Sweet Dreams for the Kids!

Tonight 250 Burmese refugees including 160 students from the Kachin refugee schools will be sleeping on their brand new Dreamland mattresses and bed sheets.

Thanks to generous donors we managed to raise enough funds to order 250 2-inch mattresses for the Kachin community. A big thank you to Dreamland for giving us a great deal at RM35.50 per piece! (Thanks Lisa for the contact).

I was there to witness the excitement and joy on the kids' faces when the giant Dreamland truck drove up in front of their makeshift school. The kids formed a human chain and in less than 10 minutes all 100 mattresses were unloaded from the truck and stacked away nicely in their tiny flat. Meanwhile in a different location students from the other Kachin refugee school also received 150 mattresses.

The photos speak for themselves. Isn't it amazing how something as simple as a mattress can bring so much joy to a child. For many of the children it has been a long while since they've slept on a mattress, for some it will be a completely brand new experience. Imagine that...

So what were we complaining about again?

Heartfelt Gratitude

Here is an excerpt from an email I received today from one of the Kachin refugee leaders. This is in response to the diapers, bed sheets, old clothes, baby items, etc which were generously donated by kind souls recently:

"Namkin said she can go to church now. her daughter pass urine 3 to 4 times in a hour. she didn't go out bcoz of no diapers. Now she is not afraid to go out with her daughter and she use it for emergency going outside.

One of the ladies from PJ, her name is Mary. Last night she was crying and called me. I was frighten. Why she is crying because she is very happy & accepted your bed sheet, a bag and cloth. What she really needs for her family, she got it free. She is so touched by you and your friends helping..."

Let's continue to help our Burmese friends in their time of need. Thanks for all your support!

HUGGIES Galore!

Kimberley-Clark generously donated a truck load of HUGGIES diapers to the refugees. There were thousands of diapers in all sizes. The refugee families were thrilled to receive them as many can't afford the high cost of diapers and to receive such good quality diapers was a real treat. There are several children who are disabled so these diapers really go a long way to ease the stress on their caregivers.

Thank you so much Kimberley-Clark for your very kind donation!

Genting Donates Bedsheets

Great news! Genting Highlands Resort is donating old bed sheets which are still in good condition. So not only will the kids be receiving new mattresses but they'll also have bedsheets to go with them too!

Your Love & Support Goes A Long Way!

Today I was so inspired after visiting Htu Mai. Last October when I met with her she was pale, gaunt and ready to give up on life. Between sobs she told us that her counselor said she had only 6 months left to live as her HIV was quite advanced. I told her that no one but God could determine how long she stays on this planet and she needed to WANT to live. I passed her RM250 from a generous friend in Hong Kong and told her that someone cared enough about her to want to support her every month for a year! She was immensely touched and grateful. Suddenly she didn't feel so alone anymore. I also gave her some wheatgrass powder to consume daily to alkalize her body.

9 months later Htu Mai is a picture of health with glowing skin and sparkling eyes. She used to cover her body with baggy clothes to hide her rashes but today she looked beautiful in a fitting tank top and pants with her newly dyed hair! She has obviously chosen LIFE and not just that, she now wants to become a spokesperson to encourage other HIV refugees like herself.

Htu Mai's transformation physically and emotionally is so rewarding to see as it shows how the love and support shown by people who care can truly make a difference and literally save someone's life!

Rose's family is also being helped by kind donors. The transformation within the family has been nothing short of a miracle. Last year her father who suddenly fell into a coma, was bedridden and unresponsive. Her mother Cho, was earning RM120 as a part-time cleaner to support her 4 children including the youngest who has polio and is unable to walk. Thanks to the monthly contribution of RM500 Rose's family were able to survive alot easier and have better peace of mind. Her father can now sit up and responds by smiling. I haven't visited them in a few months but I can only imagine he has improved even further.

USA Here We Come!

It was a bittersweet day today as we said farewell to 3 students who are being resettled in the US. I've been teaching Steven & James for the past 2 years and have watched them grow into fine young "men" with great leadership abilities. They've led such challenging lives, Steven was once a child slave in Burma (his story is in My Beautiful Myanmar as is James'). His father passed away when he was young and his mother remarried and left him with his grandmother. Single-handedly his grandma (almost 60 years old now) found her way to Malaysia and worked hard to bring her two grandchildren to KL. She has been their beacon of strength and hope. Today she gave a heartfelt speech thanking everyone who has helped her during her time in Malaysia and she made a beautiful beaded purse with a cross on it for me. Joy will also be going to the US, to New York! I'm excited and happy for her as I know she has the courage and wisdom to survive even New York :) The kids are happy to be relocating yet understandably sad at leaving their friends behind, many whom they consider family. I will keep in touch with their progress and give updates on this blog. Safe travels to Steven, James & Joy!

Refugees Get Healing Touch from Sandra Sweetman

Today the kids were treated to a healing session with gifted intuitive healer Sandra Sweetman (http://www.mydivineblueprint.com/) who is in Malaysia to do some workshops. She shared with them a simple story which included a special "purple coat" that they could put on whenever they felt sad or scared. A few of the older kids became emotional during the process and it was a wonderful way to empower them and help them release some of their fears and negative energies.

After working with the kids Sandra visited a few women who had serious physical ailments and did some gentle healing with them. It was truly inspiring to watch Sandra's God-given gifts healing these ladies who have been through so much emotionally, mentally & physically. Thanks so much Sandra! We hope to see you again soon!