A Package for my 8 Ugandan Boys

These are the books/workbooks I am sending the 8 boys that range in age from 4 to 12 years old.

The envelopes below contain a photo Christmas card of my family and a mini calendar for all 12 of my Ugandan children.

Nakiya Gloria- F 5
Adongo Mary Gloria- F 5
Kansime Agnes- F 6
Nakaiza Vanesa- F 7

Simbwa Henry- M 4
Akenda Joshua- M 5
Iga Marrine- M 5
Mulidwa Raegon- M 6
Nuwamanya Daniel- M 10
Magabe Filbert- M 10
Kikomeko Derick- M 10
Tamebaze Joshua- M 12

These items are being included with the package that is going out for 40 children in CUS. All 12 of these children will, also, get a bracelet and a lollipop, and the girls will get a necklace as well.

Ugandan Christmas Package

A Package to Uganda has been in preparation for a while. Here is what we have:

Children that will be receiving a necklace, bracelet, and lollipop:
Kiiza Tracy
Akullo Dyana
Wamala Wasma
Nakibule Margaret
Okwir Alex
Atayo Esther
Nangulu Shadia
Nabwire Precious (plus a paper doll book & stickerbook)
Dreateru Alice (plus a book & stickerbook)
Nakaiza Vanesa (and calendar)
Adongo Mary Gloria (and calendar)
Nakiya Gloria (and calendar)
Kansime Agnes (and calendar)
Nadudu Emmima
Nakafero Joan
Nampima Diana
Nabiro Sharon
Akello Annet

Children that will be receiving a bracelet & lollipop:
Mulidwa Reagon (and calendar)
Simbwa Henry (and calendar)
Nuwamanya Daniel (and calendar)
Kikomeko Derick (and calendar)
Charles Opio
Agnes Waluga
Bosco Obondo
Tamebaze Joshua (and calendar)
Iga Marrine (and calendar)
Akenda Joshua (and calendar)
Magabe Filbert (and calendar)
Kabul Felix
Michael Twesigawe
Tunamsangayop Richard
Jonathan Oyat (plus a book, stickerbook $ birthday balloons)
Kiddi Edward
Kasumba Brian (and calendar)

Children that will be receiving a necklace and lollipop:
Mahoro Robinah Mirembe
Pime Scovia
Esther Adong
Namugwere Esther (a butterfly calendar as well)
Kayanga Miriam (a butterfly calendar as well)

I am sending this list out, so you all can double check me. It has been busy around here, so let me know if I have missed anyone or anything.

It is not too late to add a calendar for any of your kids for $2.

Also, you may notice that EVERY single child that is included in this package is getting a lollipop. Dana donated lollipops for 14 children! I donated lollipops for all of the rest of the children. That way, everyone will get a lollipop in their package.

Let me know if you want to add a calendar, and I will be uploading a picture of everything soon!

Meet Precious!

Barbara took on another Ugandan child! These children were featured in Kate's blog. Since we now have a sponsor for ALL of the children, Hellen sent pictures of the street children that need sponsors. It is really amazing how much has happened in the past month!!! I am not sure on the exact number of children that received sponsors that didn't have them, but it should be at least 50 in the last 2 months that have found sponsors!!

Now that those children have found sponsors, and a significant amount of money has been raised for the children's home and for the classrooms, more children will be able to be added to the program. Can you imagine how excited these kids must be to learn that someone has decided to sponsor them, and in just a few months they will be students at the school they thought they could only peek at through the fence!!!???

Barbara took the little girl in the picture above. This was the caption under the picture on Kate's blog that caught Barbara's attention:
"The middle child, is Nabwire Precious (and isn't she?!) She is in baby class and she is 3 years old. She is at the school often and because of her young age is allowed to stay even when classes are going on. She likes playing with dolls and listed her favorite activity as eating. Her ambition is to be a lawyer."

This is what Barbara wrote regarding her recent sponsorship:
"I had determined that Eloina would be my last sponsored child but then Jonathan came along from Uganda, followed by part sponsorship of Paola. Alice being the only one in her class not sponsored make me break down again. Then, little Precious one of the street children is introduced and how could I could resist that name and cute little face in her pretty new frock?? So, welcome to my brood of eleven little adorable Precious. I hope that now that you are sponsored life will be a little happier for you and your Christmas package is on its way!!!"



