kara2mijael - happy holidays & thank you

7/30/2019 Kara2Mijael - Happy Holidays & Thank You

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/kara2mijael-happy-holidays-thank-you 1/3

December 6, 2012

Dear families and friends,

Happy Holidays from Kara2Mijael! I thought it

have been so busy since returning from my tri

Many of you have followed me as I attemptedand bring him and his community toys and sup

visited Mijael and his community in late Augus

my goal. This adventure is one I will never for

Mijael and YOU were the reason for it. This tri

world actually live.

I spent most of the spring and early summer f

160 people, businesses, and organizations con

for the children of Tarija, your time, and espec

the customers at these many events. I would

you and I together have made a positive differ

I just wanted to also give you a little bit of info

emotion than the last. On the first day, I was

up with the people from ChildFund and sat in t

he was coming, then finally after looking prob

shaking; I walked over to him and gave him a

couple of hours, it was as if I knew him my wh

supplies, a remote control car and later bough

mom, Yuli, how all of you were from my home

Tarija. We walked around the city playing gam

funniest noises. We had the chance to go to a

them on the street.

On the days that followed, I got to know Mijae

people in his community and other communiti

bring toys and supplies to more than 55 additi

donated. I got busy and made little “goodie ba

waiting for us. We distributed the toys and pla

and his father (The Bolivian people often perf

On some of the days, we played with Mijael a

that they never get – lunch in a very fancy rest

restaurant to bring them out to lunch and, for

orange soda were the most expensive part of t

amazing days with all the kids; it showed me t

new toy or new TV, they just needed someone

We were given a tour of Mijael’s community c

showed us around and told us about the manydoctors, dentists, a library, food, some commu

On one of the days, we went to a very large M

for Mijael and his family. The mercado was on

many street blocks with meats, fruits, vegetabl

anything you could think of.

On another of the days, we helped at the com

the wealthy, there is no health insurance and

money themselves, yet they were still fundrais

money only look out for themselves. We help

One night, while at the community center, we

American line dance. It is funny how as Ameri

New York City!! They also taught me some tra

On another night, we went to an anniversary c

was being used as another healthcare fundrais

would be a good idea to put my “Thank you” and hol

.

to reach my goal of visiting the young boy I have beeplies. In case you were not aware, I did finally reach

t. I would like to thank you all personally for all of yo

et and one that changed my life forever. The happie

created many memories and I now have a clear insi

ndraising and held a Wendy’s night, a car wash, and

tributed money, items for the garage sale, supplies fo

ially encouragement. There were many, many more

ot have been able to get to Tarija without any of this

ence in the world!

rmation about the trip. It was a very emotional trip a

nxious to meet Mijael and knew this one moment w

he community center waiting for Mijael to arrive. I k

bly 20 times, I knew this was him. My heart started b

uge hug and my heart was filled with happiness. At f

le life; it was like adopting a little brother. On that fi

him sneakers. When I gave him the kara2mijael spo

and how you wanted to help him and his community

es like who can jump the highest, who can take bigge

n annual church festival and ate and drank a lot of fo

l even better and was introduced to Mijael’s commu

es. On one of the days, I went shopping early in the

onal kids! I was able to do this using many of the toys

gs” for the kids. When we walked into the communit

yed games with the thankful kids, and we watched a

rm dancing and singing acts in thanks and tribute to

d his friends. One of the days, we played soccer and

aurant in central Tarija! To show you the value of a d

12 people to eat there, it was a little over 80 dollars!!

he meal!! We went to the park with the kids and me

at although these kids had barely anything, they wer

to care for them and run around with them and they

nter and able to talk to ChildFund staff and ask them

programs they have. ChildFund really does have a lonity centers are actually also schools, and many thin

ercado (market) in the morning and bought clothes, t

of the most amazing things I have ever seen - it was

les, toys, toiletries, household supplies, and clothes. I

unity center with a fundraiser for a young girl who

verything is paid out of pocket. I thought it was ama

ing to help others and were looking out for others w

d all day with the fundraiser and donated money to i

listened to music and I taught many of the ladies and

ans we think that everyone knows about America, b

itional Bolivian dances as we listened to Bolivian mu

elebration for another ChildFund Community Center

er for another girl who needed surgery. We arrived a

iday greeting in one letter, since I

n sponsoring, Mijael, in Tarija, Boliviay fundraising goal of $5400 and

r assistance in helping me to reach

t day of my life was the day I met

ht on how so many people in the

a yard sale just to name a few. Over

r the fundraisers, supplies and toys

nnamed people who actually were

support and want you to know that

d the first day was a much different

uld impact my life greatly. We met

pt looking out the doorway to see if

eating heavily and I stood up

irst, he was very shy, but within a

st day, I gave him clothes, school

sor shirt, I explained to him and his

; I told him how you helped me get to

r steps and who can make the

ds we bought from people selling

ity, his good friends, and many other

orning in the mercados (markets) to

and supplies that many of you

center, all of the kids were there

raditional singing act by a little boy

uests).

hen brought them out for something

llar, we went to the fanciest

The drinks of Coca-Cola and Fanta

Mijael’s father, Efron. We had

e still happy. They didn’t need the

were happy.

the many questions we had. They

of good programs - they provides to these kids who have very little.

oiletries and other needed supplies

a bunch of tents set up like stalls for

t was like a Costco in America. It had

eeded surgery. In Bolivia, even for

ing how these people barely had any

ile many people who have so much

also.

children the “Cupids Shuffle”, an

t most of them never even heard of

sic.

in Tarija. This anniversary celebration

nd realized that they were waiting for



us and I was a guest of honor in front of about 1200 people! A celebration for Bolivians is not the same as for us - they had about 4 hours

of dances and performances!! The celebration started at 8 and ended at 12 in the morning!!! All of their outfits were so colorful and it

was like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life!!!

