Do you have an Open Heart for Young people and an available bed or area in your home? Be A Host for CIEE for 2011-2012 School Year

Do you have a heart for Teenagers, desiring International experience? Would you like to experience a foreign culture up close and personal? Do you have an extra bed or space to put an extra bed in your warm and friendly home?

If yes, You could be the Host of an International High School Exchange Student with CIEE. We have applicants from various countries Brazil, China, Thailand, South Korea, Mongolia, Germany, Ukraine and many others will be coming in between now and May.

Please go to our website and read about what is necessary for being a Host Family and click on the "Register" next to Host Family.

http://www.ciee.org/highschool/host-families/being-a-host-family.html
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Would you like your High School Student to experience a foreign educational exchange experience in a foreign country? You can find information about this on here also.

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If you have questions or would like assistance in completing your application, or know someone who is interested in hosting call me or email me with the information and I can schedule an appointment to come and meet with you.

Dot Wiggins
Local Coordinator CIEE, Mid Eastern North Carolina
Cell (919) 219-2650
Email dotwigg@gmail.com

Countdown to International Education and Cultural Exchange Fair

CIEE Families and Students Invite you to join us

CIEE Host Families and Students of Eastern North Carolina (Triangle area and surrounding areas) are planning a few events and invite you to join us:














Saturday, September 25th 5-9 pm. CIEE meets the Carolina Railhawks in Cary, NC... http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/


We will meet at the stadium at 4:45pm to assemble our group and meet everyone and enter as a group. We will be wearing Navy Blue and Red shirts will be the coordinators. Meet and Greet with the team starts at 5pm, personal pictures are allowed and then the game starts at 7pm. Cost is $7.oo per person. Please RSVP by email dotwigg@gmail.com payment confirms your reservation, send payment by paypal :DOROTHY WIGGINS, (NO CREDIT CARDS!, must use bank account or paypal acct transfer) or mail check to CIEE Railhawks game 120 New Castle Ct, Youngsville, NC 27596 by September 18th!





November 20th International Education Exchange and Cultural Fair and Conference. We are hosting a fair and conference at the Smithfield Agriculture building in Smithfield, NC from 4pm until 7pm. Several exchange students will be performing music, dance, and theater from their countries. Their will be games, displays, food samples, and business opportunities that impact and service the International Community. The world is really alot smaller when we look at all the similarities and technology resources that are available today to bridge the gap. We can easily travel around the world in a day and on this evening the world will be seen in a few hours. Spaces are still available for families/groups/mission trips to showcase their international trips and work abroad, heritage or research projects and for vendors/business/ministries to showcase their opportunities. $20.00 for us to setup tables, include business card ad in our advertisements and program, or $10.00 for space to setup your own tables and for line inclusion in advertisements and program. RSVP your space and needs to dotwigg@gmail.com and confirm with payments through paypal :DOROTHY WIGGINS or mail to International Fair and Conference RSVP 120 New Castle Ct, Youngsville, NC 27596. Deadline is November 1st.

Exchanging can lead to alot of Laughter...

Part of Hosting an International High school Student is to allow them to show you about them, their culture and abilities. Kwon told us in his application that he loves music, plays in his choir and praise band and church and likes to play piano, guitar, and other musical instruments. So this morning, our 1st real day together as a family, we broke out our keyboard and ask him to play for us. which he eagerly did, and then Chris decided to try it and well hence the laughter! Our keyboard is the full functioning kind and plays itself (halleluah!!) and Chris started pushing the autoplay buttons and many of the songs Kwon knew and he grabbed his Japanese flute and began accompanying Chris and the keyboard. Good times can be so simple and yet yield learning and alot of enjoyment for all.

Enjoy the Show :)!.

The Educated Experienced International Student willing to share his musical abilities.

The musically disadvantaged "Host" Dad attempting to play

Come Meet Kwon from South Korea and consider hosting

Many of the students have Arrived!!! many are coming in the next few weeks to start they full school year (10 month plan) others will arrive in January for the (5 month plan). Some students will need/request a move and will need new families so finding host families is a year long process. But, there are ways to be involved without being the "HOST" family (where the student lives while being here and attending school). You could have the student visit with you for a weekend or a special event or dinner, or attend a special event or dinner with our group. These students are 15-18 and just like our kids in many ways, they like to play sports (soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball and football) many want to try things they do not get to do in their countries, they play instruments, laugh, joke and love life.

