Compassion Friday

I'm switching Quick Facts Friday to Compassion Friday and in doing so, want to share the most recent letter we received from Magazi.

"Dear Mike Mauntel, Magazi salutes you "Shikamoo."  He says he is fine and doing well together with his family.  He says he is so grateful for the nice family gift you sent to him.  He says his parents are so grateful for the nice gift, for they were able to buy the following: One iron sheet, clothes for dad and mom, rice, sugar, beans, clothes (suit) for him and his sibling.  He also thanks you a lot for the nice photo, letters and stickers you sent to him.  He says he lives with his father, mother, and his sibling.  He says his past photo he had sent to you he took with his parents.  He says he, likes playing football game.  He says his best subjects are mathematics and handwriting.  Magazi hopes that Michael is born and grows well.  Hey says may you have a look at the photo he has sent to you when with his mother and sibling with all the gifts he bought.  He lastly says may you pray for his mother to know Jesus for he is of different denomination."

He also included this drawing.  Notice the stickers!

I thought Maddie would like to see the stickers on there since she LOVES stickers.  Unfortunately, she threw a fit.  "My tickers!"

I calmed her down, sat her on my lap, and tried to explain how Magazi lives in another country, is less fortunate that we are, etc.

Thinking I was getting through to her, she got up, turned around, looked at me and said, "No talk to me daddy."

Much like getting played, all I could do was laugh.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

Mimi's house now?

So, I just got home from work.  Maddie greeted me at the door and immediately gave me a hug and kiss, which has NEVER happened before. 

I said, "This is one of the best days of my life!"

Meanwhile, Emily's cracking up. 

Sensing something was up when Maddie asked, "Mimi's house now?", I realized Emily told her she couldn't go to Mimi's house until she gave me a hug and kiss!

I may have been played, but it was one of the sweetest moments to date.

Quick Facts Friday

The following is information from Compassion International specific to Tanzania, the country of sponsored child -- Magazi.

 "Although Tanzania is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa, it remains desperately poor.  The country hosts the largest refugee population in Africa because of conflicts in neighboring Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.  Refugee camps, which house thousands of children in Tanzania, have little access to clean water, sanitary conditions or education.

Nearly 90% of Tanzanians struggle to survive on less than $1.25 a day.  The country has few exports, and agriculture is the primary source of income.  Many regions, however, are plagued by drought."

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

Awesome Reminder

Emily and I attended the last Passion City Church gathering.  As I mentioned before, the three anchors of the church are: The Glory of God.  The Grace of God.  Extravagant Worship.

Louie teased the audience at the beginning of the service by mentioning a new, never-been-released song by Chris to be sung at the end.

You could sense the excitment in the crowd.

When the service came to an end, Louie invited Chris to sing his song.  To my surprise (and I think everyone else), he exited the stage toward an "apartment" set up in the back of the venue.

That was it.  His "song" was raising awareness for an organization called World Relief, which assists refugees relocating to Atlanta.

It was an awesome reminder that singing songs is not worship, but a PART of worship.

How you live your life, day in and day out, is worship.

"For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen.  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 11:36-12:1)

"So whether you eat or you drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

CLICK HERE for pictures from the gathering.

Special Visitor

We had a special visitor last week -- soon-to-be Aunt Lindsey.  My brother's fiance was in from Colorado for work related reasons.  We were disappointed we didn't get to spend more time with her, but had fun at dinner and a quick visit to Barnes & Noble.

Quick Facts Friday

I know it's Quick Facts Friday, but I wanted to share this video from Catalyst 2009.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

SOOOOO much!

I don't know why, but it's been my experience that infants/toddlers love playing "How much does mommy/daddy love you?  SOOOOO much!"

Try it right now.  Even if you're alone.

Did you stretch your arms out?

Maybe I'm slow, but I just realized its similarity to Christ on the cross.

"For God so[ooo] loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is ENVIRONMENTAL.

• More than 3 million children under age 5 die each year from disease because of environment-related causes and conditions.
• Each year, acute respiratory infections kill approximately 2 million children under age 5.  Worldwide, 60% of acute respiratory infections are due to environmental conditions.
• Diarrheal diseases take the lives of almost 2 million children each year.  80% to 90% of these diseases are related to environmental conditions, specifically contaminated water and inadequate sanitation.
• Nearly 1 million people die each year because of malaria.  Of these deaths, 80% are children under age 5 in sub-Saharan Africa.  Up to 90% of malaria cases are attributed to environmental factors.
• About 2.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation -- roughly two-fifths of the world's population.
• About 1 million children each year are diagnosed with intestinal worms caused by the lack of water along with poor hygiene practices.  Studies show that an adequate water supply could reduce trachoma infections by 25%.
• More than 200 million people live in coastal flood zones, which would be dramatically impacted by rising waters.  While some 4 billion people -- 60% of the world's population -- live within 65 miles of a coast.
• At least 1.6 billion people globally do not have electricity in their homes, and approximately 54% of people in developing countries lack access to modern forms of energy.
• The number of people living in countries where cultivated land is critically scarce is project to increase from 448 million in 2005 to between 559 million and 7006 million in 2025.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

Just another day?

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is CHILD ABUSE.

• An estimated 300 million children worldwide are subjected to violence, exploitation and abuse, including the worst forms of child labor in communities, schools and institutions.
• An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked worldwide every year.
• Children living in areas of extreme economic hardship and social disruption are at an increased risk for abuse, violence and exploitation.
• About 1.5 billion children live in 42 countries affected by violent conflict between 2002 and 2006.  Of 14.2 million refuges worldwide, 41% may be children under the age of 18.
• Worldwide, an estimated 40 million children under the age of 15 suffer from violence, abuse and neglect.
• An estimated 1.2 million children -- both boys and girls -- are trafficked each year into exploitative work, including sex mining, factories, armed conflict or commercial sex work.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.