Less than $1.25 a day

A few days ago I took the Survive 125 challenge issued by 58:. (58: is "an unprecedented global alliance of Christians, churches and world-class poverty-fighting organizations working together to end extreme poverty in our lifetime by living the True Fast of Isaiah 58.")

I took the challenge three times before I made it through the month on the allotted budget. The choices required to survive were difficult to work through even on website that had no consequences in my real life.

It got me thinking. What would living on $1.25 a day would look like in my world?

It would mean...

• No air conditioning in the summer in Alabama
• Fear
• No trips to the pool to cool off
• No money to pay utilities
• Worry
• Walking everywhere we go
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner would consist of mostly beans and rice, if we were lucky.
• No dinners out on a busy day
• No new tennis shoes when the ones my little guy is wearing are worn out
• No "inexpensive" redecorating projects in the dining room.
• Stress
• No trips to the doctor for issues that are anything less than life threatening. And sometimes no trips for the life threatening ones.
• No private school (or for my homeschooling friends- no money for curriculum and activities)
• Concern for the well being of my family
• The inability to pay our mortgage
• Dependence
• No TV, movies, or typically entertainment of any kind
• No trips to Sonic for Happy hour- another "cheap" fun day
• Hopelessness
• No running the washing machine, dryer or dishwasher
• No new clothes- not even from the thrift store

The list could go on and on. 

The goal of this post, and I believe the Survive 125 challenge, is not to make anyone feel guilty. Guilt doesn't change anything.

The point is to get us thinking. Acting.

What if we took a look at our daily budgets and tried to find a way to put $1.25 a day to better use. Intentionally use that $37.50 a month, $450 a year to make real change.

What would that look like? Child sponsorship? Groceries for a neighbor? Donations to poverty fighting organizations? How would those changes build relationships? Spread the gospel?

Will you take a minute to take the challenge and check out 58:'s philosophy?

Is there a change you could make?

Go to Tanzania this weekend...

In a very real way, I went to Tanzania this week. No, there was no 2,500 hour plane trip, no lost luggage, no jet lag, but still, I was there.

I stepped inside tiny little decorated houses, saw love grow through simple playground games, watched fingernails being painted a lovely shade of blue and had a first hand glimpse of the hope slowly moving through these villages where God is very present. Oh, and each night while I was there I cried buckets of tears, enough, in fact, for my husband to ask, more than once "are you sure you're OK back there?"

If you have a few extra minutes this weekend, you can go, too.  Grab a cup of coffee and if you are anything like me, tissues, and read through the posts I linked to up above.

Take a journey through the beautiful country of Tanzania, meet her people and be moved. If you would like to become a sponsor or find out more about sponsorship, just click on the banner.








Read more about the trip on the following blogs:

Resourceful Mommy by Amy Lupold Bair


Minivans are Hot by Kelli Stuart

Big is the New Small by Scott Williams

Homeschool Creations by Jolanthe


Gussy Sews by Maggie Whitley


The Nesting Place by The Nester

Shaun Groves

And, please don't miss the amazing photography by Keely Scott.

A simple assignment

Friday evening I received my first assignment as a Compassion Blogger. It seemed like an easy first assignment. I was excited. It was pretty straightforward. Simply read the blog posts from fellow Compassion Bloggers on their trip to Tanzania, share the ones I found especially meaningful with my readers and then write about what I learned from their trip when they get back.

Nothing difficult about that, right?

Ha. Every post that I've read by these passionate, motivating, gifted writers, has been meaningful. Every picture breathtaking. Every story real and moving. No gimmicks or manipulation, just love being shared and hearts being changed. Pretty much every post has reduced me to tears.

Each post has a beautiful story to tell, but since it's getting late, if you read nothing else tonight, grab your tissue box and read this one, then let go.

Compassion International

Compassion International was founded in South Korea in 1952.  When Everett Swanson, an American Evangelist, was preaching in that country he felt moved to help 35 children who had been orphaned during the Korean conflict.

That act of obedience by Reverend Swanson resulted in the worldwide ministry now known as Compassion International. Each year through Compassion's ministries over 1.2 million children benefit.

Here is how you can be involved...

*Most likely, Compassion's most well know program is child sponsorship. This program changes over one million lives each year. Through sponsorship there is opportunity to correspond with your child, receive letters and updates from him and pray for your child. Sponsorship funds provide healthy food, involvement of a local church, the message of God's love, educational opportunities and medical checkups.


*Through the centers listed below, the Child Survival Program saves the lives of mothers and their children. Local churches in the communities listed below assist in giving mothers the tools they need to allow their children a chance for healthy development.

Cite Chauvel Child Survival Program (HAITI)
Bethlehem Child Survival Program (HAITI)
Mineros San Juan CSP (BOLIVIA)
Nuevo Amanecer Child Survival Program (PERU)
Ebenezer Child Survival Program (INDIA)
Batong Buhay Child Survival Program (PHILIPPINES)


*"Being born into poverty doesn’t stop the world’s best and brightest students. They are eager to learn, eager to make a difference in the world." The Leadership Development Program was created to make those dreams become a possibility.
Develop Future Leaders


*Meet Critical Needs such as diaster relief, infrastructure development, clean water, urgent medical needs.

Here is a snapshot of how donated funds are used...

Compassion International Charity Navigator rating


This short video clip of Dr. Wess Stafford, President of Compassion International and author of the book Too Small to Ignore, leaves us with a beautiful reminder of the importance of every act of kindness in the lives of children.