(If you would like to contribute a story about your sponsor child, please send your submission to hhamilton2002@hotmail.com Please include any pictures you would like to share with the group)

Something I Forgot to Mention

Tiffany brought up a great question. I do have lollipops that can be purchased for the Ugandan children as well. These are the jumbo round gourmet pops. Some of the flavors offered include:

Cherry Snow
Caramel Apple
Strawberry Shortcake
Blue Rasberry
Banana Split
Wild Cherry
Watermelon Slice
Cherry Cheesecake
Bubble Gum
Buttered Toffee
Root Beer
Rasberry Lemonade
Red Rasberry
Blueberry
Cotton Candy

If you would like to include a lollipop for your Ugandan child, they are 50 cents a piece. Don't forget to include your child's name with your order and flavor preference if any (quantities of each flavor are limited, so please choose first, second, and third choice for flavors).

To order, you can do the same as I stated in the post right before this one. You can donate to Jonathan's fundraiser or send a payment through Paypal (hhamilton2002@hoptmail.com). Then, send me an e-mail to that same address with your order information (or if you pay through Paypal, leave a note on the Paypal comment section). I have finished making the necklaces and bracelets, so the only things left are these items that anyone might want to add (calendars and lollipops).

Thanks!

Another Small Fundraiser for Jonathan

I am really pushing to get Jonathan's fundraiser complete by the end of November, so that he and his grandmother will have a Christmas surprise. I am working on a few more necklaces and bracelets, to get this package out to the children in Uganda. It is looking like the package will be a lot bigger than I imagined. I can't wait to show everyone how much will be headed to Uganda!!! It is quite exciting!! All of the children will be elated, I am sure!

Now, here is one more thing I came up with to help Jonathan's fundraiser. The cute mini calendar above can hook on to a belt loop, backpack, zipper chain, or practically anything. I chose these 4 designs: M&M's, Puppies, Butterflies, and Tin Toys. These are calendars for the new year-2010. Every month has a new exciting picture, and will be treasured dearly by boys and girls alike.

The other great thing is that these calendars come wrapped in clear plastic, so I am able to write the children's names with a permanent marker on the outside of each one. I can include these adorable calendars in the Uganda package for no extra shipping cost to you!!

If you would like one of these calendars included for your child/children in CUS, all you have to do is make a $2 donation for each calendar to Jonathan's fundraiser:
http://www.firstgiving.com/igp4jonathan
or to my paypal account (hhamilton2002@hotmail.com)

Then, just shoot me an e-mail with the full name of the child you are buying for and which calendar you want to give them.

In the meantime, I will be finishing up these bracelet and necklace orders :0)

Thank you for all you do!!! Jonathan and all 50+ children at the school in Uganda are going to be very happy with their gifts!!!

Package for Jonathan

I missed out on scanning Jonathan's pictures, so you will just have to use your imagination for now. I sent him a small package in a flat rate envelope. It contained a blank notebook, coloring book, box of Crayola markers, box of Crayola colored pencils, pencil sharpener, and a Spiderman beach ball. This was the thank you letter he wrote:

Hi, Heather McLaughlin!

My grandmother and I say hello. We are doing well. I have good grades in school. (Then, he goes on to list the contents of the package he received) They are nice, and I am very happy because I will use them all. I like reading too. I say goodbye with a big hug,

Jonathan

Tuition Assistance for Brayan & Brandon

I need to preface this post by telling you how I found out that Brayan needed tuition assistance. I had requested a special needs donation break down for Brayan back in June or July because I was concerned. The father had abandoned the family, and left them with no way to provide for the bills, food, etc. The mother is a house wife, and would have to transition to the working world to provide for her boys on her own. Their income was listed as $95 back in March. I am not sure where that figure came from, but their family would be linked income wise with Paola & Tomasa's family. $95 is EXTREMELY low for a family in Mexico!

A little more than two months after my request, I heard back from CI with a break down of their needs. This is a summary of what they told me:

The mother is not working, she is a housewife. She mentioned that she'd like to start a business selling clothes like: underwear, socks, pants, t-shirts, blouses and some imitation jewelry, since she said she used to sell them before and she has some experience.

She said she would sell these articles in her home, she'd put some signs to advertise these articles and inform neighbors and people that she sells clothes. She also would sell them door by door or in little street markets.

