A Letter from Maria

I got a sweet letter from Maria in Tanzania. She drew a picture in the middle of the letter of a flower and a heart with "I love you" in big letters. This is what her letter said:

"Dear my friend Heather,
Hi, How are you? Thank you so much for your very nice letter. I loved it. I am happy because I have a new penpal. I love you and your mum and father. You are my best friend. My friends at Bethany are Rehema J, Hapiness B, Edina, Bamari, Jessa, Stella, and Ntamba. I am 9 years old. My favorite time is Manchester. My favorite subject is the letter from me and you. I love you and your mum and father.
Love From,
Maria"

I think this was a letter intended for Jaden and Morgan. They had sent her a drawing and a photo. They are going to LOVE writing to Maria, and they LOVE to get mail!!

A Letter from Fatuma! Part 2

I received another letter from Fatuma! This was very exciting for me, since I had, also, already been corresponding with her via e-mail as well. She is such a sweet young lady! You can see her in the picture above in the red shirt on the right.

She wrote me a sweet letter and included 2 photos of herself (which Jaden and Morgan have already taken possession of!!) She had filled out my questionnaire, too. Here is what her questionnaire said:

I am proud to announce that I accomplished the following goals:

*I have finished primary school and I passed it. I got 133 marks out of 250.

*I have finished Unit 1, and 2 assignments and I got an A in Unit 3 and C in Unit 1. Now I am doing Unit 2, 5, 4, and 11 to complete the first year of college.

*I have finished ESO English and I passed, now I am in Level one.

*I have finished Unit 3 and 4 diary tasks and I got a 9 out of 10 marks in Unit 3, and 14 out of 15 in Unit 4. So I have left 2 diary tasks to complete the first year at college.

Here e-mails have been great! Jaden and Morgan have both wanted to talk with her as well, so they add their portion to the end of my e-mail and she responds. They are so excited that she is e-mailing them and answering their questions.

Children on the Edge Part 2

There were so many questions that Jaden asked that I did not get on tape. Since we were in the middle of a garage sale & MIC fundraiser sale (as you can see in the background), there was one lady that was intent on stopping my movie production! She kept asking me questions every time I put the camera up. Later, as she came to the table with her purchases, Jaden approached her with her brochure! LOL!! Jaden said, "Did you see these children?" :o)

Children on the Edge Part 1

Did you get this in the mail yet? It arrived in our mailbox today. I skimmed it, and seeing that it was a bunch of kids needing sponsors, chunked it in the trash... Yeah, I know, how cruel! The thing is, I can't look because I can not take on another one, so I thought it was better in the garbage. It was sitting there in the tiny trash can that I had set out for the trash from the garage sale when Jaden saw it. She picked it up and said, "Mommy, why is this in the trash? Did you see these kids? They are so sad. Aren't you going to help them!"

I guess I won't win "Best Mom" this year!!

Getting Ready to Sell

Getting ready to sell the MIC items outside our home. The girls wanted to do a lemonade stand, so that is how the idea started. They are going to sell lemonade and muffins. I will be selling the MIC items, and regular household garage sale stuff. They are REALLY excited (can you tell?) The sale is Thursday Friday and Saturday, so I will keep everyone posted!

Happy Notes to India

Another package/letter is off to the Srinu sisters today. It is quite a lot to put together because there are 3 of them. I want to send all 3 something at one time, so it takes three times as long. Shana wanted to send them some bracelets, so I had to get those ready as well. Jaden drew them each a unique picture. Then, I included short questionnaires for them to fill out should the mood strike them (which with everything they are going through, I think it may not happen any time soon). Then, each one of them got a different picture of the girls and a different charm on their bracelet. I can't wait to see pictures of them with the items we sent. I HOPE that the bracelets can put at least a small smile on their faces. Stay tuned- We should have pictures of them with their items in about 2 to 3 weeks!

Be the Change You Want to See in the World!

What kind of world do you want to leave for your children or sponsor children?
Mahatma Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world" How profound! This is our motto for Make a Change as we start year number 2 of existance. What does this statement mean to you?

An article provided by "bakerthebrand" on eHow.com states:
"There are times in your life when you want change more than anything. What kind of change do you want? Most want to be the change they want to see in the world. This is a step by step manual on how to do so.

Step 1: First, realize what kind of change do you want to see in the world. Does the world need more peace? love? Excitement?
When you have figured that out, I suggest study books and people that live this stuff real life.

Step 2: Second, when you study books and people that live the type of change you want to see in the world, model your behavior after these people. Realize you are not copying them, but just modeling them to produce similar results.

Step 3: Third, once you model people who are living a life that is indicative of being a positive change in the world, you will begin to see that your behavior indeed overtime does reflect being the change you wanted to see. By completing your goal, you must acknowledge and be thankful for being able to successfully become this change."

