"But those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 I am often inspired by the strength of others. I stand in awe of people who are able to do things they never imagined were possible. I have felt this way watching our friends the Alexander family step out in faith for this campaign. I see it being used to change the lives of the people of Dube Bute. While I have never stepped foot on African soil, I have met two boys who have stolen my heart. Abe Alexander has been referred to as the "ripple maker" of this project. Without him there would have been not been a second trip to Ethiopia to adopt Eyasu and no discovery of a tiny village with a great need. But this one child has changed the lives of so many. He has for sure changed me. As a police officer I unfortunately see the very worst in people. I see how lives are tormented by drugs, greed and hate. I have witnessed things that I will never be able to erase from my mind. But, when I am lucky, I get to steal a few moments with my buddy Abe. As he sits in my arms and smiles that contagious smile of his I know that world is right. There is still good in people and there is HOPE even when we feel overwhelmed by all the difficulties of life. I wanted to use my ability to raise money for this campaign but I wasn't sure how to do it. I found the opportunity in the inspiration of another group of people. During World War II a group of brave soldiers were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines. The conditions they encountered and the aftermath of the battle were unique. They fought in a malaria-infested region, surviving on half or quarter rations with little or no medical help. They fought with outdated equipment and virtually no air power. On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard. They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. This became known as the Bataan Death March. Every year teams of competitors travel to New Mexico to honor the memory of these heros by participating in a 26 mile march. I will be traveling in March with my team and I believe this is the perfect opportunity to raise money for this project in Ethiopia that has become so dear to my family's heart. I am asking for your support as I participate in the march. Each dollar you donate will inspire me to not only honor the memory of the brave soldiers of the past, it will literally save lives of the people in Africa in the future.
Hope for Dube Bute from A Glimmer of Hope on Vimeo.