On one of the days, we visited a different ChildFund Community Center and I had the chance to help teach a kindergarten class, help

serve lunch and ate lunch with the president and staff of the center. The children here, like in most of Tarija, were very curious with us

because they see so few people with light skin.

We had visited the inner part of the city and had also seen what they call the suburbs, which were mostly slums. We also had seen morerural areas, also a lot of slums. We did not actually get to see where specific ChildFund people live, only their neighborhoods. And these

neighborhoods had very rough living conditions.

On one of the days, we visited a place that I will never forget. It was called Barrio 27 de Mayo (May 27th

Neighborhood). In this barrio, it

was very barren almost like a desert and there were more than 700 very poor people who literally lived in brick and tin shacks or tents.

The source of water for these 700 people was a single spigot that was turned on once a day for an hour for only 5 days a week. We went

there not knowing what would happen. These people were pleading with us for a well. They said they didn’t have places for the children

to play and there were many things they didn’t have, but they said they don’t want any of that. All they wanted was water because

“aqua es vida” – water is life. I felt completely helpless and did not have the money to pay for this well they were asking for. My heart

was breaking just listening to them and looking at their faces. When we got ready to leave, the wind started to blow furiously. I knew

that this meant I could not forget about these people and that I would have to help them because they were relying on me. I told them

through the translator that I would help get them water.

The last day was the day I was dreading, I had to leave Tarija, a place I now call my second home, which has my second family. We met

Mijael and his mother at the airport and I ran around and played “el torro” with Mijael; he pretended to be a bull and I had to run away

from him or pick him up and spin him. When it was time to say goodbye, I picked him up and gave him a big hug and kiss and told him,

“otro proximos annos” – again next year. I’m not sure if I will actually be able to visit again soon, but want to make sure I can still help

take care of the wonderful people in Tarija. Tarija was a very emotional place that will forever be in my heart and I know I will be back

again someday. I was sad, but remembered that I shouldn’t cry because it was over, but be happy that it happened.

This experience has helped me realize even more the value of helping others in the world. The people of Tarija that I met are in great

need. In the future, I would like to continue to help them. I will be continuing with Kara2Mijael and am turning it into an ongoing fund.

My dad said he would help me create a special website, which we will be creating over the next few months. In the meantime, I really

would like to continue to communicate my progress. I am trying to keep my costs very low. So, if you are receiving this as a regular mail,

could you please e-mail me ([email protected]) so that I have your e-mail address and can communicate that way, if you haven’t

already? I promise to keep your e-mail address private.

I want to thank you all again for helping me achieve my goal and be able to experience this amazing adventure. You are the reason I

could ever do something like this. Just how I’ll remember Mijael, Tarija and the people I met there, I will also always remember you, the

people who got me there.

A presentation with all the highlights of the trip is located here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gbD-6vo-UU. All the pictures and

videos from the trip are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/118121663214028086703/albums?hl=en . Kara2Mijael pictures, events,

and plans for the future have been and continue to be posted here: http://www.facebook.com/kara2mijael (you do not have to be on

Facebook to visit this page).

My fundraising will pick up again over the next year and I’m hoping to be able to continue to share my progress with you. Right now, we

have some local disasters because of Hurricane Sandy that we are all concentrating on and also the holidays! I hope you have a very

happy and blessed holiday season. Thank you so much for helping me to change many lives, and thanks for also changing mine.

God bless you,

Kara Patrovic

There were so many memories that I have of the fundraising and the trip. You can view all of this information on the Internet:

Trip Highlights Presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gbD-6vo-UU

Pictures & Videos of trip: https://plus.google.com/photos/118121663214028086703/albums?hl=en

Kara2Mijael Website: http://www.facebook.com/Kara2Mijael (you do not have to be on Facebook to visit this page)

Huffington Post story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/loren-pritchett/from-kara2mijael-the-gift_b_2177234.html

ChildFund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildFundInternational (look for posts on Nov 26th

and Nov 27th

)

My Dad’s story: http://blog.childfund.org/2012/11/27/from-kara2mijael-a-fathers-inspiration/Local Website stories: http://millerplace-rockypoint.patch.com/search?keywords=kara2mijael

My e-mail address: [email protected] (Please e-mail me so I can continue to communicate my progress)



Mijael & me on the day we met!

Some of the slums that we saw in Tarija

A copy of a special “Thank You” that Mijael’smom, Yuli, made for all the people that helped

me make it to Bolivia. She was very emotionalthat this many people and organizations helpedpeople so far away that you didn’t even know.

The Sponsor shirts given to Mijael & family. The shirt has a

Thank you and you are included on it. This way, I broughtand left in Bolivia a little bit of everyone who helped me.

Here, I was providing toys, school supplies, and other needed items to an additional 55children at a ChildFund Community Center in Tarija. Many of the items that I provided weredonated by local people and I was able to bring them to Bolivia! Others were purchased in

the Tarija markets with money that was donated!

kara2mijael - happy holidays & thank you

Documents