What can one person do?

When faced with big problems, like hunger, AIDS, malaria or lack of clean water, many of us throw up our hands saying, “But what can I do???” 9-year-old Austin Gutwein thought, “Hmmm I can shoot free throws.” His story amazes me…

In the spring of 2004, I watched a video tht showed children who had lost there parents to a disease called AIDS. After watching the video, I realized these kids weren’t any different form me except they were suffering. I felt God calling me to do something to help them. I decided to shoot free throws and on World AIDS Day, 2004, I shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during my day at school. People sponsored me and we were able to raise almost $3,000. That year, the money was used by World Vision to provide home to 8 orphan children.

From that year forward, thousands of people have joined me in a basketball shoot-a-thon called Hoops of Hope. By doing something as simple as shooting free throws, Hoops of Hope participants have raised over $500,000. The children left behind by AIDS now have access to food, clothing, shelter, a new school and finally, a medical testing facility.

Last year, our goal was to raise $150,000 to build a medical testing lab in Sinazongwe, Zambia. This lab will enable medical staff to test parents for HIV/AIDS prior to administering medication for the disease. The medication will allow parent suffering form HIV/AIDS to prolong their life and keep their children form becoming among the 15 million children already orphaned by this disease.

No only did Hoops of Hope participants raise enough money to fund the building of the lab, they also supplied the lab with 1,000 medical Caregiver Kits. This ill allow those caring for HIV/AIDS infected moms and dads to have the basic supplies they need. We also were able to furnish the 2006 Jonathan Sim Legacy School.

In 2008, we would like to build a second medical lab in Twatchiyanda, Zambia (also the site of the 2006 Jonathan Sim Legacy School), provide Caregiver Kits and provide bicycles for caregivers to ride. The lab combined with Caregiver Kits and bicycles will help to keep parents healthier and alive longer so they can provide for their children. …

In Him, Austin

Rich Sterns adds, “Austin has thousands of kids in two hundred different locations ding “hoops for Hope” in most of the fifty states and in other countries around the world. His cumulative fund-raising is approaching one million dollars. Think of it: a million bucks –for shooting hoops. Talk about using your talents to change the world!” (Hole in Our Gospel, 265-66).

(Austin's inspiring story can be viewed on YouTube video or at http://www.hoopsofhope.org/how-it-all-started.html.)

What can one person do? A lot when we offer our gifts to the Lord…