I'm headed to Guatemala next weekend to celebrate Christmas with my village families and my host family - The Greene's (founders of CRI). I will come loaded with baby dolls, toy trucks and hand made infant hats for the 18 children at God Bless the Children Orphanage as well as money to shop for cooking pots and new shoes for my beloved family that I helped build a house for 3 years ago. The timing is perfect as Catalyst Resources International (the mission group I stay with every time I visit) kicks off a week of  raising funds and awareness to fund a program that will feed 1,000 starving children in Guatemala.  This campaign is called Beans and Rice.

Let me share a few quick facts with you....

When I came to Guatemala in 2011 and helped with the feeding program in the village of Labor De Falla, I honestly didn't realize the statistics were this tragic.

I could barely get my kids to eat a full meal when they were little. These children know very well that one meal a day is a blessing.

Here's how the Rice and Beans campaign works:

CRI is inviting all of you (and your friends and family) to join them in eating rice, beans, and water for as many meals as possible for 7 days. During that week, skip the lunch at Chick-Fil-A, the latte at Starbucks, and pass on that expensive pot roast at the grocery store. Instead, prepare various meals with beans and rice, and donate the funds you saved during that time to this CRIinitiative. Your sacrifice for 7 days will mean nutritious meals for multiple children for an entire year! If 150 individuals donate $100, CRI will hit the goal needed to fund the program to feed 1,000 children a hot meal every day during the school year.

Beans and Rice Week will kick off on Giving Tuesday, December 2nd, and run through Tuesday, December 9th. On 12/9, use the secure giving page located at www.donatecri.com for your gifts.  Obviously you can give towards this effort at any time starting immediately.

 After literally "stuffing" ourselves yesterday celebrating Thanksgiving, I'm more than happy to help this worthy initiative. I hope you are too!

Hugs,

Kelly