Restore Haiti

2012-01-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! When I think of how we are just 11 days away from our journey to Haiti, I lose my breathe a bit. The week long trip includes the annual Marathon and awesome field day for the children in the community. We will also spend an entire day with the children at the orphanage. We have the privilege of taking these precious kids to Fort Liberte for an adventurous field trip along the ocean.. The time spent with them is a complete treasure.

As the 2011 fundraising efforts are coming to an end, I want to send a personal thank you to everyone who donated, encouraged, spread the word, or simply said a prayer. Every person is involved and important! In just 3 weeks, we will decide if there will be a 3rd annual Haiti Marathon. I can assure you the planning and preparation for everyone involved is a challenge and takes much dedication. However the end results are priceless. The teachers and children in the schools benefit. The runners and volunteers who commit to going to Haiti are transformed by the beauty of Haiti and the people they meet. Most importantly, the community itself is one step closer to more educated children, which is our main goal. Thank you for supporting this cause. We could not do this without you! We will begin taking registration for our 2013 runners once our decision is made. I can promise you one thing---It's quite a ride!

The Dreaded Donate Button

2011-12-01T14:52:00.001-08:00

Well, it has only taken us 8 months to get the darn Donate button to work! Please accept my personal apologies for all of you generous souls who like me, don't have time to write a check. Thank you so much for supporting our cause whether through donations, prayers, or supplies. We could not do this without YOU. Be sure to check back soon as I will introduce you to our team of 12 heading to Haiti this January for the 2nd annual Ouanaminthe Haiti Marathon. We are counting down the days. We have the possibility of 30 Haitian runners who are anticipating our arrival to make a difference in the local children's lives. You are part of the hope! Thank you again...Martha

Chicago Marathon 2011

2011-10-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, I ran the Chicago Marathon as a training run for a future race. Normally, I would have my game face on. I would pick out the perfect outfit. I would fill my belt with the right amount of gels and shot blocks to finish in the best time possible. This time, not so much. I decided to run the Chicago Marathon the night before. I have to admit, I obtained a bib from a fellow runner who had decided not to run, and showed up Sunday morning ready for whatever came my way. This Sunday afternoon, I would see the simpler side of the Chicago marathon. I would dance, laugh, play, jump off course for slurpees after mile 10, and simply walk and walk some more. I would absorb the enthusiasm of novice runners determined to finish this hard earned goal. I would joyfully run to the finish line welcoming the coolness of the finishers medal upon my neck.... It was my favorite run ever! Returning home, I heard of a fellow runner, a young man named William Caviness, who had fallen unconscious just 500 yards from the finish. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital just hours following the race. How could this be? Please Lord, i hope the family was spared the pain of watching this take place... I can't begin to imagine how this family will find peace in such a painful situation. It's now Tuesday and I have spent the last two days reading about William's life. He was firefighter with a beautiful family. He had a passion for running and a heart for burn victims. His life ended much too soon. This marathon was his attempt to bring attention and funding toward the needs of burn victims, whereby bringing simple delight and happiness to people he cared for. It reminded me of our son Jonathan who passed 14 years ago last month. After battling a rare heart condition for 11 sweet months, we too said goodbye to that beautiful face forever. In spite of Jonathan's short life, he brought a sense of overwhelming joy to everyone he met. The Haiti marathon was born out of Jonathan's memory. Having visited Haiti for the first time 4 years ago, it did not take much to realize that hunger, inequality and poverty DOES have a cure. Unlike our son's rare heart defect, we could make a difference in these children's lives. With this understanding, the Inaugural Haiti Marathon took place this past January 2011. We race to bring hope to the children of Haiti. We join efforts with the local Haitian runners to remind the world that education is a gift which everyone deserves. As we begin to put this race together for January 2012, I can't help but feel moved to donate a portion of our proceeds towards Williams cause...We don't raise much, but every cent counts... I have decided to donate 10% of our Haiti marathon funds toward Williams passion for burn victims. Please see the video and photos below for more information, but more importantly, please help us make this event a success! Donations can be made to: OSUMC Attn: Martha Walker-Restore Haiti Marathon 701 E Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194 All donations are tax deductible. If you are interested in running with us in Haiti this January please contact me, at restorehaiti@yahoo.com May you rest in peace William.... May your family find comfort in those who will hold them tightly in the coming days. Many blessings, Martha Walker

2011-04-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...

2011-03-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

2010 Inagural Ouanaminthe, Haiti Marathon

We raised just about $18,000 to support education in this community. We are preparing for the 2011 year. Taking 15 runners if you are interested! Contact us as: restorehaiti@yahoo.com

To support this cause donations can be sent to:

Our Saviour's Church

Restore Haiti Marathon

701 E Schaumburg Road

Schaumburg, IL 60194

Checks payable to: OSUMC with Haiti Marathon in the memo.

"Lace Up For Learning!"

Haiti Marathon Reflections by Mark Francis

2011-02-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

Hello my name is Mark. I was one of the participants and helped with some of the organizing in the Inaugural Ouanaminthe Haiti marathon. I have been running for the past 12 years, primarily distance. I have run 16 marathons and this would be my 9^th ultra marathon.

It was a very warm Thursday afternoon. The date was August 6th 2009. My phone rings; it's my running partner Martha. “Did you not get my texts?? I have this crazy idea! I want to run a marathon in Haiti and I want you to run it with me.” The race would ultimately be a fund raising tool for a school in this city of 100,000. They have had 20,000 people recently relocate from Port Au Prince after the earthquake.

What a unique opportunity to do something no one has ever done before. Run a marathon, okay an ultra marathon, in a developing country, who could you say no to this? From the time we decided to do this event, till the morning of the race, about a year and a half had gone by and many things have happened to this very poor country. They have experienced a devastating earthquake, an outbreak of Cholera and political unrest. Our 7 athletes and families did not feel quite as secure as they did when they first signed up for this.

The race course consisted of four 7.5 mile loops, from the center of town out to the country and back. The streets in the town were cobblestone, and the rest were dirt with some hills. There were three aid stations with bottled water on the course. The weather at the start of the race was overcast and 75 degrees, giving way to sun shine and upper 80's. This is an island in the tropics with lush green fields and mountain views at the far end of the course. This is truly the most scenic course I have ever run in the month of January. There were 22 athletes in all, 15 of which were Haitian. The race was won by a young man named Stephane. For his hard work he received a first place medal and $100. Our hopes are that one day soon we will be able to continue Stephane's education in the United States . There was an awards ceremony the evening of the race. There was also very positive feedback from the community about the event. We are in the planning stages for the "2^nd Annual Ouanaminthe, Haiti Ultra Marathon" -with a marathon option.

This was truly a unique life changing experience to have traveled to a foreign land, run an ultra marathon with my best friends, and make new ones along the way

A special thanks to Martha, this experience has touched my heart and in a way changed my life.

Robin Platt Recalls The Haiti Marathon Day

2011-02-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 8, 2011;

The walk to the start took about 15 minutes and allowed us to warm up. I was feeling good. My achilles and left calf were tight but not too sore today. This stayed consistent throughout the marathon but never got any worse. That was good.

We wished all the Haitians good luck ‘Bonne chance’. Two were wearing deck shoes, one had flat bottom Keds, several wore soccer shoes and the rest had some level of running shoe. All wore basketball shorts that were almost knee length. They were all excited. By 8:45 everyone was ready and we were off.

The Haitians started fast but a big group soon settled into a 9 – 9 ½ minute mile pace. By mile 2 our group was split. Jerry and Laurie were out front with the Haitians followed by Dorothy and I. We still had them in sight but have lost sight of the group behind us; Mark, Martha, Jacob and Andy.

Half way around the 1^st loop I was in the exact situation I didn’t want to be in; running alone in Haiti and not knowing the course. We were also heading out of town so it was getting sparse. I had kept a Haitian in sight so I would know when to turn. I stayed with him until we completed the full 1^st loop and then I waited for Martha and her group.

There was only one time when I was a little concerned, but that was because I’m not yet comfortable in this environment. A woman and man were coming down the street towards me. She was yelling something in Creole. I believe it was to someone behind me but she was looking in my direction. He was following a little behind her and holding something that was dragging along the ground. As they got closer I realized he was holding a machete and the tip was dragging along the ground. The machete is a primary tool for them to do yard, field and other work. I’m just not used to people carrying them down the street.

As we ran many of the children would yell ‘Blanco’ and all the children in the area would come running because ‘Blanco’ meant ‘White’. Apparently they rarely see white people and they seemed to enjoy it for the novelty. That happened throughout the race and whenever we walked around town. We were all running good but at a slow, comfortable 12 minute mile pace. I was fine with that. I was enjoying the experience and didn’t see the need to push. I was surprised that everything was going so smoothly. All my concerns about last night’s changes were unjustified. Everything was fine.

We caught the Haitian I had run the 1^st loop with about ¾ of the way around the 2^nd loop. His calf was severely cramping. I had noticed he wasn’t drinking enough when we ran together and gave him ½ a water bottle then. He wasn’t going to be able to run much further. Hopefully all the Haitians were not having the same problem.

Mark, Martha and Jacob said they didn’t see the water stop at the end of the 1^st loop so I said I’d show it to them at the police station/play ground. When we got there the table and all the water was gone. We then noticed that the children in the playground all seemed to have water bottles. Haitians generally drink water from small packages about the size of a sandwich bag, so we knew those must be our water bottles. Now starting our 3^rd loop I was a little concerned. What if all the water stations were out of water? We were also heading away from town and there wouldn’t be stores to buy water (none of us had any money, anyway).

We were now walking some. Jacob wanted to start a run/walk. I didn’t mind and was still concerned about the water. About two miles out of town, Hughes came by on a motorcycle and went to get supplies. After that all the water stations were stocked and water wasn’t an issue anymore. Even the police station stop was restocked.

This was Jacob’s first marathon and he was now digging deep. He was a real trooper and just kept pushing forward. The lead Haitian was Stephen, who had impressed us all when we met Thursday. He passed us at the 1^st water station on our 3^rd loop. Two other Haitians were close behind. Jerry and Laurie met up with us at around the 2^nd water station. Dorothy had run with them for just a short time. We met up with her at the police station. She had been running with the oldest Haitian. They both spoke some Spanish and communicated a little.

Our last 5 miles were; run a mile then walk a mile, which seemed to work best for Jacob. At mile 25 Meredith (Jacob’s wife) showed up and was able to run the last mile with him. It was a great experience for us all to see him achieve his goal. After completing the marathon Jacob and I jumped on a Willio’s motorcycle and headed home – no reason for more. Martha and Mark found Andy and finished with him.

This was a great experience. It was an amazing group and everyone got along even with the challenges we faced.

