Compassion Thursday

Posted July 16, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

Joining in with a few bloggers where every Thursday one of us will highlight children from Compassion who have been waiting for 6 months or longer without a sponsor.

Update 7/18/09: Andrea is Sponsored.  Whoever you are, Thank you so much.

To Sponsor another child with Compassion International, Click Here

andreaWith that said, meet Andrea. (fitting huh?)  Andrea is 3 Years Old and needs our help.

Name: Andrea Alejandra González Martínez
Birthday: October 12, 2005    Age: 3
Gender: Female
Region: Central America and Caribbean
Country: Honduras
Program: Juntos por la Niñez Student Center

Personal and Family Information:
In her home, Andrea helps by gathering firewood, running errands and cleaning. She lives with her father and her mother. Her father is sometimes employed as a laborer and her mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.

Andrea is not attending school because she is too young. Playing with dolls, hide-and-seek and playing group games are her favorite activities. She also attends Bible class regularly.

Please remember Andrea in your prayers. Your love and support will help her to receive the assistance she needs to grow and develop.

To give Andrea the help she needs and deserves, click her picture and welcome her to your family.  If you would like to browse other Compassion children, CLICK HERE.

After you sponsor Andrea, let me know in the comment section or shoot me an E-mail.

Whatever you decide, pray for Andrea, will ya?  Pray for her, spread this message around on your social network sites, send it in an email, etc.  Get involved and let us, together, improve the lives of deserving children…..One child at  a time.

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Categories: Compassion
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When life ends…

Posted July 13, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

There is so much emotion and confusion. How does life go on the same? It doesn’t.

But, the one thing I have been reminded of in the past several days is how living your life truly out of love (the only unconditional kind- God’s) can leave a deep impact on the many people you meet. Even something as simple as a hug, the kind that is genuine, nothing wanted or intended by it. It is time really time, for me to start living fully in and out of Christ’s love, partially is just not enough. It doesn’t help me and it doesn’t help others. There’s no how to for turning over this leaf. But there is a direction and a willingness of spirit that I feel I finally have. It is true that we can fight or succumb to the leading of God through the Holy Spirit. And I really don’t want to fight anymore. Any piece of me that I have been trying to hold onto is just not worth keeping. I would rather leave an impact of Christ’s love than my own tenacity…

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Categories: Random
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Reason for Poverty= Technology?

Posted July 9, 2009 By Andrea and has 6 comments.

This hit me the other day as we were discussing it in class. If technology and its use is creating an even wider gap between the rich and the poor in this increasingly global society, what are we doing to combat that? I don’t have any answers and I think it is going to be a very tough question (especially for those trying to live like Christ) to answer in the next few years. I see churches and ministries becoming increasingly media savvy, but we cannot forget how many people we leave out of reach when we take technology to the next level. But we’re in the U.S. you might say. Yes, we are. So while more people have access to technology it still doesn’t mean all can afford private access. And if churches focus too much on primarily modern forms of communication we risk leaving some people out of the loop altogether. Furthermore, if so much resource is poured into these new forms of technology and having the latest greatest X, then what does that leave in the way of traditional forms of communication and outreach? I also hate thinking that outreach should be a “To Do” list that churches have to remember. But I just see more and more time being taken up with a community and an obsession with the newest thing and somehow innovation replaces heart.

I don’t begin to think this is an easy issue. I also know that the political and historical climates in many countries that are impoverished are limited not only by the lack of technology but by the very governments that control them. It’s just interesting to think that research has shown sociologists that the very technologies that causes countries like the U.S. and Japan to thrive are the reason that others are floundering. Just a reminder to always think outside the box, remember all the people Jesus died for on the cross, not just the ones in your line of vision, and live the life that Christ gave you in way that is free from slavery to anything.

Just my thoughts, sometimes they don’t even flow together too nicely, but I hope and pray Jesus was a part of them. I think He was. :)

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Categories: Social Justice

One Year Without…

Posted July 3, 2009 By Andrea and has 4 comments.

I am joining my husband in this beginning on Monday. What is One Year Without? It is a movement designed to give up an addiction for one year in order to take that money and give it somewhere that is really needed. The money will go directly to Compassion International’s Most Needed Fund. To learn more about Compassion check them out at www.compassion.com. Read more about One Year Without here, where it all started.

I have had a really hard time deciding what to give up. There is no food that I feel I can eliminate while being pregnant (wouldn’t be fair to the baby), :) so I am choosing to give up what I am MOST uncomfortable with anyway. It will probably save me a lot of money, which in turn will help me to give even more to Compassion. I am giving up shopping at Target. Since living near a Super Target it has been very easy for me to pop in buy a new shirt (that I don’t need) or shop their grocery section, make-up section or just browse (again for things I don’t need). It is teetering on serious addiction. It shouldn’t be!!

