Blog Action Day 2010

Today is Blog Action Day 2010.  Bloggers all over the world are dedicating their posts today to one world issue.  This year, the focus is WATER.


A little over a year ago, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to a tiny rural village in Kenya near the Tanzanian border.  I spent four weeks bringing Sky Ranch Summer Camp to kids in the area.  It was hands down the most wonderful experience of my life (aside from getting married- but can you really compare the two?)  Anyway, I fell in love with these people and when I got back, I knew I wanted to find a way to continue serving and loving these people.  Little did I know I would soon find a job that lets me do that every day.

If you read this blog, you probably know that I work for a non-profit organization called Blood:Water Mission. Our mission is to empower communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa.


Water- clean water- is a human right.  The fact that MILLIONS of people lack access to this basic necessity is an injustice.  Children can't go to school because they spend their days walking to the nearest water source (which really isn't near at all) to get water that usually isn't clean.  They drink the water and then contract diseases that are easily preventable and curable with clean water.  Their lives are cut short because they don't have water.  Can you imagine?  I can't.  Even when I was in Africa, the school we stayed at had two rain catchment tanks.  Water was never in short supply despite the record-breaking drought in Kenya. That school was one in a very small minority. 

I recently read a book called The Fabric of Faithfulness by Steven Garber.  In the introduction, he quotes the late Erik Erikson, a Harvard professor emeritus.


"In clinical work (as in economics and politics) crisis has increasingly taken on half of its meaning, the catastrophic half, while in medicine a crisis once meant a turning point for better or for worse, a crucial period in which a decisive turn one way or another is unavoidable."

We have a crisis here.  We have reached a turning point.  A decisive turn one way or another is unavoidable.  Let's decide to turn to the BETTER.  If you blog, join me in writing a post about water today.  Register your blog at Blog Action Day 2010.  Learn more about this issue.  Hear the facts, meet the people.  Do something big, do something small.  Make a difference.

Our House!

Marcus and I were so lucky to find a wonderful little rent house to call our first home. It's in an older neighborhood full of character and close to where I work (literally, about 6 blocks!)  While it is still very much a work in progress- especially the yards- we have really enjoyed "playing house."

Here are a few pictures for your perusal!

Our kitchen:

Our living room:

Savannah, this one's for you! You're in the top right picture. :)

Our (super tiny) bathroom:

More pictures of the bedrooms and office coming soon!!