world vision

The next few Tuesdays I’m going to share all my top-ten Christmas-y things with you—music, food, books and more.

But today, I’m taking a page from one of our Top Ten {Tuesday} participants: Shannon from Dwell Swell and her amazing Joy To The World post. Here are the…

Top Ten Gifts I Want to Give This Year

1. A Goat.

{Jill with a goat in the DR.}

Yup. Like a goat. When I was in the Dominican Republic with World Vision we stopped by a goat farm. It was run by 12 women (moms and aunts of sponsored kids). They were learning to take care of the goats, to milk them, to make cheese, milk and yogurt. They were able to feed the malnourished children in their community. And eventually make money to help support their community in other ways. Matthew Paul Turner (author and fearless Dominican Republic Blogger Leader) is hosting Gift-a-Goat week on his blog. Don’t you wanna give a goat?!

A goat costs only $75. So does this pair of boots from Piperlime. Just sayin’.

2. A Bracelet

My sister-in-law works with a ministry in downtown Atlanta that helps victims of sex-trafficking. Let me say that another way–

MY SISTER IN LAW WORKS IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA MINISTERING TO GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN CONNED, KIDNAPPED AND FORCED INTO SEX TRADE.

This year, I’m buying my sister-in-law (Hey, Catie! Sorry to spoil the surprise!) a bracelet made by women in Thailand. These women have escaped or been rescued from the sex trafficking industry. They are now a part of a ministry that counsels them and gives them real-life training like jewelry-making, sewing and baking.

$40 for this bracelet and the protection of a girl. Or spend $40 on this bracelet from Anthropolgie…and get, well, a bracelet.

3. Camera Strap. Or a Purse. Or wait, maybe a cookie?!

The Mercy House shop started as a jewelry shop. Today, lots of small momprenuers are gifting their wares to the Mercy House. And all the proceeds go to their maternity home in Kenya.

So, someone is getting a camera strap. Or a purse. Or a cookie. Or  a necklace for Christmas this year.

Average price? About $20. Or I could just buy a bestseller from Barnes and Noble.

4. Nativity Scene

I love getting Christmas-y things for Christmas. My mom collects nativity scenes. I’m still on the lookout for the perfect one–I think we have about 3—a Little People one, a handmade one from the Dominican with an extra Mary instead of a Joseph and a glass one from my Grandmother. Yeah, they’re all kind of odd.

I’m thinking about getting this one from Azizi Life. I first heard about Azizi Life from Sara Groves, one of my long distance heroes. It’s an organization in Rwanda that “strengthens communities, promotes local enterprise and supports fair wages”. They help craftsman get the supplies they need, give others the ability to apprentice under them and then sell the goods for fair wages to help them support themselves!

This nativity scene is only $35. And a far cry from the Americanized ones in my home. And I think that’s the same price I paid for my Little People nativity.

5. Necklace

I found 31bits through Shannon’s post. I was stunned by the beautiful website, necklaces and photographs. But even more impressed by their first value: Love, because love stems from Christ and is a catalyst for positive change.

I am thinking of getting this necklace for my mom. She’s a long-necklace kinda person. She would love knowing a woman in Uganda made this necklace and was being mentored, strengthened and protected by her work.

This necklace is $30. I found a cool necklace for $32 on etsy. I love supporting handmade wares on etsy, but this 31bits necklace empowers women to rise above poverty–and leads them to Jesus.

6. A book. And clothes. And food. And medicine. And Schooling.

{This is a gift we sent to our sponsored daughter, Alizeta. She’s the one on the right, isn’t she cute?!}

Sponsor a child through Compassion and a needy child will have food, medicine, clothing, schooling and more. You’ll also receive a special book called The Brightest Star which tells the story of Christmas and is then personalized with your child and their information.

Yeah, this gift is one you’ll be paying each month. $38 a month. But the return? It’s more than any gift you’ll receive this year, I promise.

Sponsoring a child for $38 a month is about $456 a year. I think I pay double that for Directv.

7. A Shoebox.

I’ve already told you about our shoeboxes. Maybe you can’t pack a box. But you can sponsor someone’s box. Only $7 sends a box to a little boy or girl in need. It’s National Packing Week–please give today!

Or you could spend $7 on a bag of Moose Munch. Your call.

8. A Hat.

Does anyone remember the hat Asa wore to Blissdom ’09? It was like the cutest thing EVER. And he got another hat like it for his birthday. It’s taken me all this time to get him to put it on. And now that he’s wearing it, I want him to wear it all the time. There is just nothing cuter than a little boy in a hat!

My friend Candace from Twiggie Makes has set up her entire etsy shop to donate to Compassion International. Buy any of her adorable toddler hats, clutches or flowers and you’re money will be sent direction to Compassion!

9. Blue Plastic

This Christmas our family is going to each pick a gift to give to Jesus. It’s all because of this book I got…I’ll be reviewing it on Impress Your Kids in the coming weeks. We’re going to pick a gift from an organization like World Vision or Samaritan’s Purse and give it to “the least of these” so that we are actually giving it to Jesus (see Matthew 25).

Anyway, I’ve already picked what I want. It’s 1000 square feet of blue plastic that can be made into a temporary shelter. They’ve already built these “blue villages” in Haiti. I just imagine a mother being homeless after the earthquake and I want to give her a house.

Here’s a video to explain it better:

One of these blue plastic houses is just $130. That’s less than a Kindle.

10. ohAmanda

I have finally decided to pursue private ads on ohAmanda. With the main purpose of giving the proceeds to organizations like the ones I’ve linked to today. Each month, I’ll feature a new gift that ohAmanda will buy. This month I’m going to join MPT’s Gift-A-Goat week and buy a goat.

If you’re interested in advertising on ohAmanda and think we’d be a good fit, please email me for my media kit, rates, etc. For anyone that cares, I’ll be tithing, then paying for my hosting ($9.99/month) and then buy/give this monthly gift.

Each month I’ll choose something new. The idea is that you’ll be inspired to give this gift, too. But even if you don’t buy, just know that clicking on my affiliate links, my sidebar and feedreeder ads are giving money to these organizations.

Thank you for clicking, giving and getting involved!

:: :: ::

Link up your Top Ten list and join in the Top Ten {Tuesday} fun! All you have to do is WRITE a top ten list, PASTE it  below, LINK back to me in your post & then start LOVIN’ on the rest of the participants with facebook likes, stumbles, comments and tweets! For better and more succinct guidelines see my Top Ten {Tuesday} page!

{ 42 comments }