Haiti Fall 2015
Donation protected
Last Summer, Derrick and I had the amazing opportunity to go on our very first mission trip...and we chose Haiti. Now that I reflect, maybe, Haiti chose us. A group of ten people from The Embassy, our church in Denver where Derrick is one of the pastors, came together as a team and traveled to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere to serve.
We stayed on the property of a ministry that houses the home of an influential pastor and an orphanage of nearly 50 children. We spent time singing, playing soccer, drawing pictures, and giving lots of hugs and sharing lots of laughs with the children. We went to a school and passed out school supplies. Our team also went to a rural mountain village church/school and set up a make-shift medical clinic to care for minor ailments and injuries. It was heart-breaking at times to see such pain and discomfot that could easily be healed by an ointment or medication that we Americans can easily go to the nearest Walgreen's and purchase. Yet, the joy that still abounds in the midst of suffering is incredibly infectious. We also delivered toys to the children in the mountain village and did an art project.
While there were several children that I bonded with at the orphanage on the property where we stayed, there is one boy in particular that stole my heart. We think he is probably age 10 or 11. Both he and his brother are orphans. All of the younger children only speak and understand Haitian Creole, so we needed a translator to understand more than the “hello”, “good-bye”, “what is your name”, and “how old are you” that I learned prior to the trip. I did my best to let my smile do the talking and my heart do the listening.
On our last night there, the boy cried very quiet tears. When I asked why he was crying, they said it was because he would miss me. That was such a hard moment. I pointed to the stars in the night sky and I told him that the same stars that he sees in Haiti are the same stars I see in Denver. I promised that I would return the following year so that we could again look at the stars together. Our trip is October 22, 2015.
I am soliciting your support to make that a reality. We have a big things to do in Haiti and we can't do it alone. Will you help support my return with a donation of $100 or more? My hope is that at least 50 people will be able to partner with me to donate $100. However, if you feel led and are able to do more, please do. Your donation will help to pay for travel, medical supplies, school supplies, and toys. This year, in addition to the medical kits that we assemble and distribute at the clinic, we want to create a new-mother kit with supplies like cloth diapers, anti-biotic cream, diaper cream, towelettes, and a cord cutting kit. Last year, I was blessed by my family, friends and co-workers who gave very generously and I am praying that by the end of August, my $5000 goal will be reached. The 2010 earthquake brought more damage to an already poverty-stricken country, but the people I encountered were incredibly resilient, welcoming, and were a blessing to us as we came to serve them. Please partner with me.
Blessed to be a blessing,
Zaneta
We stayed on the property of a ministry that houses the home of an influential pastor and an orphanage of nearly 50 children. We spent time singing, playing soccer, drawing pictures, and giving lots of hugs and sharing lots of laughs with the children. We went to a school and passed out school supplies. Our team also went to a rural mountain village church/school and set up a make-shift medical clinic to care for minor ailments and injuries. It was heart-breaking at times to see such pain and discomfot that could easily be healed by an ointment or medication that we Americans can easily go to the nearest Walgreen's and purchase. Yet, the joy that still abounds in the midst of suffering is incredibly infectious. We also delivered toys to the children in the mountain village and did an art project.
While there were several children that I bonded with at the orphanage on the property where we stayed, there is one boy in particular that stole my heart. We think he is probably age 10 or 11. Both he and his brother are orphans. All of the younger children only speak and understand Haitian Creole, so we needed a translator to understand more than the “hello”, “good-bye”, “what is your name”, and “how old are you” that I learned prior to the trip. I did my best to let my smile do the talking and my heart do the listening.
On our last night there, the boy cried very quiet tears. When I asked why he was crying, they said it was because he would miss me. That was such a hard moment. I pointed to the stars in the night sky and I told him that the same stars that he sees in Haiti are the same stars I see in Denver. I promised that I would return the following year so that we could again look at the stars together. Our trip is October 22, 2015.
I am soliciting your support to make that a reality. We have a big things to do in Haiti and we can't do it alone. Will you help support my return with a donation of $100 or more? My hope is that at least 50 people will be able to partner with me to donate $100. However, if you feel led and are able to do more, please do. Your donation will help to pay for travel, medical supplies, school supplies, and toys. This year, in addition to the medical kits that we assemble and distribute at the clinic, we want to create a new-mother kit with supplies like cloth diapers, anti-biotic cream, diaper cream, towelettes, and a cord cutting kit. Last year, I was blessed by my family, friends and co-workers who gave very generously and I am praying that by the end of August, my $5000 goal will be reached. The 2010 earthquake brought more damage to an already poverty-stricken country, but the people I encountered were incredibly resilient, welcoming, and were a blessing to us as we came to serve them. Please partner with me.
Blessed to be a blessing,
Zaneta
Organizer
Zaneta Kelsey
Organizer
Denver, CO