Go for it!

Today we inspired two more people to become sponsors! I want to say that today we fought hard to save these two children. I showed up 5 minutes before my shift at 1:30pm and Sean and Mel had been fighting all morning but nothing had happened. Mel left the booth with that "bad taste," of not getting at least one sponsor after battling so hard. I totally understand that, I think every single FR at Donorworx feels the same way when you have a tough day, it is not a number, it is the fact that you really put in the effort to help change a child's life.

Sean and I set up a plan: we are not going home with a zero. I think this has become our team motto. I am impressed that we are always aiming high. Since we started the campaign our goals have been 6, 8 and even 10 sponsors! I have to admit, and I have said this before, I was not like this before starting working with Donorworx. I had many goals in my life but I found that setting up these mini daily goals was a really great way to help a team get as many sponsors as possible.

Not having a goal when you go to work is like expecting to get abs while sitting on your couch with a bag of chips in one hand and a 'diet coke' in the other. Get it? You have to aim for something and go for it. Tomorrow we want to get 8 sponsors. It will be difficult only if we make it so. We are aiming and going for it, full force.

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

Four sponsors!!

I shared with you yesterday about my day with "zero" sponsors. Well, today I left that "zero" behind and I was able to inspire two people to become sponsors! I was aiming to secure four, but two is a good number on a Tuesday, which is a day when the mall is very quiet. Overall, as a team, we were able to inspire four people to become part of the change and take action against child labour. 

I was reading the webpage of United Nations today in regards of child labour and I want to share something I thought is interesting and can set our minds in the right place when we are fundraising. 

"There are many form of child labour worldwide. Children are engaged in agricultural labour, in
mining, in manufacturing, in domestic service, types of construction, scavenging and begging on the streets. Others are trapped in forms of slavery in armed conflicts, forced labour and debt bondage (to pay off debts incurred by parents and grandparents) as well as in commercial sexual exploitation and illicit activities, such as drug trafficking and organized begging and in may other forms of labour. Many of these are 'worst forms' of child labour as they are especially harmful, morally reprehensible and they violate the child's freedom and human rights..."

In general, this is awful but when you think that these are young children we are talking about, it makes the situation even more worst. The majority of us have always had access to our basic needs and our rights. When we were children we went to school, played with our friends, got fed well and we were loved. But many children do not have access to all that we have been taking for granted for so many years. 

The article closes with a quote from Juan Somavia, former General Director of ILO in 2008: "Driven by conscience, let's muster the courage and conviction to act in solidarity and ensure every child's right to his or her childhood. it brings rewards for all." Child labour is taking from children something they will never, ever, get back: their childhood. 

Let us keep fighting!

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

source: http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/briefingpapers/childlabour/

One of those days... -_-

Today was one of those days for me. I had incredible conversations and many of them made me think that I was going to sign them as sponsors but for some reason,  all of those encounters ended along the lines of, "I promise I'll be back tomorrow," or "I do want to do it but I'll have to talk to (a family member or significant other)." I battled through those objections like crazy, I felt I was giving my 110% but it just didn't happen. Am I frustrated? I wouldn't necessarily say so. See, these type of situations remind me that tomorrow will be another day and I'll be meeting and talking to new people, and that maybe some of those who promise to be back tomorrow will be there, ready to sign up for the children they looked at.

I remember one time in which I went a complete week with almost getting no sponsors. I tried so hard until one day I reached for help. I went to my mentor (Tamara) and told her how I felt and how frustrated I was. She gave me some of the best advice I've ever received: "Next day, when you come in for your shift, forget about yesterday and focus on today. Do not let the 'zero' of yesterday bring you down, it will be a new day tomorrow." To all of you, Donorworx FRs, out there that are feeling down because you fought hard, you tried your best and even then didn't get a sponsor. To you I say these words that were given to me one day: Do not let the zero of yesterday bring you down, it will be a new day tomorrow. So, wear your biggest smile and try your hardest once again.

I want to share a quote that Sean (our Team Captain) sent us in an email: "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time" (Thomas A Edison). In times like this we must remember our "Why's?" We must not let ourselves be defeated or discouraged by the "no," and more than anything, let us never give up.

