The week has finally arrived!!

Oh goodness!!! The week is finally here!!! God has been preparing me for this trip for many years (at least 4 years) and the time has finally arrived! We will be leaving Thursday morning at 6 am!!!

I have many many thanks to give for those that have prayed and given monetary donations and other donations for the children of Haiti. Without your persistence, this wouldn't have been made possible. God is so good in every way!

To be honest, I had a hard time committing to the trip, at first. I knew exactly where God was leading me, but to actually do it was another story. For this being my first international mission trip, there was an uneasy feeling that I had, at first. A feeling of the unknown. I prayed that God would make His request clear and that is exactly what He did. He tugged on my heart so much, that I couldn't deny His plan for me.

Along the way and in prayer, God has placed people right where He needed them to be to ease my anxiousness. The advice that has been given, the stories that have been told, and the prayers that have been prayed, only make God's request more concrete.

So, I want to thank each of you for your encouragement and prayers! Without your help, this wouldn't be as easy as it has been! I love each of you and will share stories and photos upon my return!

Shannon

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6

Sidewalk Chalk, Bubbles, and Candy Donations Needed

Hello my friends!

With only 8 days left before we head out to Haiti, we are in need of sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and candy (suckers only) for the children in Haiti. Using these items, is one way we will be connecting with the little ones. Dollar Tree (everything is a dollar) has plenty of these items. If you are able to donate, please let me know!  I am willing to pick them up in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area! I've a few donations so far, but we can always use more! We plan to visit between 250-300 children while in Haiti and we want to make sure we have enough to go around!

(Most of these items were only $1)

(All of these items only cost $20 at dollar tree)

Beyond thankful for those that have donated by giving us these items, or monetarily, or prayerfully. It is truly something that I can't pay back, but with only God's love on these children. Each of you have given me the strength to go and do God's work in Haiti and to that I say THANK YOU!

Fully Funded!!

I have such exciting news! As of July 21, I'm fully funded! God has truly had His hand on this service and has provided all means necessary to go and make disciples of Haiti! What a pleasing sight in Christ that I will go and serve the children. My hope is that I can share Christ's love with them and open their eyes to the abundance the Lord has to offer.

I want to thank each of you for praying, donating, and buying cupcakes. For those that are praying, I ask that you please consider praying further for the trip that is set for September 25. For those that donated or bought cupcakes, I ask that you would please keep this trip in your thoughts. God has something very special in store and I am so excited to unveil this!

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

Update!

Updated/Wonderful News! First off, I want to thank the Lord for His hand on this service! God has blessed this fundraising effort so much that all the glory and praise goes to Him! I also want to thank every single one of those that have been in prayer and who have donated for this mission trip!

We are currently at $780 raised from Cupcakes for Haiti! I just recently received notice that I have ...been granted a $300 scholarship through Istrouma Baptist Church!

That means we are currently at $1,080 out of the $1,200 needed to go to Haiti!!! What an AMAZING blessing! $120 can be easily attained with your help!

3 people with $40 donations OR
4 people with $30 donations OR
6 people with $20 donations

With your financial help and prayers, I will be heading to Haiti in 100 days!

Prayer Requests:
That God's love be spread to the orphans.
The financial need is met.
That the Haiti team will be prepared (spiritually, emotionally, and physically) for the trip.

Journey To Haiti - Come Together as One Body in Christ

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

My excitement has only grown over the past weeks for the journey to Haiti. There have been a few concerns of safety from my family, but my soul rests in the Lord and He has provided me with such comfort about heading to Haiti. I truly can not deny that Christ is shaping me into the ambassador for His love and truth.

I have many prayers for Haiti. One in particular has been on my heart recently.  I pray that we come together as one body in Christ to share the Gospel. I desire that we work together, pray together, and love each other as one church with a common goal, to spread the love of Christ. In first 1 Cor 12, it talks about how each part of the body is an essential part as a whole. Not one part is more important than the other. God has graciously opened an opportunity to work together as one body and my prayer is that we do just that. Work together for one goal, spreading the Word of Christ and the love He has to offer.

100 days until Haiti!

