Have you ever had one of those unexpected moments when you talk to a child? Like "Why in the WORLD did they just say that?" Well, I had one of those said moments yesterday.

I visited Bolivia this past week, and was able to talk to one of my spotlighted kids, Brayan. He is a very shy and timid child, so he usually has a his tutor help him talk to me since he doesn't usually know what to say.

He told me that in Bolivia, particularly his house, is located in Cochabamba (if you would like to see what it looks like in Cochabamba, look below:)

This is what a typical day is like for people in Brayan's area. Parents work long hours for little pay. Just to put food on the table. What if you worked 12 hours a day just to put food on the table, to discover.... it wasn't enough? Sadly, many children are faced with this reality. To go each day wondering "Will I eat today?" Is something I never have to ask myself. Shoot, what i usually do is stare at a clearly overflowing refrigerator just to say "Man, there isn't anything to eat!" (hello, first world problem... my favorite term for when i am complaining) I see it. When a sponsored child literally clings to your letters because its the only ounce of encouragement and hope they have, it really gives you a perspective.

Anyway, back to my visit. He and I also spoke about his house. He told me that his house is made of brick. That is good for me to hear because that means its sturdy. One less thing poverty needs to have control of. I asked him if he had electricity in his house and he said that he did. But, when i asked him where he got his water from he said he got his water from a water cistern. Which if you don't know what a water cistern is, is like a big bucket with a filter. And they collect the water from the rain and through the filters, it is cleaned and purified and made so that its clean.

So I heard on OurCompassion that there is a supposed "second list" that you could get added to if you already have the maximum of 3 correspondence kids. And i wanted to know for myself. So I called Compassion and I asked them about it. The guy on the phone said that yes, there is a second list, and yes, i was added to it. But since i already have 4 which is one over the allowed limit, he said that i would be considered "low priority" and the people who do that rarely look at that list. He said not to think that i might get a child tomorrow. Or if ever. But, i am on the list. So that is a start. I guess. Question, if you have ever gotten on the "second list" how long did you have to wait before you got a child? I know it varies, but I think he was just giving me the worst case scenario.

I am just glad I looked at OurCompassion, otherwise I would have never known. i just pray its something God wants me to do. If not, that is ok too. I still have 4. But, I also have 3 from Auntie's Angels, and that makes 7. I would like one more to make it 8. You know, to make it even. :)

Most, if not all know that i am raising money for the Hydrocephalus Association. And for the ones that don't know what hydrocephalus is, it is when the body can't absorb the CSF that all of our bodies. And my brain was deformed when I was a baby making my brain not drain the fluid properly causing the fluid to increase in my brain causing it to expand. And the only treatment to date, is a surgical implantation of a shunt into my brain. Its a flexable tube that helps drain the fluid from my brain to my stomach to be absorbed by my body. Why am I asking my OC friends? For one, if ive learned anything through OC, its that many people here have giving hearts. Ones that truly inspire me to give when i can. :)

Also, y'all know I went last week to figure out what is causing my headaches (it is my shunt. I am starting to loose extreme weight and my neck and stomach hurt constantly... but, I have to wait a few more months :(  ). Because unlike other implanted devices that are guaranteed to last a long time, shunts are guaranteed to break. In fact, 50% of shunts fail within 2 years. So having this one for a year, is average. Some people go longer, but even those are considered rare. And doctors are amazed when it happens. And I am raising money for this so that one day, a child born with my condition, wont have to have a shunt to "temporarily" fix the problem. And if I don't go to the hospital to have this fixed, i will start having seizures and eventually, my body will shut down, and I will die. I have had 9 surgeries to date. And I am pretty sure that before my time on Earth is complete, i will have many, many more.

Please donate so that research can be done to fix this. I know with God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!!!

:)

And as well, if you can give one dollar, please don't be discouraged! One dollar is still one dollar! And its one dollar closer to a cure. And as well, in the bible it states that everything belongs to God, so all the money is ultimately His, and He judges the heart. Not your wallet. I would rather have 1 dollar from someone who wants to find a cure rather than get 2,000 from a corportation that just wants to write it off on their taxes.

And all the OC members who have helped me, PLEASE, I just want to say THANK YOU!!! And when I go on my WALK and they ask "How did you raise that money" I will say it was from Compassion Internation sponsors. And it will help me get kids sponsored. Wouldn't that be cool to help 2 causes I love at the same time? That is something that is only possible with God. ;)

The link is below. I think if your international, you can help as well. If your international and you would like to help me, PM me and I will let you know how to do it. ;) I got the OK a few days ago that international donations are allowed. :) And they will be converted into dollars. :)

Thank you for everyone who is just even praying for me. Prayer is always more powerful than money.

walk4hydro.kintera.org/.../donorPledge.asp

Also, please, if you donate, leave your email address and I will email you and ask you for your mailing address and I will send you something after the 10th as a "Thank you" for donating to me.