Children all over the world are going without food, and it’s twisting my insides to not have Target. How horrible is that?!

HOW CAN YOU HELP??! So glad you asked. ;) For this self challenge (going one year without something so near and dear to my heart) I am asking you to give just $1 a week(that’s $52 total) to encourage me. I will send a monthly update so you know if I am continuing success. If you support me in this you will not only be helping Compassion with your $1 but mine as well. If you can’t give $1 a week you can give $1 a month, whatever you feel lead to do. If you can give more I am sure Compassion will gratefully accept. In return I will post you on my blogroll and add your name to the following list. I am going to try to snag my mom to get the #1 spot!! To add yourself to my list of cheerleaders and pledge whatever you would like leave me a comment or send me an email at underwoodreads@gmail.com. I will get back to you in a couple days. This challenge begins Tuesday, July 6th. WOO HOO.

If I at any point feel like I’m not challenged in what I’m giving up, I will drop something else, until I feel challenged.

You can check out my husband, who is giving up energy drinks (his MAIN SQUEEZE vice) here, and the movement that started all of this here. Feel free to join in yourself!!

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Categories: Random
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Whoah Mama!

Posted June 30, 2009 By Andrea and has 1 comment.

I am going to be a mom. I really can’t believe it, every day that passes is one day closer to my being responsible for shaping and leading a small person. I think the hardest thing in becoming a parent is thinking about everything your parents did wrong. I tend to focus on that, saying “I know I won’t….” But I think some of it is inevitable. “I told you so” probably being one.

I have amazing parents, but they did make mistakes, and I wish in addition to teaching me about the love of Christ they would have taught me how him loving me means I can love myself, no matter what I do or go through. And part of that includes thinking about the future, another thing I was never good at in my adolescence. I literally picked a college because it was close, easy, and they let everyone in. Also it was “tradition” in my family, but I cared little about that fact.

Anyway, any advice on how to cope with the lurking fear of “becoming your parents?” Or just send prayers and happy thoughts my way, because I am just trying to stay sane thinking about it! :)

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Categories: Personal
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Getting to know God

Posted June 26, 2009 By Andrea and has 1 comment.

Sometimes it is hard to breathe deeply and take things one moment at a time. The mind leaps forward and suddenly anxiety over something that hasn’t yet happened can take over. But, I am trying to slow things down a bit. Take a moment where a moment is needed and feed my soul so that my interactions with others aren’t out of some warped sense of feeling that I am doing or being “good.”

As I am reading Wide Open Spaces by Jim Palmer and slowly wading through some scripture, I feel a real need to do just that- slowly wade through it. I have learned a lot over the years, and gotten excited about a lot. Some of it sticks, some of it doesn’t. Inevitably things that are rushed through will be soon forgotten or lost in the makings of everyday life. But if I am focusing on a relationship with my Father, if I am trying to settle into who I was created to be and how I was made to love him I can’t rush through it in an attempt to “fix my life” or be a better “Christian.” Because I don’t even know what that word is anymore.

So, this is some of what I’m reading, unsorted, mostly raw, this is what I am feeling impact me and who I am now, mom to be and all (although it’s hard to believe).

Romans 8:33 “It is God who justifies…”

Yes, I am here to love and reveal Christ through me, but the ultimate justice is His, because none of us are deserving (if so justice might mean paying a consequence for every catty thought I have ever had). Thank God for God!

Romans 12:16 “…never be wise in your own sight.”

Ugh, this one is tough for me. I want to be right and have all the answers and when I figure something out I want to be the one to share it. From this chapter I glean not that God wants us to feel unintelligent, but he wants us to show humility, never thinking that we have all the answers, that everyone else is wrong, and never unwilling to learn something about Him. (Ugh because I know I have done this!)

Colossians 1:27 “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you.”

Not only did God send his son, but he sent him to live inside of us. So if we truly believe and we have asked Jesus to enter our hearts then one of the ways we get to know him is by listening for His voice and feeling his presence and direction in our lives and following it! But we must interact with him, we must know Him through prayer and the Word of God, but don’t live in ignorance that he is in you.

From Wide Open Spaces-

…In reality I treated my belief system as if it were my Savior. It was my belief in the right suppositions about Christ that made me saved. When the basis for being a Christian is your specific set of beliefs about God, the most important thing is being right.

Are you interested in knowing God?…His main prinicple for life is to love.

…Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion- he came to reveal God. Why? Because he knew if humankind could physically experience who he is, we would want to know him, and knowing him would change us.
-Jim Palmer

Yes! This is all I can say in response to this. I will only say these words struck me. I am sure you can infer as to why.

