Feed Just One

At least once a day I hear, "I'm hungry" or "I'm starving" or both.  As a mom it is my job to keep my little one's belly's full and I do.  However, I also remind them that they aren't starving, but there are children who are.  They have become used to hearing me say, "If you lived in a refugee camp in Africa you would be lucky to get one meal a day, so I think you can make it ten more minutes for your third." 

My life changed the day I stepped foot in Uganda.  I had studied Africa, I had seen hundreds of pictures and watched several documentaries and I had read several books.  But nothing prepared me for what I was about to see.  Nothing prepares you for the first time you see an orphan not even two years old wandering about by herself.  Nothing prepares you for talking with a new mom who hadn't eaten in four days even though she just gave birth.  Nothing prepares you for the distended belly's and skinny legs of all the children who are malnourished and battling parasites.

Hunger for these children is a daily occurrence.  They are truly starving.  However we can do something.  How many of you have seen one of those commercials that advertise starving children in Africa?  You wonder where will my money go?  Do these children really benefit from my donation?  Do these children even exist?

They do.  I promise.  And if you want to help I can tell you how.  http://feedjustone.com/ and http://www.thinkhumanity.org/ are partnering to help get meals for the girls in our hostel in Hoima, Uganda.  There are currently 30 girls that live there and go to school and you can help provide them with meals.  I remember the first time I met them.  We were walking to their hostel and were still blocks away but we could already hear them.  They were singing and laughing and running towards us.  I remember they made it to Beth first, enveloping her in hugs and before I knew it I too was surrounded by love.  They didn't know me, but they greeted me as if I was a long lost sister.  They were crying and soon so was I.  It was love at first sight.  I will never forget them.  They are wonderful and beautiful!  They have been to hell and back but still smile. 

$20.  What costs $20 here?  A weeks worth of coffee?  Two movie tickets?  In Uganda $20 will by you thirty meals.  That is like feeding one girl for a month.  You are assuring her that she will eat at least one meal a day.  That is awesome!  That is a blessing and that is what you can provide by purchasing a t-shirt!  Come on!  Let's do this!!!  Let's start by at least feeding one!