Finally Another Post!

This is Alisha's mom posting and well for anyone out there who is still checking Alisha's blog, she did make it home safely, and with a wonderful experience. She absolutley fell in love with the people of Kyrgyzstan and she already talks about going back one day. We are so thankful for everyone who helped make it possible. We especially want to thank Jayne and David Schooler who took her under their belt during there already busy time in Kyrgyzstan. I also want to thank Natashia for staying with her the entire time and translating for her. With you communication was possible for her. I also want to thank Ruby and Lynn Johnston for their graciousness even though they couldn't personally be there. Also we want to thank John Wright for overall making the experience for Alisha in Kyrgyzstan wonderful! You took her to all the right places to touch her heart and spirit. We also appreciate everyone out there who helped support her to go. Without all of you this would of never been possible. She was able to do so many wonderful things with the money that she had. Above is a collection of pictures of her journey in a slideshow. Again thank you everyone for all your help!

more pics :)

their queen made me try on her outfit :) lol

my favorite village

some baby ritual

my volleyball team

dancing with my best friends!!

pictures finally!!

showing off pictures of andrew




coloring with the coolest kids in the world!! they taught me how to break dance!!

buying john some crack and coke at the store! i took a double take when he asked me! lol

shishkabobs :) yummy!!

after we gave the village kids the balls!! they loved them! were taking them more tomorrow!!

busy busy busy!!

hello everyone!! omg have i had a jam packed 2 days!! i love it here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i have fallin in love with this beautiful country and beautiful people that fill it! they may not have much ... but some how they still find joy in the simple things!! my heart aches for them and i want to take everysingle one and cram them in my 4 huge suitcases and bring them to the US to show them what the other side looks like!! and just allow them to live in the luxury we all live in so unknowingly!!! I have been so many places!!! so much to tell!!! but starting with tues i got to go the the hospital and see a boy who is waiting for a cleft palate surgery!! i hope he gets it soon. they have postponed because of a raspy cough!!! he's a beautiful child and deserves a beautiful smile!! we gave some donations of food and other sort to his family!! they both were just beautiful happy people!! i had the delightful experience of meeting two wonderful women from the US betty and christie!! they are amazing people and were with us all day tuesday in tokmok!!! they went to the hospital with us and to Andrews old orphanage!!! It was such a wonderful experience!! seeing where he was and all the lovely women who took care of them!!! They are all such good people!!! we shared many hugs and kisses!!! after that we went to a place called swetley pou (excuse my horrible russian spelling) and this is where they take kids who are homeless or have run away ... and they are caught by the police and brought to this home! this home is usually filled with 40+ children... it is made for fourty children!! but amazinlgy this place was so beautiful and nicely kept and the children all loved it there!! there was nothing but smiles!! i fell so hard for those children!!! this one girl imparticulary... she's 13 and very skinny.. her clothes dont fit completely and she came over to me and helped me shop through their souvenir shop (the money goes to the children) she helped me out... and then after gave me a bracelet she made as a gift!! i loved it and hugged her!! i then found out she has only been there 3 days... and was found in the bazaar... she was beaten severley and cant move her arm now... when she told me this i just hugged her... this girl simply smiled... when her world is so crushed and screwed up... my heart just breaks... she doesnt deserve this... on my way out she ran behind me and held me so tight! i turned around and just hugged her for a while!! we left and exchanged one of the few russian words i know POKA (bye) over and over again!! i decided i have to go back. so i will be going back there monday and doing crafts with these children!! i told her to stay there!! these children are so beautiful!! after that we went to eat and the power went out .... hence no updates or anything... or even shower or washing my hands .... (ughhh lol )
now on to today!! lol! this morning we went to the nursing home where me and azelbeck played guitar and sang for these 5 senior ladies who are homeless and stuck at this home.. for atleast an hour!! they were all so wonderful and thankful to have a place to live!! my heart goes out to the workers at all these places knowing that they barely get enough\ food to survive but they go ahead worrying about the widows and homeless and orphans! it amazes me! their hearts are so big!! after that me and azelbeck and the son of the lady who owns the nursing home played soccer ball ( they call it football) with the balls i bought to give the village children!! i ended up giving him one! and i'm certain it made his day! we then went to a church founded by this beautiful women! we were suppose to serve food but when we showed up she just prepared food for us!! so we ate talked and sang!! so much fun!! they are beautiful people!! after that we went to lunch and this wonderfull ladies house! who has been so much! but is still so kind! we saw her donkeys and lil chicks!! os so so cute!! :) aftter that we went to dinner at the ladeis house who works and the mens invalid home (disabilities) she cooked us a wonderful meal and then we went off to the village!! at the village we made crafts with the children!! my poor girls purse was so screwed up... lol i thought i was crafty... maybe not... :( ha ha then i ended up talking to these wonderful girls who were in 6th and 8th grade ... after crafts we went to play volleyball in a circle! that ended up into a circl of 20 village people! adults too! all smacking the soccer or volleball (which ever one wasnt mud covered from the sides of the road) around! laughing are butts off when someone would get an amazing save or miss or fall or get hit!! I had so much fun! and i was glad to see these people who have so much worry and stress in their life! just kick back and have some fun for once!! they were all so much fun!!!! :) i enjoyed it thoroughly! after that i went back to johns and watched a movie! like almost everynight!! (tonight was an english one!!!!!!! whoot whooot!!!) and then i came home!! unfortunitely all this food is taking its toll on my stomache :( and i do not feel well! sorry for my horrible grammar its 12:15 and i dont feel well! please be understanding!! i have tried to upload pics but it hasnt worked so someone will be hleping me later on!!! well i love and miss you all!!! poka poka!

