Sponsoring a Child - Who's willing to commit?
Hi my wonderful people,
as so often happens here, I cannot believe the absolute compassion and dedication of people in O & M. It humbles me repeatedly, often brings me to tears of awe. Thank you to Juneberrywine for the suggestion and the others who very quickly supported the suggestion with their own words of commtiment. To you all, yet again I am humbled.
I am very happy to support sponsoring a child with a months payment too and will continue to contribute to the ongoing costs. I'll also do the paperwork on behalf of everyone, post the child's picture and progress and so on. Very happy to do that on behalf of everyone and will also continually post the balance of any funds for the child and take care of the monthly payments and so on.
However, I would ask there to be one condition. The cost is $43 per month and I would want to make sure that we had at least the first year's payment covered so that we had that year ahead to raise money for the following year etc. I would be upset if we got to three or four months and ran out of money. If anyone wants to donate the funds they could do it maybe through the donate to Oak and Mistletoe button on the left and I promsie that the money would be kept seperately and all funds and balances be openly available to those who contributed. I'm hoping everyone trusts me enough to take care of their money honestly. I promise I will.
If you're happy to pledge to this amazing idea, please post below (or email me off line if you prefer to do it anonomously) and I sincerely promise that 100% will go directly where you have all suggested.
To each of you, I am so humbled and so unbelievably proud to be a member of this utterly amazing group of people.
Thank you for making it all worthwhile.
Smiles, Amethyst
WONDRFUL
Dearest Amethyst,
You know how deeply I support this concept.
I am happy to donate the necessary funds for the first ten months. I will forward $430 to O&M immediately.
Please everyone, lets support this important endeavour to make another soul's journey on this planet easier and to fill a child with HOPE and the power of good nutrition and education. Who knows what may eventuate from this we could be funding a future 'Nelson Mandella" or "Gandhi"
In Love and Light
David
contribution
Excellent! Funny how things come about (hehe) I contribute a month no worries! (will process funds through paypal and send email to you tomorrow for confirmation) Oak and Mistletoes have my ongoing contribution as often as I can to "sponser our child" xoxoxoxoxo oh, there just aren't enough kisses and hugs in the world !!!
I have so much to say on this but am also speechless at the same time. A 'community' contribution for a child is what I have asked for, for so long! Words are not worthy of this moment and I don't think words need to be said anyway :)
I can't wait to see who we get to sponser !!!!!! please, the first instance you get a photo upload it !!!!! Oh my heart is so big it hurts again! lol xoxo
Thank you David
What can I say? Our first ten months is covered by David (the money has already arrived in the O & M account, thank you David) and this will be kept separate just for our child. I will organsie the sponsorhip tonight.
I just need to say again how proud and humbled I am to be a member of this amazing group of people. You inspire me every day. Thank you.
Hugs and tearful smiles of gratitude, Amethyst
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
WOW David!!!
Amethyst and Yourself never cease to amaze me!!!! Sorry if I am being over the top, but how miraculous! I have contributed my first month and will not let the team down :)
Thank you Butterfly Spirit
I wish our little African child could know how much he or she is loved and valued by the people here.
Thankyou Butterfly Spirit. Your gift is truely appreciated.
Hugs from Amethyst
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Another months from Amethyst
Hi all,
in support of such a wonderful cause, I have just donated $43 for a month as well and will contiue to do so for as long as is required.
Smiles and thanks for the inspiration and motivation you all give me, Amethyst
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
MAGICK IN ACTION
So we already have a year's sponsorship within ten minutes to save a life.
I hope we can also send gifts such as picture books and cards. I have a feeling that some soul in Africa is about to be truly transformed via the love and compassion and altruism of O&M.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you Amethyst for setting up this school and forum. You have opened a door way for SO much learning and opportunities for people to meet and work together to make ourselves and the world a better place.
You mention that you are humbled by your students, well this student is humbled and grateful to have met you and this wonderful group of souls.
You should be very proud of what you have established.
In Love and Trust
David
a wish
If I may say so Amethyst, Your Wish for this Child will surely know how much he or she is loved. Love is truly all you need :) (apart from survival skills of course! which, lol, a little african will have plenty of - to put some fun into it :)
And yes David, possibly a very great person with all of the "love" being sent.
