Action: Drinking Only Water Pt.2 & the Cost of Drinks

by Elisa | Mar 12, 2011 | Clean Water, Fair Trade Products, Ways to Make a Difference

So guess what? I did not drink coffee, soda, juice, wine, etc... for two whole weeks! I had a little box marked "Water Fund" in which I threw paper slips declaring what drink I would otherwise be drinking so I could estimate the cost of drinks to donate. I am proud to...

Action: Only Drinking Water (No Coffee!)

by Elisa | Feb 21, 2011 | Clean Water, Poverty, Ways to Make a Difference

But there are people out there, people like me, who HAVE to have their coffee or ____ (insert drink of choice here) every morning. For some people it is sweet tea, for others it is jasmine green herbal goodness tea. Orange Juice, V8 Juice, or, yes, I am serious- morning shot of Mountain Dew. I know, right!? Mountain Dew?! That is disgusting! Yet a vice is a vice, no matter what it may be . . . It comes down to challenging yourself to give up everything but water, to give up something you love, even something you think you need.

Islam Vs. Americanism: French Halal Food Feeding Terrorism and Fears?

by Elisa | Jan 7, 2011 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Art of Advocacy, Community, Helping that Doesn't Hurt, Seeking Justice, Spiritual Discipleship

I guess what it comes down to, is that I really believe loving Muslims, showing Jesus to them, is more sustainable than getting worked about about halal.

Kefilwe’s Story: A Girl With HIV (For World AIDS Day)

by Elisa | Dec 5, 2010 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Global Health, Poverty

“My momma’s got AIDS” the little girl whispered. It was one of those whispers that is so quiet that it knocks your breath away, like a sonic boom. Her skin was like copper, hardened, darkened, but smoother than silk. She had a pock-mark on the corner of her forehead, near where her coarse, black hair began to embrace her head. I couldn’t help but think that she looked beautiful.

Soundtracks: Changing the World in Humility

by Elisa | Oct 18, 2010 | Art of Advocacy, Spiritual Discipleship

Sometimes I am pretty sure the only reason our lives are so dull is because we don’t have the appropriate music playing in the background constantly. I am convinced my life would be amazing as any Oscar-winning movie if some D.J. in the sky always had a perfect soundtrack going for me.

Blog Action Day: Delicious Water

by Elisa | Oct 15, 2010 | Art of Advocacy, Clean Water, Good Charities, Poverty, Ways to Make a Difference

I remedy this by walking over to my refrigerator, overflowing my glass with ice-cold water as I am distracted, making a puddlely mess on the floor for my toddling son to slip on. Or if I am not home, I can stick a crisp George Washington in a machine, which then pops out a fresh bottle of water. I pull of the top, twist, snap, and drink deeply from the bliss of agua deliciosa. It’s somewhat sad then, that a good part of the world experiences thirst and water shortages pretty regularly.

Delicious Water: Charities

by Elisa | Oct 14, 2010 | Art of Advocacy, Clean Water, Good Charities, Helping that Doesn't Hurt

These charities have very effective, considerate, and sustainable practices. Which means giving to them does not just throw money down a bottomless well by building these wells. These wells actually transform communities and save lives. They are magic wells.

Label Me: A Housewife, A World Changer, and the Organization L2F Needs Network

by Elisa | Sep 17, 2010 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Art of Advocacy, Poverty, Refugees and Immigration, Spiritual Discipleship, United States

I am part of an organization, L2F Needs Network. Actually, a best friend (the director of L2F) and I spend the majority of our non-essential-household-taking-care-of-time (there has got to be a better way to say that) running L2F. . . It’s like we are Robin Hood, but we don’t have to steal from the rich. Which is good, because I would probably have some moral qualms about that.

Post-It-Notes for Advocacy: My Kid

by Elisa | Sep 13, 2010 | Global Health, Human Trafficking, Poverty, Seeking Justice, Spiritual Discipleship

She picks up some stacking pegs, then goes about dropping them in specific locations on the floor. This must either be creative art or she is practicing war tactics again. If the latter, these landmine-like devices will cause pain in one foot and hopping up and down on the opposite leg. I choose to presume this is an artistic expression, while make a mental note not to step on them . . . My daughter is a delight. She makes me crazy, grating on my impatience or shocking me with her callous little girl evil. But, its impossible to not love her.

Adventure

Swamp Wisdom: An Ecclesiastes on Human Rights

Ever heard of ancient King Solomon? He was said to be the wisest of them all as he philosophized...

Busy Moms, Community, Family & Relationships, Raising Kids

Identity Crisis #3467 – My Messy Beautiful

The other day, my daughter was excitedly expressing her admiration of the teachers and helpers at her school. I usually resist the temptation to to ask my kids what they want to be when they grow up because at some point in my...

Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Mental Health, Recovery, Safe Spaces

Understanding Terms for Poor Nations vs. Rich Nations

Terms of Poverty Whether in public political addresses or in pleas from non-profits, we have all heard some of these terms thrown around at some point or another. But just because we can infer their general meaning, I...

Ethical Fashion, Fair Trade Products, Giving Back, Socially Conscious Brands

Everyday People Doing Something About Human Trafficking And Refugees

Can an everyday person make a difference for refugees? Yep. They can! Just as I’ve seen it...

Children-in-Need, Clean Water, Conflicts, Wars, Genocides and Atrocities, Global Health, Good Charities, Helping that Doesn't Hurt, Human Rights, Poverty, Refugees and Immigration, Seeking Justice, United States

Should We Participate in Operation Christmas Child?

I’ve been doing Operation Christmas Child (OCC) for years and have encouraged you guys to...

Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking

Why We Need To Start Talking To Our Kids About Modern Slavery

Update 2021: This course is currently offline. Since, it has been renamed Conversations With...

Leadership

When Our Best Yes Meets Humble Service: When Should Changemakers Clean Toilets?

Often Changemakers find themselves doing the faithful background service of doing things like changing toilets. How to we balance our "best yes" with humility?

Spiritual Discipleship

When Our Best Yes Meets Humble Service: When Should Changemakers Clean Toilets?

Often Changemakers find themselves doing the faithful background service of doing things like changing toilets. How to we balance our "best yes" with humility?

Life Purpose, Live Intentionally, Personal Growth, Productivity

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