Across All Borders

Emergency Relief Needed in Guatemala

2010-06-02T06:56:00.000-07:00

After the eruption of Pacaya and the wrath of Tropical Storm Agatha, the country of Guatemala has been devastated, once again, by disaster. There is not a lot of media coverage about this and most media outlets are minimizing the country's distress by focusing only on the relatively low death count (low in comparison to hundreds and thousands sometimes killed in other disasters.)

Make no mistake, regardless of the lack of media coverage, the involvement of other countries and the lack of relief coming from large outside relief organizations, Guatemala has been hit hard by this and is in desperate need of relief.

The village of Pueblo Nuevo is not an exception.

Homes have been lost and severely damaged. Most personal belongings, which is usually only basic necessities, have been ruined by water and mud. Because of the destruction, most families lost what little food they had, have no water and are in need of shelter (or more stable shelter). The risk of mudslides continues. Because every thing has been ruined, families now more than ever lack clothing, shoes, what is needed to care for their children and themselves. They are living in extremely dangerous situations...in homes that were already not stable, but now are even weaker, on the side of a mountain as they watch the ground wash out from beneath them.

As a new organization, we may not have been fully prepared for this, but we knew that it was inevitable. For now we must look outside of our mission of orphan prevention through family outreach (poverty alleviation) and focus on emergency relief.

We cannot ship large boxes of clothing and shoes right now, but we can buy them there. We cannot bring large quantities of food from the U.S. right now, but we can buy it there. I know that you want to see your physical donations being distributed, but it is better for the people of Guatemala that we continue to purchase what we can there ensuring that more maintain their incomes. Please donate today!

Other ways you can help:

Spread the word about the devastation in Guatemala.

Fundraise. Hold a bake sale. Yard sale. Car wash. Anything you can to raise even the smallest amount of money for emergency relief.

Consider joining us on a relief trip in the coming weeks. Email terry@acrossallborders.org for more information.

Pray for the those struggling in Guatemala and those working to provide relief.

AAB Golf Tournament

2009-09-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Across All Borders hosted it's first golf tournament on September 18, 2009 and we are happy to announce that it was a success. More information about the tournament can be found on the AAB blog. We look forward to our 2nd annual tournament that will be held in the fall of 2010.

Want to win a FREE TRIP TO GUATEMALA? Autographed LSU Memorabilia? A $200 Target gift card? Here's your chance!

2009-09-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

Across All Borders is currently holding 3 raffles. Visit our blog, Wherever He May Lead, to purchase tickets to win a free trip to Guatemala, autographed LSU memorabilia and/or a $200 Target gift card. Drawings will be held Friday, September 18.

We will also be hosting a golf tournament on September 18. The cost per player is just $100 which includes lunch and dinner, green fees, a door prize entry, cart fee, etc. For more information, call Terry at 225-573-7777 or email us at terry AT acrossallborders DOT org.

Gifts of Hope: Across All Borders Marketplace

2009-07-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce the opening of Gifts of Hope, the Across All Borders Marketplace. Visit the AAB Marketplace website to see a variety of Guatemalan products available for purchase. Items for immediate shipment are limited, so order today! All items are available for pre-order to be shipped the week of
October 26, 2009. The purchase of these items supports artisans in Guatemala and the mission of Across All Borders.

AAB Yard Sale Fundraiser - April 18, 2009

2009-04-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

The AAB yard sale fundraiser will be held April 18, 2009 at the home of our Board of Directors VP. We are incredibly grateful to the families that have already donated items to be sold. If you are interested in contributing items, please email Terry at terry@acrossallborders.org. Items will be accepted through April 11, 2009. Please check the AAB blog next week for more information about the sale.

We also have extra cookbooks for sale. The cookbook company graciously donated extra books to be sold to cover the cost of shipping the books to us. If you would like to order a cookbook, you may still do so on our sidebar.

Donated items for the June trip are rolling in, as well as items for the December trip. Please remember that we are collecting OTC medications, hygiene products and a number of other things for June, the same items plus art supplies for October, and toys, shoes and OTC medications/hygiene products for December. Thanks to all that have sent donations so far!

Fundraising Success!

