Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Smiles all around

At Possibilities International, one of our fundamental beliefs is that you don't need to be Opera Winfrey or bill Gates to be a philanthropist... in fact we can all be philanthropists. and I want to introduce you to three amazing young kids that have proven that.... These three kids are fans of actofkindness , and wanted to make a difference... They wanted to put a SMILE on a kids face... The week before I headed home, got notification that they had just raised $265 to make those smiles real..... here they are at their lemonade stand ...
Kitty and Maya in front of their garage with their sign. Unfortunately, Katie was in the house at the time of the photo op.... but here she is They were so excited that so many had supported their special day, and sent me this message for the kids .
Last Monday, after I had left the apartment and headed for home, we made one last stop... I met up with a group of disabled kids and their parents ... In Central Asia, it is the norm to put disabled kids into an orphanage, but our friends work to help families so that their kids can live at home... this is a great sacrifice, and these families have very limited resources, and would never ever dream of having the opportunity to go to a place like Flamingo land... until now that is... 30 kids and adults along with a team of volunteers had the experience of a life time when they were treated to a day of rides, and a wonderful supper at the park....


This next photo is not of one of the kids, but of one of the parents... they were moved beyond words at the love that was shown to their families.

Two of our friends, with the kids on the slide...

Imagine the freedom a child experiences when he trades his wheel chair for a motor boat.


One of the fathers with his daughter...

Two more of our friends helping out with the kids

I had so many stops that day, and had a team in town, so I could not spend a long time, but we had the opportunity to spend about an hour with them... The kids and their parents were so excited to be there, but what was equally as moving was being able to make it possible for our friends to spend the time with these kids... I know and I understand the love that they have for those that they are helping... I know that they want to do so much more to give them a normal life, and if just for a day, they were able to fulfill some dreams...
Kitty , Maya, and Katie... You have given these kids a day that they will never forget... Thank you.....

4 comments:

Jack and Carol Wessel said...

Great job girls, you are true heros.

Hilary Marquis said...

Well done girls! Not many little girls think of others in such a way. I'm very proud of you. Great job, Mom & Dad, you're raising some fine young ladies.

Cindy LaJoy said...

I have a matching like-minded threesome over here that we would consider pre-arranged marriages for! So wonderful to see kids helping kids, thanks for sharing their photos John!

Christy said...

Hey Beautiful girls,

My neame is Christy and I'm apart of the team thattook the kids to the Park that day.
I want to let you know that I think what y'all did for these children is just wonderful.

For all of these kids that was their first trip ever to a park.One thing I know for sure is that they will keep that day alive in their hearts forever .

Thank you so much!

Christy
The one standing in the last photo