Birthday Water

It's my birthday today. I'm officially old. The quarter of a century jokes have been heard long before this blissful day, so I'm immune. 

The only reason why I'm posting a blog on my birthday (and not sleeping in!) is because I need help, your participation. I'm not entirely sure how well this will go over, because I'm not entirely sure that any more than 3 people read this. (AMG, Kate, and Beth.. thanks!) But I'm willing to take a chance. 

A while ago, when discussing the sticky subject of what having enough means, I made a decision to give up my birthday. I knew this would be hard for me, because lets face it, who doesn't enjoy whatever gifts their parents give them. But I realized that the only way for me to eventually be comfortable with "enough," I needed to start somewhere by giving up the surplus. 

My sweet friend Kate introduced me to an organization that her friend started, Charity: Water. After just a few minutes of research, I was convinced that my birthday would to go to them. I'll be honest, it was like pulling teeth for me to tell my mom that I want whatever money she would spend on my birthday gift to be donated. But I knew I had to, and if I didn't do it now, I might never be able to. 

I'll admit, I was anticipating this birthday to feel a little slighted, the worldly flesh of greed coming out of me. But this morning when I woke up and saw an email in my inbox from Charity: Water, greed and selfishness were the furthest from my mind and heart. 

This is what I awoke to:

How can this not bring anyone joy, especially on their day of birth?

The email also included a link to select the country to which I designate the money. I had no idea that this decision would be so difficult. All 3 of the countries they provided desperately need clean water, and I cannot decide! So this is where I need help. Not surprising to my nature of indecisiveness, I have come to terms that I just can't decide on my own. I am asking for your input to which country I should send the money to. 

So here we go. 

Country #1 Tanzania. 

Helping a school get clean water by collecting rainwater:

 

"Targeting 5 primary schools in the Karagwe District of Tanzania, charity: water is bringing clean water, bathrooms and hand-washing stations to 2,732 students. Each school is located 2-3 miles away from the current water source, so students are spending over an hour of class time hauling water. Rainwater collection tanks will enable the students and teachers to have clean drinking water readily available, encouraging greater attendance and health."

Country #2 Cote d'Ivoire

Providing clean water to a health clinic by drilling and maintaining new wells:

"Côte d'Ivoire's civil war ended in 2007 leaving a decay of water points in schools and health clinics. This waterproject is targeted in the former Confidence Zone, which divided the country from the rebel North and the South. Currently, no aid organizations are working in the area and people are drinking from open and polluted sources. charity: water wants to help 35 health clinics currently operating without clean water, and rehabilitate freshwater wells in 35 villages."

Country #3 Liberia 

Bringing clean water to urban slum areas by drilling wells and networking pipes:

"This project will target slums surrounding Monrovia, Liberia's capital. In the community of Clara Town, residents are drinking from contaminated water sources and outbreaks of cholera are a constant threat. The objective is to drill deep boreholes, and pipe the fresh water through a network of tap-stands. A focus will also be placed on improving sanitary conditions in the slum to keep the water sources clean. Over 30,000 people will directly benefit from this project."

Can you please help me decide? Comment which country you think I should pick. I have 7 days to decide. Obviously it really doesn't matter which one, they all need it the same, but just humor me anyway. It's my birthday. :-)

I think everyone should try giving up their birthday to a good cause at least once. It's so rewarding, much more than any gift received. Watch just a few videos on the Charity: Water website and tell me it's not a worthy cause. What's even better, is that unlike most charity organizations, Charity: Water donates 100% of what you give. No money is taken out for overhead expenses. So, think about it. Pray about it. Challenge yourself to live with enough, and with your excess, help others make it to enough.

www.charitywater.org

Thanks!