LeeAnn G Taylor - Embracing the Mosaic Life

Trusting our broken pieces to the Ultimate Artist

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You are here: Home / Purposeful Living / Advocating for Others / No Such Thing As “Just A Mom”

No Such Thing As “Just A Mom”

August 15, 2014 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Maybe you’ve heard it before. You’re “just a mom,” so what big impact can you make on the world?

Doing laundry, picking up toys, wiping noses, washing dishes, trekking to the playground, bathing kids, picking up toys (again)…how is that making a difference?

I’m here to tell you…there’s no such thing as “just a mom.”

no such thing as just a mom

Especially when you don’t have one.

Meet Hannah.

She’s the cutie in the middle with the huge grin on her face. (name changed to protect privacy) She doesn’t have a mom.

Neither do the 25 other kids standing with her and most of the 250 other kids living in her community in South Africa.

orphan south african

 

Here’s the thing.

Instead of a mom, she has caregivers. And those caregivers do the absolute best they can do take care of her and her friends.

But as a mom, have you ever had a day where you just needed some HELP?

You’re not “just a mom” because taking care of littles is HARD. WORK. people! And a lot of the time, we need help. It’s no small job to take care of another person’s physical needs and to be responsible for their emotional and spiritual development too.

Your daily investment into their little lives makes a difference today and for eternity.

What about Hannah?

And those who are functioning as “mom” and are investing into her life? Well, they could use some help too.

caregivers in South Africa

It’s been said, “it takes a village to raise a child.” In this little community in South Africa, this is so true!

And guess what? Our little community here online? We can help!

Already, members of Lisa-Jo Baker’s blog community have contributed enough money to build a watering station/laundry facility, vegetable garden, and playground to this community in South Africa they’ve adopted. I’m one of them!

lisa jo baker community

Lisa-Jo Baker and her dad sharing hope orphaned & vulnerable children in the Maubane community in South Africa

And now, members of our community here at The Mosaic Life (that’s YOU!)…well, we’re going to join them!

Here’s your opportunity to join in:

Watering Station – fully funded & built

Vegetable Garden – fully funded & producing veggies

Playground – fully funded & plans prepared

Community Center (admin portion) – $28,474 of $40,000 raised

Maybe $11,526 more to raise seems like a big number to you…but do you remember the “it takes a village to raise a child” concept? It’s true with life-changing generosity too.

UPDATE: In less than 24 hours, Lisa-Jo’s community has raised almost $4,ooo. That’s 160 “just a mom”s giving $25 each as part of this ‘village’. 

communitycenter

Here’s my challenge to our community.

Right now, it would take 308 people giving $25 each to raise the remainder of the funds needed for the community center.

Wondering what your $25 will provide to this community? Check out these details:

By starting by constructing the admin building, the Maubane community of 400 will have access to:

A base of operations – for the 20-30 volunteers who serve the weekly church meetings that currently take place under an open air shelter that was donated by a local church in Pretoria. What started as 15 kids has now grown to 250-300 children and 100 adults every Sunday for the last three years.

Hygienic Food Preparation – every second Sunday the volunteer group, Take Action, provides food and drinks to the community. But no running water, no kitchen, no bathrooms make it challenging to serve such a large group of people.

Sanitation – this portion of the community center will include male and female restrooms (5 stalls each).

Facilities for the caretaker – who will farm the vegetable garden and provide security and maintenance for the community center site.

Conference Room – for launching economic empowerment with training classes in job skills, early childhood development and HIV/AIDS training for the community.

Safe storage for all the tables, chairs and equipment that serves the church and is currently stored in Pastor Norman’s house.

So are you with me?

ONLY 308 PEOPLE GIVING $25 EACH = $7,700

 

Remember, you’re not “just a mom” and your actions, whether you perceive them as “big” or “small,” make an incredible impact on the world.

 

 

This post is part of Five Minute Friday. Today’s writing prompt was “Tell”. How can you use your words and actions today to tell the story of Jesus’ generosity in our lives?

 

Filed Under: Advocating for Others Tagged With: kids, Parenting

Comments

  1. Meredith Bernard says

    August 15, 2014 at 8:53 am

    So glad I linked up next to you, LeeAnn! And so glad you are championing this beautiful cause…I have done my very small part and am praying that others will chip in as they can, as well. God is SO able to do this through His people…can’t wait to see how He works. 😀

    Blessings to you this weekend!
    Meredith

    • LeeAnn Taylor says

      August 15, 2014 at 9:49 am

      Loved that Lisa-Jo gave us this opportunity again to love on these precious children. It may not seem like I can do “much” to affect the world from my living room with my kiddos in tow, but it’s project like this that help me see how each person giving a little makes a world of difference!

  2. Mollie Hardman says

    August 15, 2014 at 9:55 am

    This is why you’re my hero! I love you and your sweet servants heart! It definitely takes a village. 🙂

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      August 15, 2014 at 9:59 am

      You’re so kind Mollie! Looking forward to our blogging friends meetup tomorrow morning!

  3. Cynthia Stuckey says

    August 15, 2014 at 10:27 am

    Oh, LeeAnn! I’m so happy to used your space to share their story and need today! It absolutely gives me chills that all of us “just moms” can have a small part in this HUGE thing.
    Glad to read you today!

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      August 15, 2014 at 10:44 am

      Cynthia, you’re right – we’re part of a BIG thing and that is no small thing! 🙂

  4. Logan Can says

    August 15, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    What an incredible thing you are doing. I love seeing bloggers use their space for good.

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      August 15, 2014 at 2:02 pm

      Thank you Logan!

      And I checked out your blog – loved today’s post about your little one. All those things are so true. I’m about to be reminded of them (for the third time) here in a couple of months!

  5. Alli says

    August 15, 2014 at 4:31 pm

    What a lovely way to help! Our church supports orphans in Haiti on a regular basis and my husband (pastor) travels there to help with Pastor Conferences, etc.

    There is so much need in the world, but together we can!

  6. Reginia Cordell says

    August 15, 2014 at 9:25 pm

    It absolutely takes more than a village…

    Thanks for introducing me to this organization.

  7. Mommy's Kitchen says

    August 16, 2014 at 3:00 am

    This is absolutely an act of GOD and you are one of his angels. May god continue to bless your works that provide these people with a decent and appropriate lifestyle !

  8. Caroline says

    August 18, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    What an incredible cause! Thank you for posting this… I will definitely be sharing! 🙂

    • LeeAnn G. Taylor says

      August 18, 2014 at 11:29 pm

      Thanks for sharing Caroline! We are so close to meeting the goal and getting the community center started for these amazing kids and their caregivers.

      P.S. I checked out your blog and love your comments about feeling more confident in your own skin in your 30s. I totally agree. 30s rock! 🙂

  9. laura says

    August 21, 2014 at 9:35 am

    it definitely takes a village…
    What an amazing cause to support and be apart of!

    • LeeAnn Taylor {The Mosaic Life} says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:26 am

      Yes, it’s so exciting to see people coming together to make a difference. Just under $4,500 to go to build the center…including a KITCHEN. How amazing will it be for those caretaker moms to have a kitchen to cook in?!

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