The Big Day is Here (and now over)

A brief update on our walk today......
We had amazingly beautiful weather and a really great time!  I will be downloading pics and finishing up final details of the walk.  Thank you to all who helped this day be a success!

Meet the Speaker

Last year we had the privilege of hearing Pastor Ben Kangar speak at the walk.  Ben is originally from Liberia, West Africa but now resides in the U.S. with his wife and children.  We enjoyed our time and Ben did an excellent job speaking about school in Liberia and his experiences growing up there.

This year I invited Frank Glenn Traub to come speak for us.  He is also from West Africa.  Glenn has authored a book called "And It Shall Come To Pass."  You can find the link to his book at Amazon.  This book was written during his teen and young adult years while he was growing up during the Liberian war.  Glenn will be speaking about the war and its affect on Liberia's school children.  Glenn is bringing his book to sell at the walk and will be selling it for $20.00.  If you are interested in a book and cannot attend the walk, send me an email and I can grab one for you while he is here with us.

Hope to see you there!

Victoria Has Graduated

On June 12th we had our first graduate.  Victoria graduated from the class of K-11 from Fullness Apostolic Foundation Elementary School.  She has been a student with us for a couple of years and is doing well.  In order to partake in the graduation ceremony it is required that you wear the proper attire.  They need shoes and a dress (which costs around $15.00).  The graduation ceremony itself costs around $16 USD.  This is no small matter for our kids.  Another reason why we do the W.A.L.K.

This is the program for the graduating students.  Victoria is number 25...the very last one.

Kids in line for graduation.

Victoria in the middle.

The family and friends are gathered....

Some celebration singing...

Victoria's grandmother Annie in the middle here.

The principal making his remarks....

Almost done, Victoria!

Victoria with her family.

Congrats, Miss Victoria! We are proud of you!  Keep studying hard!

Her Blessings are Blessing Others

It has been so much fun seeing other children participate in school sponsorship!  Here is another family who is teaching their children what it means to invest in someone else.  What a gift they are giving to their children! You can check out their family blog here.  This is a post they did on W.A.L.K.  And, below are her two boys who are her greatest blessings...

Seriously, don't you just love those huge smiles?  They are already starting to get into writing their new friend some letters.  Hmmm, I might just have to post some really cute pictures for you of kids in Liberia writing letters to their new sponsors!  :)

Want Last Year's Shirt?

These are last year's walk-a-thon t-shirts.  They have the same quote on the back of them as this year's shirts.  (click to enlarge to read it)  I would like to sell them as part of the Memorial Day to Labor Day Challenge.  I have one small, 4 medium and one large in adult sizes.  I have an xl in adult but it looks like the size is incorrect on it.  It looks more like an adult large.  If you would like one, I will sell them for $5.00+shipping.  If interested, leave a comment or email me from the contact page.

Memorial Day to Labor Day Challenge

I wanted to update everyone on behalf of our kids.  Every child has been sponsored!  You have been gracious to the children of Liberia and you have honored HIM!  Thank you!

I have a pastor friend who did a challenge on facebook.  His challenge was to set a goal between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  My mind immediately went to what I could give up in order to give back.  It seems to be a common theme among organizations lately...."give up your soda, your coffee, a meal, etc. etc. and give that money to the needy, the orphan, the widow.  And, though you've probably heard it a million times and maybe even tried it before, can I encourage one person or maybe even two to give up something for this challenge?  But, what is that challenge $ going to be used for?  

This is the picture of Stephen and his wife, Rebecca that is on the side bar of this blog.  I have many pictures of them but since this is my all-time favorite one I am posting this one. again.  :)  Stephen is the guy who does all the work for the LLP.  (Liberian Literacy Program)  And, by "all the work", I mean ALL THE WORK!  From going to each school to do student profiles, taking pictures, meeting with all the families, setting up meetings, doing the meetings,working with school principals, distributing funds, buying supplies and uniforms and meeting with the Ministry of Health, this guy is truly busy.  Now imagine this.  He already has a full-time job outside of working for the LLP.  He has a wife and son that he adores and needs his time. ( BTW, Rebecca is pregnant and is due during the upcoming weeks!! Yay! I really can't wait and wish I was going to be there!)  He has been taking care of newborn twins for weeks since the passing of his sister.  He is involved in church.  He helps out his family and friends whenever he can.  That's Stephen.

But now imagine this...His full-time job outside of LLP barely gives him enough money to live on.  In Liberia they call that living "hand to mouth", meaning that there is not enough to go around.  He has taken in a couple different kids for the past year and fed them and given them a place to stay, even when he does not have much himself.  And the hardest part for me to type....last year from the LLP he received $250.00 for the year!!  Not much. Really not a lot when you take out expenses for all of the above!    

Stephen came into our program as a volunteer, just like the rest of us.  He knew we couldn't pay him when we started.  He still insists on volunteering.  His heart is in this program.  Since our program is growing and his workload is getting heavier,  I would like to give him something extra.  So, what I have decided to do is find things to give up during the months between Memorial Day and Labor Day and give that money to Stephen.  My personal challenge will be $25.00/month for those 3 months.  As I am looking at ways to fund another $25.00/month into our already taxed budget, I know that if I give up some of those unnecessary purchases (like the occasional pop from the gas station when filling up) it will add up quickly.  The kids have all given some clothes for a consignment store and my mother-in-law is donating aluminum cans from the place she is working.  We  are cashing in our brakes that we had replaced, to a scrap company.  I am going to Craigslist some items from home.  And, I am asking if any of you will join me.  Will you commit to this challenge with me from Memorial Day to Labor Day?  It doesn't have to be $25.00.  It can be $1.00, $5.00 or $10.00.  Anything will help.  Stephen is such a huge part of this program! Please consider how you could bless him in his efforts in Liberia.

                                    "When you educate a girl,
           you educate an entire nation"
                         ~African Proverb