Walk In The Rain With Me: Living Water Hats

The Moments When It All Hits Home

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

There are those moments where everything you've been fighting for

Finally hits home...

In order to truly grasp the crux of this blog post, there are two things you need to know.

First off, you need to know that in 2013, I raised $1,000 to fund the building of a well (as in, a thing containing water) in Asia. It was an incredible experience for me, and you can read more about it here, here, and here.

Secondly, you need to know that I am a nerd. A nerd who really, really likes to watch videos by the vlogbrothers. Some of you may know of them. Some of you may know them better as John Green (author of The Fault in Our Stars and other YA novels) and John Green's brother (whose name happens to be Hank).

At the end of last year, I made it my goal to watch every single vlogbrothers video ever made. Since they first began making vlogging in 2007, this is 8 years worth of video footage!!! (I'm currently in the 2011... Only four years left!)

Yesterday, I came upon a video in which Hank Green (that's John Green's brother, remember!) shared some footage from his trip to Haiti with the people at Water.org. He was visiting the location of a future Water.org well that was going to be built, and while he was in the village, he went with some of the people to the actual place they drew their water from.

Looking at their "spring" and hearing his reaction to seeing it in person, I was absolutely struck dumb in awe. Their drinking water came from nothing more than a glorified, muddy puddle.

While I was still raising money for "my well," I (quite obviously) talked a lot about what exactly I was raising money for. During those talks, I always made a special point to mention the fact that these people walk several miles every day to draw water from muddy, dirty, contaminated water sources, but this was the very first time I ever really "saw for myself" what it might actually look like.

And as I watched someone from a very similar walk of life as I am coming from (a white, middle-class American) experience for himself the reality of these people's lives, everything really just hit home for me...

This is what I was fighting so hard to change.

I think it's just so incredible that his experience four years ago helped me continue learning about my experience from one year ago... How amazing is that?!

...

What was one moment for you where something really hit home? Tell us your story in the comment section below, over at my Facebook page, or you can even email it to me at anastasiarosewrites[@]gmail[.]com!

...

101 Things- Counting Down

I am still hard at work on my cranes, and I'm also hoping to write a letter to one of my heroes (#82) very soon!

fear

When All You Have is Fishes... Part 3- Overflowing

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

"Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!" -William Arthur Ward

We are finally coming to the end of 2013. Usually, I feel a certain amount of sadness at the passing of another year. One more year that's passed. Another year towards the end of my childhood. But this year, I feel nothing but relief. Relief that the year I felt would never end... finally is ending.

2013 has been a really rough year, for me. Being sick has been very stressful, even beyond just feeling bad. It puts such a strain on your heart, mind, and just your overall being. So this year, I smile at the thought that it's finally over. That perhaps next year will be better.

But I don't really want to write this post about being sick. I'll save that for next time. Right now, I have something much happier to talk about. Because 2013 wasn't a complete washout for me, and there were things in it that make me smile. My little sister, Shiloh, had her first birthday. I made it into my first Quo Vadis play- and as the part that I wanted, too!

Another thing that became a huge part of my life this past year, is my Living Water Hats mission. It started back at the end of 2012, as just a little idea in my heart and head. The first time I ever mentioned it was on October 25th, when I wrote an article about if for our family newspaper. At the time, I had no idea how long it would take, or what to expect. Plus, I didn't really know where to go from there. I knew that I wanted to raise $1000 for a Jesus Well, and that I wanted to sell crochet hats as my way of raising money, but that was as far as I had gotten.

Well, time passed, and I got older, but I didn't forget about Living Water Hats. I sold a few hats, but most the money that ended up in my the envelope was simply what I put in there from my paychecks every week.

My biggest stumbling block in selling my hats actually had to do with the fact that I felt like my dream was very small, and I saw people doing much bigger things. People who also needed donations, and had a "more important" cause than I did. People at church were going to Honduras for a mission trip, and someone else was actually moving to Honduras for a year. How could I take attention away from those things, just to sell my little hats?

But after a while, I finally felt like God was telling me that I needed to follow Him, even though I felt like it was a small thing. So I wrote a blog post about it. (You can read that, HERE.) My main goal in writing that was to remind people that the gifts God had given them weren't small. I wasn't really thinking very much about the fact that anyone who read that anyone who read my post would hear about my hats. I just wanted people to know that they had something to offer, too.