However, Just a Reminder to myself not to forget about those in my own backyard as well. I know just how hard it is to make a "real" contribution or adopt an Australian child and the ramifications of fostering. Australia is in so many ways the lucky country, but yet so political to share what is so much needed in our society.
David, please accept this as my acknowledgement for prayers to all underpriveleged children and people accross the world, as per your other post for helping children. I didn't know how to answer that and what better way to express
"My Thoughts should not Contradict my actions". This is the greatest lesson I have learnt since joining O & M. And since my meeting with Amethyst, right now this seems the most valuable lesson - in many aspects.
Tinotenda is 3years old from Zimbabwe
Hi everyone,
I did a bit of research on the poorest countries in Africa, the countries there torn by war and ravaged by the depravity of blood diamonds and then mapped those to the countries supported by World Vision. I ended up with a little three year old boy called Tinotenda who's favoutite activity is playing ball games adn who lives in Zimbabwe. Is Tinotenda the little one we support? He's the little boy on the right, number 4 or 9. Breaks my heart to see children numbred...)
http://trans.worldvision.com.au/ChildSponsorship/ChildSearch.aspx?CountryID=15&Gender=&Age=0,4&Date=&IsLongest=False&PageNo=4
Smiles, Amethyst
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Well from my point of view
YES!!
Tinotenda, who likes ball games. I like him already!!!
Lets change his future for the better!
David
YES!!!
While I'm here re-writing and editing my stupid message about ball games and "running with the ball" you post this! Fabulous! Awww Little Tino xoxo I read books about Blood Diamonds in Africa. So that's a coincidence and a connection for me already. I hope he is the one, but if something changes it won't make a difference because it is still someone who needs and wants our help. Thank You Amethyst xxx You are a Grandma in Oak and Mistletoe as well :) Hope that makes you happy :)
:)
Morehope who is 3 years old
By the time I got back to sponsore Tinotenda, he had already been sponsored byu someone which is fantastic.
Instead, we have sponsored a little boy called Morehope who is also 3 years old and also from Zimbabwe. His favourite activity is also playing ball games and he has the cutest, but saddest little face. As soon as I can upload a photo for you i will.
I promsie.
Is this not the best thing ever that O & M has done so far?!
Smiles, Amethyst
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
awwww
had to delete my comment, no comment is worthy right now, sorry to be so boring.
All this happened while I was asleep?!
For sure, I will donate a month's upkeep right now, and again if the sponsoring account looks low. I sponsor a Romanian girl through World Vision and get letters and updates regularly. WV has a long track record and a good reputation. The monthly cost is very reasonable; an amount easily trifled away on follies, without even being missed. Lavinia needs clothing and school supplies more than I need a pub lunch every other week.
Very cool, people. Sometimes when I open a can of worms they are good worms.
EDITED TO ADD: Amethyst, I'm having "fun" with Paypal. If $43 AUD doesn't show up like I promised, please let me know and I will go through the procedure again.
Count me in.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!!!
Thank you to our sonpsors so far
Just wanted to say thankyou to the wonderful sponsors who have come on board and donated while I was asleep. What a joy to wake this morning and find some more months of sponsorship ready for Morehope.
This is our little boy, Morehope.
Thank you folks, you really are inspiring!
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Morehope!
Thanks for the picture :) I am printing him off to keep on my desk with Carlos xxx
When ever I get bogged down at work these two beautiful pictures will be sure to cheer me up!
What a sound thing to do. I
What a sound thing to do. I will donate a month too.
Morehope's official sponsorship packagae has arrived
Hi everyone,
in my mailbox today was the World Vision information pack about Morehope, Oak and Mistletoe's sponsored child. What a lovely little boy!
The instructions specifically forbid sponsors to post contact or identifying information about their sponsor children on websites so I cannot do that, nor email them to you all apparently. So instead I will post as much info as I can here and in the Latest News forum so it's all transparent and above board.
However, suffice to say that Morehope has three brothers and a sister, lives with his unemployed parents in a particularly poor part of Zimbabwe. he speaks Shona and will benefit from the help we are giving by receiving medicines, clean water and education when he's old enough to go to school.
