Ideas For Haiti

Shakira has been working in Haiti this week with Barefoot Foundation preparing to build a school in Port-au-prince. In her own country of Columbia, she has already spent thousands of her own dollars building a school and noticed a need in Haiti as well. With hurricane season on its way, I sure hope more people are finding the shelter they need. Read her thoughts on her trip here at Shakira.com

Also check out some artists work from around the world that have come together to create this collaborative art project with all proceeds going to Haiti through World Vision and A Beautiful Idea. A handful of Etsy artists were givin a select number of colors and were told to come up with their own idea of "Love Wins". Check out some of the work at Promise Tangeman - lovin the idea and really digging the image on the left above.

Angelina In Haiti

Angelina Jolie was in Haiti this past week doing her Goodwill Ambassador duties gathering information by listening and talking to the people to figure out the best ways and procedures to help the people and children. Both her and Brad donated $1 million for Haiti victims. I admire how she continues to ignore rumors and news about her family to go and bring attention to those that need it. I hope her voice continues to grow and be heard for those that don't have one. Helping and fighting for those without a voice - now thats love.

See other photos and video here

The Faces Of Innocence

Thought this was a good way to put a face to those living in campsites in Haiti, or anywhere else. I know in my head all I see are tents and tents and nothing else. When really there are these sweet little innocent faces trying to survive.

Photo via Big Picture

Million Meals

Went out to the Numana and Salvation Army's Million Meal Packaging Event out at the Coliseum today and it was packed packed packed. I couldn't even get in! The line was out to the parking lot (in the cold)...and I was there early! There was a steady flow of cars into the arena. It was good to see so many people that are wanting to help package some much needed meals for those in Haiti. Wish we could do this for those in other countries because so many people would benefit and I know so many people would offer to help. Thank you to Inspire. Create. Bake. for letting me know about this event!

Poster via http://jonani.tumblr.com/

For Those In Haiti

When I first heard the news of the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti and in Haiti's largest city, my heart dropped. I knew without reading any further that this was going to be news that brings you to tears and will be incredibly horrific. And this event as been pulling at my heart for a few days now.

For about 2 years I had done research on places to be a long term volunteer at and I had seriously thought about going and living in Haiti and working with a couple different Christian organizations like Friends of the Orphans or visit with Airline Ambassadors. And just today I read of volunteers that had died at the exact place I thought about volunteering. From my research I knew of the massive amounts of suffering going on in that country (one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere) and with an earthquake on top of it I couldn't imagine the turmoil, crime, hopelessness and lost souls that will be created. The buildings there are like they are in any poor country - made of whatever you can find and without any kind of safety standards. It has taken me a few days to even write about this because it has bothered me and I want so much to be in a position to be able to go down and be there for the people. But I can't and I have to do what I can from here. I hope and I pray that something good will come out of this and that souls will not suffer but instead find comfort in something or someone. And I hope to God that relief efforts reach many and bring peace to many.

If you still feel as though this disaster in another country really doesn't pertain to you, I dare you to read through this blog, look at the photos and watch the videos and your mind will change. Make your world a bit bigger. Latest News & Updates On Haiti (Viewer discretion is advised.)

Photo via Latest News & Updates On Haiti

Organization I found a couple years ago: Yele Haiti

Beth's Story

I recently watched a movie that has been out for a little while now called The Soloist. It's a movie that reminds you that all human life deserves respect and dignity. And those that are homeless are not always in that situation by choice. For 117 minutes you will be taken into their world. Great movie. It also included this short video clip called Beth's Story.

Designing For Others

To get a little cash flow while I was living in México, I did some freelance work for an organization called Families Together. They were going to have a walk-a-thon to benefit children with disabilities and I got to design their poster. Last month they had a benefit dinner but I wasn't able to attend (because I was out on my honeymoon) but my business manager (aka my mom) did. Here she is accepting an award they offered me. It is so much more fulfilling designing when you know it helps others.

My Favorite Village

Scenes from my favorite village near San Lucas Toliman. And to get there you had to travel on a narrow dirt road through fields of coffee beans. It was a hidden little paradise.

