Biggest Loser Wrap-up and Operation Dorm Update

SYI BLC

The SYI Biggest Loser Challenge came to an end on August 19^th. Together, the13 contestants lost more than 65 pounds in 12 weeks.  The winner, who competed under the pseudonym “Brook Trout”, lost more than 6% of their body weight.  The competition brought in $730 for Operation Dorm! 

A Big THANK YOU to all who participated!

Operation Dorm Update

The second and third installments for Operation Dorm has already been sent and received by PASK.  They have purchased a significant amount of building materials and started the foundation.  The third installment of $1000 went out via Western Union this week.  Vertical progress with the dorm should be apparent very soon!  SYI is expecting more photos from PASK by the middle of September. 

You might also notice that the total raised is nearly $10,000 now.  This increase is due to the Biggest Loser Challenge and a large donation from St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Illinois.  

THANK YOU for all of the support.  The PASK children mean the world to me.  I truly appreciate everyone who has helped SYI make a difference in their precious lives.  

Breaking Ground

Operation Dorm Begins

Well, it has finally happened. I got a message from SYI’s financial officer – “There is over $8,000 in the SYI bank account.”  

(The “over” is money designated for food.  This money comes from donations earmarked by the giver, and the Easter egg fundraiser. We send it in increments every 2-3 months or as needed.)

Half way.  Operation Dorm has hit the halfway point!  Let the construction begin. 

The rocks in the bottom right hand corner of the picture will be used for the foundation.  Nice, square cement blocks will make up the walls of the building. 

SYI sent off the first installment of $500 to PASK.  They cleared the space for the dorm of debris and sticks, 

purchased the foundation stones (batu-batu) and lumber, 

and hired someone to dig out the foundation. 

I will receive an email accounting of each installment of money as it is spent, followed by the actual receipts being mailed every 1-2 months to save on postage.  Upon receipt of the email accounting and pictures of the progress, the next installment will be mailed. 

As you can see in the photos, some of the older children are eager to help!  Some of the younger children "help" to by playing in the rocks!

SYI has already received a pledge of another $1000 bringing our tentative total raised to $9,000.  We are only $7,000 from our goal for Operation Dorm!!!  Please consider clicking on the donation button to your right to keep Operation Dorm going J.

SYI Biggest Loser Challenge

The SYI Biggest Loser Challenge is well underway.  We just completed our 9^th weigh-in.  Only 3 more to go!

While the details of the weight loss are being reported on a facebook page that only contestants have access to, I can tell you that together the 13 participants have lost over 66 lbs!  Congratulations to all participating and keep up the good work.

You can help them out.  Leave a comment on this post with a number corresponding to the name or pseudonym you would like to sponsor.  The contestant with the most comments will win a two pound advantage this week.  Go ahead and make a donation in their honor and you will help them win a 5% weight loss bump at the final weigh-in! 

11.    Christina

12.   Helen

23.   Cliff

44.  Debbie

45.   Rich

56.   Loretta

67.     Jane

78.     Torrie

89.     Rainbow

910.     Brook

111.   Brown

112.  Marble

113.  Golden

More PASK photos

SYI has sent $1500 to PASK this Spring.  They have purchased food such as vegetables and rice.  They have also purchased several breeding ducks. 

The pigs they purchased at Christmas are also coming along nicely. 

Part of this Spring’s money was used to pay for next year’s school fees and buy new uniforms.

How to sponsor an SYI Biggest Loser Contestant

SYI's Biggest Loser Challenge is in full swing with 14 contestants (with one who can't win, because she is organizing the contestant - me).  We have decided to go the individual route instead of teams. Pseudonyms will be used on the weekly updates to protect each contestant's privacy. It is our first year trying this competition, so there is a little bit of a learning curve. We will do our best!

I am thrilled each of the contestants have decided to participate.  I hope we will raise TONS of $$$ for SYI Operation Dorm and we will have 14 healthier people at the end of the contest.  Speaking of money.... Each contestant is paying a $20 entry fee which can be paid by check and mailed directly to SYI or by using the donation button to the right.  Please write in the note section "BLC ENTRY FEE".

SPONSORS
Each contestant will be hitting up friends, family, random acquaintances for sponsorships.  All donations will go to Operation Dorm, but the contestant that brings in the most donations will get a 5% weight loss bonus at the end of the competition.  This challenge could truly determine who the biggest loser is!!

To Sponsor a Contestant:  Use the donation button to your right.  Be sure to write in the note section who you want to sponsor (pseudonyms or real names are fine).  You can also mail a check to SYI noting on the memo line who you want to sponsor!

Best of luck to all of the contestants!

