"Kids these days"

I'm always a little frustrated when I hear people talking about "kids these days" because they can have such a negative view of today's youth. I happen to love junior high and high school students and while I realize they can be a little noisy and energetic at times (or all the time) they are kids and they have some of the most amazing hearts that I have ever seen. As a youth group we have a goal to raise $5,000 to put towards a playpump Last night at Impact (our junior high service) I was standing by the information table which also has our Well Project donation box on it when I saw a group of seventh grade girls walk up with wide grins and fists of waded up money. They began stuffing the money into the donation box so I asked them if they had been saving up their allowance and they proceeded to tell me that they had been setting up a lemonade stand to raise money for the well. How amazing! These girls spent hours of their weekends in the 100+ degree heat to raise money to provide people they will never meet with clean drinking water. "Kids these days" have hearts for things far greater than themselves and want to make an impact in the world like we have never seen...sometimes they just need a little direction and guidance on where to spend their energy and creativity. "Kids these days" have more faith in our Savior than most adults I have encountered and more dedication to learn more about Him. "Kids these days" have a heart to serve the people that "adults these days" don't. Encourage the kids of these days and just see what happens!

26.2 and play pumps

Okay, so I am about 4 weeks into my marathon training and feeling pretty good...a little tired but good! This past Friday I ran 13 miles as part of my training and while I could not run another mile I wasn't feeling too incredibly bad. I was right on for my 10 minute mile pace. December 6 is my marathon date and I just pray that it doesn't rain. I don't mind the cold-it will be better than the 95 degrees now but I can't take the rain!

So, what am I running for? Other than to prove to our students that you can do anything you put your mind to and that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13) I am running to raise money for a project that has really been on my heart.

There are 1.1 billion people in the world who do not have access to clean drinking water.

Young girls have to walk an average of 5 miles a day to get water, carrying up to 40 pounds of water.

The water they get is often contaminated.

These young girls cannot go to school because they have to get the water every day.

Every 15 seconds a child dies of a preventable disease related to unsafe water…every 15 seconds…that is 5,760 kids every day…that’s over 172 thousand every month!

The organization I am running for is PlayPumps International. PlayPumps is an amazing organization that installs some really cool water pumps in Africa. These aren't your ordinary pumps-these ones are connected to a merry-go-round that kids can play on. Each spin of the merry-go-round pumps water into an above ground, sanitary holding tank that the community can pump water from. PlayPumps also hires local men to install and maintain the pumps and guarantees them a job for at least 10 years. These pumps not only provide safe, clean drinking water for a community but the pumps offer an opportunity for girls to go to school to get an education, for men to get local jobs to earn money to support their family, play equipment for kids to enjoy and of course clean water to cut down the amount of deaths caused by contaminated water.

I tell you about this organization so you can spread the awareness and check out the organization for yourself. A little goes a long way and clean water is something that every person should be able to enjoy.

Check out the website www.playpumps.org to get ideas on how you can support a playpump in Africa!

Kids Play. Water Pumps.