I apologize in advance for the length of this. There’s just too much to tell. Feel free to scroll and skim if needed. Or to wait until the children are whining incessantly. Then I recommend locking the door and pretending they aren’t there while you read this. Because that always turns out well.
I’m not gonna lie, 2013 is off to a kick-butt start. Goo has been accepted to short-term preschool program here in town. She was so excited that we immediately had to make a calendar to count down the days until it starts. I’m beyond thrilled for her because private preschools were way too expensive, and this one is partially covered by the city, because it’s used as a student teaching experience for university students. I’m okay with that, because if a soon-to-be college graduate can’t handle finger painting and ABC’s, they totally picked the wrong career.
Side note: Let me take this time to say that being a preschool teacher is no joke. There’s a reason I’m not one. Because holy cow, three-year-olds are terrifying. And put 10 of them in a classroom? I would need therapy.
In entirely unrelated news, something to share that is blowing my mind. Some of you already know this, so forgive the redundancy. You can scroll past this bit.
Since I was 15, I have had a very real desire to do missions work. Like nitty-gritty, down and dirty, feed some hungry naked babies missions work. Over the years, the timing never seemed to work out. Plus having three rabid honey badgers to contend with always made travel a little difficult.
All that is about to change. In a few months, I will embark on what I hope will be the first of many trips I will be making to help those in need. I’m going to Haiti, people! I’ll be working in an orphanage that was established by a pastor and his wife after the earthquake nearly destroyed his home town of Carrefour (pronounced car-foo). He and his wife came from Haiti, but moved to the states to start a church for the Haitian community in a town in New England. When he went back to visit his family, he found what was once a typical town outside the nation’s capital of Port-au-Prince had become a depleted village of hungry children begging in the streets. He began sending his sister money to buy food to feed them, but the need was too great. Establishing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status here in the US, he converted his home in Carrefour into an orphanage that currently provides food, clothing, shelter, and love to local street children.
In a few months, I have the honor of going down with several others to finish a building project that will allow them to take in several more children. I will also be bringing one back with me.
Maybe that last part was wishful thinking, but you never know.
Side note: Don’t worry. I’m only painting. I think we all know that it’s best if I stay away from hammers and nails.
We will also be doing an outreach for the community, complete with a children’s program by yours truly. When we asked how many to expect, we figured maybe 30 or so, figuring you’d get an extra 20 beyond the orphanage kids.
Umm, it’s going to be like 200. This is where you start praying and fasting for me, because egad that’s a lot of kids. And I’m still amazed I’ve kept three alive. So you know, there’s that.
You can see a brief write-up here, along with information on donating to the ministry itself. There is also an urgent needs list of items the orphanage is currently running without.
This is where it gets good.
The trip has a price tag, obviously, since I need shots, and a passport, and airfare, etc. I’ve planned a bake sale, and before I could even start doing anything to raise money, donations started arriving at my house.
Then my kindergarten teacher and her husband connected with me on Facebook and invited me to speak at their church about the trip and orphanage. This church has a passion for Haiti, and will be taking a donation to support this endeavor.
Then a connection through my aunt, who is also going, got a REFRIGERATOR paid for. In full. With money to stock it full of food for the kids while we’re down there. We are being presented with a check in memory of the Sandy Hook victims.
Then my sister-in-law offered to hook us up with her church that does a charity event providing dresses for girls in need of basic clothing.
The world is full of hate. And greed. And evil.
And then a need arises. And people stand up. They fight hunger with generosity. They fight tragedy with hope. They fight hate with love.
We’re world changers, you guys. And I can’t wait to share with you about my experience when I get back.
