Art for Nanese

Since I have 2 photos of Nanese, I decided to add both photos to this project. She will get a larger art project because we will only have the pleasure of sponsoring her for 2 additional months. (Depressing! I LOVE her letters!)

Nanese will receive two very nicely drawn pictures of bikes. She expressed that she likes to bike and we are a biking family. I hope she enjoys her "art" package from the boys.

 

By the way. I couldn't resist asking Compassion if we had any letters in process. We do! Another letter from Nanese! I was disapointed to learn I still don't have any idea how Efrata spent her birthday money (although I for whatever reason will bet you she bought either a goat or food.) I sent the money in April. I had high hopes that we would have something coming by now but I understand that she lives in a completely different world than we do and things just don't happen at the snap of a finger. I'll try to have patience. As if I can do anything else about it.. I guess my only other option would be to buy a very expensive plane ticket and go to Ethiopia to find out myself. Hmmm..... Tempting.

Art for Ashenafi & Efrata

I cut this paper down the middle to seperate it and add it to the artwork made by the boys. These are photos of the kids working on their drawings and holding them up for the camera.

Ashenafi will receive pictures of soccer balls & ping pong, two things his packet says he enjoys. (We have not received a letter from him as it's only been a few weeks.) Efrata is going to get a picture of a flower & an airplane.

Hunter (my youngest) included a very sweet note on the back of both of these pictures.

Dear Ashenafi,
I like Soccer too. I drew something for you. I wish I could help your country. From Hunter.
(He really wanted me to add, we will send you money to help. Even though we WILL be sending him money, I decided against putting that in a letter.)

Dear Efrata,
I drew a plane for you. I wore a costume once. I looked like a pilot. My grandma has been in a plane. (So has his mom & dad!) Have you been in a plane? I haven't. From Hunter.

 

A boy named Achile

Posted with permission from a Compassion blogger, Rebecca,.
Here is her post about a boy named Achile who needs your help.

This is Achile:



Since the moment I saw his face I have been fighting the urge to jump on the next plane to Burkina Faso just so I can hug him.

I'm afraid that if I was wealthy my whole life would be spent flying all over the world to hold babies and hug children.

But this sweet eight year old boy, Achile, who I am sure would appreciate a hug, needs something that I cannot give him.

You see, Achile has a broken heart, and it needs to be fixed.

Achile is suffering from a heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot. Over the last 5 years he has suffered with pain, and has not been able to regularly attend school because of his condition.

Through his sponsorship with Compassion International, Achile has been receiving medical treatment in Burkina Faso, where he lives. Unfortunately the operation that can save his life cannot be done in his home country. He must travel to India for heart surgery.

The cost of this surgery, including travel, is $20,449.

This amount may as well be millions for a family living in extreme poverty.

But if we each give the little we can give, God can take that gift and multiply it. And his beautiful child, Achile, can have the opportunity to live his life. He can have the opportunity to run and play, to go to school, and to be a child.

If you would like to be part of God's blessing on Achile's heart, you can donate here. And I ask that as you go through your day, you remember a child named Achile.


** Note from Julie. This boy lives in a country were the families make an average of $300 US dollars a year. While $20,000 seems CHEAP for any surgery it would take 68 years for a family here to come up with that kind of money. That is if they don't eat, buy new clothing, or pay for school for 68 years

Special Days Camp- a camp for children fighting cancer

I will be so blessed next month when we host our first event at camp next month. With 80 kids expected we will be busy pampering the girls & playing with all the boys in attendance. Through the For A Day Foundation of Grand Rapids we will be hosting a big party for these kids!

To keep costs down (we are on a limited budget) we have selected a less expensive craft for this event. I found a foam 'badge' project for the boys & a garland halo project for the girls.




A friend at Panopoulos Salon is organizing volunteers & donations for a hair style station but because some children are undergoing chemotherapy and have lost thier hair she is also seeking donations for bandanas.

I will be asking a local grocer this week for a donation of cookies, frosting, and sprinkles so that we can host a cookie decorating station. I will be looking for tattoos for both the boys & girls for a tattoo station, and will will of course have our normal stations.

I'm am still working on goodie bags. I'd like to have large goodie bags that will hold their tiara's, boa's, make-up, firefighter helmet, cookie, etc.. but I think that is out of my budget. Toying with the idea of just getting colored lunch bags but I'm afraid that would be to small.

I wasn't aware of how much work this directorship was when I signed up, but when it all comes together it is worth all the effort!

Links that I Love

If you're a bit crafty, this looks like a really fun project. :)

Click here for Craft Project

Went to Africa for the day

Did you know it's only a 5 minute tram ride from Battle Creek, MI? O.K, so we went to Binder Park Zoo. The next best thing I guess. It was my first trip there & the zoo is amazing! The animals are in more of a natural habitat. The scenery was great and we all had a good time.

Walking under the row of flags from Africa. Ethiopia is on the top Left. (Of course I'd take a photo of Ethiopia!)



After a short walk we came upon a clearing where we could see animals like giraffe, zebra, ostridges, and deer all running through a wide open field. The kids bought lettuce leafs and fed the giraffe.








The keeper said these were domesticated cow. They look so fierce with those horns!


We also saw monkeys, hogs, and other animals native to Africa.




After a few hours in Africa we made out way back to the tram to head back to the States.

It's America by Rodney Atkins

An early Happy Birthday to the U.S.A.

Drivin' down the street today
Saw the sign for lemonade
They were the cutest kids
I've seen in this front yard

As they handed me my glass
Smiled and thinkin' to myself
Man what a picture perfect postcard this would make
Of america

It's a high school prom
It's a springstein song
It's a ride in a cheverlet
It's a man on the moon
And fireflies in June
Kids sellin lemonade
It's cities and farms
And open arms
One nation under God
It's america

Later on when I got home
I flipped the t.v on
I saw a little town that some big
Twister tore apart
People came from miles around
Just to help their neighbors out
And I was thinkin' to my self
I'm so glad that I live in america

Now we might not always get it right
But there's nowhere else I rather build my life

Cause it's a kid with a chance
It's a rock n roll band
It's a farmer cuttin' hay

It's a flag blowin' in the summer wind
Over some fallen hero's grave.