Haiti Update August 2010

Hi friends!
I know it has been a while, so here is the latest and greatest, August Haiti Email Update!
Read on so that you are in the know… :-)

Update on…the Earthquake
Progress in the rebuilding efforts is happening, slowly but surely. There are GREAT programs in place like Reciprocal Ministries International’s Homes for Haiti, where they are on the ground helping people get their lives back to some semblance of normal. More of what they are doing can be found here. Also, here is a link to a story that shows the reality of the situation. Haiti certainly still needs all of our prayers and help.

Update on…Fundraisers
The Tupperware fundraiser was a great success! A lot of people from many areas of my life got involved, and I even had the parents of students selling Tupperware on my behalf! Total sales were over $300, so the amount that went toward Mission:Haiti was around $150.

At Mission:Haiti Vision Night, I had the opportunity to share about God’s call in my life to Haiti with some awesome people! I really enjoyed sharing my story with everyone, and just getting to hang out and catch up. We had close to 25 people who attended, and with the leading of God, $800 came in!


Last month, Amber and Ray Hollister hosted a yard sale to benefit Mission: Haiti. Several people on my Mission:Haiti team helped make it an amazing success. It was really cool for me to hear my friends sharing the vision for Mission:Haiti with our shoppers. They are as committed to this as I am, which is awesome. $350 came in from the yard sale, but the coolest part was this: When it was time to pack up, it was decided to mark everything as free, for donations. Then Ray went and stood at the road with a sign which said the same. Mass chaos ensued, and people asked about the motivation for such an idea. A little while later, the proceeds had grown from $200 to the $350 total! That means that $150 came in when everything was marked as free, because people wanted to be a part of what we are doing! Praise God! :-)


Update on…Transitions
So since my last update, I have relocated to the lovely Riverside part of town. I am not fantastic at change, though I have a good attitude in the midst of it, but I am finally starting to get routines and schedules going now that I have been here a month. But I love it here for many reasons. :-)

Recently at Forward, the post college gathering that meets at CrossRoad on Monday nights, Derrick talked about waiting, out of James 5. I got my butt kicked by this message. The keys of the talk were to: be patient with yourself, be patient with others, and be patient with God. My next thought in that moment was, “Well, I am 0 for 2!” But God is merciful, and even since that night I have followed more His rhythms of grace, waiting better.

I am starting, too, to see how God has placed me in areas for preparation. I will totally use the skills I am learning while working at Kumon when I get to Haiti. And I could give you more examples of just how intentional our God is, in placement and timing. I only saw it when I slowed down and looked for it, and God has impressed me with His attention to detail… :-)

Update on…Finances
In both one-time costs, and in monthly pledge commitments, my current level is 15% of where it needs to be for me to go to Haiti. I am so excited for everyone who has shared the vision and wanted to be involved! I am also looking forward to seeing how God brings this beautiful journey together, with more people being a part of what God is doing in Haiti. Who do you know who loves Jesus and would listen to my story? I want as many people as possible to know about this opportunity to serve some awesome, potential-filled kids in the south of Haiti.

Praises/Prayer requests
• Continued provision, both here and in the preparations for Haiti.
• God’s perfect timing, where I will be adequately prepared, and not too impatient.
• My mom – she recently had surgery and a hospital stay. Pray for complete healing.
• My niece – We are hoping that she will have a seamless transition into the coming school year. Please pray for God’s care and provision for her.
• Praise – I found good FREE Creole learning software. It’s really cool!

Thank you, meci, meci, meci, for praying! Please also let me know how I can be praying for you!

Mission:Haiti email update Spring 2010!

Hi everyone!

Happy Spring!

I know it is making me happy to be outside these days, in spite of life being so crazy! On that, I do apologize for the delay in this update getting to you! The delay has been more from lots of activity happening, rather than less activity, so without further waiting, let’s get to it, and I can tell you more of the latest news!

* Earthquake/Timeline

As you know, Port au Prince, Haiti, and the surrounding area, suffered a devastating earthquake on Tuesday, Jan 12th, late in the afternoon. While some needs have been addressed in the past two months as Haitians look toward rebuilding, they still have so far to go. Here is an article which points out a not so visible loss to both Port au Prince, and Haiti: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=10065808&page=4

Many residents of Port au Prince have left forever, either to go stay in the overcrowded homes of extended family who live in other regions, or they have hopped planes to other places, to just start over. Since most can barely afford the elevated food prices, there are few in that second category. There are now tent cities in many other communities, even in Les Cayes, which is over 100 miles away, and only suffered minimal damage. Since Port au Prince is a port, actually THE main port for imports, it has been difficult to get supplies anywhere in the country without their cost skyrocketing. That aspect has improved some, and there is talk (and I hope action by now) to get the port at Les Cayes running more business while Port au Prince is rebuilt.

