What good is a Memory Book to an orphan?

Several years ago, a gentleman attending a Memory Book presentation at a community service club in Oregon asked me, “What good is a Memory Book to an orphan? Surely they have other needs far more important.” “Good question,” I responded. Silently, I recalled sitting with a child in Africa, turning the pages of their own Memory Book as they shared their photos, drawings and handwritten stories. In joy mingled with tears, I framed my answer to the man’s question. “Everybody wants and needs to discover that they are somebody.“

Cover Image.jpg

So, how could I convince skeptics, the intellects, the medically trained people, that something so simple as a platform for telling one’s story in a Memory Book can promote healing and growth in the presence of traumatic events? And then I had the opportunity to travel overseas with a group of nursing students and non-profit Apple of His Eye Charity volunteers to continue to train and distribute Memory Books around the globe. During that trip, Dr. Kaye Anderson, Associate Professor at the School of Nursing, University of Portland, asked me, “Have you wondered about the outcome of a child using a Memory Book?” Her question and expertise in research began a journey to discover the long term impact of an orphaned or vulnerable child using a Memory Book.

Summer 2014. The first research paper, Evaluation of a Memory Book Intervention with Orphaned Children in South Africa, co-authored by Dr. Kaye Anderson, Dr. Barb Braband and myself (Tamara Faris) was published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing. The research, including individual interviews with recipients of Memory Books, beginning in 2010 in South African children’s villages, suggests that orphaned and vulnerable children highly valued a Memory Book as a means to preserve their stories of identity, relationships, coping and hope.

Summer 2018. Our second research paper, Building Resiliency in Orphaned and Vulnerable Children through the Memory Book Intervention, was accepted and published in the Journal of Christian Nursing (July/September 2018). This qualitative phenomenological approach explored and compared the lived experiences of orphaned children, adolescents, and caregivers who had used the Memory Book intervention at six children’s homes in India, Kenya, and South Africa. The study found similar themes between countries about identity, relationships, emotions, coping and hope—all suggesting that the Memory Book intervention encourages the preservation of a child’s story, aids in grief recovery, and can be used for any child facing recovery from difficult life events.

The researchers/authors would like to express gratitude to the University of Portland for internal institutional funding and support. We also thank the children and caregiver participants at the children’s homes in South Africa, Kenya and India who shared their stories. We wish them continued healing in their life journeys.

READ MORE IN OUR FALL 2018 NEWSLETTER.
DOWNLOAD









Called by a New Name!

In March, Tamara traveled on behalf of Memory Books to Kabuga, Rwanda with ERM/Rwanda and Apple of His Eye Charity teams. Tamara & Ron Faris as well as Memory Books for Children International appreciates having the occasion to team up with these ministries for this trip collaborating to reach orphaned children with inspiration and hope.  

Tamara-Lahash_03172018_KD-13 cover blog.jpg

While at the ERM Hope Vocational Training Center in Kabuga, Tamara was invited to speak at the 2018 Graduation Ceremony. Speaking to over 175 graduating seniors, the following is an excerpt from Tamara’s message Called by a New Name! shared at the Commencement Ceremony: 

When a child is born he is given a name he will be called, and known by among family and community. But the child’s identity doesn’t begin there. The child’s family name may be known as a poor family or living in an undesirable place or known to be wealthy. The family name may be linked to crime or to members being held in jail. Maybe those with the family name have suffered disease or death. The moment a child is born the world labels the child with an identity he had nothing to do with. 

But a child’s identity—your identity—began long before the world labeled you. Your identity, your true identity rests with the One who created you. God knew you before you were even substance. Before you were knit together inside your mother’s womb, God knew everything about you, from beginning to end, because He created you. On the day you were born, God whispered into your mother’s ear your name. God wants you to know that from the very beginning He named you His name for you. Your true identity rests with God. Not as the world knows you, but how God knows you. 

MemoryBooks6 tamara smiling girl kyle d w edits blog.jpg

It is believed that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the world to die for our sins. Many people did not believe Jesus when he lived as a man on earth, and tried to stop him from talking about His Father God. They crucified him on a cross. Following Jesus’ death, believers and followers of Jesus Christ spread the word that Jesus is truly the Son of God and came to save the world from sin. The church of Christianity expanded quickly. But during this time Christ followers were thought to be a threat to the Jewish church and its leadership. Believers of Christ were threatened, arrested, persecuted, and even killed for their faith.

A young man named Saul believed Christianity should be stopped, and stood by as a witness as Stephen, a Christ follower, was stoned to death. Saul said Stephen’s death was good. Saul began to seek Christ followers and threatened to have them arrested. While on the road to Damascus, Saul was suddenly struck down in blindness by a bright light from heaven. A loud voice said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Those traveling with him heard the voice that instructed him to go to the city and listen for a voice telling him what to do. 

At that time the Lord spoke to Ananias, instructing Ananias to go to where Saul was and pray over Saul. “I have chosen Saul for an important work,” Ananias heard from the Lord. Ananias did as God instructed and went to Saul; immediately scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see. Saul believed Jesus had healed him. From that day forward, Saul set about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, coming to save the world from sin. Because people were afraid of Saul, it took many years to overcome his reputation as someone who hated Jesus followers. Saul was called by a new name—a follower of Jesus Christ. Until the moment Saul was healed from blindness, Saul lived apart from God’s plan for his life. God always had a plan for Saul’s life, an important plan to be a light pointing to Jesus.  Some people say that the name “Saul“ means “God’s blessing.” You see, in order for Saul to be God’s blessing to others and fulfill God’s purpose for his life,  he was required to turn from evil and toward Jesus. (You may read the story about the young man named Saul, who was later called by his roman name of Paul, in Acts 9:1-15; Acts 7:54-60; Acts 8:4; Acts 13:1-3.)