Chicken Dinner and Biggest Loser Challenge

Chicken Dinner

The first of the Easter Egg money has arrived.  SYI sent $1000 USD to PASK with instructions to purchase food and pay for school fees.  (The new school year starts in July.)  Ibu Esi, PASK's headmistress, sends her thanks and word that the children had a big chicken dinner this weekend.

Currently, the orphanage is putting together a plan to purchase sustainable food stuffs (plants for their garden, livestock, etc).  Once the plan is complete and has been reviewed, another $1000 USD from the Easter Egg money will be sent to PASK.  I am truly excited to be able to facilitate this gift.  PASK has received a much needed infusion of money to provide nourishment for 40 children and will be receiving funds to continue to build their resources.  Continued investment into sustainable food sources will greatly improve the future of PASK!  Very exciting!!!

 Biggest Loser Challenge

SYI is hosting a biggest loser challenge starting May 26th and ending on August 18th with the winning team being announced on August 19th.  Send an email to the SYI account, my personal account, leave a comment, or contact me through facebook.

Here is the skinny (no pun... okay... pun intended):

1.     Teams will consist of 5 people.  The entry fee for each team is $100 ($20/team member). Entry fees must be paid by the first weigh-in.

2.     Each team will have a captain who will be responsible for compiling weekly weigh-in data and reporting it to the challenge organizer.    

3.     The team that loses the largest percentage of body weight will be declared the SYI Biggest Loser.  The winning team will split the entry fees with the SYI Operation Dorm fund. 

4.     The first weigh in will be on Sunday May 26^th.  The final weigh in will be 12 weeks later on August 18^th. The winning team will be announced on August 19^th.

5.     Weigh-in’s will occur each week on Sunday.  You should weigh yourself on the same scale at the same time.  All weights must be reported to your team captain who needs to send the weights to the challenge organizer by midnight. Team standings will be reported on the Monday following the weigh-in on the SYI Biggest Loser facebook page and on SYI’s website.  (The public reports will only contain percentage lost information.  At no time will individual weights be disclosed by the team captains or the challenge organizer. On Mondays, team captains will receive a document with no names in order to check calculations and maintain transparency.)

6.     Throughout the competition, there will be challenges.  Each challenge will be announced on Mondays with the weekly progress reports. The team that wins the challenge will receive percentage or pound bonuses depending on the difficulty of the challenge. 

7.     Important Reminders:

a.     Please consult with your doctor before beginning any weight loss program.

b.     This challenge is meant to be fun, help us all reach our weigh loss goals, and raise money for the children at PASK orphanage in Sumba, Indonesia.

c.     All participants agree to be honest, good human beings.

The Easter Egg Numbers are IN!

We finally have a tally on this year's Easter Egg Fundraiser.  

Made with Love Bakery sold just under 700 eggs!  

SYI will be receiving $2536!!!

As soon as all of the checks clear (and I finish slogging through SYI taxes), we will begin sending the money to PASK.  We will be sending the money in parts.  We will send $1000 before the end of the month.  They will be instructed that the money is for food and school fees (due in June).  Once they have spent the money and sent an accounting of the expenditures, we will send another $1000 to be invested in sustainable food for the orphanage (breeding pairs of animals, fruit trees, etc.).  The remainder will be saved and pulled with future donations and sent later in the year.  Check back in a few weeks to see pictures of their purchases and to hear news about what PASK plans to buy!

(As always, all expenditures/projects are discussed with PASK and while SYI designates a category for donations to be spent on (i.e. food, school, building, etc).  Specific purchases are left to the discretion of  PASK's headmistress, but must be reported and documented before any further disbursements from SYI are made.)

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS FUNDRAISER SUCCESSFUL!!!

Have you ordered your Easter Egg yet?

 Egg making is well underway at Made With Love bakery.  Super Mom and the Stupendous Angel dipped 142 eggs yesterday!  They sent me some photos of their hard work.  

Here is Super Mom trimming chocolate around the edges of freshly dipped eggs.  

The Stupendous Angel did a great job on the flowers.  What a classic looking Easter treat!

All boxed up and waiting for labels.  

The deadline to order is Mar 17th!  

Remember the purchase of one egg will feed one PASK kid for one week :)

Their smiles are amazing!!

Letter from PASK

Just before Christmas,  I received this letter from PASK.  Ibu Esi had written it on October 28, 2012.  What follows is my translation of the letter.  I have done my best to be true to Ibu Esi's meaning and her words.  Below the translation you will find her original letter (Indonesian).   SYI has responded to this letter in the form of some relief and that relief is also outlined below. 

My Translation of Ibu Esi's Letter

Dear Christina, Chris, and Colby, 

Greetings to you in the form of this letter, until we meet again.  The orphanage children long to see you and your family. We are fixing a landslide in the well.  To pay for the repairs, we borrowed 2.000.000 rupiah.  The work started on October 22 , but is not yet finished (October 28).  Stones and cement to make it flat again.  (Note: These repairs are now complete!)

