mike passaro

Our trip was almost over. We had one more stop before a nice team dinner – the kind you dress up for, even in third world countries.  Our van pulled into a local hospital where we understood we would put on a program for “the children”, activities that included singing, playing sports, and making crafts out of popsicle sticks.

We climbed eleven flights of stairs and walked down a long, dark hallway – into the orphan ward. There would be no program. No Noah. No ark. No Adam, and no fig leaves. No frisbees or water-balloon tosses or three-legged races.

The orphan ward housed a dozen orphans that were all under the age of three. Our task was simple: love the orphan. Love the unloved ones.  Love and care for those that had been left uncared for.  We were asked to show love for children that had been left for dead in alleys by parents who were too poor to care for them.  Many of these children had birth defects (blindness, cleft pallet, six fingers and toes, etc) and were born to parents who felt the task was too great.  We were late for dinner that night because the Bible is not unclear on what true religion is, nor is it unclear on why we are to care for the orphan, widow, those in need, and the “least of these”.

I have been running for a few years but have never run for a “cause”. I can’t think of a better cause to support than World Vision.  World Vision works to tackle the root causes of poverty by working with children, families, and their communities to provide things like clean water, health care, nutritious food, education, and economic opportunities.

I will be running the Raleigh City of Oaks 1/2 Marathon on November 1st.  I’ve started Team Heart of the Oaks – a team of runners whose heart is to run 13.1 miles to help those in the worst living conditions. I’m asking if would consider supporting my efforts through Team World Vision by making a one-time tax-deductible donation.  If you are a runner, I would love for you to join the team (or create a small relay team of you don’t think you can run the 13.1).

You may never be able to travel thousands of miles to walk down that dark hallway, or to play soccer in the mountain slums of Gautemala, or make percussion instruments out of paper plates, yarn, and lima beans.  But you can help. We can close the gap one mile at a time.

Join me and team Heart of the Oaks.