welcome to me and what I write about. I hope it brings you to a magical land with fairy dust and mystical dragons, gumdrops for rain and centaurs for friends.
In Ndola, Zambia 80% of the population is unemployed. Most get their water from contaminated sources such as stagnant ponds and filthy rivers. Clean water to a Zambian equals life! Teaming up with bloodwater mission, we are able to provide this to them. In my experience, even though most are living in absolute poverty they definitely know the true meaning of family and are not afraid to show completely strangers love. My heart goes out to these kids and I hope that this video could portray the culture, community, and need for help!
Can I attempt to be poetic for a second hah, some might refer to it as emo but I don’t really care at this specific moment ha. Meet Natalie. Usually I’m able to describe my feelings or emotions but with this girl, anything that I would say would underplay the way that I really feel for her. I could say she reminds me of a children’s playground, full of innocent laughter and immediate excitement but her joy is so much more. I could say that she’s like a warm, orange sunset gently bowing for it’s daily performance, but her beauty far outweighs that. I could say her eyes are as captivating as the stars and her scent as pleasing as a field of colorful windblown lilies, but for me, I would be attempting to describe the indescribable. She makes me feel like I can do anything. All I need is a kiss from her and I could take on all of Sparta with one hand while writing her love poems in the other, then kill ten ferocious lions with rocks and spears, build a three story mansion out of bamboo, and summon all the local dragons while wearing only a loin cloth. ;) She empowers me. Welcome her with open arms! cheers!
Ever since I was a spastic 16 year old, purple mini van driving, freckle faced guru, I’ve always had it in my heart to take a journey to Africa. Something about people and children living in extreme poverty stricken regions really grabs at my insides and pulls me to want to do something to help. I mean we are all just people, it wasn’t their choice to be born into the slums, drinking from parasitic water, and eating whatever semi eatable food they find, just like it wasn’t our choice to be born in American or the UK or somewhere that our necessities are readily available to us at the drop of a hat.
For 3 1/2 years now our band has teamed up with an organization called the Blood:Water Mission. We consistently have a bucket at our merch table at our concerts that many of you have generously donated to help us build clean water wells in Africa. $1 = 1 year of clean water for an African person. Through the Lord’s provision and your help we have been priviledged to be able to build/rebuild 7 water wells in Central African Republic. To see the pictures they send us of the tribes and villages that we have been able to help, like the one above, to me, its indescribable and utterly priceless! Our work is now moving toward building water wells in Zambia. Shaaaa!
So a handfull of days ago, I woke up with a peculiar feeling like that day was going to be a productive day. Possibly a song I wrote would get placed with a popular artist, or a thousand tacos were waiting for me in the front lounge of our bus, or maybe that I’d find big-foot, but what actually took place that day, for me, was way more valuable. Going through my daily morning check of twitter, email, and facebook….I realized that I had an email from Blood:water. With lengthy words and jaw dropping statements, they had gently asked me if I wanted to take a week long trip with them to Zambia to see the villages, visit the local churches, see wells being repaired, and mingle and share the love of Christ with the young kids starving for health and affection. “Count me the frick in!” was my reply and I will be leaving Jan12-20th and couldn’t be more excited that God has given me this opportunity. I feel like peter pan who just realized never-never land is real, or kinda like a prancing flamingo that just fell in love with a bucket of shrimp. The moon has fallen into my lap and I’m seeing the wrinkles in its face clearer than ever. I’m random and weird, but hey I’m excited! Keep me in your prayers during this time and oh.. I love you all!
Peace, Love, and Jesus!
So last night I met little Suzie. During our concert, she was proudly wearing our t-shirt on top of her mommas shoulders, dancing and jiving like we were all about to transform into different forms of santa claus each carrying our own bag of Suzie goodies. When I went to the merch table to see all of our lovely fans/friends she gave me the biggest, loudest, most precious hug, one that only a chosen angel or Jesus should receive. ha. She was like a cold capri-sun during a drought. So I had to take a picture of this beautiful, innocent, cheerful, and oh so smiley little suzie cause not only did she brighten my day but I bet you anything she’s making her immediate audience smile their faces off as we speak. I couldn’t help but be a little jealous and wish that my little sister was still that young. She used to trot around so confidently in her little yellow tutu, bring me potato chips when I was playing my original Nintendo video games, and just stand there and make a spectacle to the adults all based on her cuteness. We played soccer in the house and I bounced her to high heavens on the trampoline but would always catch her if I felt she was going to land wrong. We share the same birthday yet five years apart! I miss being young and having a sidekick. So my first tumblr post proudly goes to out to little miss Suzie and my little sis Angela Suzanne. ;)
