I had a visitor a couple of months ago named Caitlin.  She had been to India just over a year ago, and had been so moved by what she experenced, had been looking for ways to help since her feet his US soil.  Her time spent at one of Mother Teresa’s homes for orphans had a real impact on her.  To put it mildly, she fell in  love.

She came back home and had a fundraising dinner at a local Indian restaurant, pleading with people she knew to give to these children she had met face to face.  They did, and she sent it on.  But she wasn’t done.

She came to me wide open, and with a full willingness to do “whatever you need me to do”.  She didn’t want to go back to India right now… that’s not driving her.  She didn’t want recognition… she doesn’t know and may never know I’m writing this… that’s not driving her either.

Love drives her.

During my recent grant writing class, I decided to take her along with me through the process.  It hasn’t included much yet, but I send her things from time to time and ask her to do research.  We went together to the Regional Research Library, (consisting of two old terminals in our local public library) and together we looked for funders who share our mission.

I’m not teaching her anything, because I don’t know anything, but we are learning together.

Sometimes we pray and God sends us each other.

Oh, and did I mention?  Caitlin is 15.

Love, Val

Valerie and Caitlin at the Sonoma County Human Race 2014