But people did hear about my hats. One person in particular. The worship leader at church, Mr. Matt, read my blog post and wanted to help out. He approached me about it the Wednesday after I published the blog post, saying that he wanted to help me tell other people about my hats, as well as purchasing one.

I was amazed at how God had used my blog post. Even if the conversation we had may have seemed like a small one, it was a milestone for me. It had me nearly in tears, and I don't cry. I was so moved by it that I ended up talking about it on the stage in front of the whole church.

And that was when it completely exploded!

I cannot explain how it all happened, because it is beyond explanation. It is too great and wonderful for the confines of the written language. Too huge for my human mind to comprehend.

On October 2nd, nearly a year after I first started Living Water Hats, I finally reached $300. At this point, the goal was still to have the well fully funded by January 1st, 2014. I knew, vaguely, that God can do anything, but I most definitely wasn't holding my breath for it. It wasn't really that I didn't think it could happen, just that I didn't think it would. By the 20th of October, I had reached $400. On November 2nd, I passed $500, which was the half-way mark. On the 14th, I only had $530. But somehow, by mid-December, I had $700.

And now, two days before the goal-date... I have not only achieved my goal, but SURPASSED it! When we counted everything in the envelope, including the mountainous pile of change at the bottom, I had $1,030.73!!! Just like in the story, the baskets are now overflowing...

My mind is still reeling from the sheer chock of realizing that I went from $300 to over $1000 in the span of two months. Two months!!! The only was this could be explained is by giving credit where credit is due- to God only. This isn't my well. It's God's well.

And God has certainly taught me a few things through this whole journey. Firstly, He has taught me that no dream is small when God has given it to us. He has given each of us a dream. And it doesn't matter if you're not called to a foreign land. Not everyone is supposed to go to Honduras. But that doesn't mean your dream is small. That doesn't mean it's nothing.

Secondly, I have seen that God uses even the most unlikely vessels. I'm certainly not what I would think of as being the prime candidate for raising a thousand dollars. As sad and hard as it is to say, I am no longer the picture-perfect teenager I used to be. I went from being in the prime of health to being "like an old person" (in the immortal words of Nate) over the span of just a few months. My health has gone downhill very quickly, and we got my diagnosis not too long after Living Water Hats really started to take off. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep up with the hats, because I just feel so tired sometimes that even crocheting is more than I can handle. And honestly, I know I could never have done this on my own.

I guess that's why God so often uses people like me- who are too small, too sick, too broken, too whatever. Because we cannot even begin to claim that it was us who did it.

Thirdly, I have been reminded to never underestimate what God can- and will!- do. He is so much bigger than we give Him credit for. We have a tendency to try and fit God in a box. We try to make-believe that we understand everything there is to understand about Him. And then He goes and does something like this. He reminds us that He is infinitely bigger than even the biggest box we have. Just as He isn't limited by time or space, He isn't limited by our abilities, our failing health, our past, or even our lack of faith. Things that would trip us up do not even come close to touching God.

He can take your fishes- your three hundred dollars- and use it for so much more than we can even dream of ourselves...

__________

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me reach the goal of $1000 dollars before New Year's Day, 2014. There are too many people to thank everyone by name, but there are a few people I would like to mention here. First off, Mr. Matt, whom God has used to spark the whole thing off. Mr. Todd and Mr. Emerson, who have been super supportive and helpful in getting the word out and getting my Facebook page started. Also, the whole Youth Group at Four Winds Church, who have been amazingly supportive and encouraging. And lastly, my mom, dad, and older sister, who have been there from the beginning.

And, of course, God- who has given me all of these amazing people, and without whom I would not be here.

Living Water Hats

My Passion

Saturday, August 10, 2013

"When passion and skill work together, the end result is often a masterpiece." -Unknown

So, I've been talking a lot lately about these hats that I've been crocheting, and many people have requested more information about these hats, what I'm doing, what my prices are, etc. So here I am- writing about my hats. Since there are a few main questions that everyone has asked, I'll start by answering those.

Q&A with Living Water Hats

Q- "So, what is this about crocheted hats?"
A- Well, I am selling crocheted hats to raise money to build a Jesus Well.

