Training Hearts for Charity

In July, we began doing a charity for each week.  I really wanted to do a week of charity involving the terrible drought in Africa.  However, I did not want to just write a check and say, "This is what we did this week."  We are really trying to keep a hands-on approach to our charity work this year.  Then it hit me ....  My husband agreed with my crazy scheme and so we put our plan into motion.  This is what greeted our children this morning.

The card in the picture reads ~
    
 Dear Children,

        There is a terrible drought devastating a few countries in Africa.  There is very little water and even less food.  People are dying by the thousands.  Our Charity this week will be giving money to an organization called Doctors Without Borders.  They are a group of doctors who are feeding and hydrating the starving. 
       For the next 24 hours we will be only consuming 2 gallons of water.  This water will be for cooking and drinking only.  There will be no baths, showers, sprinkler play, teeth brushing, laundry or any other water luxuries.  There will be no juice, tea, coffee, or coconut milk.  The toilet will not work.  The water to the house has been shut off.
      The point of this lesson is to increase our understanding (in a very small way) of  what others are going through.  It is also to help us realize how much water we truly need to survive so that we may learn better how to be good stewards of water.

                                                          You are blessed --
                                                                 Love, Mom and Dad

To say that I had a shocked and unhappy crew after reading this letter would be a bit of an understatement.  One child in particular was very vocal about this particular lesson.  However, with a few images of the drought victims and the understanding that they actually would live through this experience, everyone got on board.  The biggest issue was the bathroom.  They were OK with not flushing urine.  However, bowel movements being left to sit all day really stressed out my two sensory disordered kids BIG TIME.

Lessons learned ~

• 2 gallons of water will sustain 5.5 people (Dad being at home only half the time, being at work most of the daytime), as well as two dogs all day.
• I must have tried to turn on the faucet 10 times to wash my hands.  I really missed washing my hands!
• The water from the portable A/C unit can be used to wash hands (especially after crazy Mom let the kids do a painting project).
• The poo will not jump back out of the toilet and get you. LOL! LOL!
• A lot of food requires water to cook!
• A little bit of sacrifice builds stronger character and empathy for others.
• Life with Mom is never boring!
• I was right -- the kids do feel blessed all tucked into their beds tonight with the knowledge that water will flush that toilet tomorrow.

I'd love to have others of you share what ways you have guided your children's hearts toward charity.

Blessings,
Dawn