A lot of the talk on the way home was what to do now that we’ve had the ‘Haitian’ experience. Jackie mentioned she wants to help Stephen get into a US College. Martha, Meredith and Christy will surely continue their aid to the schools and orphanage. Hope Chest, Tom’s organization, will start helping manage the orphanage. The rest of us will just need to figure our next steps.

We had a very good beef stew and heard about the finish from Jerry and Laurie, who were already cleaned up. Stephen was the new Haitian ‘Rock Star’ for winning the race. I was in bed by 7:30 resting but didn’t sleep well. I was cramping. Don’t know why???

Haiti Marathon

2010-08-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

I am often asked why not just run a marathon here and send more money to Haiti. It would seem to many that monies used to travel to Haiti would be better used if sent directly to the organizations we are currently supporting. I hope to change peoples understanding toward the benefit of a “relational” ministry as opposed to simply sending a check. The 20 participants traveling to Haiti in January 2011 will have an opportunity to meet the children and adults we are serving. In addition, the community of Ouanaminthe will have the chance to meet and embrace the runners and volunteers who participating in this event. This “partnership” is extremely important and I feel is often overlooked. There is simply no value one can put on forming relationships within an organization that hopes to continue helping to educate children. This inaugural Ouanaminthe Marathon is not your typical 26.2 race. We have all agreed to run this as a “run of solidarity” for the cause at hand. Regardless of what pace we have completed in the past, we plan to run together as much as possible. We anticipate children in the community running along side of us during small stretches of the total distance. We understand we will be coming from winter weather into the challenging heat of the Caribbean. This run is not about us, it’s about them, the children of Ouanaminthe. We have a $50,000 goal. At this point we have raised $7000. We are not discouraged by this current total as we agree that every dollar raised is a gift from our supporters. Our main goal is to bring attention to the need for better education in Haiti. In a country often described as extremely dependent, we hope to help them to begin raising a generation of Haitian children who can embrace the independence they so eagerly desire. We currently have 11 runners confirmed to run this event. Having met with the Mayor of Ouanaminthe, he insists there will be several Haitian participants eager to join us. We will be hosting a small track and field day during our time in Ouanaminthe in which the people of the community will have an opportunity to win small prizes. This is very exciting to us! Combined participation at whatever level, further supports the idea of partnership. We are intentionally avoiding any type of superior approach, and simply offering to support the efforts already in place to see the children of Haiti receive the education they desire. The course is a 15 kilometer loop. We will have to adjust accordingly to make it 26.2 give or take a few points. Accuracy is not a priority to us. It would be silly to say the run is flat since even well paved roads in Ouanaminthe are few and far between. This route will mirror a more trail like run. This run will offer the hustle and bustle of the city of Ouanaminthe, the friendly surroundings of the suburbs, as well as the beauty and splendor of the countryside. With the exception of one small hill in this loop, there are very little climbs to write home about. I think our biggest challenge will be preventing sprained ankles on the very uneven terrain of the route. We anticipate temperatures in the 60 degree range during our 6 am start and somewhere in the 80 degree range at our finish. We have two trucks which have been assigned to follow runners to offer liquids and gels when needed. There is little to no shade during the route, which we are fully aware of, however any plans to run this for time have been put aside to make this more about the kids we are serving. Ouanaminthe is in the North East part of Haiti directly on the border of the Dominican Republic. It is home to approximately 100,000 people, but since the January earthquake, has seen a steady increase in population as the displaced find new areas to call home. Our team is traveling for a total of six days. We will spend three and a half days in Haiti and the remainder of the time traveling in and out through the Dominican Republic. Our food and lodging needs are being cared for by one of the schools we are supporting. Each runner has been responsible for paying all of their own travel, food, and lodging costs in addition to raising support toward our $50,000 goal. While many of the runners may be encouraged to being helping transform the educational conditions of children in this community, I think they will be very surprised at how transforming this trip will be to them personally. In a country where struggle and challenge are an everyday part of life, one thing you will not see is discouragement. The people of Haiti are strong in spirit and simply put… filled with Joy. It is a country which teaches us volumes about how dependent we have become on “things” to make us happy. Here one can learn to find delight in having little. Still, one can’t help being affected by the lack of food, water, shelter, and education facing children and adults on a daily basis. Compassion is defined as being aware of anothers suffering and DOING something about it. I want to move people beyond empathy to compassion. I would love to say these runners will be forever changed by the people they meet, the children they hold, and the community the serve alongside. If you feel moved to support this cause, please do so. We need your help.

2010-04-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Please take just 1o minutes to preview this video. We are running a marathon IN Haiti January 9th, 2011. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to benefit the educational needs of the children we are serving in Ouanaminthe. This is my personal story as to why this marathon is so important to me. We could really use your help getting the word out about this exciting and unique opportunity! Thank you for your support...

World Changer!

2010-03-03T11:47:00.001-08:00

OK, so I love to recognize "World Changers!" Please let me introduce you to Sara Gorman who has just jumped on board with the needs of the Haiti orphanage. Sara is one of those people you meet and just sense their faithfulness to God's calling on their life. She not only hears the call, she acts upon it. Sara wanted to help feed the children at the orphanage we serve, so she approached the school she works at, Christian Life School, and brought them right along side her hopeful project. In a very short amount of time, Sara's school had raised $650.00 for the food program. What an amazing feeling to know your faithfulness has fed kids for an entire month. What a true example Sara is in what it means to be relentless in missions.

SHE is a World Changer!

Sara, thank you for your generous heart and more importantly for hearing the call. Many many thanks to the students and families of Christian Life School in Wisconsin for your harmonious efforts in serving the children. A wise woman (uh-hum- Jan) told me, "God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called." Now I know she does not take credit for making up this nifty phrase, but what a profound statement! It's certainly given me a new look on serving. I don't have to work tirelessly in becoming the best at everything, I simply need to "listen" more intently to the specific call on my life. Way to go Sara for doing just that....

Orphan Art

2010-02-17T20:06:00.000-08:00

"Orphan Art" T-shirts and Tote Bags Have Arrived! T-Shirts $20.00

Tote Bags $15.00

I am so excited to announce that our first t-shirt and tote bag designs are officially here! The best part is, it's art work directly from the orphanage. What better way to empower the children to make a difference in their own lives. We have taken their beautiful art work to create a series of t-shirts and totes which will be used to help fund their monthly food program. Buying a shirt at $20.00 and one tote bag at $15.00 feeds one child for an entire month. Email us at restorehaiti@yahoo.com if you are interested in making an order. Yeah for "Orphan Art!"

Ouanaminthe Marathon

2010-02-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

We have officially announced the Inaugural Ouanaminthe Marathon in Haiti. I was beyond thrilled to see so many runners show up for a 5 mile fun run, followed by coffee, bagels and a time of sharing for this unique and exciting event. I have never found comfort speaking in front of others, but this time was different. There was a certain peace and calm being surrounded by runners who graciously listened as I shared my heart and hope for Haiti. Their enthusiasm and support of this event was overwhelming and by the end of our time together, we had 18 people sign up to either run the marathon in Haiti or to be part of the fund raising efforts. It was incredible! Here is a copy of the flyer for anyone who is interested in participating in this exciting opportunity. Whether your running in Haiti, raising awareness, or fund raising in the US, we need your support!

"World Changers"

2010-01-27T18:44:00.001-08:00

^{Matthew 6:2a, 3-4}

So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you... But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

I love to serve others. I find no greater joy than coming along side someone in need to lending a helping hand. I was fortunate to marry a man who is also extremely giving and we try very hard to pass on a generous heart to our children. I remember when I was a little girl. I would spend hours cleaning the house for mom and dad just to hear~ "Wow, you did this all by yourself?" It never got old! Sadly, this need for affirmation has followed me all through my life. I have always wanted to "give" like scripture says- in secret. Oh man, that's tough. I've even caught myself hinting for a little appreciation after giving in some way. Boy do I have a long way to go. Have you ever met those people who just give and give and give and ask for nothing in return, absolutely nothing? You can just see their joy comes from the act of giving rather than any affirmation they may receive. I love these people! We call these "World Changers." World changers are those people who think little of themselves and mainly of others. Their heart breaks for those in need, but rather than just feeling bad, they DO SOMETHING to make whatever little difference they can, never thinking of themselves in the process. Meet Julia (holding the check) and her little sister Tessa. Julia is the youngest World Changer I have had the privilege of meeting. Julia began collecting spare change from around the house after Hurricane Katrina. She wanted to do anything to help the people who had lost so much. Her compassion continued well beyond her first natural disaster. Julia wanted to help my husband and I with our ministries in Haiti and Ethiopia. Julia collects all year long and would you believe she had well over $100 this past December which she divided amongst the ministries she was passionate about. It was certainly my privilege to take this photo with Julia as she donated her savings to the Haiti food program. Julia never asked for anything in return. She simply handed me the check, smiled, and ran off to play. This is the generous heart I speak of. It's a precious moment when adults re-learn from children the forgotten of innocence childhood. May we come to know the true meaning of compassion as seen through the eyes of a child and may we come to know what it means to be a real "World Changer" in the process.

Haiti Earthquake

2010-01-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

Psalm 22:24

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

It is in times such as these when we begin to question God. Why? How? Where are You? I cannot begin to imagine the depths of painful cries heard throughout the heavens when such tragedies such as this occur. My heart is heavy for the people of Haiti who I have come to know and love. Their sorrow is felt around the globe and yet their voices have been silenced in the rubble. We have a great responsibility at hand, to be the voice. As the dust begins to settle and the damage is made clear, I pray we will each know our place in restoring this country. We returned from Haiti safely on Saturday and missed this tragedy by days. I think I speak for most people who minister to the Haitian community, that while our bodies are here, our hearts and prayers are there. Our town of Ouanaminthe certainly felt the serious quakes, but no major damage or injuries have been reported. I have heard from many missionaries living in this city that schools have been closed as teachers and students are beyond distracted by concern for loved ones in Port Au Prince. It is my guess that towns like Ouanaminthe will become future homes to the displaced peoples of this devastated area, and they will need our help in this process. For those who are following our Haiti Marathon set for January of next year, the planning process is well underway. This unique fundraiser hopes to assist with the desperate educational needs as well as community transformation in the city of Ouanaminthe. In light of this recent tragedy, we will be donating a substantial portion of the proceeds to relief efforts in Port Au Prince as well. For immediate assistance, 100% of all on-line donations will be made directly to relief efforts from now until April 1st. Your support and encouragement in this process are welcomed and needed. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me: restorehaiti@yahoo.com I have learned a very important lesson about God during my year of serving in Haiti that I want to share with you. You see, over the past year, I have seen children go hungry. I have held a small orphaned child in my arms as they sewed his precious head back together. I have directly experienced the harsh realities of corruption in Haiti. I have watched ministries come and go in support of Haiti and I have seen people turn a blind eye to the need of a desperate country. However, on the other hand, I have seen hope through the eyes of those we consider hopeless. I have learned the difference between belief in God and dependence on God. I have learned to dance with joy and worship with passion. I have learned to smile and truly mean it. I ask you--Who is helping who? I have learned that in spite of great tragedy, we have a God of love, compassion, and hope and though we may walk through the most painful of times, we walk not alone....

