Just finishing up in L.A. at the Pictage Partner Conference where I was honored to have a booth for Thirst Relief! I also had the privilege of speaking with my good friend Mike Colon to some of the photographers about "Purposeful Photography, Cause Marketing with Class!" I shared about my amazing clients and how by tying the cause of TRI to our business we are actually providing a pathway to our clients to donate by simply hiring us for the job! It was great to share the story about how Thirst Relief developed and how the photo industry has so powerfully supported our efforts! Just 3 years ago I sat down and shared my vision withe Mike about Thirst Relief, now we are already in 8 countries with over 50,000 people having received long term, clean water solutions for less than $5 per person! Truly incredible. All credit and glory to God for it!

Here's Mike and I sporting our matching Thirst Relief shirts!

Tonight Lara sent me an email that contained all sorts of photos of human suffering. It was enough to make me want to vomit. It wasn't just a downer, you suck email, but rather a comparison of the life we live compared to so many others.

The truth is, we live in a culture that so often worships self, serves self and cares most about whatever involves self and we try to ignore "those types of things" because they just make us uncomfortable!

I so desperately want my life to be about so much more than my own vain ambitions! I want God's heart for those that are hurting and suffering. I want His blessings to flow through me not just to me! We have so much, yet often truly enjoy so little! Oh God by your mercy open our eyes and enable us to be blessed to be a blessing to others and may we find greater joy in serving others than ourselves!

This photo especially touched my heart as the little one on the left looks so much like my little one and yet the one on the right is barely recognizable as human if your looking at the bottom cheeks. There is no excess, there is no fat, no nutrition, seemingly no hope!

With absolute conviction and certainty I can tell you that if you would like to give your money to an organization that is truly saving lives, truly helping the hurting and making EVERY dollar go as far as it can then go to http://www.thirstrelief.org/ and GIVE, sign up as a monthly donor. $5 saves a life! $5 provides a long term, sustainable drinking water solution for $5 per person! I have not received a dime to date and I am the president of this org! If you give somewhere else and you know they are faithfull with your donations too then GIVE MORE, generate more, create ways of promoting your business that encourage donations etc.

God be with you.

Warmly,

Jim Davis-Hicks