Christmas

Christmas is getting closer! Last year I shared about an opportunity for any of you interested in donating money towards Christmas gifts for the students we work with in Thailand at the Akha Youth Development Center. We were blown away by the kindness of so many of you who responded. Because of your generosity, Christmas last year for our students included a trip to the local market where they were able to each spend $15 on a gift for themselves. In fact, your generous giving even raised extra money to cover the annual sponsorship costs of 3 students without sponsors. Here is the video we put together expressing their gratefulness to your kindness.



My heart melts everytime I see their faces!

How many kids do you know in America who would use their Christmas money to buy a new pair of socks and toothpaste?

If you are interested in donating towards Christmas gifts this year please e-mail me at: lynettepolinder@gmail.com, and I will send you information on where to send your gift that will also provide you with a tax deductible receipt. If you are simply interested in learning more about the Akha Youth Development Center you can visit our website here.

The Dodgeball Deed

When: December 8th, 9am-4pm

Where: Lynden Christian Gym

Event Details: A day full of dodgeball. Get a team together and try to win the first annual December Dodgball Deed. Winning team will get a t-shirt and bragging rights for a year. 7 member teams with 2 optional reserve players.  Ages 16-99. All games are best of three matches.

Why? 100% of the registration fees and donations will go to the Olive Hope Scholarship Fund with scholarships going to Akha students we work with in Thailand studying at University level. 

Registration: Go to facebook.com/thedodgeballdeed. $100 minimum donation per team. Deadline to register is December 6th. 

Questions? Call Rusty Polinder at 360.220.4284 or comment here on the blog. 

Here are 15 Akha students who recieved a scholarship in 2012. 

Olive Hope.

The best news...

So remember sweet little Aevi? The baby that my Akha friends Joe and Ae had who was born only weighing 500 grams? They were finally discharged to come home this past week and are back at the Akha Youth Development Center and sweet little Aevi is doing really well!

She had another big surgery (6 hours long) to remove more areas of her intestines that were dying (necrotizing enterocolitis) two weeks ago, and she recovered well. Joe and Ae have been in Chiang Mai for the last five months waiting for Aevi to become strong enough and healthy enough to take home and have been on a long emotional rollarcoaster as any parents who have micropremies.

We have prayed and prayed for sweet little Aevi and finally she is home and healthy!

Here she is in all of her cuteness! Breathing on her own and even breastfeeding! Such a little star.