Come and meet Kwonneung "Kwon" for short from South Korea. He is 15 will turn 16 in February. He will be attending Louisburg Highschool and wants to play soccer and basketball. He plays piano, and guitar, japanese drums and other instruments. He is Christian, his mom is a pastor in South Korea. The family he was going to be placed with could not be processed completely in time due to the background checks appeal process that are required with CIEE. Therefore my family is hosting him until we can find a family in the Louisburg area so he can remain in the Louisburg Highschool where is host family had started telling him about and where he and his family had started researching. Call me or email me and we can set up something. He is very anxious to start making friends and meeting kids his age at his school.

****Current Needs**********

Fully willing and committed families that can commit to hosting students is the South Johnston High area (Benson and Four Oaks area) and Rosewood areas. We have had families complete the applications asking to host students, had the students assigned, and make contact with the families and begin preparing to come to their homes and then while the student was in orientation (only 2 days before the student is to arrive to the host families) the families contacted us and expressed a desire to "cancel" their placement. We thankfully have previous host families and "welcoming families" just incase something like this happens but these families are only able to welcome the child from the airport and give them a warm and welcoming place to stay a get use to American living for 2 weeks while we find another premenate family. One family in the Rosewood area, hosted 2 students last year, and have been awesomely supportive to other host families agreed to host one of these students and post poned travel plans and dad had to get comfortable to having a teenage boy in the home with his teenage daughter, but they made the arrangements needed so that they could greet this young man and help him until his new family is found so that he could start school and begin his Journey to learning about America without delay because of circumstances beyond anyones control. Local coordinators cannot express how much we appreciate our host families and especially ones like this family that are there for these students and will make slight compromises and sacrafices for these students.

If you can commit to welcoming these students into your hearts, homes, and families for the remainder of the school year. You provide them a bed (they don't not have to have a separate bedroom if the child is within 5 years of age of them (at least 10) and same sex (no coed) sleeping arrangements. The students usually like sharing a room for the companionship and similarity of home (many have siblings). Meals, (some, because the students like to share their cultures foods and cooking, also if you eat out they have their spending money.) We suggest treating them like you would any visiting family member. As the adults and "Guardians" you would provide supervision and decision making authority of day to day activities to keep the child safe and behaving appropriately and in accordance with rules. You have support and mediation services with your local coordinator and our Team Leader Joy Gorman and if it is above her authority or abilities or you or the student is not happy CIEE also has support staff. In exchange for your willingness to work with the international student and extend your hospitality you receive alot of admiration from the student and their family. Their notes and little gifts also make me cry. You and your family enjoy experiencing and learning a new language, culture and culinary skil while you help the student learn yours by just talking and allowing them to participate in the things you do everyday. Although there is no payment for hosting, you can claim a $50.00 tax credit for each month you host a student.

If you are interested call or email me or check out the website: www.ciee.org/hs/host if you are ready to start your Hosting experience click on the register and complete the application by answering all the questions about yourself, spouse, family, home and typical weekday and weekend routines. We will upload pictures when we come out to meet you if you need assistance with that. But, please confirm background checks on anyone 18 or older living in the home and click the submit button and someone in your area or Joy Gorman will call and schedule an interview. If you have more questions or want to reach her, she is available at (919) 830-9194 or through email aprayerpartner@msn.com

2. I you or anyone you know has laptop computers that the students can purchase for reasonable prices or that can be loaned to them to use please contact me.

3. Kwon was not able to bring his guitar with him and enjoys playing in the praise band at home and another student really wants to learn to play the guitar and kwon could teach him and others to play if they had guitars to use. If you or someone you know has 2 guitars that we can borrow or know of good guitars for a reasonable price please email me or call me.

Hosting Makes the World seem smaller and friendlier

We are the World and we are similar in alot of ways and hosting and being an exchange student is a great way to see this. And once you see the we are all hoping and trying to make a difference you have relationship and bridges to cross the great divide.

Tis the season of International learning experiences, many students are preparing to come to the US or are here awaiting placement into homes of those willing to share and show the students what America has to offer. The students come to attend school for the school year, participate in clubs and sports, join in on youth groups and other things that teens do. They come from all over the globe, but a large number come from Germany, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, and China. Both boys and girls age 15- 18 apply to the program, submit to testing, SLEP to determine their level of understanding of the English language and they write the most passionate personal letters about themselves, their family and their desire to come to the US.

