"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....."

Well, here we are-in countdown mode! Only 4 days until we leave for Ethiopia. Only 4 more days to enjoy hot showers...ice cold diet cokes....chicken fried steak... mashed potatoes and gravy...PIZZA!!...

But we are excited! We have prepared as best we can, and will leave the rest up to God.

After all- WE did not dream this up, or think where can we go to make ourselves miserable for 2 years? Nor do we want to be martyrs for a cause.

God has placed this desire in both of our hearts to go. Out of a sense of gratitude for all that He has given us. And since He has planned this, we surely have no reason to fret or fear...because the Lord has gone ahead of us to prepare the way. He has already started working in the hearts of our friends here to help-so many we can't count them all-and He is working in the hearts of people in Ethiopia-government leaders, tribal leaders, people who will want to help us to achieve God's purposes.

So....we may miss our hot showers, and our diet cokes and pizza-but what a blessing we are getting in return! We don't see this as a sacrifice-we see it as a priviledge. We will see and experience things that most people never get to see. And to have an opportunity to effect lives in a positive and longlasting way--well, that is way better than pizza!!

'Early bird' Rotary Club meeting!

After the newspaper article came out about us in the Tyler Morning News (Dec 24)

we were contacted by Kevin from the Bullard Rotary club to come speak at their breakfast meeting. I said sure-we'd love to and then he said great- we meet at 6:30am ! Agghhh! But of course, even though he said he 'tricked us' about the early bird time, we were happy to go. What a great bunch of service-minded guys! These men voluntarily meet once a week before the crack of dawn to discuss ways that they can help impact their community and the world. Of course, Rotary Club is now a well-known, world wide organization with branches that meet all over the world. Their main service project in past years was the goal of irradicating polio worldwide. This they have succeeded in doing. Now they are turning their efforts to water projects--ta da!! Another example of God's perfect timing in our lives! Project Ethiopia's water mission is right in line with Rotary Club. I have a feeling these men will continue to stay in touch with us as we all seek to help bring water to the thirsty.

H20 Challenge week!

Dec 6-10 was a big week for us. I went to one of our local schools and spoke to the students there. TK Gorman is a Catholic school with a combined middle and high school campus of approximately 300 students. I showed a short video that told the story of the water crisis in Africa. Then, I gave a speech to the students. (I was nervous, but at least I didn't throw up this time! haha) I told them about Jemal-the Ethiopian child we have sponsored for the past 10 years. I spoke about our previous trips to Ethiopia, and how it has impacted our lives. I told them some basic water facts: that 5,000 children die each day from drinking dirty, unsafe water. Yes.... 5,000, every day. The women have to haul dirty water several miles each day-knowing that this same water could very likely kill their children. That fact alone just breaks my heart. Can any of you imagine the anquish of those mothers? But they have no choice. That dirty water is all that they have.

So I challenged the students at Gorman to be a hero-to save a life! Through an organization called: Project H20, the kids decided to only drink water for one week. Then, instead of sodas and sports drinks or Starbucks, they drank water only and gave the money they would have spent on those things to a water- based charity named Living Water International.

(We hope to one day become affiliated with LWI-a wonderful organization based out of Houston, TX.)

Anyway- the students did great!! With the help of two student leaders, Sarah and Emily, we made posters, put up flyers, made morning announcements, etc..They had a contest between the middle school and high school to see who could raise the most money.

They made two posters with a thermometer on each showing which campus was ahead on money giving. It was a real close contest, but the High school campus pulled it out at the end and won!

Are you ready for this???? (drum roll please.....) They raised $2000.00 in 5 days!!! Isn't that incredible? We are so proud of those kids! And you know what, if they can make that sacrifice of only drinking water for one week-how about you? Why don't YOU be a hero? You can save a life-by giving your money, that will be added to someone else's money, that will be added to someone else's....and then a well can be dug in a village and lives can be saved. Think about it.

A small short term 'sacrifice' that will have long-lasting impact for good.

If you are interested in doing something like what the TKGorman students of Tyler Texas did, go to the H20 Challenge website: www.theh2oproject.org for more information.

Of course, we here at Project Ethiopia also could use your support. Perhaps you could have your own water challenge at your church, your office, neighborhood or organization-so please make note of the address below where all contributions can be sent. The church will wire the money to us in Ethiopia, and you will receive a year end gift tax statement in the mail from them.

Emerald Bay Community Church 160 LaSalle Dr. Bullard, TX 75757