Mission Trip- Hope of Africa

Family and Friends,      I have always had a heart that beats for the world. Although so corrupt, I hold onto a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; I have hope. Recently, I have been given the opportunity to travel to Africa this summer to work with Hope of Africa, a non-profit organization that is improving educational opportunities for orphaned and vulnerable youth in South Africa. In Africa, there are many young and intelligent students who could prosper if shown a helping hand. The region that I would be volunteering at has 8,000 orphans. That’s a huge number! I will be able to use my strengths to conduct tutoring sessions, which could literally make the difference between a young person going to university and pulling themselves out of poverty, or remaining stuck in the cycle of poverty.     I have been blessed with un-deserving privileges. I have the ability to go to school, get an education, dream for a future, and fully surround myself in support groups. To give back to a country that may have lost the ability to hope and desire, together, we can improve the lives of youth and contribute to their full potential. During the summers, Hope of Africa conducts leadership camps which build the youths’ team building skills as well as challenge them to do things they didn’t know they could do. Additionally, I have the opportunity to counsel and mentor students about specific challenges they face in order to achieve their dreams. Spiritual counsel and guidance is also given to help the youth know their God-given identity and purposes. Through consistent prayer and asking the Lord that this be in His will, I do pray that I would have the honor to be a part of something so fulfilling. To be the hands and feet in this movement, I need your help. I cannot do this alone, nor would I want to. As my friends and family I come to you to ask for your valuable prayers as God prepares me to spread his enduring love. In order to make this trip a reality, I will need to raise a total of $3,500. Our endeavor will begin in the middle of June and last through mid-July; our first deadline is to purchase plane tickets this month (March). If you feel led to help financially support me on this journey, you can send a check to: Hope of Africa 3295 Bell Mountain Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80918 (Please endorse to Hope of Africa and write Mandy Heiser on the memo line.)I look forward to taking this journey with God and with you. Together, we can help create leaders for our future. Together, we have hope.Thank you,Mandy Heiser