yoongz

January 24, 2013

Lying Down…

… Have you ever tried lying down for a long time? i mean like for an extended period of time, just do nothing but lay down on a bed. Try it. Go lay down, fully awake, don’t go to sleep now. Lay there doing nothing for thirty minutes – that’s ok, in fact, you might feel rested. How about lying down, wide awake, doing nothing for two hours? Ok, maybe it was a little long but bearable – yes? Now go ahead and see how you feel after four hours or ten hours or an entire day and night? Then imagine that would be what your future holds, day in, day out, for the rest of your life…

i would be bored stiff within half a day. My heart breaks that there are children out there who have exactly that to look forward to in their futures, just because they have a disability and the orphanage or more likely the institution does not have the staff or the facilities to allow them to be outside of their cribs. In some places, children are left in their cribs all day because the society views that is all they can do. In other places, they do not know that these children can be helped or how to help them.

But we all know, we who live in places where medical facilities are available, we know that anyone with a disability if given the proper treatment, therapy and good, loving support, can thrive and live a fulfilling life.

A little girl needs a loving family to help her make the most of life.

Nastya is one of these many children who would have no future unless adopted. Ideally, adopted within her own country, but the reality is that in her country that would most likely not happen as disability is not widely accepted in their society. So international adoption would be the next option for her.

So today i am shouting out for her – she needs a family to love her, just as she is; a family to tell her she is worth their care and support, just because she is who she is. If she had a family who could give her the care she needs, then she can look forward to a future which would feature days outside, enjoying the sunshine, enjoying time interacting with her family and other people, and even a job when she is all grown up and maybe a family of her very own in the far future.

Nastya is already 7 years old and the future looks bleak. She has Spina Bifida and minor Hydrocephalus and is unable to walk. But this does not mean that she isn’t capable. In the right supportive environment, i believe she would grow into the beautiful flower i know she is, deep inside.

Do you see that in her? Do you think you could be her family? If yes, please contact Reece’s Rainbow for more details.

You don’t have to be her family to help. You can share her story so that more people will come to know her and increase her chances of finding a family.

You can give towards her adoption grant to ease the journey her forever family would have to bring her home. International adoptions cost an arm and a leg! Click on her picture or name to go to her profile page to donate.

You can most definitely pray for her. Pray for her daily needs, pray for a family to step up for her real soon.

Thank you.

syc

January 21, 2013

Planes…

… yep, this is what this post is all about… PLANES…

Just a few days after Christmas, we were at the airport to see off yet another international student. Then less than a week later, we were back there again, seeing off… you guessed it… another international student.

For those who don’t know, off and on we get international students who come to our church while they are here studying. In the last few years, most of them have come from either Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, generally Asia. And having been international students ourselves, we know how it can be hard (not saying that it always is for every person, it certainly wasn’t for me) and we remembered how much we missed home-cooking during those times. So to these ones who come, we invite them over and we do some home-cooking, usually involving a sleep-over too. And some of these students stay for internship and at the end of that, they sometimes come stay with us for a few days or a couple of weeks. It has been wonderful having them around, they have been a blessing to us as much as we have (i do hope so) been to them.

Anyhow, we saw at the Zürich Airport that they have opened their new observation deck (since end of 2011, i believe) and we thought we go check it out. It now costs CHF5/. for an adult and kids from 10-16 pay CHF2/. It used to just cost CHF1/. But then there was a little less technology involved.

Here’s what i mean:

You can now track the planes you see moving around the terminal and taking off. All you have to do is point a special binoculars type thing at the planes, a yellow circle appears and it tells you what plane it is and where it is headed. It also gives you technical specifications on the planes. Very cool. It can zoom in pretty far too. There are a few of these around the deck so you won’t be waiting too long for your turn, even if it is crowded.

planes_20130121d — Left: shows technical info about the plane you are looking at. Click on a button and… Right: shows the flight number and destination.

You are actually standing on top of Gate B, so if there is a plane which is ready to take on passengers, the board next to the stairs leading out onto the arm of that gate will tell you all you need to know about the plane and where it’s going. Once again, very neat little feature.

Of course, they have the good o’ playground, just upgraded and new now.

i like how the outline is traced out on the ground too.

They also have a little restaurant right there on the Observation Deck B. It doesn’t serve lunch/dinner type meals but good snacks and of course at “airport” prices.

There is also an Observation Deck E but that is only open during the summer months. Maybe we’ll try going once. Although i imagine they would have to bus people to Deck E as it is not directly connected to the terminal itself. But i’ll post about that when we do visit there.

It’s a pretty good place to spend an hour or two with the kids if you happen to be at the airport either sending off or picking up someone. Oh, i forgot to mention, you do have to go through a small security check before being allowed on the Observation Deck.

So being inspired, the next two days or so, we had a little plane fun. Tobias had gotten a plane making set for Christmas; the rubber-band powered planes. And so he and Daddy set to work and here they are flying their creations 🙂

Hope you have a ~~plain-sailing~~ “plane-flying” week 😉

syc

January 18, 2013

Just Like You…

… that’s the title of a video about children with Down Syndrome. It is very informative and i love how they point out the differences between everyone and that Down Syndrome does not definite who they are. This video really does cover lots of aspects of Down Syndrome and how a child with Downs needs help but they still want to do everything other kids do. They try their best.

The 3 kids with Down Syndrome in the video proudly show that they are indeed different but that doesn’t mean they aren’t awesome, just being who they are and live a full life with support from their family and friends. Their best friends share great testimony on their behalf.

Watch the video then read on:

My little Heath has Down Syndrome too. And as it is said in the video, ‘It’s just part of what makes me who i am.’ But it is only a part of it. He is much more than Down Syndrome.

But unfortunately, the society he was born into sees only his Down Syndrome and they only see it as a disability Which is why Heath spends his days sitting in a wheelchair, doing nothing, absolutely nothing but stared at whatever happens to be before him. Because where he is from, being different from what is considered “normal” is unacceptable.

‘Once you learn what Down Syndrome is, you get use to it. Because when you have the knowledge and you understand, it’s easy to accept.’

12 year old Heath, is a cutie who needs his family asap. — 12-year-old Heath, is a cutie who needs his family asap.

His only hope is to be adopted by a loving family who has the knowledge and understands that Down Syndrome is not a disability; a caring family who lives in a society which will accept him, just as he is; a little boy who just needs to be shown tender loving care, who will just thrive in such care. Could you be the one to give him such love?

‘She sees you for you, who you are on the inside.’

Please see my Heath for who he is, see that he is a little boy with much need but most of all, see his potential. Can you imagine what he could accomplish with a supportive family behind him?

‘I’m worth the wait…’

Indeed, he will be a blessing to the family who welcomes him with open arms and hearts.

My little Heath has a full grant! (We, his advocates, are so grateful to all the generous donors who made this possible.) Which means his forever family need only come up with the initial fees for commitment and home study and that is completely doable.

Money is now not a hurdle. We just need a family to step up. Are you his family? Please click on his name or picture to find out more or contact Reece’s Rainbow.

Will you share Heath‘s story far and wide so that his family maybe found? Do pray for him; for his daily needs and for a forever family to come for him.

syc