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      Sunlit Sunday

      25th January

      We have a lot to be thankful for living in a First world country.  All my life, maybe because I am born to parents not from this country but who chose to adopt it as their own, I have often wondered but for the grace of god, I could have been born.... somewhere else less fortunate.

      I have often quoted this to my children, but never harped on about it.  My eldest now 15 has had an amazing opportunity through school to travel to Kenya and to help in which ever way for the Nasio charity wish to use her services.  To find out more about this small local charity please follow the link   http://www.thenasiotrust.org/

      What has impressed me so much about this whole journey is that there was never any guarantee that our daughter would be accepted.  She had to prepare for an interview at short notice, both her father and I were away for the weekend and she stayed with friends.  But she took the initiative and rang a family friend who has often helped out in an orphanage in India to ask advice and searching questions. 

      Once accepted onto the programme along with 12 other young adults, with only minimal guidance they have had to raise over £30k in the last year for the charity that looks after orphaned children, many whom have HIV.  This they have done by themselves but gently guided, they have organised music festivals, open mic sessions, cake sales, bake offs, sponsored walks, gala dinners to name but a few.  Along this journey these young adults have grown in independence, gained confidence and have formed already bonding relationships. 

      Yesterday they were on a training session where they had to learn basic first aid, become HIV aware and learn some fundamental words in Swahili.  Whilst in Kenya, they have been informed that they are to dig and build a fish stock pond and a one bedroom extension.  They will have a day in the life of a six year old, walk the six miles to school, attend school for the day, walk the six miles back and then go out to fetch the water, another not insignificant walk.  Collect firewood and then help the grandmother cook the evening meal.  All this a six year old does in a day.  You see how lucky are we to be born where we are...

      To say that these young adults who will also attend a day in an African hospital, have to teach a lesson in either maths or English, attend Sunday church service and be expected to sing the weekly Swahili song will somehow be affected and changed in some way is perhaps an understatement.  Not one of these 13 children can change the world, but little by little we can all help to change something a small bit. 

      I have watched them the past year,  with now only 19 days till they travel to Kenya, with pride, awe and wonderment and ponder how their lives will be changed shortly from a comfortable first world life and be immersed into a third world country, albeit for a relatively short period.  The future is in this next generation  and despite all the bad and sad depressing news around the world, we have good human beings too, who will overcome the bad one day...

      My Sunlit Sunday, is all about hope.  Hope for the future and hope for us all in helping in whatever small way we can, be it the neighbour next door who sits alone or to something else, we must not give up on hope...


      I am joining in with Karen and her Sunlit Sunday

       
      All thirteen young adults raising money and bonding together
       
      
      ♥  Hope your Sunday is full of sun and hope  ♥

      30 comments:

      1. Absolutely incredible. What a wonderful journey that will be for those young adults. And bravo to your daughter for taking the initiative. It will be a life changing experience for sure. All the news that the media puts out is bad, but there is good in this world. We have to shine a light on it and bring it to the forefront rather than allowing evil to bring us down. Bless them as they travel. Best wishes, Tammy

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        1. Thank you x. I couldn't agree more with your sentiments. I am feeling overwhelmed by what they are doing. Need to keep remembering that most if us here intend only good x

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      2. how great! Please send her
        Good wishes from up North and tell her if at any stage she has that dry mouthed moment of complete panic ..that she will be fine ...... ��
        And so will you!

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        1. I will and thank you and yes we are all bound to have those dry mouth moments. How well put. And. Thank you for reminding us it will. Be. Fine. I will send her your wishes and thank you in return x

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      3. What an amazing achievement to have raised this money and to haver learned so much. I hope that the final stage of the process with the trip to Kenya will be a wonderful and rewarding one for everyone taking part. Hope for the future is a great thing to have. xx

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        1. Thank you Amy. Next weekend they go away together to a scout base for the night to team build. It is so exciting but reality is now setting in x

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      4. I am so impressed! I will hold them all in my thoughts as they make this life-altering journey. Now I wish I were a teen; this would have been perfect for me, had it only existed then . . . I hope you will share more about this group and their experiences, along with their feelings and what they learn from it all. Thanks so much for sharing! You have made my day!

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        1. Thank you Linne. Will share as much as I can. We will not hear from them whilst they are in Africa. No phones allowed or any such devices. It will be a very new and different experience that's for sure x

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      5. Hello, Selma!
        This is a wonderful post, full of hope for an at least a little bit better world.
        All the best to the young ones, and a big thanks to you for sharing!

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        1. Thank you Sara. I am glad I did share. I wasn't sure if it fitted in my blog but adds more eclectic spice perhaps

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      6. We all live in Hope. Thanks for visiting my Blog, don't be afraid to come back

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      7. That is wonderful! I enjoyed reading your post and of your hope for the next generation of children and how they will reach out to the less fortunate. Blessings to you and yours. Thank you for visiting and your comment. Pam

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        1. I will pas on your blessings to the group. Thank you x

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      8. What an amazing, life changing adventure this will be for all of them. I am sure you are so proud of your daughter, best wishes to her for a fantastic trip.
        Meredith

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        1. Thank you Meredith. I will pass on your wishes. I really am proud of them

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      9. What a truly enriching experience for these young people to not only help others but to learn and grow and understand how very small the world is. You must be very proud of your daughter.

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        1. You are so very right. I believe a lot will change from within them. May not happen overnight but I think this will form a part of who they become as adults.

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      10. That's incredible, you must be very proud of your daughter.

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      11. You are so kind to share your daughter's trip. What an amazing opportunity for a teen to experience an adventure of the heart! Prayers for safe travels and God's blessings on all. Smiles...Susan

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        1. Thank you Susan. I will pass on your blessings x

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      12. Your daughter is very brave to be going on this trip. She has already learned at lot and will learn lots more when she is away. I made a trip to Malawi almost 9 years ago for a similar sort of thing but I wasn't a teenager.

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        1. They have talked about the dangers, the risks, the emotional journey etc but nothing will really prepare them enough. Hoping she can stay strong. X

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      13. What an amazing group of young people. This will change their lives forever! I am so proud of them!

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        1. It really will won't it. We are on count down. 17 days...

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      14. You must be the proudest parent! What an amazing daughter you have and very driven. I wish her all the luck in the world with her trek to Kenya. This will certainly be a memory maker for her. (Thank you also for your visit to my blog, I'm sorry I couldn't answer you as you are 'no reply blogger') I didn't know about that place so will have a look when I get to Kings Cross on your recommendation :-) Take care x

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        1. I wonder why I am a no rey blogger. That's not meant to be. Will see if I can change that somehow. I love London and often visit too. Happy to share tips ...

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      15. What amazing young people, to have taken on this project. You must be very proud of your daughter and the hope that she brings to her endeavours.

        Karen

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        1. Thank you I am. She came back lady night from a team build overnighter. I think from the sounds of it they are as ready now to go as they ever will be. 12 days to go ...

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      I will always read all comments and will try to reply but it may take me a couple of days, do please pop back and lets get a conversation going...