If you would like more information see the website; www.ciee.org/hs/host or contact me and we can discuss hosting in more detail and complete your application and submit your information for a background check and get the process started to match you with a student.

Dot Wiggins
Local Coordinator in North Carolina
(919) 219-2650
dotwigg@gmail.com

If you are ready to apply, go to the website www.ciee.org/hs/host select "HOST FAMILY" and click "REGISTER" completely fill out the application, making sure to fill all the blanks, for children or retired/unemployed people enter "Student/unemployed/retired in the occupation blank. and confirm all the adults for background checks and I or someone in your area will be in touch. In the blank that asks "How did you hear about the hosting opportunity" please enter Dot Wiggins blog or Facebook.

Please share your hosting experiences here and let us know where you are located, we may plan a trip to visit :). If you are planning "field trips or tours with your students and can include more please let us know too, we might be able to join you.

Happy Hosting.... Lets make the world smaller and more friendly by "Opening our homes and hearts to international students".

Nutrition to include in your day to impact your health

This is one of the many helpful and insight articles in the REX Cancer Center Cancer Prevention & Detection Tool Kit

10 Super Foods to Include in your Day...........

1. Omega-3 Rich Foods: Dietary omega 3 fatty caids, found in both fish oil and flaxseed, may prohibit the growth of turmors in colonrectal, breast and prostate tissue. In addition, most marine-derived omega 3 fatty acids are also packed with protein, B vitamins, and selenium.

Serving sizes, 3 ounces of fish, 2 teaspoons of flaxseed and 1 ounce of nuts and/or beans.

Sources: wild salmon, tuna, sea bass, oysters, walnuts, soybeans, wheat germ, flaxseed (crushed or pressed)

2. Crucifferous vegetables: THis family of vegetables contains phytochemicals (chemicals found in plants) which help prevent cancer and boost the immune system and, in addition, are loaded with fiber to aid in cardiovascular health.

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Sources: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, bok choy, kale


3. Berries
4. Yogurt with Active cultures * to receive the health benefits MUST be active cultures!*
5. Legumes (Beans)
6. Citrus fruits
7. Red and Pink Fruit
8. Tea (Green and Black)
9. Dark Green Leafy and Organge Vegetables
10. Whole grains


Do you see with this is headed, Nature, colors, and healthy choices hold healing powers for many of the illnesses and diseases of man.

For your own copy for the full article and the REX Cancer Center Cancer Prevention & Dection Tool Kit; come to any Bright Minds event or come by our call me and schedule a time to come by our office in Youngsville and pick it up.

Also if you have questions or concerns about your health or Cancer risk factors, see our Friends at Rex Healthcare.

For a general nutritional consultation at any Rex Wellness Center or visit rexhealthcare.com

For more information about other healthcare issues or Cancer Center appointments Check out their website: rexhealth.com/cancer

General Health: Rexhealth.com
or unchealthcare.org

North Carolina Comprehensive Cancer Program nccancer.com

American Cancer Society cancer.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cdc.gov
National Cancer Institute cancer.gov
Smoke Free smokefree.gov

Business Expo-Youngsville, NC

Local Business Expo

at the Community house across the street from Olde Liberty Golf & Country Club
100 Commonwealth Drive
Youngsville, NC 27596
Direct: (919) 645-9798

http://www.OldeLiberty.com
http://www.OldeLibertyGolf.com

March 20th, Saturday 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Door Prizes, Special offers and deals... Bring a friend and get entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Sheets Gift card.

We still have a few spots unreserved for vendors, business owners or artisians, email your business card information and a description of your business and I will contact you. Flyers will be prepared and circulated with all the participants listed by March 15th. Vendors setup Saturday from 1 until 1:45, doors open at 2pm.

Spread the word.. have your friends bring the flyer or email to enter you into a drawing. We will do these monthly with different businesses and themes, seminars and other fun things so check back often. We are also organizing an Expo for Chesapeake, VA if interested in more information email me...

Together we can make a difference.

Dotwigg@nc.rr.com Subject: Business Expo-Youngsville

An Awesome Local "Bright Mind and Helping Hand and Heart"

This weekend my family and I volunteered at Basic Needs Ministry Food Pantry, PUBLIC library and thrift store in Garner, NC. This place is amazing and is a stellar example of what Bright Minds, Helping Hands and Hearts want to be, parnter with and help encourage more organizations and individuals to support.

