Tuesday's Tip-The gift that gives

I know it's Wednesday, but I still wanted to post my Tuesday's Tip because it's such an important one. What I'm going to tell you about today can help thousands of people around the world that desperately need our help. We do this every year as a family and it's always a highlight for us and the girls.

As you know, I love World Vision. When my sisters and I were in Christian Music, we used to be World Vision Artists. At our concerts, we would give an appeal to those that came, to sponsor a child. Brian and I sponsor 2 children, a girl in Mexico, a boy in Ghana, and a mom and son in Romania.

World Vision also offers a gift catalog for Christmas. This is so much fun. It's such a great way to show your kids the importance of giving. My girls love picking out the gifts they want to give. In the past we have given goats, chickens, medicine for babies, clean water, and the list goes on. It will be neat to see what the girls will pick this year.

So this is how it works. We have the catalog at home, but if you don't have one, you can go online and see the catalog there. We make a list of all the people we want to give a gift to in their name. This year we will also give in memory of 4 special loved ones. Here's what we picked out so far:

PeePaw-Goat (Brian's dad used to have a goat on his farm)
My Grandma-2 Bibles
Zoe-Rabbit (Brooklyn picked this out for her sister)
Jonathan-2 Chicks (Sydney picked this out for her baby brother)

You get the picture. World Vision will give your loved one a card for Christmas with the donation in their name. (Order must be placed by December 19th). You can also choose to have an email card sent or print one out on your computer to hand deliver.


Don't think it has to be a huge donation either. They have gifts for under $20. Here are some things you can provide to a needy family all under $20. Of course, if you could give more, that would be great. Your donation is tax-deductible.
Seeds for 1 Family for $17 Give seeds. Your gift offers life-changing help for farmers struggling to raise enough food for their hungry children: fast-growing hybrid or drought-resistant seeds for an agricultural bounty of crops.

You can help prevent famine before hunger takes hold. Your donation will help provide seeds for crops like maize, rice, cassava, carrots, cabbage, green beans, peas, potatoes, and onions. Surplus crops can be sold to bring in much-needed family income that can pay for life-saving medicine or help send a child to school.


1 Rabbit for $16 Rabbits multiply and multiply their blessings! God created rabbits to be among the most prolific animals on earth, making them a terrific gift for an impoverished family. With a gestation period of just 31 days, a pair of rabbits can easily become 50 rabbits within a single year. These offspring can provide food or be sold at market, producing a steady source of extra income.
3 ducks for $18 Give three ducks to a hungry family today and they'll benefit from hundreds of large, protein-rich eggs throughout the year. Extra eggs and hatched ducklings can be sold to buy medicine or help pay for children’s school tuition.

For those of you who are so inclined, you can actually do even more. Some years ago, we decided to get the whole family together, saved up for a whole year, and funded half a health clinic. Now we did have several households saving together and clinics were a bit cheaper then, but I will have to say it was one of the most rewarding things our family has ever done. We really felt like we were able to make a difference in that community, and that lives will be changed forever because of it.

How can you give to a needy child or family this Christmas?

2 comments:

habecker said...

soooo joyed to see someone else doing this exact thing. this is something our Lord stirred in my heart a few years ago, and now i get to share it with my husbend, and just like with your girls, i so look forward to doing this with our eagerly desired children.

also, this year i was so pleased to find through the Gospel for Asia http://www.gfa.org/gift/browse/gifts-of-outreach/
bibles for $3. seriously. what could be of more value? and how i take having the Word readily available for granted...

there is just such a joy, an intense joy from our Lord as i am looking through the 'catalog' and reminded of a dear friend with a heart for women when i see an option to help girls heal from human trafficking or the gift of music which is the heart of another dear friend... get's me all emotional. this is what it is about. giving. giving of ourselves that they might know and grow closer to the Lord.

Amanda @ Vegacious said...

Love World Vision! I received 2 Timbali bags that some friends of mine are selling for missions. It was a nice gift - and even nicer knowing that the bags were made by Swaziland women supporting orphans. You can check out their site at www.timbalicrafts.org. The friends are part of a Missional Mom's organization and they have a website too at www.missionalmamas.com.

I wrote a post a few weeks ago on Christmas lists and it was sure interesting hearing different perspectives on why people do or don't do Christmas lists. I really believe our view of Christmas has been distorted. I often think of whether the Lord would be pleased with how I treat the holiday. It is about knowing Him more - not about getting! It's about His ultimate gift of LIFE!

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