The Ultimate Giving Guide For Christmas 2014

Well, it's not exactly the ULtimate list.
But it is a list none-the-less.
And a list of real gifts, for real people, with much less than us, in a season where we are bombarded with thinking about ourselves and all our wants and desires, as if we actually deserve something.

So, in an attempt to think outside of our pretty little bubbles, I thought I'd share some of my favorite ministries and some opportunities they have to give a gift that will bring hope and life to others.

We have friends in South Africa serving a community through Ubuntu Football, using soccer to spread the love of Jesus.  Make sure to check out their story and see how you can join them in their ministry.

Arise Africa will always be near and dear to our hearts.  It is the ministry that saved our Alethia girl's life and brought her into our family.  There are SO many ways you can join them in their ministry, but here is a link to their "Christmas Gift Catalog" that lists out so many awesome opportunities for you to give from sponsoring a child in the Babies Home or a pastor in one of their church plants or an African missionary.  You also have the option to plant different fruits and vegetables or buy animals for milk and eggs.  What a cool way to help ward off hunger plus giving eternal hope and life through the spreading of the gospel!

Not only do we have family in Jinja, Uganda (who, by the way can always use your support as well;), but we are about to send another family of ours to Haiti next spring.  It is such a bitter sweet (only bitter because we'll miss them being down the street) thing to send loved ones overseas to serve, but how cool is it to see a family walking in obedience, even if it means to "the ends of the earth".  Josh's little brother, Jacob, are raising money to get to Haiti and YOU can be a part of it.  You can give directly through their sending ministry OR you can purchase a Christmas ornament that is helping them raise funds to get there.




These are our personal favorites, but there are also larger ministries our family has also supported, that do great work that we would recommend as well such as World Vision, Compassion International, and Samaritan's Purse.

My friend co-writer at Kids In The Word, Shawna, shared 3 other organizations I wasn't familiar with, but am anxious to look into called Heifer International, Advent Conspiracy/Living Water International and Feed My Starving Children.

Now it's YOUR turn to share!  If you have any charities or legitimate organizations that are near to your heart please share them in the comments section below so we can all go check them out.