Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Waiting for spring
One of the beautiful gifts I receive by being involved in Hilarious Givers is the group of friends I get to rub shoulders with. These are all folks I would likely not have even known about before Hilarious Givers, but who have so richly blessed my life - just by being a part of it.
Less than a year ago I was introduced to Greg. Greg is the director of Genesis Diez, a children's facility located in a beautiful valley not far from Ensenada.
Numbers don't tell the story - but they help. Our feeding program helps provide nutritious food for 38 full-time residents and staff, plus the families of handicapped kids, plus augmenting the diets of the surrounding populace - over 1,000 people regularly benefit from the generosity and bounty of donors and volunteers from this side of the border! And while Hilarious Givers does not prostelize, it is clear that these blessings are the result of the grace of our Most High God.
Less than a year ago I was introduced to Greg. Greg is the director of Genesis Diez, a children's facility located in a beautiful valley not far from Ensenada.
Genesis Diez exists to give the kids who live in urban orphanages in Tijuana and Ensenada a learning experience. These kids spend their young years in concrete buildings, living in dorms and eating institution-style meals. Typically the population in one of these orphanages is 75-100 kids; they go to school, but beyond that, their existence is pretty much the same as if they were in prison.
The kids come to Genesis Diez for a few days a year and live in a rural environment, rich in experiential opportunies. The bright April day I visited some of the kids were making jewelry, others were painting murals.
Many of the kids were not on campus because they were off on a field trip. To see the joy on those precious faces, the sparkle in their eyes, the excitement in their voices - the couple of hours' drive from San Diego was a tiny price to pay.
Hilarious Givers regularly provides food and sanitary supplies to Genesis Diez. I had met Greg a couple of times since we were first introduced, but hadn't really had a chance to sit and chat with him. Two weeks ago I met Greg at our warehouse, and during a pause in our activities I got to know him, and Genesis Diez, a little better.
Genesis Diez, it turns out, is more than just a summer camp for disadvantaged kids. Volunteers from all over the U.S., and even Canada, come to spend time at the ranch. In addition to the camp I visited, there is another facility for families with handicapped children. And the towns, villages and campos in the valley all benefit from Genesis Diez; not only from their feeding outreach, but in the provision of school uniforms and supplies, and serving as a resource to the migrant families who come to tend the fields.
Numbers don't tell the story - but they help. Our feeding program helps provide nutritious food for 38 full-time residents and staff, plus the families of handicapped kids, plus augmenting the diets of the surrounding populace - over 1,000 people regularly benefit from the generosity and bounty of donors and volunteers from this side of the border! And while Hilarious Givers does not prostelize, it is clear that these blessings are the result of the grace of our Most High God.And Genesis Diez is only one of the 40-plus organizations Hilarious Givers supports.
We are starting a fund to provide herds of goats and flocks of chickens to some of our supported facilities. Genesis Diez will be among the first - this is a project that definitely has the hand of God on it. Not only will we provide fresh meat, milk and eggs for the kids, but we'll be fostering independence among the families. If you would like to provide financial support to help buy a herd of goats, your generosity will be rewarded. A few tens of dollars buys a goat or flock of chicks, a few hundreds will provide a herd of goats for a small community.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Invitation: Pallet Building Party
Invitation: Pallet Building Party Hilarious Givers is having their February Pallet Building Fiesta!
Come One, Come All!
Saturday, February 6, 2010Miramar Transportation (Pilot Freight)
9340 Cabot Drive,Suite G,
San Diego, CA 92126
February is a short month with a long weekend. And, we have time-sensitive nutrition that won't be usable in March. Your help is needed.
Reserve your spot now - this is a great way to get your friends, neighbors and kids involved in Hilarious Givers! Space is limited.
Contact Judd at : Judd@HilariousGivers.org, or call him at (619) 534-6801 or Facebook him!
Thanks for any help!
Debra ;o)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Awesome!
awe⋅some /ˈɔsəm/ –adjective
1. inspiring awe: an awesome sight.
2. showing or characterized by awe.
3. Slang. very impressive: That new white convertible is totally awesome.
January was an awesome month for Hilarious Givers!
