UMUGANDA

It's Friday, Friday... gotta get down on Friday!

Ok, I'll stop.
I'm home sick today so I thought I would catch up on some blog posts! Which, by the way, if anyone has any quick cold remedies... send them my way!

Last Saturday was a day called, "Umuganda." It was in remembrance of the Rwandan Genocide 20 years ago. Every year, Rwandans get together to do some sort of act of kindness to better their community. This year, the Miss Universe Organization, along with Same Sky, asked if each contestant would support this effort to show them that we care. Why? Because we all live under the same sky! Pretty cool if you ask me.

I spent my morning baking 70+ cookies to bring to the People's City Mission in Lincoln. If you aren't familiar with the People's City Mission, they are a witness for Christ among the poor and homeless around Lincoln. If you are homeless, or just need a place to stay for awhile, they will welcome you with open arms and provide shelter, food, and good company. 
They were very grateful to receive the cookies and I was so grateful I could do something for them, no matter how small!

After I did my act of kindness, I challenged my friends and family to do something too! I was so happy with the way you all responded to my challenge and how you Tweeted or Facebooked me to show me what you did. Here are some of the pictures you sent! 

(Debbie Huber sent this picture via Facebook and said she cleaned her neighbors gutter AND paid for someone's coffee! Way to go Debbie!)

(Alexis Vercher "paid it forward" by paying for the coffee of the couple in the car behind her! Great idea! She sent this picture via Twitter.) 

(Angie Albers tweeted this picture to me. She chose to give away some pieces of clothing she doesn't wear anymore to her city's mission! I'm sure they were thrilled! Thanks Angie!)

(Emily Poeschl sent this photo via Twitter. She dropped off NINE bags of clothing to Goodwill in Omaha. Wow! That was so nice of you!) 

(My little sister, Savannah, decided to write letter to soldiers to thank them for their services, and give them her support! You have a big heart! She sent this to me on Facebook.)

(Jasmine Fuelberth, who is a former Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2013, wrote this nice message to the cleaning staff at the hotel she was staying at! Something so simple probably meant a lot to them! She sent this to me via Twitter.) 

(Jessica Soto tweeted this picture to me. She gave these people a nice surprise when she picked up their tabs in California! I bet they were so thankful! Good job Jess!)

(Megan Bresson sent me this picture via Twitter. She picked up some doggy toys to take the the Humane Society! Her dog, Nix, went along to give the items to his furry friends! So cute.) 

(Last but not least, Natalie Threlkeld sent this to me on Twitter. She left a very generous tip for her waitress after her meal! What a great act of kindness!)

THANK YOU everyone who participated and made this event such a success! I loved seeing all of the creative things you did, and what the other titleholders did to show we care! We may not all have the same circumstances going on in our lives, but we are all connected because... we all live under the SAME SKY. 

XOXO,

Amanda