A Difference
"A hundred
years from now it won't matter how much money I had in a
bank account, how big of a house I lived in or what kind of car I drove.
What will matter is that I have made the difference in the life of a child."
~ Anonymous ~
For the better part of my adult life, I have been in
the hospitality industry. I have remained in the business because there, I can make a difference in the lives of
those who visit the establishment where I work. I can think of no better way to make a living than being able to
serve others in such a way that enhances their lives and provides instanct gratification for myself. Within this
industry I am double blessed; because it provides me the opportunity to impact my co-workers in such a way that
can also makes a difference in their lives.
Ed Watt is the publisher of the Liberal, Kansas Southwest Daily Times and on October 10,
2006 he expressed the opinion that “We all are making a difference”. In writing that opinion he stated the following:
- “A bumper sticker I saw Sunday said, "One man can make a difference." After the initial optimism
from seeing the statement, I felt a little let down. What is the alternative? I can see that
bumper sticker: "One person can't make a difference." The truth of the matter is making a difference
is not optional. A more truthful bumper sticker would read,”
"Everyone makes a difference."
“Some people would rather not make a difference. But with every choice we encounter, our response dictates
a different outcome. And a difference is made. Some people opt to try to make a positive difference. They are the
leaders who are willing to take chances, who dream big dreams and put their necks on the line. Others try to make
no difference at all. They are the Monday morning quarterbacks who point out other people's mistakes, who want
everything to remain just as it is and who complain about most things in general.”
"Everyone makes a difference."
“If we all realize we are making a difference one way or the other, perhaps it would
be easier to decide to make a positive difference.”
I know of a couple of people that decided to make a positive difference. These individuals
have a few things in common. They are both females, both determined that they could make a difference in the lives
of children, one child at a time, both use the resources they have and both display an aura which light any room
they are in.
The first of those individuals is universally known for her effort. That effort has been
the subject matter in this column more that once over the last few years.
Ms Christel DeHaan is both a global business leader in tourism and travel and an eminent philanthropist
who has contributed to a wide range of charitable causes. At present, she is dedicating considerable time and enthusiasm
to the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation which includes Christel House, Inc., a charity which she
established to help children in developing countries. The charity provides educational, social and welfare support
for children from deprived backgrounds, to enable them to become self-supporting people, well-integrated into their
communities.
Ms. DeHaan once stated: “For twenty-three years, my career focused on serving the timeshare industry
and creating a business that would get people the most from their leisure time and money. My job took me around
the world. While I saw some of the most beautiful and luxurious places on the planet, I also saw another side,
a side that tugged at my heart strings, a side vivid with images of poverty and wasted human resources,”
In January 1998, Christel visited several children’s shelters in Mexico City to determine how
she might best support their work. What she observed was just another storehouse full of children without any hope
of achieving anything beyond the vicious cycle of poverty fate had placed them in.
Then and there, Ms. DeHaan determined that she would use her resources. not just to make life easier,
but to find a way to help these children and others such as them, become productive members of society. After talking
to educational leaders, health experts and other pioneers in children’s welfare, she fashioned the Christel
House concept.
Today, nearly 2,000 children come to five Christel House Learning Centers around the world. They receive
a top-quality education, health services and regular meals. They learn life skills, develop self-confidence and
earn scholarships to pursue higher education or vocational training. Upon graduation, these Christel House
students will have the knowledge, skills and character to build successful lives and make positive contributions
to their communities.
I have twice visited the Christel House Learning Center in Mexico City as well as its Alvaro
Obregon barrio where many of the children currently enrolled at the Mexico City Center reside. At the
learning center I met first grader Rebecca and in the barrio, visited what she and her mother called their
home. Thanks to Christel DeHaan, this one child will grow into an adult with the tools to someday make a
difference herself. I am proud to count Christel DeHaan my friend.
The second of these individuals is a young lady by the name of Katie Westmoreland. Katie is a
15 year old (almost 16) sophomore at Bryan High School in Bryan , Texas and in many ways she
is the typical teenager. She loves dance and has attended dance class for 13 of her 15/16 years. While she takes
tap, jazz, ballet, here real passion is lyrical. While requiring the skills of both jazz and ballet, lyrical
allows Katie the freedom to interpret the music with the passion in her soul. What teenager doesn’t want
freedom? Given a choice if not in dance, Katie would shop. She doesn’t necessarily have to buy anything,
just shop. She’s into the Gilmore Girls, reading, teaching 2-3 year olds both dance and the bible,
singing in her school choir, loves Prada, her brother Brent and her Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a
picture of her at the beach and as you can see, she is stunning both inside and out.
