HELP REUNITE LINDSEY AND LIMBERT!

In 2004, I went on my second over-seas mission trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia. We were volunteering at an orphanage called the Bolivia Life Center (BLC). The BLC housed about 25 little boys who had been rescued from the streets, or halfway houses. It was an amazing trip where I quickly learned how lacking my spanish skills were, but I also learned the value of making silly faces and tickling. No words needed.

I immediately connected with a little boy named Limbert. He was tiny (5 years old), but ridiculously fast on the soccer field. He had only 3 toes on each foot, and didn't grow. He loved to act like a monkey, and call all of the americans loco. Essentially, this little boy stole my heart. There was just something about him. He had this sparkle in his eyes, and enough energy for 10. 

I returned the next year, and the year after that. The BLC was beginning to grow, receiving more boys and bringing more teams to volunteer. They grew so much that they decided to start asking people to sponsor the boys. This is such a unique sponsorship because you can have a relationship with your sponsored child and go visit them every year if you like. I jumped at the opportunity to sponsor one of the boys, and I knew exactly who I would pick: Limbert. 

Since that time, I have returned to Bolivia every summer up until 2011. In 2009 I served as a summer host intern. I got to spend 6 weeks and the orphanage being a liaison between the American teams and Bolivian people, heading up work projects, leading sidewalk sunday school, and spending quality time with the boys.

In fall 2010, about a year and a half ago Limbert didn't come home from school, and the boys said his sister came to pick him up. I didn't even know he had a sister, and maybe that term is being used lightly, but basically he was living with her now and not at the BLC. Sergio (one of the BLC staff) went to talk with her about his medicine we had raised money to get so he could start growing again, but essentially no progress was made. 

The next time they went to her house, she and Limbert were gone, moved to who knows where with no forwarding address. I was heartbroken. This little boy who has completely changed my life could be anywhere and I may never see him again. What if he is on the street again, what if he is being abused? I didn't know. And haven't for 1.5 years...


Recently though, the boys had a parade for their school and some other schools in the area, and guess who was there with his school???!!! LIMBERT! He attends a school in Vinto (about 15 mins from the BLC) He even took a picture with Anna (who is a full time volunteer at the BLC)! He looks much bigger now.  He specifically asked for me and when I would be in Bolivia next. I cried when I read that email, and then became very sad because I wasn't going to Bolivia this summer. 

But, God is AMAZING! He has opened the opportunity for me to go with my Mom and Dad's team from their church in July. (It involves someone dropping out, and other things) But WOW! These things don't just happen. 

Also, apparently Limbert came to Church last Sunday and wanted to know when my family would be here so he could see us at church!!! Not only will I get to see all of the boys and staff at the BLC and Bolivian friends, but I will be reunited with Limbert! Every time I think about it, tears well up in my eyes. This is going to be quite the emotional reunion for me, and I will probably be a wreck the entire time. I just can't believe that 1. We found Limbert, 2. He wants to see us, and 3. I can go to Bolivia!

So now that I have the opportunity to go, I need to raise $1800 as soon as it is possible. Really, I need $1,000 immediately because they cannot buy my plane ticket until they have that money. This is quite the daunting number, but I am confident I can raise this money!


I am asking everyone I know if they would be willing to donate towards my trip. I'm calling it the "Help Reunite Lindsey and Limbert Fund." This kid is spectacular, and I am the luckiest to have know him at all. I could not be more excited to see him again!




If you can donate ANY amount (I'm serious, no amount is too small!) Please go to this website: 


http://www.lifecharlotte.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159

There are directions from there that tell you how to donate. You'll need to register with your email, but that is so your donation can be tax deductible! Once you get to the final page, write in the amount you'd like to donate next to the Bolivia Missions trip box, and write my name in the box next to it. (Lindsey Fuselier)

If you would prefer to send a check, you can make it out to Life Fellowship Church, and write "Bolivia- Lindsey Fuselier" on the memo line. Checks can be sent to: 14923 Almondell Drive 

                                                                 Huntersville, NC 28078

Whether you can give or not, please share this page with you friends! There is power in numbers and the more people that know, the sooner I can raise this money!!

Thanks for reading my story, I hope it has inspired you in some way!

Pinterest #2

For Mother's Day I wanted to make something special for my Mom. I saw this awesome tutorial on Pinterest for how to make a fleur-de-lis design out of buttons in a picture frame, so I decided that would be perfect. We are French and from New Orleans, so fleur-de-lis' are always a win.

Here is the tutorial:
http://livingwithlindsay.com/2010/01/easy-artwork-thats-as-cute-as-a-button.html

(can I just say, her name is Lindsay so obviously this was going to be awesome!)

If you're too lazy to click over to her page, here is my guide:

Things you'll need:
1. A frame
2. Some type of adhesive
3. Fabric to cover the glass with
4. A stencil of whatever design you choose
5. Hot glue gun
6. Buttons!

How to do it:
1. Find a stencil of whatever you want online and print it out. Then cut it out.
2. Get some sort of fabric (I used T-shirt material) and cut it out to fit around the glass.
3. Glue the fabric to the glass. She says to use spray adhesive, but I didn't have any so I resorted to double stick tape. It worked fine but I may go back and use the spray to make sure it stays in place.

4. Place stencil where you want it, and trace with either pencil or fabric pen.

5. Lay out buttons to see how you would like them to fit.

6. Hot glue the buttons in the lines.
7. Put frame back together and VOILA! You have a pretty, 3D picture!

This craft was super easy and quick to do. It only took me about 20 minutes to complete once I had all of the supplies. My Mom loved it and showed it off to all of the other New Orleans people she was with after I gave it to her. Dad says it was very popular! So I would say this was another success!

Thanks Pinterest!

Pinterest

I have decided to start a blogging about different things I try on Pinterest. Recipes, crafts, decorating, remedies, etc. There are tons of awesome sounding things, but we all know sometimes those things work, sometimes they don’t. So, each time I try something new from pinterest, I’m going to blog about how it went: if it worked/was successful, if it’s worth doing again, how much time it took, and if it was fun!

The first thing I tried was a sunburn remedy. Last month, I went with my brother-in-law’s family to a car show at Lowes Motor Speedway. We were outside all day long, and although I was very good at reapplying sunscreen (I'm pretty fair skinned), I just assumed my legs would be fine. Boy was I wrong. I got a pretty bad sunburn on my thighs, just from my knees to where my shorts ended. I had read about a remedy on Pinterest for sunburn involving tea, so I decided to try it.

The remedy:

·      Brew a pot of tea. Any kind of tea will work, but I think the darker the better.

·      Let the tea cool to room temperature.

·      Sponge the tea onto the sunburned area. (I would suggest standing in your shower for this so you don’t make a mess).

·      Let it dry.

·      Go to sleep.

The next morning when you wake up, the sunburn should be significantly better.

I took before and after pictures of my legs:

Pretty amazing, huh?

I was shocked at how well it worked. I only did it the once, but I bet if you keep doing it every night it would be gone in a matter of a few days.

Overall this remedy works. It was successful, easy to do, took hardly any time, and was totally worth it!