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Boy Needs Water
Love this image. A boy, walking to get water, in rural Haiti.
We can’t forget the people of Haiti.
Photo by Scott Wade — Click to enlarge. -
NW Arkansas Haiti Meeting
Dear NW Arkansas friends,
HELP is going to host a meeting for those of you who are going, or considering going to Haiti with us this November. The trip focus will long-term Orphan Care in Haiti, and We Have Not Forgotten. (launching new projects)
We will also be taking a professional filmmaker and photographer to capture stories while on the ground! To learn more about the trip, please click here.
This meeting will also be a time for you to ask questions, learn more about HELP and learn details about the trip.
Here’s what I need from you: If you’re going to attend the meeting, can you RSVP by leaving a comment on this post, or email me your RSVP.
Details:
Date: Saturday, August 28th.
Location: Jacob and Emily Kalers (if you need the address,email me)
Time: 9:30-11AMWe will provide coffee, fruit and donuts!
Can’t wait to see everyone!
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New Partnership: Austin Angels
I’m excited to announce our partnership with the Austin Angels. Last week, I spoke at their event in South Austin. At the end of the event, they announced their desire to raise $10,000 for Haiti: We Have Not Forgotten. Needless to say, I was blown away. I can’t tell you how encouraging this is for us, as we try to move forward and serve our friends in Haiti. A big thanks to Austin Angels and all of their wonderful volunteers. Thanks for serving here in Austin, and also in Haiti.
More info to come. And, if you live in Austin, and want to serve our community, jump on board and get involved!
Visit their website: Austin Angels
Like them on Facebook.
Follow them on Twitter: @AustinAngels -
Church Partners: Rock Bridge Church
Rock Bridge Church, is one of the fastest growing churches in America. We connected through Twitter! I made a statement that, “every six seconds a child dies because of poverty.” The church contacted me… we met and the rest is history!They support us monthly, they sponsor multiple kids, they’re going to work on some projects in Zimbabwe and possibly take some vision trips in 2011.
And, they work with other organizations also. I love that!
I love their passion for the poor, the local church and the gospel. When I talk to Matt Evans, their Lead Pastor, I can just sense his passion to serve “the least of these.”
They took a risk by supporting us, a small non-profit with no relational connections to Rock Bridge, and for that I’m grateful.
Much more to come out of our partnership!
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New H.E.L.P. Staff Member
We’re very excited to announce that we’ve just hired a new staff member – Blanca Garcia! Blanca’s ben connected to our tribe for some time as a volunteer. She is passionate about ending extreme poverty, and she is willing to sacrifice to make that happen. Needless to say, we’re stoked that she is coming on-board to help us rescue orphans, restore their hope and renew their communities!Take a moment and get to know Blanca.Q. In your words, tell us why you’re choosing to join on the HELP team?Ever since I first heard about HELP, I loved their mission and passion to serve orphans around the globe. After meeting their partners in Zimbabwe last year and getting to know the HELP team a lot more, I kept wanting to find ways to get more involved with HELP and use my gifts to serve alongside them. I just quit my job as a wedding photographer in order to get more involved in the fight to end extreme poverty, and everything just lined up nicely with the opportunity to join the HELP staff team. I’m blessed to have this opportunity, and excited to see how God might use me in His work around the world.
Q. When you think of the global orphan crisis, what is your reaction?
It can be pretty overwhelming to think about the global orphan crisis. You can read all the statistics and just feel numb at the end of the day. And a lot of times rather than doing anything, we do nothing. But as a Christian, I believe we are called to serve the poor and care for orphans and widows – whether it be through giving, praying or going. So even if I can’t fix all the problems of the world on my own, it’s important for me to figure out my individual role in this much bigger story. We all have unique skills and gifts we can use to serve one another. We just have to step up and take action.
Q. What’s your role with HELP? Rumor has it, a move to Cape Town could be in your future?Hahahah… the rumor’s out, eh? Well, my current role is helping the stateside operations, planning logistics for HELP’s short-term trips, and helping with the Garage Sale for Orphans campaign as well as the Help One Now sponsorship program. Basically, all sorts of stuff. I love it!! I’ll also be going on several short-term trips with HELP over the next several months, and using photography to bring back stories and updates on HELP’s projects in Africa and Haiti. I’m so pumped!!
This has been such a big part of my heart and my passion, so it’s quite exciting for me! And yes…the rumor is true. I hope to do a long-term stay in Cape Town beginning next summer to help HELP launch its international office. But you’ll have to wait to hear more details about that later!
Needless to say, I’m excited about my current role as well as future opportunities with the HELP team. Q. All right, now to get a bit more personal:
1. Fav Band? I’ll say Coldplay, although my friends are going to kill me for not saying U2.
2. Fav Movie? Life Is Beautiful
3. Fav Austin Restaurant? Rudy’s BBQ
4. Mac or PC? Mac, of course!!!
5. And who is Mexican Mike? Um…it’s SPANISH Mike, not Mexican Mike… hahaha Spanish Mike is my car, and it’s named after the guy from “One Semester of Spanish Spanish Love Song”. YouTube it. It’s good stuff.Feel free to read Blanca’s blog, and follow her on Twitter and check out her photography work (on her blog). Also, you’ll be hearing more of her thoughts and stories right here on our blog, as she travels the world to serve and love orphans!