We can send him letters and very small and inexpensive, flat gifts (stickers and so on) and if you'd like to write to him, please post it through to me and I will forward it according to the very strict instructions in the sponsorship package. (Protects the sponsors from unsolicited pleas for money and ensures the letters get to him properly so the instructions say.)
The instructions have suggested though that it is often fun to send in the first letter handprints or footprints or photos of the sponsors. Wouldn't it be a lovely idea if everyone did their handprint in poster paint or even just traced around it, scanned and emailed it to me, I print them all out and send them to Morehope in the first letter with our love? What do you think? it would be a great way for us all to do soemthing together as well. Thoughts?
World Vision will send us a birthday card to sign and send to him in time for his birthday in January and I will sign it from all of us with your permision.
I am so proud to be part of this wonderful group. You all inspire me so much!
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Dearest Amethyst
Thanks for the wonderful update. How wonderful that we can send "flat gifts" I am sure that a set of coloured pencils and some stickers of aussie animals would be welcomed. I will put together a "flat package and get it to you ASAP.
What a wonderful and fitting name More-Hope. Lets hope that our sponsership does supply More Hope to this unique soul and his family.
My heart is full.
David
Thanks David, I think he
Thanks David, I think he would love that and he can share using the pencils with his brothers and sister too. What a great idea with the stickers of Aussie animals!
Would anyone like to do the handprints or give me a personal message to write in Morehope's first letter?
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Handprints are a wonderful idea!
But I cannot get my scanner to work. (techno-illiterate) And if I sent it via snail-mail it would take over a week to get to you. When do you plan to send the first letter? I would like to send stickers too. This is wonderful, I'm so excited! Is there a list of items that are appropriate? How about a coloring book to go along with Davids pencils?
Snail mail is fine
Hi Sue,
snail mail will be fine as I won't do it for a couple of weeks yet anyway. I think a colouring book would be lovely as well.
This is wonderful isn't it? It warms my heart to know we are hleping a little soul somewhere survive and grow.
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
World Map.
Have you thought of sending a copy of the world map showing where we are all located? You wouldn't have to put all our names on it. I think that would be great for Morehope to see that he is loved by a community that stretchs over the world.
I cannot seem to find the mailing address for O&M. If you would post it or pm me with the address, I will send the packet I have for Morehope.
with gratitude( and I really mean it!!!)
sue
Postal address
Briliant idea about the map Sue. I'll do that.
For anyone who wants to post me stuff to send to Morehope the address is:
Oak and Mistletoe,
PO Box 7393,
Adelaide,
SA 5000
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
sorry for any delay
Dear Amethyst,
Rather than send you a PM, I thought I should just let you know in this post that I have full intentions on sending something, like a "scanned" handprint, and I could simply say "Computer Technology allows me to take a photo of my hand and print it for you" - I think that would be good for starters for me at the moment and educational for him one day, And I WILL email it to you by Friday. Apologies for any delay but .... my wishes are taking Hard Work !!!! Looks like I'm fully booked at work until February '10 - which is great :) So I'm so flat-out keeping up with everything right now and hope that is ok. (well not really for me:( but will find the balance :)
Of course I will PM you as soon as I feel I am ready to go to the next lesson !!!!! I AM SO NOT in a rush as I have so much reading !!!!! lol xxxxooooxxxxoooo hehe, the kisses and hugs don't wanna stop! mwah mwah mwah !
:)
O & M's lil Morehope
I love how this community has such a big and generous heart. Especially you David Michael. When I read all the posts I couldn't stop crying about how much love, support and commitment that O & M has for people not only in our community but also for people that are not in this community. I have been truly inspired by everyone here. I spoke to some of my friends that are not from O & M about what this community is doing to help lil Morehope and they were all very touched by it all. Due to that my friends and myself have combined all our funds to contribute to a full 12 months of sponsering for lil Morehope. Once I have recieved all funds I will forward it all onto you Amethyst for you to do what you do best, "help, support, love and heal". We will also forward to you some gifts to send onto lil Morehope. I will also email my hand print as you have suggested.
