Our children....Their children.

I had the opportunity to go on the 4th grade class field trip with my daughter and 43 of her classmates. The trip destination was to our wonderful state capital ~ Madison Wisconsin. There were several parents entered into a lottery to "win" seats on the wonderful motor coach bus that took us right from our elementary school to the state capital and back home again. What luxury. The students raised money throughout the school year to have a motor coach vs. a yellow school bus.

Each student was "allowed" to bring along whatever personal items they wanted, but "no cell phones" were allowed. As we began our journey to Madison I was in observation of all that our children had. Sitting around me were 14 children with Nintendo Dsi. These hand held devices play games and "chat" with other devices. The children that brought their DSi with them, began to "chat" with each other. They would have screen names and then type back and forth much like cell phones nowadays. I really began to wonder, how are these children who are 9 and 10 yrs old going to learn how to communicate effectively when their heads are down and they are using their fingers to type whatever nonsense they were typing. Every once in a while one of them would stand up and ask: "OK, who is Mickey" or "who is blue57" then someone would shout from the back of the bus, "its me"

As I think about the majority of our children on this class trip, I really began to wonder why we as Americans insist that our children have these toys? Is it because we don't want to take time with them, that we are too busy and this will keep them quiet? I couldn't help but wonder that almost every child in this bus had an electronic device of some sort ie: ipods, PSP, Ninteno with an average cost of $170 per device. I excluded 3 children from my calculation that would be a GRAND TOTAL of $6,800 worth of electronic items in the hands of 9 and 10 yr olds!!

As I envelope my work in Tanzania Africa, I equate things to how this money could be used to help the children who hug me because no one else does, how they have bellies full of worms due to bacteria ridden water and bellies that don't grumble anymore but merely hurt!!! The children in Tanzania don't want an electronic item, they just want to feel better, have strength to smile, walk and perhaps even run...this is what is on their list. $6800 could feed nearly 31,000 bellies, put clean water into 25 or more villages and change their lives forever.

My prayer for today and always is that my words that I type or speak will plant some seeds for the future. You can make a difference. I will be happy to help you to help others...all it takes is one simple email...I will connect you to the most fulfilling work you will ever experience. Give it some thought...it maybe the best decision you will ever make.

Until next time~

Cheers!