GET TO KNOW THE HEART BEHIND THE HOW

 I’m so glad you have landed here! 

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 I am a Rochester, NY girl, but now call Charlotte, NC home. I am married my sweet husband, Shane and we have two kiddos, Callie (7) and Banks (4).

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Serving Made Simple is truly my heart on paper.

 

Serving has always been an important part of our family. We started using these serve ideas when Callie was only 18 months old and one step at a time, God has used generosity to change our home.

 

Here's how our story unfolded.. 

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My mom died in 2022 and just a few months later, I got on a plane and flew to Rwanda to see the work my dad and mom had completed in a small little rural village. I was craving opportunities to see her legacy and the trip both filled me and broke me. 

 

I came home with pictures and told Callie, who was 4 at the time, about the lack of clean, stable housing for kids just like her. 

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At this point we had already been using the ideas that make up Serving Made Simple, so she had a framework for brokenness and knew how to take action.. but we never could have guessed what would come next. 

 

Two weeks later, she was in my driveway collecting rocks to paint and sell to everyone who had a pulse so she could build a house in Rwanda. I laughed at her idea of painting rocks to change the world. 

 

I literally laughed at her. 

 

Thankfully God made her determination bigger than mine and she raised $2,500 to build a house for a family in Rwanda. 

 

The next summer, I went back to Africa and came home heartbroken over the lack of clean water. 

 

AGAIN, Callie heard my stories and took action, declaring she would raise $20,000 to dig wells. 

 

She started making simple mosaic drink coasters and after one year of fundraising, she didn't raise $20,000 she raised $21,360. 

 

Five communities in Rwanda have clean water for the first time ever because my kiddo was exposed to a need and knew she could do something to help. 

 

When that project was complete, I thought surely her check list was done, but NOPE, round three. 

 

Just three months ago she declared she was raising $30,000 more to build more houses. And 3 months in, she's made 200+ dried floral bookmarks and she's raised $7,000. 

 

The difference - this time there was no laughing on my part, only ALL OUT determination to see her passion come to life. 

 

Our kids can create change. 

 

Their ideas are bigger, their creativity better and their hearts so much more unfiltered. 

 

I'm stepping out because I believe your kids can create change and all they need are the tools to equip them for it. 

 

You want your kids to have empathy and love the people around them..

 

Don't keep waiting.

 

Don’t make living a life of generosity more complicated than it is. Be open handed – say yes – show your kids how to see need and be the ones that do something about it.

 

I know you have questions and you might feel unsure how to start, but I'm here every step of the way, ready to help you succeed. 

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Don't be like me - believe they can do it from the start. 

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Your kids have the potential to change the world.

 

Don't wait to invite them into purpose. Don't wait to see God use them. .  

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Cheering for you,

Elise XO