Oh my goodness Ravenstorm!
Oh crumbs! I am constantly amazed at the love and dedication of the O & M community and Ravenstorm you just took my breath away again. Thank you so much. Morehope can't say thank you to you but I can on his behalf and I suspect on behalf of all the O & M community members too.
You'd think I get used to the donations, the sharing, the love that zooms around between us all here, but I don't. It still shocks me every time. It still takes my breathe away each and every time. I am still awestruck and so inspired by what happens here. And I love it!
Thanks Ravenstorm. Please also say thankyou to your freinds for their contributions. Please give them my personal thanks and appreciation.
Morehope is one very lucky little man.
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
you have good friends!
Dear Ravenstorm, I'd also like to say that you and your friends contributions are so wonderful. good on you :) Your friends are amazing just like you :) Lucky lil' Morehope to have O & M by his side :)
Hi Amethyst What a
Hi Amethyst
What a fantastic idea I will donate two months.
Blessings and love
Got it
Thanks Shylah, the donation has arrived and I've put it into Morehope's fund. Thank you soooo much!!!
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
You spectacular people, you!
Ahhhh you all astound me with your generosity! I'm out of a job still right now, but I was wondering if stuffed animals would be okay to send? I have plenty of gently used ones, and I would absolutely love to give them to someone who will make good use of them, and will want them. Do you think that would be appropriate, Amethyst? I am sincerely sorry I cannot send any money to help Morehope, but I will do everything in my power to see that we can all make this little boy happy. :-)
Mythonia
only flat difts for Morehope
Hi Mythonia,
thanks for your lovely words. Unfortunately we can only send flat items like stickers, pictures, etc. We are not allowed to send anything else as it gets pilfered by crooks along the way. In addition, World Vision tell me they get slugged with customs duties for aprcels which obvioulsy they can't afford. So no stuffed animals I'm afraid.
A simple hand print of yours would be lovely though! :)
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Oh, my gosh, Ravenstorm! I
Oh, my gosh, Ravenstorm! I just saw this now. What awesome friends you have! Please tell them so from me.
gifts
I will send a care package for Morehope. I'll make sure it's flat. Lot of Love
Amethyst
Any update on our little boy?
Love
David
little man
Ill put in a month sponsorship, for that gorgeous little man. May he grow up strong and healthy, and become a wonderful man. Big smiles, Lisa : )
lil' Morehope :)
with my last O & M store purchase I was able to contribute another month as well. Thanks Amethyst for helping my dream come true as well !!! He is going to be such a strong spirited little boy! I just Love Him!
with love,
Butterfly Spirit!
Online Senior Student Representative
Not much more news on Morehope but he's now 4years old
Other than the letter we got from Morehope a few months ago which I reported on, there's not been any more specific news about our little man. However it was his birthday on Jan 1st and he turned the grand sum of four years old bless him.
I sent the colouring books, crayons, hand prints and so forth off to him several months ago so am hoping he and his siblings and friends are enjoying using those.
I was thinking that maybe for his brithday next jan we should send him a bunch of birthday cards or something? Remember that any present has to be flat World Vision tell us. Mail alos takes anything up to three months to reach him so in time for his birthday we would need to send it bythe beginning of October. Maybe we could put some stickers in the envelope too. What do you reckon?
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Stickers!!!
I get really fun stickers! I think I get them from AVON and they are "flat packed" balloons with stickers to make faces on after they are blown up. The kids in my family really love them, so as long as balloons can get sent in these sealed packets, they are only about 2-3mm thick so they should be ok! And..I will keep an eye out to buy more for Morehope so long as they would be acceptable.
And... what about postage? that would of course cost to send these things. Postage would be taken out of the account for him I expect!?
When funds get low please let us know!
Thanks xoxo With Love, Butterfly Spirit!
Excellent idea
Yep, love the idea of the balloons too. Lightweight as well. Yep, I paid for the postage last time and to be honest it cost a dam fortune so now that I'm an unemployed student bum (smiles) if it's Ok with everyone, can I take postage from Morehope's account?
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Postage from his account,
Postage from his account, makes sense to me. Do let us know when the account needs topping up.
