Ordinary People – Extraordinary Things
So often I feel like I am writing about the things that inspire me – and today was certainly one of those days. Today was MORE than one of those days.
Let me tell you about 3 individuals making their journey to Thailand. They are like you and me. But they are stepping out on a journey of the unknown in hopes of making a difference in an extraordinary way. I am amazed and humbled to know them and work with them.
Take a look at this video and you’ll meet Leia, Matthew and Emma. They leave this week for Thailand. To film a documentary of one project of GCHope. Self expensed. All currently work in Hollywood. All just want to do something substantial that has meaning. All are near and dear to my heart.
This project started with Leia simply wanting to help on the issue of human trafficking. After a couple years of trying to volunteer with different people she was frustrated not being utilized. She began to volunteer with us and came to most of our Summer Speaking Series. And one day she asked me if she could do more – could she go visit the project in Thailand.
What Leia didn’t know from her simple request was that this was a much bigger project than she anticipated. Neither did I initially.
I immediately asked Leia if she could get some video footage from the other end – my usual request. But when we sat down for the meeting I decided I wouldn’t hold back – I’d ask for what I really needed. I might not get it – but you never know unless you try.
It’s often the case us non-profits are afraid to ask for what we need. We sell people short asking instead for only what we think they will do. And when we get bold and we ask…sometimes we are really surprised.
So in my meeting with Leia I went for it and asked her to film a documentary. That’s probably a crazy thing to ask. But here’s the thing, when you find passionate people they find a way. Really, they do. And in listening to Leia I knew she wanted to do something extraordinary. It wasn’t about spending 3 hours sorting medical supplies. It was about using her talents to do something significant…and somehow I didn’t feel like I was over asking.
In retrospect I can see so many ways that God has orchestrated all of the details to this point. And I was right about Leia – that passion turned into energy to complete the task. It turned into recruiting Emma and Matthew into the project. It turned into finding the right camera equipment. And it will turn into so many other things still yet to happen…because this is just the start of the story.
Conducting work in developing countries takes a great deal of patience and flexibility. There are still so many things that could go wrong with this project. But I am so confident that while there will be many field challenges, that our team will prevail. That they will find the story that God wants to tell.
Please join me in praying for this team and their journey.
And if YOU ever thought that one person couldn’t make a difference, I dare ask you if you’ve ever tried. It’s not up to the governments or the non-profits – it’s up to YOU. GCHope isn’t the 18 staff. It’s the thousands of volunteers like Leia, Matthew and Emma that are the heartbeat of change. THEY are GCHope. YOU are GCHope. Let their story inspire you to meet a need using your talents.
Together, we CAN enact real change!
PS – Want to meet these extraordinary individuals? They’ll be at this year’s Voyage of Hope. Will you?
Ordinary People – Extraordinary Things
So often I feel like I am writing about the things that inspire me – and today was certainly one of those days. Today was MORE than one of those days.
Let me tell you about 3 individuals making their journey to Thailand. They are like you and me. But they are stepping out on a journey of the unknown in hopes of making a difference in an extraordinary way. I am amazed and humbled to know them and work with them.
Take a look at this video and you’ll meet Leia, Matthew and Emma. They leave this week for Thailand. To film a documentary of one project of GCHope. Self expensed. All currently work in Hollywood. All just want to do something substantial that has meaning. All are near and dear to my heart.
This project started with Leia simply wanting to help on the issue of human trafficking. After a couple years of trying to volunteer with different people she was frustrated not being utilized. She began to volunteer with us and came to most of our Summer Speaking Series. And one day she asked me if she could do more – could she go visit the project in Thailand.
What Leia didn’t know from her simple request was that this was a much bigger project than she anticipated. Neither did I initially.
I immediately asked Leia if she could get some video footage from the other end – my usual request. But when we sat down for the meeting I decided I wouldn’t hold back – I’d ask for what I really needed. I might not get it – but you never know unless you try.
It’s often the case us non-profits are afraid to ask for what we need. We sell people short asking instead for only what we think they will do. And when we get bold and we ask…sometimes we are really surprised.
So in my meeting with Leia I went for it and asked her to film a documentary. That’s probably a crazy thing to ask. But here’s the thing, when you find passionate people they find a way. Really, they do. And in listening to Leia I knew she wanted to do something extraordinary. It wasn’t about spending 3 hours sorting medical supplies. It was about using her talents to do something significant…and somehow I didn’t feel like I was over asking.
In retrospect I can see so many ways that God has orchestrated all of the details to this point. And I was right about Leia – that passion turned into energy to complete the task. It turned into recruiting Emma and Matthew into the project. It turned into finding the right camera equipment. And it will turn into so many other things still yet to happen…because this is just the start of the story.
Conducting work in developing countries takes a great deal of patience and flexibility. There are still so many things that could go wrong with this project. But I am so confident that while there will be many field challenges, that our team will prevail. That they will find the story that God wants to tell.
Please join me in praying for this team and their journey.
And if YOU ever thought that one person couldn’t make a difference, I dare ask you if you’ve ever tried. It’s not up to the governments or the non-profits – it’s up to YOU. GCHope isn’t the 18 staff. It’s the thousands of volunteers like Leia, Matthew and Emma that are the heartbeat of change. THEY are GCHope. YOU are GCHope. Let their story inspire you to meet a need using your talents.
Together, we CAN enact real change!
PS – Want to meet these extraordinary individuals? They’ll be at this year’s Voyage of Hope. Will you?