An update from Alisha's mom!

This is Alisha's mom again. Well all I can say is Alisha must be very, very busy because I have never met anyone who likes taking pictures more then her, and yet she still hasn't posted any of them yet, not even on facebook. I have found her to pop up in some of the other blogs though, if you check out John Wrights blog and David and Jayne Schooler which you can get to by clicking on it on the left side of this blog. They both have her on there. At least it is some sort of small update about her but just not from her. I did talk to her yesterday afternoon, which was Monday night for her, and she said she couldn't believe all the places that she had been to that day. She is amazed about the things she is seeing, and she is already saying she wants to go back there, and she also wishes she could stay there a month instead of 11 days. Alisha seems to be falling in love with the children there. She hasn't spent as much time as we thought she would in the Tokmok orphanage, but instead yesterday she spent time meeting some people in a local village. These people don't have much, and they need a lot of help. I think Alisha was touched by what she saw. On her Tuesday it looks like she spent the day in Bishkek visiting many different places. Check out the blogs on the left for details. Well hopefully Alisha will be getting some time soon to post pictures and updates so we can all see what she has been doing, until then I'll keep updating myself when I here from her.

I made it!!

hey everyone!! Just wanted you all to know I am here and safe!! It was such a long trip!! Soooooooooo many hours of just sitting there and trying to sleep!! The plane rides all went well and I even got to watch marley and me on the way to london... lol (It was late at night when I saw it and everyone was asleep and I was up just crying my heart out!!! what a sad movie!) I just went out to eat with natasha and the schoolers!! They are all so very kind! I have some childrens church thing to go to in a half an hour... and then dinner with the schoolers natalia and john wright! I am so excited to see what is in store for this weak. We will be planning my week over dinner! Oh and i had this stuff called fried lugman!! omg delicious!! first real Kyrgyz meal!! loved it!! It is a beautiful warm day! I felt so bad this morning... I was planning on going to church... I got here at like 6 in the morning and went to sleep ... intending to be woken up around 9... lol Jane schooler comes and wakes me up and tells me its time for lunch.. ha ha I guess i passed out and noone could wake me up!!! :) So I have internet where I'm staying and it's a beautiful thing!! i love it!!! i'm so excited for the rest of my day and the next 10 days!! I can tell already that this country is so poor and desperate for just happiness!! I biggest goal is to make some people happy!!!! I will be updating again later!!!! love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep me in your thoughts and prayers!!

ps... this apartment is beautiful! thank God for lyn and ruby!!! :)

Ready or not Kyrgyzstan here she comes!

This is Alisha's mom, and she wanted me adding a post giving everyone an update. We dropped off Alisha at the airport this afternoon, and she is well on her way to Kyrgyzstan. It was funny when we got there the lady checking her luggage never heard of Kyrgyzstan, and she was quite puzzled on why a teenage girl would be going there. It has been a bit of a stressful week, but I knew I would be relieved once she got on that plane. There has been so many things to do, to finalize everything and get everything packed. It was a bit of a puzzle packing everything, and unfortunately we pulled out the peanut butter from one of the luggages, that was for Dave and Jayne Schooler and put it in the carry on, because the luggage weighed to much. For some reason they wouldn't allow the peanut butter to go on the carry on. I was so bummed. I'm sorry Jayne I know you wanted some peanut butter!!!!