2009-02-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks to each of you that contributed recipes for the AAB Adoptive Families Cookbook and to those of you that sold books for us, helped spread the word about the fundraiser and purchased books. We sold 300 cookbooks which raised enough funds to cover all of our startup costs and still have a quite a bit left over to contribute to things needed for our trip to Guatemala in June! Although the sale officially ended on Feb. 6th, we are still taking orders because we ordered extra copies. We have about 55 extra copies ordered and need to get them sold ASAP. If you forgot to order or would like to order extras, you can still order online and by mail. The cookbook fundraiser button and online payment information will remain on the site until all copies are sold.

Thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts, for your support of Across All Borders!

Welcome!

2009-01-25T17:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Across All Borders! We are a new organization working to provide orphan care and outreach to families living in extreme poverty in Guatemala and eventually countries around the world. We know that because you are visiting our site, you may be hearing the call to help orphans and families that are currently struggling to survive and there are many ways for you to help them through AAB. Please take a moment to visit our Who We Are page to learn more about us and our What We Do page or the link to our projects on the side bar to find out about what we are doing in Guatemala. Also visit our Ways To Help page and consider what you can do to help. We are dedicated to reaching the world’s orphans and those that are at risk of becoming orphans. In order for our work to be successful, we need your help. Please consider making a one time donation or committing to monthly donations. Also consider joining us on an upcoming mission trip. Not only will you be changing the lives of people in Guatemala, but your life will be changed by it. Lastly, we ask that you pray for Across All Borders and our mission of reaching those most in need. You have the ability to change lives and the people of Guatemala are counting on you.

To follow our journey, visit Wherever He May Lead, which is where we will be posting our many thoughts about our work and our love for Guatemala. This is also where we will journal while we are in Guatemala and where many of our trip pictures will be posted.

Also take a moment to visit our fundraising page which can be seen by clicking on the blue cookbook box above. Here you will find FAQ about our current cookbook fundraiser. Please consider purchasing a cookbook for yourself as well as friends and family members.

Below is a montage of pictures that were taken by Terry while she was in Antigua. They do not come close to revealing the true needs that exist in Guatemala, but we wanted to give you a glimpse into Guatemala's culture and some of the people that live there. Thank you for visiting our website!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Emergency Orphan Care

2008-12-31T21:23:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE to read about Emergency Orphan Care in Haiti.

AAB Employment Opportunities

2008-12-31T20:11:00.000-08:00

Across All Borders is currently seeking a Fundraising Coordinator. If interested in this position, please email resumes to terry@acrossallborders.org.

Job Description: As Fundraising Coordinator you will be responsible for planning and implementing fund-raising programs and special events, obtaining new sponsors, working with individual and corporate sponsors and cold calling. Some evenings and weekends as well as local travel required. Candidates must have reliable transportation and current automobile insurance. Candidates from all states within the U.S., except Alaska and Hawaii, will be considered.

Job Requirements: Requirements include previous sales and fund-raising experience, the ability to organize and implement fund-raising programs and events, obtain new individual and corporate sponsors and meet or exceed goals. Strong communication, verbal and written and organizational skills are required. A college degree is preferred, but not required.

Welcome, Terry!

2008-12-22T00:10:00.001-08:00

In the little "cubbies" on the right, you can feature text, photos and other "widgets" easily by using Blogger Elements. The same holds true with the row of content near the bottom (the row with your news archive). You can add an ADDITIONAL widget or widgets down there. You are even able to add additional content ABOVE your news posts (you will be able to check out exactly where you are able add additional content in Blogger Elements). All of this content is available to you PLUS, you will have additional content on your individual pages. : )All of the titles, etc. that I have used on this site are just for "show"...all of that text can be changed to whatever you would like.

God bless, Tera

AAB Mission Trip: December 13 - 18, 2009

2008-12-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

Dates: December 13 - 18, 2009

Place: Guatemala

Trip Projects: During this trip, we will be distributing shoes, toys, Bible story books and food baskets to children and families living in Pueblo Nuevo and a neighboring community. We will also hold a Christmas party for the children's ministry in Pueblo Nuevo, as well as a Christmas party and supply distribution in an orphanage we are working with.

Cost: $1250

(Covers airfare, lodging, in-country transportation, travel insurance, an AAB tshirt and all meals Monday - Thursday.) A $750 deposit is due by November 16, 2009 in order to secure your airfare. The remaining balance of $500 is due by November 30, 2009. For more information or to register for this trip, email Terry Bracey at terry@acrossallborders.org.

*Medical Information:
Please read the CDC website to learn about recommended vaccinations and other health related information that is important before traveling to Guatemala.

