Dear Friends (old and new),I have spent the past month in Australia. While most of the time was spent with family, I also managed to catch up and meet with a lot of people interested in our trip and how they can help immediately and for the long term.
Before we even leave on our trip, I have learnt so much from people I have met:
1. People have wonderful hearts.
Just the mention of our trip and what we are planning to do gets the average person interested. They want to know what we are doing, how the children are and what they can do to help or if they can plan a similar trip. The usual question is "Are you going with a church or charity group?", the response that we found Papa's House on the internet and set up our visit with Michael leads to a few dropped jaws and "Wow, we would love to do something like that but wouldn't have know where to start". If nothing else, I hope our trip will let people realise that they too, can take time out of their usual life and rejuvenate their spirits by helping others. That each person can make a huge difference even if they do not have every resource in the world at their disposal.
For people who know us personally, they were more than willing to join in our journey by making a financial contribution to Papa's House. They know of Tom's meticulous nature when it comes to charitable financial accountability. But for people who don't know us, the natural question is "How do you know this is not dodgy?". It just breaks my heart that the general perception of charities is that of charity CEOs earning 6 figured salaries and wining and dining at the best restaurants while only a fraction of the donations make it through to those they are suppose to support. This dim view is often true. It has taken us many years, and many disappointments, to find a place to put our energies and our hard earned finances. I urge you not to give up looking for a cause to support. Keep the spirit of service alive in you.
A spirit of service that comes from the heart gives more that it thinks it can and in return, receives rewards beyond its imagination.
Let me close this note with a challenge. I challenge you to take time out from your everyday lives and plan to volunteer. Be it two weeks, or two months, find a project that captures your heart and your spirit. Step away from the excuses and as the Nike ads say "Just Do It".
Blessing to you,
