Micro-giving for the Stinkin' Rich

A few friends and I send money to Ethiopia on a regular basis and I often invite others to join in via Facebook.  Here's a recent post:

Although hundreds of dollars have been donated via Facebook, I've never gotten a donation of less than $20.  I've lobbied for micro-giving until I'm blue in the face, but no one has ever handed me $3 or $5 or even $10.  Several people- on their own-  have expressed their desire to give but claim they can't afford it.  

This post contains my thoughts on giving: why it's important, how much one should give, and where one should give.  It is NOT an attempt to raise more money for the kids in Ethiopia, but if you decide to donate~ I'll take your $5 with a smile on my face! 

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While in High School a man gave me $100 to help me get to Costa Rica.  I had been accepted into an exchange program and my parents couldn’t afford to send me- my brother was in his first year of college and the funds just weren’t there.  So I hit the pavement asking for donations!  Within a few weeks, I raised $1000 and within a few months I was abroad- immersed in a culture that would forever change me.  Looking back, that trip altered my worldview and influenced how I built my family. 

Years later I ran into that same man and thanked him, yet again, for the $100 he gave me.  I told him how I wanted to be a giver-like him- and how I hoped God would bless me with enough money so I could.  With a good bit of grace he looked at me and said, “Don’t wait until you have enough money to give.  Give now.  Give what you can now.  God will see you give a little and bless you to one day give a lot.”

Without coining it as such, he was telling me to be a micro-giver: someone who gives in small amounts.  

So I did.  I started giving.  I didn’t give much, but I gave.  I gave where I could and when I could and God has certainly blessed me because of it.  Thankfully, I married a giver and we give together. 

I honestly believe the act of giving far outweighs the amount we give.  I love the story of the poor widow in the Bible who gave just a few cents.  She was a micro-giver.  She gave a tiny amount, but she gave.  Her story will last throughout the ages.   

Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost sight of the small.  If we can’t throw $100 in the pot, we just don’t give at all.  It’s go big or go home.   

Wanna know why I LOVE micro giving?   Because I have four kids with four sets of growing feet.  One of them always needs shoes.  Or jeans that reach below the ankles.  Or socks without holes.  The power bill has to be paid every stinkin’ month and- dangit!- these kids expect to eat.  Life is expensive.  Especially in America. 

But this is no excuse.   In reality, we have no excuse.  We can afford to give.   We may not be able to give much, but we can give something. 

If you drink soft drinks, you can afford to give.  If you smoke, you can afford to give.  If you go through a drive-thru once a week, you can afford to give.  If you have your house cleaned or your dog groomed, you can afford to give.  If you have cable or a mobile phone, you can afford to give.  If you eat out at least once a month, you can afford to give.  If you own a car, you can afford to give.  If you go to a gym, you can afford to give.  If you drink bottled water, you can afford to give.  Had a pedicure lately? You can afford to give. 

You can afford to give because you are stinkin’ rich!!!  If you don’t think you’re rich, you are comparing yourself to the wrong people.  I’m not sure it’s completely accurate, but I think there’s enough truth in this quote to give us pause:

There are thousands of ways and places to give.  So give!  Find a good, charitable organization and GIVE.  Do your research.  Find out where your money is going.  Do some due diligence to make sure your money isn’t paying for jet planes or vacation homes Europe. 

Give because you want to give and because you can!  As a Christian, I am determined to give my money where I think God’s heart is bent—to people—especially poor people.  And when I say poor I don’t mean I-can’t-afford-to-pay-my-power-because-my-kid-needed-a-new-iPod poor. I'm talking game-changer poor. Destitute, life or death poor.  

I challenge you to give and see what happens.  In fact, I’ll give you a 100% guarantee that if you give $5 to a worthy organization or person this month, you will not starve, lose your house, or have your car repossessed.  You won’t.  I promise.

God’s economy isn’t like ours.  In fact, the returns don't even make sense.  Are you broke?  Are things going wrong in your life?  Are you sick or ill?  Are you depressed?  You may want to take a look at your charitable donations of late.   There are tons of passages in the Bible about giving but my favorite one is from Isaiah 58:

6 Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousnessa will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Want to get God’s attention?  Start giving.  Start taking care of people that can’t take care of themselves.  Then your light will break forth like the dawn. That'll preach.  

