Mission 2012: Nicaragua

Photo by Paige Pruitt-Haase

Every year our church builds a team of volunteers to spend their personal time on a mission to Nicaragua. With much prayer and patience, Doug and I are once again called to this mission.

The plan is to return to a church that our team helped build, in Tipitapa. This church has experienced great growth in the community and is in need of expanding! Praises to answered prayer! Churches in countries and areas like Tipitapa in Nicaragua become the central point in the community. They lovingly share food and clothing, even help families experiencing loss of homes and loved ones. It is the strength of the community.

These people are living in extreme poverty and are truly grateful for all we do. Our main project will be the expansion of the church, our contribution is to help get this done near completion and to provide materials they will need. The local churches do a good share of the work, and finish the project after we depart.

We also have the opportunity to help with a 3 - 4 day children's program, by leading them in crafts and activities.

We are hoping to raise $2,500.00 for our expenses, as well as helping the team raise funds for building materials that will cost approximately $7,500.00. We will also need about $2,000.00 for craft materials, gift packages/goody bags for the children and partial scholarships for team members. The gift/goody bags contain items for children such as toys and essential items like combs, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Please consider how you can support our team of 8 members, financially and in prayer.

We feel so very blessed to be able to return and be a part of witnessing how Christ's love has spread in this community.

Thank you for your prayers, donations and support. You are sharing greatly in the joy of this mission.

In His Service,
Doug & Paige

Donations from the FundRazr site (the "Give" button to the right) are not tax-deductible, if you wish to receive a tax deduction, please send a personal check to:
Gateway Church
1235 'E' Street
Washougal, WA  98671
Memo:  Nica 2012 - HAASE
(Your check will not be credited correctly for the Mission if you do not fill in the memo)

2012 Begins

Well, I made it through the holidays... again.

I always feel that I am not ready for them to begin, then they are over. Life seems to snap back into place, and we go about our business as usual.

I know, I know it is suppose to all be new and bright. Somehow by the end of January we tend to be back into who we were created to be. Yes, that is a good thing. Why do we try to be any more than that. Seems like an evil set up to me.

We can expand on trying to enhance who we are, but really, why are we not able to accept all that is already good in us? It is wonderful to want to learn new things, meet new people, discover new places. But all in all, it is "us" that is doing those things. Not the new and improved us doing it, right?

Well, in honor of all that jibber, I am taking the same 'ol Paige and reaching out to discover new things. To lend myself to others. Usually I go on my annual journey in the mission field to Nicaragua in July, for two weeks. I pray I will do that again this summer. But, my new venture is right here in my own county, state, and country. I have decided to join Clark County CASAs, Court Appointed Special Advocates - for Children.

This is for children who need a voice in the Courts, an advocate that keeps the child's best interest in mind during the tough process of family issues that have been reported to the child welfare department.

There are roughly 570 children that are appointed to the CASA Program for representation, but there are only about 179 active CASA volunteers to represent them. These are children involved in reports and investigations in the allegations of child abuse, child neglect and child abandonment. You can only imagine how they may feel the world is out to hurt them, how they feel disconnected, how they just want to feel safe and cared for.

My training began last week with "Domestic Violence 101". That was a tough class. The instructor was a victim of domestic violence. She shared so much about the psychology of the victim; the power and control the abuser has over the victim. It was truly a hard subject to talk about.

The next class is defining my role as a CASA. I hope to keep sharing my journey and the things I am learning.
Maybe your New Year's Resolution is to read more of your friend's blogs, I am glad you are reading mine.

I also hope I can inspire someone else to become involved. I hope.