Rani: An Update

So, Rani is doing really well everyone.

He's got some serious style too.

His appetite seems to be increasing by the day, and he downs his vitamins and anti-parasitic medicines like a champ.

He's learnt the actions for all of the English nursery rhymes I can dredge up from my memory, and babbles away endlessly - His language skills are very behind for a three year old, but he seems to be picking up new words every day, which is brilliant. He says hiya and bye-bye to everyone he meets now.

He's being lavished in attention, and absolutely loving it.

When he's being naughty and he knows it, he'll turn around and blow you a kiss and give you an adoring smile. It doesn't work (-most of the time, but sometimes you can't help but laugh)

He's smack bang in the middle of toilet training, and I can safely say that I've never had to clean up more of that delightful stuff ever in my life.

Someone has recently donated a bike, which he absolutely adores, even if he can't quite reach the pedals.

He also took quite an interest in the wax crayons and felt tip pens, and expressed this by drawing all over the walls and floor. (They are now on an out of reach shelf, and used only under careful supervision)

I'm learning an awful lot about cleaning up various substances at the minute.

I think his favourite place is the shower, because he doesn't stop grinning and laughing when he's in there. It's just catching him fast enough once he's out of there to put some clothes on him, otherwise there's a slippery naked baby dancing around the dorm .

But he's been here for nearly two weeks, and the progress he's made has been absolutely astounding.

And it breaks my heart to know that he's eventually going to have to go home.

Back to an overcrowded shack.

Back to poor nutrition and not enough food to go around.

Back to a mother whose time is stretched so thinly between 9 children and a job in the evening that she can't pay him the attention he needs.

Back to poor medical care.

Back to no running water, no real sanitation, a rudimentary at best education.

Back to no chances.

I don't want to insult his family in anyway, because I know for a fact that Rani is loved at home, and his parents do the very best that they can for him and his siblings with what little they have.

They did not ask to be living the way they do. They tried their best.

And they did not intend to have as many children as they do.

Contraception did not work; probably a combination of substandard supplies, and a lack of education on its proper use.

And the sterilisation that Rani's mother had failed, resulting in Rani and his older sister.

So it's not through lack of trying, please, please know that.

I really want to emphasise that his mother loves him, and wants what's best for him, as anyone who loves a child can empathise with.

His mother loves him, and she'd love for him to stay here and be raised under the loving care of the project.

To be afforded the care and attention he needs, to be raised in a supportive and educational environment where all of his requirements are met.

To wear clothes that fit him, and to be given shoes as he grows.

To never go hungry.

To be surrounded by gardens and play equipment, to learn about animals and their care. To have a chance at a real education.

To be given a better future.

Project Isobel would be willing to provide this, to be Rani's guardians until he can make his own way in life, and supporting him, and other boys like him (because his is sadly not a unique situation here), through that too.

He just needs sponsorship.

Regular investors in the life of a little boy, expanding his world and altering his future. Breaking the cycle of poverty. Changing his life.

Could you make that difference?

If you think you could help visit Project Isobel, and add your support.

Happy Rani and I.
 Also, I am not that pale.

Please remember to keep the Project, and Ranciel,  in your prayers, and stay in touch! I love to hear from you all, whether in the comments or via email, and it's great to hear what you think.

And don't be afraid to get in contact with the project, just visit the website and start talking!

Love always,

Lauren

x

In which we go out to deliver school supplies, and come home with a toddler.

So, yesterday we went out to deliver some of the 20 packages of school supplies for children that we have to two of the families that the project is connected with.

The first stop went smoothly, after we'd bolted in from the (torrential, always torrential) rain. The two boys were excited by all of their new school stuff, and started testing out out right away. We got hugs, and kisses, and they proudly showed off their last report cards.

Their favourite things were the felt tips.

We stayed and chatted for a while, then moved on to the next, much larger, and even poorer family, which is where we met Ranciel.

Well, I met Ranciel, Pauline re-visited him and his family.

And this is him;

He's so flippin' cute.

He is three years old. And currently attempting to eat the keyboard.

He's had a testicular hernia for two of those three years of his life, and desperately needs an operation to have it fixed.

The operation is free, but Ranciel was turned away as he is too severely undernourished for the operation to be safe for him to undergo.

Which is where we step in.

Ranciel will be under our care for one month, where he'll receive vitamin and anti-parasitic treatments, and nourishing meals. He'll be lavished in attention and exposed to toys, games, and wildlife that he'\d never get to experience at home.

This is Ranciel's home:

It has two rooms, gaps in the outer walls, no running water and no real toilet.

He shares it with his Mother, occasionally his Father, and 5 of his 7 older siblings.

