Wedding Gifts

So Cyndi and I were sitting around the living room wondering what to put on a registry. We quickly realized we already have just about everything we need to play house. More importantly, we've both been abundantly blessed. It just doesn't make sense to ask people to give us stuff.

In lieu of gifts we'd really like our friends and family to consider donating to a charity of their choice. We very much like the idea of providing for the less fortunate. We feel it's a great way to start a life of service together.

We know of two charities that we feel are particularly worthy. Heifer International uses donations to provide farm animals and training to needy families in developing countries. Their website has all the details, but the essential idea is that they provide cows, sheep, goats, chickens, etc., and then teach people how to tend the animals so that they continue to produce income (e.g. milk, eggs, wool, etc.). We like their idea of "teaching to fish" as opposed to "giving fish."

For that reason we also like the LDS Perpetual Education Fund. Donations fund low-interest (3%) education loans for Church members throughout the world. The PEF emphasizes technical and/or vocational skills, with the idea that the recipient will apply those skills in their home community. Once again, it's a great program for building up families and local communities.

We suggest those two charities because we like them, but we want our guests to feel free to donate wherever it'll do the most good. We also don't want anyone to feel obligated to do anything for us. Our family and friends have done so much, we thank them for their love and generosity.