*Passport Information:
A passport is required to travel to Guatemala. If you do not have a passport, you must apply for one at least 90 DAYS prior to your scheduled departure. Regardless of estimated wait times listed online, you should be prepared for delays in receiving your passport. If you currently have a passport, check to make sure that it is not expired.

*Information about Children: Across All Borders allows children to travel with their parents on trips. Additional fees are required. If you are interested in having your children travel with you to Guatemala, please email Terry for more information.

*Refund Policy:
Across All Borders is unable refund deposits and/or other payments made. Should you make a deposit and/or other payments and are unable to travel for any reason, your payments can be transferred to another future trip of your choice. Fees cannot be transferred to another person.

Contact Us

2008-12-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

Address:

Across All Borders
Livingston, LA 70754

Phone: 225-573-7777

Email: terry@acrossallborders.org

Mission Trips

2008-12-19T21:37:00.000-08:00

Across All Borders currently offers short term mission trips to Guatemala as we continue to work on orphan prevention through poverty alleviation and assist in orphan care. Numerous trips will be planned throughout the year. Check back often for new trip dates or create your own mission or vision trip.

Upcoming Trips:

October 10-15, 2011

Cost per person: $700 plus airfare (includes lodging, in-country transportation, meals on non-travel days, travel insurance and a $100 project contribution)

(If your church is interested in forming a team for this trip, please contact us for group information.)

$350 deposit due by August 1, 2011. Remaining balance due by September 15, 2011.

Trip Focus: Water filter distribution and set up, children's ministry (VBS type activities and children's feeding program), spending time with and ministering to families

To register for this trip, please email Terry at terry@acrossallborders.org.

-OR-

Create your own trip:

Form a team of 4 or more and choose your travel dates (4 or more nights any time of the year except Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks). Your team will select the focus project(s) of the trip*. The cost of your trip will be determined according to trip details.

Projects to Choose from:

Water Filter Distribution

Home Repair

Health/Dental Care

Children's Ministry (children's feeding program and VBS activities)

Community/Family Outreach

Christmas Distributions: trips scheduled up to 10 days before Christmas (food distribution, children's ministry Christmas party, toy distribution, children's home/orphanage Christmas party)

Vision Trip** (visit the village of Pueblo Nuevo, learn about AAB's on-going and upcoming projects and visit other parts of Guatemala to learn more about the country and about the effects of extreme poverty)

For more information or to schedule your mission trip, email Terry at terry@acrossallborders.org.

*AAB staff will travel with or meet your team in Guatemala and will try to coordinate all trip activities according to your preference, however flexibility is key and there will be times when your assistance with other projects may be needed during your trip.

**Vision trips require a minimum 5 nights, maximum 7 nights in Guatemala. AAB uses these trips to assess ongoing projects. You will be required to participate in at least one project during your trip.

Across All Borders is a faith-based organization with the mission of orphan prevention through poverty alleviation and orphan care. Throughout each trip we share the Gospel and minister to those we work with through our words and actions. We welcome all individuals, churches and other groups that are interested in sharing the love of Christ, fighting extreme global poverty and caring for orphans to partner with us.

Pueblo Nuevo

2008-12-19T20:44:00.000-08:00

Across All Borders is currently working in the village of Pueblo Nuevo, an area of Guatemala that is approximately 30 minutes from Antigua. Pueblo Nuevo is a small village that consists mostly of widows and women that have been abandoned by their husbands. There are many children there, including a large number of single orphans.

We are partnering with the local pastor, Marco Tulio, in Pueblo Nuevo to reach as many families as possible. Through meeting immediate basic needs and working on long term sustainability projects, it is our goal to eliminate poverty in this village to ensure that fewer children become orphans and those that are already orphans are cared for.

Several mission trips are planned for 2010. To learn more about these trips, please visit our Mission Trips page. To learn more about ways you can help become involved in touching the lives of people in Guatemala, visit our Ways To Help page.

We are continuously open to partnering with other organizations and churches to meet the needs of people in Pueblo Nuevo. If you would like more information about partnering with us, please email terry@acrossallborders.org.

