Amazing people who inspire and bring joy
Posted on | February 6, 2010 | 13 Comments
Amazing people wow me.
Just like the amazing people I’ve written about in another blog post.
I wake up in the mornings hoping to be “wowed” every day.
I’m lucky that I get to meet amazing people all the time.
Well, actually, it’s not luck.
There are amazing people everywhere in our world. It’s just a matter of opening our eyes and our hearts.
Amazing people make our world a better place
Today, I read about the work that World Vision has been doing in Haiti for the last 31 years. More than 52,000 Haitian children are sponsored through World Vision, including more than 5,000 children sponsored by Australians. Wow.
I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the Australians who sponsor children in Haiti.
This gets me thinking about the children I sponsor. I would be utterly devastated if one of them were struck by a disaster such as the recent Haiti earthquake.
As my thoughts are with the Haitians at this moment, I feel even more connected to my sponsor children. Although they’re so far away in distance, they’re very close to my heart today.
Amazing people like Carmelo
Carmelo is one of those amazing people who have wowed me.
He’s 11 this year and, like most South American kids, his favourite game is soccer. Carmelo lives with his mum in a poor urban area in Colombia.
The day before I met Carmelo, the World Vision workers gave me his welcome letter. It read, that ever since he was told I might be visiting, he prayed every day for it to happen. He told me that my visit was a dream come true for him.
Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I cry very, very easily. I tried so hard to fight the tears. But I was a goner with those beautiful words from this loving child.
I’ll never forget the picture of him running out of his house when our car pulled up. It’s a vision I’ll take to my grave.
Carmelo is so so smart. He’s at the top of his class. We spoke in Spanish, so I could clearly judge his exceptionally high verbal communication ability.
This compassionate boy told me how he wants to be a worker’s rights lawyer because he sees how workers in his community, including his mum, are treated. Can you believe that this is the mind of a 9 year old? Funny how I’m a lawyer and he wants to be a lawyer too.
Today, more than ever, as I think about the Haitian children, I have all my sponsored children in my heart.
Carmelo, gracias por ser parte en mi vida. Tu siempre vas ha estar en mi corazon.
Amazing people are on the ground in Haiti
I get very upset thinking about the disadvantaged situation that Carmelo, and other children around the world, live in. I’m very upset about the situation of the Haitian children right now, to say the least.
But I have faith in the amazing people at World Vision and the very generous contributions of World Vision supporters. They all help to give kids in poor countries the chance to grow up happy and healthy.
It has been over 3 weeks since the Haiti earthquake. As this news slowly becomes a distant memory in our TV, print and online social media, please remember that the horrific reality for the Haitians will continue. Please know that any dollar you donate, even now, makes a big difference.
There are a lot of charities doing great work over there. World Vision is my favourite international aid organisation, if you’re looking for one to support.
Are you a World Vision supporter or supporter of another children’s charity? Have you met your sponsor child? How do you feel about the situation in Haiti?
Lina Nguyen © 2010
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13 comments
February 6th, 2010 @ 9:12 PM
Lina, your post re-enforces my concern also for the thousands, of children in Haiti. Many of them becoming orphans on that fateful day, and now being sought after by those, who are kidnapping and trading them.
It is a reality that some people refuse to face, and these issues never go away. Just today they caught a group people in the process of trying to leave the country with children !
I commend your post, and also admire your sponsoring of unfortunate children through World Vision. You must be so proud of Carmelo & I can imagine the emotions when you met.
Fisherman
Allen Sentance Fisherman´s last blog ..Haiti Earthquake Strengthens My Gratitude For Life
February 6th, 2010 @ 10:08 PM
Hi Lina,
you are right, amazing people are everywhere, and one of the best things to do is support the kids in this world.
We are sponsoring a German organization (SOS childrens village)which is re-creating families for orphans. They live with their siblings and their “mother” in a family like situation, can go to school and enjoy a nearly normal life.
I would love to do more, but they are putting our donations to good use
Renee´s last blog ..Wealth Creation – What is Wealth?
February 6th, 2010 @ 10:23 PM
Hi Lina, there ARE amazing people everywhere, and while you keep looking at them all, you may not notice that we are noticing you. Anyone involved in the empowerment of others is tops with me..and dare I glimpse that you and Carmelo are in each others life for a reason. Well done.
jo carey-bradshaw´s last blog ..There is a Potent Way to Success
February 7th, 2010 @ 12:47 AM
Beautifully Written Lina.
Good on you for sponsoring
Cheers
Harry
Harry Lynn´s last blog ..My Sixth Step to Prosperity
February 7th, 2010 @ 1:06 AM
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by linathinks: Amazing people make this world a better place: Amazing people http://linanguyen.com.au/linas-amazing-people-list/amazing-people/...
February 7th, 2010 @ 3:33 AM
Hi Lina,
Great post, and I enjoyed reading it. There are some good notes in there.
February 7th, 2010 @ 11:32 AM
Interesting story Lina, So nice to read about someone helping people and touching hearts through acts of kindness as you are doing with Carmelo and his community.
Thanks,
Jill Brown.
February 7th, 2010 @ 1:05 PM
Hi Lina,
There are many amazing people that fly under the radar. They are people such as yourself who give generously to charities. There are those who have wealth and are happy to share and then there are those that volunteer their time to help in food kitchens, getting meals ready for homeless.
Sometimes it is the smallest things that amaze us and sometimes it only takes one person to make a difference.
Regards, Eileen.
Eileen´s last blog ..Food problems – my story
February 7th, 2010 @ 1:19 PM
Hi everyone
Great to see so many amazing people here, contributing to this world in your own positive ways. You’re amazing people for all the small things you do – day in, day out – and for the massive action you take to move closer to your dreams. Thank you for the ripple effect you’re creating.
Lina
February 7th, 2010 @ 5:06 PM
Amazing people do come in many shapes and sizes. It’s a reminder of regardless how you feel & your “beliefs” that your not making a difference – you (or should I say “I”) should always say “keep going… you can make a difference.”
Samantha Banfield´s last blog ..Jackie O quits 2DayFM’s “The Kyle and Jackie O Show”
February 11th, 2010 @ 8:40 PM
We both know amazing people can be anywhere and anyone. Thats why it is so important not to judge a person too quickly. I believe everyone has an amazing story to tell, regardless of their status in this world. You ask the right questions and you will receive the answers you want. You can find a WOW in everybody. Lina, as you know, hearing peoples stories (even Darcy’s stories) can be valuable and powerful in some way.
This, I believe is going to make our next BIG trip a success. It is going to be the WOW people we are going to meet everyday. Keep up the fantastic blogging.
Dean
February 25th, 2010 @ 10:08 AM
Lina, I think you need to add yourself to your list of amazing people, cause you are definitely one of them!
Your blog is not only inspirational but uplifting and enriching. There are so many remarkable people out there that go unnoticed and most of the time, are just being themselves.
It has been such a pleasure helping organise your visit to meet with your sponsored child Sithembile Majola. You have been an amazing support to World Vision and we cannot continue the work we do without support from people like you.
Thank you so very much and all the best to you on your trip and in all you do.
All the best,
Melissa
February 27th, 2010 @ 4:57 PM
Hi Melissa!
Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m just organising our accommodation in Durban, South Africa now! We are so so so grateful for your instrumental help in making this visit happen… I can’t believe I’ll be meeting Sithembile, his family and community this Wednesday! I’m so excited. Thanks for your beautiful comments and I can’t wait to tell you all about the visit!
Lina