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Church Partners: Austin New Church
Austin New Church was one of our first monthly supporters. Again, this is one of my favorite churches, they don’t just teach living on mission, they live it.Multiple times a year, they close the door on their Sunday gathering and do what’s called: “Serve Austin Sunday.” They’ve also launched Restore Austin. They meet in a hideous 1970′s trailer park (ish) building (with wood paneling) which totally fits their vibe and calling in South Austin. Basically, it’s not about Sunday, even though they have a great Sunday gathering!
They care deeply about poverty in Austin. One time I went to their church, and a homeless dude was rocking the drums!
They’re currently getting involved in human slavery/sex trafficking issues, they also work with local non-profits that serve Austin Kids, and they work in Ethiopia with Eden Forest Project. Plus, multiple families are in the process of adoption and they’re also planting new churches!
Like I said, they support us monthly, they sponsor kids, they bought t-shirts for Haiti, etc!
I love Austin New Church, and I’m grateful for their partnership!
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Church Partners: Soma Austin
I wanted to take a moment to introduce some of our church partners over the course of the next few weeks. These churches are involved with us on various levels. They’re the fuel that keeps us going. We’re very grateful for their partnership in the gospel, and shared love for the orphan and the global poor.
Soma Austin: I love Soma, they do so much for the city of Austin and for HELP. They support our stateside operations monthly and (of course) they are our biggest partners for the Haiti: We Have Not Forgotten Campaign.Plus, a few Soma leaders will be taking trips to Zimbabwe/South Africa with us this October. I love this church.
Soma is a young church plant, reaching one of the most difficult people groups in America – the 04 neighborhood in South Austin.
If you go to Soma, you will find young techies, typical Austin hippies, homeless friends, a lot of de-churched evangelicals, and such. Here’s what I love about Soma, they simply do community, it’s in their DNA to be together, challenge each other and serve Jesus by loving Austin and the globe!
I love it, and I love them…Thank you Soma friends for your partnership in the gospel and for the orphan!
Not sure where HELP would be without our friendship with Soma.
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Austin: Are You Coming?
I wanted to invite all my Austin friends to join us this Friday at 7PM at South Park Meadows in S. Austin. HELP is teaming up with the Austin Angels to serve local Austin kids in need.
I (Chris) will share about the global orphan/extreme poverty crisis. Of course, there will be live music by The Canvas Waiting. I mean, this is Austin, we can’t do an event without live music, right?Oh, and if that’s not enough, Amy’s Ice Cream is debuting their newest flavor “Fill the School Bus”, created just for this event! Free ice cream! Amy’s ice cream will also be performing the Trick-Olympics. Hmm…Did I mention, that Real Popcorn and Chipotle will also be there? And Third Base is giving 10% off dinner.I hope to see you there! -
Help Us, Help Them
I wanted to introduce you to my Haitian friend, Pastor Gaetan, who lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Before the earthquake, Pastor Gaetan took in 14 orphans. Most of these kids were abandoned by parents who simply could not afford to provide for their child.
Since the earthquake, Pastor Gaetan has rescued another 16 orphans. Many of these kids lost their parents in the earthquake.
On top of that, Pastor Gaetan’s personal home was damaged and he also lost his brother in the earthquake. You can see his brother in the picture below. (left side)
This is truly an amazing man of courage and faith. HELP and Soma Austin have decided to partner with Pastor Gaetan. But, we need more partners. Here’s why:
1. We need to build a new orphanage. Currently, Pastor Gaetan, his family and the 30 orphans sleep in tents. You can go to www.helpendlocalpoverty.com/helphaiti and you will see our vision to build an orphanage. You can click donate, and 100% of the donation (minus transaction fee’s) will go towards building the orphanage.
2. We need to get all of these kids sponsored. To sponsor a child, you can go to Help One Now. Any child from Haiti, is from Pastor Gaetan’s community. Child sponsorships are vital to the rebuilding process; we can ensure they have food, medicine and clothing each month.
We plan on partnering with Pastor Gaetan long-term, we’re so excited to see the progress of this community, as we help renew Haiti.
Be sure to watch the video below, click through to enlarge:
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NWA House Show
Last week, 40+ friends gathered at Mike & Corrie Rusch’s home to attend a house show party in NW Arkansas. We had an amazing time together, as we discussed the global orphan crisis, Haiti: We Have Not Forgotten Campaign and adoption.
I want to say “thanks” to everyone who attended. NWA is such an encouraging community; its great to see people who are connecting, collaborating and causing change to happen!
Also, I wanted to say thanks to Mike & Corrie Rusch for hosting, Jacob and Emily Kaler for allowing us to use their lake home for the week, and Tim Newberry, and KeyPoint Church for providing the food for the House Show.
I’ve included some pictures below, and you can see the rest of the pics here. Big thanks to Joshua Segraves for taking the pictures.
