CFCA: Little Fernando

I had the opportunity to work a few tables at a Christian Foundation for Children & Aging sponsorship event. And guess what? By the end, I was sponsoring a little boy from México. I knew I wouldn't be able to bear working the table and seeing all the many folders of unsponsored children. So, we are now the new Godparents of this little 2 year old boy: Fernando Daniel CobarruviasEstrada from the village of Nezahualcoyotl. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be meeting this little guy soon.

The event ended up a great success. We were able to get 116 children sponsored all in one morning with the help of Fr. Jerry Beat (the priest who introduced me to missions/travel). I was kinda surprised by the number, it was a good 3 digit number! CFCA has also made it even more personable to sponsor a child. On their WALK2GETHER site you can now see photos of the kids needing sponsored and can specify locations and birth dates, if you so wish. Even if you don't think you have the funds to sponsor a kid for $30 a month, I dare you to just try it and you will naturally get something in return. I have been doing it for almost 10 years now and even when my income was low, I have never regretted it.

Visit their main page here: www.cfcausa.org

Or visit the sub site here: www.walk2gether.org

See other related posts here.

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

Haiti: 360°

Found this really neat post on CNN using this great 360 degree photography technology to document Haiti after the earthquake. Not only is the photography very interesting but it brings the viewer into the situation like you are there viewing your surroundings. Of course it's not like really being there but it's one step closer than a still shot or plain video. There are four videos and from those you can see the amount of damage, the chaos, the crowds of people and the horrible condition everything is in. You even get an insider view of a refugee camp.

On a side not - recently I have heard that the government is wanting to send all the people out into the country sides so that they can completely bulldoze the city and start from scratch. Not sure what the pros and cons of that would be but it's most likely something really needed.

Photos via CNN

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

Walk2Gether

Four days ago a 73 year old named Bob Hentzen (founder of CFCA) started a walk for the poor that will cover 12 countries. It started in Guatemala and will end in Chile. Each day he will walk approx. 20-25 miles covering about 8,000 miles. In 1996 he walked from Kansas City all they way down to San Lucas Toliman Guatemala and this time it is about four times that. I spread the word only because I know this is being done for the poor and and this is big for them. I know the intentions are true and I know love will be brought to these people through this event.

"By walking with them, we are saying, 'You are not alone,'" Hentzen said. "We are listening to you and learning from you."

See day one of the walk - video here.

Browse the website here.

Follow his trip here.

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.

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....

Sponsorship - Part 1

Traveling to me is all about meeting the people. If I don’t have that one on one time with a local or two, I feel I didn’t fully experience the trip or the culture. I feel as though I may have jipped myself from really learning something. Otherwise what is the point of travel if you don’t learn anything? You end up becoming a wondering tourist looking at things that may never develop into any great lasting memory.To me, the people are what make a trip and make it memorable.

This time around in Guatemala my sister Andrea and I came to visit three beautiful kids that we sponsor through CFCA (a great organization that sponsors kids all around the world). We had my parent’s girl Reina, my sister’s boy Melvin, and my boy Edwin. We had three kids and their families to meet and juggle for almost a full day and we were nervous as heck about the whole situation. The morning of, the butterfly's were a fluttering. To us it was like meeting someone famous that you only know through photos you see in magazines. Or in our case letters. We had each of the kids gifts sorted and ready to go. There was a knock on the door and a message for my sister, “Your kid is here!” We both ran down......ready, set, go.

The greetings were filled with hugs and kisses. Soon after Andrea left me to fend for myself with Reina. I was hoping I’d have her for a buffer in a time of any awkward silences. Nope. She had gone to play soccer with Melvin and had the game, crowd, and adrenaline to fill in any weird moments. So for most of the day I learned all I could about Reina. She was a happy, giggly, 16 year old girl that enjoyed being a home body and had an excellent family for support. Like me, she would much rather spend any free time at home with her sister. We eventually got to the subject of boys and I was asked if I had a boyfriend and that my brother was cute. I topped that conversation off by saying “yeah well, my brother drives a doughnut truck for a job.” Ha! Why is that so fun for me to say?

My sisters boy Melvin was an interesting character. He was always hiding some kind of food in his pocket and checking if we noticed. His dad was a teacher and came up with a whole performance for Andrea. It included props, dancing, and some good old lip syncing. Lucky her. She was also showered with many many gifts. The family was so very thankful for her sponsorship.

Andrea and Melvin were also mentioned in the CFCA blog here!

Sponsorship - Part 2: I meet Edwin.

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.

War In The Congo Continues

Refugees present their ID cards to be counted and pregnant women line up to receive birth kits from an NGO. Photos found via The Big Picture.

Living With The Dead

This was an interesting video I found at National Geographic about families that live in graveyards in the Philippines and prefer that over the slums. In the photo above a father points out where his children sleep (on top the grave), where him and his wife sleep (on the floor) and what little belongings they own are stacked on the left. The graveyard even comes equipped with electricity, running water, and even neighborhood stores! The middle class family that owns the grave allow the family to live there free of rent in return of protecting it from thieves and grave robbers. But once a year on All Saints Day or The Day Of The Dead, the family has to move out in preparation for the arrival of the mourning family. Sounds like a good deal in comparison to living in the slums.

The Girl Effect

A Gift Of 40 Goats

A coworker of mine just got back from Africa and shared some of his photos with us. While he was down there he delivered up to 40 goats! Goats can provide up to a ton of milk a year and that can be made into cheese, butter, and yogurt. The goats are able to live in poor climates, eat small amounts of grass, and produce offspring for others. The owners also learn how to use their manure to fertilize their gardens. All in all, goats are such a simple but very effective way to lift someone out of poverty. And my coworker told me that those receiving them absolutely loved their goats and were so extremely happy and held them tightly to not let them go.

World Refugee Day

June 20th is World Refugee Day and here is a video from UNHCR.