Rob Martin

I received the email below the other day from ONE.org. ONE is a grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people who are committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Cofounded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African policy makers and activists. ONE aims to achieve change through advocacy. They hold world leaders to account for the commitments they’ve made to fight extreme poverty, and campaign for better development policies, more effective aid and trade reform. ONE also support greater democracy, accountability and transparency to ensure policies to beat poverty are implemented effectively. As you read this email don’t just pass it by. We take for granted so many things living in America and one thing I certainly take  for granted is water. You go out to restaurants and say i’ll just have a water and its free. Not everyone can say that so as you read this put yourself in their shoes and just let it break your heart as it did to me.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Dear ONE member,

On my trip with ONE to Zambia, I walked two miles with a 14-year-old girl to a well—the closest water source to her village. I asked if she wanted to stay in her village when she grew up, and her face exploded into a huge smile. The translator said, “she is being very shy…she says that she wants to move to big city, Lusaka, and that she wants to be a nurse.”Women and girls, like the one I met in Zambia, bear most of the burden of lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Women are more than twice as likely as men to be responsible for water collection, and on average, women in the developing world walk three and a half miles each day to collect water—time that could be spent in school or at work.

Right now there’s a bill, the Durbin-Corker Water for the World Act of 2009, that will enable us to help 100 million people gain access to clean water and sanitation by 2015. But it needs at least 15 more cosponsors to move forward. Join me in signing ONE’s petition and asking your senators to cosponsor this critical legislation:

http://www.one.org/us/waterfortheworld/o.pl?id=1003-4125060-ODJRQ_x&t=2

Here’s the text of the petition:

Please cosponsor the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009 (S. 624), and help provide 100 million people with first-time, sustainable access to clean water and sanitation by 2015.

Economically, water is one of the smartest poverty-fighting investments we can make. My friend Ben and I met with the World Bank and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Tanzania, and we saw how a lack of good water infrastructure is holding back businesses. We talked to Prosper Mbarewoai of Allied Chemicals, who estimated his detergent-production business is operating at only 60% capacity because he spends anywhere from two hours to an entire day just getting water.

The MCC in Tanzania is working to revamp the water treatment and supply infrastructure in two major cities, decreasing the risks of water-borne illness and enabling business productivity. In fact, every $1 spent on water and sanitation generates a return of $8 in saved time, increased productivity and reduced health costs in Africa.

Improving access to clean water and sanitation is also an investment in women, making possible the dreams of young girls in Zambia and beyond. To help make this change happen for her and 884 million others worldwide who live without clean water, please ask your senators to cosponsor the Water for the World Act:

http://www.one.org/us/waterfortheworld/o.pl?id=1003-4125060-ODJRQ_x&t=3

Please join me.

Thank you,

Matt Damon, ONE Member

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

You can too receive E-mails and participate in other ways by signing up at ONE.org. Starvation

So this week I have decided to tell you about Pinkberry. Pinkberry is a frozen yogurt topped with fresh berries, chocolate chips, granola, basically anything you can imagine. It is however only located in New York City and the southern parts of California. I personally experienced Pinkberry for the first time about two weeks ago and it was out of this world. I’ve had the fake stuff at Euphoria but the puried fruit did not compare to the fresh berries and delicious yogurt at Pinkberry. Trust me if you like fresh fruit and frozen yogurt this is something you just do not want to miss. Even if you don’t I strongly consider giving it a shot because you never know until you try it. So if you are ever in NYC or Southern California make sure you look for a Pinkberry and give it a try. Trust me you won’t regret it!

I have found myself thinking about this a lot lately and thinking back on a message that Jonathan Stockstill from the Deluge Band preached about similar to this at the Awakening Conference. Could it be that the dreams and the goals we have for our lives, actually coincide with what God has planned? I’ve found in the short period of time that I’ve worked with middle schoolers and even in the youth as I interned at the church that everyone wants to know what God has planned for their life. Outside of who will I marry that is the next big thing… what am I going to do with my life and is it God’s will. I believe that if you are living a righteous life and are obedient to the word and will of God, your thoughts will become God’s, your actions will become God’s and God’s plan for your life will also become your plan. It says in Pslams that the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord and He delights in his ways. If you live a righteous life, God will take care of you and He will grant you the desires of your heart and He will delight in them with you. When I got saved almost a year ago I had a vision from God that I was going to be a Pastor. I didn’t know how I was going to get there, all I knew was that I was going to be a Pastor. As I began to get my life turned around and started to live righteously for God, He has always provided for me. Ten days before my community college classes started I dropped out and decided to become an intern at the church. I wasn’t even sure at that point that I was even going to be able to be an intern because there were somethings that could have held me back. Thanks to God and His grace and also the grace of the Pastor’s I was allowed to do the internship. I figured I would to that for two years and see what happens from there. Later in the year we were told that next year there would be no interns and I was suddenly having to figure out what God’s will for my life would be again. Through prayer, talking with Pastor’s, and still living for God I now have a plan and an idea for next year to continue towards the will that God has for me. Through this whole process, even through the multiple changes I have found that what ever God’s will was for me… I was happy with and was or am excited to do. My point in going through that whole story is that God will place a desire in your heart and even though the path or the road that you take may seem foggy at times or uncertain, He will always be directing your steps and they will always be something that makes you happy. So my advice would be live righteously and passionate for God and follow the desires of your heart because God has placed them there and He will lead and direct the path you take.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29;11

Half moon’s the cookie that has been making central new yorkers happy for years. Outside of central new york they may be called black and white cookies but there is a difference. Half moons have a chocolate bottom, black and white cookies have a white/lemon bottom, but we all know… chocolate bottoms are the way to go. Anyways besides all that half moons have made it as the second ever friday night bites because they are that good! Anyone who has ever been to central new york and experienced this cookie can back me up on this. Although I personally am not a big fan of the white frosting, the chocolate is amazing. The way it melts in your mouth leaves you with a big smile. So if you are reading this and you have been to central new york or are going to central new york make sure you get a half moon. Utica, NY is home of Hemstrought’s bakery, the best half moons in the world and is know worldwide for them. Although they are a little expensive for $7.99 for a box of twelve it is well worth the enjoyment of them every once and a while.