A New Goal

Mom and I went away on her Women's Retreat this weekend and had a lot of fun! Our guest speaker shared her recent travels on a pilgrimage on the Camino in Spain, and a very recent (last week) trip to India. 

While listening to her tales of her travels, I was thinking about my recently renewed passport and my goals for travel.  I was also thinking of all the amazing organizations I've learned about this weekend and got to thinking...(watch out!)...what if I combined my love of travel with my desire to participate in some way in all these amazing causes and... WAPOW! New goal for this year (and many years to come because it's going to take a while):  Help every country in the world, and all 50 states, in some way. 

I'm going to need some guidelines, and I'm fully aware that as I undertake this challenge I will learn - and possibly grow - and redefine my guidelines.  But for now:

* I will research the causes and organizations I'm interested in before giving.
* There will be no willy-nilly giving.  The cause/org. must be something I'm passionate about or interested in.
* If a country - or state - does not have an organization that does not inspire and/or isn't safe and secure to make a donation, I will give to another country of my choice on that country's 'behalf'. 
* I will give at least once a month, but try to find creative ways to give besides simply donating. 

For the first country this month, I get to check India off the list.  Our guest speaker at the retreat, Terri Todd, told us about a family in Namakkal in India, who need a new home.  They are about to be evicted from the home they are currently renting because in India, the law says that if a person rents for long enough the house can become theirs.  Their village is so small that there is no where else to go, and it costs about $5,000 U.S. to build a house, a sum that is very much out of their range.  The two little girls in the family have to walk a half mile just to use a toilet, and that walk is not safe for little girls about to reach puberty.  I can proudly say that in one night, the 65 women at our retreat were moved to give over $1,200 toward the house. 

I got an extra bonus this weekend too.  Terri brought back some beautiful scarves made by women involved in OneMother.org.  Women that are HIV positive and therefore untouchable, and/or part of the sex trade for lack of any other choice are given the opportunity to make products to sell for an income that gets them out of the sex trade.  I won this beautiful scarf in the silent auction, and when I looked up the organization, I discovered they're based out of Centennial, Colorado! Hooray for hometown helping!

They also have gorgeous quilts and placemats for sale too. 

So there's my new endeavor! I appreciate your support as I take on the world.  India, check!