Water is Everything

Have you ever thought about water? Have you ever thought about if you had no water? Well, across the world there are 800 million people drinking this water...

This is what inspires me. I imagined if i had to do that. What if I had to walk for miles just to get contaminated water that eventually made me ill, which lead to death. What if my kids couldn't go to school because they had to take that time to go fetch water. What if my baby had to drink that bottle. What if i had no extra water to shower. What if i drank from the same water cows and other animals did, people bathed, and was exposed to all bugs. So, think about it. What if that was you......

My goal this summer is to build a well. I want to help change lives. I want to make a difference. Everyone deserves clean water and i am starting here to help people get the most basic human need. Check out my campaign!!

I am also selling these shirts.....

For only 15$ and 100% of that money will go straight to the water project. I ask for prayers and thoughts that God will give me the money to reach my goal!

Charity Water

My dad recently had a huge work event for his company and guest speaker Scott Harrison spoke. Scott is the founder of Charity Water and i got the opportunity to spend some time with him. His story is simply amazing. As i sat there listening to him, i was in awe with what he has done. He is such an inspiration to me and i want to join him in helping solve the water crisis.
 





From this point on, i do not want to receive another birthday present. I want to help solve the worlds biggest crisis. Dirty water. I know i don't have a birthday until next year but instead of receiving, i want to give. Instead of getting a present, i will ask for a donation to help build a well.

This is what nine year old Rachel said,
On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9. I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations. Even better, every dollar is "proved" when the projects are complete, and photos and GPS coordinates are posted using Google Earth. My goal is to raise $300 by my birthday, June 12, 2011. Please consider helping me.
Thank you so much!!!


Rachel ended up raising over 3,000 dollars. Can you imagine. For your ninth birthday...... raising over  3,000 dollars to help get clean water to those who don't have it.

I want to be apart of helping. I want to do something to save a child's life. My lifetime goal is to give up every birthday i have!!!

TOMS: One Day Without Shoes

Yes, I am barefoot!

Yes, I am clumsy!
Yes, I tripped!
EVERYONE NEEDS SHOES......

sevenly: genius idea

 Check this out!

no more history books!

Well i realize i haven't posted in a long time. School, school, school and more school. Then vacation, vacation, and more vacation. It has been a crazy last two months. School started and we had a huge family trip to France, Africa, New York, and Las Vegas! Yes, those are all very different types of places and yes it was very hard to pack for them all in only one suitcase... but i managed:) I learned so much the past month that i see no need to finish up my history book this year.

But i will start with telling you about France....

If you don't know me... i LOVE food! There was really good food and amazing deserts.

It was beautiful!! We stayed in Nice, France and went to the beaches, village tops, and did some shopping.

 It was one of the last times our family will be together so we had to take our Christmas card

And the two cutest little boys had so much fun!

More pics from other trips will be coming next post:) All i have to say and thank you Jesus for getting us around the world and back home safely.

charity water

The 2011 September Campaign. Our 5-year-anniversary video from charity: water on Vimeo.
Videos like this make me so happy yet so sad at the same time. After raising $15,000........ i am so encouraged to raise even more! I can't wait to go back to Dube Bute, make another video, and spread the word to help make awareness of   what goes on on the other side of our world.

and its finished!!!

Wow! I can't believe it has been almost 9 months since i first drove into the village to Dube Bute. I still remember driving down that long dirt road looking at the kids half naked, animals in the road, kids chasing after the car, women carrying 50 pounds of water, everyone barefoot, looking at all the beautiful faces and soooo much more.
I remember getting out of the car and the kids coming up to touch me because i am white...
Thousands of people singing to the Lord that we have come to help them...
Looking into little babies teary eyes because they are hungry, cold, thirsty...

Getting onto a horse overwhelmed with what God was doing in my life that very moment...
Seeing hope in all the peoples eyes and picking up babies off the road and just crying with them.
I didn't know what to think. It was all so much at such a young age. It honestly just ripped my heart apart. It changed me forever. I will NEVER forget that day.

With God, I was able to reach my goal of raising $15,000 for Dube Bute!!! THANK YOU everyone for all your prayers, love, and donations. Everything you have done has helped make a HUGE difference in so many peoples lives. I am more than happy to know that overall $436,060.00 was raising for Dube Bute!!! Thank You Lord!

In one month i will be back in that village. Holding hands with my little babies who i have fallen in love with the past few times i have been there. The kids who i laughed with trying to teach them English and them teach me Amharic. The people who asked me to move there and live with them. Have running races with the kids. Dance in the rain. Sing songs. Play in the mud. And see all the beautiful faces... I can't wait to see them all!