UPDATED NEEDS
The mission has a new online giving site. Click Here and you will be taken to the secure site where you can donate online with credit card or bank account.
PRAYER
I think more than anything – we need prayers! Satan tries his best to attack those who love the Lord. I’m sure you’ve felt those attacks as well. I think when you’re on the mission field – his attacks seem more intense. He can take the littlest things and amplifiy them. He makes what could be small problems – so much bigger than what they are. I also tend to be a worry-wart! So please immerse our family in your prayers.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
With TWINS on the way – I can tell you that we are overwhelmed financially. Our family of 7 will soon be 9. With the economy the way it is – several individuals who sponsor us – had to cut back significantly. Last year, I was in and out of the country visiting specialists because of stroke-like symptoms as well as major headaches. This came at a cost we weren’t prepared for.
This year we will have to spend at least 4 months in the states as we await the arrival and delivery of our SURPRISE twins. We honestly cannot afford to live in the states – it’s much easier and cheaper to live in Haiti. I’m worried about how this huge change in our plans is going to affect us.
Besides financial support – we also are trying to secure a few things for our home here in Haiti.
SOLAR WINDMILL
One of our needs is a solar windmill. This will allow us to have power 24 hours a day and not drain the mission’s resources either. I can tell you that with a house of 7 kids under the age of 7 – hot nights are pretty miserable. Our solar makes it until 3 in the morning. It makes the nights incredibly long and uncomfortable. The windmill will simply offer us a fool-proof way not to lose our food in the fridge/freezer, being able to turn on lights for frequent late nights with new babies, and fans for the night. This past year we lost over 800.00 worth of meat because the generator broke and there was no way to charge our batteries. We’re not wanting anything fancy – just something to make life a little easier . With so many kids – bad nights equal BAD days!! We priced solar windmills for around 1200.00. If you have any connections or would like to help us fundraise for this project – we’d love to discuss it with you.
BIGGER VEHICLE
We used to laugh when we would see families driving 12 passenger vans or small airport shuttle buses because their family was so big. Well guess what – we’re becoming one of those families! We will not be able to travel together stateside as no van will support 9 people! We will do the best we can with what we have but we believe the time is coming in the near future where we will simply need a bigger vehicle.
Right now Jose and I will not be able to travel together when the entire family is out. We will each have to drive separately if we want to take our family to church or even to a restaurant. I guess we will have to rent a large vehicle for our longer trips to Miami and New York. Our biggest problem is that everyone is still in car seats. With Gigi being the oldest – but being Special needs – she still needs a car seat. Try putting 7 car seats in the back of your car! Not an easy task. I don’t know where we will put strollers or Gigi’s wheelchair- we’ll just worry about one thing at a time.
Maybe your church is getting rid of their van – or they don’t use it all the time and wouldn’t mind letting someone else use it a few months a year. I figure no one can help us if we don’t put the word out.
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When Jose and I got married – instead of asking for gifts – we asked for donations to be made to the mission so we could build our home. We spent our first year married, living with my parents so we could take our rent money to finish our home in Haiti. We have a beautiful home now – we were recently given money by a supporter to even add on when we had taken in a set of twins and I was pregnant. There were 9 of us living together last year – the twins will be 2 in July.
So to the naked-eye, it might seem that all our needs are met. However, that simply isn’t true. Because we have to rely on supporters – those that once started out with us have since ran into their own financial difficulties, their church split, or some have sadly passed away. Over the last year we’ve lost several hundred dollars in monthly support for those reasons.
It is difficult for us to fund-raise for ourselves when we feel such a burden for the people we came to serve. How can I ask for help for medical insurance when I see hundreds of children near death’s door, lined up outside the mission’s clinic? How can I ask for extra to help my family when my neighbor’s family have only the hope of making it through today? So I never like to vocally speak on behalf of ourselves when the needs of Haiti are so much greater. However, I feel like God has laid it on my heart to just simply put the need out there and see how God uses His people to meet it.
Here Are Our Costs For a Family of 9:
400/month – Cost to stay at mission
500/month – Van payment
150/month – Van Insurance
500/month – Travel Twice/year (one of those with all kids)
400/month – Food & Diapers (baby needs) – (purchased in the states and shipped in)
200/month – Nannies/Childcare
$$2150/month bare minimum required for us
We currently have about 1850/month that comes in consistently for us. This monthly amount does make it hard when other needs come up. Last year alone I flew out of Haiti 4 times for blood transfusions while I was pregnant. The monthly amount we have right now doesn’t allow for us to have any health or life insurance as well. It is overwhelming sometimes to know that we cannot do more for our family and yet I do find comfort in knowing that God continues to meet our needs when things look bleak.
If you would like more information on how you can help our family or if you would like us to come and speak at your church – we would love to do that and share our story along with the ministry that keeps us walking by Faith.
May 27, 2008 at 6:28 am
Jody, would love for you to come speek at our church when you are in the states. I may not be able to come this year . becuase my mother has been ill . she has COPD. she is really fearful when I am not around. help me pray about this issue . I have read several areas of this web . feel guilty asking you to help me pray about this with every this you have on your plate . But the Lord says we have not because we ask not. I really wanted to come back this year. Last year was the most awesome experience of my life .GOD BLESS YOU ALL.I WILL BE PRAYING WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.
January 1, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Jody, I have been reading about your needs and I will be praying about them. I will not be able to come to Haiti this Jan. and I will miss seeing you all. But I have a happy reason why. My son just return form 15 months Irac and Im helping move my daughter in law and grand children back to Texas. They have been living with me while my son was gone. I will also be haveing a breast biopsy on the 16 so please pray that this goes well. I will miss all of you and I will see what needs I can help you with. Love you all Jana