See Your Impact: June Results

I completely forgot to share this with you last month! It's a good one too...like all of them.

If you haven't heard of See Your Impact you need to click on that link and check it out. See Your Impact is a worldwide charity. You get to pick a cause somewhere in the world. You can choose based on country, cause, age, and even the amount of money you're willing to spend. It's amazing what can be done in poverty stricken countries for only $10. It really is. Anyway, after you choose your cause and donate your money, you wait. In about 2-3 weeks, you'll get an email with a story and a picture of the exact person that your money helped. How great!

In June, I chose to spend $15 so a person in the Domincan Republic could get a dental checkup and education on how to keep their teeth clean and healthy. Here is who I helped:

Showing off her fresh smile!

Dear Kayla,

Louisa is overcome with joy and it is clearly written all over her contagious smile. Because of your donation of a cavity prevention program Kayla, Louisa was able to receive a dental cleaning and fluoride treatment. This is not something that the majority of Dominicans have access too given the price of the service, and its accessibility.

Louisa is an associate of Esperanza, which means she has made the choice to lift herself and her family out of poverty, and wants to do so with dignity.

Thank you for your incredibly kind donation Kayla, Louisa will never forget!

Gracias!

What a beautiful smile! I am so blessed that I was able to help Louisa keep her smile healthy. 

The First Step

Ever since I decided that this was not the time for me to go to Sierra Leone to visit Abu, I've been praying for open doors and clues to the next step for me.

Shortly after that...or before...time seems to get mixed up a little bit when dealing in prayer and God's timing and dreams and what not, I sponsored Celeste in Honduras, whom Amanda was able to visit for me. After seeing all of the pictures of Celeste that were brought back to me, my heart cried out for the next step...

I WANT TO, I NEED TO GO TO HONDURAS!!!

I began, yet again, to pray. I certainly have the money, that won't be a problem, since I'd been saving for Africa, which would have been much more expensive. I was praying for open doors and guidance for what the next step would be.

After I found out that Amanda would want to go back to Honduras on the next trip that Compassion offered, I realized that I could potentially be going to Honduras with somebody I know. Then a few other women around my age stepped up and said that they would love to go too. Enough for us all to be roomies in the hotel (haha). Exciting!

This week, Amanda told me that next year's Honduras trip now has a date.

August 9th-13th, 2013. I could be in Honduras then.

Sign-ups open on November 28th.

I am beyond excited. I will continue to pray for guidance. Will you pray with me?

Abu's Gift (With a Picture!)

Back in April, with the help of my wonderful friend Ali, I was able to send Abu $75 to spend on a family gift.

This week, only two and half months later (!!!), I got a letter and a picture of how that money was spent. I have probably stared at this picutre for a few hours total since I received it. Abu has grown so much, I just can't believe it. He doesn't look like a little kid anymore! He's so much taller than I last remember him and he's so super skinny. I'm a little worried about how skinny his arms are. I hope he's getting enough to eat because no food was bought with this money.

Besides seeing the wonderful gifts, I noticed that Abu is also wearing the tennis shoes that I sent him for Christmas. How exciting is that?! It looks like they are a little beat up. I should probably send him so more. Sending him tennies shoes cost a lot of money in shipping, so I think I'm going to go with flip flops/sandels in a big envelope this time. It's really nice to see the tennis shoes, because I never got confirmation that he had received the package, which also included a soccer ball.

Anyway, onto the part you are all dying to see, the picture!!!

Check out my handsome 10 year old!

From what I can see, he bought a goat (beyond excited about the goat!), a school bag, school supplies, and a red bag full of something. (I'm assuming clothes? blanket? something made out of fabric...)

Here is the letter he wrote:

Dear Kayla,

Abu-Bakarr and his family extends many thanks to you for the 75 U.S dollars you sent for him and it was received with happiness and many prayers, and Abu said thank you, Kayla. He said the gift was receive with thanks and he was very grateful with all the items they bought with the money and if you look at the picture you can see for yourself. Thank you Kayla. The family of your child once more thanks you for the gift you sent for him and it was received with many thanks. It plays a good impact on him and his family.

