giving thanks!

FamiliesFirst – March/April 2011 page 31

Lent is a time to get life intoperspective, sometimes by fastingor giving something up. Counting

the blessings we have is a great way toput our wants and needs intoperspective. Last year, the FamiliesFirst Count your Blessings schemeraised more than £10,000 for literacyand development work around theworld. This year, we’re focusing onMothers’ Union’s Family Life work inUganda as a way of giving thanks for all we have.

The Family Life Programme (FLP)helps people in rural Ugandan

communities reassess their lives andchange small things – their diet, hygieneor finances -- often in the face of seriouspoverty. As a result thousands ofvillagers have seen their lives change forthe better.

Working with community groups in 10areas of Uganda, the FLP developmentworkers help identify and prioritise theissues families face, and find solutions.Through the FLP groups, communitiesare tackling soil erosion, food security,health and sanitation, environmentalprotection and diseases such asHIV/AIDS. They also run income

generating projects and savings groups.Since the programme started six yearsago, 335 family life groups have startedbenefiting more than 10,000 villagers.

It’s the small but simple things thathave made an impact. From improvedstoves, latrines with washstands, andgrowing and eating more vegetables,families realise the benefits of workingtogether.

By counting your blessings this Lent,you can help families in Uganda, whileprayerfully evaluating your own life. Adouble blessing!

Wednesday 9thMarch AshWednesdayCount the taps in your house.Give thanks for clean water.29% of Ugandans still can’taccess safe water. Give 5p foreach tap you have.

Thursday 10thMarchCount your pillows andcushions! Give 10p for each oneto help people less comfortablethan you, and thank God forcomfort.

Friday 11th MarchCount the jars in your kitchen

cupboards.Thank God for variety of food. Give 2pfor each.

Saturday 12th MarchCount your radiators. Pneumonia

threatens young children in Uganda’smountainous regions. Give 5p perradiator. Pray for those children.

Sunday 13th MarchMeasure your height! 38% of Ugandaninfants suffer stunted growth. Give 1pfor each centimetre, or 2p per inch!And pray for those children’s health.

Monday 14th MarchHow many phone calls have you hadthis week? Give 10p for each one.Only 14% of Ugandans have access

to a phone. Thank God for thoseconversations.

Tuesday 15th MarchCount the flours and things madefrom grain in your kitchen stores.

Count yourblessingsGive thanks for all the good things in life bycounting the blessings God has given you

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giving thanks!

page 32 www.familiesfirstmagazine.com

Remember tocount any beer orspirits! Give 2p foreach one. Mothers’Union helpsUgandancommunities startgrowing crops. Prayfor their crops.

Wednesday16th MarchCount the magazines andnewspapers in your house. Give 5pfor each one. Thank God you canknow what’s going on in the world.

Thursday 17th March Count your sinks and toilets. Give20p for each. 2/3 of Ugandanhouseholds still need bettersanitation to stay healthy. Thank Godfor good health.

Friday 18th MarchHow many door handles are there inyour house? Give 1p for each, andgive thanks for safety. Don’t forgetcupboard doors!

Saturday 19th MarchIn your fridge, count the dairyproducts. Give 10p for each item. Acow in Uganda is a major investmentfor a family.

Sunday20thMarchHow many keysdo you have?Remembercupboard anddrawer keys!Give 5p for eachone. Thank Godfor security.

Monday 21st MarchHow many windows are there in yourhouse? Give 10p for each windowyou have. Pray for families withoutshelter from the weather.

Tuesday 22nd MarchCount the bottlesand packets of pillsand vitamins youhave. Give 5p foreach. Give thanksfor healthcare.

Wednesday23rdMarchHow many lightbulbs can youfind in yourhouse? Remember anyspares you have! Give 2p perlightbulb. Thank God you can see atnight.

Thursday 24thMarchCount the vaccinations, doctoror nurse visits you’ve had overthe past year. Give 20p for each.1 in 10 Ugandan babies stilldon’t get vaccinations. Ask Godfor better healthcare for them.

Friday 25th March Weigh yourself! This is not aguilt trip. Thank God forhealthy sustenance. Give 1pper kg or 2p per pound.

Saturday 26th MarchCount the vegetables in your kitchen(and garden!). Mothers’ Union’sFamily Life Programme helpscommunities grow their ownvegetables. Give 5p for eachvegetable you have and pray for theirgardens to flourish.

Sunday 27th MarchCount the books in your house.Thank God for the education youreceived so you can enjoy them. Give1p per book.

Monday 28th MarchCount the bottles in your fridge andkitchen. Thank God for safe and tastydrinks. Give 2p for each bottle you

find. It will help projects likejuice-making in

Uganda!

Tuesday29thMarchCount howmany subjectsyou weretaught at schoolwhen you were12 years old.Give 20p foreach. Pray that

Ugandan children may soon all havethe benefit of education.

Wednesday 30thMarchCount the brushes in your house! Hair,teeth, nails, pets, washing up,brooms... Mothers’ Union’s Family Lifework helps families keep their homesbetter. Give 2p per brush to help them.

