Make a Difference

The morning light over the pond was sight to behold.

On October 2nd Paul and I went to the Foreside Community Church for a presentation by Little Children of the world...an organization that lends a helping hand to at risk children around world. 

Their vision for the children is based on the the acronym HELPS: Health and Housing, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Faith, and Child Sponsorship.

The Foreside Church in Falmouth, Maine was Paul's first church and a wonderful community for us for nearly 20 years. A very special girl named Alex grew up in that church...and her mom Patsy is one of my dearest friends. Patsy was the church secretary at the time so Alex would come to work with her mom and play in the office and got to know Paul pretty well. Paul performed her wedding just a few years ago.

After Alex graduated from high school she spent a year in the Philippines volunteering for Little Children of the World...and it was life changing. Alex quickly recognized that there were so many kids in the community that weren't going to school because they were hungry. They were out begging for food...for themselves and their families....and she wanted to do something about it.

So Alex wrote a letter to Paul and her beloved Foreside Community Church family....because she knew they would help. With the church's financial support...Alex started a soup kitchen complete with a vitamin program for the children in the community.

Alex and her daughter drove down from Down East Maine to attend the presentation.....and we learned that that soup kitchen was still going strong after 24 years.

Alex was just a young woman at the time....and made a huge difference in this poverty stricken community. And I don't think she had any idea at the time how it would grow...and thrive.

Over 500,000 meals have been served since it started in 2000....and 85 children per day are fed thanks to Alex and the continued support of the Foreside Community Church.

Ok...why am I telling this story now? Because on that day....October 2nd...Paul and I signed up to sponsor Yangbeth Amomo in the Philippines.

We've sponsored children before through another organization...and it was a wonderful experience. But it was the right time to do it again and hopefully we can make a difference in this sweet little boy's life.

Just today....we got our first letter from Yangbeth, this precious little 2nd grader who lives with his grandmother, a sister and three uncles.

Welcome to the family Yangbeth! 

JOYful!