So close and yet so far!!

What an awesome day today!!! As I was incredibly busy today "getting organized" I received a call on skype from my dearest friends in Tanzania Africa. I was literally in the midst of trying to do 5 things at once when I answered the call!! It was not only my dearest friends (all calling together) but Sister Hilda called and had two boys with her that had received new uniforms that were purchased by Simple Hope!!! The boys were so excited they began dancing and I could hear Sister Hilda just giggling at their excitement!! I had asked her when she was able to purchase uniforms to send a photo to me....better yet, she called me and the two young boys actually said "asante sana madam" and then again and again repeated their Thanks!! They were the only two that finished the National Exam with 100%! Sister Hilda rewards those that study hard but she makes them work hard. They don't know what their reward will be but in the end it is always something big! Now their families can rest easy knowing they have new uniforms!! I also got to speak to my Dada (sister) Debi whom I have gotten to be very close too. We spoke for awhile and it was like she was right next to me!! What a blessing technology is!!
I am so happy for the young boys who learned that when you work hard, you do get a reward ~ to them this was their lucky day and to me, it just filled my heart with happiness~ perhaps one of my lucky days too.

Until next time~

Cheers!

Upcoming Dates to remember!!

We have a couple fundraisers on the horizon that I want you to put in your calendar as a "save the date!"

Saturday September 25th, 2010. Noodles & Company in Menomonee Falls (by Target) will be sharing a percentage of the gross sales that day towards our food packaging event which will take place at Menomonee Falls High School on November 6th, 2010. Please email me to receive a coupon that you must take along to Noodles & Company so that your gross receipt will go towards this event! Email: simplehope1@gmail.com for the coupon.

Friday October 15th, 2010. Angelo's cafe Vino (The old John Harbors) in the Falls will host the 2nd annual Wine Tasting event for The Packathon!! All proceeds will go towards helping us pay for the food and shipping of this event. Tickets must be purchased by contacting: Christina Shoemaker and simplehope3@gmail.com. The tickets are $40.00 a person. You will sample 25 different wines from around the world and there will be appetizers and a cash bar. Hope to see you there!

Saturday November 6th, 2010. Menomonee Falls High School Packathon!! This years packing event will run from the hours of 9:00a.m.-2:00p.m. We ask that you PLEASE register in advance as there is limited space each hour. Your contribution of $25.00will package over 100 meals which will be shipped to Tanzania Africa and the 3 partnership programs that are using this food!! We are honored to be called to help this country and their desperate need for food!! They receive no assistance from their government and the weather conditions are not favorable for them to farm and self sustain themselves! We are blessed to be able to help. We will provide you with a brief presentation the day of the event so you can see your money at work, where the food is distributed and the recipients of this food!! It will be a life changing day for you, your friends, coworkers, church groups and community groups.

Hope to meet everyone soon!!

Until next time~

Cheers!

Thanks for your patience!

So much has changed over the past couple years since this blog began...I needed to take time to remove some "old" photo's replace with current ones and re-do the background!! I am sure for those of you who read this, it isn't a huge change but somehow it feels like a new beginning for Simple Hope!!!

After returning from the most wonderful trip YET, I wanted to get things in order on this blog!! The saying: "Be still and know that I am God" sure has deep meaning for me and what we are striving for with Simple Hope.

In the beginning of my work, I had thought that I was going to be providing help to a village called Mwika, this WAS NOT the plan for me or Simple Hope and I am so Thankful I listened and was patient with what God had planned for me!! Sometimes we think we know all there is to know then if we "sit and be still" we find out there is a whole different and BETTER plan awaiting us!! God had identified with my heart long before I knew it, but he knew my compassion ran much deeper than what Mwika had to offer me. He knew that I wanted to reach out to the "least of the least" and provide help and hope to these forgotten people. I should have know and trusted that this was the path!!

I have secured wonderful partnerships with the "sisters" who are helping me run a food program for a group of children who are economically destitute. These children are enrolled at a government run school and the government does NOT supply them even with Ugali which is cornmeal and water mixture! So I observed, on my last trip how tired, and listless these children were. I will explain in a follow up blog about their day, but it was clear as a bright day how much our food and help was needed.

Unexpectedly, I was also shown two more groups of people who need help with Simple Hope!! We traveled once again to Singida whereby, we were able to see God's work and where he needed us and our love! Sharing our love and hope with the lepers and the Hadzabe brought me to my knees. I am humbled and the pictures of their needs are not leaving my mind! I am forever changed and humbled.

I am glad for my knowledge of "sitting and being still" because it was in these times, I heard my calling very clear ~ and now I know where our help is needed more than any other place in Tanzania!

Until next time~

Cheers!