Q- "A Jesus Well? What's a Jesus Well?"
A- A Jesus Well is a well built through an organization called Gospel for Asia (GFA) that is working to bring the Gospel to remote villages in Asia. A Jesus Well enables women to draw clean water within their village, instead of having to walk a long ways. The water that they often have access to is unclean and not suitable for drinking or cooking with, leading to high number of waterborne illness and death. Also, what often happens is that when there is a village well, people who are considered outcasts (those with disabilities or those stuck in poverty) are banned from drawing water. With a Jesus Well, anyone has access to water- no matter who they are. (For more information about Jesus Wells, click HERE. Be sure to watch the video!)

Q- "OK! That's pretty neat. So, what types of hats do you make?"
A- I make a variety of hats, and am always willing to work with you to customize yours. Here are a few pictures of some hats I make, though this isn't the entire collection. I'm still working on getting pictures of all the hats I make.

Marvelous Mesh

Divine Beret

Basic Beanie

Basic Beanie with fuzzy brim and pom pom

Q- "Fun! So, what are your prices?"
A- I've actually been fiddling around with how I want to "charge" for the hats. At first I had been asking a specific amount that was related to which hat style you chose. However, I decided that I don't really like that method. It's too complicated, and I never know what to tell people when they say "How much are they?" SO! I decided to try out a new system. Instead of having a set price for each hat, I'm going to do a "minimum donation" that's based on what size of hat you order, not waht style. The new prices are as follows... Baby hats have a minimum donation price of $10, child hats have a minimum donation price of $15, and adult hats have a minimum donation price of $20. If you choose a more difficult embellishment or customization (an animal face, specialty yarn, etc.) I ask that you add $5. If you would like to give more, that's always appreciated, too, but don't feel pressured into it.

Q- "I don't wear hats very much. Is there another way I can help?"
A- Hats make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Resurrection Sunday, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, New Years, or just for fun! Consider purchasing a hat for a relative or friend. If you still don't want a hat but want to support me, something that would be really helpful is to just spread the word. Tell someone you think might like to purchase a hat. Word of mouth is extremely important, and every little bit helps.

****I have also decided to look into donating hats. You can "sponsor" a hat, telling me as much or as little about the hat as you want, and I will make it. But instead of giving the hat to you, I will donate it somewhere it is needed. I am still looking into this, and haven't really figured out where I'm donating the hats to. If you have any suggestions or tips for me, or know of a place that could use these hats, just email me at livingwaterhats@gmail.com.****

So, I guess those are the main questions people ask me when they hear about my hats. If you still have questions, feel free to email me at livingwaterhats@gmail.com.

Living Water Hats

"When All You Have Is Fishes" Part 2- The Miracle

Monday, August 05, 2013

"Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see." -C.S. Lewis

People are always saying that sometimes, when you pray for an answer, it doesn't come as a sudden bolt of lightening or a really obvious, “wet-rag-to-the-face” answer. We like to remind each other that sometimes it's subtle, and you have to be listening really hard in order to catch it.

But then sometimes, God answers a prayer in a totally unexpected way that you just can't help but notice.

A little while ago, I did a blog post about my project, “Living Water Hats.” (If you haven't read the post, click HERE.) I'd been kinda worrying about that post before I actually published it. More than normal, I mean. I kept thinking, “What if I offend someone?” I don't know what exactly I thought was so offensive about it, but I went back and forth on whether or not I was going to actually post that. In fact, it sat on my “bookshelf” as a draft for at least two or three days before I got up the nerve to push that alluring little button and publish it.

But for all that, I felt very strongly that I needed to publish it. Someone out there needed to read it, so I just had to get over myself and put it out there. I mean, really. Do I take myself so seriously as to think that someone might actually be offended by something I post? (Offending someone is one of those “I'll know I've hit the big time when...” things for me.)

So, for several days before I even wrote the loaves and fishes post, I had been praying that God would open up a door for me to be able to sort of spread the word on my hats project. I wanted to keep it going, and I really wanted to get the Jesus Well funded by the end of this year. I was praying that He would show me some way to grow the project. A way for more people to hear about it and get involved.

Then on Wednesday, I was approached by a really neat person at church. The worship leader, actually. His name is Mr. Matt, and he's a photographer. (You can check him out over at wearesaltbox.com) I've always thought he was really awesome, and the fact that he wanted to talk to me was very cool. (You should have been inside my head when he said he read my blog! I kid you not, I sounded like a normal teenage girl would if Taylor Lautner shook her hand. Eeeek!) He told that he read the aforementioned blog post, and that he really liked what I had to say. He also said that he wanted to buy a hat from me and not only that, but he wanted to help me advertise my hats. I think my jaw might have dropped when he said that.