Who We Are

2008-12-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

Terry and Danny Bracey

Terry, co-founder and Executive Director of Across All Borders, has spent much of her life working with children and adults that have special needs as well as at risk families. Throughout her childhood, teenage years and early adulthood, she had the desire to adopt children internationally. She also hoped to one day start a non-profit organization that would work with the world’s orphans and families at risk of leaving their children as orphans. Throughout the adoption of their son from Guatemala, the dream of starting such an organization continued to grow. Terry fostered their son in Guatemala while waiting for his process to be final. During that time, her love for his birth country and it’s people grew into a love that is indescribable. Since returning home in October 2007, she has been determined to help the people most in need in Guatemala and around the world. She is passionate about following God’s call and has dedicated her life to reaching the most vulnerable children and preventing them from becoming orphans through strategic poverty alleviation efforts and caring for the world's orphans.

Danny, co-founder of Across All Borders, has twelve years of experience in strategic planning and business management which is beneficial in the operation of AAB. He currently serves as an AAB board member. Danny is employed by Flowers Foods, Inc. as the Director of Sales and also serves on the board of GMRA, a non-profit organization that provides college scholarships for local students.

Ways to Help

2008-12-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

To Make a Financial Contribution:

Donate Online:

-or-

Mail checks or money orders made payable to Across All Borders to:

Across All Borders
20727 Lauren Ln.

Livingston, LA 70754

Other Ways to Help:

We sincerely appreciate your prayers as we work through news ideas and ways to best assist the families and orphans in Guatemala. Please continue to pray for our partners in Guatemala, the families and children that we are working with and each person that is actively involved in carrying out the mission of AAB.

Join or organize a team to travel with us on an upcoming mission trip. To see our currently scheduled trips and to find out more about them, please visit our Mission Trips page.

We appreciate offers to donate supplies, however purchasing the majority of needed items in-country is more beneficial to the people of Guatemala. If you would like to make a donation, please consider donating financially so that we can purchase supplies in-country. We understand the desire to donate actual items, but before paying shipping costs for items that could be used by families in your community, please consider donating what you would spend on shipping so that we can reach more families in Guatemala. There will be times throughout the year that we request donations of supplies such as medication, children’s items, etc. Please check back often to see if we are seeking any items you may be able to provide.

At this time, we are not able to accept donations of clothing, shoes or toys.

What We Do

2008-12-19T15:44:00.000-08:00

Mission Statement:

"The mission of Across All Borders is to prevent children from becoming orphans through poverty alleviation and to care for orphans and vulnerable children.

Poverty Alleviation:

Extreme poverty is one of the leading reasons children become orphans. Many families living in Guatemala make an average of $2 to $4 a day and live in extreme poverty. Across All Borders (AAB) is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by educating, equipping and empowering families to lift themselves out of poverty. We are currently working on a number of short and long term projects including job creation, education, health care & hygiene instruction, food distribution and water filter distribution. We are also preparing to begin a microfinance program that will positively effect job creation. We partner with the local church(es) to provide support for the church and it's children ministry activities. While working to meet immediate and long term physical needs, we share the love of Christ through our words and actions with all that we are blessed to work with.

Orphan Care:

There are an estimated 134 million orphan living in the world today. Some sources claim that number may have already exceeded 210 million. Fifteen million children have lost both parents. The remaining children are considered to be "single" orphans, children that have lost one parent and have a surviving/remaining parent that is unable to provide for them or children that have been removed from their parents due to abuse. "Single orphans" and all vulnerable children are cared for through our poverty alleviation projects/programs. Our orphan care program focuses on orphans that have lost both parents, children that have been abandoned and children that have been removed from their families due to abuse and/or neglect. We encourage your support of Rehoboth Children's Home in Parramos, Guatemala. While some of the children at Rehoboth are orphans, most of the children have been removed from their families for a number of reasons. Children sponsorship for the children of Rehoboth is $50 per month per child.

Across All Borders is in need of sponsors, donations and teams to travel with us to directly impact the lives of people most in need. To find out what you can do to help, please visit our Ways To Help page. To follow Across All Borders' work in Guatemala, visit Terry's blog, Wherever He May Lead.

Sponsorships

2008-12-19T12:20:00.000-08:00

We are currently working on several projects in the village of San Lucas, Pueblo Nuevo, Guatemala that require sponsors. Please prayerfully consider supporting families and vulnerable children by becoming a sponsor of one of the below programs:

Water Filters - $50 (one time sponsorship donation)
Feed a Family - $25 (monthly sponsorship)
Child Sponsorship - $25 (monthly sponsorship)
Children's Ministry and Church Support - $10 (monthly sponsorship)
General Needs or Administration - monthly sponsorship of any amount

The children of Rehoboth Children's Home in Parramos, Guatemala are also in need of sponsors. Child sponsorship is $50 per month.

