Happy Christmas from Bali Life!

Collection Day fun!

Thank you to all the  beautiful generous women who brought in Christmas boxes for the Children today. What a fabulous feeling love and compassion. It was a great day!

  

Collection Day coming up

Collection Day is fast approaching. Thursday October 22nd is our collection date for your gift boxes at our Women Alive meeting, 10am @ DaySpring. We hope you have enjoyed your early Christmas shopping trip gathering items for the precious children of Bali Life in Denpasar (Indonesia) and Jubilee Fellowship in Hanuman Junction (India).

Date:	Thursday, October 22, 2009
Time:	10:00am - 1:00pm
Location:	DaySpring Church
Street:	1/10 Salisbury Rd
Suburb:	Castle Hill, Sydney

Please bring your filled shoebox to the Kids Christmas Express table. Please also bring your original 'child info' card, delivery donation payment, and filled-out form. Your form will have the following information: 
Child's age, gender, country
Your name
Contact number and email address
Number of boxes (if multiple boxes, please mark Box 1 of 4, Box 2 of 4, etc)
Amount and Method of Donation Payment - total $ amount - cash, cheque, credit card
If you have any questions, please email us at kidschristmasexpress [at] gmail [dot] com. If you cannot attend Collection Day, please feel free to drop off your boxes at the office reception desk during weekday office hours. On behalf of all the children - THANK YOU!

What gifts can I send?

People always ask... "What can I send to the children?" We have our ideas, of course, (see our August post 'Gift Suggestions') but this year we asked some of the children what they would like.


Nearly all the children asked for stationery! How different from our own children, ey! They want pencils and pencil boxes, pens and coloured pencils, with the younger ones wanting crayons and textas, and pencil cases. They also would like things that are almost impossible to send, like sandals, dancing shoes and soccer boots. Shoes are difficult to send, so we suggest you don't add these to your Christmas giftboxes, but here is a run down of some of the other things the children have asked for -- bless their beautiful hearts!


Tana, 16, wants to be a business manager and would like a diary.
Ketut Putu, 12, wants to be a teacher and would like office supplies.
Gede Saputra, 11, wants to be a pro surfer and would like a remote control helicopter.
Komang Ani, 6, wants to be a dancer and lists her hobby as eating... (!~!)
Kadek Pageh, 10, wants to join the military.
Mang Mus, 9, wants to be a pastor and would like drawing materials.
Olan, 13, wants to be a teacher and needs good writing materials.
Olin, 9, wants to be a business woman and would like swimming equipment.
Juventus, 12, wants to be in the army and loves Badminton.
Indra, 8, also loves badminton and toy cars.
Debi, 8, wants to be a doctor, loves barbie, and would like medical equipment.
Joseph Tegar, 7, loves surfing and cats. He wants to be a pastor and would like a Bible.
Adrian, 9, wants to be a vet and would love a rabbit doll and drawing equipment.
Intan, 10, loves Barbie dolls and wants to be a dentist.
Dega, 5, wants to be a fireman and would love a firetruck.
Richard, 11, loves swimming and wants to be a teacher. He would like swimming equipment.
Diki, 9, wants to be in the army and would like strategy games.
Riska, 13, wants to be a doctor and would like a medical kit.
Carin, 1, she just wants her mummy!

Meet Gede Saputra, 11, and Komang Ani, 6

Gede and Ani are brother & sister. They come from a very poor family in north Bali. Their father cheated on their mum with another woman, which left her without finance to keep the family provided for. Their mum had to find a job, which was just enough to pay for their food. She can’t afford to put the children into school and many times the father comes to their house to get the money from their mother, abusing her and the children physically and verbally. Gede has grown up with the knowledge that taking someone else’s stuff is fine and not wrong at all. His father taught him that stealing and lying are not wrong. Gede was 7 years old and Ani was 3 when they were given up to Bali Life. They have changed so much and now they always pray for their parents. Gede is in Grade 3 and Ani is in kindergarten. They love school. Ani wants to be a doctor one day and loves drawing; Gede is good with his hands and loves helping others doing physical work such as farming, washing, and gardening.

