Ministry & Missions

Let’s Help Joplin Schools & Homeschool Families

This morning I woke up and like every other day, I started in on my work….mornings usually find me writing my heart out while the house is still quiet. Today, though, as I go about my usual activities, my work, and take care of my children, there are families in Joplin, not more than 40 minutes away, who are suffering devastating losses due to the horrible EF5 tornado that ripped through on Sunday.

Knowing that our neighbors down the road are suffering, I put it in my mind to do something and this morning had a lightbulb moment. We all know that the schools have just been devastated by this tornado. Not only are the schools destroyed, but there have been reports that they are still searching for many missing faculty and students. They are determined still to have school start back up in August. I’m not sure if any homeschool families were affected by the tornado, but I’m sure there were with the scope and breadth of the destruction this storm caused.

You might ask me why I’m focusing on school supplies? Because this is an expense that’s going to sneak up on these families all too soon….and I’d like to at least take that burden away from them if possible. The schools will need to rebuild for now, but they are going to need supplies; the teachers will most likely need to replenish everything they had.

Knowing all of this, I’ve decided to start a campaign to help gather school supplies, office supplies, arts & crafts supplies, backpacks, teacher bags, books, lunchboxes, etc., for these students and their families, teachers, and homeschool families. If you would like to help, you can email me at info@mamabzz.com, or you can tweet me @mamabzz. I’m hoping that you will buy supplies and ship them to me. Then, hopefully, I can gather a few local bloggers or church friends who will help me put the bags or packages together for these families. My family and I will personally deliver everything to Joplin, since it’s just down the road.

If you are a company and would like to donate supplies, you can email me at info@mamabzz.com, or tweet me @mamabzz.

I’d love for you to also spread the word about this to all your readers and followers. Together, we can make a difference!

SYL: Finding Your Niche, Your Passion

In taking a break from my SYL (Shine Your Light) posts lately, I’ve realized that I really want to make them more personal. This week I wanted to focus on finding your passion, but next week I hope to write why trafficking is so heavy on my heart.

Have you ever read about something going on in the world….or watched the news, even The Today Show, and found yourself completely embroiled in the story? Have you ever read or watched something and immediately felt that pain in your heart, that anger begin to rise as you consider all the ramifications of what you’ve just heard or read about? That’s called passion. Passion, to me, is what not only lights the fire within but keeps the fire burning. It helps you to carve out your niche in the world and find where your true purpose lies.

See, I believe that God has put an innate purpose within each of us. Whether we choose to live out that purpose or not is a choice that we make. It can even mean making the right choice when we feel that passion to act….that burning fire to do something about what’s going on.

This week, think about your fire….think about your niche, your passion. What dilemma or problem or situation gets your ire? What brings that burning feeling in your chest, that ache to get up and do something? Also, think about what you love to do. If you were to connect the dots, per se, maybe what you love to do could be connected with what you feel passionate about. What drives and motivates you?

Does that fire within have to do with education and teaching the next generation? Maybe your heart lies with children or mothers in Zambia or Sudan. Maybe you feel passionate about helping young, single mothers.Ã‚Â Do you long to adopt or foster children right here in the U.S.? Do you want to get up and do something about the state of homelessness in America? What about trafficked children/teens? Find that fire….whatever you feel passionate about doesn’t have to be “big” in order for you to step up and make a difference. It can be as “small” as providing meals to shut-ins (no small thing to them indeed).

This week, find that niche. Leave a comment and start some discussion. Share what you’re passionate about….next week I’ll definitely be sharing why I want to fight human/sex trafficking and why it’s so important to me.

Shine your light!

Let’s Help Joplin Schools & Homeschool Families

SYL: Finding Your Niche, Your Passion

About Mel

The Latest Buzz

Fight Human Trafficking

Archives & Fine Print

Grab Button

Tweets