Tag: Charity:Water

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Depends and Bifocals

Well. It’s almost here. At 9:35 p.m. tomorrow (and not a second earlier) I will turn the big 30! I guess I need to carve out some time Friday morning to go get sized for my new life of Depends. I probably need to go by Eye Glass World or somewhere like that to treat myself to a brand new pair of bifocals too. We’re going to Sconyers BBQ on Friday night for my birthday, so I really can’t delay getting these things done if I want to read the menu, and only God knows what will happen with my bladder and digestive system as of 9:35 p.m. tomorrow, so I definitely CANNOT delay with the Depends, those will be top priority. I would hate to have an embarrassing episode, but then again, I will be a rookie goldy oldie so I guess it’s expected.

I wonder if 30 among the elderly is like being a freshmen in high school. I fear being hazed by the older, older people. I guess I’ll have to keep a close eye on my dentures and walker so no one hides them. You know how our memory gets lost with everything else, I’ll never find them if they get a hold of them.

While my memory is still flickering slightly better than it will be at 9:35 p.m. tomorrow night. I must remind you, because I know everyone reading this is ringing their hands right now and are nervous that you have not bought be a birthday gift. So, you are thinking that you are going to have to go battle the Christmas traffic or the long lines to get me the very best gift in the world. But, do not be afraid! That seems to sound familiar. Although I know you were going to lavish me with wonderful gifts, I must decline. I am asking you to celebrate the 30 wonderful years God has blessed me with by blessing those in Africa who do not have clean water. Many children will not live to see this ripe old age of 30 because they don’t have usable water. Will you go give a gift of any size to this effort? Instead of going out and buying that pack of Depends for me, you may want to give the equivalent amount (approx. $13) towards my campaign, or if you are really feeling generous you can give $1 per year I’ve been alive, that will provide 1.5 people water for the next 20 years!  The direct link to the gift giving site is: http://mycharitywater.org/nickcarnes

P.S. Billy Wilson says he and Seree went to the Apple Store to buy me an iPad for my birthday when he pulled up my blog in the store and saw that I was  asking for water instead. So, they put the iPad back. Do me a favor and please go to Billy’s Facebok page, his Twitter, and/or his Email and help remind him and Seree to donate the equivalent amount of money for an iPad in a water donation to my campaign, since they were feeling so generous this Birthday season!

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Nobody Loves Me, Everybody Hates Me

In one week my life changes forever. I leave these glory days known as the 20’s behind for a much darker, scarier land full of broken hips, bad eye sight, and dentures. Yes, on December 16, just seven days away, I enter my 30’s. All I know is that it will be a depressing week!

What makes it more depressing is that I have recently discovered that the only people who love me is my sister and her family and (updated) my parents. See, they are the ONLY ones who have given clean water to families in Africa in honor of my birthday (insert guilt here). It is almost too much to bear thinking that those poor (literally) children will suffer because of people’s lack of love for me (insert more guilt here).

Or, maybe it’s the curse of my birth, being born in December. I remember those Christmas mornings where family members would tell me that my birthday gift was included in the same box as my Christmas gift, so I would tear into the package to see what I got, and somehow it was the same gift my cousins next to me got too. I guess my cousins were celebrating my birthday with me or maybe they thought I was too young to notice. I understand that December is a tight, difficult month for some, I guess people don’t need water in December, in fact they should just learn to wait until February, after all, someone needs another fruitcake or silly tie they will never wear while telling you it’s awesome (Yes, everyone without a December Birthday should feel guilty here)!

So, maybe God (or guilt) has moved in your heart and you realize you’ve found a little bit of love for me. Okay, maybe it’s not enough love for $30 ($1 per year of my birth) worth of water to provide 1.5 people clean water for 20 years, but maybe it’s $5 or $10 or $20 worth of love. If you have discovered that you love me in any amount, you can go ahead and send that love gift to Charity:Water on my behalf.

…Can you feel the love tonight?

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My Birthday is December 16, This is What I Want…

clean-water$30

In honor of my birthday, I am asking everyone who reads this to give $1 for every year I’ve been alive to help give life and sustain life for the multitudes of people who do not have clean water through Charity:Water.

While we worry that we don’t have the latest X-Box game or the newest album from our favorite artist or the newest article of clothing that’s hit the retail stores, millions of people around the world worry about having what’s actually necessary for LIFE. Clean, drinkable, usable WATER. God’s blessed me with a healthy family, a home, a car, food and clean water. This year for my birthday instead of getting more of what I don’t really need, I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus to help bless other people.

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:37-40

I’ve accepted the birthday challenge presented by Charity:Water at the 2010 Catalyst Conference. I’ve set a goal of $1,500, which comes out to 50 people giving a $30 gift to provide 75 people with clean water for 20 years. If we can raise $5,000 that will provide an entire village clean water. By the Way…this is HUGE…100% of your donation goes to provide clean water to the people in need, it does not go to administration fees or anything else. It all goes to provide clean water!

Check out Why Clean Water on Charity Water’s Site.

Except for when I was a child, I’ve never asked anyone to give me anything for my birthday, but this year I will ask you to give a $30 gift in honor of my birthday to provide people clean water. Will you do that? You can give that gift at my Charity:Water Birthday Campaign Site.

The direct URL to the site is: http://mycharitywater.org/nickcarnes