Haiti Mission Trip!

Dear Family and Friends,

I wasn’t sure how to start this letter, but here goes! For several years I’ve wanted to get involved in at least one or two short-term mission trips. I’m excited to say that this summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to do so! My home church, Bethany Baptist, has worked closely with Red Bridge Baptist Church (in KC area) for several years to support an orphanage in Haiti. In July a team of seven church members are scheduled to fly to Haiti and work with the orphanage there.

For those of you who don’t know (though with the news lately I imagine most do), Haiti shares an island in the Caribbean with the Dominican Republic, and has for a long time been the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The name of the orphanage we will visit there is Haiti Home of Hope (www.haitihomeofhope.org), located in Pignon [pin-yone]. What a fitting name, because this orphanage does offer home to the children it houses!! The Home of Hope was not close enough to the earthquake center to receive physical damage earlier this year; however the staff there still has their hands full with the almost 50 children for whom the orphanage provides housing, food, clothing and education.

The team from our church will fly out of Kansas City on Wednesday, July 21^st and return on the 30^th. Our team consists of two adults, and five young adults/youth. While in Haiti we will be involved in work projects (painting, maintenance, etc.), providing a short sports camp for the orphans, serving a day in the milk clinic (for mothers w/ babies who need nutrition), visiting the hospital, etc. Most importantly we will just spend quality time with the children showing them that we care about them, ministering to them, and giving them attention that they don’t always get due simply to the large number of them. We can witness to the children and show them the love of Christ in a great way while we are there, and having time to bond with them helps them open their hearts to the gospel.

I greatly value and request that use this information and pray for me and our team. Matthew 18:20 says “Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Prayer is an invaluable tool in the Christian life and God works miracles sometimes because of it. It is also a great stronghold in fighting a spiritual battle. Haiti is a very dark country spiritually, and there is a tremendous voo-doo influence there that could potentially be difficult to encounter. Please pray for:

-Protection from demonic influences

-Safe travel for our team and while in Haiti

-That all team members stay healthy and have no injuries

-That our team would bond together in the months leading to the trip

-That we would know what the Lord wants us do and prepare that well

-For all necessary funds to be provided for the team

-For the team to serve and work however the Lord will use us

I believe that God can use our team to help change the lives of these orphans and probably us as well. Thank you for lifting us up in prayer!

The second reason I write this letter is to ask that you would consider financially supporting this trip. The cost for each individual going (primarily the round trip airfare from Kansas City to Florida, Florida to Haiti) is about $1,100. Each individual going is responsible to contribute whatever necessary to cover the cost of his/her going. (Fundraisers and love offerings have contributed funds) Any financial support you give will be used to help cover this cost. Please seek the Lord as to whether He would have you give. (even small donations do add up) If you cannot give financial support or don’t feel called to do so I understand. But I would ask that you still pray for our team and our trip.

Thank you for your support!

In Christ,

~Heather Tull

heather@tulltribe.org