Be assured we are loved.

Mission Accomplished!

2010-01-11T06:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I am not sure where to begin in explaining this recent trip to Haiti. I can honestly say it was the most exhausting, fulfilling, patience testing, faith building and perfect trip ever. Starting with our first flight from Chicago being cancelled, the floodgates to the unexpected were opened wide as we began a challenging pursuit of servant hood. With 2 team members landing in Puerto Plata, and 4 team members being re-routed to Santiago, not to mentioned 7 out of 8 suitcases lost, we were suddenly forced to make the ultimate decision to get a good night sleep, pay $57 for 4 toothbrushes, a razor and a comb, and make the 3 hour trek to Haiti with very little food, clothing to share, and 2 sleeping bags between 6 women.

Having lost one full day to travel mishaps, and making the border crossing with minutes to spare, we spent the evening loving on the children of the orphanage and preparing to accomplish all three projects in the following 24 hours. Our disposable camera project involved distributing 100 cameras to the students of the school and challenging them to photograph where they see hope, beauty, and need for change in their country. Thankfully our cameras traveled as carry on but our only work day fell upon a school holiday, Argh!!! With the amazing instruction of Jackie, Meghan and Gloria the orphans, and school staff quickly accepted the task and headed out in full force shooting photos throughout the mud filled streets of Ouanaminthe.

The art project was completed as well! Although we were not able to use art work from hundreds of students in the school due to the holiday, the children at the orphanage were more than thrilled to participate. Their drawings will be made into tote bags, t-shirts, stationery, and much more as a way to raise money for their new school. Meredith had also came up with an excellent idea to have the children decorate their own t-shirts which topped the scale on fun! Thanks Kristi and Meredith for making this happen!

Our final project was the music CD. With Gloria's expertise in this area, we were able to obtain singing from the adult and children choirs as well as from the orphanage. The MP3's or CD's will be available for purchase as a fundraiser using their God given talents.

Mission Accomplished!

Of course our luggage arrived the evening before departure allowing us to deliver the generous donations given by friends, family and supporters around the country. We were also able to fix the pastors car and purchase a months supply of food for the orphanage.

In spite of being uncomfortable and a bit smelly, our team was able to share our resources, our faith, and our hope for the goals accomplished.

Thank you everyone!

Everyone is back home and safe in spite of more airline cancellations leaving most of our team in Miami for a couple of days, of course right?

Welcome to the mission field my friends!

Haiti Marathon

2009-12-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

There's simply nothing more perfect than a run in the snow. Anyone who truly knows me may be laughing about now. Having been born and raise in Orange County, California, I am the first to complain about the insane winters here in Chicago. My running club gives me a hard time about all the treadmill running I did last year to train for the Boston Marathon, and when I do show up dressed to run outside in the cold everyone is shocked. Maybe its the beautiful snow covered scenery that's calling my name, or that hypnotizing crunch of snow under my feet. Or better yet, maybe it's the extreme sport of car dodging on slippery roads thats got my attention. What ever it is, something's different this time around. I can't wait to get outside and just run! Running is my life! It's what keeps me grounded and most importantly, it's what kept me intact when my son passed away 13 years ago. Running clears my mind and keeps me focused. The further the run the better! I'm not a fast runner, but fast running has never been the focus for me. I just love to run... Three of the most important areas of my life: Family, Running, & Haiti. I can't think of a better way to join these three areas than to run a marathon (yes, this one is also 26.2 miles...) IN HAITI and bring my family along for the ride. So there it is folks, I'm officially announcing the first ever marathon in Ouanaminthe, Haiti, January 9th, 2011. This race won't be for everyone and details will be forthcoming. My goal is to raise $50,000 for education and community transformation in Ouanaminthe. The planning team is coming together to make this dream a reality. Your encouragement and support is priceless!

Food Program In Place!

2009-11-25T20:39:00.001-08:00

I've only been home for two days. I am convinced that short term depression is simply part of returning to the day to day grind. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing and being with my family more than any trip to Haiti can compare to. Still, I can't help but miss the 32 children in the orphanage the minute I cross over the Haitian border. It's hard to step back into this abundant lifestyle even after three short days of sleeping on concrete floors, going without water or electricity, bathing with wet wipes, eating protein bars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and using a bucket to flush the toilet. My time in Haiti involves a different kind of abundance. There is an abundance of joy, laughter, and sincere smiles. We experience an abundance of hope, faith, and trust. We have an abundance of children climbing into our laps, playing with our hair, and offering hugs and kisses with no strings attached. It's this abundance that keeps me moving forward in making a difference, even if for just one of these precious children. Just to give you an idea of where we are with present and future planning: Tyro Mavin Worldwide (http://www.tyromavin.org/) is a non-profit which will be working with us to support the orphanage directly. We have officially set up a food program for the orphanage to provide a monthly supply of rice, beans, pastas, oil, produce, and poultry. Pastor Willio has also built a wonderful garden in the backyard of the orphanage which will grow corn, beans, and sugar cane. During this trip, we purchased seven doves which will be bred for food and resale purposes. We hope to implement as many self sustaining options as possible. We are almost completely funded for 26 teacher salaries and hope to begin food, education, and medical sponsorship for the 32 orphans. Finally, our largest goal is to begin fund raising to build a new and safe school for the children. We head back to Haiti January 4th through the 8th to begin several fundraising campaigns. The unique side of these efforts are that the Haitian children will be primarily responsible for each of these fundraising events. It is our hope to empower them to contribute to building their own school. More details will be forthcoming. Until then, feel free to email me any questions, concerns, advice or encouragement for the journey ahead. (restorehaiti@yahoo.com)

2009-11-14T04:52:00.000-08:00

Too often we focus on the tears of those in Haiti and forget the complete joy our experiences there have taught us. I created this video to give you a peek into the smiles and laughter that has warmed my heart and taught me more about living than I ever expected.

Thanks to my very good friend Mike the website is up and running. It's a work in progress so bare with us. I leave to Haiti this Thursday and would as you to pray for safe travel and a progress for the trip. We hope to set up the food program for the orphanage as well as setting them up on the internet for better communication.

I wanted to thank the Volunteers In Mission (Of the United Methodist Church) for giving me the opportunity to share my stories about Haiti with them. These people get it! They were so gracious with providing me contacts and suggestions. Can't wait to get moving on them.

Many blessings to you all.

A Lesson In Patience

2009-10-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

Love is a precious word. Love is a delicate feeling. And love can make us do crazy things, don't you agree. I love my husband more than I can explain. I love my children and the beautiful ways they respond with their love. I love the Lord with everything I am. I love my dog, my cats, my friends, and people who make me laugh. I love to run, to swim, and to breath fresh air. I love a radiant sunrise and a colorful sunset. I love to love... So it's no surprise how this one little boy tugged at my heart strings so easily. One must sift through older posts to read the crazy events which brought Wilderson and I together. In an effort to comfort him through his brush with death, my heart fell quickly for this 6 year old orphaned child. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have responded without hesitation, that Wilderson would become part of our family. Eric and I searched through adoption rules and regulations. We spoke to attorneys, friends, and family seeking advice on how to move forward with this adoption. I prayed daily for a clear path to follow, and for money to drop from the sky. Still every door of opportunity remained tightly closed. The mission for education in Haiti quickly took priority over the adoption process. I soon realized how difficult it would be to travel back and forth from Haiti with another children to care for. At least I would be able to see him during my time in Ouanaminthe. My family was saddened by this decision. The kids had created a "Wilderson" fund filled with spare change in hopes of covering the adoption costs. Their nightly prayers were consumed with bringing Wilderson home and now they were unsure what to pray for. Still, life eventually returned to normal, but my heart still aches for my sweet boy. This last trip in September was the most difficult I think. Wilderson never left my side, except for when I was running ministry errands. As soon as I would return, he would find me. He would crawl on my lap and go about playing with his little wrestling action figure Andrew had sent along for him. He would often call me "Ma Ma" and several times he would simply fall asleep in my arms as I rocked him back and forth. When it was time to leave, I remember having a panic attack thinking I had lost my camera. I was literally hysterical thinking how many photos of me and Wilderson would be lost forever. A fellow missionary brought Wilderson to me and said "This little guy needs you right now." Apparently Wilderson has separated himself from the group gathering to bid farewell. He was found running a stick up and down the orphanage wall, repeating "Martha, Martha" as large alligator tears streamed down his precious face. I will never forget that moment, scooping him up into my arms and crying together as we understood it was time to say goodbye once again. I know this process will happen again and again until our work with Willio's school is complete and it truly breaks my heart. Part of me thinks Wilderson will never come to live with our family. Yet I will have the joy and honor of watching him grow into a strong and faithful boy who will know the needs of Haiti and continue to fight for them. Although he no longer has his birth mother or father in his life, I pray he will come to know how much I care for him as I pour love into his precious life each time we're together. Still, I have to admit, there is one tiny part of me hoping one day I will tuck him to sleep in his first ever bed in the safety of our home..... A true lesson in "Patience....."

2009-10-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and family, As most of you know, I have spent the last year traveling back and forth to the small town of Ouanaminthe, Haiti in an effort to support a local orphanage and school. I want to take a moment to personally thank all you for your patience, encouragement, and support. Haiti's circumstances are desperate to say the least. It's an overwhelming situation, and one that I feel called to. Those of you who know me, know how much I love children, especially my own. Eric and I have worked hard to instill a sense of moral clarity into our children which expands the globe. We teach our children that reaching out to your neighbor is simply not defined by the four block radius of our neighborhood. It’s local as well as global. Having personally seen the need in Haiti, I am drawn to stand up for the children whose voice has been silenced by the overwhelming conditions of their day to day life. I’m currently working on developing an organization named “Restore Haiti.” This organization will be dedicated to bringing support and hope to disadvantaged schools in impoverished cities of Haiti. The people of Haiti place a very high value on education and yet the resources to provide such instruction are hindered by political upheaval, extreme poverty, natural disaster, and the scarcity of public schools. I want us to be committed to building schools, providing financial support, encouraging child development, and responding to the problems that face these vulnerable children daily. Whether it’s building a school from the ground up, securing sponsorship for teacher’s salaries, donating desperately needed school supplies, or providing training to school staff directly in Haiti, I need your help. I’m all about echoing the idea that education should be a right and not merely a dream. About now you may be thinking “just tell me what you need from me.” Glad you asked… Spread the word! Not everyone will be called to reaching out to this part of the world, yet I am confident the right people will be led to help. A large step in establishing this organization is taking people to Haiti to personally experience the need I am speaking of. We currently have trips in November and January to help accomplish this goal. We consider it a privilege to serve along side the people of the Haiti. I give you my word to set up an organization which echoes transparency, accountability and integrity. In the midst of utter poverty, the people of Haiti have taught me more about living, more about pure joy, and more about love than I ever expected. In closing, I’ve often been asked: “What is the driving force behind this project?” My answer is clearer today than ever. We recently celebrated our son Jonathan’s birthday. He would have been twelve. Through his fragile and short time with us, we fought desperately against a rare heart condition that had no cure. As a family, we know the pain of suffering through circumstances beyond our control. Like the children of Haiti, we know the pure grief of letting go of a dream which was simply out of reach. Once again, I’m faced with an opportunity to fight for something which has value and meaning; and this time, it has a cure! I can’t fight alone! I need others who will be committed to making a difference in the lives and future of these special children. Donations can be made to: OSUMC (701 E Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194 Attn: Martha Walker) Please write Haiti in the memo box as well as one of the following categories. ** November/ January Trip ** Teacher Salaries ** Food Program ** ** General Restore Haiti Fund

Wonderful!

