Two weeks from today is April 1st, 2009. Big deal, right? It’s a big deal to me! As many of you know, on April 1st of last year I began a one-year clothing fast. Click here to read the details. It began a one year series of LiveDifferent Challenges, which I admit have sort of petered out over the past couples months as my LiveDifferent Challenge was simply to survive this crazy season of life! But the first challenge was to go without buying any clothes for one whole year. The humorous part was that right after beginning the fast, I got pregnant! Then, I became a Pastor’s wife in West Linn of all places, the capital of all Well-Dressed-dom. But, I am excited to report that I’ve kept it! There are many many generous friends to thank, who helped me out a little by getting me a few cute items here and there for birthday and Christmas. But as far as the requirements went, I kept it, and I can now say with all confidence and conviction … that I loathe every single piece of clothing in my closet. And, I pretty much need to burn my sock drawer.
Really though, it’s been a great journey. I’ll write more later about what I’ve learned, but I wanted to write two weeks in advance to extend an invitation and allow you some time to think about it. As part of the fast, I decided to donate, at the end, $500 (estimating that that’s probably what I would spend on clothes for a year) to Gospel for Asia to buy livestock or supplies for those in need. I also issued an challenge for anyone who was willing to match me dollar for dollar to do the fast. My brother matched the donation, so now I’m excited that on April first $1,000 will be donated! Yay!
But as I went to the Gospel for Asia website today, I had a blast looking around and thinking about all the fun things we could buy for people in need. Click here to see their donation website. And as I looked around it dawned on me that perhaps others would want to join with us and contribute to the April 1st GFA contribution. You don’t have to do $500. Even a dollar can buy something. For example, a few Christmases ago, per my brother’s request, I bought two chickens and two rabbits for a family in Asia for his Christmas present. With $1000 we could buy two water buffalo! For a little more we could buy 3 cows! Or, if we had another $200 in donations we could even buy a motor-scooter which could provide transportation for two missionaries. So many possibilities!
So, I invite you to check out the donation website and see if there is something on there in your price range. And if God puts it on your heart, join with us these last two weeks and let’s celebrate the fact that God has abundantly blessed us, and given us so much that we’re able to give to others. If you’d like, fast something for the remaining two weeks (i.e. lattes or sweets or gum or eating out), and give that amount that you would have spent. Whether it’s $1 or $100, two weeks is easy and you never know how much you can bless something in need.
Two more weeks to think about it and decide. And I’ll admit, April 1st you might be able to find me perusing the clearance section at Nordstrom Rack… 🙂