A Christmas Challenge...

I have a Christmas challenge...  Naomi, one of my blog friends, read the story of my trip to the garbage dump to her children and they have decided to give up one of their Christmas presents and give the money to Heart For Africa to send a child to Litsemba, an event that will bring hope to the children in Swaziland and create awareness in the country about the growing orphan population...  You can read her post here...

Her children totally inspired me...  Every year we do stockings for our kids and they've agreed to give up their stockings so we can give the money to Heart For Africa...

So tonight we went Christmas Shopping on the HFA website...  I can't tell you how much fun it was, it was truly a blessing.  We read the different descriptions and each family member got to have a say in the "gifts" we gave...  

So let's start a movement...  Most of us are so blessed...  What if we each just gave up one Christmas present and gave it to the children in Swaziland?  

Let's say your average Christmas present is around $25...  Isn't there just one thing you would be willing to give up so that children who are eating rotten bananas might have hope?  If 100 people gave up one present, that would be $2500...  Or what if 100 families gave up 4 presents, one per person, that would be $10,000...

  

It's so simple...  Give up one gift and give hope...  Make a statement to the world that says, "This is not okay with me!"

Heart For Africa has a gift catalog of ways you can donate...  You could even let your children choose where they would like their present  to go...  Click here to go their catalog...

If you're willing to participate, would you leave me a comment?  I moderate my comments, so I won't post it if you would prefer to keep it private...  Would you even consider posting this challenge on your own blog or your FaceBook?  And if God leads you to give money the money somewhere else, would you still let me know? 

Let's share the abundance that God has blessed us with...

I've copied in a few examples from their catalog...but there are many more on their website...

Partner with a church in planting a garden for orphans in their community...$50

We are partnering with churches to begin caring for the orphans in their communities, but without food the children will die.  A garden with life-saving vegetables, surrounded by a fence to keep animals out can help the church provide food for thousands of children in desperate need. It will cost $200 for a 45ft x 45ft garden or share in the cost for $50.

Buy fruit trees...$25

In 2009 hundreds of fruit trees were planted at two children’s homes in Kenya and on Project Canaan land in Swaziland. These trees are lovingly cared for and watered by precious children who know that one day the trees will provide shade as well as fruit to eat.  By donating to this fund, we have the opportunity to plant many more trees yielding nutritious fruit. $25

Help grow food at Project Canaan...$25

Every 3 seconds a child dies of hunger or malnutrition.  With 200,000 orphans in Swaziland and an additional 8,000 new orphans every month we want to develop large scale farming that will allow us to provide healthy food for orphans and vulnerable children as well as generate employment and income on Project Canaan. $25

Send a child to Litsemba...$10

On July 23, 2010, Heart for Africa will transport 15,000 orphans and vulnerable children to the National Stadium in Swaziland to celebrate “Litsemba” which means hope in siSwati. The logistical details of busing the children from every corner of Swaziland are being put into place but we need your help to transport them. It will cost just $10 per child.  At this event children will receive a meal, a blanket, a beanie (it gets really cold in the winter and they need them to keep their heads warm), they will hear a message of hope and if you can just imagine 15,000 orphans and vulnerable children in one stadium, it will help generate awareness in Swaziland of the growing problem of more and more children being orphaned.