Monday, January 23, 2012

Stay Tuned for God’s Version of My Life

Posted by erinstraza under culture, faith | Tags: , , |
[4] Comments 

I’m India bound.

February 8 I will board a plane that will send me halfway around the world and approximately 8,226 miles from home. This trip is the culmination of a journey that began just over a year ago, when I first started developing communications for As Our Own.

I didn’t realize that working for As Our Own would become one of those major section dividers in the story of my life. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the story of my life would include the topics of India and fighting child exploitation or that I would get to write about the transforming work that God is doing in places I’ve never been. How grateful I am that God is the one writing my story, because His version is way better than mine.

Although I’ve posted here at The Patch about As Our Own many times, you may not have read those entries . . . in brief, As Our Own works in India, standing in the gap for children who are at risk for life-long bondage, in treacherous situations that would lead to exploitation in the sex trade, organized begging, or bonded labor.

This work takes several forms. First is the immediate rescue of children who are in danger of exploitation and enslavement. They are adopted into the lifelong As Our Own family where they become beloved daughters, for life.

Another aspect of the work addresses the systemic, long-term issues that put children at risk. Without the transforming power of God’s love, there will always be another child to rescue. As Our Own fosters root-level transformation by equipping the Church and leaders to build strong communities where predators can no longer prey upon the innocent.

This is the beautiful work God is doing in the beautiful country of India. I cannot believe I get to be part of it. And I cannot believe I get to go there!

Many of you are curious what I will be doing on my trip. The goal is that I would see with my own eyes what I have been writing about for the past year! I want to be a sponge, soaking up everything I might need for future writing projects. I want to be a curious reporter, full of wonder and probing questions about a country and a people and a culture I have grown to love. I want to be a servant, willing to pour myself out in love and humility in whatever way I am prompted.

As far as day-to-day happenings, these are the sorts of things I will experience:

  • meet the 70-plus daughters in the As Our Own family
  • lead devotional sessions with the girls
  • meet the girls’ live-in staff, caretakers, and care directors
  • gather story leads and information for future communications
  • learn all I can about India’s society and culture
  • visit As Our Own’s Hope College, meeting the professors and students
  • visit an As Our Own–supported Lighthouse Church, meeting the pastor and congregants

This brief overview surely won’t do my trip justice! I don’t know how to explain a trip I’ve never taken to a land I’ve never visited to meet people I’ve only heard about, read about, and written about. I will be learning as I go, and I plan to post reports here during my stay.

I hope you will visit The Patch February 8–18 to discover what I am discovering. This is one story I don’t want to miss! (Thank You, God!)

 

Friday, April 22, 2011

Gifts from My Mother

Posted by erinstraza under culture | Tags: , , |
[14] Comments 

Shadows of Mom, Sis, and Me

When my mom and sister and I are together, it’s obvious we are related. We are different, but there are traces of the similar that bind us. We communicate similarly. We gesture similarly. We laugh at the same things. We know each other’s expressions, rendering spoken explanations unnecessary. (This can be both good and bad! There is no hiding in such community.)

My mom has invested in me (and my sister) more than is obvious on the surface. These gifts make me who I am. There are lots of things she has given me, and this Mother’s Day, I’ve been thinking of these intangible deposits because of the As Our Own Thanks, Mom! campaign that I’ve been helping with. It has me thinking of all the ways I want to say thanks to my mom for what she’s invested in me.

So I’m going to shout out thanks to my mom right here. (I’m also going to give to Thanks, Mom! in her honor—won’t she be surprised? Well, at least she will be once she reads this . . . )

And because I love to hear from dear ones like you, I thought it would be great fun to hear how you would say thanks to your mom for those not-so-obvious investments and gifts that have made you the person you are today.

How would you say, “Thanks, Mom!” to her this Mother’s Day?

Did she instill in you a sense of hope or courage? Did she model a servant’s heart? Was she your champion and encourager? Did she work so you could go to school? Did she remember special occasions in a special way?

I want to know about your mom! Here’s your chance to rise up and tell her why you appreciate her—Proverbs 28:11 says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed.”

So rise up, my dear Patch readers!

I want to hear from at least 25 of you by May 8. Thank your mom for something specific by posting it here in the comments. I’ll go first to get the party started. (So please join me with a comment of your own or I’ll be partying all alone—and that’s no fun whatsoever.)

Let’s give our moms their due. I can’t wait to hear about your mom!

_______________________

You Can Honor Your Mom with a Gift to Thanks, Mom!

This Mother’s Day, thank your mom for all her love in a truly special way. Honor her with a gift that helps As Our Own stand in the gap with motherly love for the sake of our 60-plus girls. Learn more here.

STEP 1 :: Give to our Thanks, Mom! campaign to honor your mom on Mother’s Day, May 8.

STEP 2 :: In the donation comments box, tell us what you appreciate most about your mom.

STEP 3 :: Download a certificate for your mom that explains the gift you’ve made in her name.

_______________________
About As Our Own
The extreme poverty in India places girls at great risk for exploitation, enslavement, and neglect. Girls are regularly abused and degraded, forced into lives of bonded labor, either in organized begging or the sex trade.

These girls will face a dark, horrific future—unless someone intervenes.

