PET, Gentry School and supportive MEM marketing and communications department

Sorry but this entry is going to be a long one.

This has been the all time best day!!!! It started out with getting an email from one of the kids' sponsors I contacted 10 days ago about my going to Malawi. Actually, it wasn't a sponsor, but 5 classes full of kids at Gentry School in Ms. Hummel's Social Studies classrooms. Ms. Hummel's kids have been studying Malawi and last year followed Jackie who went to Malawi. The kids sponsored Ishmael and his sister Belisi. I had contacted her because I "thought" she had sponsored Ishmael, who is in my group of kids. I found out that they sponsor TWO kids!!!!! Wow, what a commitment - I felt so honored to have Ishmael in my group, knowing that these 6th graders are learning about a country across the world and support children they don't even know.

Ms. Hummel has been able to see her kids grow in the experience - they have pictures from last year and a poster and I have heard since they celebrate their birthdays and do fundraisers along with providing their school clothes, books, shoes etc....She intends to use my blog as a learning tool in her classroom and would like me to return with pictures and experiences to share with the kids. When I got the email I WAS FLOORED!!!! The school that she works at is Gentry which is my employer's Partner in Education school. I have been involved with that partnership during my 16 years at MEM so I am very familiar of the true "partnership" and mentoring, and support we have provided through the years - and not only what the school gets out of it - but what our employees get as well. We are blessed with concerts (band, orchestra and choir), job shadowing, mentoring and more. This is when I knew this is by God's design to partner me up with kids from Gentry and kids from Malawi.

I asked Ms. Hummel for questions from her kids of what they would like to know about Malawi and/or Ishmael and Belisi so I can share along with pictures in my blog. That will be a whole new facet of the blog that started out just as an informal communication tool for my family and friends.

Now I want to make it purposeful and meaningful to the kids and a teaching tool as well. Maybe you might have a question or two of your own you would like answered as well?

Secondly I was in contact with PET (Personal Energy Transportation) organization who builds wheelchairs and carts for people that have a limited ability to transport themselves. (see their website below) They have built and sent thousands of chairs to people outside the US so the deserving folks can get around. You may have seen a Sara's Stories about PET. My dad has been volunteering for years about PET and assisting building, packing and sending these to other parts of the world. He asked me at Christmas to take a picture of one in use if I see one when I am traveling. He was casually talking to one of the other volunteers and mentioned I was going to Malawi. The individual he was talking to HAPPENED to be a physician that practiced in Malawi and lived there several years. He asked for my blog information and phone number so we could chat about my trip. I was excited about that so I told Bethany (Invest director) and she mentioned we have one child (Zione Jumpha) who has a disease where her bones break easily and how she would really like to take her a PET cart so she can be transported through the village. Long story short, called dad, then Mel West, a volunteer at PET and they agreed to give me a PET cart for Zione!!!! Wow, AND in talking to Wes he indicated he had ALSO been to Malawi on a Habitat for Humanity project. More God non-accidents!

We called the airlines and to take the PET cart with us, it would cost $450 to transport!!! This is going to take all kinds of prayers - but I know there will be provision of the the $450 or a pass by the airline charging us for the transport of this cart. I think it is necessary to take it now vs. trying to ship it because it will have to be assembled when we get there and I would just love to Zione's face when she finds out she has transportation.

Thirdly, MEM's marketing and communications department has just been willing to help me with this trip. They are thinking up ideas for when I return to help springboard this into an even more fun relationship with Gentry. We will just have to wait and see how creative they can be!!!!

That's a great day for me. I am going to repack all my items to make sure I have everything and tuck away a few more things to give away etc.... Every nook and cranny will be filled with things to give away.

More later.....

Kites, Haircuts and More Packing

By the looks of this picture - I was in need of a haircut before I went. Not taking a curling iron, blow dryer and asked for a miracle from my hairstylist. Too bad it wasn't my lucky day.

More of the packing. Today I received in the mail a huge box of kites to take to the kids! I'm so excited that Debbie decided to buy the kites. The kids will have so much fun. It has been such a long time since I had a kite too - so we will see how it goes.

People have asked how they can communicate with me - if I can get into the internet, I will be able to get to emails. Here goes - my email address is lindakarl1@gmail.com so please free to send me an email. Also, please feel free to explore the blog, and sign up for updates. Only 4 nights - and I will be escaping the bitter cold. Stay warm friends.

More later.