My friend Sean did amazing today signing three sponsors!! He fought hard, his efforts paid off and he was able to inspire people to take action. A big "Woohoo!" to our Team Captain!

Have a nice start of the week!

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

What an amazing day....

Mal and Sean after getting 4 sponsors today!
-They are so passionate-

I started my day as usual, I woke up and went for a run. Sean and Mel had the early shift so I decided to wake up a little later than usual today. While running, I was thinking of the amazing days we have had at the booth. I was also reflecting on how we were working and how we can improve to get even more sponsors!

Around 11:45, I received a text from Sean with the great news that they had signed the first sponsor of the day. 20 minutes later a second text came in with a number "2," the second sponsor of the day had just signed. Then I stopped receiving messages. I was already happy with two! I showed up to the mall 5 minutes before my shift and asked Sean and Mel about the day so far. "We've had a great morning, we are at four!" they said. I was really proud of them, they have worked really hard.

It was up to John and myself to take over for Sean and Mel and keep up the amazing job they did in the morning. We both agreed that we were going to get at least 5 sponsors, and we did! We signed 5 sponsors in the afternoon, making a total of 9 children whose lives will never be the same. Their future is looking brighter now.

Wyatt holding the picture folder of Divine,
his sponsored child

There is always a special sponsor that makes me glad I have this job. Today, that sponsor was Wyatt
Brown, an incredible young man that made a decision to change the life of Devine, a little boy from Rwanda. I talked to Wyatt for maybe 5 minutes and, after listening, he asked: "How long does it take to sign up?" "Three minutes at the most" I said. "Lets do it man," he replied. He looked at some of the children and Divine caught his eye. "This feels awesome, it really makes you feel good!" Wyatt said with a HUGE smile in his face. Wyatt reminded me today that one of the biggest blessings we have is the ability to help others. That helping should not be something that feels like a burden and that when you help another from the bottom of your heart it will change you instantly. Helping will put a smile on your face and, yes, it will make you feel great!

Later in the shift John said something very interesting. "This feels like climbing a mountain, getting to the top and feeling excited; the difference is that at the booth that feeling is constant!" Then, right in that moment it clicked to me. Our success comes from the people I have on my team. It is not the mall traffic, the weather, luck, and most of all, is not about me. It is about the passion these three guys have in their hearts. A passion that keeps them from being discouraged whenever they get a "no,"  and it is this passion that keeps them going as if today was the last day of the campaign. I am extremely proud of Mel, Sean and John.

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

Four more children got sponsored today!

Sean and Mel signing up sponsors
on the last minutes of their first shift!
(I am so proud of them!)

Hey everybody! I just wanted to give you a quick update. We had another amazing day with a total of four sponsors.

I have to say that one of the sponsors I signed today was one of the easiest I have had in a long time! Ben, a very cool looking guy was walking by the booth, I stopped him and started talking about the great opportunities children have through the sponsorship program. I was holding a picture folder of a cute little girl named Asha, from Rwanda, in my hand. I talked maybe for 3 minutes with Ben and he was so engaged in the conversation that I felt that I just had to ask him. "I have this little girl from Rwanda who was abandoned by her parents and is in need of a kind heart to lend her a hand." Ben looked at her and then I said "I really think you want to do this." He turned his head, looked at me and said "yes, lets do it!"My brain almost short circuited a bit! No objections, no questions, no concerns at all! He just had a huge heart!

I'm glad I got to know Ben and I'm so happy that he got to sponsor Asha. I love to meet people that are just waiting for an opportunity to help!

Kamloops, BC
Picture taken from the meeting room at our place

On another note, I have to let you know that this is my first time in Kamloops
and it is incredibly beautiful. The view of the mountains is amazing, the coolness of the air is like no other, the streets are peaceful and it is just very, very nice. I am glad to be part of this inaugural traveling team, opening the way for many other BC touring teams to come.

Please leave us your comments and positive thoughts, they will encourage our hearts!

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

We did it! -6 children sponsored!-

Mariah

Today was our first day of fundraising, and it was incredible! We all went together to the mall in the morning (it sort of felt like a field trip to the mall). John and I went to work our shift and Mel and Sean went on a recon mission, to check out the grounds. The morning started a little slow for me and John, but after the first hour mall traffic started to pick up. John had no problem with stopping people! He was out there, all pumped up and excited, rejections seemed to have no effect whatsoever!

