Oh yeah, we did it!

This is a very special entry at our blog. All the previous have stories of amazing people we have meat throughout our campaign, but this one is to celebrate our team; a group of five people who decided to believe that anything is possible and set out, almost three months ago, to inspire as many people as we could to take a step in order to create a better world for many needed children.

When we started the campaign we had a goal set for our team, a total of 209 sponsored children by the end of our journey. Today, with two weeks left in our campaign we reached a total of 211 sponsors. Yes, today we reached our target, but we also exceeded it. This was only possible through the people who decided to become sponsors, but also through the hard work of the BC Touring Team. We have faced many challenges (traveling it self for almost three months is a challenge), a couple of setbacks (mall complaints), some of us have gotten sick and still decided to make it to our shifts (just a cold, nothing big); we have taken endless "no's" but kept fighting for all the "yes's", we have made many promises to children at our booths that we will get them a sponsor, we have seen the goodness in people and we have been able to be part of a huge and amazing change in a total of 211 children lives.

This last mall has been particularly a bit more challenging than any other. We where going to reach our target, I had no doubt on that, but it was going to require hard work and keeping our spirits up all the time. That is exactly why I am saying that reaching our target is directly related to the attitude, hard work, commitment and passion of each member in the team. We have all contributed to reach our goal, and among us (BC Touring Team) there is no one better than the other; we function together as a machine, we need all the parts to do their job in order to reach our goal. Our motto has been "We can totally do it!"

I signed a sponsor at 10:30am this morning, just half hour after opening the booth (a little unusual for our current mall). And

Melinda and Keiryn holding their sponsored child, Bayan!
They are our 209th sponsor!

from that moment, I knew today was going to be the day in which we reached our target. Three more sponsors came our way later and even a fifth one (a total of 5 sponsors, our mall top record at Kelowna!). Among those sponsors, a mom and daughter stopped at our booth. We started talking and Melinda (the mom) asked a couple of questions regarding the children and the program. I shared with them my pictures and letters I have gotten from Fatima (my sponsored girl) and after that they opened up their hearts and decided to sponsor Bayan, a little boy from Ethiopia. In our conversation I found out that Keiryn (the daughter) have been wanting to sponsor a child for a long time, and also that she will be helping her mom to sponsor Bayan. Wow, what an awesome duo!

We will continue our fight to get as many sponsors until the end of our campaign (as we usually do), but we are happy that today, we reached and beat our target! Thanks to all the amazing people who have taken the step to sponsor a child at our booth, thanks to the BC Touring Team for being so passionate and never (ever) giving up despite the challenges!

PS. I have to admit that Fatima, my sponsored girl, is like part of our team. Her pictures and the letters she has sent to me have moved the hearts of many people! -Thank you Fatima, I love you with all my heart and I will be there for you, always.

Javier Cuellar
-The Lantern Project-

Beach picnic! :)

So, we decided that we have many reasons to celebrate and hang out together! First, we celebrate that, despite the challenges, we have been able to secure sponsors everyday since we got to Kelowna! Also, Katrina turned 19 this Monday! And, we really just needed an excuse to go have fun at the beach.

It turned out to be an afternoon filled with laugh, sun, treats (healthy: fruits and veggies) and music. We got the chance to celebrate the life of Katrina (for her birthday) and the team also had something special for me! I was very moved by their kind gesture! They gave me a "care package" filled with very silly and cool presents such as bubbles, toys, markers and so forth. But there where two things inside the bag that are very special. One, they gave me a Backstreet Boys CD (The Very Best of Backstreet Boys)... lol!! I have to admit that listening to that boy-band is one of my guilty pleasures, I really enjoy their music! And also, number two, they gave me a notebook to use as a journal. While in Penticton, Mel and I had a very nice conversation one day in which she told me "you should get a journal and start to write in it all the good things that happens to you everyday, it will make you look things on a different way!" I thought it was a great idea but I never got around to buy it. Now, I have it! One of the first things I will write in it is: Today, I had a blast with my friends at the beach, they made me feel really special and appreciated.

Our touring campaign is coming to an end. We have a week and half to go before we go back to our homes. It has been very awesome, I've made new friends (not just coworkers) and I (we) have been part of changing so many lives. I (we) have inspired so many people to help, I (we) have been able to be part of a team that is writing history for Donorworx as the first BC Touring team; I (we) have been able to experience partnership and hard work at its fullest. And for all of that, I am grateful.

Thanks to John, Melissa, Katrina and Sean for making this touring team one of the best working experiences of my life so far. Go BC Touring Team!!

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

A first week with 14 sponsors!

I am sure that, if you read my blog, you realize we had a complaint in the first day of our campaign in Kelowna. It turns we actually have to wait for people to stop at our booth. Yes it has been hard, but I have an incredible team full of energy, positive attitude and high expectations!

