Haiti

For the past few months, God has been giving me a growing passion for Haiti.  When we begin the process to adopt, I really wanted to adopt from Haiti, but you have to be married for 10 years to qualify (so maybe my husband will get me a Haitian baby for our 10 year anniversary :) so that's when we decided to go the route of foster-to-adopt.

I have been praying that God would send me the right opportunity to get to go serve at an orphanage in Haiti someday.  Well, that opportunity came MUCH quicker than I thought! Gabi and Don have always talked about how their former church from Florida goes to Haiti often, and one evening Gabi forwarded me a message from a woman she knows from Florida that is organizing a trip to Haiti in December.  The next day I was in contact with her and her enthusiasm and passion for this orphanage is so contagious, how could I not go and join her?!?!? The orphanage has 30 children in it, and I am so excited to go and serve.  Most of these children are orphaned as a result of the horrible natural disasters there, the impact is something this country is still dealing with and these children's lives are forever changed.


Here is what we will be doing while we are there:
VBS with the children in the morning
Sports camps in the afternoons
Christmas shopping for the children, gift wrapping the presents and giving them the gifts before we leave
giving the children a pair of shoes
taking the children to the beach on the last day as a surprise (many of them have never been)

I am just so excited to get to love on these children all day long for 5 whole days!

Here is what we need, if you feel compelled to help in any way, I would be more than appreciative and I know the children would be so grateful:

• Our goal is to get 30 pairs of shoes for these children, Jess is working right now on figuring out their sizes, as soon as we figure that out, I will be needing shoes in those sizes! If you have a few $$ to spare and can buy some shoes, or if you have a child that maybe only wore a pair of shoes a handful of times, we can use them! 
• Money for their Christmas gifts.  Jess is wanting to collect some extra money so we can shop for the children while in Haiti.  They have done toy donations in the past and packed it all, but find that with the airline luggage restrictions, it is much cheaper and less hassle to just buy while over there. Plus then we will have a chance to see the personalities of each child and buy according to things they would love! 
• Some soccer balls, kickballs, or some easily transportable sports equipment.  While there, our goal is in the afternoon to just play with the kids, teach them new games, and love on them through a sports ministry opportunity.
• I need to fundraise approximately $900 for my airfare, food, and lodging for the week, and I have less than 2 months to do it! ... If you would like to sponsor me and help me go, I would be so blessed.  I know God is going to provide, and am excited to embark on this mission in less than 2 months!!!!! 
• Prayer.  This will be my first international mission trip, and I am so excited.  But please pray for our team, I know nobody, our commonality is Christ and serving these orphans, but please pray we can become a fluid team and work together well!  Also pray for my family, I will be leaving Jake and Landry, and there is always the possibility that we might even have another addition by then if we get a placement.  And of course, please pray for the health of each team member, that we might stay safe and well while there. 

If you don't have my address, just send me a message and I would be happy to give it to you if any of these needs tug at your heart.  Thank you!