Support for Haiti, 2012

Hi friends, family, and blog followers!
Below is my new support letter for my trip to Haiti.  Please prayerfully consider teaming with me in prayer or financial assistance.  I know that times are tight, and we are all readjusting our budgets for the new year, but no financial gift is too small to help cover my in-country costs, which are only a portion of the actual cost of this kind of ministry trip.  Please email me directly if you have toys or clothing to donate to my Haitian friends; needs include flip flops, gently used preschool appropriate developmental toys, stickers, coloring books, and used clothing.

I never thought I could love people that I hardly know, but God, through my experiences in Haiti, has totally changed my heart.  Few people can actually go on a trip like this, but many can partner with us to see these forgotten people loved and cared for as they deserve.  I would love for you to join me in loving on my friends in Haiti!

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Dear friends and family,

Thank you so much for your prayers and support of my recent ministry in Haiti, distributing wheelchairs to adults and children with disabilities.  It was awesome to see God working through our team and so many supporters to serve Haitians and share the Gospel in a country with so little hope in life.

When I was in Haiti, I was amazed to see how many children are living with developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy.  Most of these children are unable to walk or communicate verbally, and are seen as second class children by Haitian culture.  Most of these children do not has access to medical care, educational opportunities, or opportunities to attend church activities.  My heart is broken for these children, who will likely not survive to reach their teenage years.

Now I have the opportunity to travel to Haiti with International Therapy Outreach Teams (or iTOT) to serve these children.  We will be in Haiti from February 25 to March 3, 2012, developing Christian preschools for children with special needs.  Our team of physical and occupational therapists and special education teachers will be focused on providing therapy to these children and teaching Haitians to appropriately interact with these children to promote their physical, emotional, and spiritual development.

I have been praying to prepare myself for this mission trip...but there are two important ways YOU can play a role in ministering to the lives of children with disabilities in Haiti.

1) Prayer team: Prayer is the most vital part of our ministry.  If you have a heart for prayer, our team would love to have you be a part of our ministry.  Current prayer needs are: safety for our travels, individual mission preparations, for these children and their families to come to know Christ, and for Haitians to have access to quality healthcare. Updated prayer requests closer to our ministry trip can be found on my blog, www.erincweeks.blogspot.com.

2) Financial team: not everyone can travel to do ministry in another country, but those who are able to send support also play a vital role in missions work.  The cost of this trip is $1800, which covers my in-country costs and the shipping of vital healthcare equipment to Haiti.  In order to reach my goals, I am looking for financial partners who will joing me in seeing Haitian children receive quality healthcare and education, and equipping Haitians to care for these marginalized children.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made by mail to:

iTOT

231 Adrian Court

Lansdale, PA 19446

(please write my name in the memo line of your check)

If you have any questions or want additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me by email or by phone (919) 923-8199.