Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I am forever behind blogging schedule!!

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW!! I stink at this blogging thing!
partially because when I am in the US I think my life is rather "mundane" and I love it, but who wants to read about that...and partially because my life is soooo crazy busy - my mornings run into nights, and time escapes me. I am thanking God for the last three hours of solitude in the Dunkin Donuts on campus that is closed because of Spring break...but still has wireless! and cursing how behind i am and how crossed my eyes are going!
anyway...the newest project in my life is my current volunteer position with Institute of Grace - they are a non-profit organization based out of Washington DC that currently runs a orphanage, school, seminary and guest house in Delmars and is in the final stages of building a new health clinic and primary school in Merger Haiti. The Merger site will be the first EVER clinic and school in Merger. There are about 100,000 people in Merger, and 80% of them are under the age of 24! A geographically close, personalized and affordable education is hopefully going to be a huge benefit to the community.
I will be serving as the "director of Merger Primary school" and "mission team liason" - - they are large, scary, yet exciting shoes to fill - especially when I look back on the last month of being 23 and at my upcoming college graduation. It is so easy to feel inadequate - but my ever compassionate and wise pastor once told me..."just look at the people Jesus used in the Bible...they were not educated, or even necessarily well equipped...but all you need is God - and He can make you equipped"
its a great feelign to know that because God has revealed this awesome plan to me...he will give me the means to live it out - as long as I stay tuned in.

The current "Oh No, God please help" list for Merger...
1- money... I need about 24,000 dollars over the next three years to be able to live down in Haiti and complete this task
2- construction team...that can help create benches, desks, and blackboards for our classroom
3- nurse...a long term, or semi-long term nurse willing to work in the clinic for free!
4- food!...part of the school day, and part of our summer project (which starts in July! ahhhh) is providing the children with one meal a day. which means i need food grants -

there is a lot to do and i am hugely overwhelmed... but God is tricky...and i am overwhelmed and excited, and scared and prepared, and unsure yet provided for ...ALL at the same TIME!
please help me pray for my "oh no" list...
and visit the IOG website: http://www.instituteofgrace.org/index.html for more info.
our fundraising website: www.promofundraising.com/promo6223 to help out
and our volunteer website: www.christianvolunteering.org/orglistings13379.jsp if you want to come visit!
please also refer your friends, or anyone else you know who might be interested in serving.

i believe it takes a village to raise a child...so it must take A LOT of villages to raise A LOT of children! :)
blessings!
nikki