One small act at a time
Last night around 10pm I posted an update about
various things. Among them the fact that I had found myself suddenly in need of
$950 in order to go on my January trip to the Dominican Republic to help install
a water purification system. I really didn't know what was going to happen. I
was pretty uncomfortable asking, but I didn't have much choice, and it seemed
right to me. So I asked. I thought there was a pretty good chance enough of you
would want to be a part of this project that I might be able to raise the entire
amount by early January. I thought, "Well, even if I get close, that would help.
If I get close I can surely scrape together a few hundred dollars between now
and then."
One hour after I posted, I checked the donation
page, just out of curiosity. I was hoping there might be a few dollars in there.
You know, it was so soon. It was really more a compulsive thing. I didn't really
expect there to be anything in there.
$650 had been donated. In one hour. By the time
I went to bed it was close to $800. This morning when I woke it was exactly
$950. Obviously the last person donated just the right amount at that point.
$950 in 9 hours. I was absolutely speechless and filled with awe. I have no idea
how many people read this blog. I know several thousand come each day. I try not
to think about that when I write. As I've said before, I like to think of you as
roughly 50 people. But however many of you there are, some of you have come to
care for me even though we have never met in person. Your generosity is a
powerful affirmation of this one act of goodness that is happening in January.
Most of you don't know each other, of course,
though I'm aware of a number of friendships and even a romance or two that has
happened between people "talking" in the comments and chatroom. But doesn't it
feel like we're in this together? It does to me. I don't know. Do you think we
have something going on here? Something we might call a community of some kind?
What do I know? But I do know that the total is $1310 at the time of this
posting and rising. Whatever I think is happening here, some proper stewardship
on my part is in order. I've spent the night thinking about this. I feel like
you're telling me this project is important to you, and you'd like to be a part
of it.
I talked with the folks at Edge today. Here's
what you and I can do with any additional funds we raise. Our team
will be staying at the headquarters of Youth With A Mission in Santo Domingo.
This particular YWAM group is also involved in water projects around the world.
In fact, YWAM in Santo Domingo has a team in the Sahara right now installing
purifiers. The guy leading that project was in training with me in October.
But they don't have clean water even in their own headquarters in Santo
Domingo. They have to drink bottled water.
That's pretty stunning. They are in the
Sahara installing a better water system than they have in their own
headquarters.
So if we get
enough money together - you and I - then when I go to the Dominican Republic in
January, the team I'm on will also install a purifying system at the YWAM
headquarters. That way they will have clean water and so will teams like mine
that are staying there for various service projects. AND (this is the cool part) Edge can use that place
as a training center to teach local groups about water purification and health
issues. You need a purification system in place if you are going to teach people
how to install and use them.
So if you can get the big picture - this trip
could make possible local efforts in Santo Domingo to bring clean water to this
part of the world. And local efforts are always the best kind of efforts. It's
the whole "teaching a man to fish" thing.* The total cost of a basic system is
$3500. What's nice is, there would be no extra travel expenses since we'll
already be there.
I don't know if there are enough of us to put
together another $3500. That doesn't really matter right now. You can't see this
as me asking for more money. This is me trying to figure out a way to bless and
affirm the money you are giving without me asking. If we come up short, I
promise the money will be used in some way to bring fresh, clean water to people
who need it. The simplest human need beyond air. Clean water. But if we get
$3500 by early January, then Real Live Preacher readers will officially have
sponsored our own act of goodness in the world.
Of course I will blog about the trip as it
is happening. Which will be very cool since you'll be able to see it.
Let's just see what happens. This isn't
something to worry about or stress over or wish about or even try to control.
This is one of those things that are bigger than any of us. We simply respond as
things unfold.
Thank you,
Gordon (your real live preacher)
If you want to be a part of this -
donate here
* Proverb:
"If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day. If you teach him to fish you
feed him for a lifetime."