You can afford to give.  You can afford to give.  You CAN afford to give. 

So give. Give small.  Give often.  Give big when you feel led.  But give.  

Just in case you think my family gives tons of money away each month, let me clarify some things about our personal giving.  Remember- this post is about micro-giving:

~We tithe 10% of our income to our church home every month. We do this because it’s Biblical, not because God needs our money.  God doesn’t need or want our money; He wants our obedience.  If you do not tithe I highly encourage you to do so.  

~We drop a few dollars every month in the “poor box” at our church.  Over the last four years, our church has given away over $50,000 to help the poor.  $50,000 made up primarily of pocket change and single dollar bills.  That is micro-giving at its finest!

~We faithfully give money to an orphanage in Africa every month.  I wire the money directly to the orphanage myself.  I have spent time at the orphanage and have a relationship with its director.  I have seen the clothes he wears and the car he drives.  It is with great peace and confidence that we give him less than 1% of our income every month.  Did you catch that?  Less than 1% of our income.  We don’t give a lot!  But we give.  And we are blessed because of it. 

~We give money abroad because we’ve been abroad.  I am not well traveled, but I have had extended stays in South America, Central America, and Africa.  I have NEVER seen poverty here in the United States like I’ve seen it abroad.  Our welfare system may be flawed, but there is food and opportunity in abundance here in the United States.  We know there are sad, sad stories right here on the home front, but we are fully convinced and convicted that the poorest of the poor here in America still live better than most people in the world.  

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And for the hearty ones who’ve stuck with me this far, here’s a BONUS RANT:  Please don’t unfriend me on Facebook or call me gross- cause some of the stuff I'm gonna share with you is just plain nasty.  So if you throw up easily, just skip the BONUS RANT.

The ASPCA commercials and their sad music make me want to vomit.  I adore animals, but they will never, ever be as important as people.  And before you call me hard-hearted consider this:  I have picked hundreds of maggots out of the wing of a mangled peacock.   I have housed rejected baby pigs in my kitchen and have bottle fed them around the clock for months.  I’ve picked up a starving, flea infested pit bull from the side of the road and made it a family pet.  I’ve loaded a full grown goat into my mini-van and carried it like a baby into the vet’s office.  I have helped a chicken lay an egg- yes this possible and it probably saved her life.  I’ve donned a lubricated rubber glove and examined a goat to see if there was another- possibly dead- kid inside of her.  My love for animals is wide and deep and I will gladly advocate for them, BUT THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE.  They are not NEARLY as important as people and they never will be.  Never. EVER. Ever. EVER.

ASPCA commercials make me sick because I’ve seen people more destitute than the animals they show.  I’ve seen a legless man in ratty clothes pushing himself down a filthy road on a splintered up dolly.  I’ve seen a deformed, homeless boy with only one eye begging in the marketplace.  I’ve seen grass huts and dirt floors.  I’ve seen distended bellies and skeletal limbs.  These people- people that I’ve seen in real life with my very own blue eyes- they deserve my concern and charity. Nothing makes me dive for the remote faster than one of those out of proportion ASPCA commercials.  To say they offend me is an understatement of the highest caliber.  

I’ll kindly step down from my soap box now. 

H@!!0w&&n 2@12

So I have a confession- a secret if you will.  Please don't tell.  People tend to get hot under the collar about this kind of stuff and I seriously hate conflict. Seriously.

I severely dislike Halloween. 

I don't even like to say the word.  

Oh, you didn't get that?  Ok, one more time...

I severely dislike Halloween. 

I don't even like to say the word.  

What a load off!  In good conscience, I will now begin this post. 

THE BACKGROUND

I've tried- and failed- at homeschooling more than once.  I wish I loved it, but I don't.  I love summer.  I love staying up late, sleeping in, and wearing my pajamas all day.  I didn't become a stay-at-home-mom for nothing, my friend.  Call me lazy if you want, I don't care. The house is clean, the laundry is done, and all kids are accounted for-- and that ain't easy.

All this recession business means Public School for a Homeschooling Failure.  And Public School means H@!!0w&&n Parties. It means scary costumes and scantily clad children.  Last year I heard that October 31st is the only time of year we encourage our little boys to dress like little girls and our little girls to dress like prostitutes.  Simmer down, now...  I didn't say that, I just heard it.  

