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New H.E.L.P. Staff Member
We’re very excited to announce that we’ve just hired a new staff member – Blanca Garcia! Blanca’s ben connected to our tribe for some time as a volunteer. She is passionate about ending extreme poverty, and she is willing to sacrifice to make that happen. Needless to say, we’re stoked that she is coming on-board to help us rescue orphans, restore their hope and renew their communities!Take a moment and get to know Blanca.Q. In your words, tell us why you’re choosing to join on the HELP team?Ever since I first heard about HELP, I loved their mission and passion to serve orphans around the globe. After meeting their partners in Zimbabwe last year and getting to know the HELP team a lot more, I kept wanting to find ways to get more involved with HELP and use my gifts to serve alongside them. I just quit my job as a wedding photographer in order to get more involved in the fight to end extreme poverty, and everything just lined up nicely with the opportunity to join the HELP staff team. I’m blessed to have this opportunity, and excited to see how God might use me in His work around the world.
Q. When you think of the global orphan crisis, what is your reaction?
It can be pretty overwhelming to think about the global orphan crisis. You can read all the statistics and just feel numb at the end of the day. And a lot of times rather than doing anything, we do nothing. But as a Christian, I believe we are called to serve the poor and care for orphans and widows – whether it be through giving, praying or going. So even if I can’t fix all the problems of the world on my own, it’s important for me to figure out my individual role in this much bigger story. We all have unique skills and gifts we can use to serve one another. We just have to step up and take action.
Q. What’s your role with HELP? Rumor has it, a move to Cape Town could be in your future?Hahahah… the rumor’s out, eh? Well, my current role is helping the stateside operations, planning logistics for HELP’s short-term trips, and helping with the Garage Sale for Orphans campaign as well as the Help One Now sponsorship program. Basically, all sorts of stuff. I love it!! I’ll also be going on several short-term trips with HELP over the next several months, and using photography to bring back stories and updates on HELP’s projects in Africa and Haiti. I’m so pumped!!
This has been such a big part of my heart and my passion, so it’s quite exciting for me! And yes…the rumor is true. I hope to do a long-term stay in Cape Town beginning next summer to help HELP launch its international office. But you’ll have to wait to hear more details about that later!
Needless to say, I’m excited about my current role as well as future opportunities with the HELP team. Q. All right, now to get a bit more personal:
1. Fav Band? I’ll say Coldplay, although my friends are going to kill me for not saying U2.
2. Fav Movie? Life Is Beautiful
3. Fav Austin Restaurant? Rudy’s BBQ
4. Mac or PC? Mac, of course!!!
5. And who is Mexican Mike? Um…it’s SPANISH Mike, not Mexican Mike… hahaha Spanish Mike is my car, and it’s named after the guy from “One Semester of Spanish Spanish Love Song”. YouTube it. It’s good stuff.Feel free to read Blanca’s blog, and follow her on Twitter and check out her photography work (on her blog). Also, you’ll be hearing more of her thoughts and stories right here on our blog, as she travels the world to serve and love orphans!
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New H.E.L.P. Family Member (s)
This may be one of the most exciting days in our short history. A few weeks ago, I spent 10 days with Tom Ward, and his family. Needless to say, Tom and I really connected. We both have a deep passion for the gospel, the global poor and the orphan. A key trait I look for, as we launch a start-up non-profit is risk. Who’s willing to take the risk that is necessary? Well, I learned that Tom, and his wife Cherie are both risk-takers. After multiple conversations talking about our vision and dreaming about the future, Tom has decided to come on staff with HELP. This is exciting news, I’m so thrilled. Tom has traveld the globe extensively, worked with orphans and he’s already connected to some key leaders in Zambia and India. Tom will be The Director of our Restore Initiatives. Which means, Tom will oversee our child sponsorship program, Help One Sundays. (church partnerships) and he’ll also oversee some day-to-day operations. Tom will eventually relocate to Austin, TX with his family in the near future.Next week, we will post a interview with Tom. Can’t wait, until then, please welcome Tom and Cherie, and their 3 kids, Ashleigh, Sarah and Ethan. -
Life is Crazy
From the moment we got on a plane and headed to Austin in mid-December for the holidays, life has been crazy-busy! So much going on with HELP, lot’s of transitions (we are use to this), lot’s of traveling, big conference, and of course working to serve folks in Haiti post-earthquake, and our kids in Zimbabwe!
I’m not complaining AT ALL, we are so blessed, and we love what God has called us to do. But, margins have been thin, days off are very rare, and finances have been tough. Here are some thoughts:
- We are learning to trust God daily.
- It takes a team to make a difference.
- God gives us strength when we need it, but He will also FORCE us to slow down, if we violate the sabbath.
