2007 BLOOD:WATER MISSION Project Update

Many of you can remember the season of 2007 in which we participated in a couple of community service projects, one of which was raising over $2,000 for BloodWater:Mission, an organization that works to dig drinking water wells in Africa. Their organization also works to provide AIDS relief across the continent.

Some exciting national news has come out of the organization, and by extension, our fundraising efforts as well.

Recently a documentary has been released called, SONS OF LWALA. "It tells the story of Vanderbilt University Medical School students Milton and Fred Ochieng’, two brothers from Kenya whose village sent them to America to become doctors. After losing both parents to AIDS, they are left with the heartbreaking task of returning home to finish the health clinic their father started before getting sick. Unable to raise enough money on their own, the brothers are joined by students, politicians and rock musicians who put on fundraising drives throughout the United States through Blood:Water Mission's support. SONS OF LWALA follows Milton and Fred on their incredible journey as they find a way, despite all odds, to open their village’s first hospital." - (bloodwatermission.org)

Here's the trailer to the film, and below it a link to the ABC News story


The brothers will be featured on ABC's World News with Charlie Gibson tonight, January 30 at 6:45PM (PST) as the program's "Persons of the Week."

Click here to read the ABC News story.

Something to think about

Last season we tried to think about and act upon helping others within the larger community. Our "shoe drive" netted over 200 pairs of used shoes which we donated to the homeless of Los Angeles. We raised over $2,000 toward the digging of drinking wells in Africa through BloodWater:Mission.

I came across this quote regarding our charity from the famed English writer, CS Lewis (writer of The Chronicles of Narnia among many other works). It kind of hit me betwee the eyes, as I realized that I've got a long way to go to get to that place in my charity, my giving.

Think of these words as we approach another season and another opportunity to give to others:

“If our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.

If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them.” - C.S. Lewis