A few nights
ago, I was lying in bed and began thinking about everything that God has
blessed me with, most of which I take for granted. My entire life, I have been so self-absorbed
and caught up in my own desires that I have completely overlooked the needs of
others. I have been stuck in the routine of life that did not involve pursuing
anything of eternal significance.

I realized
how selfish that I have been and began thinking of nations that have nothing,
which led to researching poverty rates of 3rd world countries. Those numbers
hit me CRAZY hard. Only 18% of Ethiopia
has clean water. Out of the 97 million people in Ethiopia, roughly 80 Million
people do not have clean water. This is ONLY in Ethiopia! That is insane. There
is more. 80% of illnesses in developing countries are a result from poor
sanitation. People are dying from something as small as sanitation. The worst
part is that these people may not even know Jesus.

What have I
been doing to help? Absolutely nothing. I have been living in the comforts of
my American life, wasting money on soda every single day because I don't want
to drink water. Meanwhile, people are dying because they don't have it. That is
not okay with me. God has blessed me with so much and there is no excuse for me
to not give to those who are literally DYING because they lack the necessities
needed to survive.

While
researching, I found that many children in these developing countries do not
live to see their first birthday. They don't even have a chance. I think that we often become numb to
statistics and forget what it is that they are actually saying. Picture a baby
that you know and love dying over something as silly as not having water or a
preventable disease. Heartbreaking, right? Every 3 seconds, a child dies from lack of
water or because they cannot receive proper medical treatment for simple,
treatable diseases. Why doesn’t that
break our heart? Maybe if I had given
some of the money that I have selfishly wasted on myself, they would still be
alive. Who knows who they could of grown up to be.

Reading
about these people who have nothing really woke me up. So I am starting this
Campaign because eyes need to be opened, and changes need to be made. A little
sacrifice from us goes a long way to these people. So here is a question for
you to think about. Do you NEED another cup of Starbucks? Do you NEED another
cookout milkshake? THESE PEOPLE NEED CLEAN WATER TO SURVIVE. Maybe it’s not practical to give up these
things all together, but sacrificing a couple things you want for something
these people desperately need to survive should be a no brainer. I know people
will look at this and say, "I can’t afford this, I'm struggling enough as
it is". I can understand because I
have said the same thing. By American standards I really am not wealthy at
all. Paying for school is a struggle and
I will be over my head in student loan debt after I graduate. But dang, if I'm
not blessed. I have water and food whenever I want it, a bed, clothes and
hospitals. If I can go out to eat with my friends or buy clothes for myself
than there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for me not to give to people who actually
need it.

Something I
have been reminded of recently, is that the money that I have is not my own,
its God's. He is the one who has blessed me with it and it should be used to
further His kingdom. Regardless of how much money you have, there is no doubt
in my mind that everyone who reads this can give something. So my question to
you is #WhyNotUs? People are dying because they lack the necessities that we
take for granted daily. What's stopping us from being the people that provide
it for them? Why cant we be the generation that ACTUALLY starts being the hands
and feet of Jesus instead of just talking about it? Giving a few dollars may not seem like much,
but look, it is really not hard for us to make a difference. If every single
one of Liberty University's students sacrificed a couple cookout milkshakes, coffee or
some food to give $10 we would raise $130,000. That is enough to drill 5 deep
wells that can provide water for over ten thousand people and will save a lot of lives lives. What
would happen if we dared to give $10? $20? $100? What better way to spread the love of Christ?
So, I'm BEGGING you, please open up your heart, see these peoples needs and join
the #WhyNotUs campaign to help us help them. Be generous, give even when you
think the money is not there. I guarantee God will provide. If what you have
read is not enough for you to decide that you want to give than please check
out poverty statistics of third world countries for yourself… It will definitely open your eyes. Lastly,
please pray for this fundraising page. All the glory is God's.
Thanks
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these,
you did not do for me.'"
Matthew 25:45