Blowing Bubbles

Remember the Bubble?

I promised that whenever I was feeling a little

too "me" centered 

that I'd introduce you to 

heroes and friends

that inspires

me 

deeply.

Friends out there,

meet

Bill and Donna Cody!!!!!!!

I met Bill several years ago when my friend Matt

was planning a major life change

by moving to 

East Africa.

I'll introduce you to Matt later,

(he gets his own posting later.)

Matt brought Bill in to communicate

to a group of us

what Matt was getting involved in.

I was immediately impressed by

his gift of communication

but also his

insanely natural commitment to

compassion.

He is so compassionate for people

to experience real

Love

that he will go to the "hard places."

When I say

"hard places"

I mean the places that people do NOT go!

Dangerous places. 

Unfriendly places. 

Uncomfortable places.

So by the end of that night, of him communicating

Matt's mission,

I left with a deep overwhelming respect for him.

So as time goes on,

Bill and his deliciously, spunky, vibrant, and gorgeous wife Donna,

soon moved into our community 

and we received the special gift

of knowing them

as 

FRIENDS!

I value this couple so much

that I strive for the 

words to honor them

accurately.

Humble.

Compassionate.

Sincere.

There is a Light in their Eyes.

Disarming

in that insecurities melt in their company.

Unpretentious

in that they are the kind of people who might

just show up on your step because they just 

baked chocolate chip cookies and they

wanted to share.

Funny.

Accepting.

Inclusive

in that they are easy to get to know.

There are no hoops to jump through 

or feelings of needing to be 

"on good behavior" 

to be their friends.

You just are.

Passionate.

I feel like they are passionate in a 
"quiet storm" 
kind of way.

In a "not-talking-about" 

but 

DOING kind of way.

I'm sure if they were reading this now 
(I hope that they are)

they'd be rolling their eyes 

or laughing

and 

probably thinking that they 

aren't unique in any way,

they're just living the way they 

know how

or are "called" to live

but 

I am saying 

YES YOU ARE!

You are unique
in every kind of way

and worthy of honor.

I want to tell you a little story

about what I mean

about

"not-talking.." 
but DOING!

Last December we had dinner with Bill and Donna.

Bill told a story about how had just read a Call + Response article

and then moments later

read a newspaper article about how children

in Haiti

were being trafficked into the

Dominican Republic, 

in grossly increasing numbers after the quake.

In his humble and quiet way,

with glossy eyes said to us,

"I can't NOT go."

And we proceeded to watch a man who is 

QUICK TO OBEY

work with single minded focus

to 

go 

and 

diligently

pursue

how he could help.

That was last December.

Friends,

meet

OKIPE.

In very little time,

two trips under his belt,

met an amazing Haitian woman

who cared for orphans

on the little island of La Gonave.

Bill was able to facilitate 

a cooperative 

of communities from all over the world

to care for the needs 

of this woman who cares for orphans.
She just keeps taking them in!

In an amount of time

too short to comprehend,

(remember "I can't NOT go"

was only 10 months ago)

he has lead the effort to buy land for these orphans,

plant a permanent person on the ground,

photo by Addison Searles

to communicate needs and supervise improvements,

build a secure fence around the new property,

and 

communicate to all of us the joys of participating with

this incredible gift of change

and life

to these people.

He would say that it's because of the amazing people 

around him responding

and being enthusiastic and quick to help.

He'd say that it's God

and he's just responding in real time

as God lines things up.

Probably true.

But what I respect about Bill and Donna

is that they are walking out

what is available for

anybody

that has passion, humility, and a fierceness

to be

QUICK TO OBEY.

photos by Matt Smith

My Bubble 

is very resistant to this kind of life.

That's why I am so thankful

when I get to walk 

alongside

friends

who when you look in their eyes, 

 the bubble just

!pops!

photos by Matt Smith

So that was a neat story,

don't you agree?

I've got the joy of seeing it from 

vision to REAL LIFE!

I can't wait to go

and be there

myself.
I want to 
OKIPE!

I want to meet all these beautiful people in person.

I just want to honor Bill a little bit more 

because while all of this

transformation

has been happening in 

Haiti,

he has still been

committed

and fearlessly going

to those

"hard places"

 I mentioned earlier.

And living as humbly as if it's all

"no big deal."

So, 

now that you know Bill and Donna,

you are also their 

friends.

AND TODAY IS 

BILL'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what he wants for his birthday.

(here's my attempt to post his email)

It worked! Here's the script directly from his lips.

Hello Friends : )

I am turning 46 years old this Wednesday and I know what I want for my birthday!  lol

I’d like to invite everyone to join me in helping orphans in Haiti.  

I’ve recently noticed how some people dedicate their birthday to a small, grassroots fundraising event for a good cause.  Although this may annoy some, I certainly don’t mean to irritate : )  I just thought this was a good idea and I would love to introduce you all to my favorite, recent humanitarian project : )  I am personally involved in this project and have been to Haiti three times this year to help.

Check out www.okipe.org for some great pics and story!

I recently took an $800 grassroots fundraising challenge for orphan children of Okipe.  I am turning over every dollar I receive from family and friends for my birthday to them and the project which will build them safe shelter.  If 80 peeps gave me $10, we'd hit the target!

Will you join me?  How does it work, you ask?  Well, we’re going to do this one the ‘ol fashion way for now... Please mail your check to me at my house (before the Post Office goes bankrupt!) 

891 S. J St. Livermore, Ca 94550... Don’t bother with money spent on a card... but if you want to send a smiley face on a lil scrap piece of paper, I’ll smile too : )  

Thanks for considering this request!

Peace,

Bill

THAT'S BILL! 

Now wouldn't it be fun,

since you're all friends now,

to blow his birthday goal 

out of the water?

Really,

it's not even for him.

That's the cool thing.

It's for the beautiful faces you

see sprinkled throughout this post.

And thanks for letting me introduce you

to someone who

I consider

a hero and friend,

who inspires me deeply.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL!