As most of you know, for the past 3 years I've been helping a special group of kids in Haiti. What started as a casual relationship with a children's home through an organization I was with in 2012 turned into a connection and dedication to 24 kids that I never could have imagined.



The kids at Hope For Life Children's Home in Gressier, Haiti have become more special to me than words can describe. From the beginning, their smiles and laughter brought such joy to my heart. I remember hugging them that first summer... many of them with tiny, unhealthy bodies, and praying that God would provide for their needs. Little did I know how His plans would unravel to use me and many of you to start transforming their lives. 

In 2013, I focused mostly on food security for the children. Plain and simple, the kids did not have enough food. Proof of that was when we had to admit 4 of them into a nutrition program and supplement their diets with a nutrient-rich peanut butter to try and get their health back on track. Sadly, as is the case with many children in Haiti, malnutrition during those important early years in life often stunts growth permanently. Many of our children will always be small for their age, and a pair of brothers have an especially difficult time putting on weight. But 2013 brought many successes when it came to better health and nutrition for the kids. The children's home was accepted to partner with an organization called Love a Child and once a month they can drive 2-3 hours to pick up 30+ boxes of food packed by Feed My Starving Children, enough to provide a monthly supply of lunches for the children. They also received a 6-month grant for a breakfast program so for those 6 months they were able to have a balanced breakfast every day. 

In 2014, another big achievement happened when they partnered with Allow The Children, a ministry that manages child sponsorship programs around the globe. That partnership came just in time as the breakfast program grant was closing out, and more funds were needed for meals. The sponsorship program allows for the children's nutritional, educational, and medical needs to be met. While more sponsors are still needed, there is a solid base of sponsors already that are helping to meet these important needs. 

That brings us to 2015. Around Christmastime we were approached by two donors, a church and a family, who wanted to help the children's home through some large donations. After praying about what the biggest need was for our children, we decided that it's past due for the children to move into a new home. Since the earthquake in 2010, the children have been living in a plywood structure that turns into a sauna in the hot summer months and is a hot spot for disease-carrying mosquitoes. After getting a couple bids for the new build, a contract was signed to build a new dorm for $52,830. Over $32,000 was given in December by Ekklesia Hattiesburg and a family in Tennessee and so I launched an online fundraiser to raise the remaining $20,000. 

With one week left of the online fundraiser, we still need $15,000 to complete the dorm. Construction began in April and has been going strong, but starting in June construction will stop if more funds aren't raised soon. 



When I look back at the past three years, I'm absolutely amazed to see the progress at Hope For Life. Not only are the kids healthier, but many small projects have been accomplished and it simply doesn't look like the same place I first visited in 2012. Thanks to many of you the kids have a better and safer place to live, play, and go to school. Recently a perimeter fence and new gate were installed around the children's home by teams from Baptists 4 Haiti. That project alone was huge in improving safety for our children. 

I know that God will continue to provide for these precious children. And I'm honored by the opportunity to have gotten to know each of them and to help in the ways that God has allowed me to. Now I'm asking for more of my friends to step up and help with the biggest project yet. We need people who can give $20, $50 or even $100 to help finish the dorm. Every dollar will add up to a big difference for these children. 

You can donate online here: http://bit.ly/new dorm or you can mail a check made out to "Holy Spirit Haiti Mission" to ATTN: Hannah Sterling, P.O. Box 4878, Maryville, TN 37802. Both options are tax-deductible.

Thanks for helping me love these children in tangible ways! I can't wait to show you photos of the kids in their new home!!