Why the Disparity?

****Update: I have now reached $650 of my $1000 goal! Thanks to everyone and PLEASE let's make it $1000!**** 




When I set out to raise money for a charity I am always certain that I will either meet my goal or come pretty close to the goal. I always try to gear the raffle prize to attract the people who I think will feel close to the cause I am supporting.

This latest raffle has been quite different from my African Orphan raffles, and I knew it would be different and challenging. North Korea is hidden from view. North Korea has a leader who is hated and despised by any person who has even a shred of morality or compassion. North Korea is only in the news when it concerns a nuclear weapons matter. I did see Greta Van Susteran a few months ago in North Korea on Fox News to cover the extreme famine, but only lush, green fields with healthy Koreans were shown. It didn't look so bad from that perspective, honestly.

So I wonder, how do I show the extreme famine, brutal tortures, and unbelievable oppression in a country that hides it so well from the outside world, from us? I can't.
How can I help the millions of people who are trapped behind that wall and suffering in North Korea? I can't. I can't help everyone, but I CAN help ONE. WE can TRY and help.
Here's the deal. We KNOW that people are tortured and starving and forced into labor camps in North Korea. We KNOW that there are orphans and people who want to escape, they want to be free, they want to have a voice. We do not have to see it all in order to believe it. There are people who DO escape, often times leaving their family behind to suffer the consequences. These refugees spend their lives in FEAR of being sent back home so they do not go on TV and tell everyone who they are or how they got here. These brothers and sisters do TELL others about their lives in North Korea though, and it's worse than what any of us can imagine.

There is disparity that allows me and others like myself to have been born here in the USA. I have food and clothes and freedom and everything I could ever need. Halfway across the world in North Korea there are those who are born and live their life starved, beaten, and silenced. Why is that? What is the purpose for that huge difference in life?
Have you ever wondered why you were born here and not there? Was it just luck?
If you are from South Korea, have you ever pondered how your life would be different had you just been born across the border instead? What do you think your purpose is as a free Korean?
Friends, I will be blunt and put it all out there because this is a cause that weighs heavy on me. This has been a cause that I have been wildly surprised to have NOT affected more of my friends and associates than I expected.
We are in an economic recession big time, I know. I also know that many of you have taken more than one big vacation this summer. That is great, I am not saying we shouldn't take vacations. I AM saying that I need $10 from you.  This cause needs the amount you spend at Starbucks a week. This cause needs the amount you were going to spend on pizza tonight. 318 Partners has North Koreans ready for a rescue, an escape. They need your $10 to pay for the brave mission. 318 Partners has orphans waiting in China, fearing for their lives, waiting to be brought to a forever family. They need your $10 to help pay the way.
It does not matter if you are white, black, purple or Korean. You need to ask yourself this question: Was I born with all of these privileges and blessings so that I may help those who were not? Can I sacrifice a little more?
The horror that happens in North Korea is beyond our full comprehension, but you can save someone and it will only cost you $10.

Will you ponder this for just a while? Then after you donate and enter the raffle, will you please consider spreading the word? The only thing better than helping 318 Partners fund their missions is spreading the word about the crisis in North Korea. I do not only want to give money, I want MORE people to fight, more people to speak up and educate others.
I want world peace, but this is a nice start.


Blessings,

Motivation is the key!!!

Un-motivated is what I am feeling today. I think the rain has dampened and zapped all energy around here. Add to that with a fussy toddler and baby and you have one LONG day!
The up-side to it is I have family coming in for a visit...my dear sister. I have been trying to get my pantry all straightened up so that she will be amazed that it still looks great since she last was here and cleaned it for me:-)
Tomorrow a good friend will be here for a visit with her wonderful kids. Few things in life are better than having great friends. I should mention that the friend coming over is Lisa, the "I am their voice" North Korea Crisis advocate. I am sure we will be talking about the raffle and how the funds are starting to come in.

As of now I have $320!!! It doesn't all show on the Chip-In button because I have been given some checks and cash.  Have you considered donating? I know, I know that times are tough and the economy has been a bit busted. Consider this: how much do you spend eating out? How about Starbucks? Perhaps you could even make your July 4th celebration a more simple family affair. Yes, I think we could all dig deep and donate $10!
HERE ARE THE DETAILS!!!!