This village had also been cleared out by a mudslide off a volcano. But these people were lucky enough to receive their very own well built home - as you can see in the 2nd photo. And the kids there were so happy!

We Are In It Together

Melvin & Edwin

CFCA

As a Personal Outreach Advocate for Christian Foundation For Children & Aging (CFCA) I encourage you to sponsor a child. If you have been reading my blog, I write about how I have seen the results of sponsorship first hand. I have seen with my own eyes where the money goes. Not only does sponsoring help the child, but also the family and the community they live in. For only $30 a month you can make a child look forward to his/her future and make their quality of life that much better. I truly trust this organization and can say I personally know the President/Founder and have stood beside him amongst the many beautiful children being sponsored. So what is it....use the money for a couple beers on a Friday night and deal with the hangover the next day or truly change someones life? Some think that money follows the heart. But sometimes the heart follows the money.

Since I have been back I have already had a few friends sign up. Please, I challenge you. Start here or read their blog here.

Sponsorship - Part 2

The hours were passing, the afternoon was soon arriving and the air was becoming more warm. Fellow sponsors were becoming comfortable with this new friends and relationships were noticeably becoming stronger by the minute. Yet, I sat there with Reina and her family and really started to wonder if Edwin was even going to come. I was starting to get a little bummed. I wanted so bad to meet Edwin. I had been sponsoring him for 7-8 years now, I have always prayed for him and even had tried to meet him once before but the circumstances didn't allow it. I really thought this time I would see him.

Luis, a friend of mine that works for CFCA in Guatemala, soon came around the corner with a smile on his face and told me "Edwin is here." He informed me that they had driven for 10 hours and had gotten lost at the Mexico border. Such a long drive! It was then that Edwin walked through the door followed by his dad. I was so happy I didn't know how to act or what to say. I pretty much jumped up and hugged him. He was so much bigger than I had imagined! He was a 14 year old handsome young man! And when he spoke an unexpected low voice hit me. Wow, I have been part of his life for a long time now and it was so crazy to finally see him in person...it's hard to explain.

I showed him all the gifts I had brought for him and he then went to the car to get my gift. He came back with this large wooden carving. It was a twisted dark wood post with about 9 little prongs coming out the sides. I had no idea what it was but it was beautiful. Now I know how parents feel when they are given finger paintings that look like nothing familiar but they become the most cherished thing you own. And I must say, I was the proud owner of the most unique gift there. We then talked for a few minutes and it was difficult because him and his father were so incredibly shy. Sometimes Edwin wouldn't know how to answer a question and he would just hang his head down. I wanted so bad to show him how much I loved him, to know him more and become friends. But he was so shy.

Later Edwin and I played a game of soccer verse my sister and Melvin. After a couple minutes, 2 boy (couldn't have been older than 6-7 years old) joined in. Not five mints later I was wheezing and coughing like an asthmatic smoker. These 6 year olds were kicking my butt! Every once in a while I'd do some fancy foot work that would baffle them and I'd feel like David Beckham for a split second but in the end we lost. And when people asked how we lost so bad I'd just replied with "well I didn't want to trample any little kids so I took it easy on them." No one bought it.

Afterwards it was time for food. All three families surrounded around Andrea and I at the table. It felt like we were all one family and it was a time of celebration. At lunch I was able to talk with Edwin's dad and the words that came out of his mouth bout made tears come out of my eyes. I clinched my jaw so my chin wouldn't quiver and give me away. He told me that seeing me was so unreal because he didn't think I actually existed. And for me to come all the way down from the states just for his son - he couldn't believe and it filled his heart with so much joy. He thanked me for being part of Edwin's life and it had to have been the most real thank you I had ever seen.

My time with Edwin and his father was short, very short. A little over an hour after lunch I had to say goodbye. Goodbyes are not an easy thing for me. We hugged, took photos, hugged again and walked to the front entrance to see them off. Watching Edwin walk away made me so emotional I finally broke down and cried and hid my face with my jacket. If only I had more time with him. If only....

