Tag Archives: world

brainteaser’s dream

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One of our recent “DO something” conversations included a shocking injustice in our world: human trafficking (selling people as sex/labor slaves). The information is staggering. Overwhelming. And seemingly disconnected from my world.

But, during that conversation, Brainteaser left a comment that shook me – a comment that you don’t wanna miss. She told the story of her own sister-in-law’s near-entrance into human trafficking, and how she prayed/worked/begged to stop her from entering slavery. I was stunned to read her words – right here on my.com. Right here in my little corner of the interweb.

Today, Brainteaser is writing about how she won’t stop dreaming. Despite hardship. Despite difficulties. Despite the odds. She won’t let life break her spirit – and I think we could learn a thing or two from her.

Go.

Read.

Dream.

DO: search

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OH OH OH!!! Y’all are gonna LOVE this!

Remember the post with all the web links that you can use for charities? ok.

Goodsearch.com was one of the links listed. It’s a search engine that donates money to different organizations with each search.

Brandy pointed out in the comments that Thrive Africa was registered with Goodsearch.com.

Thrive Africa is Alece‘s ministry/organization/thingy that develops and implements educational programs to fight the AIDS epidemic. (Al: I didn’t even have to look that up! Proud?)

Alece is a HUGE part of this little blogging community and I heart her triple times.

I’ve selected Thrive Africa to be my charity of choice, and added Goodsearch as the search engine of choice in my searchbar – and [insert Oxyclean guy's voice here] YOU CAN TOO!

Every search is a penny – and every penny adds up.

Go ahead, search away!

across the universe

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I have a friend who’s a missionary halfway across the universe. When I went through a difficult week this summer, she was there for me in ways I didn’t think possible. Between phone calls and emails and skype, she reached across the universe and offered a hand of support when I needed one.

She works with kids across the universe. She works with kids that don’t have parents. Don’t have homes. Don’t have food.

::

I have another friend who spent the summer across the universe, back home in South Korea. Before leaving, she stopped by my office to ask me if there was anything I wanted her to bring me. My answer? “An authentic traditional korean musical instrument, of course!!!” She just laughed at me.

::

When Drew and I made the two-day-drive from Georgia to Massachusetts, I felt like we were driving across the universe – leaving my familiar world behind – out of touch with all things “home”… But my granny can bake one of her unbelievable sour cream pound cakes, put a stamp on it, and send it to me, across the universe, in 72 hours.

I can fly home, across the universe, in 3 hours.

::

I’m learning that this big scary world is so much smaller than any of us realize.

We really can reach across the universe and touch the lives of others.

orphans. refugees. hungry. sick. imprisoned. persecuted. scared. naked. poor.

Why don’t we reach out more? Why don’t we stretch our financial arms, our spiritual arms, and our human arms across the universe and change someone else’s world?

DO: Fight Traffic

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Did you know that Sex Trafficking is an ongoing illegal trade in our world?

Did you know that an estimated 17,500 may be imported into the USA each year?

Would you believe that 500,000 women are sold into European prostitution each year?

Can you imagine that most are below the age of 18?

Did you know that at least 10 million are victims of trafficking (both sexual and forced labor), and some say the number might be closer to 25 million?

What in the world can we DO about this?

Don’t just say this is awful, DO something:

http://www.thehomefoundation.net/ – Started by Natalie Grant to fight sex slavery.

ht: natalie grant

(Info taken from www.thehomefoundation.net and www.nataliegrant.com.)

international goodbyes

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Jinhee stopped by the office a few days ago, carrying chopsticks as a goodbye present for me.

we talked for a moment, laughing at my gratitude for WOODEN chopsticks and not the slick silver ones. i mean, only the hands of a native chopstick holder can maneuver those slippery noodles from plate to palate in metal sticks. i remember the day she’d cooked me korean food, patiently explaining the etiquette of the Korean meal. i’m pretty sure she found a fork somewhere, and brought it to my rescue. otherwise i would’ve starved!

as we said our “let’s keep in touch” type of goodbyes, i remembered many of our moments together. we were exercise buddies for a short season. we went to lunch a handful of times. we worked together in the library. we shared secrets. we had great conversations together. we laughed. despite the language/cultural barriers, we got each others’ jokes. that might be my favorite part.

then, it dawned on me – i realized that Jinhee was my first international friend… i looked at her and said: “your friendship has opened my heart to the whole world.”

i don’t know if she knows the depth and breadth of that statement. and, i don’t know if i’ll ever find the words to explain it. even though i might not be able to fully convey the changes, i’ve known for some time now that i need to take stock of how this whole seminary experience has influenced me.

i’m putting Jinhee’s friendship, and other friendships like hers, at the top of the list.