Still Not There ...

I spent the past couple of days at my friend’s condo on Captiva Island, FL. I used to go there every Labor Day weekend, but this is my first time since I began sponsoring with CI. The resort is sinfully luxurious. It costs more there to rent a waverunner for an hour than most of our kids’ families make in a month! Guests (who have already paid exorbitant rates to stay there) are also required to pay a $100+ fee just to use the pools and other resort facilities. I do without the extra stuff, of course. The only thing I miss is the Wi-Fi Internet, and I figured out a way to tap into their service for free.

At least the resort hasn’t yet found a way to slap a price tag on the wild dolphins. You can’t turn around in the waters of Captiva without running into a dolphin! When I looked out the condo window yesterday morning, there were three dolphins frolicking in the ocean outside. Two more showed up when my friend and I went down for our morning swim. Then we saw lots more when we went out for a boat ride in the early evening. Dolphins are cool.

Right now, I am on a bus traveling between Ft. Meyers and Miami Airport. Next stop – Honduras!

The twins (faternal, obviously) who rent the condo below my friend's every year. I've known them since they were two years old.

A dolphin jumps next to our boat

This bird flew south to start his winter vacation early!

Visit to Guatemala #1

Hello, sponsors of Odilia and Magda!

Soon, I will be in Antigua, Guatemala spending the day with our girls.

I've been staying at a resort in Orlando for the past week (Don't ask me why. It's complicated.). My friend and fellow CI sponsor, Sam, came down here to "play" for a few days. We went horseback riding, took a Segway tour, and snorkeled with manatees.

Now, I'm just sitting here with a poor Internet connection, killing time. I play bingo by the pool and make tye-dye shirts. Boring. Tomorrow, I will be joining another friend at another FL resort on Captiva Island. On Sunday night, I will FINALLY fly to Central America.

Bye until then ...
Mack

Sending gifts/letters for Magda with Mack

It would be sweet if Magda could receive a personalized gift from each of her sponsors when I visit. If you would like me to carry gifts to Magda on your behalf, these are the"rules":

1. The items must fit into a 1 gallon-sized ziplock bag. (You'd be surprised athow much can be packed into one of those!)

2. The items may be exposed to high levels of heat before reaching theirdestination, so keep this in mind. (No crayons, chocolate, etc.)

3. At a minimum, please include a photo of yourself/your family with your namewritten on the back so Magda will know who the gifts are from.

4. A letter would be great, but remember that it will be given to her directly,so it must be written in Spanish. If you do not know Spanish, simply contact me (through LiftOne or the Google group)for my email address, send your letter to me, and I will get it translated for you, then email it back ASAP (or I can print it off my computer and add it to your baggie).

5. Please try to get the gifts to me by the first week of August, so I can pack and be ready well in advance of my departure the third week of August. Contact me for my mailing address as I don't want to post it on a public blog.

If you wish to include a small contribution to Magda's shopping/McDonald's costs, that would be appreciated (but is not at all mandatory). You can also donate to the FirstGiving fundraising page for the trip: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jim-miller-1/guatemalagirls

Thanks!

Mack

Mack's trip to visit Magda

Hello, fellow sponsors of Magda!



I am happy to announce that I have joined your group (and paid my dues, even) as a co-sponsor of little Magda.



My family will be visiting my father's child, Nicty, on September 7th of this year (just like I visited her on Sept. 7th of last year!). On the same day, we will be able to spend time with Magda and Odilia, two group-sponsored Guatemalan girls. These two should get along well, as they will both be 11 years old - Magda just barely, and Odilia nearing age 12 (December 18th).




Unfortunately, I will be unable to visit the homes of Magda and Odilia, because they live a 1.5 hour drive north of Antigua. Luckily, they can be driven into the city to meet up with us, where I'm sure that they will have a super awesome day out! (With plenty of photo ops, of course!)



Here is the plan sent from the office in Guatemala:



9:45 We will get together with Odilia and Magda in the Main Park of Antigua, Guatemala



10:00 Go shopping for clothes for all the children



12:30 Lunch at McDonald's



2:30 Finish the visit for Magda and Odilia because they will have to head home;however, we have more time for Nicty to spend with the sponsors.