Now, please watch this and see if you don't feel a little more blessed to be a citizen here in the USA. Then, read the details again and donate! :-) My friend Lisa knows this great man!!! Your donation will help these orphans!
Blessings to you all!

Art Quilt Raffle Plus an EXTRA Something

An Introduction
Remember when you were in school and the history teacher would talk about WWII and the Holocaust? It was terrifying to read about the struggles so many people went through during that time. Not only did the Jewish suffer, but Christians did as well. Corrie Ten Boom told her horrific story as a Christian in a concentration camp in her book "The Hiding Place." Aren't you glad nothing like that happens anymore, that we are far beyond those terrible day of concentration camps? Well, sadly they still exist. They STILL exist! Where? They exist here.

See that area on the map that is full of lights? That is South Korea. They are doing well over there, thriving! Now, look at the dark area on top. That is North Korea. They are suffering there, and they HAVE concentration camps. They are dark because they have NO ELECTRICITY. Well, the small dot of light is where the devil Kim Jong II (the Dear Leader) lives.

Why North Korea?

My dearest friend, Lisa, works as a human rights activist for North Korea. She is crazy about the  crisis in North Korea, and because she believes I am a good person (seriously, she gave me a t-shirt to prove it!) I told her that her cause is my cause and that I would help any way I could. Now I am going to tell you all that you too are GOOD people (but without a t-shirt) and ask you to help as well.

Today I will start a raffle to collect a donation for 318 Partners. Much like the Underground Railroad you learned about in school, this group will raise funds and then use the funds to help the defectors of North Korea. Many of the women are sold into sex trafficking, 318 Partners helps get them out. They also go in and actually help people escape from the oppressed country. It is an Underground Railroad! They need money to do it all  so we are all going to pitch in and help. They have a few missions they are currently raising money for and WE can be part of that! WE can help rescue someone and change their world FOREVER!

I know this is a difficult "sell" because the North Korean government is SO reclusive! Let me tell you that the enemy LOVES it! The enemy LOVES that these people are oppressed! The enemy LOVES that these brothers and sisters of ours cannot learn about Christ! The enemy LOVES that they are all starving! We must see that GOOD triumphs over evil!

What is the Raffle?

I really reached into my artistic self and decided to raffle 2 items together. One is a quilt art.A quilt art is a small artistic quilt creation that tells a story or expresses a feeling.
Here is my Proverbs Quilt Art for 318 Partners.

It measures about 18x16 inches, was all handmade by me, and not only features some Proverbs that express this cause, but also has written in Korean "Free North Korea." It is ready to hang on your wall.
There is another gift that will go along with this quilt art.

Yep! That is a Keurig Elite coffee maker and it has with it 12 K cups, a sampler of sorts. Oh, you know how nice that coffee maker would be, admit it!

Here's how it works. I have a Chip In button on the upper LEFT of this blog. Click it and make a donation. You can also mail me a check, just email me for my address. We have ONE MONTH to raise $1000 for 318 Partners! Share this post with everyone you know. You can also find me on Face book and 318 Partners is on Facebook too!
Now, for every $10 you donate you get 1 entry at the drawing. So if you donate $50, you will get 5 entries! The drawing will be held at 7 am on 7/26 using random.org.
Now, I love it when people really open their hearts (and wallets) and donate $100. So I have ANOTHER gift for everyone who donates $100 or more.

This is a quilt art that is also called a memory quilt block. I made this one for a friend who donated to my last raffle. If you donate $100 or more I will ask you to send me a picture and I will custom make one of these for you. You can use a baby picture, wedding picture, birthday picture, whatever. Maybe you have a special occasion coming up? I will get started making it as soon as I get your photo via email AND you can choose a color scheme if you wish. That photo is printed out on a special fabric and truly is lovely in person. It is also ready for hanging on your wall.

Are you still with me? I know this is long winded, but it is truly so important! I will be featuring stories and videos throughout the month so that you can get the feel for what the North Korean Crisis really is and how it affects so many. 318 Partners is devoted to saving lives and changing the world for individuals who are suffering there.
""Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute"
Proverbs 31:8


Will you be their voice?