thanksgiving
noun
1. the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment
of benefits or favors, especially to God
2. originated in the autumn of 1621 when Plymouth pilgrims invited neighboring Indians to join their three-day festival, an idea enabled by the Indian's advice
3. a time to come together as families, stuff your faces with food, and count your blessings
So, it's Thanksgiving. So, I should write about what I'm grateful for. So, I will.
Now, of course I'm grateful for all the basic, given, expected? things we have in stereotypical America. You know, food, electricity, a home, freedom, toothpaste, erasers, etc. etc. But today, I'm especially thankful for:
-FAMILY. There's no one that gets you better, is more happy for your successes, or loves you better.
-FRIENDS. Good friends who understand life and what being a friend really means. I'm grateful that I know my friends will tell me if something's not right, that they say it like it is, that I can trust them.
-GOOD CONVERSATION/DEEP TALKS. They're just good, ya?
-PERSPECTIVE. Lately, I've been so grateful for a good perspective on life and the knowledge of where my priorities should be. I'm so glad the people around me help me to see things so clearly.
-OPPORTUNITIES. Humanitarian work, JATC, volunteering, a good situation at home, I could go on...
-GRANDPA. Oh, the wisdom of the wise.
-GOSPEL. I honestly don't know where I would be without the foundation that the church, my Savior, the scriptures, and God have blessed me with.
-HEALTH. I have my challenges, but they do not compare to what others are faced with.
-KNOWLEDGE. I know right from wrong, I learn well, I have a testimony, I know who I really am.
-CAR. I love me car.
Enjoy your time with you loved ones! Thank God for all he has given us. Happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy your shopping tomorrow!
Until next time,
A
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
inspiration
Just a few words of wisdom courtesy of Pinterest. :)
Have a great day!!
Until next time,
A
Sunday, November 11, 2012
a village
If we
could reduce the world's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with
all existing human ratios remaining the same, the demographics would look
something like this:
- The village would have 61 Asians, 13 Africans, 12 Europeans, 9 Latin Americans, and 5 from the USA and Canada
- 50 would be male, 50 would be female
- 75 would be non-white; 25 white
- 67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian
- 80 would live in substandard housing
- 16 would be unable to read or write
- 50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation
- 33 would be without access to a safe water supply
- 39 would lack access to improved sanitation
- 24 would not have any electricity (And of the 76 that do have electricity, most would only use it for light at night)
- 8 people would have access to the Internet
- 1 would have a college education
- 1 would have a computer
- 1 would have HIV
- 2 would be near birth; 1 near death
- 5 would control 32% of the entire world's wealth; all 5 would be US citizens
- 48 would live on less than US$ 2 a day
- 20 would live on less than US$ 1 a day
When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. The following is also something to ponder...
- If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
- If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
- If you can attend an ideological meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed that three billion people in the world.
- If you can read this article of perspective, you are more fortunate than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
- If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
Next summer I have two amazing opportunities. I will be travelling to Vietnam and Fiji for humanitarian work. Volunteering has always been my passion, but going on a humanitarian trip has always been my DREAM. I can't believe it's coming true!
I will be going to Vietnam through a program called Youthlinc. In order to qualify, I will be required to complete at least 80 hours of local volunteer work and raise over $2000. I will be going to Song Cau, Vietnam, an area devastated and still recovering from the effects of the Vietnam War over three decades ago. Most families in this area live on less that US$1.50. They live in mud and thatched roof huts. Although public education is now free, most children are working to help support their families and so cannot attend school. They are faced with disturbing sanitation, education, economical, and living conditions. Through Youthlinc, I will be able to help teach the children, learn about the culture, help start small businesses to grow the local economy, teach about sanitation, and construct stable homes and schools, all while gaining humanitarian and leadership skills.
For Fiji, I will be going through a program called HEFY, and will be able to work with villagers to help bring their small, underdeveloped village increased sanitation through the building of bathrooms in homes without plumbing. I will also be able to help teach the people about health and hygiene so that their standard of living will increase.
I cannot even express how grateful I am for these opportunities. I know that the preparation before, and the time spent in country, will be some of the hardest work I've ever done, but every time I think of the people I will meet and the lives I will help change, my heart throbs with the love I already have for them and I start feel sad thinking that after the time I'll be spending with them, that I'll have to leave. Most importantly, I can already feel the change this opportunity is making in me, and I know that I will be so much of a better person because of it.
If you, your business, or anyone you know would be willing and able to donate just $20, I would appreciate it so much. To do so, follow these simple instructions:
1) Go to www.youthlinc.org
2) Click on the DONATE page
3) Then select MAKE A DONATION TO A PARTICIPANT
4) Enter my name and the registration number #742
5) Once the payment is processed, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to you which can be used for tax deduction purposes.
THANK YOU!
“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
Until next time,
A
Source: www.100people.org/statistics_detailed_statistics.php
- The village would have 61 Asians, 13 Africans, 12 Europeans, 9 Latin Americans, and 5 from the USA and Canada
- 50 would be male, 50 would be female
- 75 would be non-white; 25 white
- 67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian
- 80 would live in substandard housing
- 16 would be unable to read or write
- 50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation
- 33 would be without access to a safe water supply
- 39 would lack access to improved sanitation
- 24 would not have any electricity (And of the 76 that do have electricity, most would only use it for light at night)
- 8 people would have access to the Internet
- 1 would have a college education
- 1 would have a computer
- 1 would have HIV
- 2 would be near birth; 1 near death
- 5 would control 32% of the entire world's wealth; all 5 would be US citizens
- 48 would live on less than US$ 2 a day
- 20 would live on less than US$ 1 a day
When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. The following is also something to ponder...
- If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
- If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
- If you can attend an ideological meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed that three billion people in the world.
- If you can read this article of perspective, you are more fortunate than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
- If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
Next summer I have two amazing opportunities. I will be travelling to Vietnam and Fiji for humanitarian work. Volunteering has always been my passion, but going on a humanitarian trip has always been my DREAM. I can't believe it's coming true!
I will be going to Vietnam through a program called Youthlinc. In order to qualify, I will be required to complete at least 80 hours of local volunteer work and raise over $2000. I will be going to Song Cau, Vietnam, an area devastated and still recovering from the effects of the Vietnam War over three decades ago. Most families in this area live on less that US$1.50. They live in mud and thatched roof huts. Although public education is now free, most children are working to help support their families and so cannot attend school. They are faced with disturbing sanitation, education, economical, and living conditions. Through Youthlinc, I will be able to help teach the children, learn about the culture, help start small businesses to grow the local economy, teach about sanitation, and construct stable homes and schools, all while gaining humanitarian and leadership skills.
For Fiji, I will be going through a program called HEFY, and will be able to work with villagers to help bring their small, underdeveloped village increased sanitation through the building of bathrooms in homes without plumbing. I will also be able to help teach the people about health and hygiene so that their standard of living will increase.
If you, your business, or anyone you know would be willing and able to donate just $20, I would appreciate it so much. To do so, follow these simple instructions:
1) Go to www.youthlinc.org
2) Click on the DONATE page
3) Then select MAKE A DONATION TO A PARTICIPANT
4) Enter my name and the registration number #742
5) Once the payment is processed, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to you which can be used for tax deduction purposes.
THANK YOU!
“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
~William Penn
"Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that
ever has.”
~Margaret Mead
Until next time,
A
Source: www.100people.org/statistics_detailed_statistics.php
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