Tyrell loves to look at all the animals and mimic their various sounds.
Easton and Kiana are beginning to understand (as much as their young minds and limited experience can grasp it) that there are children all over the world who don't have food to eat. Many of them don't have mommies or daddies.
Their eyes get big with concern as they talk about children who don't have a mommy and daddy to take care of them--children who don't have milk to drink or eggs to eat (which we have in abundance!).
Despite our uncertainty with Alan's job search right now, we are blessed to have developed the habit of setting aside $50 each month in preparation for Christmas each year (as per Dave Ramsey/FPU) so we have the funds in place for our usual giftings. We aren't the "spend thousands of dollars on Christmas each year" kind of family and never have been.We've thought about participating in more local "adopt a child" activities, but to tell the truth, these "poor" children of our country receive many more gifts than my own children do and the materialism and greed just annoy me. Blessing a needy family with "a hand up" and resources to provide food and money for months to come is more appealing.
Alan and the children chose a goat and two chickens for our gift this year. With the milk from the goat, a family can make cheese and yogurt in addition to drinking the nutrient-rich milk. They can eat the eggs, sell extras, or raise chicks to sell for money they need to buy other necessities. The manure from the animals will also increase the nutrients in their land so they can raise more vegetables and other produce.
Goat and Two ChickensThere are many similar options available to help others if you click here. Browse the site and you will see videos that explain how this "hand up" enables villagers to work together to provide for one another as they learn and grow. I invite you to join us in letting your children choose animals to bless others. Isn't that the best gift you could give them this year--the joy of helping others? (And you won't even have to harp at them to pick it up and put it away! chuckle)
This is our favorite family tradition, too, Shonya. We give through another trusted organization, Holt International. Mike and I really like giving animals or medical care or food support in honor of our parents for Mother's day and Father's day. So much more satisfying than another striped tie to hang in the closet :)
ReplyDeleteLove those pix of your littles studying the choices. So cute. Happy giving!
Huh! I hadn't heard of that before. That's pretty interesting and neat!
ReplyDeleteBrenna--so glad you have heard of it too. I just wanted others to have the same opportunity, it has blessed us so much!
ReplyDeleteCarrie--it really is! Have you read "The Whole in our Gospel"? It tells Stearn's story, the CEO of World Vision and is worth reading.