- True ministry is hard work, hard hard hard work!
- God is doing something special in Austin.
- You have to have a clear vision, but, you also must be willing to adapt on the fly, and take advantage of a key opportunities. Haiti came out-of-nowhere, but we are seeing much fruit and we’re able to help those in need.
- The vision must be big enough, that man can’t do it alone, but simple enough, so the tribe can articulate the vision, and work towards it’s objectives!
- Mistakes happen, don’t fret, instead lead, adapt, communicate, and move forward. So many times, we make mistakes, lose momentum, and we never see the mission accomplished, because we get discouraged.The past few months have been incredible, life-giving, heart-breaking, and confusing. Yet, it’s been truly beautiful and fulfilling!
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Part 1: Looking Back at 2009
2009 is almost in-the-books. Which is crazy! I wanted to take a few moments and look back at the progress that we’ve made as we try to rescue and restore orphans, and renew their communities!
I’ve identified 5 keys progress points that have helped us move forward and see our idea’s become tangible.
Progress Point Five: 501c3
Yes, paperwork! Lame right? However, this is so important. We became an official 501c3 organization at the end of May, 2009. Over six months of paperwork, phone calls, research and frustrations!
When I received our approval letter, it was such a relief. This letter gave us the ability to pursue our dream officially!
Quick thought: If you have a dream, and you want that dream to become real, you have to face the small things with passion and vitality. Doing paperwork stinks, but it did help me focus, process and learn.
Do the small things well, and the big things will follow!
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Signs of a Movement
Humbled, it’s the best word I can describe when people get involved with HELP. In the past few weeks, look at all the folks that are doing something to change the lives of 100 kids in Zimbabwe:
- Sherry Birk and the folks @ Soma raised over $300. They just did a C-Mas fundraiser in Austin, and one child has been already sponsored so far!
- Jason Dukes donated a percentage of the proceeds of his book sales in the month of December.
- Liz and Blanca are doing a Christmas Party in Austin next weekend. They also donated a percentage of the proceeds oftheir book sale.
- A church in Delaware raised $1500 for our Christmas Fundraiser.
- We’ve had NUMEROUS one-time personal donations for theChristmas Fundraiser.
- We’ve had several friends who’ve asked people to NOT get them birthday gifts and instead donate to HELP via Facebook.
- We have another stateside supporter who committed to giving monthly.
- We’ve had multiple people sponsor kids through HELP One Now.
- We’re doing a house show in VA, and a HELP One Now Sunday in Philly this January.
- We’re talking with multiple people about taking a vision trip to S. Africa and Zimbabwe in 2010.
- We’ve raised over $10,000 so far, for thebuilding of our first orphanage to rescue more kids at Musha Wevana.
- I know there is more…I just can’t remember it all right now!
These are signs of a tribe: a compassionate group of people who are committed to rescuing orphans, restoring their hope and renewing their communities.
It’s only the beginning!
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Thanks for Believing
I got an email from my friend Todd who pastors The Well, in suburban Philly. Todd, along with some other Philly churches, is hosting a one day seminar with Darrel Gruder and Andy Crouch called Scripture & Culture.Lucky for us, they’ve decided to donate the proceeds of the conference to HELP and One Day’s Wages, which is a new organization led by Eugene Cho. Pretty cool eh?
Don’t get me wrong, we can always use extra cash, so many needs to be met and resources are hard to come-by at times.
But, here is what’s more important, the belief. I can’t tell you have encouraging it is when people “do something” to help us an organization, it means the world!
So, if you live in the Philly, make sure you go to Scripture & Culture, and let me say a big thanks to JR, Todd and all the others who decided to support HELP, it means so much.
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Get Involved
We continue to move forward with our vision for HELP. We always get people asking how they can help. Since you asked I thought I would answer:
1. Please join HELP’s Facebook Page and take the pledge. (ask all your FB friends to join). This is a vital step as we try to create a tribe of people dedicated to helping end local poverty.
2. Follow Us on Twitter. Twitter is quick and short and with the touch of a button ( or mouse) I can send important information to a lot of people.
3. Bookmark or RSS our website. RSS means every-time we update our page it will go directly to you’re news reader, such as Bloglines or Google Reader. It’s an easy to way to stay informed with all things Help End Local Poverty.
4. Pray for us. Pray that God has favor on our ministry. We really need some miracles right now.
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Help T-Shirt
Scotty finished our t-shirt design. I really like it, I hope you do too.So I need your help. If you think you would be willing to purchase a t-shirt for $20 would you email me or leave a comment? I’m not asking for promises..Just trying to gauge the demand.Or if you would like to invest in HELP and would be willing to fund this project…Could you email me.
