Day 19

Today we reached Day 19. Today we drank something other than water. After a rough night with little sleep due to a teething child, we both had a cup of coffee.

2 Cor. 12:9 says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Yes, we were weak. However, tomorrow is a new day. We were able to rely on something other than water to wake us up and get us through our day. It makes me appreciate all the more that not everyone has a choice. Many can't even get clean drinking water.

That is the ultimate goal. We will still be contributing to this project.

Day 6

Sunday was a feast day...

and feast we did.

Sipping my coffee, I really came to appreciate how "good" we have it in N. America.

Especially in light of this fact:

So far over $10,000 has been pledged for Blood: Water Mission's work in Africa.

As we are nearing the end of Day 6, I am finding it is not as hard to resist coffee and other drinks. I am finding it is VERY HARD to ignore the suffering in places like Africa and Japan.

What can you do to help?

Day 3

Well Day 3 is nearly done and it hasn't gotten much easier. I am fighting a cold/flu right now and only drinking water is a challenge.

Of course, considering that 884 million people are drinking from poor water sources, the fact that I can drink clean water is a blessing.

I have been looking at some of the 300 Scriptures on the poor and needy. Amazing that in both the Old and New Testament, God shows His concern and love for the poor. How can we do any less?

Day One

So today was Day 1 of our 40 day water challenge.

It was a lot tougher kickoff for me this year than it was last year.

As Sarah and I started the day, we talked about our coffee consumption and both realized that, WOW, we drink a lot of coffee. More than at any time in our life.

That was an eye-opening fact I wasn't expecting.

I also noticed how many people around me talked about coffee. Clients would sit in my office and talk about the good cup of coffee they grabbed on the way in the door, how good the coffee smelled, etc.

Sarah said she noticed today how she would normally grab a cup of coffee instead of a healthy mid-day snack. She also feels it is a privilege she has taken for granted. A privilege she missed while sitting in a cold ice arena watching our daughter figure skate.

I am keeping Luke 10:27 in my mind as we go through these 40 days: "He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

You can read about our 40 day journey on this blog and also track our drink total here.

40 Days of Water

Last year I decided to go off of coffee for 40 days! It was hard, very hard. However it was well worth it. (Pun Intended!) The money I saved went to the Blood:Water Mission in order to provide clean drinking water in Africa.

Forty Days of Water from Blood:Water Mission on Vimeo.

This year I'll be doing it again. This time, I will be joined by my wife, Sarah. We will take the challenge together and will blog about the process and the needs that the Blood:Water Mission are trying to address.

Will you join us in the 40 Day of Water challenge?

5 Questions with Aaron Sands

Welcome to 5 Questions With.....

Today's guest is Aaron Sands. He is the Administrative Director for blood:water mission. After almost 10 years of touring and recording with Jars of Clay, Aaron has transitioned into a life closer to home. A part of Blood:Water Mission from the beginning, Aaron continues to work to show dignity, respect and love in the world, especially for those seeing no hope.

And now without further delay, on to the questions:

Hi Aaron,

Question 1: What is the Blood:Water Mission?

We are a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and Water crises in Africa. Both through the creative fundraising and advocacy ideas of people throughout the US and through the benefits f medical care, clean water, hygiene training and sanitation, communities are coming together and becoming stronger. People want to make a difference, and we help guide them toward simple ways that make a large and long-lasting difference.

Question 2: How did this ministry get started?

We were started in 2004 by members of the multi-platinum, GRAMMY-award winning band, Jars of Clay, in an attempt to make the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa personal. As they began to tell the stories of our friends overseas, they realized the vital link between living with HIV/AIDS and the need for clean water. Soon after making that connection, we embarked on what was one of our first major campaigns: the 1000 Wells Project, a nation-wide effort to raise enough money to provide clean water and sanitation to 1000 communities in sub-Saharan Africa. In the years since, we have not only solidified our water programs, but have also initiated HIV/AIDS-related programming and plan to have even greater synergy with these programs in the years to come.

Question 3: How serious is the need?

Put simply, these are matters of life and death for our brothers and sisters in Africa. But the need is also serious because communities in the U.S. and throughout Africa grow stronger and are more sustainable as they engage in addressing the HIV/AIDS and water crises. And that is something that will bring change from generation to generation.

Question 4: What has Blood:Water Mission been able to accomplish since it got started?

With HIV/AIDS specifically, we have successfully helped launch 3 clinics, testing more than 17,500 people and serving more than 22,000 people. On the water projects side of our mission, we have funded more than 850 water projects, serving an estimated 570,000 people in 11 different countries.

Question 5: How can people help the ministry?

The great part of our mission is that anyone can help! We are a grassroots organization and truly thrive ff of individual campaigns by our creative supporters. We encourage people to think creatively and use their unique gifts to gather their communities around this cause. We also provide downloadable online resources to make it easy to participate in some of our signature campaigns as well as share ideas for creating your own.

Thanks you so much Aaron.

There you have it. I want to encourage you to go to the blood:water mission website and get involved today. I did and it isn't that hard. Simple acts can make a difference.

To see past 5 Question guests, check out the rotating interview links on the sidebar.