Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in the glamour of pageantry. Just like a bride planning her wedding, a contestant preparing for a national pageant can spend hours shopping for her wardrobe, working on her fitness and skincare regimes, and rehearsing answers to her potential interview questions.
Then, discouragement comes. The expenses of pageantry are hanging over our heads, and sponsorship is slow in coming. A friend introduces us to others as "Miss Wisconsin," and your momentary pride drains as someone asks if you want "world peace" or if you have eaten anything besides laxatives that day. You get injured or sick and fall out of your workout routine. Just like sports, business, the arts, or anything else that has potential for great achievement, pageantry also demands dedication and hard work.
If the glitter and spotlights were all that pageantry was about, I can't say if it would be worth it. But, yesterday, I was reminded of why I applied to be Miss Wisconsin in the first place.
If you've been following me for any length of time, you remember my friend Susan, and the story of her and her husband's journey to host Anna, a teen who was an orphan, from Ukraine. After Christmas, Anna returned to the orphanage, but Susan was determined to find a family for her. Time was short- Anna would turn sixteen soon, and would age out of the Ukrainian care system. She would be left to fend for herself in the streets of Ukraine. We prayed. We spread the word. We prayed some more. Then, a family stepped up. They would adopt Anna, if Anna was willing to join their family.
Susan called Anna in Ukraine and, through an interpreter, explained that she and her husband loved her very much, but they couldn't adopt her because of they didn't meet the Ukrainian age requirements. However, Susan explained that another family had fallen in love with her and wanted her to come home to them. Would Anna leave the country, the culture, and the language she had known for her entire life and come to the United States? Would she open her heart to these people she had never met, allowing them to become her mother and father? This family wanted to provide for her, care for her, and love her for the rest of her life, but would Anna understand this?
Susan finished the conversation and left Anna with time to think. We all waited and prayed. Susan made several attempts to get in touch with Anna again, but technical failures prevented them from being able to speak to each other. Then, yesterday, the email came from the adoption agency. Anna said yes!!!
This was why I first applied for the Miss International system. God had broken my heart for the children around the world without families, and I knew I needed to do something. I'm not a politician, a celebrity, or a multi-millionaire, but I am a pageant competitor. If I can play a part in bringing Anna home, I can also help bring the 153 million orphans around the world to their families. As Miss Wisconsin International, I have been given a voice for my cause. True pageant winners don't choose a platform for their crown; they go for a crown so they can fight for their platform.
We praise God for the way He has orchestrated the events that lead to Anna and her family finding each other, but we also need your help more than ever right now! Anna's family will need to raise $15,000 to bring her home. You can send donations to bringorphanshome@gmail.com (using paypal, or visit Susan's blog to donate with a credit or debit card). You can also shop at any of the following businesses:
Susan's Etsy Shop (Check out Susan's gorgeous, unique handmade jewelry! All her profits go towards adoptions. Some jewelry is specifically designed for other adoptive families, but everything else goes towards Anna's adoption!)
Susan's Skincare and Cosmetic Business (through Mary Kay, 100% of profits go toward Anna's adoption)
Appleton Enterprises (My business through Amway, 100% of my profits go towards Anna's adoption)
Stefanie's Chocolate Business (Stefanie has set up a party under "Bring Orphans Home" with all profits going towards Anna. This is some seriously amazing chocolate!!!)
Let's all bring Anna home!!!!
(Note: this is separate from sponsoring ME in the Miss International pageant. All sponsorship donations can be made here:)
No comments:
Post a Comment