40 Day Fast...my turn

Up until last month I was pretty sure nothing I could do would make a real difference to anyone in Africa. Or in any other impoverished country for that matter. The needs are too numerous and the places too far away. In fact, I distinctly remember a panty-hosed church lady once telling me that my kids were my mission field for now. Forget about the far away places.

I never forgot but, then again, I also never did anything about it. Until last year, when I almost got involved with Blood:Water Mission. Yeah, almost.

I first heard about BWM through an article written by Chris Rice where he explained what BWM was up to and why. 1000 wells in 1000 African villages. Clean water leading to clean blood. Made sense to me. But I was still wondering how anything I could do would be big enough. I kept reading and got to the part where he writes:

“It’s a simple idea. But it is something. Will it change Africa? It will change a small part of Africa for a handful of people. Maybe it will change 1000 small handfuls of Africans. Every small thing is part of a process...I just wonder what I can do. It doesn't have to be big. I remember Somebody saying, 'If you give a cup of cold water in my name, you've done it for me.' He didn't even say 'a well' of cold water. Just a cup. I guess the little things matter to Him. Maybe there is something I can do afterall."

So I could do something. I checked out their website, discovered the Two Weeks of Sacrifice and got totally excited. I could do this, my kids could do this and, even better, the kids at church could do this. I sent an email to Student Ministries right away. They loved the idea, only…they wanted me to head it up.

And I didn’t do it. I can’t explain it...but I didn’t think I could do it. So I didn’t.

Now a year has passed and I have a second chance. They still love the idea and this time I’ve done the Two Weeks, done a little more reading and I’m ready to help get it going in whatever way they ask. And this 40 Day Fast has tons to do with that. Each day I learn more. Each day I move farther away from the me who worried that anything I could do would never be big enough.

So if you've read through BWM's website already and think you've soaked up enough info, take another minute to check out their blog. Here you will find all the stats and facts that I am leaving out here (I think we're familiar now) along with News, Musings and Ground Reports.

The blog is where I read about a group of women in Miami raising money for wells through selling beaded earrings they make as they sit poolside sipping wine. It's also where I read about a 16 year old girl saving 16 lives on her Sweet Sixteen Birthday instead of receiving gifts. People who get that "every small thing is part of a process" and are doing something about it.

Maybe that lady in the pantyhose was partially right afterall. But even if my own kids are my mission field, it still doesn't mean I have to forget about far away places and their people. Quite the contrary...I just have to tie the two together.