This year I was like, "Holy Moly!  I have to get costumes together for all the Public School parties!!  What to do? What to do?"  After a severely stressful hour I convinced all the kids that they really, really wanted to be Indians.  The Native American kind.  

THE PICTURES 

One little

Two little

Three little Indians!

And that, my friend, was the easy part.  The hard part comes while trying to catch all that cuteness in a GROUP shot.  

Can you just stand there and smile?  Just one perfect shot is all I'm asking for here, offspring!!  Be still.  And smile, darn it!

Yeah, I know... never gonna happen.  

I almost had it here... but I think Liliana and Henry took a few too many puffs off the old peace pipe.

Before I totally gave up, I threw Zeb into the picture.  He was none too happy, but smiled because I told him I was putting it on Facebook no matter how grumpy he looked.  

Obviously Lil doesn't care how goofy (or stoned) she looks on Facebook.  

"Ok, just ONE more.  Please try to look normal and happy.  And cute.  Ok, one... two... three... CHEESE..."

And Daddy photo-bombs the picture.  Arghhhh....

Maybe next year...  

Henry enjoying his party at school!

Liliana the warrior princess.

Although I'm totally flattered that everyone thought I made these costumes, the girls' tunics came from an open air market in Ethiopia.  I never intended them to be costumes, but they are too awesome not to use.  Henry's costume is a repeat from a few year's ago when the older three were Indians (the Native American kind) and I did, indeed, make it. 

This was Fall 2009- one of the last years Zeb participated in dressing up.  He totally rocked the Indian look!  I look at this picture and wish my sweet Michal could be that age again for just one day.  She was so stinkin' beautiful and sweet.  Liliana, on the other hand, was TROUBLE!  All that cute-ness saved her tail more than once.  

So Happy Fall!  

We're one step closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas and then to my FAVORITE holiday of all...

EASTER!!  

My Valentine...

I love Valentine's Day.  I really do.  I know it has its critics.  I can hear them now...  

I'd rather you get me something for no reason- not because you have to get me something.

If someone has to tell you to buy me a gift, it doesn't count. 

You think roses are gonna make up for all those years you've left the toilet seat up? 

Uh, huh...  there's an ulterior motive behind that box of chocolates...

But the way I look at it, if my husband buys me a gift, AND I DON'T CARE THE REASON, I'll take it with a smile on my face.  I like presents and I'm not ashamed to admit it.  

So this year, my strong man set me up with this...

The pendant on the right says (when translated) born in my heart, and it has Zeb and Michal's initials on the back.  The Hope pendant has Henry's initials on the back.  I adore them both!

I'm a huge fan of earthy, chunky jewelry- especially when it supports a good cause!  And these do.

For my fellow lovers of adoption...  this link will take you to the etsy store from which my man ordered.

Later, I'll add a 3rd charm to show my love for Liliana, who is special in every way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, he sent me a text that read:

I love that man! He is my dream come true!!  My sweet, sweet dream come true.
(Sure glad I didn't marry a nightmare...)

And I know you're wondering what's blurred out...  ;)

Adoption? Me? UPDATE!!!

Henry has been home for almost 8 months and he is doing fabulous!!  His language is spot on... his enunciation superb.  He's turned into a normal, everyday Lewis kid.  

At a physical last week, we learned that he's gained 5 1/2 pounds and grown 4 1/2 inches since he's been home!!  He's landed dead center on the growth chart at the 50th percentile.  A year ago today, he was in less than the 3rd percentile; suffering from malnutrition.  Now, he's as healthy and smart as they come!  For this, we are truly thankful!

Everyone loves Henry... and how could we not?  He's a happy kid that likes to play and laugh and joke.  This morning he crawled in bed with me, burrowed under the covers and tickled my feet!  

  

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If you missed Adoption? Me?, a post from earlier this year, take a second and read it.  Then meet me back here for an amazing update...

The lady that I met and prayed with in Dillard's is now Mama to a beautiful, healthy, newborn little boy.  He's the cutest thing ever!!  She and her husband adopted domestically and their process was less than a year long.  That, my friend, is miraculous!!  If you joined me in praying for her, I thank you.