Greg and Lynn after sponsoring their child

During our second day we had an amazing gentleman stoping at our booth. Melissa and Katrina talked to him about the sponsorship program and the importance of helping the children we have at our booth. Greg, the nice gentleman, promised both of them that he was going to come back with his wife later during the day and sponsor a child. Indeed, he fulfilled his promise. I was fortunate to be there and meet Greg and his wife, Lynn. It was a heart warming experience to talk to such a nice couple; they really want to make a difference on their sponsor child's life. Greg and Lynn ended up requesting to sponsor a girl from the Dominican Republic, thinking of visiting their sponsor girl in the future.

When I worked for World Vision El Salvador I was responsible for leading groups of canadian sponsors into the rural communities of El Salvador to visit their sponsor children. I got to be part of so many special gatherings. Some of them filled with tears, others with laugh, others with complete amazement from both sides (the child and the sponsor). For a child and their family, meeting their sponsor is a life time experience, something that will stay with them forever. To finally have in front of you the person (or people) that has believed in you in such a way that are willing to support your dreams and hopes is a breathtaking experience.

We will continue this week on the fight, believing there is awesome people like Greg and Lynn (and the other 13 people who sponsored this week) who will stop at our booth and let their hearts be moved by the needs of so many children. We will be there everyday with our hopes and heads held high, waiting for the next person who will make a decision to change a child's life.

The Lantern Project.
-Javier Cuellar-

Up for the challenge!!

Katrina during her first shift!!

Today we started our campaign at Kelowna mall. It is a very busy mall, which is awesome! It was also Katrina's first shift. So, we where all set for a very special day! We started early, setting up the booth and, when people started showing we begun fundraising. It took us maybe two hours to get our first sponsor, a very nice lady named Tara who has thought about sponsoring for a long time. Today was her day, she sponsored a cute little girl who's favourite subject is drawing. "I am an artist also! I have to sponsor her" Tara said. Being a musician myself I love to see other artists giving children the opportunity to pursue their passion through the sponsorship program. The day started very well.

Mel with her incentive! (she had highest SPH at Cherry Lane!!)

Later during the morning we had someone from the mall staff approaching us with a complaint. I was very surprised about it to be honest; but in situations like that there is not much you can say. It turns out that we can only smile to people, we cannot say "hi", even less try to stop them. Mall staff was very nice to us, and I am sure that, like us, they are only doing their job.

I believe that in such a situation there is only one thing you (specially as a leader) can do: turn the plate around! Everything is about attitude! Yes, we had a complaint, and this mall is going to be more challenging; but that is it! It is not the end of the world! It does not mean we cannot get sponsors! It doesn't mean we cannot have fun! And it definitely doesn't mean we have to stop believing!

Katrina and myself set out to keep pushing for sponsors using our smiles instead of stopping people (the usual way) and we never stopped believing. The second sponsor came an hour later, and before Katrina  finished her shift she got a sponsor!! We finished the morning  helping three children!

When you face a challenge and all the odds are against you is the perfect time to push through and keep believing. Think about bodybuilders, if they don't push their muscles don't grow! Yes, we will keep pushing to reach our target for this mall (with our smiles); everyday we will show up to the booth believing that we can do it, that every child is worth and that the battle is not over! We have something that no one can take away from us: our HUGE smiles and champion attitude! We are the BC Touring team and we will succeed!


The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

Left Penticton, hello Kelowna!

Fire, music and friends at the beach (Penticton)

So, we left Penticton today. I have to admit that, so far, that is the most beautiful city we have visited during our tour (at least the one I like the most). It is small, people are awesome and friendly, the sun is out everyday (even during winter, I heard) and the beach is right there. I don't want to jump into conclusions, but I see myself living in such a city; in a way it reminded me to El Salvador (hot, beach, awesome people, small).

Kelowna seems like a very nice city and we are all excited about being here. We also had to say goodbye to Sean (our former Team Captain) since he had to attend personal business, but we got to say "hi" to Katrina Hart for the first time, or new Fundraiser! She seems really nice, with an awesome personality and very aware of the importance of what we will be doing here in Kelowna.

In this entry I am sharing some of the photos we didn't got to share from Penticton. Hope you enjoy!

Double sponsor!

Bike ride, on my way to the mall (Pecticton)

Sean's last day!

Penticton!

Last picture of the Decadent Duo!

Celebration and farewell dinner (for Sean)!

Sean and his farewell present.. lol

Since the beginning of the campaign we all knew that Sean, our Team Captain, was going to leave the campaign earlier than expected, before the end. However, we didn't know that time was going to fly so fast! This Sunday will be Sean's last day with us and he will be missed. He has been an awesome mentor for Mel and John, and a huge support for me; and more than that, we have made a new good friend.

So far, our campaign has been very successful, and part of it is the passion and thrive we all have to succeed and exceed our targets. I am positive that, even though we constantly talk about how to beat our targets, for us is more than just numbers; we are aware that we are dealing with human lives, that we hold the power to inspire others, that we are being part of a change, that we are the voice of many children, that no child should ever be for sale.

