On Sunday, July 19, Ana turned 9 and had a very special birthday celebration with her friends — one she will always remember. Her party included pizza, cupcakes, and colorful balloon crowns that her dad made for her and all the guests. But there was something missing — birthday gifts.

Instead of gifts for herself, Ana decided to ask her friends to consider making donations to Dorie’s Promise. Having read recent letters from Forever Changed International that described how funding was down and that donations were urgently needed, Ana and her mom began to consider how they could help. So invitations quickly went out that included information about Dorie’s Promise and its website, along with a note of encouragement that a gift of charity would be the best gift Ana could ask for.

Ana herself was once an orphan* and wanted to give back to help the children who live in the same place she did as an infant. She came home to be with her adoptive family in 2007 when she was eight months old. She enjoys looking at the photos of when she was a baby living in Casa 6 and recognizes the familiar setting when she looks at the Forever Changed International website to see photos of the child her family sponsors at Dorie’s Promise.

Ana’s birthday party was filled with fun and special memories with her closest friends, two of whom were also adopted from Guatemala. It was exciting to add up all the donations that came in and share the total at the party.

Ana prays that the money will be a blessing to the children of Dorie’s Promise and is happy to know that she is helping in some small way. As the saying goes, it is truly better to give than to receive!

*International adoptions from Guatemala closed in 2008