They Cry For Peace

Guatemala is a land of great wonder and mystery. Beauty and joy are found around every corner. But if you listen and look closely it is also a land of acute distress, suffering, and pain. Guatemala is a country coming down from a 36 year long civil war and the wounds have left their scars. This was my third visit to the country. I had heard the stories before and this trip wasn’t any different.

While in the capital we visited a small project and a young girl told us a story that was soon broken up by tears. The tears were painful and pierced your heart. A few years before, she had been kidnapped while taking a shower right outside her house. The police didn’t bother to do their job and left the father and uncle in search for her. Kidnappings happen for two reasons - for ransom or for abuse, and the family wasn’t one to bug for a ransom. Shortly after, I stood aside and spoke with our leader (that lives there in Guatemala) and he told me how drug trafficking and gang violence is on the rise in the city (because of Mexico and Columbia). He believes that in just a short couple of years the violence will rise sky high once again. It was a comment you didn’t want to hear, but it also didn’t come as a surprise.


With our two police officers in tow for security (for the entire trip), we headed off to the area of Solola. Later I found myself no longer among palm trees, tropical flowers and sugar cane fields. Instead we were up in the clouds surrounded by the dense forest area of Corazon del Bosque. I jumped off the bus and viewed the crowd of a couple hundred that I was about to dive into head first. I took a deep breath, went in and was mobbed by 20 plus kisses of innocent children and nothing is better than that.

While there the massive crowd gathered in a circle around us, knelt, raised their hands to the sky then cupped them around their faces. Then in their Mayan language they fervently prayed for us. It was a prayer so devout it made us sponsors from CFCA feel uneasy. We felt as if we weren’t worthy and didn’t deserve such gratitude. We had come with CFCA to see our sponsored children and yet they still thanked us because we had come in place of all the sponsors that couldn’t be there. They are a grateful people by nature and I felt blessed to have such a prayer bestowed on me.


The celebration continued. Children danced, sang, and handed out mounds of fruit. And again the painful sound of children's tears rang in your ears. They sang of pain and blood shed. They cry for peace. The Mayan people are constantly persecuted in their own country. A friend of mine even told me he can’t even wear his Mayan bag to school in the city because of the persecution. I didn’t understand and probably never will. Unfortunately, the answers to solve the worlds hatred will most likely never be there. But the best thing I can do is to just walk along side the people and listen. Not in front or in back.....but beside. And that is my plan.

Asia And Back

So my sister Andrea and I decided to take another trip. This time it wasn't so much a trip with the label "vacation" attached. It was more of a business trip I guess you can say. We flew up to New York and to my surprise, it was the fastest little trip ever. The Chicago airport was actually good to us. Once we got there we took a 2 hour nap on the airport floor and quickly got sick of random body parts going numb and people starring so we called in early to see if checking in was even possible. And it was!

We arrived to our awesome apartment and quickly felt like we were transported to Asia (see Seminary above). Seeing how this trip was about foreign volunteer work with Maryknoll, I guess it made sense. I learned about working in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Some of the most interesting info I learned was about teaching in China. Even though there is absolutely no freedom of religion there, Maryknoll is sent to basically teach. Students there have to pass tests that are harder than the our SAT's. And if they don't pass the first time, their families don't bother paying for a 2nd time and the student is left to work at McDonalds till the day they die. That is if money and tutoring isn't available.

But what I'm interested in is Latin America. Hopefully it will all work out. I'm off to my applications. Wish me luck.

Courtyard & Buddhist monastery bell that is rung to send volunteers out.

Seven Months To Go

So the tickets for the December 26 Guatemala trip are bought! But of course my procrastination has cost me. Because it is a holiday trip I did expect it to be pricey but $2,456.60 for two people to fly to a country maybe 4 hours from Dallas? Honestly. It crossed my mind to start buying the tickets a few weeks back but what I didn't expect was the rise of gas prices.

At least Andrea is covered with travel insurance and me covered twice over and the planning is done. Not that I think this trip will be risky, I'm actually not worried about it at all. It will be one of the least risky ones I have taken lately.

Anyways, I'm pumped and can't wait to go back for the 3rd time and see the kids. On top of that, I will get to see what New Years is like in Guatemala and show Andrea what the country is like! It's great to have something to look forward to and get me through the rough times of work.