one busy woman

I stumbled (literally, if you haven't used stumble! you should) across an article that described some of the things Cindy McCain has done in her life. I don't think I'll create a list comparing my accomplishments to hers. Of course she has money and opportunities that I don't have. But what could I be doing with the resources that I have that I'm not? I may not agree with all her politics, and I haven't fact checked all the details listed here. But it still causes me to pause and think about my time and how I spend it. And I think about the POP missionaries that are making this type of impact on the world around us, the college students who put education on hold for a year or two and serve God in a very distinct and personal way. Don Ferber has retired and is looking for new ways to serve God and build his kingdom. His wife Meg is choosing to run for political office to try and make a difference in a government sadly in need of moral direction. They certainly aren't looking to retire to the country and sip lemonade for the next 20 years.
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Cindy McCain is the first in her family to graduate from college? Cindy McCain graduated from the University of Southern California, not an Ivy League college, and went on to teach special needs children in the state of Arizona. Her life story is outstanding and that of a role model: the mother of four selflessly aids victims of land mines, birth defects, genocide, starvation, deprivation, and disease.

-- 1988: Mrs. McCain founded the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVNT) and led 55 medical aid missions into war-zones over a seven-year period.

-- 1994: Mrs. McCain witnessed the Rwanda genocide first hand when her team risked their lives to help victims of gang rape, murder, hunger and disease. Mrs. McCain says she had to step over dead bodies to find those still alive.

-- Mrs. McCain serves on the board of Operation Smile, a non-profit organization providing surgery to children born with cleft lips. 100,000 around the world children can smile because of Operation Smile.

-- Mrs. McCain is a member of the Halo Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing land-mines. Halo has removed 7,000 land mines in 10 countries around the world.

-- Mrs. McCain volunteered for missions to Morocco, Vietnam, and India. On one trip to India 17 years ago, Mother Teresa handed Mrs. McCain a newborn child born with a cleft lip -- surgery was the only thing that could save the baby’s life -- asking her to take the child to a hospital in the U.S. Mrs. McCain, who says she could not part with the baby when she reached the U.S., told Sen. McCain: “meet your new daughter.” The beautiful young woman named Bridgette McCain stood beside her mother and siblings to introduce her father at the Republican National Convention.

In 2004, Mrs. McCain suffered a stroke from high blood pressure. Once fully recovered, she not only joined her husband’s campaign but went back to being an aid worker, joining mission teams around the world.

-- She travels with the World Food Program: in 2008, Mrs. McCain joined WFP on a trip to Rwanda to deliver food and medicine to famine victims.

-- 2008: On the trip to Rwanda Mrs. McCain met a group called Women For Women International, an organization helping female survivors of war get educations, jobs, start businesses, receive counseling, rights, food, water, shelter, and medicine.

-- Mrs. McCain also works with Pour Un Sourire d’ Enfant (For a Smile of a Child) providing support and education to abused children in third world counties where the basics are not available without the help of volunteers like Cindy McCain who are willing to hike through the most unpleasant situations to help others.

Mrs. McCain is not just another pretty wife of a politician in designer clothes. Cindy McCain doesn’t just talk about lending a hand, she acts. Cindy McCain has, in reality, gone out into the world and made a profound change in thousands of lives for the greater good of mankind.