Ideas. Generosity. Results. Gratitude.

At last year’s BIG Event, Joe Knittig made the case for school uniforms. In most third world countries, children must have a uniform to go to school. Demand for uniforms creates jobs for seamstresses. School lunch programs feed children.  Both keep families together. Profits from businesses help underwrite the care of children.  It’s a great idea. Yet, the world is full of never-implemented “great” ideas.

Your generosity has helped turn this vision into reality in Gulu, Uganda.  Seamstresses are sewing. Uniforms are being produced, (How comfortable does that candy-striper uni look?) and children are going to school.  Two more sewing centers come online this quarter, with more planned for later this year.

Two months ago, we asked you to make December different by giving Toilets for Tots.  The idea was to meet the basic needs of kids at Christmas instead of filling up our homes with more excess from Stuff Mart.  Another great idea that you turned into reality!  Tate Williams is in Haiti right now.  Among other things, he’s on a toilet tour, checking out the new latrines, showers, and bunks your generosity provided for the children and house mommas we all love.  Instead of a potty pic, I thought we’d send you one of the punch lists Tate is using:

Without you, these ideas would be mere intentions.  Instead, there are results to celebrate!  We’re not finished yet – far from it!  Still, we are grateful for what we’re seeing.  You gave, and lives are being changed.