To become a sponsor for any of the above programs, donate now and specify your preferred program.

Fundraisers

2008-12-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

Across All Borders 2009 Cookbook Fundraiser

When is the cookbook sale?
The cookbook sale begins January 26, 2009 and ends February 6, 2009.

How much do the cookbooks cost?
The cookbooks are $15 each, including shipping.

When will I receive my cookbook?
You will receive your cookbook within 3-5 weeks after the sale ends.

Why will it take so long to receive my cookbook?
The company we are using has a minimum order set for ordering cookbooks and sells in large increments. Total payment is due at the time of ordering. Because of that, we have to wait until we have a final number before ordering them from the company. We are not able to judge the number of cookbooks we may sell, so ordering them in advance would cost AAB a great deal of money and may result in a large loss. We do apologize for the amount of time that it will take to receive the books due to using this particular company, but their reputation for cookbook fundraising is impeccable and we believe you will be pleased once you receive your order.

How will I receive my cookbook?
Cookbooks will either be delivered to you by the person that took your order or shipped to you directly from AAB.

How can I order a cookbook?
There are several ways you can order cookbooks. We are taking online orders and credit card payments. You can also place an order by mail and pay with a check. To place an order by mail, please include a note stating your name, mailing address, email address, the number of books you wish to order and the total amount of your payment along with your check. Checks should be made payable to "Across All Borders" and mailed to: P.O. Box 14086, Baton Rouge, LA 70898. There are also several people selling cookbooks for us. If you come across a blog talking about the cookbooks, you may purchase one from them.

What is the cookbook sale contest and how does it work?
Several people are selling cookbooks for us both online and in their communities. These sellers are competing for prizes, so if you know of someone selling cookbooks, please buy through them to increase their chances of winning. To order through them, you may purchase a cookbook through our website and then list their name at checkout when asked "How did you hear about us?" or contact them directly to pay with a check.

How will the proceeds from this cookbook be used?
In order to apply for our 501(c)3, we must pay a large application fee. Part of the money from the cookbook will be used for that. Any remaining money will be used for our June trip to Guatemala to kick off our family outreach and orphan care programs.

Can I buy a large number of cookbooks and then sell them when I receive them?
Yes! You may order and then sell as many cookbooks as you would like.

Who contributed recipes for the cookbook?
Most of the people that contributed recipes are adoptive parents. There are also several adoption supporters (close friends of adoptive families) that contributed recipes.

Is this cookbook like the usual fundraiser cookbooks that always have the same recipes?
No! While there are several traditional recipes in the cookbook, the majority of recipes are quite different than those in most fundraiser cookbooks. There is also a section of the cookbook that contains authentic Guatemalan recipes.

Can you give me an example of some of the recipes in the book?
Absolutely! Some of the recipes in the book are....
Mini Crab Quiches, Apple Berry Salsa with Cinnamon Chips, Crunchy Romaine Toss, Spicy Chicken Soup with Black Beans, Pasta with Black Olives, Baked Haddock with Shrimp Sauce, White Chicken Chili, Mini Parmesan Scones, Frozen Bread Caramel Rolls, Honey Bun Cake, Cookie Dough Brownies, Oreo Truffles, Crunchy Fudge Sandwiches, Pollo En Jocon, Frijoles Negros Volteados

How many recipes are in the cookbook?
There are about 250 recipes in the cookbook.

I don't want to purchase a cookbook. Can I make a $15 donation instead?
Of course! While we are proud of the way the cookbook has turned out, we understand that not everyone will want to purchase one. Please feel free to make a donation of any amount either online or by mail. Visit our Ways to Help page for more information on ways to donate.

Gifts of Hope

2008-12-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

Support orphans and families around the world by shopping with us at Gifts of Hope.

Gifts of Hope provides a wide variety of fair trade items purchased from artisans in Guatemala. All proceeds benefit AAB's mission of providing orphan care and family outreach.

addition to that, you will be supporting the many people that work in Guatemala by selling their products in the markets and on the streets.

When we purchase these products, we do not try to get the lowest price from the vendors, as many people do. Instead, we pay them a fair price so that they are better able to support themselves and their families.

We offer unique items that are not commonly found through other websites as well as commonly requested items.

Please check back often as our inventory will change frequently.