A step out of celebration...

It's been an unusual Christmas. Sand instead of snow. The sound of the surf, rather than the sound of a silent winter's night. Extended gift giving as travelers arrive to join the family vacation one day after the next. An Alabama Gulf Coast Christmas is very different for this northern girl. And yet, there are elements of Christmas that are clearly and comfortably present .... Loved ones gathered together, good food and an abundance of treats, laughter and merriment among young and old alike, the exchange of treasures, deepening relationships with family members, the warmth of a "home", and the unspoken expectation that, in a year, this comfortable and familiar celebration will unfold yet again.

And yet, as I reach for another chocolate truffle and pour another glass of cheer, the thought suddenly occurs to me...for more children than I can ever imagine or could possibly count, December 25th is filled with none (or very little) of the above. And, for a moment, I need to step out of my celebration and recognize the need for action in this world. For those of us who live in relative abundance and have no doubt to whom we "belong", cannot possibly fathom what it must be like to live each day unsure of what the next will hold or whom to call family. Yet this is the sobering reality of so many children (approximately 50 million) in Africa this Christmas.


There is, however, hope. Across Africa, there are people and organizations dedicated to the lives of children who seem to have no hope. There are people who live each day making sure that children without families are fed, cared for, loved, and, as much as possible, given some sense of family. My middle son, Benjamin, started his life with such people.

It would take me a long time to sufficiently describe TLC, the orphanage in South Africa where Ben spent his early months. TLC (insert link) was started by the Jarvis family who saw the need for the orphaned babies and young children of SA to be cared for with dignity, love, and compassion. Their desire is to see all children become a part of forever families...so that they will never question to whom they belong or what tomorrow will bring. TLC has done remarkably well meeting that goal by matching babies to families from all over the world and caring for them deeply before that match occurs. Yet, it is a sad reality that many babies are seen as "unfavorable" for adoption. They may be older children, be HIV positive, or have other illnesses or circumstances that make them hard to place. When that happens, the Jarvis family often opens their own family and adds one more to their mix. None of this is conventional, practical, or financially sound...but, it meets needs...the deepest of needs of children who deserve forever families and the sense of belonging. We are forever grateful for the unconventional and impractical TLC family and what they gave to us 9 years ago.

There is hope. But it doesn't come without a cost. Jabu Africa is working with frontline agencies like TLC to help spread hope by providing some of the finances that never come easy in this "line of work". By supporting Jabu Africa, individuals have a chance to respond to a need that is not going away any time soon and to impact the lives of children who desperately need and absolutely deserve a place to call home.

I have loved this Alabama Christmas. I have loved taking a spontaneous plunge in the cold Gulf waters and walking for miles on the beach. I have eaten far too much and burned off far too few calories. Yet, the very best thing about this Christmas has been spending time with my husband's family (all 17 of us) and trusting that no matter what comes, we are forever family. And, that secure sense of belonging is something all of us should be able to soak in from time to time.

Castor Kids For a Cause

A few weeks ago, I received something in the mail from the Gospel for Asia organization asking for money to provide wells in India.  I was moved as I read about the plight of people who don't even have clean water to bathe in or drink.  It was not that this was new news to me.  In fact, we are fortunate to be are friends with an amazing couple (the Chees) who are doing well and filter work in Cambodia with Samaritan's Purse.  Another friend, Russ, used to do the same work in an African country.  But, as I sat there with my three children, eating to their full at lunch and planning to take a cool dip in the lake, the weight of this situation struck me more deeply.  The contrast to our lives was so great.

I shared the story with my children, reading excerpts from the letter.  We talked about how hard that must be...how life is so different for so many around the world.  We talked about how good we have it here in North America and, more specifically, within our own home.  I shared with them how we are some of the richest people in the whole world; a fact that seems shocking in light of where we are on the local "income scale" (i.e., we are certainly not "rich" locally).  I also shared with them how, even in the state and town that we live in, there are people who have very little and may struggle to make ends meet. 

This was not the first time that we have discussed the inequitable distribution of life's goods and riches.  I have been known to remind my children who claim, "I'm starving!", about what starvation really looks like by showing them pictures or videos of people who are truly starving.  It was not that long ago when my kids were complaining about not having enough toys or things to do when I showed them video of children rummaging through garbage heaps to find something to keep or sell.  Even driving through poorer areas of Minneapolis or the subburbs has sparked conversation about economic differences.  Yet, most, if not all, of these discussions also touch on the similarities between us all and the basic needs and rights we all have.  And, almost all of these discussions lead to the question, "how should we respond?"

