the back story: my friend jen lemen. do you know her? she’s the woman who writes the words that fall straight into our hearts. the words that challenge our hopes to hope a little bit more more. to love more deeply. to seek more truthfully.
jen and i became friends before her trip to africa, but our friendship really took off in the weeks upon her return home when her life tilted off center a bit the way our lives do when we return home from extraordinary, unexplainable and life altering experiences. although she has fully re-entered life back home in the states, she remains deeply committed to her friends she met in africa. after a zillion conversations (we talk several times a week), i know this for sure: jen is a soul warrior. she has been tireless in her raising awareness, her spirit lifting, her prayers, and her problem solving for many, many sweet souls in africa.
so this is the part where i need you.
meet esteria. she is a genocide survivor, and mother to 11 children (all but four have died). she lives in a tiny village in rwanda, and she spends her days caring for two young grandchildren who have been orphaned by AIDS. she has a special place in jen’s life, not just because jen spent a lot of time with her during her trip to africa, but because she is odette’s mother (odette is also a genocide survivor living as a refugee in the states and is dear dear friend of jen’s). jen tells me esteria is strong. brave. and a testament to love.
esteria’s mud house (pictured above) has been in a serious state of disrepair since a rainstorm blew in the roof last november. and this year’s rainy season has almost completely demolished what’s left. bottom line: esteria and the two grandchildren she is caring for deserve a home that can withstand the rain. a home with a concrete foundation and a strong roof. a home that can not only safely house their family, but one that can house their hopes, dreams, and future.
with the right funds and labor, she can have this new home very, very quickly. i believe that if we all donate just $5 (or more if you’d like), then we can do something extraordinary: we can give this family a home that was not only built with open hearts, but with open hands that held a hope so wide it made one woman’s dream of a safe home in africa come true.
please donate. i am giving away a 11×14 painting that i made in italy to one lucky person who donates any amount (i don’t have a photo of the painting as it’s currently packed away in a box, but i assure you it’s a beauty and my favorite from all of my italy creations). after you donate, please come back here and leave a comment. i will announce the winner next week. please only leave a comment if you’ve donated. thank you, thank you, thank you. as i begin this thanksgiving week, my heart is huge with a hope that we can do this…you + me. i know this will touch lives in ways we could have never imagined….
edited to add: more of esteria’s harrowing life journey here.
edited to add: many of you have asked if you can spread the word about this on your blogs…YES, please do! jen and i would so appreciate that.
I’m in. Thank you for this opportunity to be part of something soul-stirring and life-affirming.
kelly rae, THIS IS SO GOOD!
what an amazing, loving community of women are rallying. it totally melts me.
much love and happy thanksgiving to you all.
oh kelly rae….. so sweet you are. thanks for doing this… how could i NOT donate after reading this…
it reminds me of the story in the book eat pray love.
we are so lucky in our lives to be able to connect in these magical ways… so glad i could be a part of this- especially this week. happy thanksgiving to all.
best to you in your new home too… xo, *s
Count me in. You guys are totally awesome.
I donated the other day. I didn’t realize that I also needed to leave a comment. Don’t forget me!! 🙂
I’m so thankful for my home and for others like you that HELP those less fortunate! Thanks for this info. I donated under jdking3@…
Thank you for giving us such a beautiful way to express our gratitude this week and multiply our blessings!
A worth while cause and definately makes me think just how lucky I am. I hope the donation helps.
Julie x
I donated. Thanks Kelly Rae for helping our beloved OO and family…xo Meg and Max (Odette’s housemates)
Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to share and give support.
Many blessings to you for making this possible:) Its an awesome thing!
Thank you for a wonderful way to express all I have to be thankful for by honoring this woman’s life and work. Kath
I’ve followed Odette’s story on Jan Lemen’s blog. Thanks for helping us to support her mother too.
Bless you younger women that get things done. important things, that we can trust you to follow thru with. no in between government stuff. thank you for helping all of us GIVE GLADLY!!!LOVE, wanda
Kelly.. just donated $15.00.. thanks for letting us help.
judysheart@gmail.com
Kelley Rae, I got an unexpected payment in my paypal account today and was able to donate. Woot! I love the way sisters around the world are supporting this family.
YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME WITH YOUR KINDNESS!!!
THANK YOU. THANK YOU!
Great things can be accomplished through posts just as this. Donated and hope many,many more can also.
I’ve been following Jen’s saga in Africa. I don’t have much money now, but I know I have more than Odette’s family, and my life is so much easier.
So I donated my small amount, and hope it will add up.
