Tag Archives: hope

Interview About Marco, Not Polo!

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Thanks to Jane Chen, who made this interview possible! Check out her Beauty/ Fair Trade Blog.

Rebekka Lien, a creative entrepreneur, writer, activist,artist and dear friend has had the privilege of sponsoring an Ecuadorian child through Compassion International for the past 3 years. Her current accessories shop donates a portion of the proceeds to support her child. Recently, an opportunity arose for her to be able to visit him!

I caught up with her recently to learn more about this exciting adventure!

1. How did you first hear about the organization that sponsors the child and what made you pick this org over others?

 I heard about Compassion International at a conference. The speaker was talking about giving and helping the poor. For some reason, I was really moved to support a child. I have been supporting non-profit organizations for awhile and thought sponsoring and becoming pen pals with a kid would be amazing!

2. Tell us more about your child: (name ,age, hobbies, his dreams,info on family etc.)

Marco Michael will be 11 in December 10, 2012. He is in second grade and likes group games, soccer and cars. His household chores consist of running errands, caring for animals, and cleaning. He lives with both parents and his dad is a farmer. 

3. What is life like for a typical Ecuadorian family? What are people’s occupation, education level, access to resources etc?

My sponsored kid lives in the plains of Tena, home to approximately 33,000 residents. Houses are constructed of cement and brick walls. The most commonly spoken language is Spanish.
The regional diet consists of maize, beans, beef and plantains. Common health problems are flu, dermatitis, intestinal illnesses, parasites, snake bites, broken bones, malaria and tuberculosis.

“Your sponsored child lives on the plains of Tena, home to approximately 33,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of cement and have brick walls. The most commonly spoken language is Spanish. Most adults in Tena are unemployed but some work as day laborers, animal herders or on plantations and earn the equivalent of $150 per month. This community needs schools, employment opportunities and recreational facilities.

My sponsorship allows the staff of Caminitos de Luz Student Center to education, provide nutrition and hygiene education, special celebrations, academic support and sports activities. The center staff also provides health and nutrition education and parents’ school for the parents or guardians of your sponsored child.”

4. When you meet him, what message do you want to convey to him?

I want to convey to him that he is important, special and unique. I want him to know that he is not just any kid in this universe, but that he was created for a purpose. I want him to have the opportunity to pursue his dreams and passions and not to allow his current circumstance to become a hindrance. In fact, I desire for him to use his hardships, suffering, joy, life experience as his greatest strength to relating to others and having compassion for those that he may have a heart to help in the future.
Personally, my life’s biggest suffering and trials have become my life’s victory and source of hope and inspiration for others. I went through the hardships of immigrating to two different countries, parent’s divorce, constant moving and change, poverty, and alienation in new environments. Those experiences have helped me to be who I am today and continues to inspire other people to overcome their own obstacles.

5. What have you learned from this experience? How has this changed your global perspective?

I learned that world issues are not far off. They relate to us in every way, our world is interconnected and we need to be aware and compassionate for people here and across the seas. We can’t wait for other people to do something, we are ourselves capable agents of change. I have decided to experience first hand the lifestyle and living conditions of a boy I’m sponsoring so I can understand.

If you would like the opportunity to partner with Rebekka in funding her trip to see Marco, please visit: http://igg.me/p/78412

To learn more about Rebekka’s outreach adventures, visit her blog: http://rebekkalien.com

The Art of Simplicity- Quotes of Wisdom From Rebekka

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A purist is one who desires that an item remain true to its essence and free from adulterating or diluting influences. -wikipedia

My definition may be a bit different, but essentially living a purist lifestyle means that you live simply, you know your priorities and you live for the things that you determine to be important. Your motives are purely towards that which you intend to live for.

I was standing near the sink, watching the ants crawl up and down this candy wrapper. In such miniscule detail of life, I noticed my pure attention to it. That which was just a passing thing had become amusing to me. I have become more alert to every detail because over the months of cleansing myself from societal norms and thoughts, my thought pattern had flipped drastically. 

Because I am more at peace with my heart, I listen more.

I have learned that those that disagree with you, it’s better to agree to disagree.

Be the person you want to be, and you’ll change the world that way.

