My family and
I had the joy of seeing an international children's choir a few years ago.During that performance, they showed a video
to raise awareness of The Forgotten Children. They outlined
the issues and then described the assistance they were trying to give to these
children.They are Good Sanaritan Centers where they are able to give
children education, health, nutrition, and counseling to help those that have
been abducted by the LRA or orphaned because of it.
These centers cost $39K per
year to maintain, and during that video, I felt God nudge me to raise that
amount of money..Each
year I have sort of stumbled into some issue and raised funds, or gathered
christmas boxes, or soccer gear or made bracelets and for this year, God was
clearly indicating that I needed to raise one year's maintenance for a Good
Samaritan Center.
Some of my
friends were pretty interested in doing this also and so after some discussion
and consulting with a expert in fundraising, we decided that the boys and I
would walk 39K (approximately 100 laps of a track) to raise $39K.There would be some other ancillary fundraising
efforts, but the main focus would be on the walk.The boys and I will attempt to walk and be
sponsored for a cumulative effort of 100 laps.
We are in the
midst of locating the venue for this event, fixing a date and then obtaining
sponsorship.
My heart just
breaks when I think of those poor kids that have to walk miles and miles each
night to find refuge just to be able to sleep in safety.I am also horrified when I hear about
children who have been abducted and abused by the LRA.We have no idea of the awful circumstances in
which these kids live and die, every single day, and the fear that has invaded
their lives and now is their constant companion.
We need to
give them hope, we need to get them help, we need to restore them to health, we
need to keep them safe.