2009-10-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Wednesday September 30, 2009... 26 teachers were paid for the first time in 6 months. What a privilege to be part of something so wonderful! Who would have guessed in just 11 months ago we would have gained the trust and support of many people who believe in such a wonderful cause. The teachers of of COLLEGE SUR LE ROCHER thank you from the bottom of their hearts. We are still in need a teacher sponsorship. We had a reserve of money from donations that had come in, which allowed us to send a "good faith" donation toward these teachers salaries. We still have work to do. While our 501C3 is still in the works, Our Saviour's United Methodist Church has agreed to open a separate account for all Haiti donations. A completely separate accounting ledger will be kept of all transactions made toward this Haiti mission. In order to maintain transparency and accountability we are available to answer any questions you may have. Be assured, all donations will be given to the appropriate ministry. If you wish to donate to any of the following needs please make checks payable to OSUMC (Mail to: 701 E Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg IL 60194 Attn: Martha Walker) In the memo line please note your check accordingly: "Haiti/________" and one of the follow needs... Teacher Salaries Monthly Food Program January travel team Misc Needs We hope to have our web-page up within the next couple of weeks. I will announce the Http address very soon. Many thanks to all who have helped to make this happen. Our January trip is coming closer. This trip is unique and exciting to say the least. This trip will include a team of artists, photographers and audio/ video journalists who will capture the essence of what we are doing in media format. It is our hope to bring this story and cause to schools, galleries, churches, and other locations for better exposure. Education in Haiti is essential. Our dream is to support one school at a time. With this being our first school project, we are walking through very new territory. Your support and encouragement has been overwhelming. It is our hope to secure sponsorship for all 26 teachers for at least one year, build a new and safe school for the children of COLLEGE SUR LE ROCHER, create ways to help them become self supporting, and reach out to another educational system in need.

Fogetting Haiti

2009-09-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a family vacation in Mexico. What a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my husband and children. We saw old friends, made new friends, relaxed by the pool, snorkeled in the clear waters, and even celebrated Mexican Independence day with new friends. However, all good things come to an end. Our fairytale vacation was no exception. Returning home, Eric and I were immediately thrown back into the insanity we call "life." Each of us attempting to juggle two jobs, two third world ministries in Haiti and Ethiopia, caring for a home, and most importantly, trying to be the best parents we can. I am certain we are missing the mark in just about every area of our crazy lives. The day to day grind can be very overwhelming. This is no stranger to those of us seeking to make a difference somewhere around the world. Regardless of where we find ourselves serving, it's just too easy to fall back into routine and forget about the people we love, who are struggling miles away. It's not enough to just remember the children of Haiti. Lets be honest, remembering without action offers little hope to a hungry man, woman, or child. Since returning from Haiti we stand at approximately 60% full funding for 26 teacher salaries. Because many people have made one time love offerings, we have enough to make our first official donation for these very hard working men and women. By next week, we hope to give each teacher a donation of their monthly pay. This is only a good faith offering with no guarantee of the following month due to the lack of full funding. I'm asking that you don't forget this ministry in Haiti. Make a promise to remember with action. Whether through prayer, donations, serving, visiting, spreading the word, or encouraging, you make an incredible difference in the lives of these men, women, and children. Education is the key to hope for these children in Haiti. We can be part of this hope for the children attending College Sur Le Rocher and other schools in Ouanaminthe. If you would like to make a one time donation or sponsor a teachers annual salary ($70.00 per month) with your church, your small group, your friends, or family, please contact me at restorehaiti@yahoo.com I won't forget! Let's not forget....

2009-09-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

Physically I've been home for a little over a week and yet my heart has never left Ouanaminthe. I am sure this sounds pretty cliche' but let me explain.... I've never felt more like myself than when I'm in serving in Haiti. When I am working with Pastor Willio, the staff of the school, and the children of the orphanage, I am able to let all of burdens fall to the floor. I never stress over what to wear or how I look. The laundry list of chores and work projects are forgotten. The debt I have incurred and the bills I have yet to pay are a temporary thing of the past. For those few days, I am filled with clear purpose. In this special time, I feel reconnected to the person God created me to be. I don't always feel this clarity when I am thrown into the day to day flow of my life. When I return home, I spend days telling stories, remembering funny happenings, reflecting on "God Moments," and recalling the smells and sounds of this beautiful country. Still, it's not enough to clearly bring Haiti to you in a tangible way. For this very reason, I feel led to bring people to Ouanaminthe, to do ministry together. I can't wait to bring my own family to this special place that brings such joy and peace to my heart. I don't know where to begin in telling these precious stories. I am only hopeful one day many of you will simply "experience" these stories first hand.

2009-09-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

Your faithfulness is overwhelming. So many people are asking how they can help, so I have put together a list of the current needs we are dealing with as we baby step this unknown journey. You can contact me at: restorehaiti@yahoo.com Current needs: Teacher sponsorship (70.00 per month) We have 17 teachers left who need monthly sponsorship. I am encouraging churches, families or individuals to consider sponsoring one teacher for a one year commitment. We hope to be able to offer communication between the sponsor and teacher as well as photos and even personal visits. I will have their photos and stories up on the blog in the coming week. Orphan Sponsorship (40.00 per month) We have 32 orphans who need sponsorship for food, medical care and education. Most importantly, since Restore Haiti's main focus is on the educational needs of Haiti, I am looking for a non-profit who will consider taking the orphanage under their wing. Details will be provided upon request. Please pray the Lord will provide an organization for this. Research into agricultural needs- This is completely out of my scope of knowledge. However, I realize it is vital to the orphanage to learn how to grow their own food and perhaps even raise their own chickens for eggs and meat. Our hope is to provide the means to assist them in caring for themselves rather than having them grow dependent upon us. Kim Cochran is looking into this, but the more information we can get the better. If you are interested in helping with this project please let us know. Water needs- The orphanage has a well that is contaminated. They currently purchase water weekly for the children, but from what we observed on our last visit, its just not available to them enough. You would have thought we were pouring sweet nectar into their little mouths the way they pleaded for more. We are looking for someone to take on the research and action of providing water to the children. The community of Ouanaminthe needs water. During our time there, we noticed several water pumps but Pastor Willio said they are all contaminated and not usable for drinking. I don't begin to know what this would look like but I am sure someone who is passionate about this area will be led by the Lord in the right direction. Non-Profit Status- We are looking for someone to hold our hand through the non-profit status. I once thought an attorney was mandatory, but it turns out this is not the case. We really need to get this up and running to assure donors the money is being used correctly by "Restore Haiti." All donations are currently being run through Our Saviour's Church but only as a temporary way of providing tax deductions for donors. Travel Needs: Funding is the bottom line. I would like to lead at least 6 trips a year for people to come to know the needs of Haiti, but more importantly, to know the children personally. With this personal relationship comes a desire to make a difference. There is a moral clarity that is recognized when you visit this country. Plan a trip with a team of 6 people being called to serve in Haiti. We can take you there. Please do not be overwhelmed by the message that all of Haiti is dangerous. My first trip was truly masked by this message. Ouanaminthe is a welcoming and friendly border town to the Dominican Republic. One day I hope to take my own children to Haiti. If anyone has connections with American Airlines and can get discounted airline or free tickets for me to travel to keep an eye on things in Haiti, this would be a blessing. Bake sells, car washes, babysitting for church families, these are all ideas on a smaller scale that can be done. Design a shirt: We will be looking at ideas for a "Restore Haiti" t-shirt. I would like a Black shire with some type of white logo for Restore Haiti. Spreading the Word- Tell people you know about the task at hand. Tell them about this blog or share stories about what's being done in this part of the world. I truly believe the right people will lead in the right directions. Just spread the word. Donations can be made directly on the blog (www.restorehaiti.blogspot.com) I used to be afraid to ask.... I've gotten over that. I have learned from this process not to hold back. Even the most ridiculous requests have been fulfilled. One day soon I will share the funny story about my plane ride back from the Dominican Republic and how I met "Uzi." What fun!

2009-08-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

We have just returned from our week long trip in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. So much to write about. In fact the day before flying home, I sat with my journal in the Dominican Republic writing down all of the topics I have yet to write about. This process alone took up two pages, so you can only imagine how much needs to make its way to this blog. Check in often over the next few weeks for updates and personal testimonies from this amazing trip! The most important thing I want to share with everyone is how much was accomplished during our time with the children. Due to a anonymous donation we were able to rent a temporary school for the upcoming year. Last year due to the school closure mid-year, the orphanage was turned into a temporary school displacing all 32 children into homes throughout the community. With no time to think this process through, this displacement was extremely difficult for the children. Now they are assured a familiar home for at least a year! The six of us paid a visit to the temporary school to approve the building as being safe before allowing the payment to be secured. This was truly a joyful moment as we all agreed on renting the building! We were also able to open a bank account directly in Haiti. With your donations, we also opened a separate account for all 26 teachers and staff of the school who we hope to gain sponsorship for. This allows us to directly deposit sponsored salaries of $70 per month to all staff who are working for the school. This was precisely the accountability direction we were looking for. We had the amazing opportunity to meet all teachers of College Sur Le Rocher. Each of them have faithfully worked the last 5 months of the school year without any pay. They told us it was their faith in God which keeps them strong. They were so eager to see this sponsorship program put into place as it was an answer to prayer for them. Our hope is to connect families in the US with an individual teacher not only for sponsorship but for prayer, support and communication. It's even likely many of these sponsors may wish to meet the teacher they support on one of our upcoming trips. We currently have 9 teachers sponsored and need just 17 more to be complete. If you are interested in sponsoring a teacher please contact me at: www.restorehaiti@yahoo.com With your donations, we were able to purchase school uniforms for all 32 orphans as well as school books for the upcoming year. We were also able to purchase just about one months supply of food for the orphanage. What a blessing! Kim Cochran (seen in the photo above with KiKi) has agreed to partner with me in setting the parameters for "Restore Haiti." Our main goal now is to finalize the "non-profit-- 501C3" status which we are still working on. Any advice is welcomed! While this is pending, we are able to run donations through our church. Be assured, every penny donated will make its way to the children in Haiti. You have my personal word on that... Again, check in regularly for some amazing stories related to this last trip. I can't wait to share how these kids have changed not only my life but the life of 5 other women as well!

