My summer writing has been briefly interrupted with family visits and the opportunity to host a fundraising event for the non-profit organization, Mama Hope.
One of our daughters has worked for Mama Hope for the past seven years and is the project manager for the organization. Mama Hope's work in several countries in Africa and also Guatemala, has changed lives by supporting villages and cities as they seek health clinics, schools, sustainable farms, orphanages, and other important projects. The women who run Mama Hope, yes, the entire staff is made up of women between the ages of 25-37, are educated, bright, creative, and they have the ambition to work with communities for positive change one village at a time. And that's exactly what they do.
Three times a year Mama Hope has a boot camp for new global advocates. A global advocate is a person who has passion for the types of projects listed above. Once accepted into the global advocate program, the group (usually 7-10 people) come from around the country, and the world, for a five day training session. They will then devote the next nine months of their lives to raise a minimum of $20,000 for their projects, spend at least three months on site, and then share their experiences with family, friends, and strangers.
Seven of the Mama Hope staff and the thirteenth class of global advocates moved into our home on Pentwater Lake last week. Boot camp commenced! When Doug and I showed up over the weekend, we were joined by many friends and relatives. We were a captive audiences as we listened to the stories of advocates and their journeys to Mama Hope and beyond. It was as you would expect; moving, inspiring and emotional. We met seven young people who will now go to far away places. Because they have listened to the people of the village or city where they are going, the advocates will work along side their new friends. Lives will be changed, bettered, and even saved - villagers and advocates alike.
Boot camp, or "The Event" (as we've called it since planning it over a year ago) was successful in every way. It was the highlight of the summer.
But what about writing? (I'm now going to segue this Mama Hope blog into a Cherish blog.) Doug and I have had the opportunity to travel to Bawjiase, Ghana on three different occasions. Bawjiase (Bo-gee-ossy) is where our daughter lived for over two years as she raised funds to build an orphanage: United Hearts Children's Center. If you have read To Love and To Cherish and/or To Have and To Hold, then you know that Pastor Maggie and a group of parishioners from Loving the Lord Community Church are planning a trip to Bawjiase. Mmmm...I wonder how that is going to go?
I am excited to share their experiences with you in the third book of the Pastor Maggie Series, For Richer, For Poorer, which will be released by Pen-L Publishing in November. The book incorporates life in Cherish (based on the real town of Chelsea, Michigan) as well as life in Bawjiase. Although the book is fictional, the Bawjiase chapters are taken from my personal diaries and experiences. You will get an excellent feel for the region, culture, and delightful people who live at Untied Hearts and in the village. I hope you enjoy the trip!
As for today, it's back to work for me. Pastor Maggie is tackling new problems and often being surprised by joy in the fourth novel of her series, For Better, For Worse.
It's writing boot camp for me.
As Irena the crazy Cherish organist would say, "Onwarrds and forwarrds!"
