BOWLING GREEN, KY (1/24/12) – Two Western Kentucky University students and five alumni were among 21 Kentuckians who recently spent a week in Haiti.
Under leadership of Pastor Jerry Gifford from First Baptist Church Franklin, the group worked with nine volunteers from Florida under the Orphan’s Heart organization, which provides support for orphanages devastated by the earthquake in the Port au Prince area.
WKU students David and Daniel Gifford of Bowling Green joined alumni John Gifford, Mandy Wade Forbis, Carolyn Grant Groves, Alicia Pirtle Bingham and Jerry Gifford on the trip. “It was an experience we’ll always remember,” Bingham said.
Construction began Jan. 7 on a new orphanage in Bon Repos, Haiti. The men worked on building the compound wall, digging to prepare for a suitable septic system, and forming up the foundation for the house. Although construction was the main goal for this group, the men took time to build relationships and witness to the neighborhood Haitians.
Eleven women were part of the Bon Repos team and they led Vacation Bible School all week with the children of the orphanage. There are more than 30 children that are currently living in three 12 x 12 sheds with wooden beds and no toilet. Although conditions may seem unbearable to Americans, these children were truly joyous to be where they are and not on the streets. The women were able to collect donations before the trip and distributed the following items to the orphanage: vitamins, Tylenol, Band-aids, clothing, flip-flops, snacks, school supplies, and one toy for each child.
One participant from the mission said: “The trip was an experience of a lifetime. The poverty in Haiti is truly heartbreaking, but this week I learned we can make a difference one person at a time. I learned great lessons on appreciation and hope. The children may have nothing monetarily, but they have true joy in the Lord.”
Orphan’s Heart will continue to oversee the Bon Repos project. There are 11 more teams scheduled to work on the site through June. The next group, also from Kentucky, will be arriving in Haiti Jan. 28.
An effort is underway to provide on-going sponsorship for the children. The non-profit organization is called “Children First: Love and Hope, Inc.” The foundation is based in Frankfort and accepts monthly sponsors of a child ($40) for basic physical and educational needs and individual gifts to the “Mango Tree Children’s Home” for items such as beds or school desks, etc.
SurfKY News
Information provided by Western Kentucky University
Copyright © 2012 SurfKY News Group, Inc. all rights reserved. SurfKY.com is an eNewspaper providing local news FREE to Kentucky 24/7. Read Statewide Kentucky News, Sports, Obituaries and more for Kentucky covering: Calloway, Christian, Daviess, Henderson, Hopkins, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Warren, and Webster Counties as well as the Kentucky Lakes Area.
