To put it simply, I’m Miss Elaini.
At the tender age of 23, I still have lots to learn but I’m thankful for the experiences and people who have shaped my life. I live with my two best friends—also known as mom and dad—and I love how much they make me laugh. We like to think of ourselves as the three musketeers… I have an older sister and brother who are both married and my sister made me a proud auntie to a handsome little red-headed nephew and beautiful little blue-eyed niece. I adore them. So that’s my family.
All my life I’ve had various health issues but I still managed to graduate early from high school at 16. Instead of getting a head start on college, I woke up one day and realized I was sick. For the next six months, my health rapidly declined. It was almost impossible to go out of my house and I spent much of my time in bed or in the big cushy chair in our living room. For a while, I stayed curled up since when I moved my skin would crack and bleed. During the next four years, I struggled not to go completely crazy from the pain and sleepless nights. I have seen some improvement in the last two years and have even been able to take some classes at a community college.
Living for four years in survival mode doesn’t help you dream at all, yet alone dream big. I can’t change the past but I can affect the future. This year I am setting out to dream. Not just little dreams but big ones. I believe my pain has a purpose, and Jesus brought me through it so I would have compassion on others. My experience has given me a desire to help other children dream. Even though I am still weak, I don’t want to waste the life I have been given.
Here I am setting out on an adventure to help others with whatever strength I have. Regardless of your age, culture, and beliefs I hope you will join me on this journey.
Blessings
~miss elaini
What a story! God never wastes our suffering. Ever. It isn’t easy, but He always has something beautiful for us and others in our trials – if we are willing to accept/see it. May God be glorified in your suffering and may He continue His work of refinement and beautifying in your life! It sounds odd to people who have not suffered, but when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death there is blessing there that you cannot imagine. God is so faithful and so gracious. His mercies are new every morning!
Your work is inspiring. Keep on focusing on Him and He’ll lead you in the right direction! Thanks for what you’re doing.
Thank you for that reminder!
Wow! What a story! You inspire me my dear! Keep up the AWESOME work!
<3
RJ
I am humbled that I inspire you. It amazes me and I am not on my own.
Your comment is so encouraging!
What an cool and interesting idea. My husband and I visited India a few years ago while we were filming a documentary called One Million Children. While we were there we visited an orphanage. Being a mother myself it was heartbreaking (and humbling) to see these children without families or much of anything but yet they seemed so grateful for what they did have.
I really enjoy fashion and I have to say you are very creative. I’m impressed and you have some killer shoes!
Thanks! I was inspired by Sheena and I have amazing friends who are letting me borrow their clothing. Not all of the shoes are mine but I sure wish they were.
I have to admit that I am jealous that you had the opportunity to go to India! Is there any way I can see the documentary?? It sounds incredible and fascinating. The orphan’s stories break my heart too…
wow!!! you are such an inspiration!! there is a need for more people like you, focused on what matters which is others!! my prayers goes to you and your cause
You are incredibly kind Jamina and I am thrilled you stopped by! I am extremely blessed by your prayers. Thank you.
You are very inspiring. I have struggled with health issues that have kept me at home much of the time for the last several years so I understand how hard it is and to to do this in spite of your challenges, is very impressive. Your fashion sense is great too!
)
Hello Monique. I am sorry to hear about your challenges due to your health. It can be difficult and I pray that you would have grace for this season of your life. I am just a weak girl with an awesome God!
Wow, neat story. Where do you live?
Hello and thanks! I live in Oregon.
Elaini, what you’re doing is so amazing and very inspiring to young girls like me! It’s so great that you are using these years in which you are partly debilitated due to your health issues for God’s glory. Keep going strong.
I live in little New Zealand and news of this adventure of yours has reached us even way out here! Love the photos (I’m interested in fashion photography and photography in general); you’re a gorgeous model 
God bless. Love, Rhesa
HI Rhesa!!! Thank you SO much. I really appreciate your note.
It is exciting to hear that lovely people like yourself are reading the blog from New Zealand. Someday I hope to visit your country…
You are very kind. Good bless you too dear.
xxx
elaini
wow you are such a strong girl. im so impressed with your dedication to your cause. i was just wandering what exaclty is your health issue it sounds so painful.
Thank you. Honestly I am not strong at all. I do have a strong God though and he helps me to walk this path. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Yes it can be painful and exhausting, but the doctors still can’t figure out what is wrong…I have been seeing different doctors since I was 2. The most painful part was/is the eczema….
I am much better than I used to be and I don’t have to lay in bed all day! Although sometimes I still want to…
Thank you for your support!
You are truly amazing. Hats off to you, young lady! This gave me goose-flesh.
You are incredibly kind! I’m not amazing but I do have an amazing God that I get to do this project with.
Your support means a lot to me…THANKS!
What an incredible story! Thank you so much for sharing that. I’ll be praying for you!
Hello! Thank you for your prayers. They help keep me going!
Absolutely lovely. I went to India in 1999 as a teenager and did some work with the Mother Theresa homes for the Dying Destitute in Calcutta and street ministry. Broke my heart. God bless these efforts!!! And a wonderful creative way to do them!
That sounds like an incredible experience! Yes the poverty and pain that people experience is heart wrenching…
This project isn’t my idea but I am thrilled that you are enjoying it.
God bless you!
Miss Elaini -
Your story is so inspiring! I too have had a lot of health issues that have at times kept me at home for extended periods of time. I do know how pain and the isolation of your home can be so disheartening (thankfully we have the internet!) I now have 5 boys and at time have to just work through the pain and sickness to let them have fun outside! My children and I have spent many years raising money for children in Africa. We even had a sponsor child until he grew up to an age that took him out of the program. Lately we have been doing more local charities but we are still very charitable! I absolutely love your cause and I too agree with other posters that you are a beautiful model! I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor! Feel free to email me anytime you would like to talk or friend me on Facebook! (Tonya Carpenter Werner) Big Hugs and Best Wishes!
