Green Eyes in Africa

I had a quiet visitor today from Green Eyes in Africa. Someone quietly slipped up on my porch & taped a message- stapled to a plastic bag to my door & walked away.

The page read, "We don't want your money just your unwanted shoes". African relief effort, shoes of all sizes & conditions needed. Please put your unwanted shoes in the bag provided in plain site by 9:00 am & we will stop by tomorrow morning rain or shine to pick them up. We turn your unwanted shoes into relief for those in need. Thank you! There is something you can do! (In very small print at the bottom of the page was the name) Green Eyes in Africa 501c Fed Id 321-338730

I was very moved by the hands on approach of the idea we can do more to help even if it is only giving our out grown unwanted shoes. Not by long words or even persuasive lingo but by action they have made a loud impact on me. Someone who is making a difference not just saying they want to make a difference. They didn't bang on my door to beg my support like so many people do wanting my money for this cause or that cause making me feel guilty about sitting in my nice comfy home. Someone who is out there doing it, making the world they live in better one step at a time.

I was astonished that someone was so unselfish now days & would take their time to help out people they will never see nor meet in their life time. For the sake of others give up their time to walk the streets & tape a piece of paper to the doors in some small chance they could return the next morning to a bag filled with gently used shoes to send to Africa. I thought to myself how perfectly human, unselfish & touching to say the least. This person took the time to care for someone all the way in Africa. Someone, chances are they will never even see.

I had to learn more about this Green Eyes form Africa. I of course went on line & here is what I found once I found the web site, which I was glad was there so I could learn more.

Green Eyes in Africa, They are a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to educating, empowering, and loving impoverished African orphans. Their mission started with two green-eyed brothers, Patrick and Ryan Hansen, who were determined to make a difference. Ryan lives in Africa to ensure that all funding is used properly. Patrick runs the "business" side of things in the USA. Neither brother receives a salary for what they do. 100 percent of donations go straight to those who suffer.

Their important mission is underway at the New Hope Orphanage, a center in Yaoundé, Cameroon where they care for orphans, the blind, and those suffering from AIDS. They believe that every child deserves a childhood, especially in Africa, where children are forced to grow up too early, often in traumatic ways.

Here is a little more about the founders of Green Eye in Africa.

PATRICK HENRY HANSEN founded Green Eyes in Africa with his brother Ryan in 2005. Patrick is a successful Utah businessman, father of five, and active in his role as the spokesperson for Green Eyes in Africa. Patrick lived in South Africa for two years, and the causes and issues concerning Africa are close to his heart.

"I've seen the realities of harsh poverty in Africa. It is something you never forget. I feel a responsibility to help those who suffer in Africa. It's not something I can walk away from. I have a passion for making a difference since I've seen first-hand how unfair life can be for Africans, especially children," Patrick said.

RYAN OLIVER HANSEN lived in an orphanage in Ecuador for seven months in 2004. There, he realized that his degree in TV Journalism from the University of Utah could be used for greater things than reporting city traffic and weather. Upon returning to the US he felt the call of Africa, and followed his heart. He moved to Africa in September 2005 and lives at the New Hope Orphanage. He plans to stay there for the rest of his life.

"There's no way I could ever leave Africa now. These children are connected to my heart and soul. They're my best friends and my inspiration in life. One would think that they're the ones who benefit from our time together, but the truth is that they teach me and inspire me more than I could ever do for them. I've found the secret to happiness in Africa, I've 'lost myself in the service of others' and there's no going back," Ryan said.

BRANDON LEWIS spent considerable time volunteering in Africa and grew to love the African people and culture. He's passionate about finding ways to alleviate the suffering of African children. He was instrumental in raising the funds required to create the New Hope Orphanage. As a successful businessman, Brandon brings organizational insight and effective fundraising management to Green Eyes in Africa.

"Brandon stepped in and saved us when we thought we were not going to make it. The children of the New Hope Orphanage owe their health and happiness to his generous intervention during a time of crisis," Ryan Hansen said. To read even more about the Board of Directors go to their web site Green Eyes in Africa.

I come away from this day being more thankful for what I do have, where I do live & what I can do to help out in the world around me. I am of course looking through my closet, my son's closet, my daughter's yard sale bag that has been in storage for months & plan to ask my hubby about his shoes tonight when he gets home.

I will have a bag of shoes ready for someone in Africa by the time I leave my house at 7:15 am in the morning, I will help when & where I can, not because I have to but because I want to as a fellow person I feel obligated to do some thing, anything is better then nothing.

If you get the chance go read Mama Sharon's Blog it is a true blessing to read her blogs, she gives a good glimpse into the life they live there every day things we take for granted they don't even have such as a kitchen table here is an excerpt from one blogs:

March 18, 2008 - Mama Sharon Hansen's 2^nd Blog

Food here is primitive in nature, very simple and lacking in variety and complexity. Adrienne makes a large pot of something each day on the propane gas fueled stove...a chicken stew, boiled plantains (sort of a cross between a banana and a sweet potato), today it will be some sort of fish, last night we had a rice dish with bits of carrot and vegetables in it, the day before a creamed vegetable dish called ndole ( pronounced on-dough-lay), which Ryan loves but I found to be bitter, another day meatballs in a fresh tomato sauce with bits of onion and pepper. She is a good cook and everything is prepared completely from scratch with primitive tools...no blender, no chopping tools, no whisks or rubber spatulas, the huge iron pots are heavy and wonderful - of course, no electric frypan to fry the plantains, she does a good job with what she has. No kitchen table or chair - she squats on a small stool and peels or chops into a large tub at her feet, usually outside while she chats with John. And that is the meal. It is actually supposed to last for 2 meals - this main one and then the smaller one again at 7ish so portions are small. No salad, no bread, never a dessert, no "side" dishes...water is the drink of choice...no juices, no soda, one glass of milk a day ( powdered) at breakfast. Breakfast is the milk with two sugar cubes in it and a roll with margarine from a tub. They pack another roll with Nutella on it as a "lunch" snack to take to school - no hot lunch at school, of course. An orange is a treat, or a fresh mango - twice in this week only did I see them have fruit. I made them a tuna salad over the weekend when Adrienne is off and the tuna reminded me of cat food in it's appearance, smell and texture. I added lots of fresh tomatoes and lettuce, the mayonnaise here is close to ours so it was a pretty good salad. Another meal they loved and asked Mama Sharon to make again was plain old pancakes...real butter ( you all know me and my butter!) and syrup with a fried egg for each of them...they ate until they were full and satisfied. We've had pancakes twice now and several times I've scrambled some eggs or made omelets...so one of my tasks before I leave is to revamp their meals to bring their nutrition status up - more fresh green veggies, more milk, more fruit.

Thank you Mama Sharon! We are all connected simply because we are all people. We all breathe, we all dream & we all need each other from one time or another. Just because I can not change everything in a day with one pair of shoes does not mean I shouldn't try to help change something anyway.

I am reminded today how much I can do. It doesn't cost anything to donate some thing I no longer need. It doesn't take much time or effort to help. I will do more to help in the future because I feel if more people would take the time to care for others we would all be better people for it. I will take this little paper & pass it to my friends here who may be able to call the number to help as well.

Thank you for your example of service Green Eyes in Africa! May God bless the little children you are helping & may they pass it on in their future to others in need. Thank you & God bless you & your efforts everyday! I pray that people will share this story so it can help your life efforts grow into some thing bigger & better than you have ever thought or dreamed possible.