Other communities suffered extensive damage as well in the earthquake and aftershocks. Many of those communities are also devastated.

I tell you all of this, not to depress you, but so you can pray. There is hope for Haiti. The Haitians have hope. Pray that their government will steward resources well. Pray that it can be figured out how we can stimulate the Haitian economy in the rebuilding process, but with the money kept out of corrupt hands as much as possible, so that each dollar can do the most good. Also, here is a photo essay, updated each day, which shows many Haitians’ hope: http://voicesofhaiti.com/photos

The Earthquake in Haiti does change things for me some, but more in how I come around the new needs when I get on the ground. My departure date is a little flexible, and the main thing affecting it is the amount of support that I have. When I have all of my financial support, I can go. So in that way, the earthquake has not changed anything for me. My goal now is to get to Les Cayes when I can this summer, so that I have time to get settled and prepare for the upcoming school year which will start in August.

* Ministry Overview/Personal Support Grid – brochure

The pictures you see are a brochure I’ve put together. It talks about why I am going to Haiti and answers some other “why” questions, and it also contains a snapshot of what my Haiti budget looks like. I hope you’ll check it out! If you would like a print version, I can send you one – just let me know. I plan to send them out with the prayer cards.

* Prayer Cards will be on their way soon!

I haven’t forgotten about sending these to you! I am still working on the logistics of getting the Prayer Cards printed. They will be on their way as soon as I can get them in my hands. I hope that is able to happen by the beginning of next month. If you want one, and I do not have your address yet, you should give me your address.

* Fundraisers

Fundraising for my one-time costs has been going well! I have had two fundraisers in 2010 so far. The first was a Hair Cut-a-thon hosted by my good friend and cosmetologist, Kadi Drennon! We had a great afternoon hanging out, saw a good turn out, and Kadi cut lots of hair. The event raised over $250 towards my one-time costs.

On Friday, my second fundraiser will be coming to a close, and there has already been an overwhelming response! I have partnered with Tupperware, your mom’s favorite brand! They will give 40% of the profit from what you sell to your cause. Right now, sales are over $350! So I am very thankful for how well the sale has gone, and for how generous people have been. If you want to get in on the Tupperware action, here is a link where you can buy direct: http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_www/!twx$eparty_ctl.p_guest_welcome?pv_eparty=096e7b87e8859ea25a490cc37064bc7f&pn_guest=

* Prayer Requests/Praises

Finances – I still have a loooong way to go before I will be buying that plane ticket to Haiti. But God is already showing how faithful He is and will be in this, as I rely on Him. Pray that I am open to what I am supposed to learn through this process, and that God will continue to bring people alongside me in this ministry.

Mission:Haiti Team – This awesome team of people are a HUGE help to me as I am preparing for Haiti. Some of them have been through crazy stuff lately. Please pray for them, that God will protect them and give them strength.

Health – Right now, I am working a LOT. Please pray that God will sustain me as I make sure I fulfill my responsibilities. I am doing all I can to stay healthy, but I cannot do it all.

Car – I was able to find a good, honest mechanic who was able to get my car working well for a reasonable price. It still needs some work, so I am saving in that direction.

Holidays – The holidays can be a rough time for me, but this year was good. Not easy, but good. I took some time to do some soul searching, spending some extra time in prayer and singing. I really tried to take the carols to heart, and really sing them. Out of this time, I composed a sort of "Life Mission Statement" which I will share with you now.

“Placing myself in the service of others to benefit the last, the least, the forgotten and the lost; leveraging influence and skillset on behalf of the voiceless.”

I also spent several days with my paternal grandmother. You may remember that I just recently found my father and his family again. This was the first time that I have spent any time with her, and only the second time that I remember ever seeing her. It was a really sweet time, and she is an awesome lady. I hope to get to visit more with her soon.

Thank you as always for reading and praying! I value your part in my ministry, and I cannot do any of this without you! Please let me know how I can pray for you, and I will do it!