Happy Easter!

John 3:16~ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Happy Easter! May God watch you and keep you in his sight! We are grateful for our MAC friends, and all that you all have done to make other people's lives better!

A Very Sad Day for the Srinu Girls

We received pictures of the 3 girls in India that Jaden sent drawings to. I sent 3 simple letters along with the drawings, in hopes of giving them a person to talk to. Their mother passed away just a short while ago, and now their father is not doing well. As you can tell by their faces, it is a very rough time. I inquired about the girls' HIV status because no one had mentioned it. I wondered if they had ever been tested, Well, it turns out that they hadn't. Pastor Frances took them to the hospital for their tests. One came back positive!! Strangely, it was the oldest, Hari with the positive test!! That means the parents have had it for at least 13 years!! Plus, how did the other two come out negative when the parents didn't know to do the retrovirals inutero, and not breast feed, etc. How did they come up negative? I am happy they did, but it is a strange chain of events. I, also, will never understand why people don't get their kids tested when they see themselves dying. I know it sux to know your child is sick too, but the sooner you know the sooner you can start treatment.

Ok, so now we have the treatment part. We are looking into that now to see what can be done for Hari. Most countries now have a program that provides HIV medication and checkups, but I know nothing about India.

Now is the time to wrap ourselves even closer to the children and give our support! If you would like to send cards or uplifting letters, join the group!
[Friends_of_the_Srinu_Family_and_Vardanapu_Family] on Yahoo!

Letters and Drawings to 3 Girls in Mourning

Jaden worked hard on making pictures for 3 girls who just lost their mother to AIDS. She wanted them to be cheerful. I wrote letters to all three of them to go along with the drawings. The 3 little girls, ages 8, 10, and 12 are in a very difficult situation. They are now watching their father die! I can not imagine how these children all over the world dealing with this disease are able to cope with so much loss and despair in their short lifetimes!! (and to think I am currently bothered by my sinus infection!)

Who has the most patience?

I went to the mail box today with high hopes of letters or pictures from my kids. There was nothing :o(

I know that we will have lots of pictures and letters soon, but I am not very patient. That is why I write to my children so often, as well as send packages. You would not believe it, but I write at least once a month (I try for twice a month). That is a lot of writing! I know we will be getting the pictures from our Summer packages soon.

So, I have no news to report because I haven't gotten any letters or pictures lately. Instead, I am going to tell you about what Jaden and I have going on for her sponsor children. I have taken the single strand necklaces that the MIC group made and added a charms that says "friends" to them. Jaden is sending one to each of her girls. She is, also, going to send them each a picture of herself with the same necklace on. The letter will go something like this:

"I am giving you this necklace to let you know that you are always in my thoughts. It says "friends" because I consider you a good friend of mine. I have the same necklace. When you are wearing your necklace, you will be reminded that I am wearing a necklace, too. We will always be reminded of each other. Even though we are far away, we can still be close at heart. I love you and send you a BIG hug!"

Questionnaire from Nakaiza Vanesah for Jaden

Vanesah is Jaden's sponsor child in Uganda. As of yesterday, her mother will now be a part of the MIC group and start making beads!! We haven't received any letters from her, but Jaden has written several times. Luckily, Hellen sent a stack of letters along with the MIC items, so we were able to get something from her. This is what her questionnaire said:

Ways I show others I care: by loving them, sharing and playing together

Things I can do really well: washing plates and mopping house

What people like about me: (the person who was writing everything for Vanesah wrote her opinion) She is a bright girl and hard working.

Things I like to do with my friends: playing together with them.

My best friend is: Kayemba Isaac

Other friends I like to play with: Tracy Kuza, Jackline, Junior, Stella, Robin

Playathon to raise money for Haiti's orphans 2/27/10

The playathon took place yesterday. It was a big deal getting everything ready- making space in the house, preparing the games (who knew they would all have to be put together), and helping the girls request donations for SOS.

I will start with the disappointing part... There were 31 children signed up to attend last month. I thought I would maybe be able to get even more children than that before the event was going to take place. Unfortunately, it was the opposite. One family who had planned to come was hit with planning a last minute wedding, so their kids couldn't attend. Another family has been battling a stomach virus, so they had to back out. Then, others that had planned to come and never said any different just didn't show up! Pretty disappointing, especially considering all of the time I put into it.

We went from having 31 children scheduled to attend to having only 7 show up (including MY 2!). My mother came, and 2 mothers of the other children. Most of the adults played the games right along with the children to help entertain them. Don't get me wrong, the games were fun, and the kids enjoyed each other's company... However, I felt bad that there weren't as many people as we had planned, and not much in way of donations. I guess I had set my expectations too high.

