WHY?

For some of you, you may be thinking, "Kristine, enough of your personal thoughts and feelings...we just want pictures." To you I say, "I'm sorry." But I do promise that this will be my last serious post for a while.

Before you even begin to read on, have you taken a moment to check out the blog Dave and I created for Michael Bruno? If not, do so now. Please take just a few minutes out of your hectic day to hear his story. http://michaeljbruno.blogspot.com/

This is a big week for us. I have put countless hours into this benefit concert. Dave on the other hand took Step III this week. (The last of his huge medical exams.) He has once again been pushed to his limit this week with the stress and worrying that comes with a big test.

I feel that there is one big question regarding Michael. I want to try to put into words my thoughts on the matter. That question is"why"? Why are we bringing a kid from Grenada to live with us? Why are we finding a way to pay for his education and support him financially when we are barely scraping by each month? Why is Dave taking on this huge endeavor while already carrying such a heavy load balancing residency and family life? Why am I willing to have another kid to feed, clean up after, and shuttle around on top of my own 3 kids? Why?

That may be a difficult question to answer. I think about it daily. Dave and I can not describe in length why we feel inspired to change the course of Michael's life. However, it is something we know. Dave and I do not talk about the "whys". We do not need to. We both understand. We know. So yes, I can't really answer in full why we are bringing Michael to the U.S. for an education, but I will say this:

Grenada gave me more than I could have imagined. It gave me a new sense of peace. It gave me a stronger bond to my marriage and I discovered the joy of being a mother while living there. Those two years changed me in many ways. Dave and I knew without a doubt that somehow, in some way, we were going to give back to that island we loved. Michael is only the beginning.

I feel that my life is truly rich and abundant with blessings. I grew up with all the things Michael did not. A loving mother and father, a safe neighborhood, a brick house that I never once worried about the roof blowing off, wonderful schools and teachers, a church that brings joy and purpose to my life, clothes, music lessons, sport opportunities, mountains in Utah with the greatest snow on earth for skiing, and I can say that I do not know what it means to go to bed hungry. There is no doubt I took all these things and much more for granted.

I took my education for granted. I feel that in some ways, my bachelor degree and master's degree was handed to me on a silver platter. When my father lost his life to Leukemia my senior year of high school, he left enough money to pay for my higher education, as well as my younger brother and sister's education. I still can not comprehend the benefit this education has in my life. Those 8 years shaped me, molded me, stretched me, and strengthened me. The blessing of my education is one of the many things I can't wait to thank my father for when I see him again.

When we received Michael's transcripts from his years of high school, I was initially let down when I saw his grades. I immediately thought, "Michael, why are you not doing better than this? I don't understand." I called one of my dearest friends Salisha. She is another extremely rare exception of a Grenadian who made it into the U.S. for higher education. I told her I was disappointed in Michael. This was her response:

"Kristine, every morning while living in Grenada when I awoke, my stomach would be aching from hunger pains. I would wake early to walk an hour or more to school because I couldn't afford the bus. No breakfast and often no shoes. Once at school, I knew the teachers did not care about my education. Most of them did not seem qualified to be teaching. They were preoccupied in their own interests with very little teaching or learning in the classroom. It was rare for us to have sufficient books, if any for some classes. All day I would be at school and all day I would be hungry. That was life, not just for me, but for the majority of my classmates. Then came the long walk home in the hot sun. When I reached home I was responsible for taking care of my sister's 4 kids. Young kids crying and running around our little house; also without food. How could I study? Then, at 5:00 p.m. when the sun went down, we did not have the money to light our house. I couldn't study at night in the dark with all of us living in such a tiny house. All the while, day in and day out, my mind was on how to find food and stop my belly from aching. Kristine, don't be hard on Michael. His school had an even worse reputation than mine. In fact, it has the lowest passing rate on the island. And, it is just so difficult to be focused on school when your teachers and parents don't care and your belly is empty."

I was grateful that Salisha showed me the perspective through her eyes. I can't relate in any way, shape or form. So back to my initial question, why are we bringing Michael into our home? The best answer I can give is because we love him and because we feel it is the right thing to do.

We all have the ability to influence and make profound differences in the lives of others. Isn't that what it is all about; reaching outside of ourselves and holding a hand out to those who need it? Michael is only one person; one out of the millions of children in the world who were born into a harsh environment. But, there is no doubt that helping one person has a rippling effect that changes future generations.

Education is the key to success. My husband David made a promise to Michael 3 years ago when he was just 14 years old. That promise was that if Michael graduated from highschool and worked hard, then Dave would find a way for him to come to the U.S. My husband lives by his word. That may be one of his greatest qualities.

This is an exciting process as this new journey begins. Thank you to everyone who feels inspired to donate to Michael Bruno's college education.

God bless you.

Sincerely, Kristine Orme

http://michaeljbruno.blogspot.com