It just popped into my mind, though, that it would be nice if we could get some confirmation somehow that things are indeed getting to him and his community. If they are going "astray" in the mail as things sometimes do, they're probably going to someone equally underprivileged, but it would be nice to know that Morehope is getting at least some of the gifts and remembrances from us, that are intended for him, and that he knows we think about him!
damn balloons
I'm gld it's x-mas again, I get to go through the boxes and find flat packed stuff for the next parcel. I never forget, it's just time atm. I still have little Morehopes photos printed and always send love and strength across the globe. I will contribute a few more months if I can when I have the last financial years accounts sorted out...
Once again, thank you for providing this opportunity, it means alot in so many ways. ty x
As I am also an unemplyed
As I am also an unemplyed student bum, I will have to wait until I have a job to send some sponser money! Hopefully, that will be in a few months (oh, how scary).
I was wondering exactly how flat these gifts need to be. I was thinking about making something for him, like a smallish patchwork quilt type thing? I'm not sure how bulky it will be, as I haven't started my new project of handmade gifts yet, so thought I should check first. Also, do we know if any of his family read or write? I would like to put in a little hello message if I can figure out how to do so in his own language and I have noticed that the emphasis seems to be more on picture things rather than written.
simple, small, flat gifts only
Thanks Phoenix2 but World Vision ask sponsors only to send small, flat, lightweight gifts to sponosored children for a couple of reasons. The first is that many parcels get nicked by unscrupulous people on the way so anything bulky will walk anayway. Secondly World Visison ask sponsors to minimise any jealousy that may erupt when a sponosred child gets lavish gifts (a quilt for instance would be regarded as lavish) when other kids don't. Lastly postage to Zimbabwe would just make sending anythinbg other than lightweight, flat objects too expensive.
Smiles as always, Me
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
Aah, I see. I will put some
Aah, I see. I will put some more thought into something flat but a bit different.
There is a very interesting,
There is a very interesting, but disturbing piece on the lives of children in Zimbabwe over at the BBC news site. Zimbabwe is where our little Morehope lives. Despite our personal difficulties we really are blessed to live in 1st world countries.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8538587.stm
Also check out this short doco: http://www.youtube.com/user/DLRfilmsNYC#p/a/u/0/a62EBmIUCOM
David
How heartbreaking
It tears at my heart to see such desparate poverty. While I wory a little now that I don't ahve a job how I will pay the mortgage after May when the savings run out, I have food, clothing, an education to PhD level, a roof over my ehad, health, a wonderful family, freinds and a safe neighbourhood. Our poor Morehope lives amongst some of the poorest people in the world who can't even rely on the basics like clean water. How can some people live in abject, utter poverty and despair while others have such riches? Makes no sense to me...
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair
I'm going to Zimbabwe!!
Hi All,
Just to let you know I'm going to Zimbabwe for a week in June! Can't wait! I'm taking as many old clothes and school supplies I can fit into my suitcase to donate to children on that side. Luckily Air Zimbabwe allows up to 40kgs. I love giving in person, the look on their face and the wonderful appreciation are what makes it all worthwhile. Plus you know it's getting straight to those who need it. Zimbabwe is such an amazing country, it's so sad what's happened to all the people who live there. I lived there from 1996 to 2001 and it was like paradise, such a care-free existence in beautiful natural surroundings. Unfortunately the government have destroyed so many innocent lives since then. My grandparent's still live there, my Mom and I are are going down for their 60th wedding anniversary. Last year I created a festival called ZimSa here in the UK, it was a glorified bbq and drinking session to raise money for a school in Zimbabwe who were trying to become more self-sufficent by growing their own maize meal (staple diet) and vegetables to feed over 300 children a day. We raised £400 and got the lovliest thank you letter, makes it so worth while.
There are so many people in the world that need to be helped, I think that when chosing who to help you really have to listen to your heart and let it guide you.
Love and light to all. xx
Fantastic Sahara!
What am amazing thing to do! Have a safe and happy journey and let us knwo how it went when you get home.
With smiles and blessings,
Amethyst
Oak and Mistletoe Founder, Elder and Chair