::Kindness in giving creates LOVE::

This is a very much needed story to share with you all!

A while back, we received one of the most moving and uplifting emails from Violet. We didn't really know who Violet was until she expressed her inspiring story about a little boy, Theodore, from Africa. Violet mentioned that since we opened so much about our adoption and that she felt she needed to share her story with us, too. She's such a sweet soul!

Prepare to be inspired! Here's Violet's story below:

"I am a Social Work graduate student at Gallaudet doing internship in New Mexico— the very last thing to do before graduating in May!  I find time to travel in between my studies— I grab every opportunity to go abroad during summer, winter and spring breaks. Out of all the places I've been, it’s with no doubt that I emphasize my love for (Togo) Africa the most.  It’s true, Togo has my heart.  It’s home.  Two of the biggest reasons for my heart for it: my African family and Theodore. 

Long story short: I first went to Africa four summers ago as a volunteer teaching at a deaf school, and I stayed with a host family for 10 weeks.  The host family became my family— they took me in as if I was their daughter all along.  They made every effort as possible to truly know and love me in so little time.  At the same time, while I was teaching at the school, I fell in love with Theodore, who was 7 then.  He was a troubled boy to many, but he was loving to me.  Though he may be sneaky, stubborn and handy at times, he’s also smart, sweet and protective.  I don’t know how to explain this in a better way, but it felt like he belonged to me.  I made sure that he was fed well, understood how important giving is, and knows that there’s more to life than what he knows of it.  It torn me apart when it was time to leave.  I honestly almost panicked— I was this close to taking Theodore with me to America.  Seriously, how could I just leave him behind?  I loved him as if he was my own.  I felt helpless especially the fact that realistically, I may never see him again.  

Violet and Theodore

During my entire stay, I dreamt of growing money to take my family and Theodore home— every single night… on every single star.  I’m not kidding but his family actually gave me their blessing to take the little boy.  Don’t get this the wrong way— they sincerely love him and he’s well taken care of along with his three siblings, but they saw how much I cared for him, how he was with me and mainly, they knew that he would be given a much better life here.  I promised them that I would take it into serious considerations.  The fact that I was only 20 years old then didn’t matter, or the fact that I was still a college student didn’t either.  I was so determined I’d adopt Theodore somehow.  Words can’t explain how devastated I was to have found out that I had to be 30+ year old to adopt a child from Togo.  And obviously, I needed a lot of money.  I grew anger against the system for a while, how cruel they were to make people pay to have a child.  In my case, Theodore’s family wanted me to take him— why was that not enough?  Instead of adopting, however, I did three things: I raised money for Theodore’s family to get a motorbike so that my little school boy can have a better transportation to school and I wanted the best well-being for the family.  

Theodore's family

New motorbike for Theodore's family

I received donations in total of $1,366, a little more than what I needed, accomplished with the community’s help!  Secondly, I surprised everyone when I visited again last winter.  I had to fulfill at least a promise that I would go back, right?  It was until then that I realized that it was home— I had to always go back for as long as I live, even if that means saving money, making the time to go, and being patience with all the lost time together for a (very) long while.  But then again, nothing matters more than being in the arms of the people that you love with all of your heart in the end.  Thirdly, I have been celebrating Theodore’s birthday with a cake every year.  He’s now 11.  :)

I never get tired of sharing this story over and again.  It’s a bittersweet feeling, really— the whole thing.  My point of sharing this to complete strangers like you was to let you know that I have been following your blog for a while now, and again, you inspire me.  I admire your energy, determination and positivity throughout this whole process, so much that I don’t think you need my positive thoughts at all.  Though it’s with my hopes that you do realize that there are people like me out there that believes that you will take in your children as if they were yours forever like how my family did it.  This is a dream come true, and I wish I could make my own.  Whenever you feel frustrated and/or impatient at some point during the process, do take this as a reminder that you are going somewhere with the adoption compared to some who have failed to do so.  

 Remember my story.  It’s unfortunate but be happy for yourselves— obviously, this is meant for you. And lastly, the community is behind you all the way until the kids are in your arms.  I have never believed so much in the community until my experience, and you probably didn’t until you begun the adoption process, too." 

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My goodness! Doesn't her sweet email make you want to go out and sprinkle love on every child in need!? Yes! Awww. What Violet said about the unity in the community that contributed to meeting Theodore's needs really made the whole giving concept possible is very uplifting. You know the saying, kindness in giving creates love. :)

Thank you, Violet, for sharing your story with us. We appreciate people like you out there. 

Brooke & Brian