Jaden & Morgan raised a total of $47.50. They sent "thank you" e-mails out to their sponsors: Alice, Barbara, Chrystal, & Tamara. Thank you, ladies! Two people are still sending their donations in. Once I get the donations for those 2 people, I will send a check out to SOS. The money will be added in with the money that other playathons raise nationwide to purchase temporary shelters for the orphans in Haiti.

Last Chance to Sponsor Jaden

The playathon is tomorrow! Time sure flies by! Wow! This will be a big event for the kids in the group. Kids helping kids- it doesn't get any more exciting than that. Jaden wants to fly to Haiti to help them, and doesn't understand why everything that she dreams up in her head can't be a reality. For example:

Why can't we build a house for everyone who lost their home?

Why can't we make them all better?

Why can't we give them all food and water?

It is all so simple in her eyes. You may remember her coins that she was collecting to buy our 4 children with medical conditions a bed. Well, they all have beds now. She still has her coin jar. Now she says she is saving so that she can take a plane to help them. Every few days, as she adds more coins, she asks me, "Is this enough to go to Haiti now?"

Tomorrow she will be doing a small act- playing games to earn money to purchase a temporary shelter for the orphans in Haiti that are part of SOS Children's Villages. She is going to try to play games for the whole 2 hours, and I am sure she will be able to do it since she will have her cousin there with her. Of course, Morgan will be playing, too. I am just doing a combined family pledge since collecting for Morgan and Jaden would mean hitting up the same people. That means that when you sponsor Jaden, you are, also, sponsoring Morgan.

You can either make a flat donation or pledge an amount per quarter hour (there will be 8 quarters, so multiply that by 8 to get the max amount you would be pledging).

Alice has decided to sponsor Jaden, and this is what she posted:

"Jaden,
I am Alice and am a sponsor like your mommy. I will sponsor you for $2 for 15 minute intervals. I wish I could be there but I live in Arizona and I have to work on Saturday. I hope you have a lot of fun at your play-a-thon.

Also I challenge all the other sponsors to get in the fun and help out Jaden to help all the children that were affected by the earthquake. I will give $.50 per sponsor that joins the fun and helps out Jaden. So PLEASE come join in and lets have fun raising money!!"

Package to Haiti

Jaden's items that she is sending to her sponsor child Mikerange (above & below)

My items to Francelyn (above) & items to Rood-Djevlo (below)

My items to Jodesson (below)

Jaden is sending her first package to Mikerange. She is excited especially to send her candy (inside the game) and the baby doll!

I am sending my 3 boys their 2nd packages. Each one of them is getting a book in French and enough games filled with candy for every child in their home. That means, Rood-Djevlo, who has 7 brothers and sisters with receive 8 games. Francelyn has a small family of only a brother and a sister, so he gets 3. Jodesson doesn't have such a big family. He only has 3 brothers and sisters, but his family is taking care of 2 additional children that are not their own. I am sending him 6 games.

If you would like to send a package to your child in Haiti, their is still time. Tomorrow is the deadline to order:

http://makeachangemac.webs.com/apps/webstore/

A Post from Jaden

Jaden & Morgan checking out one of the games for Saturday's Playathon

Hi, everybody. This is Jaden. How are you today? I want to say that, are you doing fine? I just want to make sure. I want you guys, if you are feeling good, then I want you to come with me and help me get the money for the kids. They lost their mommy and daddy from the earthquake. Lots of buildings fell down on their mommy and daddy, so their kids can't get in.

On Saturday we are going to see how much money, and this is Jaden speaking, and I want to say that everyone is coming to our house. If you live far away, you don't have to come, you know. My mommy and daddy are here with me. My mommy is writing what I am saying. We are going to play games for 2 whole hours. My friends and cousins are going to come to my house. And my two friends my twins Sarah and Abigail, 5 and 6 and 5.

I want to say and this is still Jaden so, I don't know what else to say, but I guess you can hear me. There are some people coming on Saturday to our house. We are going to have snacks and we're going to have a party and everyone's coming. Lots of people are coming.

I want to ask you guys, will you sponsor me, please? So that you can give me money for the kids who lost their mommy and daddy when the building fell down on them. That's all I want to say. Bye, Jaden

**This is Heather now. If you would like to sponsor Jaden in the Playathon, you can pledge by the 15 minute intervals. For example, $2 per 15 minutes. If she plays for the whole 2 hours, you would donate $16. Or you can do a flat donation of whatever amount. To sponsor her, you can mail checks made out to "SOS Children's Villages" to:

Jaden McLaughlin

P O Box 847

Anna, TX 75409

Just let me know if you have sent a check, so that I know to look ot for it. If you want to make a paypal donation, you can do that as well. I will convert paypal donations into checks made out to SOS Children's Villages.

