Christmas - a time of celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. A time for family, comfort and love-
Joy to the world, right?

Here's the reality, though, of Christmas in our world: People of the United States spend around $500 billion a year on Christmas gifts. That's more than $600 a person. We also spend another $8 billion on decorating for Christmas.

Isn't there something wrong with this? Just doesn't feel right.

For one, we give each other so much stuff. We are trying to truly show someone we care but we're still essentially material-rich people giving other material-rich people more... materials. The purpose of the holiday, though, is Christ. And Jesus made his purpose clear to us - sacrifice. He died so that we could live. And we struggle to keep that the focus of Christmas while we're busy buying and unwrapping gifts.

For the 3rd Christmas, the Van Putten family is taking a step back from that world. We are asking you to join us. We want to give more than stuff to each other. Three years ago we found a really great project for our family to which to direct attention for Christmas.

Nearly a billion people are living without water on our planet. Some walk miles every day to get to the nearest source: a stagnant, parasite-infested stream or pond. They lug it back to their families. They suffer from diarrhea, worms and skin diseases because they can't wash themselves. 45,000 people die each day from waterborne illnesses.

Our mission in 2010 was to raise $5000 to build a well and we are getting nearer to that goal. In 2010 VP Christmas campaign, through lots of generous gifts from our friends like you, raised $1,634. In 2011 VP Christmas's friends gave $1,345. With just $2,021 more, the goal of building a well will be met!

100% of every penny we raise will go directly to the water projects. (they raise admin. funds separately). Give, give, give. An even better idea is for you to set up a campaign and get your friends and family involved. We don't care if the $5k comes on this page - let it come through your page! Set up your own mywatercharity site.

One billion people, one cause. We are so excited to give one more Christmas away. We know it will feels much more satisfying than "normal" Christmas.

In honor of our friend, Amy Russell, who is in her 2 year walk across Africa for clean water, we have made our Christmas project part of Walking4water's charity water site. Read about Amy, give to charity:water and have a great Christmas! (www.walking4water.org)

Just $20 is enough for one person to have clean water for two decades. We chose our goal of $5,000 because that will build one well. Lots and lots of small gifts can get us the rest of the way to $5k!
Thanks everyone for helping fund clean water. No gift is too small.

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Jeff, Amy, Erin, Joe, Parker, Kristen, Sarah, Lena, Mark and Alla