Its Beginning To Look Like A New Year

A few more hours and it will be 2015, and where has the year gone? Seems like the time has just flown by. Sometimes don't you wish that things would just slow down a bit? But the world turns and time moves on, and each year rolls into the next.

For our team, this has been an amazing year. We organized, worked hard at our last medical mission trip, seeing more than 900 patients in the few day we were there. We worked at fundraising, doing several different events to earn money towards our goals. We worked at a lot of paperwork, and achieved our 501(c)(3) status. And our work has only begun.

2015 will present us with more opportunities to try to make a difference. Our next trip is scheduled for May, which is only 5 months away! In addition to our returning team members, we have 2 people very serious about joining us. Another is a maybe. And a few more are considering it. Wouldn't it be incredible to take a team of 10 or more? Think of the number of people we could help. But God knows what we need to do, and He will provide the crew. He always does.

We have talked about long term goals, about what we would like to be able to do later in the year. About fundraisers we plan to do, hope to do, and need to do to help raise the money necessary to achieve our goals. About events we hope to do in 2016, which we can hopefully repeat each year. About plans we have that will hopefully bring in more funds, so there will be more available to us to be able to help others.

Will it ever be enough? To that we ask these questions. Will need finally disappear? Will the children in Haiti have enough to eat, have clean water to drink, and have medicines to help heal their bodies? Will children here in this country have a safe home, clothes to wear, and be able to enjoy their childhood? Will children everywhere be able to sit down to the table, and find that there is plenty of good food to eat? We look forward to that day! When all children know love and happiness, have a safe home and plenty to eat. But until that day, than the answer is no, it will never be enough. And as long as we have the ability, we will continue to strive to earn as much as possible, and to be able to help as much as possible. We can't save them all, but we will work to save as many as possible. And with the help of our Heavenly Father, we will make a difference.

Our Team Pushes Forward

Sitting here, working on the website, gives the perfect opportunity to reflect on what we have been doing since our last trip. And taking the chance to look ahead to the future, to the trips yet to take, to the people yet to be introduced to the cause which touches our heart so, and to those who have a need for what we can do. Sometimes it can make the brain hurt! But it always makes the heart more open, knowing that this is a calling to do for others, to help repay the great gifts which we have been given, and to try to make the world just a little bit better than it was yesterday.

We have been very excited to learn that our team has been granted our 501(c)(3) status. For us, we can now look towards other resources for our funds. We can issue donation receipts to people who support our organization financially. And we can plan for more activities in which we can hopefully help others and start to make that change everyone needs to start down a better path, a better life. A hand up, to show others that they do mean something in this world. And hopefully inspire others to help as well.

This time of the year, thoughts always come back to family, friends, and the blessings we have received. As we decorate the tree, and plan the fun activities, let us not forget the real meaning of the day, the birth of our Savior. And let us remember His teachings, and how we are suppose to help others less fortunate. Facebook has become such a way of life, both good and bad. But recently, I saw a "friend" post that, in memory of his departed and current puppies, instead of sending out cards which would just be thrown away, he was donating dog food and treats to animal controls, so that the "unwanted" babies would know they are special. What a wonderful idea! Maybe instead of buying more "stuff" that will be tossed, think about donating to the food pantry, a women's shelter, or an organization that is doing good in the world. Make the dollars count for so much more, for someone with so much less. And...you don't have to wrap it!!!!

We have been working hard on fundraising. None of us are rich, much as we would like to be. And money is tight for everyone. So we have struggled to find ways of making money while providing something to the person who is donating. And to do things different than everyone else, so that we are not just one in the crowd, but one a little bit different. And doesn't that really describe us? We are different, each unique in what we bring to this team. We each have our own reason to belong to this amazing team we have created. Each different and very special to the person. And each person brings a unique personality and a different "resource" that together binds us in our goal. Whether working on a fundraising event, planning a trip, working on the website, or even making products to sell, each member of this team has heard the whisper to Do Something! It is easy to always talk about change needing to be done, easy to wait for others to start the process. Even easier to sit back and say "why bother?" Too easy, sometimes. But for the members of this team, we know that change will only happen with us. Change in the world, and change in our own hearts. Now is the time, today is the day, and the future is just ahead of us. And with our Heavenly Father, we can make a difference, we can Do Something! And we can start the process of changing the world, one person at a time.