Stay tuned- The playathon is being held this Saturday February 27th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

Package sent to Leydi in the Dominican Republic

Jaden helped me gather up some items for Leydi. All of our sponsor children are on the EXTREME poverty scale, and Leydi is no exception. She was living with her grandmother for a while because her father was sick, and her mother had passed away. She has recently moved back in with her father.

Her situation has not improved much. She still wears clothes that don't fit her, sleeps on a worn out rug on the ground, and has a health condition that requires extra care (medication, nutritional supplements, among other things).

Leydi is actually the next one of our children that will have a fundraiser. Since we still have a while before our turn comes up, I am thinking that Leydi's fundraiser won't even start until April or May. That means she may not get the clothes, bed & food she needs until June or July!

Jaden helped me pick out some nice clothes for her, and then, we included items that were purchased for the web store: games, a doll, candy, books, hair clips & stickers. If you look at the picture that has the books in it, you will, also, see the picture that Jaden drew for Leydi. Luckily, she should get these items by the beginning of March, so they will hold her over a little until her fundraiser turn.

Kids Can Change the World Playathon

The playathon that I spoke of a while back has been scheduled, and I am trying to have all of the children ready for the big day on Saturday 2/27. This is the letter I sent to the parents of the children:

Dear Parents and Children:
Haiti needs help! “Tents, tents, tents “That’s the word we want to get out. We need tents,” said a relief worker to the New York Times. Estimates of 200,000 tents will be needed to house thousands of Haitians until permanent housing can be built. Tents will be needed before the March rains start and the hurricane season begins in June.

How can you help? Be a part of our Kids Care Help for Haiti PLAYATHON, part of the Kids Care Helping Haiti project. With the funds our club raises, you will provide more than tents for thousands of displaced, disabled and orphaned children. Our club can provide a “pop-up “ house (The small shelter costs $1,250 and the larger one is $2,500.) for children at SOS Children’s Villages in Haiti* . One hundred percent (100%) of the funds our PLAYATHON raises will be donated to SOS Children’s Villages to purchase pop-up houses from Global Village Shelters. Hasbro will match the total amount raised through PLAYATHON for Haiti events in support of SOS Children’s Villages, up to a total of $500.000!!!

Your participation in a PLAYATHON will help children like 12 year-old Arabic Dominique. On the day of the earthquake his mother sent him outside to study, minutes before the house collapsed. Arabic says his mother never made it outside. He says "I was living in the streets until my Aunt saw me and picked me up. Then they brought me here [to an SOS Children’s Village]." He is now in an SOS Children's Village in northern Port au Prince that has been caring for displaced children for 30 years.

Kids Care Clubs across the country have already started to collect funds for Haiti and will start holding PLAYATHON events this month. A PLAYATHON is like a read-a-thon. Children get pledges or a flat donation for the amount of time they play. All checks including donor’s checks should be made payable to SOS Children’s Villages.

*SOS Children's Villages is the world’s largest charity dedicated to orphaned and abandoned children. There are 500 Villages in 132 countries for children without parental care. Currently there are two SOS Children's Villages in Haiti. Children who have been abandoned or orphaned come to SOS Children's Villages where they are integrated into a loving family environment. They are nurtured and supported by an SOS Mother and up to 15 other children in their SOS home who become their SOS brothers and sisters. Strong bonds develop within these "SOS families", and even after the children are grown and leave the village, these family relationships endure. SOS children have the benefit of a stable, loving family environment that includes the necessities of life such as clothing, meals, medical care and a high-quality education. Children remain in their SOS home until they are prepared to create lives for themselves as independent adults. To learn more about SOS Children’s Villages please visit http://www.sos-usa.org.
Kids Can Change the World, a chapter of Kids Care Clubs, is located right here in the North Texas area! We will be holding our Playathon for Haiti on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 from 1:00PM t0 3:00PM at the First Baptist Church of Anna. All children are welcome, and adult and young people volunteers are greatly appreciated! Before the event, you will need to collect pledges or donations for SOS Children’s Villages. Bring all donations to the event when you come on the 27th. I would like our group to at least be able to provide SOS with one of the large pop-up houses. The children should not have to live in tents, especially as the rainy season and hurricane season begins!

As for volunteers, I will be arriving at the church at 12:00PM to set up. Anyone who can help set up the tables & games areas should come at that time. If you would like to provide snacks/drinks, please let me know. I will need volunteers during the event to help the children (especially the younger ones), if they need help with a game, and to organize the children as they move from table to table every 15 minutes. At 3:00PM, I will need help with take down and clean up, so if you can stay after to help put the toys, tables, and chairs back where they were, that would be a HUGE help!

This will be an extremely exciting event, and it should be greatly rewarding for both the children in Haiti and the children here. Our Kids Care Club is part of Youth HandsOn, an organization dedicated to inspiring every young person to realize their power and potential to make a difference through service.

Thank you, and I hope to see you there!