October 22, 2012

Smiled and said “hello” to everyone that I saw while out for a walk.
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Water: (def’n): Anything that God can use in and through us to make the world a better place.

October 21, 2012

Picked up litter while exploring The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego.

Said “thank-you” to each volunteer that I had contact with during a race.
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Water: (def’n): Anything that God can use in and through us to make the world a better place.

October 20, 2012

Made a point of letting in other vehicles, and exercising patience while caught in a long, construction-induced, traffic jam.
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Water: (def’n): Anything that God can use in and through us to make the world a better place.

October 18, 2012

Helped a lady who was running errands with 2 kids and a stroller.

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Water: (def’n): Anything that God can use in and through us to make the world a better place.

October 17, 2012: Part 2

Introduced myself and made conversation with the server at dinner this evening. Complimented the restaurant.
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Water: (def’n): Anything that God can use in and through us to make the world a better place.

October 17, 2012

What happens when you try to take water and it fails?

Does it count?

Today I had this happen twice:

Once on my way to work…a guy stalled out on the side of the road. I stopped and asked if I could help. He said no.

I was in the store and there was a lady with bags of stuff, and a young child…I asked if I could help her carry stuff. Nope. “I’m okay, thanks.”

Are people just reluctant to take help?

Have we been so scared off by media reports about crazies and lunatics that we won’t trust anyone?

Are we too proud to admit that we need a hand?

Or … maybe … these people were honestly okay.

Maybe they didn’t actually need my help.

Maybe, despite my viewpoint to the contrary, they actually had everything under control, and I was just an intrusion.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop trying.

I’m still missing my “31” for October 17.

8 hours to go.

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Water: (def’n): Anything that God can use in and through us to make the world a better place.

 

October 16, 2012

Bought dinner for a friend, and spent time listening to a perspective very different from my own, trying to withhold judgement.

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Water (def’n): Anything that God uses with and through us to make the world a better place.

October 16, 2012: God’s Amazing Surprise

 

Sometimes God guides us in weird and amazing ways.

And, when this happens, I believe it’s best to just get out of the way and let Him do His best work through us – because God knows more than I do.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to return to La casa del alimento, this Saturday. The goal is to re-stock the kitchen with the food and supplies that they need to run.

As you can imagine, feeding more than 80 people 2 meals a day, every day costs a lot of money. Due to Canadian laws, it is tricky for us to send the $500 a month that it costs to buy food and supplies. However, if someone from FriendsChurch is physically present – we can buy non-perishables like rice and beans that they can store for long periods of time.

By being physically present, we also remind the family that there is a church in Canada that cares, that is praying for them, and that is walking with them in their journey.

On Saturday, October 20, I will have the privilege of serving the Solares family in their ministry.

Thanks God

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The Back Story:

2 years ago, our 2010 Mexico Team came and built a soup kitchen for a family in need. “La casa del alimentos” (The House of Food). The family had been serving people out of their home for about 3 years. They and another family spent their own money to buy food for community members in need. Our team was able to help them by building a 22×22 building for them to house the soup kitchen in, which provides them with a gas powered stove, fridge, sink and seating, as well as space to prepare the meals.

Our team from 2 years ago fell in love with this family…a family who was living in poverty saw a need in their community and acted to fill it. The dad is Phillippe, the mom is Sylvia and they have 2 teenagers – a boy and a girl.

Since then, the family has tripled the number of people that they serve. They have also started serving both breakfast and lunch, whereas before they were only able to serve breakfast. Last year, we returned and they were so grateful, as they had run out of food. The family had no way to contact us, but he had been praying all day that God would send a way to feed the people in that community. That day, our team showed up and took them shopping for 2 months worth of food.

Since then, our youth group “Switch” has been running a monthly bottle drive and other miscellaneous fundraising events – such as bake sales – to send $500 a month to support the food costs. That $500 feeds roughly 80 people breakfast and lunch for 1 month. That translates to $6.25 per month per person!

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Water (def’n): Anything that God uses with and through us to make the world a better place.

October 15, 2012

Washed and folded someone else’s laundry for them.

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Water (def’n): Anything that God uses with and through us to make the world a better place.

October 14, 2012

Donated money to a charity that I believe in, but have never given money to before.

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Water (def’n): Anything that God uses with and through us to make the world a better place.