Thank You

Thank you to all of those who donated to the Christmas pie challenge. We exceeded our goal of Christmas parties for 2000 children. Thanks again and bless you all. You can see the totals here. http://actofkindness.blogspot.com/ Here is the video of me getting my pie.

Christmas Pie Challenge

The Christmas pie challenge has started. So here's what's going on. I helping to raise funds with Act of Kindness and Lamb International that will provide Christmas parties for children in Kyrgyzstan.

Christmas in a Kyrgyzstan orphanage can be just another day with nothing special about it. Many orphanages have very little funding available for any extras let alone a Christmas party. We can make a difference to help kids have a special day. It costs only $5.00 per child to supply a special day for these wonderful kids who are so deserving of a little love.

For more information and to make a tax deductible donation please take a look at the following link.

http://actofkindness.blogspot.com/ On the right side of the page are donation buttons for Canada & the US and a tracker for the totals. When donating, please put "pie for Blair" in the memo box.

Once donations credited to me reach $500.00 I will take a pie in the face for the kids and the video will be posted. We'd really appreciate your help. I WANT PIE!!!!! I didn't get pie last year...I was sooo close :(

This challenge runs until December 13th. Please have your donation submitted before then.

Thank you on behalf of the kids.

Blair

Counting My Blessings

Well it’s another Thanksgiving Day here. With working for an American company it’s so nice to have a Canadian holiday off for once instead of working when everyone else is off. So...I guess this is the part where I’m supposed to reflect and count all of my blessings.

It has been busy this year for sure. I have paid off the student loans finally. That was a miracle in itself. The loan was originally on nine year terms and despite several bouts of unemployment and having the terms redone several times I still paid them off in April…seven months early.

I managed to get to Zambia and back in May where we got to work with some amazing people with Hands at Work Africa who do great work with HIV stricken communities. I also had an amazing birthday in Livingstone where I got to fly over the famous Victoria Falls in a micro light plane and went on a dinner cruise on the Zambezi River.

I managed to get a TESL teaching certificate and I’m about 1/3 through another course in my preparations to go to Kyrgyzstan. I just wish this process would go much quicker. The big hurdle now is the fundraising (any fundraising ideas and sponsorship will be well appreciated) but I know I’ll be equipped at the right time. I just need more patience I guess.

This is just a sampling of my many blessings so far this year. I hope you all have a lot to be thankful for as well. Happy Thanksgiving! Я люблю тебя! (Ya lablue va!)

Burning the student loan papers

My Journey Is Still Going to Happen

This past Sunday I returned home from a trip to Kabwe, Zambia. It was an amazing trip with much that was accomplished as well as a lot of laughs (and a few tears) with some great people on the trip and with the people we met. Even though a piece of my heart is in Kabwe my life is still in Tokmok.

I couldn’t help but notice the parallels between Kyrgyzstan and Zambia. There are dire needs in both countries which have extreme poverty, children without parents who need more role models and seniors who struggle to survive. Some people here seem to think that conditions in one country are worse than the other. There are a few (very basic) differences but they are both the same overall. All I can think about is “When can I get things lined up to leave my job and get out of here?” I have felt like a foreigner in Canada for the last three years.

Now that my loans are paid off there is much to do to get ready. I have to raise funds, get visas and so many other logistics. This summer I will be going to get my TESL certificate and this fall I will be taking a course that will help me prepare for my journey. All of this while working full time. My schedule is going to be gruelling and I’ll probably be cranky (okay…more cranky than usual). I ask you my friends and family to stand behind me as this next phase in my life gets going. My journey is still going to happen…believe it!! Thanks for your ear.