I'm excited, terrified, and humbled to tell you that next month I'll be a part of the World Vision blogger team headed to Sri Lanka.
I've never done anything like this before. I've never much thought about doing anything like this before. Last year, a group of World Vision bloggers went to Bolivia. As it happens, I was also invited on that trip, and I was relieved to say no quickly because of my pregnancy. But a few of my favorite bloggers were on that trip - including Rachel Held Evans and Nish Weiseth - and I read their posts from afar, and I couldn't quite shake a feeling.
A few weeks ago, when World Vision contacted me regarding the opportunity to visit Sri Lanka and see firsthand the relief work there, I didn't have a single reason to turn them down. And I looked for one. But it was hard to say no when everyone around me - my husband, a close friend, a random stranger at a party - was screaming yes. So I have stepped forward in faith, my whole being paleing at the thought.
Now that I'm used to the idea, I'm excited to step out (way, way out) of my comfort zone in this way. And I'm overjoyed to share the experience with you. If all goes as planned, I'll be blogging, tweeting, and Instagramming my way through Sri Lanka August 26 - September 1.
I really like what I know so far about World Vision. Although I've been personally wary of the child sponsorship model in the past, I have to admit that I've been uninformed and am curious to learn more about how the child sponsorship thing actually works. (A great read addressing this topic from Rachel Held Evans: Confessions of a Sponsorship Skeptic.)
It has always been my intention to have a charitable section of this blog. In the fall of 2010, I hosted a little something called Housewife Heart. There is so much good in this world, and so much need in this world, and it's easy to get lost in the I Don't Know Where To Start. My husband and I talk all year about how to give back in our communities, in our country, internationally. But too often the conversation ends at talking.
Next month I hope to stop the talking and start seeing. Truly seeing.
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I am excited to learn more and then share more about child sponsorship through World Vision. This link answers some basic questions. If you have questions, I'd love for you to ask them now or over the course of the next month, so that I can get them answered.
This is going to stretch us, friends. I'm so glad you'll be with me on the journey.
