Upside Down World

Yes...I took this picture in the airport. This lady...for some reason
(do not want to speculate) assumed this position. Struck me as funny
so I snapped a photo with my iPhone.
Upside down. This picture sort of sums up many of my thoughts in
regards to this last trip to Haiti. So many needs...was a bit
overwhelming...found my mind and heart all over the place...some days
literally upside down and all messed up. I am so glad we have
partnered with the Manassero's. Their hope filled long range plans
helped keep me right-side up!
Stay tuned to this blog as more stories will follow about Haiti,
Central Asia, Kenya & the Philippines.

Sensory Overload

Back in Miami. The girls had to have a treat. I must admit...it was
yummy!

Sensory Overload!

Back in Miami now. The ladies could not resist. Had a great trip.
Nothing like an ice cream...peanut
butter...caramel...nut...extravaganza like dessert!

Every child NEEDS to know they are loved.!

This Christmas party is Celebrated with another very special group of kids. This orphanage is one that is privately run, and specializes in children with learning disabilities... They do a tremendous job here... We do not spend as much time here as I would like, but that is because it is so well run, that we do not have a lot to offer, BUT like everywhere else in Central Asia, places like this will be the first to experience the hit of a recession, and the last to come out of one.. The organization that runs this orphanage has had to be very resourceful to maintain all of their commitments here, that is why I was so thrilled that we could have this Christmas Celebration with them... Some of the Children have gone home for the holiday, so the ones that are left are pretty much those that are truly orphaned... They all thought that this was awesome...

They certainly were not expecting it.....





For myself, and by now I am sure some of you, all of these photo's from the thousands of kids that we have celebrated Christmas with over the past few weeks, are more then just photos... I find myself blowing up and scouring every picture to see how my kids are doing..."Oh good Victors front teeth have finally come in..... Aisolo is still not growing....Aibek is looking sad"... and the list goes on...I have had emails from many of our readers telling how excited they are that they have been able to see there special kids as well....

That is what is so special about what we have here... Dream agents Like Anya and Sergey, shown bellow, who can be there physically for the kids when we can't be. I am so thankful that they are there to share my burden... but wait... the reality of this hits me again ... This was their burden first... that they have shared with me. That is the key to what we do, we don't hire people to work for us. We look for people who are doing the work without us, and we work for them... That is what makes this all so special....



Sergey here is standing with a young man that many of you will have seen grow up on this blog over the last 4 1/2 years since he first arrived at the orphanage....

Here is a re post of the storey from when we first introduced him...

On a couple of occasions this fall we had the opportunity to take teams to the village orphanage. We brought treats for the kids and even cooked them a good Canadian meal which is becoming a tradition (hot roast beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes and veggies) there are always a few kids that stick out, usually for their outgoing personality. One young boy stood out because he was not comfortable like the rest. He was almost in a panic mode, he ate everything he could find, cleaning up the plates of everyone around him. One of the teams
named him Marshmallow because of his appetite for marshmallows. It almost felt like a survival instinct for him. It makes you wonder what went on in this boys past that would make him this way. I wanted to know, but I did not want to ask,
Maybe I did not want to know the answer.

Over the next couple years he began to soften, and even warmed up to some of our friends who visited.....

He took a special liking to our driver Isar.... Isar is such a kind gentle man... it was good for our young friend, but he still remained a bit of a wild child... school was out of the question for him

Then we were able to get him transferred to the orphanage he is in now... last spring we went to his class , and he came up to the front of the class and demonstrated how he could now add and subtract.... we are so proud of him.... he is settling down now.. he is able to concentrate better, and he is feeling much more secure then he ever has before... you can really tell that it is not just us that love him, but that his new orphanage has been a true blessing to his development....

Today he stands not as just one of a couple thousand nameless unknown, unwanted kids, but a special individual , he reminds me that every child deserves to be loved, and every child needs to know that someone loves them.... sometimes we just need to "stop for the one in front of us"

This year that is happening all over the world because

iam1ru

I'm leaving on a jetplane...

There is much to contemplate after a visit to Haiti.  Scott Helps is doing exactly that sitting by the pool at Wahoo Bay.  We had a little R&R during our last full day here.  One of the things that is incredible to me is that while we are doing our best to impact a few lives here in Haiti in partnership with Bill & Susette Manaserro....there are incredible things happening in a Central Asia at the same time.  All of these things are taking place because of the partnership we have at PI with "everyday philanthropists" like you!  Thank you so much!
Carrie Underwood wrote a song that she sings called "Change".  The lyrics of the chorus go something like this..."Just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change the world...don't listen to them when they say, you're just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change the world".
I let my son Scott listen to the song and after he heard it he looked at me and said these words, "Yup, that is a Sam Welten kind of song"...I took that as a compliment.  Call me a fool if you like, but I believe that we can raise a "nation" of people that can see our world changed.  We can do far more together than we could ever do alone.  While children from the street are being blessed here in Haiti....children, adults and the elderly in Kyrgyzstan are getting the "mother" of all Christmas's...and the list goes on.  Yes...call me a fool....call John Wright a fool...call the nation of "everyday philanthropists" we are building all fools if you like.  In every place we do these types of things we partner with folks that are there long term...we are not "one shot" wonders....we are just fools that believe we can change the world.

Thank you Brianne....Scott & Heather Helps....Sarah Helps...Scott Welten....Dan Helps.

Fools....everyone of you!

Yes.....I believe.

Nothing says we care like a Kit Kat

We begin today's Christmas Celebration post by bringing you to the bed ridden section of one of the orphanages in Central Asia... These are kids that are often forgotten ... left out. In this orphanage, they have an incredible staff that loves them and cares for them, and along with our friends wanted them to have a special Christmas this year... Just because they are severely disabled does not mean that these kids will be forgotten or left out... Every child in this section received a new soft stuffed animal that they could hold ...

What child does not want a puppy for Christmas ?

Those that were able to get up and around met in the meeting room for a special treat...

I love this next photo... I see the Kit Kat in the bag... that bring back memories from when I was a kid... chocolate bars / pop / restaurants... these were all things that were for special occasions... one of those occasions was Christmas when my grand parents would come for a visit... They would bring with them a box of Turtles... but often the long train ride would be too much for my grandmother and she would eat them on the way.... then be up sick all night...lol... My Grandfather was never a man of words, or affection, but he would always come through with a Kit Kat..... It was his way of saying he cared .....

Today these kids know that someone cares for them too.

At the concert, they were treated to some special break dancing... something that thrills the kids in Central Asia...

What a wonderful day for everyone involved with this event... Thank you again to everyone who rose to the Challenge to help make this a special day for our little friends... Stay tuned tomorrow we will be bringing photo's from another Christmas celebration in the region...

Merry Christmas to all or friends Celebrating today

This is Christmas morning in Central Asia .... 
Here is a short video with our dream agent Anya as she celebrates with the kids in one of the orphanages.