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Poorest of the Poor

July 11, 2023 /1 Comment/in /by

The country now ranked as the poorest in the world for 2023 is South Sudan where people live in desperate poverty and where a poorly educated workforce limits their capacity.

Addressing this tremendous need is the Padoc Area Scholars Society.  College education is amazingly inexpensive in South Sudan compared to any other country in the world. Scholarships are provided based on need and merit to students pursuing four-year university degrees and three-year technical college degrees. Scholarships cover tuition, books and transportation costs.  Donors can choose from several levels of sponsorship starting at $36 per month.

Students Awaiting Scholarships

Many students would love to pursue a college education, but need our support to make that happen. You can see photos and descriptions of those waiting here. Sponsors have the opportunity/option to correspond with the sponsored student via email to learn about their life journey and experience the satisfaction of truly …
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Tomorrow

June 15, 2023 /0 Comments/in /by

Posting challenges on Prose, a website for readers and writers, provides insights on a variety of topics.  A recent posting asked “If there were no limits on your time and money, what would you do tomorrow?”

Some said they would:

“Fly first class to Cancun”
“Go to my favorite restaurant and get an entire order of chicken wings”
“Catch a thousand butterflies and hold them in clear jars”
“Get the dental surgery I can’t afford”

 

Others seemed to have a theme of kindness in what they would do:

“Set up a trust aimed at feeding the children of the world and providing medical care. The trust would be managed by a multi-cultural counsel of Grandmas”

“Buy 10,000 acres of land and give it back to the people”

“Build a sanctuary for single Mothers”

“Give my friend a moment away from caring for her Mom, a refugee from Ukraine …
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6 Years in Kindergarten

June 8, 2023 /0 Comments/in /by

Spending a couple days each week as a volunteer in Kindergarten is a wonderful way to absorb the important things in life.  This week, I saw a very tearful little girl who was missing her Dad. It took about 30 seconds for another student to offer her teddy bear, which she said was given to her when she was a baby.  Amazing how the tears stopped, and I saw a perfect picture of kindness.

For six years, I’ve had the privilege of watching five-year-old kids learn how to read, write, and most important, to be there for a friend in need. Each year, it’s bittersweet to see them all “graduate.”

Already I’m looking forward to the fall and meeting a new group of friends who will experience the wonders of what you can learn in Kindergarten.

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Thanks!

May 24, 2023 /0 Comments/in /by

To the person who smiled at my mother when I wasn’t around

To janitors

To the child sharing the favorite part of his lunch with a shy girl

To neighbors who pick up trash in the road

To puppies waiting at the door for you to come home

To people who anonymously scatter kindness wherever they go

To the millions of folks who may never have been thanked

                                           Thank You!…
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Note to Self

May 9, 2023 /0 Comments/in /by

A posting by Human Kind Acts of Kindness offers an interesting perspective on life.

“What is my purpose in life? What if I told you that you fulfilled it when you took an extra hour to talk to that kid about his life? Or when you paid for that young couple in the restaurant? Or when you saved that dog in traffic? Or when you tied your father’s shoes for him?

Your problem is that you equate your purpose with goal-based achievement. The Universe isn’t interested in your achievements…just your heart.

When you choose to act out of kindness, compassion and love, you are already aligned with your true purpose.”

 

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Take Time To Notice

March 21, 2023 /0 Comments/in /by

Has anyone ever told you that you are awesome?  If not, how would it make you feel?

Leaving little positive messages, either verbal or written, can turn someone’s day around or create a lasting memory. No need to wait for a major accomplishment.  Just take time to notice.

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May the Road Rise Up to Meet You

March 16, 2023 /1 Comment/in /by

No one knows exactly where the much loved Irish blessing “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You” came from. Some trace it back to St. Patrick because it is similar to his other writings. This blessing was originally an Irish prayer, first written in the Irish Gaelic language and then translated into English.

The Irish are said to have a deep appreciation for all things nature and outdoors. The Celts often used wind, sun and rain as symbols or to show how God is connected with His people.

 

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The Ripple Effect

February 28, 2023 /0 Comments/in /by

“A career you can make as interesting or as tedious as your mind allows” is how a friend described driving a bus. “It was a treasure trove of memories to pull out and use as a reality check.

But the ripple effect? That’s where I hoped to influence change and comfort in so many lives. It seems that front seat, just inside the door of a public transit bus, is much the same as a stool at the bar, or a hairdresser’s chair. It brings confessions, tears, love, and life in stories it would take me longer to tell than the over thirty years I spent driving people to work, to play, to dire news, and joy.

It was the desperate ones who touched me. As drivers, we were provided a list of agencies and phone numbers as an aid in these situations. The woman coming home from a cancer …
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