Young Ms. Westmoreland is the granddaughter of my sister Delores Lyles. Most recently (early September),
Sister, her two daughters (Yanna & Manya) and one of her daughter-in-laws (Robin) came
to Scottsdale for a week’s vacation. Katie’s proud parents are of my niece Yanna and
her husband John.
During this visit, I had the opportunity to escort the five ladies (Sister, Yanna, Manya, Robin and Mrs.
Gerry) to lunch at PF Chang’s unique restaurant on the new Waterfront in Scottsdale. During
lunch, Yanna had requested two copies of the restaurant menu and when questioned, she began to explain how
Katie used menus to teach English to a Romanian orphan.
I am going to use Katie’s own words to begin relating how she is making a positive difference in the life of
one child.
“It all started with Andrei Duta teaching the high school Bible class one Sunday morning. His dynamic
words told of hope, encouragement, wisdom, knowledge, and God’s unconditional love. After church, I e-mailed
him about the lesson and the correspondence continued until one day, at the bottom of the e-mail read, “His Little
Ones-changing the world for God’s glory, one child at a time.” I sent another e-mail to Andrei innocently
inquiring, “What is His Little Ones Inc.? It sounds very neat!” Little did I know that with those computer-generated
words, my world would change.”
Katie Westmoreland subsequently became involved with Andrel Duta in this organization with the
auspicious title of His Little Ones. Just like the efforts of Christel House, 100 % of the
charitable contributions to His Little Ones go directly to services. Today, His Little Ones sponsors
three orphanages in Bucharest with 300 children all together: Pinocchio, Saint Marie, and The
Swing. The following is an excerpt from the His Little Ones web-site:
“The icy wind howls in the night. It all seems
hopeless! The cold darkness envelops the streets of Bucharest. Another brutal winter for the country of Romania.
A slight shaking silhouette crouches in the snow-covered entrance of a now-deserted bakery. A half-frozen girl,
little Carmen, trying to find shelter. Frozen snowflakes - like steel pellets - hit her bluish face. But Carmen
does not feel the pain. A few inhalations of "Silver-Arrow" numb her and help her forget. Forget about
the frostbites, the pangs of hunger, and the fear of darkness. "Silver-Arrow" is
a thinner that can be bought for pennies at paint-shops. A drug that corrodes the respiratory tract and wastes
the brain. It is the chemical "baby-sitter" of thousands of children who live on the streets and under
the streets of Bucharest. Children - who just like Carmen - fumble through the shadowy sewers and stenchful catacombs
of Bucharest. Many of them living in hellish conditions in the underground sewers of Bucharest. The rest of them
institutionalized in government-managed orphanages. All of them unhappy, emotionally wounded, motherless and fatherless
children. Little children... Little ones crying with their every street petty-crime: "Help me!" Little
ones crying with every inhalation of "silver-arrow:" "I need you!" Little ones crying with
every tear rolling down their saddened faces: "I just want to love and to be loved!"
Being the special young lady she is, Katie ask Mr. Duta how she could help in the effort and he
e-mailed her back with a list of ways she could serve, but specifically, asked if she could tutor (over the internet)
a young girl named Madalina. Andrel Data’s parents had taken 9 year old Madalina out of the
Bucharest orphanage she was in and were preparing her for hopeful adoption by a Texas family within
a year, so in preparation, Madalina needed to learn English! Mr. and Mrs. Duta spoke English,
but thought it would be a benefit for Madalina to learn from an American girl with a Texan
accent. “Would she tutor a 9 year-old Romanian girl in English?” I could not express Katie’s
emotion better than she did with the following statement:
“With that very sentence, I felt hooked, overjoyed, ecstatic, and scared to death. I know now how it
feels to bungee jump. The initial, gut-wrenching sensation as you stand on the edge, gaze down at the steep
rocky cliff below, thinking, “I don’t know how I can do this, but I know it will be amazing” burned inside. My
stomach singed with that feeling as I pressed the “send” button for the return e-mail saying I would love to tutor
Madalina and help out in anyway I could”.