With a little thought alot of effort and heart this group is changing lives in their community, although their service area is limited, it is identified as a high need area and efforts like this have a ripple effect and their benefit can reach far outside the service area with just a little help, encouragement and support.

My husband and I sat inside the computer area and looked up and labeled books for the library that has been organized with mostly DONATED!!! books. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all these books from every genre, Classical Literature, foreign language literature, German, French, Spanish, LOTS of Romance novels, mystery, SCI-FI they have many STAR TREK novels, the Left Behind series. Videos!!! hundreds of them.

My 14 year old son and our 17 year old Exchange student from Thailand were among the OLDEST "youth" volunteers. They carried the boxes of books from storage to us, and from our labeling area to the library shelves. They helped shelve thrift store items, videos, and anything they were asked. These kids who were volunteering were awesome, hardworking for minimum of 4 hour shifts.

If the "heart benefits" were not enough for helping out, this group is part of the "HELPING HANDS NETWORK", "GIVE A DAY GET A DAY AT DISNEY" campaign, where in exchange for a day of service to a registered charity EACH volunteer receives a certificate for a free ticket to a Disney Theme park, approx. at $59-$99.00 value (depending on the park selected, Disney Land or Disney World parks).

They take donations and need volunteers to further their service to the Johnston and Wake County areas. It is a quick hour drive from Franklin county off the beltline (440 to I40, off Hwy 42). See the website for exact address and directions and more details about the work they do. http://www.4042needs.org

Please pray for this group and the coordinator, Ronald Still cw_rls@bellsouth.net


Join them and helpout anyway you can, share their information and get the word out about such a great work being done in our local area that can make a huge difference. We are definitely going back to help out, and have adopted this as "our charitable group to support, encourage and promote". All of donations that use to go to Good Will are now going to them.

If you have clothes, books, videos to be donated call me or drop them by the house and put them in the box on the front porch.

Business Expo in Youngsville, NC has openings

We are planning a Business Expo on March 20th from 2-6 pm.
utilizing our cooperative efforts and mutual support we can Relationship market each other and reap huge benefits.

If you would like to join us, email me your business card and a description of your business or opportunity, Offer a special or free gift for visiting your table, and donate a door prize. Send invitations to all of your contacts (50 or more).

We will setup on the 20th from 1-1:30 and doors open at 2.

Currently we have:
Posh Salon
Uniquely Organization and Utilized
Gloryware
CIEE Exchange Student Hosting program
Several others have not returned their information yet...

There is room for you to join us, flyers will be ordered and distributed March 15th.

comment below or email dotwigg@nc.rr.com to register. I will send you a confirmation and more details.

Time to plan your garden and to start coops and barter groups

Bartering is making a comeback, and what better time than Garden planting and harvesting. Do you have room in your yard to expand your garden and allow for more plants to be planted in exchange for help with the garden and a share of the bounty?

We are planning on expanding our garden and begin year-round gardening and container growing tomatoes inside and canning and food savor bagging veggies and meats to preserve them and would love help as I am new and learning and it is more fun to do these tasks with others. Interested? comment below or email me.

Do you have dehydrator, canning supplies, pressure cooker, large pots you are not using that you would loan me, I can store them here in my "closet" on the back of my house.

Do you have tools, books, and other resources that you would loan to someone in exchange for another tool, book, or resource or a service you need?

Would you like to be part of a group who is "available and willing" to share and assist. I have started a database on the yahoo page to sign in your information, what you are offering and what you want/need. Check it out.. pass on the information to others that you know who will join us and make us Bright and Helpful so we can show the Holy Love.

The joy of toiling and nuturing a garden is a great thrill for many and such a relief to budgets and blessing to tables. But, too much of a good thing is a burden and when too much effort to find a good place to give the excess leads to waste of the bounty. Last year, we have jalapeno peppers coming out of ears and unfortunately we have some go to the compost pile, not a complete waste but this year I am hoping to develop a small scale food exchange and get a bartering group going.

If you are interested, comment below with your email address, your location, what vegetables you plant and the other vegetables you eat. When you plant your garden and when you buy your plants.

