in Haiti are in shock and face immediate needs for food, water, medical care, shelter and counseling. We have teams prepared to respond, and we are deeply committed to helping each child.  We need your help immediately. Please reach out in the name of Jesus to bring relief, comfort, love and restoration to precious children and families whose lives have been devastated by this crisis.  Please go to Compassion and give now!

Samaritan's Purse has already sent supplies and personnel to Haiti and they are well equipped and organized to assist in these kinds of crisis.  They are partnered with another agency which is even more helpful at this time.   

And just as important as money is the need for prayer.  There are so many needs - so many people - so much devastation and yet God is able to do far more than we can imagine.  I'm praying and praying - He knows how to help when I am unsure.

CAUSE Canada

Last weekend, Heather and I had the opportunity to go to a Mother's Day Gala event sponsored by CAUSE Canada.  Started 25 years ago by Bev and Paul Carrick, CAUSE Canada is an international relief and development agency working in West AFrica and Central America.  From their website:

Our development priorities include:

• Primary Health Care (PHC)
• Water and Sanitation
• Education
  
• Reforestation
• Gender-Specific Development Initiatives (Women’s Projects)
• Micro-enterprise Projects

Inspired by Christ

CAUSE Canada follows the example of Christ in speaking out on behalf of the poor. We do this because we feel called by God to do so. Some may suggest that the purchasing of construction materials, the writing of reports, and the carrying out of public health surveys does not constitute true spirituality. We, however, believe that it does. We pray that our identification with Jesus, our concern for justice and the practical demonstration of God’s love in meeting people’s physical needs, will draw people to Christ.

Development Is A Process, Not An End

CAUSE Canada sees development as being a process, not an end; to develop is to become, not only to have. Development does not necessarily mean industrialization. One of CC’s preferred definitions for development relates to the unfolding of people’s collective imagination In defining not only who they are, but where they want to go. To this end, CC is committed to the challenge of assisting our Southern partners in the establishment and strengthening of their own Non-Government Organization (NGO) communities.

Celebration of Diversity

CAUSE Canada works with people from all faiths and cultural backgrounds. We celebrate the diversity of humankind while at the same time recognizing the equality and dignity of all peoples. With this in mind, we can all take part in promoting a greater unity and understanding between religion, race and culture.

Heather's good friend, Alanna, works for them and she was part of the team organizing the evening.  Local women artists (including Heather) contributed pieces to a silent and live auction, a midwife from Sierra Leone spoke about health care in her country and we shared some great food.    All money raised is going to build 21 birthing huts in Sierra Leone where currently, 1 out of 8 mothers dies while giving birth - a staggering number. 

I invite you to check the website, read more and consider if you can help.  There are many wonderful agencies helping in developing countries - find one to support through your gifts and prayers -  and be part of the change that our world needs!!  There is no better way to celebrate Mother's Day!

Ten (+1) on Tuesday

1.  Today is World Aids Day - There is so much suffering, misunderstanding and work to be done to help those who suffer.   Compassion International offers hope and is working for those with AIDS.  

2.  Snow is falling, lightly and softly covering the ground in tiny fluffy flakes today.  

3.  I watched The Amazing Race - Moscow on Sunday night and it was so interesting.  The mother - son combo was leading until he counted wrong and lost nearly an hour.  And then - he left the bag with their money and passports in a taxi and lost everything!  It was so real - one of those great big fears that every traveller has on every trip, I think!  I've always been interested in Russia and now I really want to visit.    No surprise about that, is there?!!  Show me a new place and I'll have good reasons why we should go there!!  The metro looked a bit frightening though.  Might have to take Tyler and Melinda so they could help figure it out!  

4.  Abbie at All In His Design shared this video in November and it struck me today as something to really consider during this season of giving.  How can I help so many?  I can help one girl in one place at a time .

 

5.  There's a lovely chicken roasting in the oven and it will soon be joined by potatoes and carrots - comfort food for a wintery day.

6.  Only 19 days until the shortest day of the year!!  And then the days start getting longer again - hurray!  I can hardly wait!

7.  I have 2 pages done in my Ali Edwards' inspired December Daily album and I am so happy to be doing this.  If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed about the Christmas season, I suggest you try this little project.  It will help you to focus on each day and the enjoyment to be found along the way.

8.  I finished one sewing project last night and I'm on another one today.  I wish I could show it to you but it's a gift so I have to keep it top secret for now :))  I really am enjoying sewing again!!  And there are so many inspiring sewers out there  - if you are looking for inspiration, try: 

Pink Chalk Studio - definitely liked her little booth at a recent craft fair

HappyThings - where Amy has some cool bags - some would be great to use instead of wrapping paper

TheMerryChurchMouse - a beautiful quilt is her latest creation

9.  My goal for each day from now until Christmas (actually until Mel and Tyler come home on the 23rd)  is to do one 'kitchen/food/decorating' related thing and one 'sewing/scrapbooking/wrapping'  related thing each day.  I wonder how long that will last?!!

