Let's Finish Strong!

Tomorrow at 1:00 MST ends the America's Giving Challenge. At the start of this challenge, we set a goal to raise $10,000. So far we have raised almost $7,600 through this challenge directly. We have also raised another $600+ through the sale of our holiday cards and other donations. Because of all of you, we have less than $2,000 needed before we reach our goal!

Because of the more than $8,200 we have raised and the $4,100 matching donation, the children of Angel Cottage have new beds, a concrete wall is being built to create a safe play area, and tables are being built. Your generosity is turning this concrete building into a true home. The children are looking forward to having room to run and play, to having tables for eating and studying, and to having multiple bathrooms.

As the children prepare to move into their new home, please help us finish this marathon-like challenge strong. With your help, this home will be all they have dreamed it will be.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135

So grateful,

Kari

Please help us finish strong!

On October 7 Angel Covers entered the America's Giving Challenge and the support was overwhelming. In the past 3 weeks more than $7,300 has been raised. With a goal of $10,000 we are on track to meet this goal for sure.

In the next 6 days until this challenge is over, we need the support of everyone possible. A donation of just $10 will completely change a child's life. The $7,300 raised already has been done primarily because hundreds of people were willing to donate $10 and ask others to do the same.

The children of Angel Cottage will soon be moving into their new home. Because of so many generous people, they will have new beds, sheets, blankets, sewing machines, and a fenced play area. Because of so many of you, this house is quickly turning into a home for the 35 children who live there...not to mention the several who are already planning on moving in this January.

In these last 6 days of the challenge, let's not stop working toward out goal. The children of Angel Cottage are working every day to prove to themselves and the world they are capable of great things. Please join me in working with these children to show the world what amazing potential they have.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/16135/4968685?m=5c768c22&ref=mf

So very grateful,

Kari

Friday, October 23 at 1:00pm MST

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 AT 1:00 MST

Joel and his mom came to Humble Hearts yesterday looking for a school for Joel. He is 4 years old, deaf, and lives with his mom who is barely able to afford her rent and food for the two of them. Because the new Angel Cottage is almost completed and so many people have come together to help us in the America's Giving Challenge, Joel's mother was told he could move into Angel Cottage in January and begin attending school.

During the past two weeks of the Giving Challenge, I've been talking about giving the children of Angel Cottage a home, and all of the things children deserve in their home...loving care-givers, their own beds, books, space to play. But, Joel has reminded me that this challenge is about so much more.

This challenge is all about giving these children a chance at a life that is completely different than they were born into. Because people around the world have come together to build Angel Cottage and put everything in it the children need, Joel will learn a language. Joel will learn math. He'll learn to read. Most importantly, Joel will learn he is capable. He'll start dreaming of a future that doesn't include wondering where his next meal is coming from or if his tin shack is going to leak during the rainy season.

Friday, October 23 at 1:00 starts the next daily challenge. Because of so many people, Angel Covers has won $500 in this challenge twice. Please help us this Friday by donating and asking others to do the same. This challenge isn't about beds and tables. It's about hope and dreams...it's about futures. http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=16135

Continuously grateful,

Kari

I missed a few days

It's hard to believe it's Monday already and I haven't written since Friday. Between the rolling black-outs, our schedule, and nothing opening until 2:00 on Sunday's, it's been very hard to email. Kenya is going through a severe drought right now. Because of that, electricity is in great shortage. Kenya uses a lot of hydro power to generate electricity. Without water, there is no electricity. So, most days part of the city is dark for some time. At our hotel, there is no electricity from 7am to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Friday we were able to take the high school kids to the Angel Cottage construction and paint. Everyone worked so hard! We were able to paint 9 HUGE rooms, 2 hallways, and the toilet rooms. This is just the base coat and the next time these rooms are painted, they will be a calm, cool color the children will enjoy for many years. Additionally, today the dining room walls be start being smoothed and prepared for names on the bricks to be added. This has been a long time coming, but soon all of you who bought a brick will have your name permanently in the dining room for the kids to see for years to come.