What she needs is as follows:

A little cart to transport the clothes and an inventory of items (underwear, t-shirts, socks, pants,

blouses and imitation jewelry ) $468.00 USD

She also expressed that her main needs at this time is to pay for the tuition of her children

(August 24th, 2009 when classes start).

Tuition for both children: $ 32.00 USD

One of the crazy things about this is that I received this breakdown on September 10th, 2009, 18 days after school was supposed to start!! Plus, all of us sponsors know that the money doesn't get to the family instantaneously! It may have been a full month after school started before they received the tuition assistance.

Now, here is the story: When I got the breakdown that included the tuition needs, and saw that it was past due, I had to act fast. I scraped together $32 & called CI to make sure they would be in school ASAP.
Here is the thank you letter I received with these pictures:

Dear Mrs. McLaughlin,
Thank you for the donation you sent me to pay my tuition and with what was left we bought: pencils, erasers, colors, pencil sharpeners, glue, and a box to put the supplies in. In school I am doing well and my teacher wants me to play Christopher Columbus or a sailor. I'm learning math, reading, addition, subtraction, running and playing soccer. Thank you for the help you give me. I send you hugs and kisses and for the girls Jaden and Morgan.
Brayan

Items Bought for Brayan on Mack's Trip

Food items that were bought (above) & household items that were bought (below)

Mack did include plenty of toys for the two boys as you can see

Some of you may remember that Mack took a last minute trip to Mexico a few months ago. It was so last minute that I was not able to plan to have Brayan at the center to visit her. I went for the next best thing and asked Mack to pick up some things for his family once she got to Mexico. I gave her $50, and she went shopping. She put all of his items into foldable bags & left them for him at the center, along with a letter from me :0)

I did receive a thank you letter from him, but everything has been seperated. I put the pictures in a seperate envelope in order to get them scanned, now I have to find a way to reunite the letters with the photos.

Package for Dulce & Strange Note from the field

I have to preface this post with a small side subject... I have been holding on to pictures & thank you letters from my kids for a few months now. The reason for this is because I have NO working scanner! Then, I had NO money to get them professionally scanned! Finally, I was able to get some scanned today at CVS for $3.99. However, once I got home, I noticed that some pictures were missing from my scan pile- Jonathan's pics, for example were with my other pics, but they missed being scanned :( I know I have gotten pics of Mwanza, too, but can find them no where (this is what happens when you try to scan in a busy store with two young kids running around). Once I get some more pics & thanks yous gathered up, I will be making even more posts. For now, you will see 5 or 6 posts from the pics that have been in my stack for a while.

Now, on to the strangest comment from the field I have ever received:

In July, I sent a small package to Dulce. She received:

1 box of Crayola markers

1 box of Crayola colored pencils

1 pencil sharpener

1 butterfly bubble watch

1 US Maps coloring & activity book

1 blank notebook

1 princess dress-up sticker book

This is what Dulce wrote:

"Hello, Dear Sponsor Heather,

Thanks for (this is where she lists everything she received)... I am doing well in this new school year. After coming from school, I do my housework, and then, I play outside. I go to church on Sunday. I hope you all are fine and healthy. Hugs, Dulce"

Now, this is what was put as additional comments from the field:

"Dulce was very happy but she hardly spoke. She only answered briefly what she was asked by saying yes or moving her head."

Anyone have any idea what that is supposed to mean? Does anyone know how to read body language? Another interesting note is that Dulce's father is deaf, and while she doesn't live with him... Maybe she had just spent a long time with him and then remained in a silent mode... I hope it is not because she was disappointed in the package. I had requested a special needs breakdown for her for one of our fundraisers, but the response back from the field was for items that were more of "wants" than "needs". I have been debating when/if I will do a fundraiser for her because she requested a t.v. and computer. I have other kids that in NEED of a home to live in and food to eat, so t.v.'s are not my priority. Now I am just hoping that she wasn't upset when she got to the center for a small package instead of the t.v. she wanted.

Package Delivery Delay

I just wanted to update everyone on the Ugandan Package delivery that I had scheduled for today. I had to delay it because I got in a few last minute orders. The good news is that some of the orders are because sponsors have taken on additional children to sponsor, mainly the street kids, so this is GREAT news!!!

My brother has come into Texas from California with his family, and I haven't seen him in over 4 years... So, I will have to post-pone my jewelry making until Wednesday. I will begin making the new orders of bracelets and necklaces starting on Wednesday, and will shoot for a new Saturday delivery. I don't want to delay it any more than that because I would like the kids to get their pretty jewelry in time for Christmas.