10.  I love looking through old pictures!  Today's particular batch was just from last summer so technically they aren't that old but they are from the past.  And I did a lot of smiling as I remembered our shared adventures - we have so many wonderful memories that we've made with family and friends.  I highly recommend going back into your albums or envelopes or stacks on a regular basis and enjoying those moments that you've captured.    

10 + 1.  I tried to give my blog a bit more festive look - what do you think?  Thanks to Kelsey for baking those cookies so that I could have such a great looking banner :))  And there are still a few things that I need to figure out to get it all perfect - bear with me, please!

Twelve on Tuesday

1. Please read about day 2 with the Compassion Bloggers on their trip to the Dominican Republic. The stories, pictures and hope are absolutely amazing!



2. So it's finally election day in the USA! What a process and what an expense to get a new leader!

3. The weather is cooling off and a bit of snow is predicted for later this week. So not ready for this season but the garden is put to rest and we are nearly winterized outside.

4. Melinda and Tyler have safely arrived in Brooklyn, New York City and are getting living arrangements sorted out. Please pray that they will find a home that is safe, affordable and meets all of their needs (like furnished!).

5. Go and visit SouleMama to see how you can help with this cool new project she has started. Such a simple thing that can make a big difference - very appropriate as we start to gear up our giving for Christmas.



6. Did you know that you can use crushed flavoured rooiboos tea as a spice when making cookies or muffins?! I am so going to try this!

7. Remembrance Day is one week away and we are starting to see lots of red poppies on lapels. The grade ones made poppies and we put them together on the bulletin board to make a giant wreath today at school.

8. Still adjusting to the end of daylight saving time - and darkness at 5:30 p.m.! And not liking it very much!

9. I think Meadow and I are going to do some print painting tomorrow using a potato and some orange paint :))

10. Silas is two months old today - where has the time gone?!! He has grown so much and is getting so strong too. I feel so blessed to have seen him nearly every week. This is why I left my full time job!



11. To answer the question about my banner: it's a picture taken at the EcoLodge in the Amazon Jungle that we stayed at last winter during our trip to Brazil and Argentina. Ahhhh - it was marvelous - just thinking about it makes me smile!

12. Just about forgot! Today's alphabet soup with Morning Glory is brought to you by the letter "H".



Harvest - such a good feeling when "all is safely gathered in"

Homemade - cooking, baking, sewing, crafts - so much goodness made with love

Hair - I have lots, although it needs help in the color department these days- and I don't have too many bad hair days

Health - a blessing indeed

Hotdogs roasted over a campfire on a summer camping trip

Help - coming from so many in so many ways

Heather and Helayna - two very special people who bring smiles and joy to our lives

Hymns - old favourites and new arrangements too

Hot cross buns - a yearly treat around Eastertime

It seems I think of more to put on my lists every week!! Life is good :))

A Strong Message

This post really touched my heart today.

I. cannot. imagine. having. to. do. what. she. suggests.

Global Food Crisis

Today is the day that Compassion International is observing a day of fasting and prayer in light of the Global Food Crisis. This problem is growing daily and affects those living in poverty in a huge way. Children are especially suffering and it breaks my heart to see families trying to feed their little ones on pennies a day or worse yet, having to go without food completely.

I've been reading, watching the situation get worse and worse, and through it all wondering what I - just one little person - could do to help. I know that God desires me to develop new eyes to see and a new heart to help. And so today I will join with others to pray, asking God to show me what I can do and how I can best use the resources and energy I have. And because I can't even imagine a fridge AND cupboards with nothing in them, I will go without food for a few hours.

If you want to read more about this issue and watch some compelling videos (this one from the Washington Post made it very real for me), go to Compassion International. I pray that you will find it in your heart to help in whatever way you can - and to pray fervently that the world will be changed and all people will have food for every meal.

An Amazing Thing

Linds at Rocking Chair Reflections posted about an amazing trip to Uganda that a group of bloggers is taking with Compassion, an organization dedicated to helping children around the world. You must go over and visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer and Sophie at Boomama to hear about this absolutely inspiring project. I spent a good part of this afternoon with tears in my eyes as I read about their trip. And I sincerely believe that God put this post on my radar today for a very good reason. So now I'm thanking God for everything that I have, promising not to take any of it for granted and praying that I might be part of making a difference for a little one and a family in another part of the world.

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Please go and read about this trip and check out the opportunities to be involved. God Bless!

Sewing Seeds

I found THE most amazing project for girls in Africa! Check Randi's blog to read about something she's doing with her daughter. You can get involved too - come join us!



I was going to get 2 pieces of fabric to go with some that I had on hand - but, well, there was this great sale on! So I ended up with several pieces instead! I loved all of these and I have some grand plans for a couple of mix and match skirts too. So I preshrunk the fabric tonight but the cutting will have to wait until the weekend. I can hardly wait to start stitching!