It’s certainly an added bonus to be considered for your painting, and maybe that’s the impetus for finally getting me to take out my credit card (so kudos to you) but I don’t expect to win. And that’s not really the reward here.
this is wonderful Kelly Rae. I shared it with my readers.
http://maypapers.blogspot.com/2008/11/open-your-heart.html
I only wish I could have given more. I know this can happen! You are wonderful for setting this up.
kelly rae, how wonderful that you are stepping forward like this when you must be so very busy with moving and thanksgiving plans – what a wonderful thing to do. thank you for providing us the opportunity to help. xo
Kelly Rae, thank you for doing this and for reminding us of all we have to be thankful for! I just donated and am putting a link on my blog as well.
Namaste,
Chandra
Hi Kelly-
I just donated. The Paypal wouldn’t work on two different browsers, it kept saying I needed to put in a different amount than zero, even though I kept putting in the amount. So, I just sent it through by putting your email address and the subject line in.
What a great idea.
thank you jen lemen for bringing this to our minds, as well as you
miss kelly for this gentle reminder and opportunity. i am grateful today that i get to say…
here is to esteria’s home.
peace be with each of you this
thanksgiving. i give thanks for you and the lives you touch and
then share with us.
Dear Kellie
A donation of $15,form Fiona in Australia.
Sending lots of Healing and Love!
creativeoptions@optusmnet.com.au
I am happy to help. I have just donated.
I live in Africa and i know what is needed. Sometimes a little for us is a lot for Africa. I prefer to help little projects like this one rather than big ones. I am confident there will be enough donations for a new house. I am sure Jen will keep us posted!
just did a blogpost about this 🙂 hope you gets lots of money.
corinnexxx
Just donated. Feels great. Much hope and light to Esteria and her family.
just donated… what a wonderful thing we are blessed with being able to do.. to help those who need it most.
love hugs and blessings for your fundraising 🙂
Rosalie
xx
I just donated. Thank you Kelly and Jen, you are both angels, truly.
xo
Oh Kelly, I am so delighted to see SO MANY posts on your blog meaning so many donations. You may count me amongst them and I hope that all these donations make a difference. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity, it makes me that much more thankful for what we have here.
Happy Thaksgiving
I love that the love and generosity for Odette’s family is spreading across the Internet. Rock on, beautiful bloggers. Rock on.
it only takes one person to start something good.
and then the whole world has the opportunity to catch on.
i will get the word out, too.
happy thanksgiving.
So glad that you have given all of us this opportunity to help…what other response could we have after having the blessing of a roof over our heads EVERY DAY?
Melissa in So. FL
Hi Kelly,
With or without your beautiful prize this is such a wonderful and worthy cause. I really hope enough is raised to allow Esteria to build a safe new house, that would be the best Christmas gift ever!
Thanks for asking us to help.
Take care,
Kerstin
everybody needs a roof over their head, glad to help.
devin (sarah’s other half)
What a privilidge to be able to help sisters across the world! I have just made a small donation, and love the idea of my dollars going into the communal pot with the $ from other sisters of the h’art! It’s rather like Stone Soup, where so little from so many adds up to a love feast in the end! Thrilling to be a part of this! Thank you Kelly, for sharing your heart, thank you Jen for inspiring us all! xoxo
Thank you so much for giving us a chance to be a part of this. So glad we can help.
thanks for giving us the chance to participate in hope -christine
I hope we get to see a picture of her new home-I know she will have one in no time with you calling out to all of our hearts…Thank you for allowing us to contribute!
hugs,
Brenda Bliss
Your amazing Kelly! I love donating and helping out all year long, but this time of year just makes it that much more special. 🙂
Hi,
I have read Jen’s blog for some time and have always meant to donate to this amazing, touching cause. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do it now.
Eileen
eileendailey@cox.net
Hi Kelly Rae…I love your blog and Jen’s blog…I always find smiles and inspiration. I’m very happy to help in my small way.
This a beautifully fantastic thing to do!
xx
Thank you for helping Jen help her Africa friends in this way. It takes a village, even in the U.S.
Hi Kelly Rae, I’m really happy to be able to help Odette and her family…I’ve been following their “story” on Jen’s blog and contribute as often as I can. Thanks for doing this wonderful, beautiful thing!
Thanks so much for giving us this opportunity to participate in hope.
Julie
Wow Kelly Rae,
thanks so much for bringing us this story, and giving us the opportunity to be “Jesus with skin on”
sending prayers to Rwanda
xo
Carrie
I just donated. No one should have to live like that. I send my prayers out to Odette’s family. Thanks for doing this.