A valuable story book to help disciple your kids

We were blessed this year when Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay leader) hosted our Father On Purpose > Nashville at his Blood:Water offices. We can’t thank him enough for his help. He has been a friend of MJ’s ever since and has helped us in several ways. If you’re looking for a great story book to help disciple your kids, keep reading, and learn more about what Dan has been working on.

We’d like to bless him back by sharing information about a cool project he’s working on. He plans to release a book in 2018 called Lulu and the Long Walk. Not only will it be a resource you could pick up to read to your kids (do it, dads!); but, by doing that, you’ll be helping kids in Africa gain access to healthcare and clean water. Oh, and if you jump in and help get the book to production, you’ll be helping other parents have access to this cool story too!

The rest of this post will show you the book project from Dan, Lulu and the Long Walk and ask you to consider giving to and sharing the project. This isn’t a Manhood Journey campaign. We’re just letting our readers know about it and asking for you to help them as you feel led. And, we think reading is a pretty good way to intentionally disciple your kids!

The book and campaign supports Blood:Water, the mission organization that helps kids in Africa gain access to healthcare and clean water. There are only a few more days left to give on the campaign. Visit Lulu and the Long Walk to learn more.

About LuLu and the Long Walk

Lulu and the Long Walk is a 32-page, hard-cover, 10″ x 10″ children’s picture book written by Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Dan Haseltine. It’s illustrated by international visual artist Joel Schoon-Tanis. The story follows Lulu, a young girl in Africa, on her day-long walk to fetch water. Along the way, she has fun and whimsical interactions with animals, but underlying the story are questions like:

Why did she walk past the school?
How come the water is so far away?
Why is it brown and dirty?

Lulu and the Long Walk is a visually charming and colorful book that delivers an honest reality for countless children in Africa. The story allows families to delight in the beauty of Africa while opening up conversations about the great needs so many people face.

Dan Haseltine’s ear as a lyricist make for a seamless transition to children’s books. Joel Schoon-Tanis has illustrated many books and finally gets to paint a book set in his favorite part of the world!

The book has been painted, designed, and is ready to go. All they need is your help to raise the capital in order to print the book. This would make a great story book to help disciple your kids. Help us spread the word!

Here’s a taste of the text:

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Lulu woke up to the sound of the rooster’s call. Just as the sun peeked through the dark morning sky, she stepped outside, grabbed her big yellow can, and skipped across the field…past the empty schoolhouse, around the giant acacia tree, and down the squiggly path that led out of her village.

Lulu hopped through the prickly weeds like a beautiful, jumping gazelle.

“Hi, gazelles!” she said.

“Hi, Lulu,” they said back. “Can you stay and jump with us today?”

“No, no, not today. I have to get water from far, far away.” And off she jumped.

At the edge of the jungle, Lulu shimmied like a monkey on an old tree that had fallen across the dry riverbed path.

“Good morning to you, monkeys!” she sang.

“Good morning to you, Lulu,” they sang back “Can you shimmy on the trees and sing with us today?”

“No,” she said. “No, not today. I have to get water from far, far away.”