• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

[Still] Not There Yet...

my musings on being a work in progress

  • Family Life
    • + Adoption Care
    • + Foster Care
    • + Parenting
    • + Tips for U.S. Families Abroad
  • Faith & Culture
    • + Endless Grace
    • + Craving Justice
    • + Not of This World
    • + Why are we here?
  • Creative Inspiration
    • + In My Kitchen
    • + Through My Earbuds
    • + On My Nightstand
    • + Making Me Laugh
    • + Via Technology
    • + Quick Thoughts
  • About
    • Get in Touch
    • Advertising
    • Library Archive
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Faith & Culture / + Craving Justice / An ice bucket challenge video that actually teaches about ALS

An ice bucket challenge video that actually teaches about ALS

August 19, 2014 By Wendy Willard · Leave a Comment ·

We’ve all seen a ton of those #icebucketchallenge videos, right? You’ve undoubtedly been affected somehow already. Well, when I was challenged, I couldn’t quite figure out how to respond.

On one hand, I completely support the idea of raising awareness and money to find this disease. I love how the greater community has come together in support for all who are affected by ALS.

On the other hand, I had just come off a weekend with no water, after our local water supply was contaminated (as in: it came out of the faucet looking more like mud and less like water) and the city shut it down for a few days.

No big deal, right?

But it is: millions of people in Nicaragua and billions more around the world live without clean drinking water on a regular basis. In fact, our neighborhood only has water for a few hours a day. The only reason our house has access longer is because we have two big tanks that fill up when the city water is running. Plenty of our neighbors don’t have those tanks. The result is when the water is out, it’s really out.

FACT: Every 21 seconds, a child dies from a water-related illness [Read more about the global water crisis here.]
And so there has been this tension in my head over the idea of dumping a bucket of water over my head just to avoid raising money for a good cause, without being insensitive to those right outside my door without a reliable source of clean water.

Upon talking it over with others here in Nicaragua, I found I wasn’t alone in dealing with that tension. My friend Erinn was especially stuck on the idea that the silly videos do very little to raise any actual awareness of the disease, even if they have raised millions for the cause. But, she wanted to try to make a difference somehow.

So after she was challenged, she set out to make a video that did a better job of raising awareness. I think her response is brilliant, because it did something none of the other videos have been able to do: actually teach me something about ALS.

ALS Video Response

Finally! So proud of my friend Erinn, who is also a missionary in Nicaragua, for creating this ice bucket challenge video that actually teaches about ALS.

P.S. If you haven’t done so already, you really should watch the blooper videos because they are hilarious!

Related Posts

  • Halfway to crazyHalfway to crazy
  • Finding a way for the possibleFinding a way for the possible
  • Devotional for Adopting Moms – On Sale!Devotional for Adopting Moms – On Sale!
  • Life’s big questions: Who am I? Why am I here?Life’s big questions: Who am I? Why am I here?
  • Muddy TransitionsMuddy Transitions
  • ASSUMEASSUME

Filed Under: + Craving Justice · Tagged With: als, ice bucket challenge, water crisis

Reader Interactions

Encourage and discuss here Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Featured Posts, From the Archive

The Healing Power of Creativity

The Healing Power of Creativity

Educational Podcasts for Kids

10 Common Myths About Foster Care

when we know our strengths and seek to grow in those specific areas the sky is the limit

My Episode of The Adoption Connection Podcast

Favorite fun family games

Favorite Family Games

Adopted for Daily Life: A Devotional for Adopting Moms

Latest Posts

  • Life’s big questions: Who am I? Why am I here? November 19, 2020
  • Checking Out, Dulling the Pain, and Skimming the Tears October 13, 2020
  • Filling My Cup in an Unexpected (Unwanted?) Way September 21, 2020
  • Stop, Listen, and Learn July 23, 2020
  • What’s this Season’s Theme Song? May 1, 2020

Stuff I Write About

Why I think learning your kid's strengths is so important...

Don’t miss a post!

Enter your email to receive each new post in your inbox. (Please follow the directions in the confirmation email to activate your subscription.)

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2021 Wendy Willard · Get in Touch