Help Odilove and Cassandra

In the spring of this year, I grew close to a family that lives behind our lunchroom/preschool building.  On my daily rides to school, I pass the smiling faces of Odilove and Cassandra.  Most days they are stark naked and yelling my name as they jump up and down with excitement.  Some days they would run into my arms in a full sprint asking me when they could come to school, too.

These two children are living in a small mud home along with many other family members.  As the new preschool director, it is my responsibility to select the new incoming preschoolers.  Daily, the Lord put these two children on my heart as I planned for preschool enrollment.  Despite not having the proper documentation that we require, I decided to enroll them anyway.

This summer, Odil passed away.  He was father to Odilove and grandfather to Cassandra.  He was a friend and neighbor to many people in Jubilee and he was also a local voodoo priest.  Many of us prayed for him and his family.  In one conversation I had with him this spring, he told me he was done with voodoo but not ready to surrender to Christ yet.  A few days after he passed away, his daughter also died suddenly and unexpectedly (mother to Cassandra and sister to Odilove).  These two precious little ones are now being cared for by their remaining family.

Often times in situations like this, families will send the kids away to the countryside to be taken care of by others.  I believe there is a reason that God put these kids on my heart this year, and I believe that Jubilee is where they need to stay.  My dear friends, Brian and Cody Smith are working to raise $2,500 in order to build this family a better home.  This will help alleviate a huge burden on the family and hopefully encourage them not to send the children away.

I'm humbly asking you to consider helping this family in their loss.  Please join me in praying for this family and specifically that Odilove and Cassandra will be able to stay in Jubilee and start school this September.  To help get them a new home, you can send donations to the address listed below.  Please do not write in the check memo, but on a separate note specify that your donation is for "Haiti Homebuilding/Brian & Cody Smith"

Mail to:

The Storehouse, PO Box 540782, Omaha NE 68154-0782 

If you prefer to donate online, please go to this link: 

http://www.thestorehousemovement.com/contact.php

When choosing to donate online, you must send an email to Kristen Klaassen at

kristin.storehouse@outlook.com to let her know you are designating your donation for "Haiti Homebuilding/Brian and Cody Smith".

Matthew 25:34-40

Then, the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mind, you did for me."