A Challenge for LOVE in ACTION; because of you Bob + Linda Gist.

LOVE + PEOPLE = LOVE IN ACTION. One thing we know, when love is on the move it is contagious. In order for that love to be on the move it requires people to be carriers of it. (Bob + Linda, as much as you don’t EVER want the attention on you, we want to spotlight you because the way you live life in love is worthy of being on display, and it is CONTAGIOUS!)

Bob + Linda are a beautiful representation of LOVE IN ACTION. We have personally been abundantly blessed by their love in action time and time again, but it doesn’t stop with us. The love these two exude travels the globe. And we can’t share of their love without pairing it with the knowledge of it being extremely selfless + humble.

We could tell you story after story about these two and how they SHOW UP, over and over again. Constant, steady, helpful, humble. It is truly LOVE AVAILABLE whenever you need it. It’s the kind of love that walks the less traveled paths to seek and find those in need. The kind of love that finds you where you are at, accepts you as you are, and reaches in to help. It’s a practical and stunning representation of the kind of love Jesus has for us. We want to honor that kind of love. We want to CELEBRATE that kind of goodness. We want to JOIN hands with that movement of CONTAGIOUS LOVE that spreads like fire.

So, we are asking for anyone that knows and loves the Gists (or wants to know these amazing people) to make a love deposit that can SPREAD to their friends and family in Africa. They have people they serve over there that could use a big dose of encouragement and love right now. The local leaders are working tirelessly to provide the basic necessities of food to families in need under very stressful circumstances. It is about $30 per family per week for the most basic of food supplies, $120/month.

Want to help spread a little love? Click the donate button below for giving options, and we will make sure to let Bob + Linda know of your quest to join the challenge to love well. Let’s show them the example they have modeled for us!

Donate

Clean water- it's needed to survive. And yet I take it for granted every.single.day.

You would think that after being around these precious people, and seeing their very real struggle of capturing enough water to make it through a day, I would be more conservative with my water use. Somehow the endless abundance of water free flowing out of our piped in faucets washes away some of the intense memories I come home with. Still, I don’t completely forget, just enough to feel a bit okay with how we choose to use our abundance of water on a daily basis. I do wrestle with it frequently though… the knowledge and awareness of need around the world and the sheer abundance we live with. So, when I turn on the faucet I frequently find myself praying for those who are thirsty. Praying for those who are thirsty and hungry… walking miles for the hopes of a bucket full of water that will pass as “good enough”. But is it… good enough? Or can I do more to help easy their burden?

In Butere, Western Kenya, they are addressing these needs by putting in Fresh Water Stations. These locations are called "Tsisevere,” meaning “A GATHERING PLACE” in the local luhya language. People will walk miles and miles to water, after all it is needed to simply survive. Many times it is the children that are sent for the water because it takes a substantial amount of time and the Mama’s have much work to do. In most areas they are walking miles, with a bucket to fill from a marshy pond or a contaminated creek. Just getting the water into the bucket can take a substantial amount of time. Imagine the blessing of having a spout of fresh water pouring out. The ability to slip your bucket underneath and the joy of seeing it fill to the rim with fresh, sparkling clean, water.

Each clean water station serves 2-4 villages. A village consists of approx. 50 homesteads of families, so one simple, fresh spring water station can serve 100-200 families with their daily water needs. It is $400 to construct one station that serves up to 200 families. Assuming most families in the area probably have 6-8 people living with them that is a total cost of .25 cents per person. WOW - think about that for a minute. .25 per person for clean water that will serve up to 4 villages. The thought of that is humbling to me, .25 a day isn’t going to make or break it for me, or anyone else in my family for that matter. But people investing .25 cents per person in a two village range changes their lives FOREVER, and for generations to come.

We have started this project at $100 and as we gather 4 donations it will cover one station - but if you want to donate towards this with a smaller amount you certainly can. Just head over to our “DONATE” tab and leave a note in the comments of what project you want it to go to.

And can you do me a favor? When you turn on the tap will you join me in praying for those who are thirsty?

If you want to read more about other giving projects check out the links below, or head over to our giving catalog. Also make sure and join our FB page at Pamoja.love

Together we can make a difference!

Other Giving Catalog Projects:

Shoe Drive Project

Technology in Kibera Slum

Medical Clinic in Kibera Slum

Bananas for kids

Christmas Food Bundles for Widows