Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Blog Buzz - Extreme Poverty

I missed answering Blog Buzz questions while on vacation, I just didn't have time but now hopefully I'm back on track. This week the Red Letters question is on explaining extreme poverty to our kids.

With Olivia, being 6, she understands this much better. When Oprah did her special on the school she started I used some of that show to give Olivia a glimpse into what we had already begun talking about with regards to poverty, especially in Africa. She was able to see kids living in huts with dirt floors, etc. It really opened her eyes to what I had tried explaining. How can you really imagine that without having seen it somewhat. I know I still can't fully grasp the meaning of that until I see it myself firsthand. She has a beautiful heart and talks of these people often whom are affected by this kind of extreme poverty. Olivia receives an allowance each week, some of which goes into a saving jar for college, some to a spending jar, and some to a giving jar. This money in the giving jar is used to "sponsor" a child in our school district at Christmas, or give to causes such as those shown on KidsLAKE. She loves the giving jar and the idea of giving to those who truly need the help.

In addition, we also sponsor two children. One is through World Vision and is a part of their Hope Child program helping communities ravaged by the AIDS epidemic. The second is a child living at AHOPE orphanage. His sponsorship helps provide the HIV medicine he so desperately needs and will help him to be strong and healthy. We have pictures of these children in our entry and the kids know we sponsor them and some of what that means and why we do that.

Extreme poverty is difficult to explain, but I think that my kids understand it the best they can and pray that as they grow they will have an opportunity to help first hand in some of these areas. I believe God will use them in magnificent ways!


1 comments:

Kathy said...

Your post really inspired me! I've been trying to think of ways for Destiny to learn about poverty, and helping others...and to not be greedy and self centered. I'm going to use your ideas...showing her Oprah's show, and doing the different jars. We've got a piggy bank, but the jars will be a much better concept.

Thank you for inspiring me!

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About Me

I am a single mom to four amazing kids; each of whom just happen to have been adopted. The first three were adopted through foster care, and we just completed an international adoption from Haiti. Our family has grown through adoption and I am all the more blessed to know each of my children. I worship a mighty God, teach Special Ed, love bargains, and am inspired by Pinterest... come along with us for the ride!


Olivia - 14

Olivia - 14

Braeden - 11

Braeden - 11

Liam - 9

Liam - 9

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Macy - 5

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What you should know about HIV

-HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles). - HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives. - People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do. Additional information on transmission of HIV can be found on the Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources

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Orphan Crisis

• 147 million orphans in the world
• 50 million orphans in Africa 
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition


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Little Did I Know

Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong

Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow

Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom

But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
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