12 weeks....

In 12 weeks I will be running my VERY FIRST 1/2 marathon.  On October 23rd, I am going to head down to New Braunfels, Tx with some GREAT people from the The Austin Stone Community Church to run the Chosen Adoption Marathon (or 1/2 marathon in my case).

Here's why the Chosen Adoption 1/2 or full marathon is such a great race:  Our entry fees are going to benefit our ABBA fund at The Austin Stone.  What does this really mean, you ask?  It means that people like my husband and myself can get a grant or a no interest loan to help us with our adoption when God provides the perfect timing. How COOL is THAT??

My buddy, Jen at the end.

Well, here's the thing...over the last several months, I have been really, I mean REALLY enjoying running!!  I've run/walked a few 5Ks and I ran/walked/biked the Muddy Buddy.    

I asked God, how can I take this new found joy of running and help others? He told me to run 1/2 marathons 4 times a year and have them sponsored.  I was ecstatic when I found out that it was very easy to have races sponsored.  So then my next prayer was, who would my sponsorship benefit for this first race?  I was torn, I mean really torn as to who I should benefit from my sponsorship money to.  Should I have the sponsorship go towards The Austin Stone's ABBA Fund OR should I have my sponsorship money go somewhere else?  So, I prayed, waited, and listened.

You see, about 3 years ago, I was introduced to Tom Davis and Children's Hopechest (CHC).  Tom wrote the books, Fields of the Fatherless and Red Letters.   Both of these books are about the least of these that Jesus talks about Matthew about whatever we do to or for others we do or for Jesus.   The friends who introduced me to CHC and Tom Davis, also introduced me to some very sweet, warrior girls.

The warrior girls are a group of women who want and desire to FIGHT and pray for oppressed, for the orphan, for widow, for the least of these.  Well, our 'leader' the girl who started it all, Brandi, started Ifast58 and is a liaison with CHC.  She kept us informed of what was going on when the CHC team in India was needing prayer and what was going on.  She also kept us in the loop about CHC teaming up with the India Rescue Mission.  For at least 2 weeks, we prayed for safety for the team and for the information they were receiving.  

All this to say: I had a very tough decision, but felt God leading me away from sponsorship for our church's ABBA fund and towards Hopechest and helping girls who are being trafficked.  UNDERAGE girls.

Here's what I am asking from you.  Will you please help me?  My goal is to raise $2500 by October 23, 2010.  Please click on the Donation button and go straight to CHC to donate.  Please make sure that you put "Elizabeth's 1/2 marathon" in the Notes section so your donation goes towards my sponsorship.  Please take the "I run for..." blog badge and add it to your blog too.   Will you sponsor me by donating a $1 per mile, $10 per mile, or is there something else you can give.  ANYTHING, ANYTHING will help rescue girls who are being sold into slavery and being trafficked.