Thank you for your patience!

November Fundraiser Update!

Project #14~ Jonathan (Heather) http://www.firstgiving.com/igp4jonathan
Project #15~ Maria & Ullysette (Robyn) http://www.firstgiving.com/betterlatethannever
Project #16~ Crystal & Gema (Su) http://www.firstgiving.com/icecreamigp
Project #17~ Maila (Steve)
Project #18~ Adriana (Candace)
Project #19~ Yamileisy (Dee)
Project #20~ (Stephanie)
Project #21~ Jerry (Wilfredo)
Project #22~ Joyce (Heather G)
Project #23~ Maria (Holly)
Project #24~ Ariela (Camille)
Project #25~ (Tamara)
Project #26~ Sabrata (Cherise)

I just want to tell everyone a few things that you may not know:

1. It is important to see which fundraisers have actually launched. For example, right now we have the 3 at the top that are live. Those 3 are our focus right now. I say this because I have set up a lot of the other pages, but they are for future use.

2. Also, if you have a fundraiser that is live or will be live shortly, be thinking of ways to bring in extra donations. Some examples would be:
a. telling others that are not part of the group via social networks, e-mail, etc.
b. selling something to raise money such as a bake sale, crafts, re-sell items
c. keeping people interested about your cause- I am more than happy to post itmes about your sponsor child on the blog, but you will need to provide them- send updated photos, stories, or share the letters the child has written
d. print up flyers, brochures, postcards, etc about your fundraiser that includes the web address from the make a change web-site, so that people will know exactly where to donate- these can be hung or handed out in a million different places, and they make the child's story available to many more people than usual.
e. hold a raffle for donations- this can be done in the virtual world in the social networks, or even locally where you may be passing out brochures, having a bake sale, etc.
f. tell others aabout our fundraisers that include magazines, cookie dough, and greeting cards. All of the money you generate from those types things will go to whichever fundraiser you choose to donate to.

All of these things are a great way to peak interest in the fundraisers, and help the fundraisers hit the target faster. The faster one fundraiser funds, the faster we can get to the next one.

If we can bring in more donations, and if everyone can take a more active role in promoting their fundraisers, we can continue them and help more children!!

Diego's Thank You Letter

I told you I had a sweet letter to share with you from Diego regarding the latest items he received from his Aura's House Fundraiser.
For everyone who has helped him get the things he needs, here it goes:

Dear sponsor,
I am so happy with the gifts you sent me. My aunt, my family and I send you greetings. Thans for the gift that was sent to me: a bed, a mattress, a set of sheets, and a fan. God bless you and your husband too. I'm doing well at school. When I grow up, I'd like to do for others what you are doing for me. In my free time, I am always thinking about you and life is not enough to reward you for what you do for me!
Lots of greetings!
Diego

His fundraiser is about halfway to completion! And, there is still a raffle going on for all donations received of $10 or more. You will get a raffle ticket for every $10 you donate!! The raffle will be held after the fundraiser reaches it's goal. You will have a choice of three prizes:

*A Microsoft Zune (Details are on the Aura's House fundraising page)

*A special needs donation to your sponsor child/fundraiser

*A Visa Gift Card to spend how you wish

A win-win situation! Think of how you could help your child by winning a donation in their name! Or, maybe you would like to use the gift card to purchase items for them... So many possibilities!!!

The more you donate, the more chances you have to win!!! Thank you to all of you who have already helped this great young man!

Brayan and his family

Steve brought back some great photos and videos from his trip to Mexico. Brayan has 6 short videos on Youtube.com now! In the 4th video, Brayan's mother explains that they are having problems with the landlord. She said that they don't have the money needed to pay for the things they need, and now the owner is treating them badly. Brayan and Brandon are the two little children left in her care, but their father and only monetary provider walked out on the family!! Now, the mother is scrambling to get a job to pay the mounting bills. I got an Income Generating Project breakdown for her. She would like to have her own business, but this will cost $465 to start! Since I am unemployed myself, I can't provide much assistance. However, I have requested that CI look into a "temporary fix" to the situation: How much would 6 months rent cost?

Anyway, you can see all 6 of Brayan's videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=04F5D382FDBEF654

How are we measuring up?

