Preparing for Haiti

May 16, 2011

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share with you an incredible experience that my brother, Damon Holst, and I are planning to embark upon. We will be traveling with the non-profit, World Wide Village to Haiti in August. Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the entire world and Damon and I are very excited to serve their community.

I have just completed my junior year at Drury University studying international political science and sociology. Drury compels its students to read, learn, and think globally; I am looking forward to having a firsthand experience in a periphery nation.

Damon and I look forward to the expansion of our faith and education that will undoubtedly come along with this trip. Our mission trip team will include people from around the country who are called to serve a challenged nation and people in our vicinity.

As a member of this mission trip, Damon and I will come face-to-face with poverty, hope, and love in a way that I suspect will change our life in a remarkable way. The leadership at World Wide Village promises us a busy schedule. Our mission trip will gift us with intense ministry activities, exciting worship services, daily prayer and devotions and a little relaxation.  The main goal of this mission trip is to rebuild two homes destroyed by the earthquake. While in Haiti, we will be working alongside the Haitian people to assist in the construction of these homes for deserving mothers. We will also have the opportunity to work at local orphanages, Christian schools, local churches and assisting at medical clinics.

We will be flying from St. Louis to Miami, where we will meet the other team members, and then on to Port Au Prince. We both need to raise a total of $2050 for the trip and airfare.  If you can support us in a financial way, we would be very grateful. Most importantly, we need your prayers.   Please pray that Damon and I be of help and encouragement to the people we encounter.  Without prayer, nothing will happen. Please pray for safe travels for all of our mission trip participants.

I invite you to be a part of this awesome opportunity, for I know that you too will feel blessed. I thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

Gifts may be sent to Zion United Church of Christ, 930 West Cherry St. Marion, IL 62959 or you can click “donate now” at Worldwide Village.  Please be sure to note the gift as for Ashley & Damon Holst.

Peace,

Ashley Holst

aholst@drury.edu