Running for Water

Hello friends,

We are so excited about several opportunities to build more CLEAN water wells!  I will be running in the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon on March 27th.  I would be THRILLED to get a $1 per mile pledge from all of you!!  $13 won't crush your budget, but it WILL change lives.  PLEASE join us in this cause!!  You can donate at:
http://holdenuganda.org/www.holdenuganda.org/Donate_Purchase.html and click on "Donate".  You will see the place you can donate to my run on the drop down menu. 
OR you can donate by simply texting "water" to 48510 from your cell phone! 

Thank you.  I can't tell you how much more I enjoy running each night in my training, knowing it will help people around the globe.  Makes sore knees a lot less important!

We will also have our FIRST OFFICIAL Holden Uganda Run in North Carolina on August 27, 2011!  We will keep you posted about registration and information! 

Running to spread His love,
Sarah

A note from Kara about well #14

Nothing can compare to the loss of someone before their time, my heart aches with every story that I hear from a grieving parent/grandparent/relative/friend. That is why I love Holden Uganda's mission so much, though we may not be able to take away to pain we can reach out and let others know that we love them and that Jesus's loves them. My heart has been so full with love, hurt, and gratitude since my precious nephew passed, though we are not actually blood related I feel a much deeper connection with Holden than just a "friend". 

So I move onto why I am writing you today. 

During the time that we were grieving for Holden my precious grandmother Bobbye J. Greene "Bobba Gran" suddenly and very unexpectedly passed away in her home Oct 13th 2010. We were grieved by this loss as Bobba Gran has played a huge roll in all of our lives. Bobba was a woman full of life and she never knew a stranger. Going out to eat with Bobba Gran was always an adventure because everyone in the restaurant knew Bobba Gran and they would usually end up sitting or standing at our table to talk with her.  Bobba Gran was also known for her ornery streak that ran a mile wide, if she had something on her mind you were sure to be told, she held nothing back. I know several of you have those grandmother's who are never afraid to tell you that you were getting fat, or that you are wearing to much (blank) makeup, or that you "drive like an idiot". Well I had that kind of grandmother anyways and it only made me love her more because she usually said it with a smile or laugh and with pure love.  Mine and my brother's favorite "Bobba word" was "Stuuuuupid!" You have to drawl out the "u" and make the word go up in pitch as you draw it out. In context it would be, "leave my hair alone! Stuuuuupid!" We liked to torment her by lightly putting our palms on her well manicured and heavily sprayed grandma puff hair and gently push down and watch as it sprang back into place. She would laugh and swat at our hands and to our happiness, call us "stuuuuupid!" She was so much fun! She was also one of those grandmothers that didn't worry if you stepped on her feet, in fact she delighted having little ones around who might possibly step on her feet, she was only worried if you didn't come spend time with her. 

Bobba had several grandchildren and she made sure to be a part of all of our lives regardless of how far away we lived at the time. She desired nothing more than a little time with her family or friends or even better a lunch or dinner date. Whenever I came to Snyder to visit she would drive her 80 year old self out to my parents house and roll up to the front door with her walker, she was not about to miss an opportunity to be with her great grandchildren. She would go all over my parents place with my older children and she could sit holding Jax until her arms went to sleep. Until these last few years she'd keep the road hot traveling long distance to visit family members all over Texas. When her eye sight and mobility decreased she would ask my mother (her daughter) to bring her to Big Spring so she could see us. She loved people and she loved her family more than anything in the world, that was her riches.

About a week before Bobba passed away I went to visit her at her home. She had been feeling "down" but was doing better but not well enough to get out herself. Jax was a few weeks old and I took the kids over so she could see them and snuggle Jax. I guess I should of noticed then that her health was declining more than we thought because as she held Jax he would slide lower and lower in her lap and I would gently lift him and her arms back up and stuff more pillows under her arms to help her. I suppose it didn't alarm me because I had seen her weak before but bounce right back, my grandmother had a true will for life and for living and I was sure she would be fine in a week's time. A few days later my dear mother found Bobba in her home,  Bobba passed so quickly she still had the phone in her hand as she was talking to a dear friend at the time. It was hard for us to loose her so quickly but we praise God that He took her so quick. Bobba had too much life in her to end up sick in a hospital. So we know it was a gift from God to her to take her like He did. 