It is remarkable that even young children know that there is something wrong with people living a world away in utter poverty.   They understand that it is not right that there are homeless people and children without families within a short drive of our sheltered life. A 5 year old knows that it is horribly sad for someone to go to bed having only eatten one meal during the day.  A 9 year old understands, at some level, the problems that might come from having no clean water.  A 12 year old realizes that we have significant benefits simply because of where we were born and where we live.  Bono stated it well when he sings, "where we live should not decide whether we live or whether we die."  And yet, that is the realitiy for many, isn't it?


As we talked about the lack of fresh water in India, babies without families, and families without food, we again came to the question, "how should we respond?"  Over and over in God's Word it says we are to take care of widows, orphans, and strangers.  As Jesus followers, we have a responsibility to help those in need and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  With that in mind, the kids and I brainstormed some ideas that might help us love our neighbors as ourselves and deal with some of the needs of the world.  It was fun to watch and listen as this discussion took place.


A few days later, with nothing else pressing in the schedule, my three kids and I hatched one of our plans.  We began to bake.  Each child took responsibility for one recipe while I took on a fourth and oversaw all operations.



Don't worry, she washed her hands after loving on her doggy!



 A few hours later, when the baking was complete and cookies were cooled, I assembled plates of approximately10 - 12 goodies.  In addition, Zac helped me type out a note of explaination to hand out with our cookies.



Castor Kids for a Cause!

Finding creative ways to raise money for The Love of Christ Ministries (TLC), an orphanage in South Africa. 

TLC believes that every child has the right to a loving and responsible family.  Since April 1993, they have helped over 600 babies who have been abandoned or orphaned.  Find out more about TLC on their website: www.tlc.org.za

Thanks for helping us make a difference!

With a cooler loaded up with 11 plates of cookes, the kids, Smudge, and I headed out to ask neighbors if they would like to help support our effort to raise some money for a South African orphanage near and dear to our hearts.  Zac and I decided rather than "pricing" the cookie plates, we would sell them by donation.  I honestly did not know how much one might possibly want to spend on these small plates of cookies.  I anticipated that we might raise $30 - $40 during this first venture and would combine it with something else in a month or so.  I admit, part way through the mess of baking I wondered whether I should have just sent that amount of money myself, rather than buying and donating ingredients and making a mess of the kitchen.  But, I knew that this project was about more than just sending money to Afica.  It was also about helping to mold my kids' hearts to view the world more and more with Jesus vision and to consider the needs of others as more significant than their own "comfort".

An hour and a half or so after leaving the house, my kids and I returned home, having sold 10 plates of cookies. All but one of the neighbors that we went to eagerly bought a plate of cookies from the kids.  At one home, two preteen children ran to their rooms to find money to buy their own plates and contribute willingly to the cause.  Each Castor child played a role in the sales.  Zac usually "pitched" the cause, while Elly handed out the cookies, and Ben kept the dog in control or pulled the cooler along.  We were pleasantly surprised and so encouraged by the generosity of neighbors.  In the end, the kids raised $110 for their cause.  The kids, especially Zac who knows the value of a dollar more than the other two, were thoroughly pleased.  Zac commented that we have some really great neighbors.  I agree whole heartedly!

Within an hour of being home, I forwarded the money via PayPal, to TLC with a note to Thea.  The next day, the kids got an e-mail and a lovely e-card from Thea.  Thea wrote that TLC would use the money to buy warm pajamas for the toddlers.  It is now winter and, due to some circumstances, they did not have proper heat.  I was thrilled to see that the kids (with a little help from Mom) were able to meet a real need in an amazing home meeting the needs of kids every single day.  It wasn't much in terms of the overall need, but it was something.  And, perhaps, more importantly, the children were integral in the planning and carry through of this project to serve.

My hope is that the kids, Ken, and I can do more of this together in the months and years to come.  Not necessarily baking, but doing something fun and creative with an intent to serve.  I hope even more so that my children will develop a heart for serving others in our own community and around the world...even serving one another along the way!  The world is smaller than we realize, especially when we expand our hearts and open our hands to reach around it.