We are doing so terrifically on these fundraisers!!! If you haven't had a chance to pat yourselves on the back, go ahead and take the time to do that now :0) This is how it stacks up for the current 3 fundraisers:

Maria and Ullysette's fundraiser target is $535. In only one month's time, $190 has been raised for this project!!! That is incredible! Only $345 to go!

http://www.firstgiving.com/betterlatethannever

Jonathan's fundraiser target is $541. In two month's time $243.10 has been raised! Only $297.90 to go!

http://www.firstgiving.com/igp4jonathan

Gema & Crystal's fundraiser target is $391, & $151 has already been raised! That leaves only $240 to go!

http://www.firstgiving.com/icecreamigp

Remember that you can help these fundraiser by purchasing magazines/cookie dough with the magazine fundraiser link on the right. Or, how about purchasing the Christmas cards for your sponsor kids through the card link on the right. Both of these links provide income to our fundraiser. We didn't sell any magazines or cookie dough last month, but Christmas is coming, so now is the time for these great products!

You don't have to buy the items to help the fundraisers, there is another way to help. You can do as Alice did, and just spread the word! She was able to generate sales, and then, able to tell me how she wanted the revenue disbursed. Go to the link, and from there, you can send an e-mail directly to anyone on your contact list.

Any revenue you generate, you can decide where you want the money to go. So, the more people you tell, the more opportunities for money going to your fundraiser!

Non-Stop Good News for Paola & Tomasa!!!

I can't believe I am posting this!!! First we had some anonymous donations to help out the girls, and now even more good news!!! The Mexican government just paid to put in a cement floor in their home (as well as the other homes in their neighborhood)!!! That means that the funds that were being used for the floor can now be used for a bathroom!!! Plus, we have had some great group members step up to donate to Paola's fundraiser: http://www.firstgiving.com/groupchild
This will take care of the connect drainage and the extra funds can go to a dresser and helping the girls get their birth certificates... and maybe it will even pay their tuition for the next school year!!! Great news all around!

***Special Note: They will, also, have the additional funds that were raised by our group, so an additional $195 or so (after Firstgiving fees are taken out). Maybe they can buy some food and other household essentials?

Thanks everyone!!!

Bracelet & Necklace Sales

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! Almost $80 towards Jonathan's Fundraiser for necklaces & bracelets!!! That means his fundraiser is almost half-way complete!!! I am packing up the necklaces and bracelets for the children in Uganda now, but it is not too late to order. If you want to order, I will be sending a second package out in a few weeks (depending on demand).

If you have ordered any bracelets/necklaces for CI children, your orders are already on their way to you (except Dee's whose I just got in).

Also, I have made a bracelet for Jonathan, and will put it in a letter to him when I explain all of the great help all of you have been!!

http://www.firstgiving.com/igp4jonathan

Three of my Boys get Their Uniforms!!!

Reagon is the one in the front on the far left. He is holding Iga's hand. Henry is the one standing next to the child on the farthest right (you can probably recognize his eyes because he is always giving that look with his eyes- LOL)

So, after seeing this picture with 3 of my children getting their uniforms, I found out that Iga is a boy! Iga's bio that was given to me was all girl based, but I had doubts in my head because girls wear skirts and Iga had shorts... So, I thought that was strange, but then I thought that if she was the youngest child on a family of boys, she might have to wear shorts. To make a long story short, I had included her, I mean him, in the package for girls. So, I have now sent a boy several girly stickers and a sticker fairy book!!!

Henry Turns 9 Years Old!

Good Grief! Henry has gotten so big so fast! He turned 9 on October 28th, and today I got his new picture. Isn't he handsome?!?!

Another Halloween Sponsor Meet Up

Efrain & Eva met in Puerto Rico. Efrain didn't have any pictures to share because he doesn't have a working camera, but here is what they did in Efrain's words:

I got up by 6:30AM, the usual time I get up and left home around 7:00AM. I arrived around 9:15AM, a little more than two hours later. They (Eva and her husband) were staying in a hotel whose name slips out of my memory now. Iremember it was located at McLeary road. It was funny that I had studied a google map with a satellite photo to help me get around thearea since I don't know it, and I ended up getting lost. By some miracle, I happened to be running through the very McLeary road andsince then it was easy to locate the hotel.
We met at the hotel's small restaurant where Eva and her husband were taking their breakfast. We took the bus to Old San Juan and arrived at the bus terminal in Old San Juan. Then took the trolley. We left the trolley at the front of El Castillo de San Cristobal. It was much fun walking through thoseold tunnels. Since it was Halloween, Eva was joking about ghosts and we were cracking jokes about old ghosts of Spanish soldiers haunting those tunnels. She joked about the ghosts coming to take her husband; since she was Spaniard, they wouldn't do her any harm and since I am Puertorrican, they wouldn't do me any harm either.
We have to notice that the whole fortress was built by the Spaniards. We were there up to around 1:00PM or 1:30PM. We lunched in a restaurant next to Plaza Colon, near San Cristobal Fortress. Its name slips my mind too, sorry. Then we took the trolley and went to El Castillo de San Felipe del Morro.El Morro is one of my favorite places all around Puerto Rico and I can state exactly what is my favorite place in the whole fortress. It is what is called "La Torre del Morro" (The El Morro's Tower). It's as mall place inside the fortress that's the oldest place in the castle.The tower is the very first thing that was built. It's now inside the massiveness of the castle and it's not visible save for its interior.There is no sketch from the building time that gives any indication of it's outer appearance, but I have a good idea of what it should have looked like. La Fortaleza (or El Palacio de Santa Catalina, now the residence of the governor of Puerto Rico) has two towers. I once visited La Fortaleza, and the guide explained to me that the structure was originally just a single plaza surrounded by a wall and one of the towers.
When we enter that tower, it looks just like the tower at El Morro, just that it is very well maintained, with a tiled floor, while the El Morro's one looks deteriorated. A fragment of a projectile is stuck in the ceiling. Just at looking at the tower of La Fortaleza, we can picture how the tower at El Morro should have looked like in thebeginning. They both were built around the same time although the tower at La Fortaleza is a bit older.I think Eva noticed my excitement when I explained that to her. It blows up my mind.
By the end of our visit at El Morro, Eva was visibly very tired. I didn't feel so tired, yet I don't know whether or not I actually looked tired.We returned to the hotel and then I showed the pictures of my childrento Eva. We talked about our sponsored children and about our efforts to raise funds for them. She has a heartbreaking story about how bad a fundraiser went for her. I wouldn't do any justice to that story whether I try to retell it myself, so I won't.
It was past 8:00PM when I left the hotel. Right before leaving, Itried to study my map to find my way back. Unfortunately, the roads were not properly labeled and I ended up getting lost at night in the streets of San Juan (not the old part). After a little while of trying to sort out the streets without success, I gave up trying and decided to follow my instinct. Almost in no time I turn a corner that feltj ust right and I was in route though PR-2 road which I knew it would lead me to the highway. This is not the first time that I have noticed that I have a keen sense of orientation that could save me many headaches whether I decide to fully trust it.

Yamileisly & her family get a bathroom!

Yamileisly is sponsored by Dee. Although Dee has been hit by the hard financial times of this economy, she was still able to pull together funds to provide her sponsor child with something the rest of us take for granted~ a toilet (as well as the sink and room to go with it)!!! Talk about having a heart of gold! She has definitely gone the extra mile to make sure that her sponsor child Yamileisly can remain healthy (and so can her family)!

This is what Dee had to say:

"I'm so excited that the family received the materials for their new bathroom, What a difference it will make. Something so simple yet so needed! I can't wait to see the finished project. Yamileisy's letter says;

"My Dear Darleny;
Hello, I am very happy because you are thinking about me and my family. Thanks for the donation. We received; clothes, shoes, 1 Polo shirt (for dad) 2 blouses (for mom) 2 pair pants (Yami) 1 toy, construction materials; concrete blocks, pipes, cement, sink, toilet, etc. With love, Yamileisy"

Comments: The child was very happy and thankful to the sponsor for this great donation. The family gives thanks to the sponsor and said: "We are really happy and will ask God to bless and give health for the sponsor."
I really wish they didn't have to take up so much precious room listing everything. The photos are enough proof. I'd rather hear all about them, as many have mentioned before.

Just the other day I was telling an acquaintance about my CI kids and getting them a bathroom. He is a foster parent so I thought he'd be interested in my story. I told him about my upcoming fundraiser for the family's Income Generating Project. He then gave me $10 to put towards it. I was so grateful. I came home and put it into my FirstGiving page (even though it isn't up to my number yet). I love my CI kids and talking about them to whoever will listen. I try to carry my trip photos and SNG photos with me so that they know how real it is!