25 in Change

Hello All!  I know that many of you received an email directly from me, but I wanted to let everyone know about an awesome opportunity that has come my way.  Here is the letter I sent to many friends and family outlining just what this 25 in Change is all about:

Hello Friends and Family!

It is with a sense of excitement, mixed with some anxiety, that I am writing to you.  I recently received an email from our church with the subject line: One way your family can serve together in April.  It caught my eye, obviously, and as I read, it wasn’t the usual plea for childcare helpers or greeters at Sunday service.  Our church has partnered with a local group called 25 in Change to raise awareness of global malnutrition.  This is what they have asked, and I have volunteered to help with.

Starting April 7th, I, along with 24 others in the community, will commit to eat only 12 oz. of beans and rice for each meal over the next 25 days in order to raise money to feed children around the globe who are suffering from malnutrition.  Why would I do this you may be asking?  A couple of reasons:

1. God calls me to be a blessing to others:

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'  - Matthew 25:35-40

2. I want to be a model to my girls:

I am not always a great example to my girls when it comes to healthy eating or giving to others.  In a world that tells them (ALL THE TIME) that they can have whatever they want, whenever they want; I want to give my girls a counter-culture message.  I want them to see me sacrificing for others.  I want them to see that even though it is difficult and uncomfortable, it can be done and done with a spirit of giving and cheer (hopefully I won’t have to fake it).   Both the girls have volunteered to use their allowance money to partner with me and although I know it is going to be tough...have agreed to give up fast food for 25 days.  And we aren’t just talking meals...we are talking after-school drinks and the occasional Yogurtland!  Yikes!

3. God wants to change me:

You know God is trying to get your attention when He hits you with the proverbial “hammer to the head”.  I received this email on a day when I was feeling frustrated by the attitudes running rampant in our house...the old “entitlement” monster had been wrecking havoc.  I was discouraged with the attitude I saw in myself and the girls, and was therefore feeling guilty (at my utter lack of good parenting in this area, and for the yuckiness I saw in myself).  I read the email and while I thought, “This could be for me” I also wanted to send it right to the email trash and run away quickly.  My fears and anxiety about the task, and I will admit, my strong disdain for it (no Coke for 25 days, no candy, no eating whatever I wanted!?!?) were the very things that I sensed God wanting to rid me of.  I figured I could think about it (just long enough for four other brave people to take the remaining spots) and then I got an email post from a blog that I follow titled Raising Kids in an Entitled World.  It was like God conked me on the head with a hammer…”Hello Libby, are you listening?”  He wants better for me and my family and this project is one way to get there.

So as I embark on this adventure to help others and to allow God to change me and my family, I want to invite you to be a part of it.  In order for myself and the other advocates to eat, we need partners to pledge $25 and 25 fast-food free days.  That’s where you come in.  When an individual partners with us, children in need get to eat, and so do we.  If the children don’t eat...we don’t either.  For my group of Advocates to met the $50,000 goal we need 1,875 people to partner with us.  If you would like to be part of the journey please visit 25 in Change: Become a Partner (you will find my info under the Advocates section) at www.25inchange.org and sign up to help!  And after you do that...tell your friends and family about the project...maybe they will want to join in too.  I know I will appreciate it and the millions of undernourished children around the world will too! 

Thank you for taking the time to hear me out and for considering a partnership with 25 in Change.Grace and Peace,Libby

P.S. If you want info on the effectiveness of the World Food Program go to CharityNavigator.org!  4 Stars.

**Update: Two days in and this is tough.  The hardest part...the caffeine withdrawal.  I am hoping that each day brings smaller and smaller headaches.  Matt is partnering with me by eating beans and rice a majority of his meals and that is a BLESSING.  The girls have given up fast food and I haven't heard any complaints.  In fact, Ruby has been extremely moved by the whole experience.  She is asking to eat beans and rice with me more than the one meal a week that we talked about for the girls.  She has been caring for me by making me comfy places to sit and refilling my ever-empty Nalgene of water!  Last night she wrote me this personal message and posted the next one on the frig.  This makes all those beans and rice worth it!