I challenge you to become educated

Do you wanna know how many slaves work for you?

Check out this website. It will totally blow your mind. 

Slavery Footprint

Made in a Free World

I was told a while ago that we vote with our pocketbooks everyday, and if pocketbooks is to outdated a term then we vote with our debit cards everyday. This has stuck with me and I vote with my money to let big corporate giants know that I prefer fair trade, ethically sound, organic made clothing. That's not where it begins or ends. It starts with cheap labor in cotton fields in Uzbekistan where the government pulls children and teachers out of school to pick the worlds cotton. Uzbekistan is the largest producer of cotton. How could I be OK going to say a Wal-mart and buying a shirt for my daughter that I know is made with blood cotton and put it out of mind because the shirt is only $1.50. That's somebodies baby out there being denied an education because people want shirts worth nothing. But the labor, damage and violence is everything to that child. Slavery is to big of an issue to be indifferent, I don't think we have the luxury of being indifferent. 

I am in no way stating I am perfect and source all of my clothing and such from ethically sound companies but when I do know of a store that's not practicing good ethics and is sourcing cotton from places like Uzbekistan I stay away like the plague. There is so much to be done and said on this topic. I am still learning about fair-trade and how to make better choices with what I buy. Its still really hard to do but what we can do is write to our favorite brands and let them know this issue is important to us. We don't want cotton and other everyday materials in our things that came off the backs of slaves. There is a section at the bottom of slavery footprint that allows you to pick your favorite brands and send them a letter. 

We need to become educated consumers. Vote with our pocketbooks everyday, make your vote count. Let your voice be heard. End slavery.

Are you in it to end it?

This February 27th, join us and other Freedom Fighters from around the world as we SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY. 


Draw a RED X on your hand. 


Tell your world that slavery still exists and YOU WON’T STAND FOR IT. 


Just use your influence any way you can to help us carry the message of FREEDOM so even more people know. 


Let’s make this SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY DAY even brighter than ever.

#enditmovement

Every day from here until the 27th I will be posting videos of organizations that are, raising awareness, rehabilitating victims of trafficking and lobbying for stronger laws in the United States and around the world. Please join, slavery never ended. Just use your influence any way you can to help us carry the message of FREEDOM so even more people know.

Operation Christmas Child

We have been long time supporters of Samaritans Purse and we have followed their ministry closely in Sudan and South Sudan. I was introduced to Operation Christmas Child (OCC) three years ago through our church. OCC is a shoe box that people fill up with toys, toiletries and candy based on gender and age. The Christmas boxes are then shipped out all over the world to children who might not have Christmas otherwise.

This year I wanted to do something different with the shoe box and give it an upgrade. Instead of using the standard shoe box in my closet I wanted to use something the children could use over and over. Earlier this year Costco was selling plastic shoe box containers in a set of sixteen. I thought I could paint the lids with chalkboard paint and give the children chalk and that way they are able to use the box long term because its plastic and not cardboard but also the lid could be used for a double purpose.

The shoe boxes have been on my to do list before baby arrives for awhile now. This past Sunday Hubby, Ava and I went to the dollar store and stocked up on a bunch of goodies for the boxes. Ava was so excited to pack the toys for the children in China and Africa that we couldn't wait for the lids to painted. So we packed our boxes and this weekend and Hubby will paint the lids with chalkboard paint sometime this week. Please visit Samaritans Purse to get more information and pray about sending out boxes. This was a great way to serve with a toddler.

If you would like to know how to pack a shoe box and when national collection week is click this link and all the details are listed on Operation Christmas Child resource page.

Cheers.

Just Think

What if they knew we were Christians by our love?

Central Union Mission

Our bible study group met Sunday after church in DC to hand out bags to the guest at Central Union Mission. Please visit their website to learn more about the heart of this faith based homeless shelter. The mission has been serving this area since 1884 and was originally started to serve wayward men in the DC area. It has served servicemen and women, children and now is full-time homeless shelter with multiple locations in the area.

We went into the chapel and handed out the bags or I should say the children were the ones who handed out the bags. Everyone was nice and so thankful. Some of the men wanted to bless us with something it was so touching. We received just as much going there and serving as they did receiving the bags and prayer.

This itty bitty was the leader of the pack and was such a shining light. 

What an amazing experience to be able to serve right here in our community. Please prayerfully consider supporting the Mission.

Lamb Center

This past Friday we went to our first homeless day-time shelter called the Lamb Center in Virginia. Please visit the website and learn more about their mission but the staff and guest at the center really made such an impression on me. This is what it's like to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We heard the directors testimony the director was court ordered to the center thirteen years ago for community service and now he is leading the center. God just needs a willing heart and He can use anybody.

They hold daily bible studies and devotionals and they also have programs for those struggling with addiction. They serve about 100 people daily and need lots of prayer and have other physical needs. Please prayerfully consider supporting this center.

Lets' be the hands and feet of Jesus like the staff and volunteers here at the Lamb Center are everyday.

Cheers.

Blessing Bags Part 2

Our small group joined forces on Thursday and we put together almost forty more blessing bags. We did some large bags, mini bags and children's bags. It was such a fun sight to see the kids getting excited to make the bags. This small operation is growing we will start making blessing bags for hospitals, women shelters and everywhere else in between to make ourselves available to God and He can use us as He may.

We did several children's bags.

We cleared the dollar stores shelf's of all there Bibles.

Full force into making the bags.

All the kiddies putting together their bags their ages ran from 2years old to 16 years old.

Amazing what you can do when we all unite and serve together.

 Group Picture!

I love this ministry of blessing bags because we can all pitch in and help. I am so excited to see where God will lead us and the lives that will be touched by these bags.

God Bless you Royal Princes and Princes's of God.