‘What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men …… That is what love looks like.’ - St. Augustine

Friday, January 21, 2011

Wowie!!!

Kids dressed up in costumes we provided!
Including Ded Moroz!
If anyone reading this is in doubt that the world is made up of wonderful people, talk to me! I just made a list of the email addresses of all those interested in sending a ziploc bag for the orphanage, and --between here and my facebook page -- we are at 35!!!!

I will find a way to fit them all if it kills me, but any over and above this 35 might end up having to go on my May or June trip ( when I go to bring D home!). If I end up having a friend go with me next month (she's trying to raise the funds to go) then I can bring another 25-30 gallon bags!!!

So, today was a snow day, so I am trying to get on top of this project. I will be emailing everyone today and tomorrow with my address and contact info, as well as the name and age of a child. If you are participating, you should put the name and age of the child in block letters, with a sharpie pen, on the front of the bag. That way I can easily pass them out when I am there.

I understand that some of you might worry about the children who will not be getting bags. I've got that covered! I will have a checklist of who is getting one, and for those who do not, I will inform them that theirs are coming on my next trip in May or June.
Jana, Valya, Christina & others sewing things with materials
that you Blog Readers provided!

For those of you who have written to ask me if their Christmas box ever arrived at the orphanage, I promise to inform you if and when I hear. I have not been able to reach the orphanage by phone or email for over two weeks. My guess is that the director took her annual vacation at the end of the Russian Holidays and has not arrived back yet. I know that when she is on vacation, it is 'all hands on deck' at the orphanage. I doubt they are bothering to answer the phone while she is away. I should hear back from them soon!

Lastly, I would truly appreciate fervent prayers about the potential hosting program. It is actually looking promising. They have asked for an additional letter from a US govt official in support of what we are doing. I hope to get either John Kerry's office or Congressman Tierney's office to draft such a letter for me. Once they receive that, they will render a decision. Please, please pray. It is no stretch to say that this may be a life or death decision for many of these children. Meaning: if they are able to come this summer and meet families, that is their best chance for eventually getting out of the orphanage system. I don't need to remind you of what happens to these kids when they age out at 16.

Also, please pray for the right people to present themselves in helping me to set up a non-profit. Paperwork is not my forte, but I am feeling a stronge nudging from God to move forward now rather than later. I still dream daily of that cottage on the hill above the orphanage. I'm re-reading a great book by Mother Theresa right now that has me even more motivated to dream!

6 comments:

  1. Keri- I am definitely doing a bag for Rosa, but can do more! Please send me names if you need more bags...I would love to do one for a boy as well. Jack, my two year old, helps me pick out things for Rosa so I know he would love to get a few things for a boy too! If you need me to do more, I would be more than happy to do so.
    Mary Rae Moore

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  2. Those children will be so excited when you arrive with all that stuff. I think it's wonderful

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  3. I will happily do a bag- if you have room. I would love to come to Kemerovo and carry a couple of duffle bags full of things for the kids, too. When are you traveling?

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  4. Anonymous6:04 PM

    My 14 year old foster son and I put together 3 bags for boys and 3 for girls today and then spent some time going through your blog to look at pictures of the kids and the orphanage. It was a meaningful experience for him to help others. Seeing what they ate for lunch(and your bread)impacted him as well. We also have three 12 ounce cans of POLYCOSE (Ross Labs, a nutritional caloric supplement for failure to thrive infants/kids) The medically challenged baby we cared for doesn't use it anymore (yeah!) and the medical supply house said I could throw it away if I wanted. What?!!! It goes for about $49 a can and seems just wrong to toss it when it could help others...Anyhow. We'd love to donate it to the orphanage if it could be of use. We are shipping from New England. Thanks! My blog is mamadrama-timestwo.blogspot.com and my email is: mamadramatimestwo@yahoo.com . Peace!

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  5. Every time I see a new picture of Christina, her hair is shorter! She's not going to need the ponytail holders, I guess my girls can use them. Would you give me some insight into her likes/dislikes. I packed her bag but could exchange some things.
    Thanks a lot!

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  6. Keri:
    Sounds like you have enough bags for this trip but I am good for several bags for your late spring trip to bring Danil home. Email at schulie@comcast.net and let me know if you have any specific desires other than what you have listed. God bless!!!

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