Grace Grad’s Nonprofit Aids ‘Holistic’ Education Of Haitian Students
July 27, 2017 at 11:43 a.m.
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“I went with my brother Todd and our friend Tyler Silveus to Fort Lauderdale; they were plannig to fly in medical supplies, and I spent about a week coordinating supplies, doctors and nurses,” Anderson said. “We made two trips to Port-au-Prince every day, and I was the contact person for the effort.
“I ended up going down there and I fell in love with the people, the culture, the language, and that started a stirring in me. I told them if they were going to have any sort of ministry outside of the medical part that was needed at the time, that I would absolutely come back down when they were ready for that.”
Anderson’s experience was different than those who go to far-away places on short-term mission trips.
“I hear people return from a mission trip, and they say they’re thankful for what they have here in the U.S. I don’t really see it that way.
“I see where a lot of the things we have here in the States can disguise happiness. We think we’re happy because of the material things we have. In Haiti, I was really in awe of how happy they were in the simplicity of things.
“Yes, they struggle in poverty and in the things they don’t have. But in the little they have, there’s a contentment that I rarely see here in the States; it’s always ‘more, more, more.’ I love the relatrionships they thrive in. They’re so excited when there’s somebody at the door, and I’ve spent hours on the front porch just talking to people.
“Then they’d talk about my visit forever; they’d go in to the markets and say, ‘That American girl came over to my house for two hours yesterday!’ They love the time we gave them. We’d sit and talk, and the conversations always go toward the gospel, and Jesus, and knowing who he is.
“They can see it in people, when there’s a head knowledge versus a heart knowledge about Jesus. Not everybody is receptive, but everyone talks and listens.”
Anderson chose to take her ministry to another level, creating a nonprofit called Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. It’s based on Mark 12:30, with a primary purpose of providing an all-around, well-rounded educational experience in Haiti.
“The heart behind it is the holistic working with kids; not just working in education to help them be smart, but the holistic view of the growth and develpment of each child,” Anderson said. “We want to help children develop into leaders of the next generation, so they can be the change agents in Haiti.”
To that end, Anderson and many others have organized the Lake Games, set for this weekend in Winona Lake.
There are three events Saturday, beginning with the Crossfit Games, and a off-road bike race. The day ends with an after-dark 5K fun run on the Winona Lake Greenway. An obstacle course and a canoe race are set for Sunday.
Anderson, who graduated from Grace with majors in business and finance, feels well-equipped to not only be transparent with her charity’s finances, but to stretch each dollar for the greatest impact.
“I’ll always be happy to show people where the money goes,” she said. “I’ll be there doing everything I can in?Haiti until I feel called to do something else.”
“I went with my brother Todd and our friend Tyler Silveus to Fort Lauderdale; they were plannig to fly in medical supplies, and I spent about a week coordinating supplies, doctors and nurses,” Anderson said. “We made two trips to Port-au-Prince every day, and I was the contact person for the effort.
“I ended up going down there and I fell in love with the people, the culture, the language, and that started a stirring in me. I told them if they were going to have any sort of ministry outside of the medical part that was needed at the time, that I would absolutely come back down when they were ready for that.”
Anderson’s experience was different than those who go to far-away places on short-term mission trips.
“I hear people return from a mission trip, and they say they’re thankful for what they have here in the U.S. I don’t really see it that way.
“I see where a lot of the things we have here in the States can disguise happiness. We think we’re happy because of the material things we have. In Haiti, I was really in awe of how happy they were in the simplicity of things.
“Yes, they struggle in poverty and in the things they don’t have. But in the little they have, there’s a contentment that I rarely see here in the States; it’s always ‘more, more, more.’ I love the relatrionships they thrive in. They’re so excited when there’s somebody at the door, and I’ve spent hours on the front porch just talking to people.
“Then they’d talk about my visit forever; they’d go in to the markets and say, ‘That American girl came over to my house for two hours yesterday!’ They love the time we gave them. We’d sit and talk, and the conversations always go toward the gospel, and Jesus, and knowing who he is.
“They can see it in people, when there’s a head knowledge versus a heart knowledge about Jesus. Not everybody is receptive, but everyone talks and listens.”
Anderson chose to take her ministry to another level, creating a nonprofit called Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. It’s based on Mark 12:30, with a primary purpose of providing an all-around, well-rounded educational experience in Haiti.
“The heart behind it is the holistic working with kids; not just working in education to help them be smart, but the holistic view of the growth and develpment of each child,” Anderson said. “We want to help children develop into leaders of the next generation, so they can be the change agents in Haiti.”
To that end, Anderson and many others have organized the Lake Games, set for this weekend in Winona Lake.
There are three events Saturday, beginning with the Crossfit Games, and a off-road bike race. The day ends with an after-dark 5K fun run on the Winona Lake Greenway. An obstacle course and a canoe race are set for Sunday.
Anderson, who graduated from Grace with majors in business and finance, feels well-equipped to not only be transparent with her charity’s finances, but to stretch each dollar for the greatest impact.
“I’ll always be happy to show people where the money goes,” she said. “I’ll be there doing everything I can in?Haiti until I feel called to do something else.”
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