One Week Away!

2009-08-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

So, a week from today we will be on our way back to Haiti. I cannot begin to thank everyone for your awesome donations. We have 4 suitcases at the church just spilling with donations for the orphanage and school. I know Kristi has has an entire car filled with clothing, medical supplies and such. We have the difficult task of going through donations to see what we can fit on this trip and which donations will go in January. This truly speaks volumes about the generous hearts of so many people in this world.

The total cost for this trip has been estimated at approximately $850. This includes airfare, transportation from the DR to Haiti, hotel in Dajabon, all taxi services, all food, a love offering, border fees, transportation back to Puerto Plata, as well as our final hotel stay before heading back home. This is for a 5 day stay. I hope this gives you a road map for costs if you are even remotely thinking of going on a trip like this.

We will be taking donations which include school supplies, clothing, dishes, over the counter meds, books and toys for the kids. The children in our Vacation Bible School made small felt stuffed turtles for all of the children in the orphanage. Each turtle has a little front pocket which has a special letter written from the kids here to the children in Haiti. I can't wait to see them receive these sweet little gifts!

Our next trip to Haiti is scheduled for January 4th through the 10th. This trip has an "art" theme. We plan to take different types of art inspired team members to work with the children in the school and orphanage. We would love to expand on their basic understanding of art as well as bring back some of their art work to turn into t-shirts, post cards, stationary, etc... All proceeds will go back into the building of their school. It is our hope to bring the students in Haiti along side our efforts in building their own school. This certainly gives them a sense of ownership in making this dream come true.

With the instruction and leadership of my dear friend Tim Burns, we hope to record songs from the school choir which will be available for download once the official website is up and running. Again, all proceeds go directly into the fund raising efforts for the future school build. I would also like to send a special thank you to Mike Sukow for offering to put together our "restorehaiti" website.

I hope to be able to send updates directly from Haiti as well as photos, so please follow along!

Many blessings....

Our Team Is Set

2009-08-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce the final two members of our August team. Meredith Andrews joined us on our last November trip to Ouanaminthe. Meredith not only has a passion for serving needy children around the world, but she has a special place in her heart for little McKinsley,seen on her lap here. McKinsley has no parents and was found wondering around the Dominican Market by Pastor Willio several years ago. McKinsley is HIV positive and we pray daily for his health. I know Meredith will have the time of her life lovin' on this little guy when we arrive at the orphanage. She has waited patiently for the opportunity to return to Haiti, and the chance has finally arrived!

The final member of our team is Theresa Mayle. (Seen here with her father.) Although she has never gone to Haiti before, Theresa has joined my husband Eric on countless mission trips to Mexico and throughout the US. Theresa is ready for a trip like this. She is a nurse at the famous Mayo Clinic and certainly has a passion for serving. I can't wait to see just how she is transformed by serving in Ouanaminthe.

So here we are just 21 days away! I plan to post the names of the hotels, and transportation costs we encounter as a future road map for anyone else putting together a trip like this. It has certainly been more work that I anticipated, but what a ride!!!!

Our 5013C is still a necessity. I spoke with a friend of mine at church yesterday who mentioned he had access to many attorneys who might be willing to put this together for us. This is just one area I have no understanding in, but am willing to learn!

All donations to this point have been placed in a secure "Haiti" account through our church but won't be touched until our "non-profit board" is put together. I can't thank everyone enough for your compassion and generosity in supporting this future school build and for caring for these beautiful children. I know they appreciate you as well.

God Bless!

Heading Back

2009-07-13T12:22:00.001-07:00

We have set dates and we are heading back to Haiti at the end of August. This trip will be fast and furious but not without helpful accomplishments in putting together a plan for these children. In addition to myself, our team consists Kim who I met previously on my first trip to Haiti. She is seen in this photo (on the left) holding our dear KiKi. Kim has a passion for Haiti and is praying earnestly for her place in all of this. I know we can count on her to be a wonderful addition to this group.

Next is Kristy. Kristy is seen on the right holding two beautiful girls from the school. Kristy and I actually met at Meredith's wedding. You can't meet Kristy without getting attached. Kristy hasn't slept well since going to Haiti with us back in November. She certainly feels led to return. Kristy is a nurse and we are hopeful she can use her gifts to bless the children abundantly.

Next is Char. Seen in the photo below getting a big smooch from me! Char has volunteered along side me on more Jr high mission trips than I can remember. In fact this Friday we leave for another awesome mission trip to Michigan with 14 Jr high students.

Char is a the most faithful and dedicated woman I have ever met. She is also a nurse. I can't wait to see how Haiti gets under her skin as she will be changed forever. We have a couple more people working on the possibility of joining us. The goal of this trip is to photograph and tell the stories of 21 teachers and 32 orphaned children who we hope to secure sponsorship for. We also want to put into place a monthly food delivery and work out something with the bank to assure teachers are being paid each month. We hope to implement some agricultural steps for the orphanage that will help with the food situation. We will also visit the site of the future school and of course love on the kids morning noon and night!

I want to send a great big thank you to my very good friend Tim Burns who is in the process of opening doors to the wonderful art community. He has already obtained domain hosting for us and is in the works of networking to bring more people on board with this school building process. Thank you so much Tim!

We are making progress everyone!

It's Never By Accident

2009-07-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

I want to introduce you to two of the most amazing and inspiring women I have had the honor of knowing. Meredith is on the left. And when she is not in the throws of traveling and recording CD's, has devoted so much of her life to serving children in countries such as India, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

Her and her husband are an inexplicable joy to be around. Their obvious talent

comes second to their devotion and faithfulness to Christ. Meredith found a special love for one of the children in Haiti McKinsley. I can't wait for the day when we can return to Ouanaminthe together to see her little guy. I know there is more to this story than has been revealed at this point, but I will keep you informed on how that visit goes when it finally happens. You can find out more about Meredith from her website: http://meredithandrews.com/

The other beautiful woman is Carolyn Vetter Twietmeyer. I don't know how to begin to tell her story and do it justice. You may have seen her family on ABC news as a feature story. Carolyn and her husband are two of the most loving and caring people Eric and I have had the opportunity to meet. In addition to their 7 children, they have adopted 4 children from Ethiopia, and are in the final stages of bringing home 2 more children in the very near future. You can read their story and about their ministry at www.projecthopeful.org

Taken directly from her website:

Carolyn's mission in life is to educate, enable, and encourage families to open their minds to the possibility of adoption by exposing the needs of children with HIV and other severe special needs abroad. Her burden for these children has been further fueled by her subsequent adoption of a child in the end stages of AIDS and the realization of the desperation and HOPE for children such as these.

Now I ask myself, how is it that I have been blessed to come to know these amazing women who are on the front lines of some courageous and inspirational movements? It's simple... there is plan bigger than myself in all of this, and I can't wait to be part of it! You too~ So many of the events in our lives we tend to chop up to "chance." What missed opportunities when we don't recognize the unveiling of a plan that has such great purpose involved. Thank you for your continued support.

Baby Steps

2009-06-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Well, since you have decided to follow along this completely random journey, I will let you in on all of the very frustrating parts. If anyone stumbles upon this blog in the future and is trying to start a ministry from scratch, I hope this will be helpful. If my efforts are a complete failure, perhaps you can learn from my mistakes. Today I received several calls from Pastor Willio. The children are hungry and there is little hope for feeding them. My first instinct is to run to the nearest Western Union and send off what little I have in my savings account. Well, where is the accountability in that? I truly love these children and want to see the best for them. The best thing for them in the long run is to put into place a ministry that is stable, sustainable, and most importantly boosts the Haitian economy rather than ours. How the heck do I do this???? I have spent most of today sulking in my own despair. The donate button on this blog has generated $91.34 to date. This is from 3 very generous people who I love dearly. Thank you, you know who you are! Yet, how can I solve these children's problems with this? I am going to lay it all out there.... Here is what I need to begin putting this together. I need an attorney who willing to donate their time without cost in putting together a "non-profit" status (501C) for "Restorehait." I am seeking missionaries who feel called to live in Haiti for 1 year to get this ministry up and running ( We will assist you in raising your support.) I need supporters who will sponsor these missionaries, whether it's an entire church or one family. We need a sponsor to agree to pay for community college for a student Eric and I will to sponsor by living with us, who will teach me "Creole" in exchange for a place to live and a much needed education to use in Haiti. We need instruction on how to get a food program set up for daily meals in this orphanage and in the school. We need someone who is skilled in fund raising and building schools in 3rd world countries to give us a hand. We need someone to donate their time to set up a website for "restorehaiti.com and/or restorehaiti.org" which I have purchased the domain names for but have no idea how to get them going. We need to find 21 families or companies to sponsor one of the 21 teachers at $70.00 per month in addition to finding 32 families to support an orphan at $40.00 per month... for one year. We need people to go with me to Haiti to meet these children to bring the "word" back to their friends and family about the present need. I personally need sponsorship for 4 trips per year at $1100.00 per trip to keep an eye on how things are being run, which includes airfare and food. If the listed needs are too much and you simply want to provide a one time love offering for this new ministry, please make a donation today. I can't do this without financial support. I truly hate asking, but at this point, the bottom line is pretty clear. Finally and most importantly, we need prayer. Everyone is capable of this! This is bigger than any of us. We are all called to help the needy and why do we become so caught up in our own lives that hungry children like Wilderson are forgotten about. Don't these children deserve 3 meals a day and an education as much as you and I? I am completely guilty of this myself. Can there be anything more frustrating than knowing how much we have and how much "they" need. They don't know the extent of their own situation as it is compared to ours, but they know hunger. It's just wrong.... simply put, it's just wrong. So there it is in a nutshell. At this point, I no longer have shame in asking. I watched my husband return from a trip to Ethiopia. He worked with a program who has a model that IS working. We need this for Haiti. I need your help. These kids need your help. Exhausted but ready to DO this! Martha

Testing!

2009-06-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

I spoke to Pastor Willio this morning to see how everyone is doing. This is not a question I expect to hear a very positive response to. I guess "how are you" is a strange question to ask a man living in a desperate situation, caring for 32 orphans, and running a non-funded school. Still, I always ask, and he always responds with how happy they are to hear from me. He was positive today as he had just returned from 2 separate trips to Cap-Haitian (one hour from Quanaminthe) taking 23 students for their official government exams. This exam is extremely important to the future of the school. As long as the children are testing at an appropriate level, the school will prove it's ability to keep up to speed and in turn will be approved to remain open. I can imagine how stressful this must be for them.

