rice

What if for all your life, two times a day, all you had to eat was rice? What if you never had a starch version such as pasta or potatoes. Just rice. No other starch, no meat, not even children's "dreaded" vegetables. Maybe around the holidays a small goat was donated to feed your family, which is once a year. But the next day you were back to eating rice.

One day, A new Director of the orphanage was chosen. I think they should have kept the former one as he was a former orphan. Anyway two weeks into new management and the orphanage had no rice for lunch nor dinner. (Just when you think it could not be worst). A few of us drove around looking for a market that sold kilos of rice. Well we finally found one, using the monetary donations given through Hope worldwide; the children would not go to bed hungry. From that time on the Director was more responsible.

Although this may be the saddest post I have ever written so far. I have witnessed this form of starvation first hand at the orphanage. What amazes me is that I have seen teenagers in the orphanage. Once they go out, before curfew is over, they get left overs at the local restaurant for a feast they have never tasted. But for the younger ones I sent the cook out for the day and had to feed an orphanage of 200 + staff. I made pasta and mixed veggies into it. I seasoned it really nicely and added red onions for boosting the immune system. For them this was a feast. For me I had no idea this was such hard work. But it was worth seeing them slurping it up, spinning and twirling the spaghetti in the air; hitting each other as though they were playing tag before eating it. What did I expect? Nothing different. They did not know what Spaghetti was or what it taste like. Translated: "Petrina, what is this" the children said. I responded, "Pasta". "Pasta nice, make for us again" they said.

The next time you get a chance to give money to the poor, someone homeless on the street, plegdges being requested from a reputable organization, especially those overseas, do what you can to be supportive. Giving really goes a long way. That for a day they were able to eat and for a few days they had PASTA and for the holidays they had their fill of meat. For that time, at least, they did not have to eat rice.

Purpose

I had an opportunity to volunteer today and I just had to share this story with you. I was helping out with a group of second graders. In the class are some amazing children. As you get to know them and their stories you feel so impacted. There is one boy whose mother told me the story of his birth. But today I learned more about him. He is quiet by nature but is well spoken and enjoys telling you about all his favorite hobbies. Well turns out he should not be alive but for some reason he is. You see, his mother had about twenty pregnancies. Yes I said twenty. Honestly at two maybe three I would have been so distraught. But her perseverance is to be admired and commended. What would make her not give up? Even after ten pregnancies, she didn't say, "I guess I am not suppose to have children". At fifteen pregnancies I would have been in a depression that I could not come out of. Her husband is to be commended as well. Finally she gives birth to a premature baby boy; whom I would have named Miracle.

That is not the end of this amazing story. The doctor tells the mother, upon delivery, he will die in a few hours as he has some complications (I think with breathing). The mother asks to take her son home since he is going to die, she would rather him be with family. The next day he is alive. The day after that he is alive. I was spending time with him and his second grade peers and thinking I can't wait to see all the great things he is going to do as he has a purpose on this earth. His teacher says he is one of the top readers in his class and speaks of God often at his own initiative. Of course this got me to thinking about my purpose and that everyone has a purpose to fulfill. We are to flourish and make the most of every opportunity. The opportunity for me to volunteer today was good for my heart. At least for today I fulfilled my purpose and was filled with purpose.

Silvia

It's Mother's Day in about 1/2 hour and I wanted to write something in Tribute of Mother's Day. Then I realized, there is no way I can talk about Mother's Day and not mention my grandmother. As a teenager when I was doing atrocious, she used to say "I did not bring you to this country and scrub toilets for you to ...." This was her famous saying. But it got me to thinking, she really did scrub toilets and do menial jobs to save money in order to bring me and my mother to NYC to make something of our lives. She has since died, over ten years and I could never thank her enough for the sacrifices that she made. When she was alive, I did not tell her how thankful I am that she traveled as a woman, to make it here on her own, raising her children and grandchildren. Her legacy lives on in me and I embrace life and all it's opportunities to pass on to those around me. I give because I am here and because I am able. I serve others because that is why I am here. I pour out myself because of the values I have inherited. I do my best to pass on her values to my children. I am proud to belong to such a brave and intellegent woman. My mother has this same "grit" for life and I want to use every moment making a difference as a thank you to her. I guess in closing, I want to remind us that Mother's Day is not just about our biological mother's but about the women before us and the women in our lives who have served as care givers; women who we respect and who respect us. Let's redifine Mother's Day to be inclusive of the mothers we love and are grateful for. Happy Mother's Day.

Becoming a Good Will Ambassador

Craig David, Angelina Jolie, Johann Koss, Antonio Banderas, Geri Hallwell (former Spice Girl) are all Good Will Ambassadors. But you do not have to be rich and famous to be a Good Will Ambassador but you have to work hard or be in connection with good standing organizations. If you have contacts with politicians, that helps also. You can find 4 simple steps here at eHow. Some well known organizations to volunteer or work with are Save the Children, UNDP, WHO, UNHCR, & UNICEF. You can Google each to find out more about their specialty, when it comes to meeting needs. There is another special program in Washington DC which select applicants from the National Cherry Blossom Festival Program. History on the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival can be found here. Each Year a Good Will Ambassador is chosen, given a scholarship and an opportunity to study abroad. . This year there are 5 Ambassadors. You can find out more at The National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Children with the Spirit of Giving

There are a few "quality of life" characteristics that I would like for my children to have and to stay with them long after I am gone. There are certain things you want them to learn and pass down to their children. There are a few things I can think of. One of them is the act of giving. I wanted to bring my children with me to learn as they see me model compassion and taking action in consideration of others. It seems as though these moments are rare but they are not. After Ethiopia, they are a lot more grounded somehow. They now understand, a little better the concept of this word "Sharing". They seem to be putting the pieces together.

Our Neighbor has cancer and is dieing. We used to bring her food. The children love knocking her door to say, "Karen, look what we brought you today". When she went into the Hospice they wanted to continue bringing her food. We took them to see her and we were all so happy to see each other. This is all Karen spoke about to her friends who were visiting; how we cooked and brought her food. They felt so good about their good deed. Now there is another sick neighbor from downstairs with three cute dogs and a beautiful parrot. As soon as they heard I was making her soup (which is her favorite) they were ready before bedtime putting on their own pajamas, in mismatch, to take her the soup. And I should add to see her beautiful dogs, to which when we left they used the opportunity to ask for a pet.

They have witnessed us giving and serving in different capacities. Spending time with people in need, nursing homes, persons with developmental disabilities, fundraising events, etc. This is such a valuable life lesson to them, as children can be self focused. Also you have to know your child and what they can handle. For children at a lower level of giving, start with baking grandma some happy cupcakes (with sprinkles and other eatable decorations). They can also make cards or paintings to encourage someone (with their signature of course). Have them call someone who wouldn't expect their phone call, explaining to the child/ren, why it would be nice for them to make the sacrifice. Another good one is to call and sing the Happy Birthday song to a relative or friend. Be prepared, they may want them to sing again as they record it on voice mail.

I've watched this sense of giving work first hand for my family and a couple of others who are now have teenagers. They are amazing kids who are mature and responsible. They have great manners and have done some great things at such early ages. With all the normality of teen life they still stay true to keeping a soft heart to the less fortunate and in serving their communities. This is compelling to me as an adult and want my children to cultivate and imitate this spirit of giving.