The Reason Why I Run - you can make a difference whether you run or not!!

Do you ever feel so stuck in a rut, like you aren't making a difference with your life? Do you want to help people, but wonder if, when you give, it really does any good? Let me share how you can make a life-changing difference, in some very poverty-stricken lives, in a very REAL way. 


Meet the cast of characters: 
Eric, my husband and Jihad, our dear friend/brother in Ethiopia.

This is my husband Eric (on the left) on his first trip to Ethiopia. He was teaching at a leadership conference for the pastors and church leaders of Ethiopia. Eric said when he saw this man (Jihad, on the right), he just felt like he had to meet him. 


He was introduced to "Jihad"...my husband caught the irony of his name and said,"Wow, Jihad!" and kind of gave him a kind of clap on the shoulder. He said he immediately felt God connecting them. It is amazing how someone can be a perfect stranger on the other side of the world, but when you have a common cause and purpose, God brings you as close as family. Eric found out while speaking to him, that Jihad is the head of an orphanage in Ethiopia, as well as a pastor. I will share Jihad's story soon, it is AMAZING to say the least!  

The Situation: 

(Top picture: Village children / Bottom picture: Orphanage children)

Jihad heads up an orphanage in the one of the villages in Ethiopia (see bottom picture) and you can see how well taken care of the children are there. Thank God! But, in Ethiopia, the mortality rate is extremely high, so many children are unable to be taken into orphanages. The largest number of at-risk children are outside their walls. These are the village children, (see the photo above the orphanage children), these are children who may be in extreme poverty, may be orphaned and being raised by relatives or by the village. If you can tell from the picture (I apologize for the poor quality), the top picture of the village children, they have no shoes, their clothes and faces are dirty and they just don't look well. The bottom picture shows what they can look like with more resources and care. 

The orphanage does not allow village children into its building. We want to build a community center that will do both; feed, clothe and educate the village children/orphans throughout the day, and provide a safe haven for the orphans to live day & night.

This last picture is from Eric's visit to Ethiopia in early 2012. The kids are so precious, just look at those smiles!! 

From what he has told me, the girls have no dolls, the boys of the village may have one soccer ball for all of them to play with. That is it. So, before he went back, our church took up an offering and we were able to purchase loads of toys for him to bring with him on his trip. 

We had an incredible time shopping for the kids - can there be anything more rewarding than sending toys over to children, who have never seen, much less, played with any store-bought toys before? So exciting! 


THE CHALLENGE:

This is why we are running this summer, to build a community center in Ethiopia. Whether it be the 1/2 marathon or the full marathon, our goal is to raise funding for TEAM ETHIOPIA. 100% of the funds raised will go towards the building of the community center, as the administrative fees are being covered by The Life Church, Lisle, IL. 

If you would like to give: (a gift of ANY amount is so appreciated!)

1. Click on this link http://thelifeonline.tv/ 
2. On the top right of the page, you will see GIVE. 
3. Click on GIVE 
4. Make a ONE-TIME DONATION to TEAM ETHIOPIA. 

Thank you & God's richest blessings on you, as you share the abundance that God has given you!!
Kristen