a gift for christmas

A few months ago, a family friend, Mr. Hal, emailed and asked if there was any way he could help the kids I worked with in Peru.  I contacted Lidia, the director of the IVHQ program in Lima, and we talked about what we could get the kids.  We talked about getting them toys or clothes, but in the end decided on blankets.  Toys and clothes break and are grown out of, but a blanket can last a lifetime.  And for these people, it probably will.  With the money Mr. Hal donated, we bought all the children in the Wawa Wasis program (a daycare program for working mothers located in Pachacutec,  the shantytown surrounding Lima) a blanket.  

About 100 children received a blanket a few days ago.  These children are  mostly from families that have one parent, whom works many hours every day.  They are put in the government run Wawa Wasi program that provides  three nutritious meals a day, vitamin supplements, and development testing to the children.  They spend almost all of their time in these daycares.  For a mother working to support her children, there is most likely not going to be extra money for presents, new clothes, or even a blanket.  These children appreciate the simplets of gifts.  

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These blankets will be used until they are worn to rags (and then they will probably be used as rags).

A sweet caregiver with her little ones.

Proud baby with her blanket!

A group picture of all the kids, caregiver, and volunteers in one of the Wawa Wasis.

Current volunteers with IVHQ giving out the blankets bought with the donation from Mr. Hal.

A happy Wawa Wasi caregiver with her blanket and some of  the little ones she watches.

I am so grateful for those who have donated throughout my journey to Peru and back.  After getting to know these kids, and caregivers, I've come to realize just how beautiful each and everyone of them are.  Each of them is the face of Jesus. Every donation throughout that last year and a half has helped these children in numerous ways.

twirling

Tonight, as we got ready to go get our annual picture with santa, I caught my littlest sister Catherine in a room all by herself twirling.  She was in her new beautiful christmas dress, and she felt beautiful.

When she saw me watching, she stopped twirling, embarrassed.  But I got my camera and eventually convinced her to twirl for some pictures.  As a watched her, I realized just how lucky she is.  How lucky I am.

To have someone to rejoice in the small things with you.  Someone to take pictures of twirling.  Someone to buy you a new Christmas dress.  That is something that more than 147 million children in this world do not have.

We have been blessed with parents that have shown us Jesus' love.  So many have not.

dying of indifference

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. 

Mt 12:48

(http://louxfamilyblog.com/2011/10/2629/starving-child-5/)

it's 4 minutes. watch it

How can we see things like this and not want to give it all? 

How can we justify our lives when others live like this?

What is Jesus going to say on that day?

study, study, study!

I've managed to find the comfiest booth in the library. I may sleep here tonight.  Why am I in the library you ask?  Well, it's exam time of course!  I have four exams this coming week to take.  I can't wait for them to be done, so I can head on home for my month long break from this place called Knoxville.

I am actually feeling like I will do fine on these exams, it is probably the least stressed I have even been about exams. You see I was always a cram-the-night-before kind of girl in high school.  But, for these exams,  I started studying Tuesday, and have been working a little bit each day.  No cramming, just good, old-fashioned learning!  I wouldn't have decided to take this strategy if it hadn't been for my Art History class.  I do not know why I decided this class would be a good idea, but nonetheless, I started it so I am gosh dang it going to finish it.

I am really liking my strategy this year though, I might have to use it in the coming years.  No cramming and less stress is always good in my book.

While I was walking to the library this morning, I was mulling over the reflections I had just read in the book my Aunt gave me for my birthday, In Conversation with God, (a great book by the way, you should read it) and I realized that my exam study strategy is all to similar to what my life is supposed to look like.

We study, study, study for the one big exam.  We prepare, memorize, read, and study some more.  Then, the day comes, we don't know exactly what we're going to get, but we have an idea.  On the big day, we sit down in front of that paper our teacher has given us and our preparation is judged. We are held accountable for all our time in that class; for all the reading and work we were expected to do.  If our preparation is good enough, we pass.  On to the next thing.  That is what we hope for.

Does it sound familiar?  Our time on this earth is a lifelong preparation for the one big day--that day Jesus comes back and we are judged for our life.

We prepare, prepare, prepare for the one big test. We spend our life living our the word of our teacher: helping others, feeding the hungry, forgiving, loving, and loving some more. Then, the day comes, we don't know exactly what we're going to get, but we have an idea. On the big day, we stand in front of the Lord and are judged.  We are held accountable for all our time on earth; for all the things Jesus told us we must do.  If our preparation is good enough, we pass.  On to Heaven. That is what we hope for.

Will we have put in enough time, will our actions be enough?