Meet Olan, 11, and Olin, 9

Olan and Olin are sisters who originally came from North Sumatera. They were taken by their mother from their father to be sent to Bali so they can continue school. Their parents had separated since they were very young toddlers. Their father is an abusive man and would not let their mother care for them or communicate with them. One day he wanted to get married again and told the children that as soon as he got married, he would send the girls to their grandma so they can help her at the market and earning money. They had to stop their schooling. While they were living with their dad going to school, they had been forced to labour  and give money to their father. Their mother could not afford to look after them (she works as a maid and only earns $30/month) but can’t stand anymore to see her ex-husband abusing their daughters. So, through contacts of the Bali Life Foundation in Sumatra, she sent them to Bali Life Kids. Olan is a very bright girl and she is in Grade 6, she quickly adapted to the new island and now she speaks 4 languages – Indonesian, Bataknese, Balinese, and improving her English. Olin is such a funny little girl, she doesn’t speak much but once she says something, she will entertain all the people around her. She is now in Grade 3 at school. 

Meet Tana and Putu

1.  

    Sentana is 16 years old and has 8 siblings in his family. He has an abusive father who forced him to beg on the street instead of continue schooling. He lived a rough life on the street since he was 11 years old - starving, abused physically, verbally and sexually, caught by the police and jailed, misused drugs and alcohol - until he met with the Bali Life Kids through street kids ministry about 4 years ago. Sitting down with Tana and sharing a meal, the Bali Life people gained his trust and learned that he seriously wanted to go back to school and fix his life. Now he is in Junior High School (Grade 8), very happy, humble and enjoying school.  Tana said, “Before I came to Bali Life Kids, I had a desire to hurt my father but now since I have Jesus in my heart, instead of hatred, I am more feeling sorry for my dad because he doesn’t know Jesus. My prayer is that my father will be changed and know Jesus through my life.” 

Ketut Putu, aged 12, came from the same village as Tana. Bali Life Kids found him in the mountains in a shelter which was hardly more than a shack, no windows or doors but pieces standing on an angle. Putu was often left alone by his father days and weeks at a time without any food. Many times Putu had to starve or eat the plants around his shelter to keep him alive. Sometimes Putu was lucky enough for his neighbour will give him some food. Putu has no mother. His father worked hard for his money, but instead of spending money for Putu’s meals or schooling, his father spent his money gambling on cockfights. Putu has done very well since coming to Bali Life Kids. He is now in Grade 5 at school and he wants to be a policeman. Putu said,”I used to live in fear at my shack and many times I have no food so I have to eat the leaves around me, but now I’m glad I am able to live here at Bali Life and I don’t want to go back because I am so loved here and cared for, and I have no fear to sleep at night anymore.”

Beautiful women, generous hearts

Our generous beautiful Women Alive women selected 54 children to bless. Thank you to all!

Successful launch day

Launch Day was fun. Our signature red bow wrapped the table and we displayed 130 cards, with each card representing a child in either India or Indonesia that we are buying gifts for this Christmas.

Launching 2009 Campaign!

The joy given to a little child with a gift at Christmas is priceless. Last year DaySpring Church sent gifts to Jubilee Fellowship and the children were so incredibly blessed. It is especially encouraging for them to see the evidence of love from people so far away that have not met them, yet can still be so generous toward them. 

This year we aim to send Christmas boxes again to our kids at Jubilee Fellowship in India, and also to Bali Life in Indonesia.

Thursday August 27th is our launch date. We start 'so early' before Christmas to allow time for you to shop, then for us to gather and package the gifts, and shipping to ensure these treasures arrive on time. The "Christmas Express" leaves our shores early!


If you have room on your Christmas list for just one more child, then can we encourage you to join us in this project and please follow the guidelines in "Steps to Getting Involved" (see blog archive, August, on the left sidebar). 


Together we DO make a difference!

Steps to getting involved...

1. At Women Alive, DaySpring Church, there will be a Kids Christmas Express table for the next few weeks, with a card for each child marked with their age, gender and country. Choose the child you wish to purchase gifts for (eg, 2-5 yrs, Boy, India) We find choosing children similar to your own encourages your children to enthusiastically participate. Of course you are welcome to choose more than one child. We will collect your name, email address and contact phone number. 

2. Find a standard-size empty shoe box to fill with gifts. The standard size helps maintain consistency, and gifts that fit within the shoe box help with the packaging for shipping. We will be transferring the contents into bags especially decorated by our Kinder Church kids.