I also mentioned a nine year old little boy named Matewos.  My husband and I had the extreme privilege of meeting him in Ethiopia in March of this year.  He has been matched with a family and will meet them for the first time in about 2 weeks!  I've made contact with his new Mom and they are so excited!  And why wouldn't they be?  He is an amazing young man.  If you called his name out in prayer, even just once, I thank you.

Today, I encourage you to:

Pray for the orphan.  Pray for the hungry.  Pray for the needy.  

Pray that God will bless couples trying to adopt with the resources they need.

Pray that God will lead you to take action in a cause for the destitute.  

My Ethiopian Adventure... Part 2

Thanks for coming back for more of My Ethiopian Adventure.  If you missed Part 1, you can find it here.  These pictures are in no particular order and many were taken while speeding down dusty roads.   We had an amazing trip in January of 2011 and then again in March.  

Two little boys walking to school.  There was nothing around for miles, but they were headed somewhere with purpose.   On our 4 hour drive into the country, there was never a time when people weren't present.  Sometimes they were barely visible, working in the fields, but if you looked hard enough, someone was always near.  

The local Jo-Ann's.  I seriously can't believe I didn't buy any fabric.  Guess I'll have to go back. 

This is the local lumber store.  If Gulf Coast Lumber decides to take advantage of the Ethiopian market, Lee and I will definitely request a transfer.  Well, we'll definitely think about requesting a transfer.   

We went to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with a group of friends.  The six of us shared this plate of food.  And we ate with our hands.  The platter is similar to a pizza pan covered with injera, a spongy type of thin fermented bread.  The injera "sops" all the flavors and is used to pick up the food.  Injera is also rolled up on the platter.  I'm not sure what the difference is between the dark and the light, but it's all good.

Believe it or not, Ethiopian cuisine is extremely tasty!  No complaints from our table.  

If I had to have an all-time favorite blurry picture, this might just be it.  I like the little goat in the background, who seems to have wandered away.  He looks a bit downhearted if you ask me.  

These girls are carrying water jugs.  Many people have to walk for hours to get clean water, and most, like these girls, settle for it dirty.  

Lake Hawassa: home to many large birds.  How large, you may ask...

Pretty darn large.  Although I tried to get Lee to inch a wee bit closer, this is as far as he'd venture. 

A beautiful young girl returning home from getting water.  She's in the background of a previous picture.  The water came from the bird-filled banks of Lake Hawassa.

Boats like this one were docked on the bank to take tourists out to see the hippos.  Lake Hawassa is home to over 20 families of hippos.  Each family has five to eight members.  For $40 we spent an hour on a huge lake surrounded by mountains.  Mountains and hippos.  

We were much happier to see them than they were to see us.  The bull above is trying to scare us away. 

This young man had no worries about the hippos.  

I love this shot... people just enjoying the day.  It was Wednesday.

Another shot of Lake Hawassa.  

When we traveled to Southern Ethiopia, we stayed here.  We were humbled to find they renamed the hotel in our honor.  We did't let on that they forgot the "s."   

Order a glass of juice and this is what you get (no alcohol, cross my heart).  It tasted SOOO amazing that I had two in one day.  Felt really good going down.  Not so great coming up.  I threw up ALL night long.  I was seriously afraid I was going to have to go to a hospital.  I had seen a hospital on a corner a few days earlier, and it was no Tallahassee Memorial, trust me.   Death to dehydration may have been preferable.  

Wild monkey...  how cool is that?

Wild monkey jumping in the car when I'm in the car... not so cool.   Words of wisdom:  when around wild monkeys, always keep the windows in the UP position.  

A mama and her baby...   Although they reminded me of cats, I believe monkeys are a lot like rabbits.  There were baby monkeys EVERYWHERE!

Me sneaking up to get a picture of the mama and her baby.

I'll have to figure out what this monument was all about.  Lee actually took this picture and said it was HUGE.

These little blue taxis were everywhere down south.  Yes, I did ride in one, and I smiled the entire time.  

Another lil' taxi.  

We were able to go behind the scenes at the Ethiopian Timkat celebration.  Ethiopians from all over come to Addis Ababa to celebrate Epiphany.  It is a most holy day and everything is closed down.  Only Orthodox Christians participate. 

