The chocolate chip cookies were as decadent up close as they were from the outside looking in. Made fresh daily, they would make a good gratitude gift. But that changed when the mobile designer stepped inside L.A. Burdick Chocolates, a 1,000-square-foot chocolatier shop and café that invited her to consider other possibilities.
In front of her for consideration was a family of handcrafted chocolate mice complete with ribbon tails alongside the penguins behind the glass partition. They were unique and had character, and they came with signature gift boxes ready for delivery. They could work, she thought. Maybe she could give all three—cookies, mice, and penguins—to mark her first sale, the elephant journey mobile at miamese. Then she turned to the wall on the south side and faced a baby elephant looking at her from the center of a gold framed photograph on a marble shelf. The elephant's gaze met her curiosity leaning closer to read and learn about the surprising appearance. The heading explained the purpose: Chocolate Elephants for the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. L.A. Burdick had specially created chocolate elephants—each hand-piped, hand-dipped, and hand-decorated—in support of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a non-profit organization in Kenya renowned around the world for its successful rescue and rehabilitation program for orphaned elephants. 100% of the net proceeds would be donated to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA. It resonated with the designer, who saw a meaningful gift that gave in more than one way. It also had a natural connection with her elephant journey mobile. She scanned the shelf for the chocolate elephants, but she didn't see any available. She asked the gentleman managing the shop for assistance. Unfortunately, he had sold the last box of the chocolate elephants right before she came in. No more were on order, not until next year around April. But that was too late to send a gratitude gift to the buyer who made her first sale possible. The designer scanned the other shelves, hoping for a misplaced box of elephant chocolates. The gentleman confirmed he didn't have any more left. She accepted the fact and stayed to have a cookie, wondering if there was another way to give the gift of the elephants. Not giving up, she took a photo of the baby elephant and returned home to keep searching. Within seconds of searching the Internet, she found the home page of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust that opened with a photograph of two men feeding milk to a baby elephant. It was the first in a thoughtful series of photographs and mission words focused on the rescue, recovery, reintegration, treatment, and protection of Africa's wildlife. Each image carried her forward to learn more.
She scrolled the page, feeling the uplift of an unfolding journey filled with purpose. It brought her to the core of the organization's Orphans' Project: rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned infant elephants. Wanting to see how, she selected the option that took her there. Her face elevated with joy at the gift she didn't know was possible to give: The adoption of a rescued orphan elephant, rhino, or giraffe—offering life and hope to an animal in need. The artist reached out to the organization and sent the photo she had of the baby elephant she saw at the chocolate shop, wanting to adopt him. She learned that the elephant was a wild born baby from one of their ex orphans and was not adoptable. The wild born baby, a tiny miracle, was a testament of success of the Orphans' Project bringing into sharp focus the gift of life and hope. She returned to the adoption page. There were many elephants to choose from, each with their own poignant story. She read about Sattao, the little bull named after the area in Tsavo East in Kenya where he was found, a favorite place for large herds of elephants to come for water. He had been wandering alone and abandoned (it was possible his mother was a victim in a poaching causality). Sattao was incredibly skeletal, wounded, and dehydrated when found and rescued on March 18, 2017. His condition was severe, but one thing was evident about him: From the outset he was a fighter and although quiet in nature, he had a steely resolve to live. And through the will to live, Sattao revealed himself as the gift and tiny miracle. The designer's search was completed and the gift of adoption was made. Filled with gratitude, the designer returned to L.A. Burdick Chocolates and ordered a hot chocolate brew to go with one of the decadent cookies. She sat at a center table and savored the afternoon sunlight, its rays of life shining through the windows. In the quiet space of reflection, she thought about Sattao and the coming rain that will bring him new terrain, adventure, and a season of play and joy. She sipped her brew, thinking of Sattao and his will to live and the spirit of the elephant journey. there is richness and beauty with each meaningful gift
Comments are closed.
|
"Mia's writing is beautiful. She has a unique combination of quiet grace, amazing creativity, and what I sense is unwavering strength." —Stephanie K., subscriber