If you are willing to contribute any money toward fun and shopping for Magda in Antigua, I've set up a way for you to donate through FirstGiving.



http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jim-miller-1/guatemalagirls



The money will go to an organization "Save the Orcas" which I support anyway. The funds I would normally given to them, I will now keep to pay myself back for what I will spend on Odilia.
My father and I share a FirstGiving account, which is why the fundraiser has been set up under his name.



Thanks!
Macky



PS: If you can't spare much, I understand. Times are tough these days.



Photos of Odilia and her family ...

Magda's Mac Gifts from Inga!

These are the MAC gifts that Inga sent to Magda!

Annual Photo

Here is the new annual photo of Magda. Gotta love that smile!

Direct Package Pictures

Today when I picked up my mail I was greeted with these lovely picures and letter from Magda. One of her sponsors sent her a direct package containing a story book, a "cuddly dog", earrings, necklace and bracelet. I hope the dog doesn't scare the chickens! (hahaha!) Thank you to the sponsor who was able to brighten her day!

Direct Package Letter

Photos of Magda

These are some gifts that Magda received recently. The photos of the pink clothes are birthday gift photos and the other 2 photos of of Christmas cards some of my first grade children sent to her along w/a few small gifts. Those 2 photos ended up in New York with another sponsor who was able to locate my phone number and called me to let me know about the mix up!

Magda's IGP Photos

Magda's IGP Letter

Magda's IGP Field Report

Magda's IGP

Hello Everyone,

Sometimes you have to love the Postal System. In December apparently the information for Magda's IGP was sent. The report did not arrive so Debbie at CI was kind enough to send another copy. Well, lo and behold on Friday I received the copy from Debbie and on Saturday the original arrived. I will post the Field Report, letter and pictures that CI sent to us. The staff in the CI office apparently really enjoyed the picture of Magda holding her chicken.

It is the hope of this group that the IGP will help to make the lives of Magda and her family better.

School

As part of the package I sent her, I asked about her school. I wanted to know:

How many children were in her class.

How long it takes her to get to school.

What she wears to school.

What is her favorite subject.

I was really surprised and happy that she told me about her school and classmates.

Bernie

Direct Package

Tward the end of August I sent Magda a package with different clothing items and a couple of cames to play with her friends and siblings. This is the letter and pictures I received.

Bernie

IGP Funded!

Some wonderful news!

A generous doner has compleated the funding for Magda's IGP.

In a field report from CI, the family indicated that they would like to start selling chickens in their neighborhood. After contacting the other members of her sponsorship group, it was decided to fund her IGP. On September 25th an e-mail was received announcing that the funding for her IGP was complete, with a little extra for the family.

I contacted CI and the memo along with the funds were sent to the field. Since Magda and her sister will be entering their summer break from school, they will have the extra time to get their IGP organized before they have to start their next school year.

Once the iformation from the field has been received concerning the purchase of the materials for the IGP, I will post the information and pictures here.

It is our hope that with this IGP, Magda and her family will have a better life!

Thank You from Magda

When we first began sponsoring Magda as a group, Lisa made a SNG donation. Here is the thank you we received from her.

Thank you Lisa!

Letter from Magda

I came home last night to a CI envelope. Inside was a letter from Magda. I have posted it above for you. She asks for pictures of us so she can put them next to her bed. I am not sure if she understands that there are a group of us. We could do a collage picture for her if you are interested.

Hope you enjoy her letter as much as I did.

Bernie

Magda Receives Her Gifts :-)

Shana sent a package to Magda. Here are the photos and what she wrote.

Here is Magda from Guatamila with her first gifts from me. A grop of CI sponsors Magda. She looks happy and will need to grow into a couple of items. :-)

Magda's First Letter

Just before leaving for work today the mailman brought the first letter from Magda! I had to hurry up and scan it so that I could share it with all of you. I am sorry for the bleed through on the picture but I wanted you to be able to see what she drew on the back.

In the salutation, Magda got it right, she used sponsors but the translator didn't. :-)

Hope you enjoy reading her first words to us.