One glass at a time

Elementary student makes lemonade to help missionaries

By Sara Greene

LITTLE ROCK — It's not quite turning water into wine, but it seems miraculous. In just over a month, 10-yearold Emily Bullington of Conway has turned free glasses of lemonade into almost $10,000 formissionaries in Kenya.

"I'm not really doing this, the Lord is, I'm just handing out lemonade," Emily said.

Emily was moved to action after missionaries Seeds Ministry from Kitale, Kenya, spoke at Harvest Church of the Nazarene where her father, Tim, is the pastor.

Her mother, Kelly, said the missionaries weren't asking for money but sharing what life was like in the area.

"She was presented the story of what's going on over there and it touched her heart," Kelly said.

Emily said, "They had a slide show with music and scenes where the kids are playing outside and laughing and then inside their school singing, and that's when me and my mom started crying."

According to her Web site, emilyslemonade stand.com, the Turkana and Pokot tribes settled in Kitale 38 years ago in an area called Kipsongo Slum, which means Place of the Dogs. More than 2,500 people live on six acres. There are 360 children in the slum and 260 of them are orphans.

After the presentation at church, the wheelsin Emily's mind started turning with what she could do help the people in Kitale.

"It was like e-mail, ideas just kept popping into my mind," Emily said.

At first she thought about bake sales, but that would mean a lot time spent cooking and baking. Then her brother Caleb, 6, suggested a lemonade stand.

"When Emily said lemonade stand, it sounded right. It just surprised us how fast it took off," Kelly said.

Not wanting her to have unrealistic goals, Emily's parents advised her it would take about two months to raise $1,000 selling lemonade, but that's how much Emily's Lemonade Stand made in its first week.

Emily and her team, which includes Kelly, sometimes Caleb and the occasional friend, set up free lemonade stands at schools, churches, businesses and stores twice a week, once after school and once on the weekend. The lemonade, made from a mix, is free, but donations are accepted.

The most she's received for a glass? An anonymous donor gave $1,000 when Emily had her stand at Conway Christian School.

Wearing her signature red apron, Emily said it's fun interacting with people, and her mom has helped her refine her people skills.

"You have to socialize with people and have the right words.

If you push people, they won't say yes," Emily said.

Emily, who is a Girl Scout and belongs to a Christian growth workshop at church, has also learned to overcome shyness to talk to large groups about the goal of the lemonade stand and the plight of the people in Kitale.

"I used to use flash cards, but they make me nervous. I'm better when I'm just speaking," Emily said.

Emily, a student at Julia Lee Moore Elementary School, has talked to several hundred students from Chi Alpha, which is a Christian organization at the University of Central Arkansas,. That fraternity raised $438. At ForMor, a Conway company, Emily visited with the workers and raised $1,175.

The family started emilyslemon adestand.com, so supporters can track the fundraising highlights.

Through the Web site, people from around the country have donated $1,100 online and $325 by mail. Emily does her best to thank everyone who donates, either in person, by letter or by e-mail. She and Caleb make bookmarks to send as a thank-you to people who have mailed donations.

Besides making a big difference in the lives of the Kitale residents, the stand is helping Emily, too.

"I learned to count money faster, we do the deposits together, and I've improved my grammar by writing letters back to people who have sent me letters," Emily said.

Kelly said Emily always has been compassionate. When Emily had just learned to walk, she would be in the church nursery trying to help other babies walk.

Emily's family celebrates certain milestones in the fundraising.

"Every $1,000, my mom makes a dessert. One day we made $3,000, and I told her 'Mom you owe me three desserts,'" Emily said.

Since it started Jan. 31, Emily's Lemonade Stand has raised $9,544. Of that, $8,000 was used by missionaries to feed 2,500 people for 10 days. The new goal is to raise $360,000 for Seeds Ministry to build an orphanage for 260 children. The missionary program also sponsors feeding programs, a school, small-business training, medical treatment and evangelistic outreach.

"When we reach my humongous goal, we'll have a big party somewhere and everybody will bring lemonade mix," Emily said.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 132, 142 on 03/16/2008