Inspiring link: http://greenopolis.com/goblog/litegreen/now-time-plan-summer-garden

Relay For Life-Franklin County, NC --New Team:Bright Minds Helping Hands and Hearts

Bright Minds Helping Hands and Hearts is forming a team for the Relay for Life-Franklin County on April 30, 2010 at Bunn Highschool in Bunn, NC. My husband, 14 year old son and our 17 y.o Thai exchange student are participating. We have room for you and your family and friends will you join us?

Join our group on yahoo or facebook and share your ideas, resources and events and lets make a difference in our community one day at a time..

Click here and register today and start raising money for the Cause. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?team_id=619722&fr_id=24607&pg=team

Making The World A Better Place, Starts with Changing U

This is a post I have on my personal reflective blog, "From the Heart of Praise and Perseverance; http://fromtheheart-dotwigg.blogspot.com/2010/02/making-things-better-starts-with-change.html

Check it out and lets use this as a launch for the
Month of LOVE! Valentine's Day is February 14th, and Month of Unity, Inclusion and Bonding St. Patrick's Day is March 14th; two holidays with awesome spiritual significance and awesome history that have been turned into holidays people dread for the misbehavior and hype and now is the time to make a difference. Lets start today and Change peoples understanding of the basics of relationships, without understanding the "REAL" meaning of love and what Love is and is not, they cannot understand God's Love, his SON, Christ or how to even see their sin for what it is. It takes one to start and pass on the flame and before long we have a glowing light to shine on the world and show things can be different and that peace and joy are so much better than what this world has to offer.

You can show them the light and to be peaceful and joyful when you are in crisis, ill, and even hurting because you KNOW your not alone, that THE BEST result will occur for YOUR BENEFIT and Death is not feared or dispised, it will be a celebration as "We will have finished our race and we will be in the arms of our Lord and Savior and hear those awesome words, "Good work, my good and faithful servant". That alone makes my heart beat, the dream of seeing my Father's Eyes is what I dream about during the day, and what sustains me.

I KNOW the Truth and that THIS IS THE LIFE HE DESIGNED FOR ME, and I am working to be THANKFUL and to HAVE JOY IN IT, Everyday and to help others find this, if they want it, but if they just need a ride to the store or to the school, then I will do that to as if I was giving Christ a ride, because he says "if you do any of these things to the one who needs it you are doing it as unto me".

Living Philippians 4:3-8 is not just a cute saying, it is a lifestyle, and just like cutting calories, exercising, or anything else it takes dedication, commitment, effort and grace, but as with other desires and petitions if we ask for help, He is faithful to give us our hearts desire and help us, He actually carries the burden with us and helps keep us on the path of righteousness.

What is your hearts desire? What are you doing to help? Lets gather together in agreement and get things moving. I would love to hear from you, know about other groups like this one, other events and activities, comment below or email me privately :). Together we can make a difference, for His Glory.

Please Help Noah's Family

This touched my heart...having been a homeschool family, and having medical bills jepardize our financial standing. The burden and logic of being debt free and taking care of our families at all cost is becoming ever evident as the "RIGHT WAY" to live.

Please read this post, http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourquiverfull?emc=intellicontact&m=4285816&v=1029465774&l=1 visit this friend of the Estes who posted their efforts to take care of their family, provide income in this crazy economy after having their job ended because a "business decision and being helpless to stop it". Help if you can by purchasing this awesome offer they have put together to benefit others while trying to raise money.

This family is a great example of the spirit and mission of Bright Minds Helping Hands and Hearts.

Please pray for the family and spread this on your blogs and facebook links to help spread the word.

Blessings,
Dot Wiggins

Family Friendly and still entertaining and quality theater

Are you tired of having to threaten and bribe your family to watch the "Family Friendly" and Inspiring movies? Want to have some quality well made movies that are still "teachable" and show good character traits?

Well here is one organization that is producing these movies regularly and they need support to be able to continue. Featured Films; http://www.familytv.com/Default.aspx?type=Movies&t=201001121200#MovieSearch

Have setup a website to show case their movies, you can order online, findout about what is coming out next and see other resources they offer. Share this with your friends and family, use them for gifts.

Currently they are offering an Economy Package of three movies for $19.95 plus shipping. That is an awesome deal. Check it out. Spread the word and support them however you can. I am trying to pair people who want to see the movies but cannot afford 19.95 right now. If you can put out $5.00, send me a check or paypal the payment and I will add you to the list.

If you find good values like this please email the information and I will be happy to post something on them. These are the kinds of businesses and products I want to see continue and want to help promote.