It was one of those moments where there's no mistaking- it was an answer to prayer. It's not a coincidence. It's not an accident. It's a God-thing. And it was a really good reminder that God really does hear our prayers. He really is listening. He's not too busy. He didn't fall asleep. He's not on vacation. He's there. And He has a plan that you cannot even dream of.

I like to think that I have a pretty good (and perhaps chronically overactive) imagination, but I could never have imagined that. I had imagined someone might want to buy a hat after reading my blog post, but had never even considered someone wanting to help me tell other people about them, too. It's incredible! And though it's already been a while since the conversation, I'm still awed by it and feel like smiling like a fool any time I think about it.

Here's something for you to remember- God hears your prayers. No matter what seems to be going on right now, He has a plan. And that plan that He has- the plan for your fishes and your prayers- is bigger, grander, and more awe-inspiring than you can even dream of.

So just hold on for now. God is telling a story through your life, and sometimes His words are written too big for you to read. Someday you will look back from afar and see just how amazing it really was.

And that's what a miracle is...

(Oh! And Mr. Matt? If you're reading this, just know that everything I said about you was completely true, and it wasn't just flattery. I meant every word I said.)

anxiety

When All You Have is Fishes

Sunday, July 28, 2013

"We each have time, talent and creativity, all of which can be powerful forces for positive change. Share your blessings in whatever form they come and to whatever level you have been blessed." Jon M. Huntsman Sr.

So, I'm pretty sure most everyone has heard the story of Jesus feeding the multitude, right? Well, just for the sake of clarity, let me run over it for you. Jesus has been talking to and healing this large group of people, and it's getting late. The disciples suggest that He send them away to buy food, but Jesus tells the disciples that the people don't need to leave. But all they have are five loaves and two fishes. Jesus took the food, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to the disciples to give to the people. As I'm sure you know, the food never runs out. All of the people gathered eat what they want, and there's still some left over.

Now, you might be wondering what prompted me to tell you that story. Well, it goes like this...

I started crocheting a while back (a big thank you to my friends who taught me), and at the end of last year, I really felt like God wanted me to start doing something with my talent. So I started thinking and praying about it, and finally I figured out something that would work.

There is an organization called Gospel for Asia that works to bring the Gospel to people in isolated villages and towns of Asia. One of the things they do is a "Jesus Well". Basically, you fund the building of a well that provides clean water to anyone in the village- regardless of their social standing. (To read more about Jesus Wells, CLICK HERE.) To raise money for the Jesus Well I wanted to fund, I decided to start selling crochet hats. Hats are something I enjoy making, that I can sell fairly cheaply, and that lots of people enjoy. It was a perfect set-up!

But then, I hit a bit of a bump in the road. What was I to do next? I entered a craft fair thingy and set up a table there, which did help get the word out a bit. But other than a few close friends, I never really told anyone about my fundraiser. I mean, how do you go about bringing something like that up??? Then I thought, well, maybe I could put something up about it at church. I'm sure they'd love to get involved!

So, on at least three separate occasions, I started to bring it up. But guess what? I couldn't do it. I was scared. About that time, our church started getting more involved in missions in Honduras, and (also about that time) one of the young women at our church announced that she would be going there for a whole year. How could I possibly ask people to give money to this Jesus Well, when someone else had something bigger. Something that seemed so much more important.

So I just let it go. I didn't say anything, and I kept it to myself.

Just the other day, I started thinking about it more. I contemplated (again) bringing it up at church. But then that little voice at the back of my head started talking to me again. It said things like, "That's not as important as what they're doing." "It would be selfish to ask for money for this when they need it more." "Your dream is too small. It's not important." And I started to file my idea away again, when suddenly it hit me.

If God is calling you to do something, no matter how "unimportant" it might seem, it's not unimportant. No matter how "small" it might seem next to someone else's calling, it's not small. It's what God gave you.

Sometimes God gives you fish. Don't compare your fish with someone else's bread- you might convince yourself your fish aren't needed anymore. So when all you have is fishes, give them over to God. He can do things with your fish that you never could have dreamed of on your own...

The Moments When It All Hits Home

When All You Have is Fishes... Part 3- Overflowing

My Passion

"When All You Have Is Fishes" Part 2- The Miracle

When All You Have is Fishes

About Me

Subscribe

Blog Archive