Decked out priests. 

My mom, Lee and me at Timkat.  The badges we're wearing are VIP, back stage passes to the celebration.  

I hope you've enjoyed taking another peek inside Ethiopia.  More to come for all who are interested... 

My Ethiopian Adventure... Part 1

The highlight of the decade came earlier this year when Lee and I crossed the Atlantic for the very first time and visited Africa.  We had such a good time, we went again about a month later.  Yeppers... I've been to Africa twice, and I will brag about that every chance I get.

I've wanted to dig my toes into the African sand ever since I took African American Folklore at Florida State University.  I had no clue as to how or why or when I would make it there, but I knew I wanted to go; and finally, after many years, I did! Although I kept my feet firmly in my shoes, I was not disappointed with my experience.  It was absolutely amazing.  Unbelievably amazing!

Since a picture says a thousand words, I think I'll share a few from my trip.  While most save the best for last, I'll start with my most favorite image (in case you don't make it to the end...  and there will be subsequent parts to this adventure so the end is in the distant future).

Something about this lady absolutely captivated me.  I met her at one of the stops we made while in the country.  If I could sit down with anyone in the world and have a cup of coffee, it would be her.  I would ask her to start at the very beginning and tell me everything about her life, her family, her culture, and her country.  I would try to remember every word, as I know it would be a tale worth telling. One day, I hope to have a portrait painted from this picture.  I'll hang it proudly on my wall.  For some reason, I think she deserves such honor.

Moving right along, here are some random shots, many of which were taken while driving over 90 miles an hour down a road (seriously... I had brief moments where I thought we were going to die).

If I had a nickel for every cow and goat I saw, I'd be rich.  They were everywhere.  EVERYWHERE!!

We were able to visit an Evangelical Christian church service.  It was quite the celebration.  Notice the women up front with the giant drums.

We were super happy in this picture because we had just been cleared at the Embassy.  Our adoption was declared full and final by the US government.  We are in front of the transition home owned by our agency where kids stay between court and embassy.  We stayed here on our second trip.

I just love this picture.  The flag was mounted on a boat we used on Lake Hawassa.  It reminds me of Waving Flag by K'Naan. Wait, I think I hear it in my head right now...

 When I get older 

I will be stronger, 

they'll call me freedom, 

just like a wavin' flag.  

Sing along... don't be scared.

I've heard studs called sticks before, but these studs really were sticks. 

These huts were actually very large.  We peeked into one and we were blown away by the size.  It's told that most times, huts double as shelter for families and livestock.

Check this out... a mud hut and a power line.  I'm not smart enough to photoshop this all together so I hope that you believe me when I say this is fur-real (shout out to my friend Mylene who I know will get a kick outta that one!).  Don't forget to notice the pole/tree.

A view from the guest house on our first trip.  It was not uncommon to see really nice places and really dumpy places side by side.  Covenants and Restrictions aren't much of a reality there.  

Take a gander at these children. I like the older kid in the blue and white shirt with the red pants.  He looks to be a pro at having his picture taken.  

Ok, so I've never been more in love with my husband than I was at this moment.  On his knees and surrounded by dirty little kids, is a man whose heart is bent towards good.  And he's all mine. 

A lady and her baby... 'nough said. 

A view from the Horizon House terrace (the nice place in the Embassy pose earlier).  Don't miss the satellites in the upper left corner.  Also on every tin roof were rocks, tires, or anything heavy enough to keep the roof from flying away.

Two strapping young men I snuck a snap of on the streets of Addis Ababa.  

This little town reminded me of the wild, wild west.  

We saw tons of pack mules.  Oh, to know what they were packin'...

Scaffolding.

I do love a good tree!

Another view from the terrace at Horizon House.  It was Timkat ( Epiphany;  aka: the biggest Ethiopian celebration of the year) and the streets were packed.  More Timkat pictures to come.  

To wrap up this segment of My Ethiopian Adventure, here's our first ever family picture (minus the rest of the family).  Our little guy doesn't look very happy.  He's not.  Trust me.  It took a few days, but his heart-capturing smile made an appearance.  Thankfully, it's still there.

More to come in Part 2...