Trust me, it's grim.

I'm not really a weepy person, but I had to hide my tears when we walked into that shack.

We only went to deliver school supplies to his older siblings, and came home with Ranciel. He's an absolutely gorgeous little boy, affectionate, smiley and inquisitive. He absolutely loves to be cuddled, he finds showering a hilarious experience and he's fascinated by the animals.

He's a bit wobbly on his feet, and he struggles with his co-ordination a little. On one hand he never developed a little finger- we think due to poor nutrition in the womb and lack of proper pre-natal care- and on the other he has a little finger, but it doesn't have a tip, and it doesn't bend.

He's been here for a night already, and this morning we took him to get some shoes, underwear and clothes, because all he had when we arrived was a couple of dungarees, jeans that are a few sizes too big, and three t-shirts, no pants, no shoes, no toys.

That's it.

That's all his Mum had to send him with, packing up his belongings and thanking us, and God, the entire time. It was clear that she loves all of her children, but she simply does not have the means to support them. I was told that a lot of the time, the children are all crying with hunger, and she just doesn't have anything to give to them.

Heartbreaking isn't it?

Could you help the Project support Ranciel for a month? If so, visit Project Isobel to donate towards his care and make a world of difference in this little boy's life.

Thanks.

Love and Prayers,

x

Time flies.

Well, it's now 2 weeks and 3 days 'til I go.

I'm sure it wasn't 5 minutes since this whole adventure was in the distant future and I was trying to figure out how to buy a plane ticket.

That one did take a while though.

And this whole journey has been absolutely amazing, it really has. The crazy thing is that it hasn't really began yet, but to bring me up to this point even, well, it's been an experience.

To begin with, I've come to realize just how grateful I am for my parents. Throughout this period of planning, fundraising and organising,  they've both given up so much time, going over every single detail of my trip with me, reminding me about vital things that I would have otherwise totally forgotten about, like Rabies vaccinations, and valid passports. They've sat with me when I've been gripped by fear, and just wanted to back pedal out of this entire thing, and go and do normal things instead, like spending a Summer with my friends.

They've encouraged, they've guided... they are two phenomenal people, and I am so overwhelmingly grateful and honoured to call them my parents. (So thank you both, I love you)

I've been made aware of how generous people can be when you present something they can believe in. From my amazing family getting behind me and giving more than I could ever have asked for, in finance and support; it has all meant so much - To people that I've never spoken to before, being so unbelievably generous with words of encouragement and donations towards the project, helping me to surpass my original fundraising target by far.

My friends, dedicated and encouraging, sitting with me week in, week out on a little table at Church and School, attempting to get every single person that walked past to buy a little black wristband. I'm pleased to say that they are now a common accessory, and still make me grin when I see a flash of 'A Better Future' on someone's wrist.

I obviously have to thank God too, I'm pretty sure that he's the one that's been orchestrating it all, right in the middle of the action. Well, I know it.

There are far too many people to name and thank on this post, but to every single one of you that has supported this adventure in any way, whether it was buying a wristband or asking a question about the Project, or something bigger, it's all meant so much to me, and it's kept me going when it all got a bit tricky. You've made a difference.

And all those pounds and pennies you donated? They are making a massive difference over in the Dominican Republic, currently feeding the hungry, and helping to maintain the Project's grounds so it will continue to be inhabitable and not destroyed by the heavy rainstorms and hurricane season, keeping a safe haven that way.  And that's only half of the money that's being used at the moment. Amazing isn't it? Those wristbands really are paving a better future for street children and abandoned, abused animals.

I'll be continuing this to let you all know what else your money has done, and will do whilst I'm actually there, trying to help a bit myself. One of my suitcases has already been packed, and then repacked, mainly because my Mum said my packing was awful.

I, personally, did not see any issue with it, but there you go.

The other one is half filled with donated stationery and school equipment for the children that come into the project, and is currently waiting on all of those last minute items that I need right up until I go.

And yes, I trip over both of them at least once a day, a painful reminder of where I'm going.

All of my vaccinations are complete, and I start my course of Malaria tablets the Sunday after next. I'm pleased to announce that all of the injections were in my arm, and the Rabies vaccine really isn't awful. The worst side effect I have is a dull ache in my left arm, but for all I know that could just be because I slept funny.

I think I'm nearly sorted, but there's bound to be something. There always is.

I've just got to remember to get through my two remaining exams (exciting times, looking forward to those) and make the most of my remaining time here in sunny ol' Coventry, then I'll be away for a while, and before you know it, I'll be back again. Just like that.

But to you all, thank you. Y'know, for everything.