A Tidal Wave Of Generosity

Part of my adventure to Guatemala last year included the construction of a house in Xenacoj (Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Sacatepequez).  We built this house with 25 teenagers and 6 adults in two and a half days.  It was an experience I will never forget.  Part of the reason for our success was the leadership of Joshua Crabbs (pictured with me above).  Through his ministry with Casas por Cristo, he has helped to build hundreds of houses for needy families in Guatemala and Mexico.

Another reason for our success was the generosity of The Stretched Community.  Through your generous giving, The Stretched Community donated $8,000 which paid for the materials necessary to build this house.  (Click here to read more.)

This year, our family is heading back to the same village in hopes of making a difference for children, widows, and families.  We’re raising money and saving money to cover the costs of going on this trip.  So far, we’re about 27% of the way towards covering the estimated costs of the trip (estimated at $5,000).

We also set out a goal of raising $8,750 to feed hot lunch to 200 children for six months.  (We also set a STRETCH goal of raising $17,500 to feed these children for a whole year.)  Yesterday was a milestone day in reaching this target.  We received our first gift towards this goal.  A gift of $40 was generously given by someone in The Stretched Community.

To put it in understandable terms, $40 will provide hot lunch to one child for 114 days (over 22 weeks).  $40 will provide hot lunch to 114 children on one day.  $40 will provide hot lunch for 22 children for one week.  $40 may seem like a drop in a bucket compared to the goals listed above, but it’s huge.  $40 literally has the ability to change lives for children in Xenacoj.

It’s my prayer that this will be the start of a tidal wave of generosity.  Just like a small spark from a match can start a massive fire, a simple gift can be the spark that changes Xenacoj forever.

To find out more about how you can join the tidal wave, click here.  Thank you!

Be generous: Invest in acts of charity.
Charity yields high returns.

Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around.
Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (The Message)