I love this! ♥ A smile is the best makeup. Use your smile to change the world. Don’t let the world change your smile.

July 3 is Compliment Your Mirror Day. Find a mirror. Take a look in it. Smile your biggest smile and compliment the person that you see!

Affirmations are a great way to change your way of thinking, develop a strong mindset, stay focused on your goals, believe in your abilities and get motivated to achieve more. Your self-worth meter increases to improve your own well-being.

The children in our program say daily affirmations. Prior to entering our care, the children would experience, hear and/or see many hurtful activities that tore down their personality and self-confidence. This is why we implemented daily prayer and therapy sessions. I see so many smiling pictures of our children, it’s hard to believe they have their down days, but they do. We teach them that’s normal. We ask their focus turn to forgive those who have harmed them in their past and peacefully detach from them. Then we guide them into a daily focus on the great things about themselves and what makes them amazing.

We all could learn to love ourselves a bit more as sometimes we just don’t feel at our best, and in fact for some that ‘sometimes’ is every day. When we verbally affirm our dreams and ambitions, we are instantly empowered with a deep sense of reassurance that our wishful words will become reality.

Alright, are you ready for a 30 day mirror challenge?

Show yourself a little love and remind yourself just how awesome you are. Then keep doing it day after day! Starting today, right now in fact. Find a mirror and say I am beautiful inside and out. Seeing yourself in front of the mirror will have a great effect on you. READY?! Smile, be proud and confident, and make sure to say it like you mean it!

Mirror Mirror on the walll…

I AM

  • thankful that I get to live another day
  • grateful to have people in my life who support me
  • enough
  • at peace with who I am as a person
  • uniquely me
  • proud of who I am
  • focused
  • growing
  • headed in the right direction
  • strong
  • confident
  • happy
  • blessed
  • courageous
  • admired
  • prepared to succeed
  • unstoppable
  • non-judgemental
  • in control of my mind and my life
  • overflowing with joy
  • whole
  • wonderful
  • alive

I WILL

  • learn from my past
  • always be there for myself
  • make positive healthy choices
  • take good care of myself
  • stand up for myself
  • have strength in my heart and clarity in my mind
  • plan my work and work my plan

Trust me complimenting your mirror at the start of each day will change your perspective and brighten your day. Yes, at first it may feel awkward, but if you stick with it those words will own your life.

Go ahead tell yourself you are as amazing as you are, because YOU ARE!

Affirming my passion,
Cristen Lyn

Hi EveryBunny!

It’s Easter and what does this holiday mean? Easter is the gift of hope, peace, love, happiness and new beginnings. That means taking time to celebrate your life.

This weekend take time to count your blessings, no matter how small or large. It’s been 12 months of ups and downs in all our lives. In Uganda, schools like ours closed and education stopped. Our Ugandan family is looking forward to a time when they can gather again. In fact, Father Mugagga is headed to Uganda to check on the orphaned children that remained housed at our schools.

Our children are striving toward a new beginning by receiving an education to make their dreams come true. Their dreams are often what some people take for granted – the opportunity to learn, work, laugh, smile, make friends and live an independent life. They strive to better themselves, so they are able to be an inspiration and sign of hope to others who are looking for more out of life.

The children in our program bring joy and happiness to my life every day. While we are able to help change their lives for the better, they have also changed my life dramatically and provided me a greater purpose. I look forward to new beginnings as our schools continue to help children joyfully and optimistically move on to the next stage in their life. We can’t wait for education to return to their lives.

What new beginnings are you looking forward to as we emerge from some dark times? What makes you happy? Let’s celebrate the joyous moments and look forward to new beginnings whether it’s in your career, family, friends or any change in your life.

Blessings,
Cristen Lyn

Layoffs and reduced work hours amidst COVID-19 is leaving less money for giving to allow donors to meet their basic needs. We know being able to financially contribute to non-profits may not be an option for everyone. While sponsoring a child or activity is incredibly helpful, there are tons of other ways to support causes and people that need help and won’t create financial strain.

A couple of simple ways to help Hope for Hearts:

❤ Shop smile.amazon.com and designate us as your charity
Join our newsletter, Pocket Full of Hope
❤ Spread the word invite friends to follow us on Instagram

Now, how can you help other causes in need, check out some ideas below.

Sign petitions

Just by providing your name, you can help further a cause. There are countless websites with petitions that need signatures from people like you. Consider going on Change.org or iPetitions and spending a few minutes a day signing ones that are meaningful to you.

With a simple search, there are hundreds alone regarding Uganda, the treatment of their people, land, and animals. Your name can make a huge impact and it is as simple as going on to your laptop and clicking a few buttons.

Share information on social media

In the age of social media, we all have some sort of platform where our friends and family can read our posts. Whether you have 100 followers or 1 million, there is someone out there that is influenced by the content you share. By sharing fundraisers, petitions, and resources from nonprofits on your personal accounts, you are attracting more eyes which can lead toward donations and more support. It is a free and easy way to spread the word.

