Alternative Chrsitmas Ideas

Here are some organizations that are offering alternative Christmas ideas if you're looking to give something this year that really matters and you haven't found that gift yet.

Samaritan’s purse- give everything from education, livestock, food or healthcare to those in need around the world
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/gift_catalog/

Blood Water Mission- give the gift of a safe water filter to a family in Zambia- will provide clean water for up to 20 yrs.
http://www.bloodwatermission.com/christmas/

Casas por Cristo- giving electric blankets, bags of food, or hygiene kits to the poverty stricken in MX
https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1005

Give Clean Water- give a family in Fiji clean water for a lifetime
http://www.givecleanwater.org/donate/

Heifer International- giving families and children around the world training and animal gifts to help them become self-reliant
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/?msource=kw2795&gclid=CPLf7qeexZ4CFQkIswodYzpZqw

TOM'S Shoes- give shoes for Christmas and for every pair purchased they give a pair to someone in need.
http://www.tomsshoes.com/content.asp?tid=771

International Princess Project- give PUNJAMMIES (a premium brand of pajamas made from Indian Sari fabric) hand made by women who were formerly enslaved in prostitution. 100% of proceeds support the women who made them.
http://www.intlprincess.org/index.php/ipp/content/visit_the_store/

963 Coffee- give the one time or monthly gift of coffee and give back the fair wages that coffee farmers in poverty stricken communitites deserve
http://www.963coffee.com/

Christmas in Juarez

I was blessed to have the opportunity to visit families in Juarez with Christmas bags. If you've built for one of these families please pass along this link so that others that were involved in the build can see how the family is doing. I am humbled to be the one that gets to bring these gifts. Every family has been overwhelmed with gratitude praises to God.
I'll continue to update this album as I'll be delivering more gifts this week.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give back. If it were not for volunteers coming to build, none of these families would be a part of my life.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2637690&id=4936508&l=52ab4a9938

Merry Christmas from El Paso

The Gift of Warmth

I’m writing this from El Paso as the last bits of snow from this week’s storm melt away and the snow clouds are rolling in again. The high today is 48 degrees and the forecast for this weekend is more snow. The looming clouds are starting to roll over the mountains and although snow seems to bring on the holiday season for some, for others it brings bitter cold and possible death. It’s hard to enjoy the cold weather and snow as our hearts break for the many families across the border that are without heat. For so many the temperature outside is the same inside.


On a visit this week to Juárez, our staff found freezing families in their homes wearing scarves and jackets. They weren’t dressed like this to go outside but just to keep warm inside their homes. Despite the heartbreak of this situation, there is also a glimmer of hope. One of the families shared that although it is freezing during the day, at night they are kept warm by the electric blankets that they received from Casas por Cristo. Over the past year, because of generous donations, we have been able to give two electric blankets to every family that we have built a home for. Due to the high cost of propane and electricity in México, we aren’t able to warm entire homes during the winter months, but we are finding some comfort in knowing that these families are at least able to sleep warm at night. This is a huge answer to prayers in the midst of the heartache that we feel during these winter months.


I know it’s hard to believe that the excruciating heat of México can turn to such brutal cold, but we are in the midst of it right now. As I comfortably turn on my heat and bundle up from the cold I am personally convicted to begin to fight again on behalf of these families. Last year over $12,000 was donated to purchase electric blankets to keep families in Juárez warm. I’m praying for the same outpouring this year. As you seek warmth yourself this holiday season, please consider helping someone that seeks the same. 100% of the money donated goes directly to providing heat for families in México. Consider giving the actual gift of warmth for Christmas this year.

To donate please visit https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1005. Please designate “Heat Fund” in the Program Area drop down menu. You will be sent a receipt for your tax deductible gift. You can also donate in honor or remembrance of someone you love. There is a gift card posted on the “Give” page of our website for you to personalize and print. Thank you for giving a gift that matters this Christmas season. It may just be the gift that saves someone’s life.
Thanks for your love and support,
Brittany

70 mph gusts topple Cohen Stadium canopy, close roads, cause scattered power outages

with these winds tearing up el paso this much I can't imagine what it's like or families in cardboard and pallet houses in Juarez. please pray for these families.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_13946937?source=most_viewed

65 MPH

winds in el paso and juarez today are 65 mph. because we live in the desert it looks like we are walking through a sand box that a tornado is ripping through. you can't see the mtns. through the sand and walking 10ft. is tedious. it's terrible outside. i write this as i sit inside at my desk with my cup of coffee listening to some new tunes. it's ripping at my heart to be so comfortable right now when people i love aren't.

i try to spend time with God every morning before i go to work. today i was too busy sleeping late and figuring out which shirt matched better to have that time. i made breakfast and walked out to my truck to face the howling winds. about 15 steps from one shelter to the next. i didn't have time for God this morning because frankly, i didn't NEED Him. the walls of my house weren't in a battle with the wind to remain standing and my fridge isn't empty. i have a feeling a lot of families in MX spent this morning very different than me. i have a feeling that this morning especially, families woke up and went straight to their knees to be with God. begging Him that He would provide for the food they need. begging Him that the walls of their cardboard and pallet house wouldn't crash in on them. begging that the deafening noise of the howling wind threatening everything they have would stop.

i know houses will blow down today. there's no way some of those structures of cardboard and slats of wood can withstand this. i'm wrestling with a lot in my heart right now as the doors continue to bang and objects that once stood solid have become projectiles. i'm wrestling with my own comforts and the difference of the faithful that i serve and myself. aren't i the one going to Juarez to teach them about Jesus? it seems more and more they are teaching me. i'm learning to trust God as i sit here helpless; a small force in this whirlwind. i can't block the wind. i can't stop it from taking out someones house. i can rest in knowing the families we've built for have solid homes now and aren't worried about losing all they have. but i cannot stop these gusts for the others. i can only trust in God the same as i am telling them to, and then wrestle to understand if the houses come crashing down. in this we are all the same. helpless, outside of God.

i stared outside speechless trying to figure out how to capture a picture of what is surrounding us. what i realized is that there's no way to take a picture of the wind; you can only capture the effects of it. funny, that's exactly the same as faith.

My Life