i am only one, but i am one
December 2, 2009
“I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything,
but I can do something.
And I will not let what I cannot do
interfere with what I can do.”
-Edward Everett Hale
Everyone can do something in the fight against AIDS. Don’t let the enormity of the task keep you from doing the something you can do.
Learn as much as you can, discover what you’re passionate about, and throw your full weight into that passion.
- Discover which aspect of the AIDS crisis resonates with your heart. It will be different for different people, and that’s okay! You may not know yet what you’re passionate about in regards to fighting the AIDS pandemic. So begin by reading about the multi-faceted issues involved. Your heart will be gripped by something as you research. It might be orphan care, or medical intervention, or prevention/abstinence programs. Whatever it is, find your passion.
- Find an organization that shares your passion. Again, this may take some digging. But there are plenty of solid ministries out there targeting the various aspects of AIDS.
- Connect as much as possible with the cause/organization you believe in. The more you know and understand about their vision and strategies, the more you can be a megaphone for them.
- Interact with the organization and its team. Visit their website, comment on their blog posts, ask for specific prayer requests. Passion grows when you truly become part of something. Family members have the same blood in their veins. Join the family. Get the vision coursing through you till you bleed it.
- Use your voice and influence to promote the cause you believe in. You can do that through blog posts, sidebar widgets, twitter updates, and personal conversations. You could commit to a monthly megaphone day on your blog where you highlight different aspects of what’s being done, what the needs are, and opportunities for others to get involved.
- Be passionate about it. Anyone can plug something, but passion is unmistakable. People will know how much you really believe in what you’re saying.
- Pray. Prayer really does change things.
- Contribute financially to support the work that’s being done.
- Get off your “but” and go. Drop the excuses and go see for yourself. Travel overseas to not only see the work in action but to participate in it. The best advocates are those who’ve been involved. And I guarantee it will change your life forever.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
What are you currently doing to help in the fight against AIDS?
What are you going to start doing?
What other suggestions do you have for ways people can get involved?
I don’t have answers to the three questions you asked but I do have one for you. Where would you recommend someone look, if you’re interested in going overseas, but don’t know where to start? It’s all so “impossible” when I think about it that I don’t let myself dig deep enough. But this is a sign to me that I need to be digging deeper. Not sure if that makes sense?!
@gritandglory says:
i think it depends what you want to do. our organization, http://www.thriveafrica.org, has different serving opportunities (from 2 weeks to 3 years, and everything in between).
you can also search 75 different overseas ministries at http://www.rightnow.org/ServeNow/
maybe speak with your missions pastor about the organizations your church supports/partners with. would be great to go serve with someone your local body is already connected with.
keep digging. you’re asking the right questions.
Thanks for the links, Alece! I appreciate it.
I love you Mammabird
1) I am involved in the AIDS prevention Program and Youth Discipleship Program with the ministry that you founded THRIVE AFRICA :) and for me to say that makes my heart happy.
2) I look at AIDS/HIV way different then i ever have after I learned and researched about it on my own. And after praying over a mother/woman who had AIDS who died in my arms when i was 13 that’s when the hunger to reach the unreached people and get involved in what you guys were doing in South Africa. Ever since then I stuck with it and never gave up on my passion; I LOVE THAT quote at the beginning of your blog (I don’t think I ever told you this story before)
3) There’s always ways to be involved whether it is being on the front lines on the field BUT you don’t have to always be on the front lines to be involved. You can be active by being a follower of what your heart is passionate about by doing fundraisers, being an ENCOURAGER and making people aware of what’s going on around the field. Every person is a piece of the puzzle and that’s what makes IMPACT/CHANGE happen.
Mammabird I think a lot of people are going to get involved through what you said on your blog today. I’m so stoked to be and see how this movement starts. It’s just the beginning of something so much BIGGER then we know.
I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE YOU
PS: I think this is the longest comment I’ve written on your blog.
@gritandglory says:
i agree – that quote is so powerful!
and i never knew that story from your first trip. i hope you know how proud i am of you and how glad i am that you’re on our team! love you, j-bird!
it is VERY POWERFUL Mammabird.