You are extremely kind Tonya. I am sorry to hear of the pain and loneliness you have had to experience. I really appreciate your giving heart and I think it is wonderful that you are imparting that to your children. Thank you so much for you encouragement and support!
That was a great story. I think it is good you help kids in need even though you are sick. I know that is what I would want someone to do for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hello Lindsey! I am the one who has been blessed.
I think it is so great that you are doing something like this for the orphans!
I’m just excited that I get to be doing this and with all of you wonderful readers!
God Bless you. I, too, love the Lord and the Third World Poor children with great passion, but have chronic pain issues that brought me home after 6 months as a missionary on the Burmese border. You can check out my website to see what an “old lady” like me can still do for God. God HAS blessed your efforts, and the orphans will be blessed now, due to your obedience. He MAY use you MORE WITH the illness, than he might without it–He knows aht he’s doing. Just trust your life to Him and remember that this life is only a wink in the eye of eternity. God bless you -Sylvia
Thank you for going and serving. It is a beautiful example. I am grieved to hear of your health issues but I admire that you are still doing what you can.
That is a beautiful example as well.
I do trust Jesus and I am grateful that he doesn’t just do what is good for me but what is best.
May the Lord richly bless you and thank you for this comment. It was very encouraging!
P.S. My website is OrphansMom.com
I’ll check it out!
I am new to the whole religion thing i havent been big about it when i was younger i am 19 now and i realize i can make a difference you story was so a wake up call for me and thank you so much you dont know what you just helped me with in my life !
If nothing had come of this blog and fundraiser but you leaving this comment then it would have still been worth it! Totally humbled and blessed.
You are very inspiring! Thank you so much for serving the Lord in such a wonderful way! Its so beautiful what your doing for the orphans.
Thank you Sofia for taking the time to write and tell me that. It is such a blessing and I am grateful that I have been able to inspire you in some small way. I am happy that everyone is joining me in doing this for those sweet orphans!
You’re welcome! I’d just like to say, that you’re one of the kind of girls that someone younger, like me (15) would look up to as the perfect view of biblical femininity.
Thank you for that! I really admire you!
My dear you really are too generous but thank you for your kind and humbling words. It is a reminder to continually be looking to Jesus so that I might reflect him.
Hi.. I read your post as a link from another friend. Promise me that you will read Eat Right for Your Type …. then Live Right for Your Type…. and some of the other books that have been written by Dr. D’Adamo.
I know that your health will improve if you work on choosing food based on your individuality….sometimes God send us a boat but it is up to us to get in and row.
Work on the foods on your lists slowly and I’ll bet it will make a big difference.
Much peace to you God will bless you.
Miss Elaini,
I absolutely love your story and what you are doing! To tell you a little bit about me, you might understand why i just love what your doing. I’m from Pennsylvania, i am a senior at Upper Bucks Christian School, and i will be 18 in a couple months. About 4months ago, my entire school was given the book “Do Hard Things” by our pastoral staff. After i read the book the Lord just laid on my heart to raise $1million and use that money for a building project right here in my home state. Once I would have the building part done, I want it to be an Orphanage. I have a burden in my heart for orphans around the world like China, Africa, even America. I don’t want these kids to keep suffering, but for them to have a home where the love of Christ will be taught and shown to them.
None of these plans have actually started yet. I am now reading the book Start Here so I can figure out how to actually make my ideas work! With the Lord’s help anything is possible! Please pray that my plans will turn into reality for Christ.
So I thank you for sharing your story. It has shown me alot and has given me a whole new outlook on serving our Great God! I will def. keep you in my prayers.
Galatians 2:20
Wow that’s amazing! Thank you for sharing!
I’d love to hear more about it so if you have time please send me an email. 
Just curious as to why you want to start the orphanage with the location as your home town? 
Well i have prayed about where the Lord might want me to start it and so far i feel like He hasn’t named a specific area. I am a senior in high school so i have to finish school, so i thought i might as well start an orphanage right here in my home state. This way it can be of help to the Atlantic side of the states and if everything goes as planned maybe more can be built around the U.S. so we can bring these orphans in from lost homes and around the world.
I did send you an email with some questions!
Thanks for the email! I’ll be answering it asap.
praying for you, your health, and the orphans! God is going to do amazing things through you, elaini..i just know it! God bless! <3
Thank you Kailyn! I really appreciate your prayers.
its MY pleasure, Elaini! Keep smiling.
I will!
WOW. God is obviously working through you! I have been very blessed by reading your blog! I believe I found you around day 36 and have become a committed reader ever sense! I really do believe in your mission Elaini an I know God will bless the effort! God bless you sweet sister!
4ever and always-Starz
Thank you Starz for being a faithful reader. Such a blessing to have that support. God bless you too!
Elaini, praying for you this evening, as I went back to look at as many posts as possible (missed so many). Would like to pick up the phone and call but its late out here. I’m thankful that you SHARED the physical pain part as well as the hope you have to help others. Isn’t that what the apostle Paul did? “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, of the hardships we experienced…but all this happened that we might rely on God, who raises the dead.” Keep sharing your story. Keep focusing on Jesus and others. I need to hear it, I think we all need to hear it.
Kember! It’s been too long since we last talked. I wish you could have called…. I so appreciate your prayers and your encouragement. You are a blessing and a gift. xxx