Yesterday night we had dinner together to celebrate the 174 children we have been able to get sponsored so far; but also to say a farewell to our incredible Team Captain, Sean Lafortune. I wont lie, we all have bonded in this campaign. I mean, we spent pretty much everyday together either at the booth or just hanging out (watching movies, chatting, having food together, wine, etc). At this point, as we were talking during dinner yesterday, it feels more like hanging out with friends instead of working, you know? Just to give you an idea, we have watched movies together (World War Z, Man of Steel and Pacific Rim -everyone loved this last one, I thought it was "ok"...lol-); we have barbecued together and found out that John is an incredible cook and can manage to eat a lot;

BC Touring Team after farewell dinner!

we went hiking together and almost fell flat on our faces while trying to go down a very slippery hill; we went to karaoke together and had a blast cheering each other up while singing very out of tune; we celebrated Canada Day together and watched fireworks; we went kayaking together (Sean and I) and had a very hard time making back to the shore due to the wind and a couple of kayaks full of water (lol... unexperienced kayakers for sure);  and most of all, we have laughed really hard together.

We (Mel, John and I) are off to Kelowna on Tuesday while Sean goes back home to take care of family business. We will miss Sean but we also know that we will be hanging out together really soon anyway. So, adios amigo, hasta pronto!! We will meet soon.

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

What an amazing young girl!

A couple of days ago a young girl stopped at our booth, her name is Kristina. She started asking me a lot of questions regarding the sponsorship program and about the children we have at the booth. We also talked about the No Child For Sale campaign and how the sponsorship program provides a solution to such an awful reality for many children around the world. She said to me that she has had a huge desire to sponsor a child for a long time and she was going to bring his dad so they could start sponsoring! She and her dad showed up ten minutes later and after listening for a while Kristina's dad told her that "tomorrow you will come back with your mother and do it."As promised by her dad, Kristina and her mom came to our booth the next day and decided to sponsor a child. They were both really excited.

A couple of days later Kristina showed up at the booth again and told us that she wanted to sponsor another child but her parents had encouraged her to get a part time job so she could contribute to the new sponsorship. That day she told us that she has been dropping resumes in some places. She asked if she could look at the videos of the children we have at the booth to what we gladly said "yes".

Yesterday Kristina dropped by our booth to say hi and give us the news that she has been called for an interview at the David's Tea inside the mall we are at. She was really excited about it and so where we. Kristina told us of the huge passion she has to help other children around the world and how aware she is of the great things we have in Canada and the many things we take for granted. She asked once again if she could take a look at the videos of the children we have at our booth to what we gladly said "yes" After that, she left.

Kristina's letter for us.

A few minutes later Kristina shows up again with a card in her hands and said "This is for you guys, you have inspired me very much. Thank you for what you do." I was left out of words, I couldn't say anything but "thank you, thank you, thank you." This is the type of stories that make our work worth even more than what already is. Being able to inspire people and let ourselves be inspired by such a wonderful young little girl is priceless.

Thank you Kristina, you have inspired me so much and your words and thoughts will go with each of us everywhere we go. You are an amazing person!!

The Lantern Project
-Javier Cuellar-

They came back to sponsor another child!

Jayna and Cat sponsoring their first child

A few days ago a very nice lady stopped at the booth and started inquiring about our campaign. We started talking about the sponsorship program and all the amazing benefits that brings to the children and their communities. A few minutes into our conversation her daughter joined inn and started listening really careful. They both seemed really interested in sponsoring a child and the first one to say "yes" was Jeyna (the daughter). There are two things I will always remember from Jayna: one, how excited she was when she made the decision to sponsor her child and, second, a sentence that came out of her mouth: "Right now I don't know how I am going to rearrange my budget to sponsor this child, but I will make it happen." That is so true! Whenever you set your heart into something we find a way to make it happen! Cat, Jayna's mom, kept looking at the video folder of Jose Luis, a child from Peru. She really wanted to take the step but didn't think she could make it.

Jayna and Cat sponsoring their second child!

Today, while working,  all of a sudden I hear a friendly "hi!", it was Jayna and Cat. They stopped at our booth to talk to us and give us some words of encouragement. While having the conversation Cat's eyes focused on Jose Luis video folder again, she looked at his video, read his story and said "This child needs help right away, I can see it in his eyes." Melissa told her about the six weeks grace period we are allowed to give sponsors at the booth, and after reading Jose Luis' story a couple of times she said "I will do it! He needs help and I am here to help him!" Cat had a huge smile on her face and left the booth with Jose Luis. Both of them, Jayna and Cat, have taken a step to make a difference in someones life, regardless of their own challenges and struggles. They made a decision to invest in a child, a human being.

I always learn from people like Jayna and Cat. People that are willing to "find a way" to help, people that are aware of the importance of helping children and their families around the world; people who are open to be world changers.

I am really glad I got to be part of inspiring these amazing women.

The Lantern Project.
-Javier Cuellar-