With Many Love,

Your child Abu

They pretty much repeated the same thing over and over again. The translator used really big handwriting and it kind of seemed like he was trying to write a whole page. Haha. Oh well. A letter and a picture. Can't get better than that! 

The goat is such a wonderful blessing. I know from stories from other sponsors, goats are so important to a family living in poverty. His family can now have fresh milk to both drink and sell in the market to make more money. Later on, they can breed the goat to have more (hopefully females for awhile) to start their own small business selling milk, and eventually goats. I can't wait to learn more about their new goat.

Plus, the goat has a white heart on her head. How cute!

I just feel so blessed to be a blessing to this little boy living 5,000 miles away from me.

Six Word Saturday

My Prayer List: A Little Overwhelming

Happy 13th Birthday Florenc!

My dear Florenci,

Today you are a teenager. A big step in life. You're probably struggling with being caught between childhood and adulthood. It's awkward, I know. Your emotions are going crazy, you want to play with other kids, you want to work with the men. Your body is doing weird things (embarasssing, I know). You're probably interested in girls now. Life is kind of weird.

Don't worry. It doesn't stay this awkward forever.

I know I have only known you through letters since the end of March. Only three months. However, I feel like I've known you for years. You're a very sweet boy. You always tell me how much you love me and how important I am to you and your family.

You're so smart. You shared with me your "great desire to go to university and get high results." I believe that you're going to acheive this goal. You go to school everyday and you do so well. I'm so proud of you.

You're a wonderful young man that God created. I don't think you are Christian and probably don't hear about the wonderful things that Jesus did for you. I hope that as we get to know each other better, your family will open up their homes to accept a bible from me. I know that God will show me the exact right time to ask.

Until then, happy birthday sweet boy. I hope you have a wonderful day. I hope you receive the gift of clothes and a soccer ball I sent you. I can't wait to get another letter from you. They always make me so happy.

Love,
Kayla

Touching Thursday!

It's that time of the week again, the day that I post three wonderful Compassion children that have been on my heart. I post these children here in the hopes that they will find their sponsor and start feeling God's in their life, through the love of another person.

If you're interested in sponsoring a child, but maybe the three on this page aren't meant to be yours, go to Compassion International and find the child who is perfect for you.

7-14-12 Paulos has been sponsored! I hope this cutie has a wonderful sponsor who will take the time to get to know him.

Dalila has been sponsored! I'm so glad she grabbed somebody's heart like she grabbed mine. So cute!

Hubert has bene sponsored! Praise God!

Wordless Wednesday: 4th of July Edition

Things Kids Say Tuesday

Alright, Alright, I know what you (maybe) are thinking. You already have a special post for Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Do you really need a special topic for each Tuesday.

The short answer: No, I don't need it.

The long answer: No, I don't, but this is my blog and I can do what I want. (Haha)

Anyway, I love talking about child sponsorship, but there is whole other side of my life that I would love to share with you. I am preschool teacher and I absolutely love it. Some of the things that come out of the mouths of the kids in my class just crack me up. So, anytime I hear something hilarious/profound/interesting that is said by a child, I'm going to record it and then share it with you. Hopefully these bring as much joy to you as they do to me.

A: I'm Batman!
H: I want to be Batman too!
A: But Batman's a boy! You're a girl!
H: Oh.
A: You can be Batgirl!
H: Can I be Batman Girl?
A: (Big sigh) I guess....


Ms. Kayla: Tomorrow is the 4th of July, who knows what that means?
D: Fireworks!
Ms. Kayla: You're right! Why do we have fireworks on this day?
Kids: (Blank Stare)
Ms. Kayla: It's America's birthday! It's like we're having a big birthday party.
H: Who's America? Is she here? Can we sing to her?
D: Can we eat cake?


M: Ms. Kayla! E took my toy!
E: No I didn't!
Ms. Kayla: M, I don't think E took your toy. It's sitting on the floor right next to you.
M: Oh, well, he was thinking about it. He almost took my toy!
Ms. Kayla: I'm sorry, I'm not going to make E sit out for almost taking your toy. Let me know if he actually takes it.
M: Okay!