God has opened the door for As Our Own to rescue girls before they are exploited, giving us the privilege to care for each one as our own—for life. We are building strong communities through our Lighthouse Church Network and training strong leaders and pastors at our Hope College, all to break these cycles for girls in future generations.

Your gifts make a lasting difference for these girls.

 

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Miles of Community

Posted by erinstraza under culture | Tags: , , , , , , |
[3] Comments 

Today was the Automattic Worldwide WordPress 5K—a thrown down by WordPress to its community to complete a 3.1-mile–something (walk, run, bike, swim, etc.) during the week of April 4–10. The idea was to move about for 3.1 miles, then blog about it. We could then jump about the WP blogosphere and enjoy the warm fuzzies of community forged by the miles we’ve logged.

I thought that sounded easy enough because I was already scheduled to run a race today! My 3.1 WordPress miles actually totaled 4.97 (yes, I’m an overachiever) because I ran the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K.

Sherry and Erin sporting the fab As Our Own team jerseys.

Even more fun than running with 40,000 of my closest running buddies through Chicago is that this was my first run on the As Our Own racing team! For 2011, I’m raising funds and awareness for As Our Own, a nonprofit organization that rescues the vulnerable children of India from the treacherous situations leading them to certain futures of bonded labor (either in organized begging or the sex trade).

Here I am with Sherry from As Our Own—her support and encouragement made the day more memorable. (And she kindly toted my bag while I ran!)

Thanks to loving family and friends, I’ve already reached the halfway point in my 2011 fund-raising goal. More than $750 has been raised! I’d love your support for the races ahead if you feel inspired to donate.

Team As Our Own takes Chicago!

Here are some other folks from the Shuffle racing team—first, Mary and John. Mary and I have discovered we know each other from high school. How fun is that?!

Team racer Will participated in the wwwp5k in Houston—check out his post and experience. It’s both humorous and inspirational. You can hear his heart for the work in India in every word he’s posted.

Rosa and Erin before roasting on Chicago's city streets.

As for the 3.1/4.97 miles for today, I ran with my running friend Rosa. (We’ve run several races together now, with more to come.) I loved running with Rosa, who was so sweet to tell me stories to distract me from the heat-induced nausea that visited me just after mile 4. That’s because the weather switch was flipped to Roasty today, resulting in 69 degrees and 73% humidity. It was a little much for my liking, but racing through Chicago’s city streets—and representing As Our Own—made it worthwhile.

And here are the Straza results from today. This was Mike’s first race back after nursing an injury over the past few months. He ran so well! My results were good considering the heat and my less-than-ideal training over the past few weeks due to a heavy workload.

All in all, today’s race was a good one.

Did you move around for 3.1 miles today? Or even in this past week? If so, leave a little report in the comments. The wwwp5k is curious. (And so am I!)

The community aspect of the wwwp5k seems to have been a huge success. I’m checking out other WP bloggers who are runners; I’m getting to know an As Our Own runner and blogger; and I’m connecting to the As Our Own team right here at The Patch.

Great idea, Automattic! I hope the wwwp5k becomes an annual event.

 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Why I’m Running in 2011

Posted by erinstraza under culture | Tags: , , , |
1 Comment 

I have one of those love/hate relationships with running. It looks like this:

LOVE = keeping in shape / being able to eat sweets / the feeling of accomplishment after I finish a run / the friendships forged over many miles

HATE = feeling out of breath / freezing in the winter / overheating in the summer / regular aches and pains / heading out the door when I’d rather curl up with a book (or do just about anything else but run)

Somehow, the love must be outweighing the hate, because I’ve been running consistently now for 2.5 years. Participating in races keeps me scared enough to keep up the miles, so that also motivates when the hate side looms.

Another motivation for 2011 is that I get to run for As Our Own, a nonprofit organization that rescues the vulnerable children of India from the treacherous situations leading them to certain futures of bonded labor (either in organized begging or the sex trade).

This isn’t just a random charity I’ve selected—this is an organization I have the honor and joy of developing communications for. I’m writing Web site content, donor support letters, grant proposals, press packs, video captions, and newsletter articles. This is the sort of work that doesn’t feel like work—I love the staff; the work both breaks and overflows my heart; and the girls I’ve met (via Skype!) are lovely beyond words.

Basically, my heart has been stolen. And so I will gladly run this year to help rescue even one more girl from a future life of horrific bondage.

While I race on the As Our Own team in 2011, my goal is to raise $1,500 to fund transportation to get the rescued girls to school, lessons, and activities. If you are interested in sponsoring me, check out my fund-raising page. I’ve also listed the giving options below.

Your gifts will grow these girls into the adults they dream of becoming. They will learn new languages . . . play beautiful music . . . grow strong through sports . . . and develop skills for the life that has been given back to them through the As Our Own family.

Together, we can love these girls as we would love our own.

Because love is a greater force than hate.

___________________

Racing and Fund-Raising Updates
I plan to post about my racing and fund-raising efforts throughout the year here and via Facebook and e-mail. Your comments are always welcome!

Giving Options
Donations of any amount are needed and appreciated (and tax deductible). If you feel so moved to give you may do so by:

  • credit card at my secure fund-raising page at FirstGiving.com
  • cash or checks made payable to As Our Own—sent to me (e-mail me for mailing info)

Learn More :: As Our Own
AsOurOwn.com (full site launch in April)
facebook.com/AsOurOwn
FirstGiving Profile

 

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