Beads for Bucks Auction #2

[I learned a few things from the last Beads for Bucks auction, so we're going to try things alittle differently this time]

This week's auction is for another bracelet. This is actually my favorite piece...unique and so African! The women (like Cecilia on the right) at Amazing Grace, Inc. make all of their beads from recycled glass bottles and it's truly a process. The beads are on a stretchy cord, so it will fit any wrist size (I have small wrists, and it's more like a bangle on me--no elastic needed). This piece is one-of-a-kind and it's so stinkin' cool! What's even more cool is that 100% of the proceeds from the auction will help fund future Orphan Relief and Rescue projects! You get a beautiful piece of jewelry and you are changing the lives of orphans in Liberia at the same time! Can't beat it!

How this auction works:

- This week's auction is going to be a silent auction. I'm going to try this method and see if this method or last week's 'ebay style' auction works better.

- Place your bid by leaving a comment, including your email address, so that I can contact the winner. The silent auction works because I have to approve all comments. I will not approve any comments until the auction closes...meaning, you won't know who has bid or the bid amounts.

- I will update the number of bids at the bottom of this post as I receive them.

- The auction will close on Wednesday night for those of you in the States. I will check my email on Thursday morning, and the highest bid wins!

- Do not place your bid via Facebook. I know this will post to my fb page, but just come to the blog to bid.

- And remember, all of the money raised is going towards a great cause, so spread the word!!

Number of Bids: 4

Mosquito Nets & Malaria

Can you believe that over 2,000 children die everyday around the world from mosquito-borne malaria? In Liberia last year, 21,000 children under the age of five died from malaria. However, Liberians just believe that malaria is a normal part of life.

We spend alot of time talking with the directors and children about malaria. Malaria education, prevention and treatment are big focus areas at the beginning of rainy season. This rainy season, we want to make sure that there is a treated mosquito net on every bed in every home...a mosquito net can save lives!

Because of a generous donation from our friends at Universal Outreach Foundation, we were able to purchase 200 mosquito nets! Students at Carson Graham High School in North Vancouver, along with UOF volunteers, hosted a talent show with area high schools to raise money. Also, the 7th graders at Bennett's Mill Middle School in Fayetteville, Georgia held a penny drive and raised enough money to provide one orphanage with new nets! A super huge thank you to everyone who pitched in and helped! It's inspiring to see young people step up and get involved!

We have spent the past few weeks hanging up the nets and teaching the caretakers and children about the importance of using a net. Please pray for the children and the field teams--that everyone would stay healthy and malaria-free this rainy season!

Beads for Bucks Auction #1

[The following is a blog-o-sphere experiment]

I have been trying to come up with something great to auction off from my blog to raise some money for Orphan Relief and Rescue. It’s taken time, but I think you might like what I’ve come up with. We’ll see how complicated this is, and if there’s an overwhelming response, then that’s even better!

Every week for the next month, I am going to post a new Beads for Bucks auction. All of the auction pieces are handmade by Liberian women at a local shop called Amazing Grace, Inc. The women are trained for 6 months in the art of bead-making. The women turn recycled glass bottles into beautiful beads, and then create each piece of jewelry. Everything that they create is beautiful, which has made it difficult for me to pick out the pieces for the auctions. Each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind.

The best part is that 100% of the proceeds from the auctions will help fund upcoming Orphan Relief and Rescue projects. It’s a great way for YOU to make a difference in the lives of Liberia’s orphans, and you get a fabulous piece of unique Liberian jewelry!

So, I present: Beads for Bucks—Auction #1

How the auction works:
- Each auction will be posted at the beginning of the week (Monday night or Tuesday morning).
- You can bid by leaving a comment. Please leave your email address so that I can contact the highest bidder. In order to prevent spam, leave your email address in the form of: your email (at) server (dot) com.
- As we say in Liberia, “don’t be greedy”. Remember, the auction is for a GREAT cause so spread the word! 100% of the proceeds will be used to fund upcoming Orphan Relief and Rescue projects!
- This auction will close on Thursday night. (I will check the bids when I wake up on Friday morning)

- The highest bidder can pay with either PayPal or a personal check.

If you have any other questions, just post them as a comment and I will answer them.

Now, let's raise some money!!!

The starting bid is $10.

Short & Sweet

Just a quick update:
- The house is finally quiet (well, almost...Menitama's still going loud and strong). All of our guests have left, so now there are only 2 of us in the house, along with Matt & Mariel, who live in town.

- I celebrated my 26th birthday last week! Nothing big or special. The gang went to my "Liberian family's" house for dinner and my favorite Liberian dish (PUMPKIN) was on the menu! We came home and made a batch of brownies and played poker. Then on Friday night, we went to Matt & Mariel's (because they have a real oven) and hung out and made birthday cake. I had shipped over cake mixes and one tub of icing especially for my birthday (talk about planning ahead, eh?). Cake is serious business for me! It was the best tasting cake ever!

- Thank you to everyone who donated to my birthday wish on Facebook! $393 was raised for Orphan Relief and Rescue!

- And finally, it's official....two weeks from tomorrow I'm heading home!

A Peek at My Day

It was a bumpy ride and an off-roading adventure with a bunch of crazy guys, but we made it to Jaiah's in Kakata! We've been hosting a team of 4 for the past few days, and we wanted to give them the 'non-Monrovia' experience...so we headed for the busy today! We drove through Firestone plantation and then through Kakata, where you take a dusty road, forge a few very large puddles of water and after a few miles, end up at Jaiah's orphanage--where he and his wife take care of 35 children by living off of the land. It felt like Christmas when we unloaded mosquito nets, rice, flour, children's books, vitamins, clothes and some farm tools for them. It was a great day! Here are a few pictures.

My Birthday Wish

My birthday is next week, and I've got a birthday wish on Facebook. Check it out:

My Birthday Wish