The BIG GIVE

Touch A Life was blessed last night by an amazing group of young adults. The Mid-County Church of Christ Youth Ministry hosted a basketball tournament fundraiser and gave all the proceeds to help the children in Africa. It was so cool to be in that gym and feel the energy and excitement through this act of charity. I appreciate kids so much that rise up and fight the injustice of the world today. Over 4,400 dollars was raised in a few hours, amazing. FREEDOM FIGHTERS from Mid-County, St. Louis, MO, THANK YOU for joining the team in the fight against human trafficking.

Tuan's Birthday

Meet Tuan and Claira, two more of our amazing medical visa TAL babies. Tuan just turned nine on March 6th. He is an amazing little boy that has beat all the odds. Tuan was living in an orphanage in Saigon and suffering from a bone infection that was destroying his hip. He has undergone surgery here in the states and is now riding a two-wheel bicycle. Claira, his younger adopted sister was brought to the states for open heart surgery three years ago and is a picture of health and thriving after her heart repair. Tuan and Claira are such a blessing to their new family. March is a great month of celebration for these precious children with their forever families.

Haven Turns 5

Haven Faith Shepherd will turn five this month and is showing off that she has lost her two front teeth. Haven is such a special child. She was born in Vietnam and has lived in the states for the last three years on a medical visa. Haven has an amazing story. Her parents were both married but were having a romantic love affair and she was the love child they conceived. They were destined to be together but their families would not allow them to get a divorce. They decided their lives were hopeless and attempted a family suicide, strapping a homemade bomb to their family. They both died, but Haven survived losing both of her lower legs. She walks with prosthetic legs and there is no doubt will fulfill her dreams and destiny. Touch A Life is so grateful that God has allowed us to be a part of Haven's life. Her journey has paved the way for us to help many more children.

Happy Birthday Haven, we love you!

Mother Teresa

I am reading A NEW EARTH by Eckhart Tolle. He sees the urgency in evolving or dying. Our country is dying because of consumerism and he wants to wake up the world and offer us freedom. "How do you let go of attachment to things? Don't even try. It's impossible. Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them. In the proximity of death, the whole concept of ownership stands revealed as ultimately meaningless."

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.
Mother Teresa

I love Mother Teresa. She did not cut anyone slack. She shared openly and honestly about responsibility that we should all have to feed the poor. She knew the true meaning of wealth.

EVOLVE OR DIE.

Meet Bee

Meet Bee. Randy fell in love with this six year old little boy that lives at a children's home in Cambodia. He was sold by his parents to a family struggling with infertility for $50 US dollars. The adopted mom did not bond with Bee (can you even imagine not bonding with those eyes) and then later conceived a child on her own. She no longer wanted Bee and made several unsuccessful attempts to end his life. Randy said that his little legs were so scarred and beat up, showing signs of his early hard life. I think Randy left his heart in Cambodia and definitely with Bee. God must have mighty plans for this beautiful little one. We are thankful he is safe and living at Bykota House.

I think it broke Randy's heart to hold this precious child on his lap and realize he was holding a six year old without a Dad. Every child deserves a forever family. I want to write a new song - How would it go?.......hmmmm........You will know we are Christians by the orphans we support.

Vietnam Bicycles!

Randy just spent the last couple of weeks in Cambodia and Vietnam. While in Vietnam he was able to take pictures of the bicycles purchased through the Touch A Life Vietnam Bike fund headed up by Aimee Molloy.

Randy enjoyed spending time with the BYKOTA kids in Cambodia and Touch A Life kids in Vietnam. Once again he was reminded that there is nothing more important in life than seeing that these kids have plenty to eat, a roof over their head - and oh yes, a good bicycle to ride to school.

Eight that prove that one is indeed greater than none

This week Randy and I have been in New York working with Aimee on the book. As I have mentioned earlier on the blog there are eight amazing young women that are changing the world through making jewelry. They are using the money they raise to rescue children out of slavery in Ghana, West Africa. To date they have rescued eight children off Lake Volta. YEAH!

We had a great night of pasta and sharing stories. They are a blast and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for these FREEDOM FIGHTERS from Long Island.