My Heart has Grown... Here I go, Again: Day 5: Freedom for Girls Fundraiser

Beautiful tea!

Just had to show the banner :)

Thanks Tori! Everyone LOVES this!

One of my new friends, Maheen

Today, was an unbelievable day. We had the opportunity to help Vicki Winkler (founder of HEART) host several ambassador's wives for a mid morning tea. We helped decorate, support and meet these wonderful women. This tea was a Freedom for Girls fundraiser. Freedom for Girls is one of the programs Heart offers to Kenyan girls. Research has shown that young girls drop out rate of school would increase dramatically at the 6th to7th grade year. After more research, they found that these girls would start their period, not attend school because they did not have sanitary napkins. In this time, they would miss several days of school and be too far behind when they would come back to school that they would eventually quit school. These girls have hopes and dreams to become doctors, teachers, scientists etc. Just like our daughters. So, for just $5 a year... Yep, re-read, it's not a typo, $5 a year, a girl will have enough sanitary napkins for the year! Seriously??? Something we take for granted completely! AND $5 a year?? $5 is a fancy drink at Starbucks! Oh my goodness. Ridiculously cheap and easy to provide. Anyway, we had a terrific time talking with the various ambassador's wives, getting to know them and sharing with them our stories of visiting the Heart WEEP centers. Many of the wives have been to the WEEP centers, so that was really terrific! But the overall consensus was that no matter what country you are from, we are all women and we take it for granted the ability to have sanitary napkins each month at our fingertips. Our period is part of our life, but doesn't interrupt our life.

I met some terrific ladies. Again, I'm blown away at God. Here I am with all these wonderful ladies and God brings the conversation back to being a mom. :) The two ladies I met are mom's just like me, wanting the best for their children. Even if we are half way around the world, representing different countries, our love, struggles and decisions for our children remain the same. It was just amazing to hear these women share how they enjoy being stay at home mom's, research to make great decisions for their children and they enjoy being around their children! Just love it!

Some more terrific friends from around the world!

Serving lunch to a few ladies

India spoke to the wives about how Heart has influenced her to be more involved with the ladies at the Weep centers. She did a fantastic job. My friend, Everlyn, a mom I met last year from the Kibera Weep center, also spoke on how Heart has changed her life. Everlyn's story is amazing and gives a great description of how Heart works... :) I hope you are able to see the video. It's incredible.

Go India!!

Everlyn and my mom

Another terrific day where my perspective was changed. Really? $5 a year?? I even asked, "It's a year right?" The answer... "Yes, $5 a year for one girl!"

PS...Funny story...Charmain and I are sharing a room, which is located downstairs at the lodge. We were both rushing around getting things ready and ran into our room to freshen up before guests came. Sheri came in to chat for a minute and our door was open. Before we know it, some of the guests are at our door walking in. We greet these beautiful ladies and they continue to walk in our room. We don't have time to look at each other, pick up or say "enter at your own risk!". After they left, we look around and we had some unmentionable items laying around for all the united Nations to see! Let's just say, we are not allowed in a few countries now. But I'm pretty sure we represented the U.S. just fine! A few belly laughs have been had to say the least!