3. Go shopping! Check our 'Gift Suggestions' (see blog archive, August, on the left sidebar) for ideas. Have fun with it and involve your own children. It is a fabulous way for our younger ones to learn to think beyond themselves.

4. We are asking for a $10 donation per gift box to cover the costs of delivery. You may include $10 cash or a cheque made to Kids Christmas Express in an envelope attached to your gift box, or you may use the Credit Card/EFTPOS machine outside the DaySpring bookshop and attach the receipt to your gift box. (If you have chosen to give more than one box, you may make your Donation Payment in one transaction.) 

5. Bring your gift box back to Women Alive on one these collections dates: Sept 17th, October 1st, or October 22nd. You must also clearly label your gift box. Either attach your original card and filled-out Donation Form, or provide the following information: 

• Child's age, gender, country
• Your name
• Contact number and email address
• Number of boxes (if multiple boxes, please mark Box 1 of 4, Box 2 of 4, etc)
• Amount and Method of Donation Payment - total $ amount - cash, cheque, credit card

6. Please remember to pray for your child.

If you do not attend Women Alive and would like to be involved, you are more than welcome to join us in this project. Please email us at kidschristmasexpress [at] gmail [dot] com. 


We thank you for your generosity and for being part of Kids Christmas Express!

Gift Suggestions

Here are just a few ideas of things that you can fill your Christmas Gift Boxes with:


Special Toy

Teddy bear, doll, soft toy, toy car

Play

Tennis ball, bouncy ball, skipping rope, yo-yo, slinky, puzzle

School Supplies

Exercise book, coloured pencils/crayons (age appropriate) and sharpener, lead pencils, ruler, eraser, colouring and picture books, solar calculator

Personal Hygiene

Soap, facewasher, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, scrunchies etc… (please do not include toothpaste or liquid items)

Special Treat

Stickers, sunglasses, bangle, watch, craft accessories, notebook, carry bag

Clothing

Baseball cap, T-Shirt, skirt, shorts, underwear, sandals, thongs


Please do not include…

Any used/pre-loved clothing, toys or materials; damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, swords, military figures; food of any kind; glass, aerosol or liquid items such as toothpaste etc.

The joy of Christmas

The joy of Christmas is in the smile on the children's faces. Pictured here are Debi and Tana from Bali Life with gifts from their sponsors last year. They are a beautiful group of children that we have taken into our hearts to support this year.

Our Bali children

The children at Bali Life are on our hearts. Our goal is to bless them beyond their imagination this Christmas.

Bali Life, Indonesia

Bali Life Foundation in Denpassar was founded by Brad and Siska Little in July 2006. Jesus makes all the difference to this orphanage. When the government inspector visited their operations to give them official registration, he said “I’ve never seen an orphanage which feels so much like a home. This place is different. How lucky are the children who live here.”

Brad and Siska now take care of 18 children, ages ranging from 6 to 17. They are currently building another room onto their house to take in 5 more children. The children come from various backgrounds of abuse, neglect, abandonment and poverty. They are now all in school and thriving and flourishing in the Little’s care and love of Jesus. They have love, food, shelter and hope for their future.

Our Indian Children

Christmas 2008... Women Alive gathered and packaged gifts for 67 children living in Ananda Paul's orphanage, 35 boys and 32 girls. The happy faces say it all as the children proudly displaying their Christmas pack from DaySpring. Women Alive also gathered 80 boxes of gifts to send via Operation Christmas Child. Thanks to the generous hearts at DaySpring Church.

Where is Hanuman Junction?

View Larger Map

Jubilee Fellowship, India

Jubiliee Fellowship was founded by Pastor Ananda Paul in 1999 and has grown to a membership of more than 150 people. It is located in Hanuman Junction near Vijayawada City. The orphanage is supported and run by Jubilee Fellowship and houses 40 children with ages ranging from 0 to 15. In the words of Ananda Paul “DaySpring has been the backbone to these ministries from the beginning supporting crusades, conferences, and some orphanage children”. The Orphanage provides a home, of safety and hope for the young children. It is a fulfillment of a prophetic word spoken over Ananda Paul in 1996. God certainly has His hand on this amazing ministry.