The Journey to Haiti - Step 1 - Give it to God

Philippians 4:6-7

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

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Here's just the beginning of a story that is unfolding as we speak! First, here's some background information!

College, Fall, 2008: I was nothing close to a Christian. After being invited to a Campus Outreach gathering by my friend, Catherine, I started questioning my true purpose here on earth. What was my mission? Why was I here, at this moment, in the C/O gathering? The coming weeks and months I learned more about what God has in store for those who come to Him. My feet were getting wet with the Gospel, the Truth.

Fall went and Winter came. It was time to head to Atlanta, GA for the Campus Outreach New Years Conference. Catherine encouraged me to attend the conference. I had no idea what it would be like, but I figured the least I would get is to spend time with friends! Boy, was I wrong! The speakers pretty much grabbed my soul, shook it a bit, and returned it to my body. There was a clear image at what God has prepared for me. A life full of sweet treasures and celebrations, but there was one "simple" statement to make to Him. I had to hand my life over to Christ and trust in Him through the rest of time.... "Uhhhh, I have to do what?"

You mean this God that I haven't seen, haven't spoken to in years, wants me?! He wants to care for me!? He wants to love me?! But, WHY!?!? And then a small voice says, "Silly you! I want to care for you, love you, and support you, because YOU ARE MY CHILD! I created you and I knew you before you were in your mother's womb." At that moment, as the congregation was singing and the tears started flowing from my eyes, I look over to Catherine to tell her that I needed to talk to her.

As we sat outside the conference room, with no one around, I told her that I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't be the one to be so in control. I didn't know what I was doing with my life. As if I was a lost sheep trying to find my shepherd. I wanted Jesus Christ to be the center of my heart and be my guidance through my time here on earth. 

I gave my life to Christ that night.

And there it was! The sweetest release of burden and weight lifted from my body. I no longer had to feel in control of my future, I knew God was now in control and He would be the One to guide me through each day. My self-worth is no longer found in the latest fashion, the next Cosmo magazine, or the reality TV show. It is now found in my Creator! How sweet it is to know that the One who controls the universe, not only is, but WANTS to be your guide as well! WHOA!

This is just a tid bit of background information for you. I could really go on and on about what God has done and is doing in my life since that time, but as the posts are unveiled in this blog I plan to enclose God's work in my life in each!

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Onto Haiti. Why Haiti? Why now?

I'm not sure I can actually answer those questions in detail. God has put a desire for Haiti on my heart since college (2009/2010). Unfortunately, it wasn't until recently that everything fell into place and the opportunity has come to take action on that desire. If there's one thing I have learned, it's that God is the B-O-S-S. Everything works on His time, His schedule, and His way. Even though I wanted so much to be in Haiti years ago, I had to sit back and wait on God's timing.

I have a heart of love and service (baking, too, but we'll get to that in a bit). In order to love those around me, I enjoy doing service work for them. It can be from helping at work, babysitting, dog-sitting, lawn work, anything that can help them in a time of need. It opens the opportunity to speak of the Gospel.

Colossians 3:24-25 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man,since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  That's just it, I may be helping the person in front of me, but I am serving the Lord while doing so. I show the work of Christ through my actions.

So this is why I am here. The cost is not free to go to Haiti and serve for the Lord. In fact, the cost is $1,200. That is why I have started Cupcakes for Haiti. I love to bake and what better way to raise funds by doing what I love? I am selling homemade cupcakes and all proceeds will go towards the cost of the trip. Don't like cupcakes? No worries, you can donate if you would like! If you are not in the place to buy cupcakes, nor to donate, please be in prayer for this journey that the Lord has graciously put me on! Please pray that my work would glorify only Him and that each person I reach would come to know the love that Christ offers. The Lord hears every prayer.

If you are interested in buying cupcakes or donating, please send an email to Cupcakes4Haiti2014@gmail.com. I can give you more information regarding prices, cupcakes flavors, and icings to choose from! ** Unfortunately due to high shipping costs, orders from Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the surrounding areas will be accepted. **

Thank you for being part of such an awesome journey! 

Shannon!

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.