What Will You be Thankful for on Thanksgiving?

I've got a pretty long list.

I don't have to go to bed hungry.
That's not the case for the 850 million people on our planet who are chronically hungry. Every five seconds a child dies from hunger-related illnesses. In other words, while you read this blog entry, 20-30 of those deaths will occur.
I have clean water.
More than 2.7 billion people have inadequate or nonexistant access to proper sanitation. I spent some time in Eastern Europe this summer where I met families who live on the edge of thriving cities, but have no indoor plumbing and must walk several blocks to retrieve clean water for their homes.
I have an education.
In the least-developed countries of the world, only 26% of boys and 21% of girls are enrolled in secondary school.
I am free.
The U.S. State Department estimates that approximately 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year where they are then exploited for profit. Many work long hours as low-skilled laborers, as domestic servants, or in the sex trade. The majority of those trafficked are female; as many as half are children.

We can all do something about these and other justice issues--even if they seem overwhelming. As Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision said, “Don’t fail to do something because you can’t do everything.”

• Learn more about an issue and how you can help. Lots of resources are available online.
• Buy a malaria net to protect kids from deadly mosquitos.
• Eat a developing-nation diet for one or more meals (e.g. a tortilla, beans, and rice) and donate what you would have spent on food to a food bank.
• Join or start a Mocha Club--by giving up two mochas a month, you can feed a child in Africa.
• Sign up for the One Campaign.
• Fund a microloan through Opportunity International or Kiva.

These are just a few ideas...the list is endless.