As I am writing this, I am flooded with facebook statuses, e-mails, and blog posts of how to help Haiti. My friend, JoAnna’s blog post particularly touched me (and Money Saving Mom) and this post is because of what I read.
For Christmas, we give three gifts to each of our children. One want, one need, and one gift for spiritual growth. This year the spiritual growth gift to our girls was sponsoring a little girl their age, named Keydy, from the Dominican Republic. We watched a DVD about where she lives and they understand she needs our prayers and financial support. Rilyn has already written to her and eagerly awaits a letter back in return!
Today, after reading JoAnna’s post, I took my girls aside and talked for the first time about the earthquake in Haiti. (I grew up in southern California and as a girl I experienced first hand major earthquakes and the fear that sets in as the ground shakes.) I told my daughters how scared the kids are in Haiti and how they need our help. How Haiti is very close to where Keydy lives and I showed them pictures of children who were hurt, stuck in rubble, and their crushed homes. Then I told them about Cayden and Deacon, their friends from their Sunday school classes. And their mom, Jamie, my friend from church. Their adopted son, Amos, is still there and he needs our prayers and support. The Iveys were featured on our local news and CNN today, and their story is touching.
So, today, I was challenged to give to Haiti in a real way that our girls understand. Especially in this material country we live in where everything they could ever want is at their fingertips. For Valentines Day for the past 2 years, we have given the girls tickets to the Sesame Street Live show. Today, I talked with the girls about giving the money for our family’s tickets instead to Compassion, the organization we use to sponsor Keydy. I’m not going to lie and say this was easy for Rilyn. The first thing she asked was, (with tears in her eyes), “Are we going to be able to buy anything else again ever?” We talked about shining the light of Jesus to our school, city, state, and world. I told them that Jesus sometimes asks us to do hard things. So, today, from our family, we donate $65 (the cost of all 5 tickets to SSL) to Compassion and ask that you would think creatively of something you can forego and donate to the children that so desparately need our prayers and support.
the paquettes 
That is awesome Julie what you did with the girls and communicating to them how they are serving others!!
That is incredible…it brings tears to my eyes to think of your children giving selflessly to otehrs, even though it can be hard sometimes.
Julie…so awesome! Such a tangible way to teach the girls. Hey…make sure you pass on Keydy’s information (particularly the village where she lives)…if we are there when we visit the DR this summer, I’ll take some extra photos of her or deliver her some goodies from your kiddos, etc. Would love to give her a personal touch from your family. I can find out now if the ladies of Makarios know her and then get plans in action to meet her when we are there!