While kids were painting, final decisions were made in order to start a tailoring school for the deaf girls. These girls will be learning to sew, will take in jobs and have income for themselves and Angel Cottage. 15% of the income from this program will go into savings accounts for these girls to use for college, starting their own business, or getting an apartment. 45% will be used to purchase materials and other needs to sustain the program, and 40% of the income will be used to support the kids at the cottage through food purchases, electricity, water, etc. At the same time, the boys will be taught carpentry and the same percentages will apply. These are exciting programs that will not only teach the children valuable skills, but will continue to make Angel Cottage a self-sufficient home.

Saturday was spent doing a little sightseeing and relaxing a little more. Sunday, we were able to go to the market, and spent the evening testing the eye sight of the children living at Angel Cottage. Fortunately, only one seems to need glasses right away. We will also be testing all of the kids at HH today for both near and far sightedness, but also for colorblindness. This is quite the undertaking, but one we know is greatly needed.

Today I will also be visiting the Dagoretti School, were we have been able to start a chicken program in the past. This program is currently the only source of consistent income for this school, and therefore vital to its survival. I'm excited to see how it's changing the lives of these 500 children.

It's going to be a full 2 days until we leave for the US tomorrow evening. As always, there is so much more to tell and never enough time. Know that all your support is completely changing the lives of these children!

Kari

Beatrice goes home.

After a whirl-wind trip across the United States, Beatrice Anunda headed back to Kenya today. Beatrice was thrilled to have been brought to the US by the Trillium School in Oregan. Very supportive of Humble Hearts, the Trillium School has sent two groups of high school kids to Humble Hearts with their teachers to help build desks, paint walls, plant a garden, and many other things.

While in Oregon, Beatrice learned new teaching methods from the Trillium School, was able to see the ocean, and met many wonderful supporters. We were fortunate that she also had time to come to Denver. While here she spoke at a school for the deaf, met with two non-profit organizations interested in helping deaf and impoverished children, had an online chat with sponsors, meet many sponsors in person, learned about Halloween, and many other things. She was also able to see snow for the first time and went to the top of the Continental Divide...exclaiming "I've never been so cold in my life!" :-)

After leaving Denver, Beatrice had the great fortune of going to Pennsylvania for a week to visit the Scranton School of the Deaf. It was exciting to hear her be so enthusiastic about what she had learned. Seeing New York City was a huge hit too.

Thanks to everyone who talked to her through the online chat, took the time to meet her, have her in your homes, and show her this beautiful country of ours. She had a wonderful time, much was learned, and many new people learned how they too can help Humble Hearts.

Coming Soon -- Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is always a little bittersweet for me. I love having a perfect excuse to spend the entire day with my kids. We go for hikes, go out to eat, whatever....as long as we don't have to think about anything else but having fun as a family. In this busy world of school, work, sports, and so many other activities, it's great to be able to take a day and just hang out together with no other obligations.

But Mother's Day also makes me think of those kids who don't have a mom, or kids whose families just aren't able to give their kids what they need. These are the kids who need to be able to "borrow" our moms for a day. These children need us to allow our moms to give them a home, and education, or food for the day.

This Mother's Day, please consider donating to help another child in honor of your mom. Put your mom's name on a brick at Angel Covers and let those children see how much she cares for kids around the world. http://www.angelcovers.org/angelcottage.html Sponsor a child at Humble Hearts, a Tibetan Minority Region school, or at our nutrition program in Huaibei, Anhui to provide kids with the warmth, nutrition, and education you mom provides you. http://www.angelcovers.org/childsponsorship.html Give a blanket to a child around the world so he/she has something to snuggle with as you did as a child. http://www.angelcovers.org/giftcards.html Any time a donation is made in honor of your mother, a card will be sent telling her of your generosity.

You can also purchase mom cooking aprons, blankets, notecards, or sweatshirts. All of these products support children around the world and let your mom know that you appreciate all she has done. http://www.angelcovers.org/products.html

There's a saying that says imitation is the best form of flattery. Help us imitate a mother's love through your gifts to her. By helping kids around the world this Mother's Day, you will be letting you mom know what a great job she does.