God loves me, just as he loves you, and I hope that we can all slow it down just a little to get to know Him more.

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Categories: Spiritual Reflections
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Iran, superpowers, and why we care

Posted June 18, 2009 By Andrea and has 2 comments.

I hope that we can find it in our way to not just notice things but find out more, join in communal prayer, and continue to seek to make real and active differences anywhere we can. I feel torn about what is happening in Iran. As a human I know how it feels when your voice is not heard. But in a battle that does not include “right” and “wrong” it is hard to watch Americans choose a side when most Americans don’t even know what each side stands for. It’s hip to be active and it’s definitely the trend to look like we care, but why? Is it because we uphold democracy as the highest right that any individual government can give? I know that it can be boiled down to a basic human rights issue, but then you have to take the situation out of the microscope and look at acts of violence committed from both sides. The scales are certainly tipping in one direction this week, but as we saw in WWII, people follow leaders regardless of their morals.  It’s disconcerting to see how powerful the media is. Did you know that our parents are now only our biggest influencers from age 1 to 3? And then for almost our entire lives after school the media becomes numero uno.

Many Americans paid little attention to Iran when the Shah was in power, including presidential blatant ignorance of the  treatment he was giving his people. Sure we noticed later, but only when American lives were put at risk. Now we have the internet and an ever-increasing global market to pique our interests and keep us more tuned in to the world. But is it doing us any good? Are we keeping ourselves placated, feeling good about ourselves about making some noise, or are we really trying to change the world? I am not saying to stop our offered support to the Iranian people, but I am saying to know that you are supporting the people, all the people, for a better life, for the best possible outcome, not a political party or a side. Voices need to be heard, but in some instances the superpowers and the regimes of this world have made it an issue that can’t be forced on a timetable.

I feel the same question paralleled in my view of the church. Are we really trying to understand Jesus better and love everyone unconditionally, or we just taking the steps to make ourselves feel like we are doing something. Because overall, Americans still don’t really know much about Iran. And overall, the people of Christ that call themselves the church haven’t changed their face that much.

This may seem like a cynical approach but I am really not trying to be. I am including myself in this. And it is about taking an honest look in the mirror and checking our hearts and our motivation before we do and say anything. Because if our hearts aren’t in it, it is time to get with God. Because when they are and we are acting on His say so, not just to make some noise, that is when the real differences and changes will start coming.

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Categories: Politics?
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Learning to really be yourself…

Posted June 15, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

May take a lifetime. But it is so worth it! Don’t ya think?

I don’t know why, I have just been thinking how much more comfortable I am in my own skin now that I have allowed God to shape some part of me. I’m not perfect and I have a lot more God-shaping to let happen, but it is a good feeling to experience freedom from past chains. Things you didn’t even know were chains, but suddenly when they’re gone you realize they were. Because you feel free. Free of abuse, free of alcoholism, free of self-inflicted pain. It is nice. I thank God for that.

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Categories: Personal, Spiritual Reflections
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World Day Against Child Labor

Posted June 12, 2009 By Andrea and has no comments yet.

As Christ followers, lovers of humanity, simply anything we are that values human rights and decency, we have to pay attention to the world around us and make sure we are not doing anything to cause someone else harm. There is no love in that.

I will be honest. In the past 30 days I have eaten an m&m. Probably more than one. While I’m not a huge consumer of the Hershey, Mars and Nestle products, I have been known to partake. Yet for the past several years these companies have known their products were contributing to child labor and done little to nothing to stop it. Makes you think about popping another m&m in your mouth doesn’t it? Such a little piece of chocolate, such a huge implication. What if they could see you? What if you could see them? Would it make a difference? I truly hope so.

If you do not support their actions, please go HERE and sign to let these companies know how you feel. Without consumer action nothing will be done. To find other chocolate companies that do work to protect human rights you can click here.

We as individuals are the difference makers, and sometimes we have to stand for those who simply can’t.


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Categories: Random
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To quote a very dorky 90's t-shirt…

Posted June 11, 2009 By Andrea and has 1 comment.

“Pray hard.” Sometimes life is tough. We don’t know where roads will lead and we aren’t sure what the right decision is. With a baby on the way, post-bacc summer school, a job and apartment search going, this is how I feel. One day at a time, just keep praying. I have a wonderful husband, I’m reading and learning some amazing things about God (that I really do want to share when pregnant brain stops being an issue), and I can feel and see the blessings in my life (mostly in the form of some amazing godly people and experiences). But some days I can feel the pressure. I imagine pushing myself to the brink of physical exhaustion, only to feel no sense of accomplishment. So I pray and I wait. Because I know that in the end, all will be. And however it is, God will be with me.

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Categories: Personal
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