And so began the difference making… Katie went on…
“At this point, I doubted my decision to take the leap of faith and jump. I could feel the frigid cold
air whip past my body at the free fall stage of bungee jumping, where I cannot turn back. I downloaded the
Google Talk program to use to talk to Madalina and Mrs. Duta and scheduled our first English lesson. Wednesday
night, with the first lesson at 8 am (Texas time), 4 pm (Romania time) the next morning/afternoon, and I had no
idea how to begin. I desperately petitioned God for His guidance and wisdom. The first lesson consisted
of numbers one through ten and greetings. The Romanian language, derived from Latin and similar to Spanish
and French enables me to type “1” and spell “one” so Madalina will comprehend and learn. Over the microphone
and eight hours away, I found Madalina studious, intelligent, eager to please, and more than loveable. I
have finally gotten to the amazing part of the bungee jumping. The rubber band has caught and I can finally
experience the time of my life!”
At this point, we have about come full circle. It’s time to get back to the PF Chang’s Menu’s and how
they fit in.
Katie sends Madalina local restaurant menus (she had already had a lesson on American currency
and received some play money). Madalina orders off the menu in English, tells Katie how much
money she is paying with, then they figure the change and what kind of currency Madalina should get back.
This teaches Madalina food, asking, money, and math.
The first time Madalina got out a menu she read down the menu all the items (Katie would correct
as need be); the menu was mostly sandwiches, Madalina was reading Turkey on wheat, Rueben, peanut
butter and jelly etc., then she came to BLT, she was pronouncing “belllt bealt”. Katie told her it
was B-L-T for bacon lettuce tomato.
I usually close these columns with a final thought and that will come later. For now I thought to give Katie
Westmoreland the opportunity to express her…
FINAL THOUGHT
“I have learned that education comes in the form of a blessing that can help us make a difference and fulfill
our wildest dreams! By God’s grace, love, and perfect plan I have gotten here today. I have to remind
myself that this work does not revolve around me. It does not even revolve around Madalina. The work
solely focuses on my Lord and Savior who died for me. His powerful words on the cross have given me a life
that can change the life of a nine-year-old girl. The jump into the unknown and my trust in God has paid
off!”
Recently 15 almost 16 year-old Katie Westmoreland traveled to Texas A&M to address college communications
students. You can see why.
MY FINAL THOUGHT
Much of what is written herein about Katie Westmoreland was provided by her proud mother and my niece
Yanna. During this process, Yanna frequently expressed the horror that Katie would have if
she knew that she and her efforts with Madalina were being used as a subject matter. In one e-mail Yanna
provided the following:
“It's so hard for me sometimes to remember that Katie is the teenager and I'm her mom; she has a lot of wisdom,
and maturity for a 15 year old. Keep in the back of your mind Uncle Gerald that Katie is very humble and
wants no glory for herself, only for God's work through her. If you can convey that she will be pleased.”
This With Regard has been about two difference makers.
Christel DeHaan is full of wisdom, grace and charm. To those resources, she has added her financial where-with-all
and created the Christel House Learning Centers around the world. Many have asked why there are only five
of these centers as clearly the need exist in other locations. The answer is quite simple and points to her wisdom.
As a charity, Christel House does not currently receive enough funding from sources, other than Christel
herself, to cover the cost of providing the services in the existing five centers. Christel has to subsidize
these shortfalls in addition to covering the entire administrative and capital costs involved in such work.
Current expansion would place an extraordinary burden on available funding and thus jeopardize her ability to sustain
the existing effort and that she is not willing to do. It is up to those of us involved in fund raising to
find ways to reduce the current need to subsidize and allow for such expansion. That’s the difference we can make…
Katie Westmoreland is a cat of a different stripe. She too is full of wisdom, grace and charm, well beyond
her current age. She does not have the financial resources that Christel DeHaan possesses. In order for
her to accomplish her purposes, she calls on another resource, that of her God and her belief that through him,
all things are possible. Katie wants no glory for herself, as she goes about making a difference in
the life of one single child like Madalina, groups of children in her bible and dance classes
or groups of A&M college students attempting to learn how to effectively communicate.
If It will make a difference, I will offer you Katie the following: It is the Christian belief
that God created the Heaven and the Earth. On a clear night you can look to that Heaven
and see another form of His creation, the stars shining brightly, as He intended. God
made you a Star and He intended for you also to shine brightly. Stand proudly beside other
Stars such as Christel DeHaan, light the sky, and present an example so that others may also make that leap
of faith and begin to make a difference, One Child At A Time…
JS 10/06
