September 10, 2011

Four men offering muscle, faith, help and hope!


In a world where it seems much of today's youth is self-centered, self-serving and sometimes simply selfish, (not that it wasn't the same when I was a "youth") it is a breath of fresh air to see four young warriors take up a cause and put it all on the line.

Take a moment to see what these four fine young men are planning to do to change our world for good. They have each already gone on numerous short term mission trips, all four came back transformed and changed and ready to do more after seeing the need outside of our "bubble" of comfort (yes, even in this tough economic time we are still rich compared to much of the world).

http://theac.org/about

There is also a Facebook page, set up for updates, info, conversation etc... come join in!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/122104614558045/

Now they will be spending a full year traveling the globe to bring hope, help and love and muscle. Building orphanages, fighting sex trafficking, providing clean water, equipping other youth to provide help for struggling communities are just a few of the ways you and I and they can provide assistance.

Their trip will be a journey of video journalism as well, so they can bring back the message to Americans and others around the globe who can help further to assist our world more.

Spend a little time on their website and you will learn of this brave and hope-fillled mission they have been planning for the past several years. http://theac.org/about

Please consider introducing this mission to your church, youth group, rotary and/or other works based clubs, synagogue, mosques, shoot even bake-sale-betties who can join in to help. If you own a restaurant or work for a company that is interested in change for good, please consider joining in on a fund raiser to send these young men out.

Your donation is tax-deductible and right now is matched dollar for dollar up to $2000.

September 9, 2011

SIX PHOTOS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE!


When I first was acquainted with the wonderful and delightful Steckels; Richard and Michele, who have put together so many wonderful photographic displays (you have seen them in airports all over the world) I was delighted to be considered for their Milestones Project book http://www.amazon.com/Milestones-Project-Celebrating-Childhood-Around/dp/1582462283/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315604123&sr=1-1 that would be published with the express intent to bring down color, racial, religious, nationalistic and other barriers. With delight I submitted my story, a story about my first pair of glasses, which the editor LOVED and told me would be included in the book. Within a month she called me to tell me my story wouldn't be used after all. I asked why since she had been so profuse about how much she like my story. She replied "Well, we received a piece from JK Rowling and that is what she chose to write about." "WOW, I thought, I have been bumped by the one and only J. K. Rowling, what a claim to fame!" Then she told me she still wanted to include me if I were willing to write on another subject important to childhood. I wrote a piece about my first puppy and it was included. Imagine my delight when I saw the assemblage of people in the table of contents.


Now, the Steckels have asked me to contribute to a wonderful online assemblage of original photographs to feed the hungry and to promote other goodwill, which simply is what they do so beautifully! I am so excited to see who will be included in this wonderful display and see how many people it will help. When Richard called he listed off some whos whos and I felt simply humbled to be included. So, why me? Here is why. Richard and Michele have a delightful daughter who had a delightful daughter who is a fan of my books. SHE told them about me and told them they HAD to include me. Now, how do you like them apples. A little girl who saw me in her school got me in a book with the likes of Eric Carle, J K Rowling, Walter Cronkite and many other much more famous people. Thank you Sutton, you are a doll!

So, here are the photos I chose after looking at thousands and even posting twenty of my favorites on my fan page at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Works-of-Justin-Matott/213624096290 to get other people's impressions and limit it to six. If you were one who chimed in, thank you!

These are some boys my brother and I met in a small village in the Dominican Republic as he, my brother, took be to the villages he had installed fresh water systems in.








This is a homeless man in Dublin, Ireland who was preparing to feed the pigeons in a churchyard on a bench he sat on daily. When I asked him why, he told me that God feeds the lowliest birds, so imagine how he loves us. Quite sure I have read that in the GOOD BOOK.






In one of the villages in the DR, it wasn't unusual to see industrious people carrying water and other income sources on bikes and motorbikes. This one was just too good!










This bloke was a glass worker in the Waterford Crystal factory in Waterford, Ireland. Now, THAT is a character!












This pretty young lass was
hamming it up for us in Sammy Sosa's hometown in the Dominican Republic. The people there were friendly and very family oriented.














These two sisters came and talked with my brother and me in the most beautiful spot on earth. We were e
njoying some freshly caught fish and a local brew. They were delightful and delighted!













school visits blog, psst, hit the link!


http://justinmatottatyourskul.blogspot.com/2011/08/school-assemblies-and-workshops-at.html

I have been receiving some email from confused librarians and teachers.
I have two blogs; the one you are on and the school visit information blog (see above link).

I am happy to answer any and all questions you have about a school visit, but chances are, they have been answered on the school visit blog (see above link).