As we built Holden Uganda it was to honor beautiful Holden and his short but powerful life here on earth. We wanted to honor other babies as well with this organization and as most of you know with your help we blew our 9 wells in 9 months goal out of the water! Now we are moving onto building wells as quickly as we can hoping to double the number of wells in Uganda by 2012.  

My mom contacted me about what to put on Bobba's head stone and it struck me that I would love to do a water well in her honor. I promise you she is up in heaven holding every child and I know she can hold them as long as she wants without the worry of her arms going to sleep. So I thought what a better way to honor my sweet grandmother than a water well amongst all the wells of these precious babies and children. 

I shared this story with you so that you know that our mission is not to only build wells in honor of children but in honor of anyone! Our dear friend Ramon who started this water well mission in 2004 has even done a well for a family who wanted one done for someone's birthday. Our first purpose is to provide clean drinking water to the Ugandan people and we will  build a well for any occasion.

I thank the Lord that my losses have been grandparents who had lived, for the most part, long healthy lives on earth and I have not had to endure the pain so many of our wells represent. Though Bobba Gran was a difficult loss she lived a good long life and she had 4 beautiful healthy children and numerous grandchildren and great children. We also did a well in honor of J.D.'s grandfather, Jack Armstrong who passed right before our wedding. Jack was buried in the suit he was supposed to wear to our wedding; that is something I will never forget. Jack was a kind sweet man who served in World War 2 but refused to take any credit for his service. He was a very humble, sweet man and I only wish I would of had more time with him. His passing was very sudden and unexpected and a true devastation for us all.  J.D.'s family is also saving up the funds to build a well in honor of his precious grandmother Doris Booth who we all called "Honey" who also suddenly passed a few years ago, we will write a detailed story about her well when it is funded.  

I would like to thank everyone who has made Holden Uganda possible, without you there is no way we would be where we are today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

To my dear grandmother Bobba Gran, I love you and I know you will find much joy watching the children drink from your well as you are experiencing heaven with my sweet nephew Holden Erwin. Hold him close and give him kisses for me!

In His Grace,

Kara (for all of us) 

Wells 7, 8 and 9

Well in honor of Reese Aleyna Lowell, beautiful daughter of Mary Beth and Roger Lowell.  

 Well in honor of Chase Allen Jacobs, handsome son of Chelsea and Mark Jacobs.

 Well in honor of Zachary Michael DeYager, handsome son of Courtney and Shawn DeYager.

We have had a 10th well completed, but the photos are for the family only right now.  An 11th and 12th well are almost completed, and wells #13 and #14 are on the way!

The kids in these photos do not care that they are not wearing Abercrombie and Fitch or Hollister.  They don't have the latest MP3 players or Nintendo DS games.  In fact, I bet they don't even own a board game.  But they are SMILING!  You know why?  They are drinking CLEAN WATER today!

If that doesn't make you smile, then nothing will!

Blessings,
Sarah (for all of us)

Well Photos- Before and After

Dr. Patrick took some photos of the water springs before they built the wells.  Can you imagine drinking this?  Now imagine serving this water to your children. 

 Some of the well photos are not that great of quality, but they are the very best we have so far.  Soon we will have more photos of the wells, as Kara and JD have sent Dr. Patrick a geo-tagging camera.  The geo-tagging will also give us the exact geographical coordinates of the wells. 

Each well was built in a various location around Uganda, so all photos and wells differ.  The two-pipe wells mean the spring could handle double-piping.  The one-pipe wells are built on springs that can only handle one pipe.  All serve an amazing purpose: providing life-saving water to hundreds and thousands of precious people. 

Until I cease to see beautiful eyes staring up at a camera lens, about to fill a jug with disgusting water, I will not lose my passion for this project.  Loving our neighbors as ourselves is a very simple task.   

Well #1 in the Holden Uganda project, dedicated to Gwendolyn Hope Cushman.

 Well #2 in the Holden Uganda project, dedicated to Dylan Layne Virdell.

Well #3 in the Holden Uganda project, dedicated to Noah Daniel Mahalak. 

 Well #4 in the Holden Uganda project, dedicated to Landry James Steele.

Well #5 in the Holden Uganda project, dedicated to Tatum Cate Thomas.

 Well #6 in the Holden Uganda project, dedicated to Paityn Ann Collier.

