LEWISPORTE - This coming January, a group of six Newfoundanders will be heading to Haiti on a mission trip, including Lewisporte resident Cathy Verge.
This is not Ms. Verge’s first mission trip. Two years ago, she travelled to Africa for a similar cause and returned home with a new perspective on life.
Now, she is thrilled once again to have the opportunity to do more missionary work with an organization called Hands Across The Sea- Haiti (HATS –Haiti). Karen Huxter, a friend of Ms. Verge is the director of the HATS organization. The Springdale native has been living and working in Haiti since 1995 and it is now more than ever, that they need everyone’s support.
Haiti was once known as the poorest country in the Americas, but after the 2010 earthquake struck the capital city of Port-au-Prince, the country faces even more turmoil, financial struggle and suffering.
The HATS program is an interdenominational Christian group that consists of a school, orphanage and community outreach program. The school offers children from preschool to Grade 9, valuable education from qualified Haitian teachers while proving a daily meal and unconditional love and support. It is their goal to raise the children both in the school and orphanage, to become hardworking contributing adults in the future.
This missionary trip is by no means a relaxing vacation. Ms. Verge and the other team members are there to work. The group will actually be living with the children in the orphanage and will perform tasks such as aiding with construction, helping care for the children and providing medical attention to those in need. Ms. Huxter needs as much help as she can get to run the program that she has put in place so without volunteers and the generous donations of individuals, the children would have nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, and no one to care for them.
“Not everyone can physically go, or they don’t have the time or finances but everyone can still give of yourself,” said Ms. Verge, and that is exactly what she is asking people in this area to do.
Ms. Verge will be holding a yard sale, car wash, bake sale and barbeque on Aug. 21 at Lewisporte Intermediate. Donations of baked goods, used items, hotdogs, hamburgers or simply your time, would certainly be appreciated.
“I want to be able to contribute when I’m down there and be able to say that the Town of Lewisporte played a part,” said Ms. Verge.
She encourages everyone to drop by and make a contribution to a very worthy cause. If you would like to make a donation or volunteer your time, you can contact Ms. Verge at 535-8809.
The reward of giving is something that shines from within and radiates through all the selfishness and suffering in the world today.
“If you have a willing heart, you can do anything,” said Ms. Verge.
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