December Twenty Twenty Update
December... the end of the year is approaching…
What a year it has been... I am just so excited that Christmas is coming and that hopefully in all our varied worlds there will be some joy, peace, laughter, and fun during this next season for you,
I did a little exercise this week and I wrote some thoughts on what I could take from this year - for myself and for the Aroha Project. – the gifts of 2020.
A gratitude list could almost feel like the last thing we want to do this year… understandable with the current challenges in the world, but there are still so many things to be thankful for during this time. So, a little challenge is to maybe take a few minutes and start to scribble down your own list? Its quite a fun exercise.
Even in the harshness of the experiences of lockdown and separation from loved ones we can find many things to be grateful for.
We have money (it may not be a lot but we have some lols) and this year I have been able to support the boys in the project and those around them.
The shop has been slow, but we made enough each month to stay open and give the boys some pocket money. So, seeing them have capacity to earn money, pay our bills, have shelter, food, clothing, and clean water has made the effort so worthwhile.
I am grateful for family. Both here, Perth and in Cambodia. The people we live for make our lives worth living.
We continue to give the students and those we are supporting in various ways a hope for a good future.
The kindness all around me - I am grateful for the kindness I have received, and the acts of kindness that still happen every single day.
Faith is one of the most inspiring force in my life, for those of us who are faith-minded, I urge you to have gratitude for faith’s influence and inspiration in your life too.
I personally find prayer to be comforting, even if I am not always sure it makes a difference in my life, so it is a good feeling to believe you can ask for good things and good things may eventually happen. I am grateful for being able to pray.
I am grateful for the happy moments I have had with people, supporters and the friends and family that make what I do possible. I have also had many fun moments on video calls with my boys keeping us all buoyant on the days we feel like its all too hard. I have thankfulness for when these fun moments come. Cherish the happy moments.
I have cried a lot. But a study on crying shows that it can make us feel good and reduce the pain we feel so I can even appreciate my tears!
We have been making progress. Sometimes just small but I can still see that it is getting us all a little closer to where I want the project to be in the future.
And - I am grateful for my freedom. While some of us might have it more than others, just to be able to make some choices to bless and care for others is something that should give us all gratitude.
What are you grateful for in your life?
Merry Happy Christmas season to you all – I am grateful for you.
Thank you for making this year of looking after those less fortunate in Cambodia a possibility.
See you in 2021…
ALL THINGS FINANCIAL IN 2020.
Thanks to your generosity and some successful fundraising efforts we've managed to provide three full time scholarships to our university students, pay all expenses pertaining to the home, cover the shops expenses, as well as support more than 60 families within the local Cambodian community. What a year!
This is the total money that has come in across the year, again - thank you.
January 2020 - $360.00
February 2020 - $1,550.00
March 2020 - $1,420.00
April 2020 - $7,950.00 (inclusive of a full time, year long scholarship)
May 2020 - $1,250.00
June 2020 - $1,680.00
July 2020 - $1,800.00
August 2020 - $3,500.00
September 2020 - $3,660.00
October 2020 - $5,800.00 (inclusive of the fundraiser dinner, raffle and hoodie sales)
November 2020 - $2,250.00
December 2020 - $800.00
Total - $32,000.00
As always, please see below for giving options.
NZ ANZ Direct Deposit: WILSON 06 0383 0164749 04
Australia ANZ Direct Deposit: WILSON 016141 299685840
NEW: Our website has been updated to include a giving function - see the support page for for more information!
To claim donation tax credit in NZ:
Direct Deposit: Edge | 03 0155 0451009-003 and reference 'arohaproject'
Pushpay: Text 'edge' to 818 and reference 'arohaproject'
HOODIES.
We have sold over 50 hoodies to our NZ and Australian community! Just a reminder that all profit goes directly to feed the community families living in the slum behind our church - one hoodie feeds a family for a month! They come in two colours + are $90 each (inc. postage). Get in touch or see our Aroha Project Online Shop.
Life is short, love what you do.
Thank you for your love and prayers,
Arohanui, Annie.