It was hard saying goodbye to Alisha today, but I have a peace about what she is doing, and I know she will come back a better person for going. There is no way to go to a country like Kyrgyzstan and not change.

Alisha I want to let you know that I love you and I'm proud of you for thinking outside the box. You are willing to do things most kids your age would never dream of. You are a great daughter and a great sister. I'm so grateful that I have you for my daughter. Take care, and I'll talk to you soon!

Alisha and all her luggage!

Alisha and Josh walking through the airport!

Waisting some time in the airport!

Me sneaking a kiss while I could!

Andrew of course can't give enough kisses!

Andrew trying to be good while trapped in the stroller!

Alisha says goodbye to her sister Megan!

Alisha says goodbye to her brother Andrew!

Alisha says goodbye to her boyfriend Josh!

Alisha says goodbye to her dad!

Me and Alisha say our goodbyes!

3 DAYS

Hey everyone!!!
As you all can tell I'm not the best at getting on here everyday!! but I promise once I'm over there I will be hopefully updating everyday! with pictures and all!!! I can not believe i leave in 3 days!! This is all so crazy to me!! I just remember my mom asking me what I thought about going to Kyrgyzstan.... and it seems like that was just yesterday!!! I am so excited!! and a little anxious also!! Yesterday I was just doing a lot of thinking... and I was just thinking about the kids I am going to see. They all have it so hard... and I just broke down thinking about it. I am so lucky to have what i have and to be where I am! I am so grateful for all I have. I hope I some how in some way can change these kids aspects on life, or just even give them a fun week... which they so very much deserve!!! I have a feeling once I'm over in Kyrgyzstan with these children.. that I'm not going to want to come back!!! I'm so excited to see there faces finally!!! We have so many fun things planned to do while I'm over there!!! I can't wait!!!! I'll prob update on thursday again right before I leave!! Keep me in your thoughts on Friday as I travel to the other side of the world!!! <3 lots of love!!!

18 days!!!!

Hey everyone!!! It's been awhile! i'm sure you are all dying to hear the newest happenings!! Well the first thing I would love to share is that I have officially raised enough money to go over seas and even enough to build an entire play ground!! I am so excited! i know that this will bring so much joy to the children!! This is something that will stay with them even after I leave!!! I am also looking to take the kids to an amusement park one of the days!! we are still trying to get more money so I can do as much possible as I can!! everything is just falling into place!! I love it!! I have also booked my flights!! I am going with a group of college students from illinois!! I will be leaving MAY 8TH (18DAYS) Which is not very far away!!! I am also excited about our flight plans... they are very nice and not too many lay overs!! which is a beautiful thing!! I will be flying from cleveland to chicago to london to Kyrgyzstan!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah!!! I'm pumped about the London part!! I know I won't be able to see the city! but atleast I'll be able to say I was there! and hear there cool accents!! ha ah! :) Well I will be posting a lot more starting now!! since there is so much happening all at once!!! Thanks everyone for all the help and encouragement!! It means so much!! Love you all!!!!!!

Wow things are coming along!

Today I spoke at Stone Creek Community Church... I told them about why, when and where I am going! which is obviously Kyryzstan and because I wanna show these kids as much love as I possibly can! I am so excited for this trip! I got some amazing donations today! These are going to get me that next step closer to my trip and to these kids hearts! Thank you everyone who is supporting me! I will need all the support I can get! I am hoping that I will soon get travel dates from the group I will be traveling with! I'll keep you posted!! :)


all my love,

Alisha <3

waiting

wow... so who would have thought waiting could be so hard! We have recently come to found that there may be other girls traveling to kyrgyzstan when I do... So we are waiting it out right now to get the details... mean while I really can't do much! and well it's kind of driving me crazy! but I am so excited about this trip! and can't wait!! I'm just waiting... waiting for everything to fall into place!

It's just the beggining!

Hey everyone! Wow everything has happened so fast! within the past five hours I have decided to go to Kyrgyzstan! I don't know how exactly everything is going to work out, but for some reason I just know it is! I am very excited and also a bit nervous! One of the main reasons I am going to Kyrgyzstan is because my little brother Andrew is from there! My family has adopted him, and he has changed my life in so many ways, but Kyrgyzstan is a very poor country and most of the people there are in a great economical and health crisis. I'm not sure who I'm traveling with yet, or when I'm leaving, so I will post when I know more!!!! <3