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Showing posts with label orphan advocacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orphan advocacy. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2014

Twenty-one Days of Hope! Meet Lynda.


http://reecesrainbow.org/64331/lynda

This is Lynda. Lynda currently spends her days in the same orphanage my niece and nephew once called home. . Lynda's hair has been cut very short and she often was put in boy's clothing. My sister-in-law and her husband met this little girl and even though they were there adopting Sam and Ruby. (So they were only a little busy!). . . Maranda knew that she needed to help "Lynda" find a Mama and Papa of her very own. So, I'm going to use Maranda's words instead of my own. . .

"We met Lynda when we were at Sam & Ruby’s orphanage this summer.  She was in the same groupa (the group of children who basically share life together…they eat, sleep and play together all day, every day). Lynda needs a family badly.  She was one of the least favored children in the groupa.  As you can see, her hair is cropped short.  Thankfully, they put a cute dress on her for this photo, but for several weeks at the orphanage we thought Lynda was a boy.  Most of the other girls in the groupa wore girls’ clothes and always had pretty bows in their long hair, but not Lynda or another little girl with mental delays.  These two girls were dressed as boys all of the time.  Lynda seemed to receive the least attention and was often found playing by herself.

She has a quiet, noble nature about her.  She was always very kind even though she received little attention.  She is in a “good” orphanage in that she is well fed and kept clean, but she so desperately needs a family.  On one occasion she wandered over to the play shelter where we were playing and was trying to eat Ruby’s cookie.  We didn’t have any extra (we brought treats for the groupa every three days or so) so Ed just picked her up to distract her and as soon as he did, she threw her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder just soaking in the attention.  It was the most precious yet sad thing I’ve ever seen.  She just wants to love and be loved…to be a Daddy’s girl.  I wish you could have seen the smile on her face as she hugged Ed.  It was priceless.  For that brief moment, she was in heaven.

She has hydrocephalus and is globally delayed in her development but she is still very bright and has so much potential in a family.  Judging by the size and shape of her head, it seems that either her shunt isn’t working or she has never been shunted.  A shunt is crucial for people with hydrocephalus to keep the fluid from building up around their brain.  She needs medical attention, but most of all she needs a family.  Lynda will turn five in December.  Just like Sam, she will face the threat of being transferred to an adult insane asylum where she would likely die."

 Right now Reece's Rainbow is doing a campaign entitled, "21 Days of Hope." From February 24th- February 28th you can vote for a child daily (And yes. . . you can vote for the same child each day.) . The "Top 21" children will be featured between March 1st-21st, wouldn't you love to see Lynda featured?! So. . . starting today, once a day you can vote for Lynda! A free way to help a precious little girl get one step closer to a family of her very own. If you click on the Image below it will take you directly to the page where you can vote, so select Lynda's name and you can VOTE HERE for Lynda once every 24 hours! A free and easy way to help an orphan! Pretty cool, right?

Edit: Lynda is one of the 21 featured kiddos, THANK YOU for your votes! Now she could use your (tax-deductible donations! When the Voice of Hope fund hits $7000, $2100 will be added to Lynda's fund!  
DONATE HERE!

Lastly if you're interested in learning more about Lynda, email me and I'll connect you with the right folks.




Wednesday, December 25, 2013

He loves Lanie and He loves me.

If you've read my blog at all the past couple months, you know that I've been raising money for a little girl living in Eastern Europe named "Lanie". . . during Reece's Rainbow's Angel Tree.
So many people showed love for this little munchkin, her 1k goal was met before the end of December.
I was amazed by the love that people showed for Lanie through monetary donations, prayers, and word of mouth. So if you're one of the people that helped Lanie this Christmas season, thank you. If you 're interested in donating and would like some bracelets, donate to the link that is the photo's caption and email me your receipt at loveforlanie (at) gmail.com

http://reecesrainbow.org/36282/lanie-l


During the first week or so of fundraising for Lanie I would say things like, "Good thing I'm not funding a whole adoption soon" . . . "Glad I don't have to do this for a living."  "This is hard!"
I had a quite a few bouts with frustration.
Then people happened, so many people united with me to help Lanie.
Jesus made it clear how big He is, how much He loves the orphan and little ol' me.
I knew it didn't end with Angel Tree.

So in the midst of advocating, something happened.
I started to feel a slight tug in the deepest part of my heart. . . to go to Eastern Europe.
After much prayer, I've decided that I will be going on an adventure to Eastern Europe early this summer.
To serve, to learn, and to become the best possible advocate I can be for these precious ones.
So after Angel Tree. . . my adventure begins.
In coming weeks/months I'll be posting more details about my trip. . . (cost, fundraisers, trip location, and what I'll be doing.)
But in the meantime, please keep me in your prayers.

