4th Day of Christmas Giveaway with Ali Smith
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Welcome to the 4th Day of Christmas Giveaway!!
Each day, December 1-12th, I am featuring a fellow Proverbs 31 sister and an aspect of Christmas. You’ll get to know her and she, in turn, will offer a fabulous giveaway! Simply leave a comment on her post to be entered in the drawing.
And, one soon-to-be-very-giddy gal who comments on all 12 posts will win the GRAND PRIZE! You may comment on all posts until Monday, December 13th when the winners will be announced. (to see the grand prize and get caught up on the posts click here)
Now, here’s our fourth P31 gal……Ali Smith!!
Ali spent the last four years living and working as a broadcast journalist in Asia. She worked for ABS-CBN in the Philippines and for Channel NewsAsia in Singapore, reaching millions of viewers around the globe through news and current affairs programs each day.
Ali has now taken her TV presence and her communication skills to live audiences, stepping into the calling God has over her life: to communicate God’s Words in fresh and relevant ways, igniting souls to live lives worthy of their calling in Christ. She will spend the next several months traveling around Asia and the U.S. speaking on topics related to her new book called “Entrusting the Key: From Serial Dating to Joyful Waiting.”
Ali also contributes to Proverbs 31’s “twenty-somethings” ministry called She Seeks (http://sheseeks.org/home/). As part of the six-member team, she writes devotional articles and records video blogs on topics relevant to her age group to encourage other young women in their faith.
Ali grew up in Bozeman, Montana with three sisters -one of them her twin- and her parents. A fitness buff, Ali loves anything to do with sports and the outdoors – especially hitting the ski slopes in the Rocky Mountains. She is also an avid runner and has completed two marathons so far.
For regular updates on Ali’s whereabouts and latest products out, check out her blog: http://alinsmith.wordpress.com/ or visit her Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Entrusting-the-Key.
Some ways Ali has included the less fortunate, hurting or lonely at the holidays:
When I was living in Manila, Philippines from 2006-08, I got involved with a street children’s feeding program in one of the poorest slum areas of the city. Each week, nearly 100 street children and their families would come on Saturday mornings for a hot meal and a time of singing and fellowship. I taught the children Bible lessons through games, arts and crafts.
For Christmas, these families had no money for gifts, or even a nice meal. Most of them were barely scraping by to get food on the table each day. The thought of seeing these children with nothing special for Christmas made my heart ache. So I decided to gather donations from friends and family to buy gifts and food to bless each family. Here is a picture with some of the children that first Christmas…
I am no longer living in the Philippines, but have continued the tradition of blessing this same slum community each year in Manila. After 5 years, I must say, it has become the highlight of my Christmas each year! No material thing compares to the joy and smiles that come from these precious children and their families, as they experience the light and love of Christ through this blessing each year.
This holiday season, may we all take Proverbs 3:27 to heart, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” Someone around you might be hurting or in need of something. Jesus has given you the love, power and grace to act. Will you?
Now for the giveaway!!! Ali is giving one of you who leaves a comment:
A copy of her book, “Entrusting the Key: From Serial Dating to Joyful Waiting:”
And she is also including:
- A 2010-11 calendar about the Philippines Education Fund that gives college scholarships to the street children Ali knows in Manila (http://ningningpef.wordpress.com/).
Okay gals, leave us a comment on how YOU reach out to and include others at Christmas. Or, as always, simply say “I’m in!”
Have a blessed Saturday and we’ll see you tomorrow for our 5th day giveaway!
Blessings,
Every year we adopt a family from our elementary school. It is neat to go buy gifts and necessities for our anonymous school friends in need. It really makes me feel like it is getting to our community where I can see it.
I’m in!
I’m in!
Operation Christmas child, angel tree ministry and try to keep my eyes and ears open to other needs
Our Tradition was making Chocolote chip cookies from scratch. dont know why i stoped.
We try to find a family that might need an extra touch at Christmas and give them a gift card or money.
We do gift baskets at my church for older people that can’t get out.
I bought my tree at Goodwill last week, it was slavage from Target. The young man who worked there kindly put on his coat and carried it to my car. I grabbed his hand and slid some cash in it, squeezed it tight and smiled while say “lunch is on me today!” I know this kid works for low pay and had PB&J in a brown bag waiting in the break room. I hope he ate a man meal till he wouldn’t breath anymore! Small gift, big impact. Tomorrow, I will pay for the order behind me in the Taco Bell Drive thru! Random Act!
filling shoeboxes with small gifts and treats for children in poorer countries is what we do now with our children. But when we were kids, we used to take gifts to children in an orphanage.
We bring gifts at our church for the missionaries that we support.
I’m in!
One way we have reached out in recent years is to make a contribution to a Christian organization in lieu of giving gifts to our relatives and make it in their honor. It is eternal and life changing and we love that!
I’m in. Merry Christmas!
As a single mom – I try to express to my children that we are not ‘poor’ as so many others in this world. This year we are giving up a few little things we normally ask for at Christmas to help out in our community. Our church is helping to sponsor some families and we are giving to that cause and even letting the children be a part of the picking out process of the gifts.
This year we are reaching out by purchasing some groceries for a family of a single dad with 4 kids.
This year more than any years past I have really felt the burden to help others. Thanks for the encouragement to just do it!!
I’m in.
My children’s elementry school does an angel tree where you can select an ornament with a child wish on it. It is a great way of teaching your children about giving to other who are less fortunate.
I’m in.
Such wonderful ideas were shared here! We’ve done Operation Christmas child in the past and participate in Thanksgiving outreach programs but for Christmas season this year I think we will try some of the ideas shared here. Thanks!
I’m in.
We’ve done the shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child and also Angel Tree for those children who have parents in prison. There are so many hurting people in the world. Thanks for the reminder that we need to show the love of Jesus to others.
we sponsor a child from Guatemala and we donate extra money so the staff in the community can buy what he needs
Our church sponsors a “Big Give” every December and we participate in that. It’s different every year, but we usually sponsor a family or make a donation.
we bake and give goodie baskets to shut-ins
One Christmas tradition of reaching out that our family and small church get involved with is making cookies and carrolling. We bring a huge plateful of cookies and a beautiful handmade card from the littles from church and then take it too our neighbors that run an adult foster care home for disables young men. They love the cookies, card and carrolling. We usually spend time with them and share the love of Christ.
I’m in