These are photos of just 6 of the 12 wells we have completely funded.  There are millions of people still in need of the gift of clean water.

Thank you for having a part in making these wells possible.  We are so grateful for each and every one of you!

In His Abundant Love,
Sarah (for all of us)

Gifts of love

Tonight I am going to upload pictures of the first 6 wells completed.  These wells are gifts of love from the cumulative support of hundreds of friends.  They are saving thousands of lives and giving hope to 6 families today. 

I just want to say thanks.  Thank you to everyone who has cared enough to care for someone else. 

In amazing gratitude,
Sarah (for all of us)

January 11, 2011

We set a rather lofty goal to build 9 wells in 9 months, five weeks ago.  The Lord thought it wasn't very loft at all.  In fact, He thought 9 wells in 4.5 weeks sounded a lot better. 

After Saturday's fund-raiser, we had enough funds to complete our initial project of 9 wells!

Well # 7 is dedicated to Reese Aleyna Lowell, who was born into heaven on August 22, 2010.  She is the beautiful daughter of Mary Beth and Roger Lowell, and little sister to Riley.  Reese has already helped many people in this world, with her sweet little life, and now she will be helping 2000 people drink safe water.

Well # 8 is dedicated to Chase Allen Jacobs, who was born into heaven on September 30, 2009.  Chase's parents, Chelsea and Mark, have been very influential in our healing, as well as an amazing family who is spreading God's love all throughout the world.  His Chase was founded in honor of Chase to help orphans around the world.  Chase is little brother to Kendyll, Carlie and Abby Kate.

Well # 9 is dedicated to Zachary Michael DeYager, who was born into heaven on May 17, 2009.  Zachary is the firstborn son of Courtney and Shaun, and recently a big brother to Kaylee.  Some dear friends of mine gave me Courtney's blog address only a few days after Holden went to heaven.  Their story and emotions are so similar to ours, as they too lost their first and only son. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your outpouring of love over this past month.  Without your dedication to serving others, we would not be here today.

Holden Uganda is just getting started.  We know this is just the beginning of an amazing foundation, set to share Jesus' saving grace and love through clean water. 

Each well does not just include the name and birthdate of the sweet hope babies.  They also include a Bible verse, chosen by the parents.  These wells are testaments to the hope we receive in Christ, to one day be reunited with our precious children. 

Your prayers, messages, gifts and love always touch us in so many ways.  If you know of someone you would like to honor with a well, please email me at sarah@holdenuganda.org.  There is no cost for you.  We will add the person to our list, and when the funds are received, the well will be built.  Although we primarily have a list of babies and children who have passed too soon, we can honor others as well. 

Many blessings,
Sarah

Fund-Raiser!

Please join us...

for a

HOLDEN UGANDA FUND-RAISER

Tomorrow, Saturday the 8th, at 10am-12pm

Colonial Hill Baptist Church, Snyder, TX

Young Adult Wing

Get some great products for an even greater cause:

31 Gifts (http://www.31gifts.com)
The Small Lunch Tote and Thermal Tote are on sale this month, so they are a GREAT way to contribute!  These make the best teacher gifts, kid gifts and gift for yourself!Scentsy (http://www.scentsy.net/en-us/index.aspx)
Check out the new scents!  

Mary Kay (http://www.marykay.com/default.aspx)
If you are running low on something you already love and use, why not get it now; you'll get your favorite MK products, but also save lives!

The Pampered Chef (http://www.pamperedchef.com/)
If you spend $60 or more, you get to choose a FREE Square Baker or Loaf Pan this month!

Arbonne (http://www.arbonne.com)
Everyone who places an Arbonne order will go in a drawing for a FREE Holden Uganda t-shirt.  Give yourself a gift of all-natural, healthy skin in 2011.

100% of commissions will go to Holden Uganda to build water wells.  You are not just getting amazing products, you are changing lives!

Please don't miss it!

We will also have the Holden Uganda t-shirts andbracelets!

If you live out away from Snyder, but still want to be a part of this opportunity to shop and save [lives that it], you can still place an order for any of the companies.  Just browse online and let me know what you would like (Sarah@holdenuganda.org).  We will have your products shipped directly to you, no hassle.  Thank you for being a part of this life-saving cause!!  Hope to see you there!

325-728-0159 for more information