Our condition is urgent concerning food and money for school fees.   We have asked certain individuals for help with food.  There is no money from the social department of the government social. Their budget no longer exists.  We believe and hope that Ibu Christina and Pak Chris will see the children of PASK through this crisis.

We heard you are coming to Sumba? When do you come?

We wait for Ibu Christina, Pak Chris, Colby, and Colby's baby brother. Oh! Happy birthday to the  brother of Colby on October 26, 2012.

May the Lord grant his mercy with Ibu Christina's family and may they always have health.  The children of PASK and I are also healthy.  If you want to build a dorm in the Summer, I think the air is good (Note: Ibu Esi is referring to the weather).  We wait for a reply from Ibu about the plans.

We give ourselves to the Lord and his plans with Ibu Christina.  Thank you very much for all the aid for the PASK children.  May the Lord repay the kindness of Ibu. We pray for good Ibu quickly come to sumba. Thank you Ibu Christina.  You are always welcome.

Until we meet again.

Sincerely,
The Children and Headmistress of PASK

Theresia Ela Malo (Ibu Esi)

Original Letter

Ibu Kris, Pak Kris dan Kolby yang terkasih,

Selamat berjumpa lagi di lembaran putih ini. Kerinduan anak-nak panti untuk bertemu dengan keluarga Ibu dan Bapak sangat besar.

Kami sedang memperbaiki sumur yang longsor itu. Untuk biaya perbaikan kami pinjam uang Rp. 2 juta lebih . Mulai tanggal 22 Oktober hingga hari ini (28 Oktober) sumur belum selesai. Batu-batu dan tanah longsor telah ditutupi dengan semen dan batu gunung sehingga sudah rata.

Kondisi kami yang mendesak adalah makanan dan uang sekolah anak-anak yang SMP dan SMA. Selama ini kami hanya minta pihak-pihak tertentu untuk mendapatkan bahan makanan. Anggaran dari Pemerintah/Dinas Sosial belum ada.

Kami yakin dan percaya  Ibu Kris dan Pak Kris bisa melihat anak-anak panti yang sedang krisis ini. Kami dengar Ibu akan ke Sumba? Kapan Ibu datang? Kami menantikan Ibu Kris, Kolby dan adiknya Kolby. Oh.. selamat ulang tahun untuk adiknya Kolby tanggal 26 Oktober 2012. Semoga Tuhan memberikan rahmat-Nya pada keluarga Ibu Kris dan semoga sehat selalu.

Anak-anak panti juga sehat bersama kami pengasuhnya. Jika Ibu ingin membangun gedung dalam musim kemarau saya kira lebih baik udaranya lebh bagus. Jadi kami menunggu jawaban dari Ibu untuk semua rencana.

Kami pasrahkan diri kepada Tuhan dan kepada Ibu Kris. Terima kasih banyak atas semua bantuan untuk anak-anak panti semoga Tuhan membalas kebaikan Ibu. Kami doakan semoga Ibu cepat datang ke Sumba. Terima kasih dan selamat datang Ibu Kris. Sampai kita berjumla lagi.

Hormat kami

Anak-anak dan pengasuh Panti Asuhan Sinar kasih

Theresia Ela Malo-Ibu Esi

SYI's Response
SYI was able to send $1000 in December to PASK.  I wrote a brief note to Ibu Esi asking her to repay the debt for fixing the well, and urging her to use the money to purchase livestock - future food planning!!!  She compiled with my request.  She repaid the debt for fixing the well.  Purchased staples (rice, potatoes, etc.) that they so desperately needed, and used the remainder to purchase a breeding pair of pigs!

The upcoming Easter Egg fundraiser is designated for food.  Last year we sold over 350 eggs and made more than $1200 in profit.  This year we want to double that amount.  We are looking for people to help sell eggs and, of course, anyone who wants to purchase an egg or 10.  This year we are offering four filling choices: chocolate cream, coconut cream, maple nut cream, or peanut butter.  All eggs are $5 a piece.


To further address PASK's need for a sustainable way to provide food, we are considering adding plans for animal accessory buildings to Operation Dorm.  These plans will include alterations to existing structures as well as construction of small shelters for livestock such as chickens and rabbits.  These plans will first be reviewed by PASK before officially being added.  It is our intention that these additions will not add significantly to the cost of Operation Dorm (~$1000 addition), but will provide a much needed means of being more self-sufficient.

We need volunteers!  If you or someone you know would like to help SYI, we would love to have you.    Please email me today, and we can discuss the numerous ways you could help make a difference in the lives of the children at PASK.