God knew everything about you before you were created; He created each of us. He knows your true identity in Him. Like Saul, your name has special meaning to God. Learn what your name means, and discover your true identity. You are chosen and beloved by God. Today you are called by a new name. Your true identity rests with Him.

At the same location as the graduation ceremony, Tamara also had opportunity to share during early morning devotions. Children, teens, young adults, and even staff were excited to learn from Tamara about the meaning of their names to show how each and every one has a story that matters to God. ERM Hope student Sandrine (Sandra) upon learning her name meant Defender of Truth exclaimed, “That is exactly the way my life is. I am always defending what I believe. That is who I am!” 

Tamara also talked with orphaned or vulnerable children attending weekly Saturday morning events. To the delight of all who received them, Tamara distributed over 500 Memory Books during her two-week stay in Rwanda.  

IMG_0830 Tamara photo w old woman w stick w edits resized blog.jpg

The article photos show the use of a talking stick. Used for centuries by many American
Indian and African tribes when matters of great concern came before the council, the leading elder would hold a talking stick to begin the discussion. When finished the stick was passed to whoever wished to speak. Likewise, Memory Book Clubs use a talking stick. Permission to talk is given the person holding the stick. No one else is allowed to talk or whisper when someone is holding the talking stick, which carries with it respect for free speech and freedom to say whatever is on one’s heart without fear of reprisal or humiliation. If a child does not want to share, they simply hand the talking stick to someone else without judgement. The talking sticks shown here were created by Beth Biornstad.

READ MORE IN OUR MAY 2018 NEWSLETTER.
DOWNLOAD

 

Hope Within Reach

Nestled among five villages, Hope Village care center is a beacon to hundreds of village children who choose to spend their days among the resident orphaned children, often benefitting from the community Bible camp, clothing distribution, and meals. These were thechildren who gathered round, their curious faces pressed against the windows of the meeting hall, the day we launched Hope Village’s first Memory Book Club.

“I have a story,” I offered the children in invitation. “In the beginning, God created the stars, and placed them in the sky, and the moon, and the sun.” I continued with the creation story, concluding, “Everything God created has a purpose, including you.”
 
We taught the children over the days that followed about the God who knew each of them before they were born, who has a plan and purpose for their lives. They learned and recited the meaning of their names, and created a self-portrait inside their personal Memory Books. They painted a ‘coffee filter’ flower and participated in a drama about the tiny alpine flowers atop Kilimanjaro, in coordination with the Memory Book Club lesson, “Bloom where you are planted.” They discovered through Bible lessons the significance of Jesus’ blood and how his death was part of God’s plan from the very beginning. The children stood to their feet in eager response, asking God to heal their broken hearts through Jesus.

One club meeting, I had the privilege of sharing my childhood story. Two teenage boys responded by standing and volunteering the story of their parents’ deaths, as if they had recited it in their minds for years. On the final day of Memory Book Club, a child announced, “I liked hearing your story because I realized I am not alone.” More children echoed his sentiments, remembering all they enjoyed about that week – the crafts, the stories, their personal Memory Books.

Our translator, Lawrence, was so struck by the value of Memory Books that he offered to coordinate the Memory Book Club monthly. “Can I have 150 more books so I can open the club to the children in the surrounding villages?” he asked. What a wonderful request, one we were happy to oblige!

God asked us to travel to the far side of the world to tell the children, “God loves you. He sees you. God knows your name.” Just think of the ripple effect a simple Memory Book will have in Hope Village, and to the villages beyond.

F ollowing our ten days in Malawi, we were off to Uganda to meet with Good Samaritan Ministries (GSM) Representative of Uganda, Patty Pullen, who I met during a Global Leadership Summit in Portland, Oregon in August 2015.

Uganda, home to 37 million people, is located in the heart of the African continent. It is one of the poorest nations in the world with the median age being less than 15 years of age. It is home to three million documented orphans, and the nation ranks third in the world with the highest percentage of its population infected with HIV.

For 12 days, we traveled with a GSM team to churches and schools to launch Memory Book Clubs and distribute 700 Memory Books, with a promise to send 3,000 more. Wherever we went, we presented God’s plan to heal and to save, and saw many children respond to God’s invitation to begin healing their broken and wounded hearts.

I visited a local prison on my last day in Uganda, sharing the same Good News message. Most of the prisoners were young men devastated and demoralized by life’s struggles, least of all their petty crimes. Four men stood wanting to commit their lives to Jesus,  including a young man just admitted that day, and a Muslim man who responded, “Today is the last day I will fast for Ramadan.”  

Thank you for continuing to support our outreach to children! Memory Books are changing lives across the globe! May God bless the children of the world forever and always.

READ MORE IN OUR JULY 2016 NEWSLETTER.
DOWNLOAD

A Summer to Celebrate

We celebrate a memorable summer with our August benefit concert 'A Mid Summer Night's Dream' and premier release of the book, "I Am Somebody," written by founder, Tamara Faris.

Also in the news, we have accepted the invitation to present Kenya/India/South Africa research related to the use of Memory Books by orphaned children. The presentation will take place at Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society International Conference, November 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The research is co-authored by Tamara Faris, RN, Ms; Dr. Kaye Wilson Anderson; and Dr. Barb Braband.

Read more about upcoming events and releases in our July 2015 Newsletter: Download here

Hope Realized

It has been an amazing year for Memory Books for Children.  We are honored to share in this newsletter our published clinical findings of the impact Memory Books are having on children’s lives. The research confirms that Memory Books are teaching children that God has a loving plan and purpose for them.

Read more in our April 2015 Newsletter: Download here