A Fight For Justice

I bet you can't guess the number of orphans there are in the world today. And when I tell you this number, I pray something stirs within you with a desire to see this number decrease in large measures daily. Are you ready? Here it is... in the world today, depending on the criteria used to decide who is considered an orphan or not, there are between 147 and 210 MILLION orphans in this world. That is simply heart wrenchinG.
"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the opressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow" Isaiah 1:17
As most of you know, the majority of our trip will be spent at an orphanage in Jacmel. A lot of attention has been placed on the orphans of Haiti, especially since the earthquake struck just last year. The children are placed in orphanages for many reasons ranging from the death of a parent or disease and poverty within the family/village. The number of orphans in Haiti skyrocketed after parents of these children realized the few resources they had had now been stripped away from them leaving them empty handed and with nowhere to turn. It was estimated that prior to the 2010 earthquake there were nearly 350,000 orphans, and now there is an estimated 1 million orphans in Haiti alone. This is something we're seeking justice for. Something that must be changed. The biggest fear for this large number is the target that is placed on them to be considered at risk for child traffickers to prey on such a vulnerable group.

Although I believe it is great to go and pull these kids out of such poverty stricken conditions, I truly believe there is something greater we can do for the people of Haiti. Most of these families wouldn't just give their kids up if they believed they could take care of them. This is where we take the resources we have readily available and make a long lasting difference in the communities and villages among the Haitian natives. What if a family was able to have clean water? They wouldn't be putting their families in as much risk for cholera. They would be able to provide their families with safe drinking water. YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. (http://www.cleanwaterforhaiti.org/Design/HTML/donate.html)

What if mothers and fathers could provide shelter and a place for their families to lay their heads at night? They wouldn't have to worry about the safety issues that come from sleeping on the streets. They wouldn't have to worry about how to stay dry when it rained. Can you imagine the thought of not being able to put a roof over the ones you care most about each and every night. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. (https://www.homesforhaiti.com/donate/)

(Each block of wood represents $36. 100 blocks of wood builds one house in Haiti. One house is $3,600)

What if a child could recieve education, food, health care and the opportunity to hear the gospel and about Jesus daily, would you do it?

Let me introduce you to Markens. He is my sweet and precious five year old friend from Haiti. His family now has a little stress taken off their shoulders because he is recieving everything I just mentioned. This little guy has changed my life and i've never even met him. We were given an opportunity to "adopt" and help fund education and health to a child through Compassion International while we were at Passion. The response was overwhelming so I had to wait until I got home to do this, but it has been a blessing already and I urge you to take part in being blessed while you get to bless another child and his/her family as well. YOU CAN BE SOMEONES LIFESAVER. (http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/waystosponsor/childsearch.htm)

As I leave you tonight, I beg you to seek the Lord and ask Him where He wants you to make a difference. It may not be in Haiti. He could call you to change a life of a child in South Africa. Or maybe help a girl out of sex trafficking in Bolivia. Or maybe He is calling you to feed the homeless in your own city. Even volunteer some of your time in an after-school program for kids coming from abused or neglected backgrounds. Whatever it may be surrender your life to His calling and let Him direct your every step. Its worth it when youre walking in His will.

AND THE JOURNEY BEGINS...

What a blessing it is to have you partnering alongside with me in prayer as I get closer and closer to departing on a journey that is sure to change my life. I have been beyond blessed with your kind words, prayers and financial gifts that has made this trip possible. I am excited to inform you that I have almost reached my goal of raising enough money for the trip itself, but in addition to the cost of the trip comes the cost of vaccinations and a passport, as well as little things here and there that will be needed on my trip. Many people have asked if their is anything that I need help with as far as the medical cost of the shots or supplies for the trip and things of that nature. All I can tell you as of right now is yes, I still have a few medical cost remaining and we are going to be taking things for the kids but a later post will talk about that when we know more about wht we can and can not take. Any checks made to Church of the Highlands only covers the cost of the trip and anything else must come from my pocket. So a few people have donated cash/checks to me, which is completely fine. I can assure you every bit of it will be greatly appreciated.
Speaking of vaccines, I think I have recieved more vaccines in the past week than I expected to come in such a short period of time. You will be glad to hear I recieved my Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus shots! And as most of you have been concerned with the recent outbreaks of Malaria and Cholera in the area I will be travelling into, rest assured I am good to go as I  now have prescriptions ready to protect and fight off both of those!
This is such an exciting time for me and I am completely at peace knowing this is where the Lord is leading me to go.
I am extremely swamped this semester with school as I complete all of my final courses for my major, so I plan on updating this once a week until the week before my trip, in which I will then update daily up until I leave on March 12. I ask you to continue praying for me and my precious team that I will be journeying with. This is one thing hat I am not taking lightly. The money is of great importance, but I feel as if prayer is a much greater need. The Lord will provide for the cost, but this is where I am heavily depending on you to keep prayers coming daily.

This picture is from the Passion conference I attended in Atlanta the first week of January, but read it carefully and let these words soak into your spirit.

 Be sensitive to what the Lord is speaking over you and what He is leading you to do or even where He is leading you to go. Remember it doesn't take leaving the country to make an eternal difference in this world. Our communities are in need of Christ and are just as desperate to feel His love and peace! You have the answer the world is searching for! Just be a living example of Christ in your everyday life!
I love each and every one of you!