Instead of bullying myself to be a workaholic like I used to be, I know the divine will take care of me.

Instead of planning to the detail, I allow the day to take me by the hand.

I am not restrained by time, I do what I love- I write, draw, work, commune with others when my heart is in the right place.

I am nicer to myself- this, I believe is one of our BIGGEST pressures. We are our own bully.

I take criticism lightly, and don’t allow others’ negative energy to infiltrate my heart. I guard my heart from accepting lies.

Allow time to heal, to accept, to forgive others. Do not force yourself or bully yourself to think “I have to change overnight”.

Observe light, observe nature, and you will find the true heartbeat for your life. There is a reason that mother earth lives in the pace that it does.

Don’t think you have to know everything, for knowledge can be useless without wisdom.

Become wise, not to manipulate, but to help and feed.

Don’t be envious of others’ success, rejoice with them and be patient with your own.

Every person has a different timeline.

Put PEOPLE first, work and money last. For you will know that when you have no work or money, true friends will stand by you.

Money is a concept, it doesn’t exist. It is a currency that can only by material goods and services, but if you can live happy with less, you have achieved a rare enlightenment.

Don’t allow others’ norm to become yours. Of course, only if you want it to. Just because other people are jumping off the cliff doesn’t mean you have to. If God has given you a unique path, the earlier you accept your gift, the earlier you will become a pioneer, and less lonely you will feel. Well, you’re never alone. There are thousands of people that have the same vision as you, you only need to walk your path to find the people that will eventually cross paths with you. 

Thus, you’ll never know success until you follow your heart, your dreams, your passion. You’ll never meet the right people if you keep saying “I will, I hope”. You’ll only meet them if you declare “I am”. I am a pioneer, I am a writer, I am a leader, I am a world changer in the making and I’ll be someone that people will line up to see.

If no one believes in you, believe in yourself. You are your own best friend. 

And if you read this, I believe in you, I believe in your dreams. Do email me if you need an e-pal- rebekkalien@gmail.com

I’ll be going to Ecuador in May- despite the impossibilities of going, I made it happen and know that somehow, funds will come in. Join me! 

After the storm. Peace.

When You Start To Lose Hope & Passion

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How many times have you lost hope, lost passion, lost direction in life? 

I can say I’ve lost passion and hope numerous times….actually numerous times in one week.

My aunt passed away this week, I went into a time of mourning, but also frustration. My life seems to be so hopeless and with each day that goes by, I am constantly worrying about my bills. Even though I had reached an epiphany of peace, I realize that “sometimes the hardest things are difficult because they’re worth fighting for”. Thus, peace is hard to keep because it’s something you have to fight for.

Sales have been painfully slow too. Yet, I don’t want to revert to a pattern of endless scrambling…when will that day come, I ask myself?

On the phone with my close friend the other day, I complained “I just feel like my life is getting boring, so what that I have my own business, so what if I make sales, what’s the point. I don’t feel like I’m doing anything epic”.

She replied “Epic, well you can’t expect to do epic things everyday. Everything you do is building up towards what is epic, but everything is an important step to it“.

“Oh, you’re right”. Thus…epic things are boiling, but they have not come into fruition yet.

Even though I haven’t reached that so called “success” yet- I want to share some tips for you, those that are toiling away hopeless and feeling defeated in life.

1. Do have supportive friends that encourage you- do not hang out with negative friends.

2. Find inspiration- read a book or talk to inspirational people that have similar hardships or have ALREADY overcome

3. Leave your normal surroundings- I’m going to Norcal tomorrow, I think I really need to get away and be refreshed

4. Believe in yourself- recite mantra “anything is possible”, “I can do this”, “If Einstein did it I can too”, “

5. Have times of reflection and meditations- I like to burn candles, light incense and play reggae. Endless striving will only lead to burn out, so reflect each day.

6. Eat, Play and Be Merry- Yes, eat good food and your soul will be nourished. Do what makes you feel alive & what makes you feel alive will lead you to where you need to go next.

As my friend said “luck is preparation meets opportunity”.

SHOP- http://myworld.ebay.com/gugibabu & http://rebekkalien.storenvy.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rebekka_lien

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebekka-Lien/206081989431609