We spoke of plans to bring college students to Quanaminthe next year to run a two week long summer camp for the children. This is something I need to get a move on, and would appreciate any advice from anyone who has done such a thing. If this is something that interests you, by all means, let me know. :-)

At the end of our conversation, Willio thanked me for my support and love for the children and reminded me of how difficult things are. He spoke of how little they had to offer the children in the way of food, and asked me to keep praying for an organization to step in to help. Let's keep praying for this to happen. I will begin support raising for another return trip to Haiti in August. The cost of this trip is approximately $1100.00 and the hope is to establish a system of "payroll" for the teachers once they are fully sponsored by families here in the US. Again, I am determined to implement the highest standards of accountability to be a good steward of donated monies, as well as protect Pastor Willio.

Thanks for following along!

This Video Says It All

2009-06-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

This song is written and sung by Meredith Andrews who is featured in the video. This is from our first trip to Haiti and making this video brings me back to Haiti again and again. Can't wait until August. If you are able to donate toward this trip, please do. Blessings, Martha

Just a thought...

2009-06-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

So I can't really explain why posting on this blog is so difficult to get to. Maybe it has something to do with having kids home for the summer, working a full time job, running my own film business, being a homemaker and caretaker, getting my training runs in...or maybe I am just lazy. I hate to admit it, but I think it's just being lazy. There is nothing more on my mind than the children and people I love in Haiti. Pastor Willio sent me these photos just recently, and my heart was torn into pieces. It's as if Haiti beckons me daily. I just don't know where to go with this call. Ever have a struggle like this?

I have all of these ideas floating around in my head, but no clue how to bring them to reality. I know I want to see a new school built for these children who are currently squashed into the smallest classrooms. There is very little sunlight or overhead light due to the lack of electricity. The children often share a chair with another student. Here is the younger boys class pretty much stacked wall to wall in this tiny room of the orphanage.

The original school the children were placed in was closed down. Thank the Lord! This building was so incredibly unsafe. You could literally see through the floorboards of the 2nd story down to the classrooms below. The bad news is, the school year was still in session when the school closing occurred. Pastor Willio could not dream of sending the children away without completing the school year and so he made a very difficult choice. He assigned the 32 orphans living with him in the orphanage out to different homes in the community. He kept the five youngest boys with him, his wife, and their two children. Everyone else was sent to temporary homes. June 12, 2009 the school year finished and the 32 children moved back into the orphanage. However, when August comes around, the children will be displaced once again. If these homes were permanent, we could celebrate, but unfortunately they are not. Until a new school is built, the children will be moved back and forth between temporary housing and their familiar home in the orphanage. A new school building a school is a huge project and one I feel is far in the future. I am looking for advice from ANYONE who has experience building a school in the 3rd world. Even our current goal which is finding 21 families to support a teachers salary for one year, has been a difficult task. Do you know the cost of one teachers monthly salary? It a mere $70.00 a month. I think our bill from dinner at Chili's the other night was around this amount. Still, it's difficult to explain such a need to people here who have never met the children and teachers we are working so hard to care for. I plan to take another trip back to Haiti this August or September to meet with the teachers, and the banks to put into place a very secure payroll system that keeps the upmost care in accountability. I also hope to bring the personal story of each teacher sponsored a family in the US. I feel it's so important for sponsor families to know exactly who they are supporting as we open the communication between the sponsor and sponsored.

Finally, I ask for prayer for direction, advice, funding and most importantly wisdom in this very slow process. Thank you for following along in my baby steps. If it seems slow, it is. I imagine this is just the direction I am being led through. Finally, as I write this, my husband is in Ethiopia leading 13 students, college kids and adults for 3 weeks of serving and loving the children and people of this community. Please keep his team in your prayers. Here is their photo the morning they left. We have only heard they arrived safely, but do not anticipate hearing much from them while they are gone.

Another Trip To Haiti

2009-05-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

Please let me begin by apologizing for no updates or posts since January. I would like to say this was a time of waiting patiently for direction, wisdom, and most importantly and opportunity to return to Ouanaminthe, Haiti. The opportunity came at a time when I had almost given up hope in my return, as Hopegivers was no longer able to support Pastor Willio's ministry for many reasons I can respect. Still my every waking moment seemed consumed with thoughts of Haiti, hopes for returning, and closure from a very intense previous trip. Then I met Liza... My husband found a group (A Methodist group to boot) heading to Ouanaminthe in April. He sent me the link right away and I called immediately. The group of 7 was being led by Liza Case who had also been on a previous trip to this intriguing city. She too desired to go back on a medical mission trip and had done incredible planning to make this a reality. She eagerly welcomed me, even found a scholarship from her church to assist my travel, and sent off 3 large boxes filled with medications and medical scrubs for me to bring along. I was actually going again! Now I have to say, there was no way to avoid the fear of returning on such a trip. If you take time to read previous posts here, you will find stories filled with moments of anxiety, grief, fear, and definite uncertainty. I will chalk it up---well almost all--- to pure ignorance. Having never served in a 3rd world country, and certainly not to the extent of poverty in Haiti, I was truly taken aback by what I saw. Looking back now, I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to return, not only to serve, but for an entirely peaceful perspective to my previous travel. We were pickup from at the Airport in Puerta Plata by Dave and Pam who are American missionaries serving in Ouanaminthe for the past 3 years. We were driven in a large school bus, which, if I do say so myself, felt much safer than the 10 seat passenger van my previous group of 12 traveled in.

NOT TOO DIFFICULT A CHOICE!

The trip to Dajabon was quiet uneventful. I must admit, I felt unstoppable in this massive school bus. The number of missionaries staying in the hotel were odd numbered, and so I volunteered to sleep alone. Wow, Martha makes a courageous first step into conquering her ignorant fears. I slept like a baby, and awoke to the familiar sound of dogs barking incessantly, the constant hum of motorbikes, and of course that darn rooster that truly does not understand the meaning of "crowing at dawn." It felt like home to me.

The border crossing was smooth, quick and safe. The community had been stirring for hours prior to our early arrival. Locals washing clothing in the river, taxi's anticipating their first morning customers, and small children desperate to shine your shoes for any loose change one could spare.

I suppose I could give you a journal entry of what I did every day, but this update would be too time consuming to read. My purpose on this trip was to assist in eye exams at the COCINA medical clinic in Ouanaminthe. We had an inventory of over 7000 pairs of glasses which could be matched up with the vision prescription of the patient. It was an amazing system to say the least. We also had 3 dental hygienists performing intense and desperately needed teeth cleanings to adults and children, and one nurse doing well checks on school children. It was a mission well planned and certainly well executed. Of course the help of our wonderful interpreters surely helped! Now, if you had followed my previous posts, you will remember the orphaned children I wrote about. I knew I needed to see Pastor Willio during my time in Ouanaminthe as well as hug Widerson and David who I last saw at the bedside of the Dominican medical clinic. I surely needed some type of closure from a certain tragedy.

My wish soon came true as Willio pulled up to the clinic with 5 boys in tow. I quickly swept them into my arms and kissed the healed scars upon the boys sweet heads. It was in this moment I realized my time with these boys was not over. In some way, there was still work to do with Pastor Willio and the orphans. I just need to be patient in seeing where this journey takes me. I have learned the areas I need to be cautious and experienced the need for accountability in serving in Haiti, but my heart is even more sure that Pastor Willio has a passion for teaching children who otherwise would have not opportunity for education. As I gain more clarity, I will certainly keep you up to date, as I am sure I will need your prayers and assistance.

Lastly, I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting Hugues Bastien. He is the founder and Director of Institution Univers, a Christian school which was founded in 1994. In another post, I will share his story which like Willio is anything but extraordinary. “Institution Univers” includes all the academic education programs for pre-kindergarten (students admitted at age 3) up through grade 13. The school is on the French system, so there are 13 grades before graduation. We were astonished at how well organized and excellently run this school is. In their true understanding of the need for education in Haiti, they too will need our help to continue such a high level, and blessed program. During my time with Hugues, I had the honor of participating in a one day planting of 2000 trees which were generously donated by the Dominican Republic in an effort to assist the re-foresting of Haiti. The kids were thrilled to be part of such an important program, and boy were they ever proud to receive and plant their own tree. It is programs like this where Hugues brings experience and education together in a fantastic manner.

So where do I go from here? Back again...and again....and again... I feel more than ever before the calling upon my heart to continue serving in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. I have been introduced to two wonderful ministries who are in desperate need of support. In the coming days, I will introduce several ways you can become involved in this ministry. I thank you for your continued encouragment, support and prayers.

Haiti Update

2009-01-14T10:22:00.001-08:00

Less than 30 days before we head back to Haiti! My family has been more than supportive of my hope for joining a team who desires hope and change for these beautiful children. One look into the eyes of this little boy and you will know what I am talking about.

The learning process has been incredible to say the least. In order to better serve Haiti, one must learn about Haiti. I have to tell you, I live a very simple life. Most people would say I am street smart but not "world" smart. My pastor often teases me by catching me off guard with simple questions about who holds certain positions in political office. I would almost always get the answer wrong and laugh like crazy to hide my embarrassment. Yet, something got a hold of me in Haiti. Since returning, I have been consumed with a hunger for world news. With CNN on morning, noon, and night, and daily searches for any news of Haiti , I'm feeling like like my school days are upon me once again. Yesterday, I came home from the library with 12 books about Haiti as well as 3 DVD's that are sure to teach me everything I need to know, right??? Hmmmmmm, maybe not...

Anyhow, if you are in the same study mode, here are a few books I have read recently which have spurred my passion and given me a wealth of helpful information: Paul Farmers "Mountains Beyond Mountains" which addresses the desperate health care needs of Haiti--- "Not On Our Watch" which speaks to the issue of genocide----- " Angels of a Lower Flight."

A woman's story of turning her painful life into a life of hope serving the children of Haiti.

This week my prayers have been answered in a simple call from New Jersey. Denise is a wonderful woman! She is also a volunteer for Hopegivers International and shares the same passion for Haiti as I do. She gets it completely! Speaking with her about Willio, the children, and the plans in store has given me the confidence I needed in knowing we are heading in the right direction on this unknown path. Not only is she the vice president of the company she works for, she has all of the strategic planning skills I have been praying for in the past several weeks. I am amazed at the people the Lord has faithfully brought together for the good of His hope in Ouanaminthe. Denise has agreed to travel to Haiti with us this February, and together our team will assess the exact needs of Willio and the children to determine what falls in the scope of Hopegivers ministry. Other needs will be routed to other ministries that can better serve them. It's a start and one I am anxiously thrilled to begin.

Please pray for our safety, health and for us to be a blessing to all we come in contact with. This is not our journey but one that I believe the Lord has put into motion. We are only his servants and I am so thrilled, honored, and humbled to be part of it. I can't wait to see where it goes from here!