5 Days and counting......

Well I am down to 5 full days left before we get on the planes. I am having trouble focusing at work, eventhough I have tons to do before I go - both personally and at work. I want to make sure that everyone has what they need before I go!

I am contemplating my friends that are launching a new big project while I am gone. I feel bad for abandoning them, however, this was planned before the roll-out date was. I don't feel that bad.

A friend created a poster with my head in place of Audrey Hepburn's face in the movie African Queen. It was fun.

Another friend had a grandbaby (in California) and because of that project, won't be able to visit for a while (especially since I am going to be out).

Life will go on - with the weather as cold as it is going to be here this week - I'm not too upset about being in a warm place.

More tomorrow.

6 days and counting.....

Last Sunday before we depart for Malawi. We have found a driver to Kansas City and I am praying the church bus will run smoothly (and start this year).

I have been going through mail and cleaning up last minute things, making sure I have accounted for everything that needs to be taken care of this week before I go. I have to find time to work out, get my hair cut and see my family. We intend on going to church Saturday night for the new series Piet will be starting. I hate to miss - but can always download to the Ipod and listen after the fact. Have you tried this? It is slick!!!

I got to meet Caleb (Sherry's 16 year old son) - he will be leading a group at the camp as well in Malawi. I told him I will be in need of being a parent - so he will have another "mom" on this trip. How cool is this, that Sherry and her son get to share this experience together??!

Also, I think I have my last kid Leonard Juma sponsored!! I am so excited - I was asked this AM if there was someone left that needed to be sponsored so she could designate her "birthday" gift to a child vs. something for herself. We should all consider something like this instead of another "thing". Thanks God and Godly women!!!!


More tomorrow....

Packing Day

Lynda Baumgartner (veteran packer)

One of the bins set to go - I see clothes for Mavuto and Funasi

We had Lynda's exchange student from Japan helping us as well as Cindy Parshall - counting the attached shipping money and checking the names

Bethany and Jackie rolling and packing - after clipping tags and tagging each of the children's clothes. Thanks everyone!!!

Today was packing day! The bins were filled with lots of kids clothes and shoes. We also have a t-shirt from the Blues Festival to go to the women of the village. When I arrived there were bag after bag of clothes/items for the kids adopted at Community Live and from within the Columbia community (and one group from KC and Atlanta). I was so impressed to open bag after bag and see that each kid had one set of good clothing. We even were able to put socks and undergarments with many of them.

Well only 7 nights to wait before we leave!!! I am told we will be handling the bins only until we check them on the first flight and then pick them up at the destination. We pray all of them make it. Last year two were misplaced. :(

We have located a driver for our bus - Tom Clements and my hubby will transporting us to KC to the airport. You have to be a "legal" bus driver in order to drive the bus - so we had to search for someone who wasn't working on Sunday in the church. We will have to treat him to dinner Saturday night for taking his time to help us.

More tomorrow....... 80 degrees in Malawi - while it is bitterly cold here, that may be nice.

Finished emailing my sponsors

I just completed emailing all the sponsors of the kids that I will be working with when I am in Malawi. I really wanted to thank them for being a part of Invest by sponsoring a child last year and encourage them to continue their commitment. I can't wait to see firsthand the work in the Makalani Village by Invest. I know that they do good work and by managing 85 kids and 40+ women in an agricultural project as well as feeding, clothing and schooling. It is an important mission and a few dollars goes a long way in a place of the world where the average income is $690 and average life expectancy is only 49.

Thank you sponsors! I can't wait to meet your kids.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone had a safe holiday. For me, it was quiet as I contemplate leaving for Malawi in exactly 10 days!!!!

Today - I will be going through the list again of kids and sponsors and preparing emails to the sponsors of my kids. I really want the connection to be more than the financial commitment - but also they are feeling an intrinsic connection to this part of the world and understand how the commitment has afforded a child at a good start in life. I would like to give them specific things to pray for as well as for me as I interact with their child.

Tomorrow- we pack the bins for the kids!!!! Close to 100 kids and widows were graciously given a skirt/blouse and shoes or slacks/shirt and shoes which we will be packaging and bundling to take to the kids in the village. I am really excited for this - I love wrapping presents - why wouldn't I love bagging, labeling and tagging the gifts for others for the bins. So many gracious individuals took the challenge to buy a gift of clothes/shoes and provide shipping for another child. I hope they took this challenge as I did - and spend less on myself or someone who has much to give to someone who has so much less..