Super Important Update on true:shift…

Sunday, January 18, 2009 - Comments 6

Over the holiday break I got to visit with Food for the Hungry (FH) president Ben Homan and his wife at their home in Phoenix. During our time together I told him that I had felt a little overwhelmed when looking at the hundreds (thousands) of children’s faces at their site and trying to decide which one to sponsor for our true:shift effort. Then he told me about a special program FH has called “Community to Community” (C2C).

Through this program we could actually go a step farther, and adopt an actual village, so that we could see the impact of our “shifting” in a more tangible way. So… (drumroll please…)

As of a few days ago, The True Campaign has officially adopted the village of El Gade, Kenya. Food for the Hungry started developing this community in 2005, and with just 50 sponsors we can complete their child sponsorship needs. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty achievable to me. Which is exciting.

Even more exciting: we are actually going to take a trip over there next spring (2010)! Yep, Travis and I and a team of 12 will get to visit our adopted village and jump in on projects that need to be done. And, of course, meet the children we’re sponsoring.

And guess what? You can be one of the 12! All who choose to sponsor a child through true:shift will receive information about how to come with us on the trip.

I’ll warn you, you’ll have to really want to go. You’ll need to raise support, and it’s going to be hot and sweaty and tiring when we’re there. Not to mention scary, if you’re anything like me and have an aversion to flying and aren’t that wild about being on the ground in a poverty stricken part of the world.

But imagine how God will change us while we’re there. What relationships will he build? What revelations will he give us as we serve? These are the things that help me push past the fear I sometimes feel about mission work.

Whether or not you’re interested in actually traveling to El Gade, won’t you consider signing up so we can reach our goal of 50 for the community? Travis, Jena, Travis’ mom and a few of you have already signed up (six so far since we first announced this thing last month). Let’s see if we can close the gap in just a few months.

If (and when) you do choose to sign up, please come back here and let us know you’ve done it. This will keep the excitement flowing, and hopefully nudge others who may be on the fence about it.

Read more here.

I can’t wait to hear your stories…