Vote

Whether it’s voting by mail or standing in line, the politicians we elect have the power to chance the world. Not only is it important to exercise this right, but also make sure you are researching what these people stand for. Even though we live in the U.S, America is a powerhouse and very influential with foreign policy. Electing a politician that prioritizes human rights, especially in countries like Uganda, can work toward ending issues like human trafficking, poverty, and the AIDS epidemic.

Donate items

We are all guilty of having a closet filled with things we don’t use anymore. Clothing, books, and school supplies are all coveted items in Uganda. Donating them to organizations will not only help provide resources but it is also a way to make space in your home. A win win!

Volunteer

They say time equals money which is why volunteering is so useful. There are countless ways to give your time, so there is something for everyone. Help facilitate fundraisers, serve food in a shelter, or teach free English classes online. Have a skill you want to use? Even better! If you are good with social media, volunteer for a few hours making posts. Work as in PR? Try to get some press for a meaningful cause.

So, there you have it! During these difficult times, there are still many things you can do to help. And, if you do have the financial means to donate, consider making a donation to Hope for Hearts so that we can continue to fight for the rights of children in Uganda and provide resources such as these.

Sending love and blessings,
Cristen Lyn

One of the biggest questions many nonprofits receive is where do my donations go? At Hope for Hearts, we understand the importance of transparency. We think that donors should know how they are helping which is why we have broken down the four largest areas your generous funding assists. We hope this provides some insight into our programs at St. Elizabeth Academy and Kankobe Children’s Home, and continues to inspire you to be a part of the change Uganda needs.

Food and water

The first goal of Hope for Hearts is to be able to provide our children with their fundamental needs. Many of them come to us hungry, previously living in an environment where they don’t have consistent access to food and water. We offer a place of refuge where the children don’t have to worry about keeping themselves alive. With donations, we are able to feed the kids cornmeal, potatoes, green bananas, peanut butter and occasionally meat during special events.

Classroom supplies

Education is the next pillar of Hope for Hearts. It is crucial that these children receive the learning tools they need to succeed in life. For many of them, it is the first time that they are able to sit in a classroom. Donations help the school purchase notebooks, pens, desks, chairs, books to read, and many other supplies you would find in a typical classroom setting.

Training tools

On top of receiving a basic education, girls in our program who do not move toward college-prep are placed in programs where they gain the knowledge needed to enter a particular skill-based industry. We allow the girls to pick what interests them such as cooking, hairstyling, and sewing. With this portion of the girls’ schooling, donations help with purchasing the specific items needed for them to continue their studies. This includes ingredients to cook with, thread, cloth, and hair products.

Paying staff

Our teachers and administrators work incredibly hard to uphold our education mission. They are very invested in bettering the lives of our students and we are ever so grateful for their commitment. As local, your donations go toward paying their salaries, providing jobs for these workers and role models for the girls to look up to. Some of the women are success stories, having been through the program.

Your support means the world to these children. They gain life skills and education, therapeutic support and a roof over their heads. It takes a village of educators, donors, facilitors and more to change the world of an orphaned child…one school, one child at a time.

Blessings,
Cristen Lyn

Father Mugagga has the lowdown from lockdown. He has been keeping in touch with nuns at both schools to gather updates on how the children are faring during this worldwide pandemic. The children are in good spirit and faring well, but while the effects of COVID-19 are being felt around the U.S., underdeveloped countries like Uganda can be hit even harder. Prior to the outbreak of this pandemic, Uganda was (and still is) facing an HIV/AIDS epidemic that hinders and ends the lives of many, leaving a large portion of the country sick and children without parents.

Along with AIDS and COVID-19, the country is also dealing with a recent locust invasion, causing food shortages from destroyed crops and an increase in the amount of people going hungry. This comes on heels of Lake Victoria flooding that has burdened some of the nuns who help support our programming.

These challenges are beginning to blend together, creating even harder uphill battles the country must face. Those that have HIV/AIDS have a higher chance of getting sick due to being immunocompromised which makes the thought of contracting COVID-19 even scarier. In order to stay healthy, HIV/AIDS patients must take their medication on a full stomach, which makes it difficult to do when there is a food shortage occurring.

As you can see, problems in underdeveloped countries can cause a domino effect that those in developed countries have the privilege of avoiding due to more resources and a stronger infrastructure in place. Though these issues are happening thousands of miles away from the U.S., they are hitting home for us, as both schools are feeling the effects of these new problems.

Although slightly tougher to secure food due to rising costs, our two schools continue to nurture the children with a place to sleep and food to eat. Father Mugagga informed us teachers are unable to come to the school, and the children are eagerly awaiting the time that they can return to some sense of normalcy and continue their studies. In the meantime, the younger children keep themselves busy with a daily routine, and the girls in our vocational programs practice, practice, and practice.

No matter how difficult the obstacles thrown in their way, our main goal is to ensure the girls’ safety. We are able to continue doing this amidst these trying times through donations from readers like you. Right now when our children need support the most, please consider donating. You can make a difference by providing nutritious food, clean water, medicine, and school supplies for those that have nothing but hope and passion for an education to better their lives. No donation is too small. For those who have been blessed during this pandemic with the good fortune of work, I must share $240 sponsors one child. Perhaps, pay it forward and help a child for the next 365 days.

Love and blessings,
Cristen Lyn