Christmas Is For Everyone (or: I'm returning to Haiti!)

Dear Friends,

Charles Dickens once wrote that "it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself." If we each look back I'm sure that somewhere we have some happy memory from the holidays. Like me, you may not remember the exact gifts you received in your early years, but the feeling I had after opening each present, knowing someone cared and thought about me, I still remember and cherish to this day. Sadly, however, there are many children who do not get the chance to receive gifts for Christmas. December 25^th is merely one more day of the year. For children in Jacmel, Haiti they can only dream of getting any type of gift for Christmas. Without basic necessities like clean water the idea of a material present is just a dream.

In January 2011, I will be making a return trip to Jacmel with Restore Haiti (www.restorehaiti.com) to distribute Christmas gifts to the children of the city. You may be slightly confused by the timing – “Christmas is in December, isn't it?” you might ask. Yes, but due to a burst of cholera outbreaks and rioting caused by the recent elections in the country our team's trip has been postponed until early January. This delay, although caused by unfortunate circumstances, has also been a blessing, for me at least, as it opened up an opportunity for me to join the team. This being said, our trip is even more important than ever. I personally hope to bring some sort of respite to the children from these crazy and dangerous times.

Thanks to an overwhelming response the team has received the needed gifts to give to these children. We covet still your fervent prayers as well as your financial support. I need to raise $1,025 by January 3^rd, 2011. There are several ways you can help, any of which would be greatly appreciated.

If you are in the Nashville area, I will be acoustically performing Christmas carols to raise some of the needed funds. Please come and join me in celebrating Christ's birth via song! I will be releasing the exact dates and times very soon. For those of you who love homemade baked goods but don't have the time/touch, I am selling cakes/cookies/cheesecakes/etc made to order. Just be sure to get your order in soon! And if you'd like to help the old-fashioned way with a tax-deductible donation, you can do so via Paypal (my address is saminsocks @ hotmail.com) or send me a message and I will provide you with my address.

Christ came into this world with the purpose to give the gift of eternal life to us. Sure, America has made Christmas into a material driven holiday, but the tradition of presents given to those we love is a simple illustration of Christ's true selfless love for us. Please help me give this opportunity to the children of Jacmel.

With sincerest thanks,

Sandrene R. Mathews