UNICEF Tap Project 2010

I know it has been a while since we have updated our blog. I bet you are all curious about our first Mardi Gras, and believe you me it was incredible. I fully intend on an update with the experience here when I can catch my breath a bit. I am writing today to let you know that we are going to attempt another UNICEF Fundraiser. This particular project benefits children around the world by providing safe and clean drinking water. I hope we can raise money through this program; some of the money is going to provide clean drinking water for the people of Haiti. Thank you for your continued support. Just follow the instructions at the link provided. Your generocity will help many!

http://inside.unicefusa.org/site/TR/tap/TapProject2010?px=2693292&pg=personal&fr_id=1220

Thanks again,
~Rebekah

Good News

Thanks for all those who kept Ryan and Julie in your prayers. The surgery was Friday, and they got all of the colloid cyst. Ryan was doing well the last I heard, and we thank God for that! He is off the ventilator and moving all extremities as well as obeying commands. :)

Please Pray

Just wanted to ask all of you for your help. I found out yesterday afternoon that my friend's husband, Ryan, has a colloid cyst in his brain. Yesterday, he was flown from Washington County Hospital to Johns Hopkins where the family is currently waiting to speak to the physicians to find out what is going on. He is being sedated and has a shunt draining cerebral spinal fluid because the cyst was putting pressure on his brain. Please keep Julie and Ryan and their family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this tough time.

Thanks
~Rebekah

The View from New York

Hey all,
Today, as I was spending the morning relaxing and enjoying my vacation back home in New York a really wonderful snow started to fall. Unlike Rebekah-who came home to 2 1/2 feet of snow, this was my first time seeing snow this year in NY. I had my journal with me and this is what came out:


Warm Inside

A little hound nestles up on her pillow,
While full grey clouds pass over the blue sky.

I peak through the blinds
Admiring the fertile winter sky—
My breath appearing on the glass.

Millions of tiny white miracles begin to dance down to earth.
A cold blanket forms on the country road,
Yet it seems to mystically create more warmth in my heart.

My little hound gently paws at the back door;
She wants to romp around in the white miracle.

I am warm inside.

Fellow Non-Profit Needs Help!

Hey Everyone!

I am glad Rebekah caught ya'll caught up on the fact that we are indeed still here in New Orleans serving. I had written a blog on my own personal site (the link is to the right if you want to read it) about my silly plane ride escapade during the Thanksgiving break--I got terribly sick on the plane! Haha, but fornately I am on the mend.

Today I received a rather devastating email for the rebuilding sector of non-profits here in N'awlins. A close partner of lowernine.org's, The Phoenix of New Orleans, got their tool warehouse broken into and close to $3500 of their tools and building materials were stolen. It is really sad because PNOLA has to almost stop rebuilding homes until they can replace the tools they lost. Plus, this time of year is huge for volunteer trips, so they will have many hands to do the work, but no tools...so, due to the robbery, everyone looses.

I felt called to write in support of their rebuild efforts because I know how tremendous it feels to rebuild a home....and how it feels when you do not have the correct supplies, let alone not having any. You feel helpless and ineffective.

PNOLA is looking for donations of tools to replace what was lost. While our organization will try to partner with them and give them some of our supplies, we have a scarce amount of supplies as well. So, while I know it might be a stretch to buy a table saw and send it to New Orleans, please check out their "wish list" and consider donating a small amount of money to their cause. I will enclose the link to the news blurb on what went down, and how you can help them out, so they can continue to rebuild this city that us 3 SJW's love to call home.

www.pnola.org

Thieves Steal Thousands of Dollars Worth of Tools From Volunteer Organization

Laila Morcos ABC26 News December 9, 2009

Related links Phoenix of New Orleans

NEWORLEANS - When lifelong, Mid-city resident Wallace Turner heard the news, he was shocked. 'I'd like to see someone to help them because that's who's been helping them in the past," he says.

The Phoenix of New Orleans warehouse on Iberville street became the scene of an overnight break-in. Thousands of dollars of tools are gone. "We already didn't have enough tools to do what we were doing, and now the little bit of tools that we did have have been taken from us, so now we don't have anything," says Kristi Jacobs. She says the organization that helps rebuild houses in Mid-city and surrounding areas can't host volunteers or do any work now. "All the things they took are things that are 100 percent necessary to do the things we do. We can't rebuild."

And now, the organization is going to have to rally for more donated tools. "They took a couple of generators, a couple of table saws. They took a mitre saw, they took all of our ladders and wheelbarrows and screw guns and batteries and batteries that power screw guns," she says.

PNOLA's helped many people, like Turner, who's doing his part. He's going to donate his own wheelbarrow to give back.

PNOLA needs a lot of tools to continue their volunteer work. For a list of those items and how to help them out, go to their website, www.pnola.org

Copyright © 2009, WGNO-TV

We're still alive!

Hey ya'll!

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are all still alive and going strong! Our days have been pretty full, and we have a pretty packed weekend ahead. Helen Prejean is taking us to Grand Isle for the weekend! I am sure the trip will be a blast, Helen is always fun to be around. :)

In some recent news, one of our community members decided to leave the program. Although the timing may have been a little off, we wish Rian the best of luck in all her future endeavors. The months she has spent in the SJW house have had a great impact on my personal growth, and I wish her all the best.

Since I haven't written in over a month, I suppose I should let you know we raised about $150 dollars for UNICEF. Thanks everyone for your generous contributions. :)

We all got a chance to have a nice little break for Thanksgiving. I went home for about 6 days, and it was wonderful to see my family and friends. I had a great time, but there was a little part of me that missed the liveliness of the city. There also were a couple times I had to give Traci a call or text Becky some inside joke we had.

We are going home again in a little while. Becky and Traci leave on the 18th, and I am leaving for home on the 20th. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and my friend Maria has a terrific cocktail party every New Year's that has been in my date book since last year! haha.

Last weekend we had the nice surprise of snow! It was remarkable how chatty everyone was about the snow, and most people could recall the last snowfall. The snow didn't stick, but it sure had everyone all stirred up. We were in Baton Rouge listening to the wonderful Joyce Rupp talk about opening our doors to God. The experience was an incredible one, and I am greatful for the opportunity to participate in the retreat. She has great advice, and I really enjoyed her presence.

Thanks for all the support! Sorry it has been so long! Happy Holidays!


~Rebekah

Useful Web Browsing; Wired Discipleship

Alright, close your other Safari window, I know Facebook is open in it, and you too are wondering why!? Its only 9am and your status has changed 3 times?! I know, I have already changed mine 4 times, and contemplated joining mafia wars.

Sound familiar?

We are all SO guilty of using our free computer time on quasi-empty(yet fun/informative) things such as Facebook and AOL Instant Messenger.

I have a solution. Start browsing with purpose. Be clear on what you are searching for--know that this is hard and takes time. The internet has so much powerful information on it, hone your search!

To get you started, I have for you an awesome 15 minute youtube video about "Validation (re. modern day discipleship). Additionally, check out the other link, "The 8 Irresistible principals".

We live in a wired world. Might as well wire in effectively and set your browser to "spiritual nourishment!"

Love you all!

Traci

ps: If you like this concept check out stumbleupon.com This is a great site to have a custom search bar ready for you, whenever your little heart desires some computer face time.