Ms. Kayla: I'm getting hungry. What should I make for dinner tonight?
E: Mac and cheese, string cheese, and broccoli with cheese on it.
Ms. Kayla: Wow! That's a lot of cheese!
E: I like cheese


Oh, that's all for today. The little joys of my job. When the kids are being cute and not trying to hurt each other.

Tie-Dye Sale Reminder/Change of Plans

Hi all!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still working on selling tie-dye shirts to fundraise for my trip to visit my sponsored child.

I wanted to let you know all about the change in my plans.

I will no longer be going to visit Abu in Sierra Leone. World Vision basically told me that they would not be able to garauntee my safety in the country. Especially as a lone traveler. Especially as a lone traveler who also happens to be a woman. Especially as a lone traveler who also happens to be a white woman.

I prayed about it and I realized that I may have been wanting to go to Africa more than God wanted me to go. Maybe.

Anyway, I'm still planning a trip. But now, it's to Honduras. Now that I am sponsoring through Compassion, I am falling in love with the group trips that they offer. Don't get me wrong, I love sponsoring through World Vision and my kids are great, but it's a definite con that World Vision doesn't organize trips. Sure, they would probably help me a lot, but I'm not really a good planner. I don't I'd be able to plan a very good trip and I'd probably end up getting myself lost in some African jungle.

Anyway, this decision is pretty final. As soon as Compassion offers a Honduras trip in 2013, I'm signing up, no more questions or hesitation.

If you would like to help me out with this trip, I would love it if you would pray for God to show me the way and open doors for this trip.

If you are able to help me out financially, I really appreciate it. You can donate money use the chip-in box at the top-right of my blog.

You can also buy my shirts. In fact, I would love it if you did because I love making these shirts! If you don't see a shirt on the website that you would like to buy, I will glady make you a shirt that you love. All you have to do is email me the size you wear with the color/design you like. My email is at the top of my website. Here's my webiste:

http://tiedyeforacause.blogspot.com/

Sunday Praise: God Made Me Different

Yesterday, I volunteered at a church at the Compassion table.

I drove an hour to get there. I arrived at 4:30, a half hour before the event started (according to the website/email). It turns out the event started at 6:00. And the event was a church service, so I actually didn't get to do anything until 7:15. Loooong day!

Anyway, the entire church service was about child sponsorship. The pastor talked about how his family sponsors children, he played testimonial videos from couples in the church who sponsor children and love it, and people from both Compassion and World Vision spoke. Out in the lobby, both the Compassion International and World Vision tables were getting ready for the service to end, setting up packets, hanging signs, praying.

At 7:15 the doors of the sanctuary opened and people poured through the doors. I waited with bated breath and watched people...beeline it for the exit.

Not a single child was sponsored. In fact, there wasn't a single visitor to either of the tables. Not one.

Disappointment.

On the hour drive home, I went through a whole catharsis of emotions.

I started with anger. I raged about selfish people, about people who sit through a wonderful church service, nod and smile about success stories with an inspirational cast of characters, and vow to do something to change the lives of these children. I was angry that these very people were the ones who ran right past the tables, not even looking up once, talking about going out to eat for dinner that night. Going out to eat, to a dinner that would most likely cost them more than one month of sponsorsing a child.

After anger, I went to sadness. I cried a little bit for the children on the table that were left there, untouched, not even looked at. I cried because I want to see all of those children sponsored. I cried because I feel like I failed in my job as a volunteer.

After about a half hour of negative emotions, I began to pray. After praying, I listened. I felt reassurance for these kids and for all the people I was mad at just a little while ago. God told me that his timing is perfect. Those children would find sponsors at just the right time. God also reminded me that the sponsorship tables would be there this morning, when over 1000 worshippers went to church. Maybe some of the people who heard about sponsorship last night were going to pray about and come back today with a desire to sponsor.

Maybe.

It's not really for me to worry about. It was wrong of me to get angry/sad about it. God has it under control. Sometimes I just can't help feeling these things when it comes to finding sponsors for kids.

God made me different. And I like it.