CMaDFA: South America visit Learn about Meal-a-Day projects with Bruce Parker and Steve Johnson while they travel in South America.

Off We Go! (an introduction)

One small example of our work: this little girl, who lives high in the Andes mountains, is learning about personal hygiene. Meal-a-Day sponsored a hygiene education program in five Bolivian schools last year.

Starting next Thursday, September 10, I plan to post something fresh every day about our Meal-a-Day activities, at least for the next three weeks.  Why?  We want to generate some buzz about what Meal-a-Day is doing and get a lot of others involved.  Of course, one of the reasons we want a lot of others involved is because we'd like to raise more money to distribute as a caring gift from the Christadelphians to those much less fortunate than we are in the developing world.  But we feel that prayer is critical, too, and would ask that you remember this work in your prayers to the Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus, whether or not you're able to support it financially.

Starting Saturday, September 12, two of Meal-a-Day's directors,  Bruce Parker and Steve Johnson (the newly minted blogster),  are setting off on a three week trip to South America to visit many of the projects that we've been blessed to be able to support this last year.  We'd like you to come along!!! We want you to be able to experience some of the excitement, discovery, positive energy and yes, probable fatigue, along with us (there's an overnight bus trip in store!)  And we want you to get acquainted with the people we're going to meet who are either helping others or are being helped.

I'll probably say this in a lot of my blogs just to make sure the message gets through:  Bruce and I are making this trip entirely at our own expense.  NONE of the money for airfares, bus fares, taxicabs, mules or whatever or our living expenses is coming out of the Meal-a-Day treasury.  This is because we are passionate about the work and because we want every dollar that YOU give to go toward the good projects that Meal-a-Day supports.  Right now CMaDFA operating overhead is less than 1%! We plan to always keep it low.

One of the reasons we're actually going to visit people is for accountability… to be sure each partner is doing what they say they are doing, and on the schedule they state. Since we receive written and photo updates, we doubt a problem will exist, but we believe it's important to do this diligence on behalf of our supporters. We also get the privilege of visiting Brothers and Sisters in Christ, to encourage them and be encouraged by them.

You can help right now by getting the word out about this blog. Please share the blog address with as many people as you can, who you think might be interested in the work of Meal-a-Day.  You'll find more information at mealaday.org.  As you'll see there, Christadelphian Meal-a-Day Fund of the Americas is a sister organization to the original Meal-a-Day Fund of the UK.  Be sure to click on "North America". (Duh!)

That's it for starters.  By the way, this is my first foray into blogdom.  If you have any suggestions (or words of encouragement!) be sure to send a comment.  I want this to be interesting...for all of us!

Adios!     (I've just begun Rosetta Stone Spanish...)

Steve Johnson