Our Haitian orphanage needs your help!Thirty five children lived at the Gracious Hands orphanage, until this past weekend. Four more children randomly were brought seeking help. The Pastor who was taking care of them had no where else to go and traveled 9 hours by public transportation in the hot sun, from the other side of Haiti. The children were dirty, hungry, and had a sadness in their eyes we had never seen before. The youngest, a two year old with no diapers and only the clothes on her back was so exhausted that she had trouble keeping her eyes open. The four children showed no emotion, they were scared and confused because all of the strangers surrounding them. We felt helpless and while everyone wanted to help, all we could think about was how to feed and take care of an additional four children. We were already feeling the burden. There were no other options and no other place for them to go. If we had turned them away, they would have been on the streets left to fend for themselves. We bathed them, called a doctor to do a medical assessment, and gave them a nutritious meal. The baby was falling asleep as she was getting a bath, feeling the weight of the long day. After dinner she was held and rocked by a team member and fell sound asleep in her arms. After many discussions, we decided that Gracious Hands would be the ONLY place for them to thrive. The only place where they will have a chance and receive everything they need and more, but now they need YOU. They desperately need ongoing support and care, including shelter, education, nutrition, access to good medical care and staff members who will take care of them day in and day out. It costs around $125 per month per child to provide them with basic necessities (Many of us can spend that on dinner). It costs around $150 per staff member per month to care for the children and provide the them with a decent living wage. It costs roughly $1000 a month to maintain a safe and workable living environment for these children to thrive. Please consider supporting this orphanage. These children need all of us to help and give them a chance in becoming educated, thriving, loving, and responsible human beings. Thank you for your support!