I’m more proud of you :) and i should’ve of told you that story years ago.
She was my friend Dion’s mom that I always go to visit in Intabazwe and in which I took my family to meet him during family days
i just love you.
LOVE that quote. Empowering.
What am I doing?
Using my blog, FB status updates and twitter to plant seeds of awareness (if anyone is reading thats another question…haha). We taught on it in our missions class and hopefully being on the missions team we’ll have some input into focus and finances.
Here’s sometin’ else I like about you. You aren’t pointing all your attention at Thrive. You don’t mind who “gets the credit” as long as the job gets done. That’s when you know you have a right heart. I think still everyone needs to check out http://www.thriveafrica.org
Hugs.
@gritandglory says:
i “stole” the quote from you! ;)
and thank you for recognizing that. i definitely believe in thrive and want to see people connect with us (in fact, tomorrow’s post is about what we are doing to fight AIDS). but ultimately i want to see people get involved, no matter where that is. so i wanted to provide suggestions and ideas to help people do that, even if it means they go somewhere other than thrive.
love you.
@coloraturajoy says:
this one’s a hard one.
what am i doing? nothing. not a thing. sadly, this epidemic isn’t even on my daily radar. i hate to admit it, but when it all boils down, i’m doing nothing.
what am i going to start doing? like i said yesterday, pray. people, myself especially included, forget that prayer is a HUGE way to impact a problem that we otherwise may not have immediate resources to fight.
i’m going to start making my youth and those around me more aware of the problem. even if i can’t always do something as BIG as i’d like, someone around me may have a spark ignited inside them if someone would just let them know.
thanks for the challenge. i never want to do nothing when i know there’s always something i can do. big or small.
@gritandglory says:
love hearing that you’re gonna start bringing awareness to your youth and others you know. that already is huge. most people have no idea.
i’m really encouraged by the steps you’ve committed to. thank you. seriously.
Six years ago…
http://thenoreaster.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/the-tide-of-history-a-call-to-action/
And a small victory against the HIV/AIDS distant cousin Hep-C…
http://thenoreaster.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/any-port-in-a-storm/
@gritandglory says:
looking forward to reading those when i have more time tonight.
and… HI! been a while!
Yes. It has. Sadly, those whiles are going to get longer soon…
Alece, I always thank God for the work u r doing for the Kingdom Advancement out of your comfort zone. Thank u so very much for probing us to do something for Africa to become a better place. You challenged me this morning to do more and I’m glad I can answer to some of yo questions. Most of what I do cannot be quantified yet because we are working with mindsets, hearts, stigma and all what the enemy has put as facts which are not true.
1. HIV/AIDS in our community is still something ppl are not openly talking abt, so what am I doing? Unfort ppl stil blame witchcraft instead of gaining more knowledge and fight. My target is the youth to change their mindset in loving themselves so that they don’t prove that they love someone by engaging in sex. Openly talking to them so that they understand that the govt grant and welfare is limiting what God has put in them. It is so sad that our economy eNtabazwe somehow is affected by these social grants. Unfort these girls think the more they have children is the more they r gonna get money out of the govt.
2. We now have prayer mtngs Jer 9:17-25 at our homes to mobilise women to pray for families. Women have issues, the Lord deals with so many of those and there r testimonies of how relationships r restored thru prayer coz the HIV infected and affected people need love and support but they still have to gain hope for their lives. Personally I pray that there be a way to train families to carry each other more than handouts that make them lazy (u find that these sick ppl r in not so hygienic places). So much is in my mind, girl!
Keep up the good work, my friend!! Intabazwe will be saved and Africa will be saved coz we have poneers and trailblazers like u, my honeybunch!!
@gritandglory says:
i always love hearing your perspective, thoko. i love your heart to initiate change in Intabazwe! God shines through you!
@moweezle says:
I just love that quote? Great motivation list! I remember the very first thing I did when I arrived in Bots (my second day there) was have to attend a funeral of a young girl who had died of AIDS. Heartbreaking. Your Africa needs you girl!!!
@gritandglory says:
the funerals are so constant… i know you know.
and yeah – i LOVE that quote, too.