John, smiling after
getting his first sponsor!

All of a sudden, bam! Two hours after we started, we signed our first sponsor of the campaign! Mariah, a university student with a huge heart! She sponsored a cute little girl from Ethiopia. After 45 minutes came the second sponsor! At 12:50pm I took my lunch break and left John by himself for half hour. I came back and John had already signed up his first sponsor (with no assistance)! We were so excited and happy (I think we both felt like jumping out of joy, but of course we didn't)! Right before finishing our shift we stopped a couple and inspired them to sponsor a little boy from Peru! 

Mel, with her first sponsor!

In the afternoon, it was Sean's and Mel's turn to work their magic! They worked extremely hard and it paid off. Mel, like John, had no problem stopping people. Her passion was stronger than any rejection she faced out there. She also got to sign her first sponsor today (by herself)! Sean, with his kind personality and determination, also inspired another couple to sponsor a child. 

John and I showed up at the booth before the mall closed and we all (the four of us) high-fived each other on a job well done.  We all left the mall knowing that, today, we helped to change the life of six children and that we inspired others to take action by helping people realize that it is possible to give if we put our hearts into it. 

The Lantern Project

-Javier Cuellar-

We made it to Kamloops! -Thanks to TOMTOM-

After a long day of traveling, we have finally arrived to Kamloops!

A day before our departure, we agreed that Seven Oaks mall, in Abbotsford, was going to be our meeting place and from there we would drive up to Kamloops. I was supposed to pick up Sean since his place (in Mission) was along  my way and then meet up with Melissa and John at 11:00am in the Starbucks located at Seven Oaks. Yes, that was the plan, but it didn't turn out the way we wanted. 

I started driving towards Mission but totally got lost in the way! It took me one hour to get back on the correct route. I have to plead guilty and admit that I was using my phone (not the most advanced piece of technology) as a GPS and it totally backfired on me! At some point I ended up driving on a dirt road! But thankfully, after a few turns,  I made it back to civilization and once I got to the outskirts of Abbotsford I spotted an electronics shop. I have never been so happy in my life to see an electronic shop. I made a quick stop to purchase a GPS to ensure I wouldn't face anymore setbacks on the road.

When I entered the store I was in such a hurry I didn't even say hi. I went up to the guy at the register and said "I need a GPS!" The guy looks at me and says "Are you lost?" "Yes!" I quickly replied. "This is a great GPS, my mom uses this all the time!" the guy said. I thought to myself, "moms always know where they are going, so... if his mom is using this one, it must be really good!" I paid for it and off I went. Don't you just love GPS? Without a doubt, one of the finest creations by humans!

I finally arrived to my destination, we met up and made our way towards Kamloops. We made it  safe and sound. We got our groceries done at Superstore and we are now ready to start working tomorrow morning! We are very excited about the campaign and we are looking forward to work hard, to save as many children as we can. 

Thanks to all the Donorworx staff that are helping us so this trip goes as smooth as possible. And thanks to the makers of TOMTOM (my new GPS) for bringing us together!

The Lantern Project 

-Javier Cuellar-

We finally meat each other!

After much anticipation our team finally got to meet each other. We are no longer strangers. All of us are from different walks of life but are still so similar to one another. We are all together in the fight and each of us is bringing something to the table in order to create what we have named The Lantern Project.

Sean, a joyful and giving spirit with a genuine passion to help others. Melissa, a soul with an amazing, warm and inviting personality with a huge heart. John, a passionate yet gentle young guy who is so eager to be part of changing children lives. And me, Javier, a 24/7 dreamer and musician at heart.

The four of us together form The Lantern Project. Our intention is to shine light over a situation many of us are ignoring: child exploitation. In the next two and a half months we intend to invite as many people as we can around the province of British Columbia to fight this horrible reality, and help to save the lives of many children through the World Vision sponsorship program.

Throughout our journey we will be sharing our times of victory and challenge, our joys laughter and heartfelt thoughts with each of you. Please feel free to leave comments and give us words of encouragement because we will need all the support we can get!

Javier Cuellar
-The Lantern Project-