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In less than one month, people came together and smashed our 15,000 euro goal to purchase a bus for The JOY Home! Together, we raised 24,454 euros!!! Thank you so much!
We began our search for a bus in January and within 3 weeks had found one, made the purchase, finished registration/taxes/service, and were ready to go!
Here are my thoughts from our first day with the new bus:
I haven't been this excited about an automobile since I got my first car, a 1983 Pontiac Firebird, complete with t-tops and a manual transmission. Wow, I thought I was cool! :)
But today, man, today was something else entirely. When the bus pulled up in front of the group home, and our first little one was brought outside, I couldn't wait to see how it would go. She took a tentative step toward the bus - remember, it's huge - and then three steps backwards. I had to encourage her, hold her hand, and walk with her up the steps and into the bus. She immediately found her carseat and waited to be buckled in. One down, two to go!
Our next little guy, Nathan*, has lots of fears. So, unsurprisingly, he was quite scared of the bus. I had to carry him in. But as soon as he was buckled into his carseat, his inquisitive nature took over and he started checking it all out. He touched everything within reach and even leaned upside down to try and look under the seats. Once he was convinced that he knew everything there was to know about the bus, he happily settled in for the ride.
Our third little one is just happy to be wherever we carry her, as she's not yet able to walk on her own. We buckled her in and she smiled for the entire ride to The JOY Home.
One of the things that I noticed was how happy the children were with the giant windows. They can see everything in the town. A city bus passed close to us, and Nathan laughed outloud. He stared happily at the people walking in the park and gently tapped on the window.
What an amazing gift you have given to us and the children at The JOY Home. The bus is fantastic!
Tomorrow, we will give it the ultimate test when two of our wheelchair-bound children will ride for the very first time. I can't wait to see their faces when they ride the lift into the bus. It's going to be so cool!
There is something very special when a child with special needs sees that something was done purposefully with their need in mind. To be seen. To be heard. To have a voice. To matter. It's really, really special. And we get to give that to these precious children because of your gift to us! Thank you!
And if you are in Bitola, and see us around town, be sure to honk and wave!
Thank you so very much! - Jen Naskov, and the entire LOH team
*Nathan's name has been changed to protect his privacy.
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