Fellow Missionary "Jennifer Franco"

2009-01-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

As I prepared myself for Haiti, I tried to picture the utter poverty I would face and the hungry children I would meet, so that I wouldn't be too shocked. I had been to India the year before, so I knew what real poverty looked like, but I didn't want this trip to just make me feel sorry for them. I wanted to go see them and do something about it. Because any sane American who visits this particular orphanage in Ouanaminthe would feel "bad." But unfortunately it is too easy for us to see them and go back to our old lives and do nothing. But of course I was still shocked. Because when you see impoverished orphans on TV, they're usually crying and reaching for food. But when you actually go there, you realize that that's their way of life. They don't know how to live any differently. And amazingly, they still choose to trust the Lord to provide their next meal, because they don't know where it's going to come from. And not only do the children have awesome faith, but they also have the joy of the Lord. They were so welcoming and so happy to see us when we stepped out of our luggage-packed van. I will never forget they way they were all dressed up in their Sunday best for church; the girls all wore dresses (donated to the orphanage) and the boys wore their nicest outfits as well. It was funny because we were actually the ones who felt under dressed. I remember getting back home from Haiti and not being able to stop thinking about those kids. One of the main things God showed me while I was there was how possible it is to help those 31 kids. If every person who visited the kids stopped going out for coffee 5 times a week, or decided to spend less money on Christmas presents, or even started eating out less-- anything we want to do-- if every person sacrificially gave just a little bit of money every month to this orphanage, they might not have to wonder where tomorrow's food will come from. And Pastor Willio might not have to turn down child after child because of a lack of food. It is so possible for us to help them in a huge way without even giving very much. The Bible says that true religion is looking after widows and orphans, because they're the ones who don't have anyone looking after them. God loves to see his children giving to each other.I think that Americans, when faced with the thought of donating money to a far-away orphanage they've never seen, think, "Oh, well I don't have much money. How would my tiny contribution help an orphanage full of hungry children?" And I think that's where most of us are wrong. Because that little amount of money you can give to those kids is like gold to them. And I guess it is hard to think that way until you've been there. Though you certainly don't have to visit the Haitian children to give money to them, I would certainly recommend going. Those kids will make you feel at home (ironic, I know) and will lovingly welcome you with open arms even if you can't speak their language. For me, going to Haiti wasn't necessarily "heartbreaking." Honestly, I didn't cry over what they didn't have. Moreover, the trip made me realize how much I have, and how much of that I don't need. And, of course, how incredibly easy it would be for me to give some of what I don't need to them. I hope to visit Haiti again sometime soon, because it is NOT easy for me to stay away from those beautiful little faces for too long. And I encourage you to consider going as well! The web site you can visit is www.hopegivers.org. Who knows? Maybe you're the next one God will send to Ouanaminth, Haiti!

Waiting On The Lord

2009-01-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted last. I hate to admit I let the holiday season suck me right into its joyful seduction. My stepson Michael was here for two weeks, and it was wonderful spending time with our entire family. Speaking of family and Christmas, my husband and I try very hard to teach our 4 children the importance of the true Christmas story and yet I find myself days before Christmas running to Target for just one more gift to make everything even for each of the kids For years I've struggled with the commercialism we allow to hold us hostage this time of year. I'm sure we are almost all guilty of it in one way or another. It is however a choice, right?

Leading youth group recently I asked my kids what they thought Haiti might look like at Christmas. They painted the typical sad picture of no presents, no Christmas tree, no big dinner and yet much to my surprise, they shocked me with the following comments that left me breathless. One young 7th grader said she thought there would be some really wonderful singing. Another said that even though they didn't have presents like we have, they would spend time in worship begin thankful for Jesus. Wow, if only we could capture the pure joy of Christmas as the Haitians do. Do you ever wonder if in the midst of their poverty and struggle that they are the lucky ones? When was the last time we can say we let go of the "buying" and simply welcomed Christmas with song and worship. I remember my husband telling me a story of an African man who when asked why their worship service was so joyful when their situation was so dyer? The man responded, "In your country you believe in Jesus, but in my country we depend on Jesus." I have never forgotten that story. I feel it is was leads me toward the community of Ouanaminthe. It's as if they have something that I want to be part of. It's a dependence on Christ that I have yet to know. Pastor Willio has a saying: "My God is so big, He can do anything." I am humbled and honored to be part of this faithfulness.

So far I have seen 115 visits to this site. Thank you for following this journey of faith. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments whenever possible. It is what keeps me motivated to continue telling the story. We also need your help. Please pass this link to others who would be willing to pray for the task ahead. This school is only going to happen with the financial help from others. Hopegivers is faithfully working toward making this dream a reality. You can help! Will you please consider making a donation for this very important project. The children of Ouanaminthe need a safe school to learn in. We can each do our part in making this happen. If your work supports missions, go and ask them if they will partner with us. If you church is looking for a cause to join, ask if they will join us. If your heart is restless and you feel drawn to hold your possessions loosely in light of the situation in Haiti, please donate. It's simply our responsibility to help one another regardless of how close or far we are to one another. Ouanaminthe needs our support. Thank you...

Waiting On Direction....

2008-12-17T18:25:00.000-08:00

So there is a story I have to share with you. It begins just hours after the hospital trauma with the two injured orphans. We started our journey toward the airport in Santiago, DR. We had only been on the road for an hour when we blew a tire. It's 4am and here we are in the middle of a very dark road changing a flat. We took this opportunity to snap a few photos in our attempt to stay cheerfully positive. Soon we were back on the road.

It was not long before I realized that everyone in the car, except for Kristy and myself, had fallen asleep. The driver was doing one of those nod-off head shaking sessions we can all relate to at one time or another. I spent the next 40 minutes terrified we were going into a ditch. Kristy kept me stable and I was thankful for that. What faith she has!

Cars began to back up until we had come to a complete stop. What was going on? People were getting out of their cars and looking ahead. We of course were blocked by a vehicle much larger than ours. Out of nowhere, this stranger comes to the side of our van and begins talking to the driver. Spanish is not my native language and so I was at a loss for what was being said. I did however get the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The stranger proceeded to point us toward a narrow dirt path off the beaten trail. Suddenly he grabbed ahold of the side of our car and we began to follow his direction. As we pulled around the larger vehicle, we caught a glimpse of what looked like a war zone just yards ahead. There were fires, trees down in the road, blocks of concrete spread everywhere. I had never seen anything like it in my life. I was frightened. It now seemed this stranger was going to find a detour for us, but to where?

This is where I began to panic! This does not feel right! Why are we following this guy and where are we going? What if this guys means us harm? Isn't anyone else in this car worried about where he might be taking us? There is a cliff on the right side, a mountain on the left, and we are driving on a narrow dirt road toward God knows where. We are going to die!!!!!!!!!

I buried my head in Meredith's back and just cried. It was about this time the entire team became aware of my meltdown and I was truly embarrassed. The stranger jumped off the side of the car and yelled what sounded like "Thanks for the ride." Apparently we had driven around 50% of the riot and this little dirt road dumped us out right in the middle of a scene from a war movie. I have never seen so many tires in the street set ablaze. It looked as if a hurricane had come through and knocked over large trees and buildings into the street. Our little van dodged debris as we made our way out of this frightening mess.

No sooner had we passed the last of the debris when "boom" we blew another tire. Now remember, we had already used the spare so we were pretty much out of luck. It was at this point I had gave up all hope. My cry turned to an uncontrollable sob as our van hobbled to the only building we could see just 200 yards away.

I would not have believed it if I had not been there myself... As we approached the building we realized in all its glory..... it was a "TIRE SHOP." Who would have guessed? Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!! It was a pretty humbling moment. It was as if God reminded me of how little I had trusted in the work that lay ahead for each of us. It was not our time. This was not the end and we were certainly not alone.

I can joke about it now. I can even look at the photo of me sobbing in front of the tire shop and smile at how truly awesome our God is. It was through this experience that I came to understand what "trusting in the Lord" really meant. It does not mean everything will go according to your desires. It does not mean you will not see children hungry, injured or near death. It does not mean you won't experience tragedies throughout your life, and it certainly does not mean you will be spared from death even when fighting for justice. It does however mean, you are NEVER alone! In the darkest moments of your life, where there seems like no end to pain or fear, you can be assured God has never left you. May you find this same assurance.

In the meantime, I am waiting on direction. There is a big plan ahead, and yet I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by it. I plan to return to Haiti in February with a new sense of faith and direction that this is much bigger than me!

How It Came To Be....

2008-12-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

We would have to go to lunch to talk about all I have been through since traveling to Haiti. Trust me when I say that this was a life changing experience, but one that has stirred a passion in me for the very struggling Haitian community. I will attempt to tell you a little about this trip. Feel free to pass this on to anyone who might hear this plea for help and do something about it......Here goes!!!

It all started when when my best friend Laura and I met up with Meredith and her friend Kristy for lunch. Meredith began to tell me about her future trip to Haiti she would be attending. I can hear the words coming out of my mouth as I write this... "Wow, that would be so great to be part of filming something like that." The next thing you know, I am on a flight to Haiti with my film gear in tow. I would be responsible for filming Meredith's visit to a local orphanage in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. It was the shortest and most life changing trip ever. It did not take much for God to transform the 12 missionaries attending this trip.

The children were amazing! We were greeted by 31 beautiful kids who guided us through their small town on the way to the orphanage. While there, we played with the kids, visited a school in much need of repair, interviewed the pastor who runs both the school and orphanage, and saw Haiti with new and stunned eyes. Everyone hears and talks about poverty. We see it on the TV daily. Yet, nothing prepared me for the daily life of the people in Haiti. Having been recently struck by a major hurricane, there are many children left with no parents. It was so strange to see children even as young as 1 year old, walking around completely unattended. The only thing people seem to be concerned about is the necessities of life. The local markets are home to only survival requirements such as food, water, and daily living needs. We visited the land prepared for a future school rebuild. The current school hosts 1500 children on two levels. You can literally see the floor below you through the cracks in the weakened wood. With the recent school collapses in Haiti, this reminded me of how urgent this school rebuild is.

