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Activerain/Docusign Contest - I'm Thankful for....

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Criado Realty 0548772

I had the blessing of discovering my spiritual gifts - Visionary/Administrative Leader, Coaching Leadership (the ability to develop leaders) and Evangelisim/Outreach - in that rank order.

(Hang tight, the thankfulness is coming......)

I was inspired to go through the "Discovering Your Ministry" workshop as a result of my Costa Rica missionary trip this past summer.



(The art are wall hangings throughout "La Posada."  Raped and abused girls are removed from homes to be counseled, taught how to care for their children, educated, and taught life and vocational skills) - A Mother Theresa project.

The combination of leadership and outreach has enabled me to take a leadership role within my church on the international missionary team. There isn't sufficient congregational support so I will be working with Pastor Adam and a few other team members from my Costa Rica trip to cultivate a spirit of giving (time and money) to grow our church's international missionary program and excursions.

Los Guido, Costa Rica

It's pretty common for people to be compassionate about the growing problems of developing nations aka third world countries. I used to be one of those people who thought that sending 50 cents a day is just not enough to make a difference. Then I came to know some if these kids and realized that just one is okay because that child matters and that we can only save children one at a time.  It's a matter of perspective.

 

The really neat thing is that although I now sponsor a child I understand first hand how these mission programs work, what else we can do, and how to get it done! That is exciting!

If I wasn't self employed, if I wasn't healthy, if I didn't have a fabulous supportive family there is no way I could do something so worthwhile. So for those things I am truly thankful but, most of all, I am thankful for God's love which transcends all else.

 

 

 

 

 

"This post is a submission to the DocuSign/ActiveRain Thankful Contest. It's possible I will win a prize for writing this post. You could win a prize too by going to the Contest Announcement and sharing your own story"

 

Posted by
Cathy Criado President & Founder
MBA, REALTOR, BROKER, NAR GREEN, EcoBroker
Published Author
Your Real Estate Consultant!
 
999 E Basse Rd. #180-425, ​San Antonio, TX  78209​
​Direct:  (210) 560-1891
 
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ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

..what the world needs now is Love, sweet Love...

lyrics from an old song...that came to mind as I read your post.

and you are sharing this so-needed energy!

THX!

Nov 09, 2011 04:08 PM
Cathy Criado
Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX
Making Real Estate Profitable

JaneAnne - You are welcome and thank you for taking the time to comment. Heading to bed now... it's late!

 

Nov 09, 2011 04:18 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Cathy, You have been a Leader and an Inspiration as a Missionary to third world countries. You do have a lot to be Thankful For, Especially for the Love of God.

Nov 09, 2011 04:30 PM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Hi Cathy,

Good for you, any help we can extend is hugely important to those that receive the benefit.

We have been involved with KIVa for about one year now and try to add a littl money every month to the pot, and by now we have assisted many people build a new and better future, and as with your efforts, it make a big difference.

Nov 09, 2011 04:36 PM
Cathy Criado
Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX
Making Real Estate Profitable

Jerry - Thank you for your kind words.

Peter & Linda - Thank  you.  I will make a note of this for sure.  You may want to go back and read my missionary trip blog (July-August) if you are interested in knowing more.

Nov 09, 2011 04:54 PM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Excellent entry Cathy.  Mission trips are so rewarding and really give you a better perspective of just how good we have things.

Nov 09, 2011 09:56 PM
Maggie McFarland
RE/MAX Pearland - Maggie McFarland - Pearland, TX
Pearland Realtor, Homes for Sale in Pearland Texas

Pretty impressive Kathy, our church also has international missionary program and mission trips too. I remember when I went to Nicaragua, in my mind I was going on the Mission Trip to give something back because I felt like my life had been so blessed.  I still look back on that mission and I am blown away by how much I received and how much happiness that was brought to my heart. 

This is an awesome thing you are doing not only by serving but getting the word out about La Posada. Often we forget or merely don’t think about the people that are struggling on a daily basis.

I love that you shared that it is okay to sponsor one child. 

Nov 10, 2011 03:19 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Cathy good luck with your contest entry. That is a wonderful story. It is great you are so involved. have a great day

Nov 10, 2011 04:37 AM
Cathy Criado
Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX
Making Real Estate Profitable

Anita - it showcases the vast discrepancy between the haves and the have nots. It saddens me that most of it is political strife or being surrounded by it.

Maggie - How awesome of you! It isn't easy financially, emotionally, or physically to particpate in these mission camps.  I think it was the most physcially challenging thing I've ever done. One of the things I did was to scrape walls in one of the homes we were building for a member of the church we were supporting.  For 4 hours I scraped poured cement walls to smooth out for painting.  Tools?  A dry wall smoother. My hands were numb for an hour afterwards and I couldn't move my fingers the next day.  Character building.

Scott - Thanks Scott! Have a good one!

Nov 10, 2011 05:28 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Cathy, you do many things to HELP OTHERS, and to help those in Costa Rica had to have been a great feeling!    

Nov 11, 2011 12:59 AM