Hi All!

It was a challenge to make the cut for the 2009 Boston Marathon!  "The Boston" is one of the few marathons that requires entrants to "qualify" prior to being accepted.  To qualify for "The Boston", women in my age bracket need to complete a prior sanctioned marathon (26.2miles) under a time of 4 hours.  I qualified at San Diego's "Rock and Roll" marathon last year with a time of 3 hours 59 minutes. 

I've always admired those runners who have had something other than "beating a personal best time" to motivate them - something bigger than themselves.  This April I will be running "The Boston" and my challenge now is to help raise funds and awareness for the Nkhoma Orphan's of Malawi Africa.

AIDS has robbed more than half a million children in Malawi of one or both parents.  Millions more have been affected by the loss of teachers, parents, doctors, and farmers - the very people children rely upon to provide for basic needs.  The result has devastated the community of Nkhoma.  Malnutrition runs rampant, and stunting affects more that half of the children under 5. 

Your gift will help Y-Malawi missonary staff respond to the needs of 5,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Nkhoma by supplying things like:

• Goats for nourishment income
• A newly-constructed school
• Seed, tools and training for farmers
• Age appropriate HIV-prevention education based on biblical principles
• Small business loans for hardworking families
• A well for clean, safe water for the entire community

With the help of generous donors like you, the children of Nkhoma can escape the shadow of AIDS and poverty to fulfill their God-given potential.  For more information, visit  http://www.y-malawi.org

I hope that you share my passion for helping these children who from no fault of their own need our mercy, compassion, prayers and funds.  I am humbled and blessed to be healthy enough to join with God and others to help "the least of these."

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress..." James 1:27