Last-Minute Updates Before Haiti

4theVoiceless in Haiti

One more day before our team leaves for Haiti.  We packed the crates at CHC Southaven Wednesday night.  I'm sure everyone else on the team, like me, will be trying to remember last-minute items that we don't want to forget.  Just a couple of items here on the blog before we leave:

As I did on the last Haiti trip in 2012, I will be journaling while we are there and putting those thoughts on the blog when we return.  For brief updates while we are in Haiti, you can follow me on Twitter (@alainsworth).  That's about the extent of access to the internet that I expect while we are there.

Orphan Run Mississippi 5K & Fun Run

Also, I wanted to encourage you to sign up for the Orphan Run MS 5K (or fun run) if you have not already done so.  My family is all signed up and ready to go (well, at least all signed up!).  Sign up in the next week to assure yourself a T-shirt.  (That's not so that you can have another T-shirt but more that you can help raise awareness to the needs of orphans in Uganda and elsewhere!)

Better yet, if you are in a position to sponsor the race (your business, your church, or your family), please contact race director EmilyFaith Abbott for more information.

Please pray for our team.  I look forward to updating you when we return.

The blog has gone over 6,000 page views since coming online in May of 2012!  As always, thanks for reading. 

4theVoiceless,
Al

Stuck on a Cruise Ship: First and Third World Problems

Is your biggest gripe a legitimate life issue or a first world problem?  There are a number of Twitter accounts dedicated to bringing first world problems to light, problems such as:

• I need to go to the bathroom, but I cant find my phone. (from @F1rstWrldPrblms)
• There are so many remixes of the song I want that I can't find the original on YouTube. (from @FiWoProblems)
• It was 30 degrees on Monday, 60 today. my sinuses do not appreciate this change in the weather. (from @frstworldprobs)
• Had trouble finding a parking spot at McDonald's this morning.  Too many people parking outside and using the free wifi.  (from . . . well, that's not important).

The recent Carnival Triumph power failure and resulting deplorable conditions has gotten much press in recent days.  I can only imagine the treasure trove of #firstworldprobs flying around that ship!  Having been on a cruise myself and also having at least seen third world living conditions up close, I wonder how I would have responded if I had been on that ship. 

I have a bottom-line reaction to what happened to all the first-worlders on that cruise, but I'll save it for later in the conversation.  I would like to know how you think you would have responded.  That conversation is taking place here.  Join in!


Thanks for reading.

4theVoiceless,
Al

Check out posts from the last week or so on what seems to be a continuing trend on hope and hopelessness.

And Suddenly...Orphan Run MS

With just a simple Facebook message, bam!  This Wednesday morning, I saw a notification of message from my niece, a freshman at the University of Arkansas.  Through some connections at her church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, she had seen a video about a 5K run in Hernando, Mississippi (where I live), to take place in April to benefit orphans in Uganda.

I clicked on the Orphan Run MS video link and realized, "Hey, I know these people!"  Well, at least I had met the race director's parents, and they had visited our small group.  Did I mention that the race director is 14 years old and new to the Mid-South?

A couple of emails later, and EmilyFaith and her mom, Jennifer, were sitting in a 4theVoiceless planning meeting that very night.  It was a call to action for 4theVoiceless through way too many "coincidences."

You will have the opportunity to read EmilyFaith's story here and in the newspaper in the days to come, but I wanted all my readers to have a head start on what is sure to be THE event to attend in Hernando, Mississippi, on April 20, 2013.

If you have a group of people (school clubs, small groups, business associates, etc.) whom you would like to get together to hear EmilyFaith's story firsthand and get involved with Orphan Run MS, contact me at al.ainsworth@mychc.tv, and I will do my best to make that happen.

Here are some links to get you started on being a part of Orphan Run MS:

The YouTube video that started this whole process.

Orphan Run MS on Facebook.  Go "like" their page!

Orphan Run MS on Twitter.  @OrphanRunMS

Sign up for the race itself!  Sign up early as the funds generated from race sign-ups will provide operating expenses for all the other really cool things that will be associated with this run.  Sign up to run the 5K or the one-mile fun run.  Or (and this is a term I learned Wednesday night), you could be a "virtual runner," one who signs up and pays for the run but doesn't actually run the race.  I am somewhat of a runner, but "virtual running" sounds much easier.  In fact, my friend Jeff ran a marathon in one minute before bed last night; what a beast!

In Other 4tV News:

CAFO Membership

We received notification this week that Colonial Hills Church has been accepted into membership of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.  CAFO is an umbrella organization for many churches and para-church organizations doing great work for the world's orphans, and I am pleased to be "officially" associated with them. I serve as an area coordinator for Orphan Sunday (sponsored by CAFO), so if your church has never recognized Orphan Sunday (first Sunday in November) and would like to do so this year, please let me know.  I have found the resources offered on the CAFO site to be plentiful and helpful.

PATH Training at CHC

Interested in fostering or adoption through the foster care system?  Harden House is providing the training that you need on January 26 and February 2 at CHC.  Email Lauren Johnson or Heather Wright (who will actually be leading the training) for more information or to let her know you are coming.

Countdown to Haiti Mission Trip: 56 Days!

 

Thanks for reading.  Your feedback is always welcome!

4theVoiceless,
Al