In March 2013, I traveled to Haiti with a group of college students from The University of Texas at Austin. Eight days can change a lot, and I will never be the same. I fell in love with Haiti. The ivory smiles, unwavering faith, sunrises, sunsets, free-roaming livestock and crystal blue oceans will forever be etched in my mind. One of the most precious moments of my trip was committing to sponsor Junior Emmanuel Louis Jeune’s education for the next 13 years. Honestly, I struggle with giving money. Over the past four years, I’ve wrestled with God over finances and have learned that any money in my account is God’s, not mine. My job is to steward well what has been given to me. When the opportunity presented itself to sponsor Junior’s education, I knew instantly it was a way to steward well what I’d been given.
And then I met him.
My heart was immediately overwhelmed with love for a six-year-old Haitian boy with dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. Words cannot adequately describe the flood of emotions I experienced talking to Junior about his passions and dreams. My joy was complete as I played frisbee with a child that has the world at his fingertips because he is one of the few who get to button up a checkered shirt every morning and go to school. The compassion I felt as we prayed together and the confidence I felt knowing that he is empowered through a Christ-centered education to end the cycle of poverty in Haiti confirmed my decision to sponsor Junior.
Haiti is known as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. We have an opportunity to change that identity through child sponsorship. I believe in the power of education, and want to extend an invitation to you to help end this cycle through children, like Junior, who have so much to offer the world. They just need someone, like you, to believe in them.
Today is your chance to make a difference. Say “YES!” to sponsoring a child! If you’re interested in doing so in Haiti, follow the link below to Mission of Hope Haiti’s website and start applying! I guarantee you won’t regret it.
sojourney 