We had planned on about a dozen loads of nutritious food and drink for the kids in Baja and their families. Knowing that my planning is almost always overcome by God's plan, we prepared 25% more pallets than we were going to need. 16 pallets of food is a lot! Each pallet is typically about half a ton of food, so a pallet fills a small pickup or SUV.
Then came the rains. Baja California received 7 to 10 inches of rain in a few hours, accompanying by shanty-destroying winds. Villages were cut off, houses damaged, shacks destroyed. Reports of children being swept away, never to be recovered, made the local news. From experience in prior years, we knew of the misery being suffered by those least able to endure.
And then the earthquake in Haiti. As many as 1/3 of the residents of Port au Prince killed or injured. We all had our hearts touched by the suffering and devastation.
We struggled to not be torn by the two centers of suffering. Through the providence of the Lord and the generosity of our donors, we can make a big difference in suffering lives impacted by both disasters.
Our Mexico feeding mission swelled from 12 pallets to 20. Volunteers stepped up, the food was available, and we were able to nearly double the amount of sustenance we expect to provide in a single month. This despite the barriers, natural and man-made, thrown up.
Here's a shot of our truck crossing an arroyo during one of our caravans. Sometimes there is the little stream you see here, but most often it's just dry.
Here's the same crossing last week. Nobody's crossing, and if this is the only way in and out, you're stuck.
Just hearing the torrent rush by inspires awe.
And the kids have to eat every day. So, being able to respond on a few hours' notice is, well, awesome!
Meantime, we were privileged to be able to help move 17 pallets of desperately-needed medical supplies to Haiti, thanks to the generosity of friends and associates of one of our corporate sponsors, Miramar Freight. Totally awesome! And, we're working on a cooperative endeavor with the U.S. Navy to provide continuing relief to that devastated nation.
We never feel we have enough to get the job done, but somehow, some way, some body steps up and volunteers, or donates, or just prays for us.
Awesome.
1. inspiring awe: an awesome sight.
2. showing or characterized by awe.
3. Slang. very impressive: That new white convertible is totally awesome.
January was an awesome month for Hilarious Givers!
We had planned on about a dozen loads of nutritious food and drink for the kids in Baja and their families. Knowing that my planning is almost always overcome by God's plan, we prepared 25% more pallets than we were going to need. 16 pallets of food is a lot! Each pallet is typically about half a ton of food, so a pallet fills a small pickup or SUV.
Then came the rains. Baja California received 7 to 10 inches of rain in a few hours, accompanying by shanty-destroying winds. Villages were cut off, houses damaged, shacks destroyed. Reports of children being swept away, never to be recovered, made the local news. From experience in prior years, we knew of the misery being suffered by those least able to endure.
And then the earthquake in Haiti. As many as 1/3 of the residents of Port au Prince killed or injured. We all had our hearts touched by the suffering and devastation.
We struggled to not be torn by the two centers of suffering. Through the providence of the Lord and the generosity of our donors, we can make a big difference in suffering lives impacted by both disasters.
Our Mexico feeding mission swelled from 12 pallets to 20. Volunteers stepped up, the food was available, and we were able to nearly double the amount of sustenance we expect to provide in a single month. This despite the barriers, natural and man-made, thrown up.
Here's a shot of our truck crossing an arroyo during one of our caravans. Sometimes there is the little stream you see here, but most often it's just dry.
Here's the same crossing last week. Nobody's crossing, and if this is the only way in and out, you're stuck.
Just hearing the torrent rush by inspires awe.
And the kids have to eat every day. So, being able to respond on a few hours' notice is, well, awesome!
Meantime, we were privileged to be able to help move 17 pallets of desperately-needed medical supplies to Haiti, thanks to the generosity of friends and associates of one of our corporate sponsors, Miramar Freight. Totally awesome! And, we're working on a cooperative endeavor with the U.S. Navy to provide continuing relief to that devastated nation.
We never feel we have enough to get the job done, but somehow, some way, some body steps up and volunteers, or donates, or just prays for us.
Awesome.
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