Thursday 31st MarchHow many living things are there inyour house? Pot plants, pets....Include yourself! Give 50p for eachone you count. Thank God for life!Pray for Family Life in Uganda, thatfamilies may have life to the full.

Count your blessings8

Friday 1st AprilHow many light switches do youhave? Give 5p for each switch youfind. Thank God for electricity, whichis still rare in Uganda.

Saturday 2nd AprilLife expectancy in Uganda is 54.Count the years until you are or sinceyou were 54. Give 20p for each. ThankGod for the years you’ve lived.

Sunday 3rd AprilMothering SundayGive a coin and take some time tothink of your life as you were growingup, with or away from your mother.Think how it has formed you. Talk toGod about it.

Monday 4th AprilCount the carpets in your house. Give

10p for each one. Pray for

people with sparsehomes.

Tuesday 5thAprilHow much fruit canyou find? Fruit treesare grown by someMothers’ UnionFamily Life groups toimprove their dietand to sell. Pray forthem, and give 2p foreach fruit you’vecounted.

Wednesday 6th AprilCount the plug sockets! Thank Godfor how technology improves ourlives. Give 1p for each socket.

Thursday 7thAprilHow many things can youcook with? Count eachhob on your stove, each oven,and microwave. Give 10p foreach to help Ugandan mothersget fuel-saving stoves thatlimit smoke damage totheir eyes. Pray for theirhome-making.

Friday 8th AprilCount how many letters you receivedthis week. Give 2p for each. Mothers’Union helps communitiescommunicate better. Pray for that

work.

Saturday9th AprilCount the cleaning

products you have.Give 5p for each.Thank God forsanitation. It is key togood health.

Sunday 10th AprilCount your blankets, quilts andduvets. Babies in Uganda needwarmth in the mountain air! Pray forthem, and give 20p for each item ofbedding you count.

Monday 11th AprilCount your shoes. Give 10p per pairand pray for Ugandan children whoneed shoes to go to school.

Tuesday 12th AprilCount all your spoons! Give 1p foreach. Thank God for food, plentifuland available in this country.

Wednesday 13th AprilHow many umbrellas do you have?Rain can ruin crops. Pray for Ugandanfarms helped by Mothers’ Union. Give

10p perumbrella.

Thursday14thAprilCount thegutters anddrain pipesaround theoutside ofyour house!

Saving rainwater is one wayMothers’ Union helps families getthrough drought. Give 5p for each.

Friday 15th AprilHow many wheels can you count inyour house or on your driveway? Prayfor Mothers’ Union workers whotravel great distances to help remotecommunities. Give 2p per wheel.

Saturday 16th AprilHow many teachers did you have inprimary school? Give thanks for allyou’ve learned, and pray thatUgandan children might have thatopportunity too; 10% still don’t go toprimary school. Give 20p for eachteacher you can remember.

FamiliesFirst – March/April 2011 page 33

giving thanks!

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Sunday 17th April Palm SundayCount your coats! Give 10p for each.Think of Jesus riding into Jerusalem,his way paved with people’s cloaks.

Monday 18th AprilCount the curtains and blinds in yourhouse. Thank God for the comfort andprivacy of your home. Give 5p foreach.

Tuesday 19th AprilHow many hats can you find? Give 5pper hat. Thank God for shade insummer and warmth in winter.

Wednesday20th AprilNotice the signs ofspring around you. Goto a window or take awalk. Think about Godbringing new life.

Thursday21st AprilMaundyThursday As you eat yourmeals today, take time to think abouteach mouthful of food, its taste andvalue. Think of Jesus at the last supper.Give a coin in gratitude for food.

Friday 22nd AprilGood FridayTake time to consider Jesus’ way to thecross today. Sit by yourself and findsome quiet space to think and pray.

Saturday 23rd AprilHoly Saturday Make some space today to be silent inGod’s presence. You don’t need to

haveanything to say.

Sunday 24th AprilEaster SundayGive thanks to God for Jesus’ life,death and resurrection. Praise him forhis love and care for you. And pray forall the families the money you’vegiven will help.

Count your Blessings Please complete the form below and send it, with your cheque made payable to ‘Mothers’ Union’, toCount your Blessings, Mothers’ Union, 24 Tufton Street, London, England SW1P 3RB.

Here is my gift of £ .................. from takingpart in Count your Blessings this year, togo to Mothers’ Union Family Life work.

Name: ..............................................................................................

Address: ..........................................................................................

............................................................................................................

............................................................................................................

............................................................Postcode: ..........................

Phone ..............................................................................................

Email ................................................................................................

Registered charity number 240531

Would you like to Gift Aid thisdonation to Mothers’ Union?

Yes, I’m a UK tax payer and would like Mothers’ Union to reclaimthe tax on the enclosed donation made under the Gift Aid scheme. I confirm that the Income Tax, Savings, or Capital Gains Tax I pay willbe at least equal to the tax which will be reclaimed on this donation.

Your signature ..........................................................................................................................(We need this to claim the Gift Aid)

NB If your circumstances change and youstop paying tax, please notify Finance at MarySumner House, Tufton St, London SW1P 3RB

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