Merry Christmas friends, I love every last one of you.





Monday, December 9, 2013

Daughters.

As many of you know, I've been raising money for a little girl named "Lanie" for Angel Tree this Christmas. 
Reality hit me the other night when I was praying for Lanie . . . 

This Christmas, Lanie won't be surrounded by her family.
She sits behind orphanage walls. . . She won't receive hugs and kisses from her family, there won't be a carefully stuffed stocking with her name on it. Lanie won't get to wear a pretty dress with tights and shiny shoes for family pictures. 

My prayer is that before this time next year, she'll be someone's daughter. 
 I'll smile (and probably cry) when I see a picture of her standing in front of a decorated tree with her family. 
Love will win, I just know it.  

A year ago, my friend Natalie's daughter Sara spent her Christmas in an orphanage. 
This year she is a beloved daughter and is learning new things every day. 
Spend five minutes with this little gal and she'll capture your heart. 
Love won. 


Me, Natalie and Sara.
Check out Natalie's blog at:
http://nataliekeller.blogspot.com/
Sara meeting Santa.
Here are some precious little girls waiting for their families. 
Little girls that would look precious in pretty dresses while wearing shiny shoes. 
These girls need to be seen, they deserve to be loved. 
 Could one of them be your daughter?


http://reecesrainbow.org/36282/lanie-l

http://reecesrainbow.org/40489/kimberley
http://reecesrainbow.org/24193/gina

http://reecesrainbow.org/64331/lynda
http://reecesrainbow.org/24244/tessa
http://reecesrainbow.org/38595/lene




Friday, November 1, 2013

Love for Lanie! (Angel Tree 2013)

I've been excited for today for awhile, today begins the start of my first year doing  Angel Tree!
I'm so excited about this opportunity and would like to tell you more about it and some of the fundraisers I have planned. 
But first things first, you need to meet Lanie. 



But first. . . . here are some things about Lanie. 
Lanie is seven years old. 
She is currently living in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. 
Lanie is quiet, deliberate, and plays well by herself. 
According to her records she has a moderate level of hearing loss.
Lanie loves playing with dolls and uses imaginative play. 

From the first time I saw this little girl's photo, she captured my heart. I bet if you look at her photo for more than a second she'll capture yours too. 

I'm taking donations for Lanie during Angel Tree. 
Feel free to share this blog post, I want the world to see this sweet girl. 
Show sweet Lanie some love friends. 


****Some of the fundraisers I have planned so far****

**There will also be an online Paparazzi jewelry party, dates pending**


**Bracelets should be in stock between 11/14-11/16 but you can pre-order yours today by emailing me at loveforlanie@gmail.com**


                                        

***Will be taking catalog orders and online orders***


....more fundraisers TBA. 





Sunday, October 13, 2013

Learning something new.




Last month I started taking an introductory ASL (American Sign Language) course with a family friend.
I thought I'd enjoy it and knew I would benefit from it. I recently started taking steps to land a job working exclusively within the special needs community, so I thought learning some sign language would be a huge asset.
I didn't know I was about to fall in love. . .

Since I have started my class. . . I've watched numerous ASL lesson videos online, practiced and studied (almost) nightly, and I have read articles and books on Deaf culture. Basically, I've just been learning as much as I can with the resources that I've been given and the things I've found myself.

IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I HAVE ENJOYED SOMETHING THIS MUCH.

I just spent my most of my evening learning new signs and practicing some I've already known. I sent a video to a friend of mine, just showing off some of my new signs. My friend immediately commented on how genuinely happy I looked signing. Just hearing that made me smile, I know I have so much more to learn. . . Nevertheless I am so thankful that I've had  the opportunity to learn something so beautiful and interesting.


***Here are some sweet kiddos that are deaf or hard of hearing that need families. ***
These children will not reach their full potential in institutions, they would THRIVE in a family.
The first child on my list is "Lanie", she's the child I will be raising money for during Angel Tree. . . I love her so.

http://reecesrainbow.org/36282/lanie-l

http://reecesrainbow.org/50131/penelope
                                       

http://reecesrainbow.org/66356/syler

http://reecesrainbow.org/53317/richard
http://reecesrainbow.org/64568/antonio
                                         
http://reecesrainbow.org/1078/b657
                                        
http://reecesrainbow.org/1124/andruisl