Have you ever committed to doing something out of your comfort zone and then wished you could back out? My son, Michael asked me to speak at the Pirates Dig A Well Silent Auction gala this month and I accepted. I made a promise that even though my hands sweat, my heart pounds, my tummy flip flops… I would start sharing my passion to help orphans anywhere, anytime, anyplace. But, actually having to get up in front of a crowd and do it is another thing. Well, I wrote my little speech and when the host, Tony Orlando (yep, the real one) introduced “Roger and Carl Gibson” I froze. Wait, my name is not Carl, but before ducking out the back door to search for Carl, I went up to the stage on my shaking legs.
For the next few minutes I shared about why digging a well in Ethiopia is so personal to me… here’s my actual speech (minus the crying I did when I talked about Korah)
I’m so honored to be ONE of the moms of a High School Pirate digging a well in Ethiopia. Three years ago, we adopted our beautiful princess, Zoie Senait from Addis Ababa, the capitol city of Ethiopia. She was 6 months old and weighed only 7 pounds. She was sick and malnourished and her tiny body was starving for clean water. She was born in a community that lives on a massive dump called Korah. There is no water source there… only the run off from the dump. The water is infested, diseased, filthy, toxic and is not meant for human consumption.
The problem of not having clean water is all over the world…
BUT, tonight THIS is about bringing clean water to Chucko, Ethiopia where Pirates Dig a Well is helping build a water well in a tiny village who has never had this luxury.
I’m traveling in 19 days to Ethiopia and will have the incredible opportunity to hold children in my arms that are desperate for clean water. Because of your generosity tonight, I will be able to give them HOPE that they will have the gift of water from Branson, MO.
You can make a difference tonight!! Every penny you donate is going to change the life of all the little Zoie’s living without clean water in Chucko. This is YOUR well being dug… We are all in this together. Pirates Dig a well and the Branson High School students are changing the life of a baby, mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, grandma, grandpa… a family.”
Whew… I did it without passing out! The event was so much fun and they sold every single item they had to bid. Their total as of today, for the well project: $9,125.00! My crazy readers, if you want to donate to their well project (partners with Dig Deep project) every penny will make a difference. Donate Here and check out their awesome campaign page- Pirates Dig Deep! You can buy the super chic tees on my friend, Julie Pitt Neal’s blog.
I want to personally thank April Fiesler, who rocked this event with style and organization!! To all the High School students that participated in the event… you made a huge difference in Chucko!!
I want to know what your most nerve-wracking moment was you did for a purpose?
It’s 2011 and I have been giddy to launch the new look for my favorite crazy bloggers! I spent hours searching blog themes that would best serve you. Do you like it too? I want to continue to make My Crazy Adoption Blog your #1 spot to celebrate the craziness of mommyhood, adoption, and orphan care all over the whole wide world! I want to thank my guru bloggy brother, Michael for allowing me to wake up and see the new site debut…. what a surprise! I’m so grateful for you and your crazy support!
