Friday, January 22, 2010

A Call for Help in Haiti

Falencia and Esterlina, two precious girls I met at the ministry of Danita's Children in Haiti this past summer

I received the following message from Eric and Leslie Ludy in my inbox yesterday and decided to pass it on via this blog. Perhaps God will stir one of you to respond!


Danita Estrella, the Director of Danita's Children in Ounaminthe, Haiti, visited our home this past summer. Leslie and I were privileged to share in a soul-stirring day with Danita, talking about Haiti and the plight of the orphans there.

Danita is the real deal - sort of a George Muller/Amy Carmichael mix. Like Muller, she really does live by faith, and like Amy, she possesses a spiritual thunder in her step. After all, when someone leaves all the earthly comforts of America and goes to live on a dirt floor in Haiti simply because she loves the orphans there . . . you can't help but see Jesus in her life.

Because of her long-term commitment to Haiti's vulnerable children, several orphanages at the epicenter in the recent Port-au-Prince earthquakes have asked her for help with their displaced children. Danita's answer is always, "Yes!"

As it stands today, anywhere from 100 to 200 displaced orphans from the Port-au-Prince disaster are being bused to Danita's ministry center in as I write this.

Does she have room for them? No. Does she know how she will feed all of them? No. Is she concerned about these issues? No.

When I asked her how she envisioned this all working, she simply said, "God will take care of us. He always does."

If you are looking for a way to get involved in helping Haiti and practically assist in this disaster relief effort, then Leslie and I ask you to consider being a part of what Danita is doing. Maybe you are to be part of God's solution to care for these traumatized, displaced children.

If you have the financial resources to assist Danita's work, I ask you to please consider giving to this relief effort. She not only needs food and clothing for 200 children, but she needs to create shelter for 200 children - and quickly. To donate to this urgent project, visit www.HelpDanita.org.

Danita's ministry also needs volunteers to help with the massive influx of new orphans to her orphanage in Ounaminthe. This Sunday, I am taking a team from our Ellerslie church to be the "first wave" of response to this need. But it is possible that many more volunteers are likely going to be needed in the upcoming weeks and months. And, as Danita put it, she is not looking merely for humanitarian relief workers, but for selfless, servant-hearted Christians, ready to impart the love of Jesus.

If you would like to be considered for one of our upcoming short-term relief teams to Haiti, please click on the application link at www.HelpDanita.org, and follow the directions provided. Please note that we have a limited number of volunteer spots available so it is not guaranteed that everyone who applies will be accepted. And please also realize that those who volunteer will be responsible for their own costs, will be sleeping on floors and eating whatever the orphans eat - no typical American comforts will be available.

Each of the lives of these children is precious to the heart of God. We have an amazing opportunity to be His hands and feet to them. I hope you will consider joining us - financially, physically, or both.

He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. (Psalm 9:12) So we must not either.

For our Lord's glory,

Eric and Leslie Ludy

3 comments:

Unknown said...

i got that same email from them, too. i gave some money to some friends of mine that serve the Lord in Haiti, but i am so praying for Danita and the children. i have this urge to go to Haiti to help...but i will have to help with my prayers...

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing this, Katrina. My 11 yr. old daughter told me she is going to donate her birthday money and E. is going to donate the money she has been saving! Add that to the money I was going to use to go to Wholehearted MOthering conference and we may be able to help in a very very very small way....our prayer is the Lord will multiply it as it is being given with such a joyful happy heart.
Thank you again for sharing all these wonderful and encouraging posts....even for an old woman, like myself!
Much love and blessings to you,
Mrs. Whitt

Katrina Marie said...

What a blessing to hear of your family's sacrificial giving to help meet needs at the orphan ministry of Danita's Children. I know these gifts will be a tremendous blessing and will be stretched very far to take care of these precious children. God bless you, Whitt Family, for your investment in His work!