I completely fell in love with one particular child whose name is Wilderson. There is a very tragic, yet beautiful story that goes along with this small Haitian boy. The day before we left, Wilderson (age 7) and David (age 6) were crushed under a 500 pound security gate at the orphanage. It was a complete accident, but tragic nonetheless. We had just arrived at our hotel in the Dominican Republic when the Pastor of the orphanage desperately begged us to follow him to the clinic. In these next 2 hours, I had no idea how my life would be changed completely. As we walked through the doors, I saw Wilderson being held in the arms of one of the clinic staff. What compelled me to reach out and take him, I'm not quite sure. Within seconds I was whisked into a small, dark room with a table for patients. Please remember, I am in a third world country. This medical facility was nothing like what you would see in the US. I put Wilderson down as we prepared to piece his sweet little head back together. I had heard much about the Dominican community disliking the Haitians, but it was never more evident than watching this Dr work on Wilderson. There was absolutely no regard for this injured, orphan boy. The lidocain had not even been given enough time to set in when he began stitching and stitching. The process took about an hour. I've never felt so completely helpless hearing him beg and scream for the pain to stop. Since we did not speak the same language, my only attempt to comfort him was to sing into his ear. I have never prayed from the depths of my soul the way I prayed in that moment. I knew he was hearing my song, as he would hum back to me and drift into a short sleep until the next round of pain came forth. I am forever thankful that I had such a humble opportunity to be part of that. the other missionaries were diligently praying for the two boys just feet from the rooms the boy were cared for. Though I struggle to forget the cries of Wilderson, I am forever connected to this boy in way that words cannot explain. I left Haiti not knowing if he or David would even survive such injuries combined with the lack of medical care.

Today is a new day...Both boys have made an amazing recovery. It's such a completely different way of life. Had you and I experienced such an injury, we would still be in a serious recovery mode. These boys don't know the same privileges as we do. As long as they are able to walk, they are ready to jump back into life. The fact that they escaped the danger of infection is miraculous on its own. I have learned so much from watching them go through all of this. When I returned to the United States, it was difficult to forget the things I had seen in Haiti. I am thankful for that. I am humbled in the privilege of caring for this child in his time of need.

Many of you are following this blog and wondering how you can join in the passion to restore Haiti. Be assured, I am waiting patiently for direction and wisdom on how all donations will be utilized. If you feel compelled to donate you are welcome to donate through the website or contact me directly at: restorehaiti@yahoo.com . All proceeds from this blog will be directed to water filtration systems, bedding for the orphanages, and rebuilding the school in Haiti.

I have certainly learned, that out of suffering comes hope and that even you and I can make a difference in the devastating situation in Haiti. Although I can honestly say, I left my heart with these amazing children, I would not have it any other way. It has stirred a wonderful desire to keep moving forward. I pray daily that the Lord will break my heart for what breaks His. I feel like God knew what He was doing when He sent me there, however, it's only worth it if I keep fighting for the cause. I believe the Lord is making clear his path of hope for Ouanaminthe.

Join me!!!!!

Fellow Missionary "Kimberly Cochran"

2008-12-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

I have asked the other 11 amazing men and women in my group to share with me their story about Haiti. This message comes from Kimberly who's spirit and honesty is an example for all of us!

"I kept a hand-written journal while I was in Haiti about the 6 million adventures we had in the 4 days we were gone (if you want to know the details, you are more than welcome to read the whole thing sometime, or even better ask one of the amazing people I went on this journey with). This is the last couple pages I wrote while I was on the plane back to the US, when the experience was still fresh in my mind. I think this section captures pretty exactly how I felt and the convictions this experience has brought up for me in my own life… “Anywho, we made it to the airport just in time to miss our flight. Meredith and Martha were flying back to Chicago instead of RDU so they went on to arrange their flights separately. We ended up all getting on a flight that was 2 hours further into the DR out of Santo Domingo so we had to, once again, cram into a too-small van and ride 2 more hours. Thankfully, that leg of the journey was much more uneventful. J I am finally on a plane to Miami, where we will hopefully catch one more to Raleigh. What an amazing experience! I’ve left out a lot of details, but so much happened in such a short time frame it’s a challenge to be thorough. I definitely feel the call to missions in my life even stronger, but at the same time, being in the thick of it makes me feel torn. Willio has given everything for the kids he serves (the 32 at the orphanage and the 1500+ at his school) and the strain shows. The flesh part of me doesn’t want to give up my bed and good hair days to sleep on the floor, eat rice every day, and have consistently frizzy hair. It’s gotta be a lonely job, a thankless job, and exhausting job… But isn’t that the kind of work we are called to do? To show unconditional love to those the world spurns and forgets? It was so powerful to me to finally have faces to put with a generic name. As tragic as Wilderman and DaveDave’s injuries are/were, as much as it ripped me apart as well as everyone else in the group… I realized at the same time how amazing and powerful it was that these two little boys -- these two orphans -- had a whole group of people shedding tears for them, praying for them, loving them. I realized these sorts of things happen every day – children die, people throw them away, they waste away from lack of the basic necessities of life and most times, nary a tear is shed or second thought given because we don’t know them and we don’t take the time to know them. It doesn’t concern us. We don’t want to sacrifice our comforts to love them. The whole time I was in Haiti, even just walking around Ouanaminthe, I felt God saying to me over and over, “These are my people who I love.” It made me cry on more than one occasion. Will I answer the call?”

So Why Bother

2008-11-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

It surprises me just how many people have asked me this question. Certainly, I understand that it is asked is the purest of intentions. The needs in Haiti are so large and I am just one person. Having said that, I think it is also important to remember that the Lord does not call everyone to Haiti. He has a purpose and a plan for each of us. I can remember growing up and visiting my grandfather in the nursing home. I loved my grandparents so very much and it was certainly difficult to see this big strong man with his senses so keen and his body so fragile and weak. I would visit weekly not only to love on my grandfather, but to love on the other elderly residents who sat alone, disconnected from the world they once knew so well. I would often bring my 1 year old daughter Jackie along . Oh how their faces would light up with joy when they touched the delicate hand of new life. It is that compassion that has brought me to where I am today. I feel with all of my heart that it was no accident I ended up in Haiti. Everything in my soul cries out for how much God truly grieves over the poverty, pain, violence, and struggle of his precious children in Ouanaminthe. It is very clear to me that I cannot make change alone, and it is even more clear that the road will be long and difficult. Yet, if there is one thing that I have learned on this trip to Haiti, it is how to fully rely upon God. To trust in the Lord does not mean that there will not be difficult days. It does not mean you will not fear for your life. It does not mean you will not see children suffer; and sadly it does not mean in serving others your own life will be guaranteed. When I first left to Haiti, I cried myself to sleep the night before leaving. I had no idea where this journey was going to lead. My fellow missionaries would also be the first to comment on how often I cried during this trip. These tears are the key to moving forward. Out of suffering comes hope. If the trip had not been such a struggle, I would have easily forgotten the passion stirred up in my heart. I would have easily settled back in to my everyday life. Again, the Lord knew what he was doing when he sent us there. So why bother? Because for every small effort made, regardless of how many are affected by these tiny acts of faith, there is one person, one child, one family in Ouanaminthe, Haiti that sees God. We put flesh on faith when we make devoted steps to serve others. The hope offered to the suffering is a treasure indeed. Perhaps you are not called to Haiti, but if you are one of the many people asking me why I am serving the people of Ouanaminthe instead of my neighbor here in Chicago, then allow me to return the question. How much are you serving your local neighbor? Please don't take offense to this question, please let it resonate in your heart for a moment. I have to believe that when Jesus said to "love your neighbor" that he put no mileage restrictions on the definition "neighbor." My heart assures me that my Haitian neighbor is just as needy and worthy as my next door neighbor who is loosing their home to foreclosure. Each of us has a calling on our life. At this time, my calling is Haiti. I ask that even if you do not support my decisions, whether out of fear, or disagreement, please pray for me. Pray for wisdom as I seek to find the best ways to help. Pray for open doors to be connected to the right places and the right people. Pray for courage not to fear the challenges ahead. Pray for insight to make good and healthy choices for me and my family. Pray for understanding in what I am called to do. Finally, pray for restoration for Ouanaminthe, Haiti. As a dear pastor friend told me last night as he placed his worn and much loved F.R.O.G. (Fully rely on God) bracelet upon my wrist. "When we have done all that we can....... Then God will do all that we can't.... Thank you friends and family for your support and encouragement. You are loved!

2008-11-21T06:41:00.000-08:00

Good Morning! I write today entry from the National Youth Workers Convention here in Nashville, TN. I did not sleep well last night, of course dreaming of Haiti again. I am so thankful that I can spend the next 4 days in worship, prayer, and seeking understanding for where I am to go from here. I do have great news. As of today, we have only two more beds to be purchase! You have all been so faithful in coming forward in response to this need. I could not be more thankful. When I think o these beautiful children having a bed to sleep in, instead of a concrete floor, I am overwhelmed with joy. Our next step is to begin funding this school building process. I am waiting to hear back from some key people as to how this process will look. I know that we are a small group of people and the hope for restoring all of Haiti is difficult to process, however, we are making great strides in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. We are hopeful that the beds can be purchased as early as January on the next trip to Haiti. Please pray that God will continue to meet the needs of these Haitian children that we have adopted out of love. Also, pray for guidance and wisdom over the next several days. I am praying for all of you as well.

2008-11-18T20:09:00.000-08:00

I am trying very hard to be patient with the fact that not everyone has seen the "need" in Haiti as my group has seen it. I can't expect that everyone will immediately share the same desire to help these people having not seen the faces of these precious children. Yet, I am struggling with the fact that Haiti seems forgotten. I have posted a link to an article sent to me today titled "CNN: Hunger In Haiti." Please take a moment to read this. How can we turn our back on what is happening here? Where do we start in making change? Today I am feeling a bit paralyzed and overwhelmed in how to help. We will start small.... The children in the "Haiti Hope Home" need beds to sleep on. They currently sleep on cement floors. The cost of one bunk bed is $150.00 and we need only16 beds. This seems a good place to start. I miss the children dearly!

A New Beginning

2008-11-17T11:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to the beginning stages of an amazing journey of faith! I have just returned from Ouanaminthe, Haiti where I joined 11 faithful missionaries on a short term mission trip to visit a local orphanage. I truly had no idea the impact this trip would leave upon my heart as I begin to settle back into everyday life here in Chicago. Hopegivers International has made tremendous efforts in supporting this "Haiti Hope Home" which houses 31 beautiful children. Hopegivers International is a "Christian humanitarian organization which provides "Help for Today and Hope for Eternity" through initiatives by their Ministry Partners to rescue orphaned and abandoned children, assist the needy and oppressed, empower the work of the Gospel, and work toward fulfilling the Great Commission." I could not be more thrilled to partner with this organization in directly impacting Haiti. I am feeling overwhelmed with where to start, but I am looking forward to the task at hand. To help you understand the desires of my heart, I plan to tell you several personal stories about this short trip while displaying video footage and photos to help put things into a certain perspective for you. I hope to include stories from the other missionaries about how this trip has transformed their lives. You will be amazed at the faithfulness and trust these men and women have in the purpose they are called to as individuals. Please be patient with me as I balance time between my family and this very important cause. Be encouraged that if you have found this site, you too are called to help provide the "help for today and hope for eternity" that Hopegivers speaks of. There is so much to do, and for the first time in my life, I am completely at the mercy of the Lord for guidance, support, and direction. Want to join me????