Seeds of Support: Mission Haiti
Donation protected
My name is Micah Vandersteen. My goal is to raise two-thousand dollars to fund my Mission trip to Haiti over April 1-10. Currently, I am beginning my second semester as a sophomore, studying physics at the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities. I am an active member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and am starting my second consecutive term as the service chair.
The development of third world countries is something that has beenextremely important to me since I took my first trip to Haiti in June following my junior year of high school. I returned in February of my senior year, as well as June following my graduation from Benilde-St. Margaret's high school. Since then I have not yet returned but have been making a constant effort to ensure that I can return to the village of pasquette and continue to do what I love to do, which is try and improve the lives of those who have been less fortunate than me. While being in college, I have yet to have found time to take a trip to Haiti due to the time commitment that college demands out ofa student. However, with the bi-annual trips both being over the course of my second semester this year, I have no choice but to sacrifice time at school to do something that I believe is more important.
Since my first trip, the village we work with, Pasquette, has seen so much improvement. The largest milestone that we have accomplished so far has been installing a solar powered well and a 500 gallon water tower, with a clorinator that allows the water to be used for everything, including safe drinking. In the most recent trips that have occured during my abscence, a peanut grinder has been installed, which is used to help produce peanut butter to be sold (and eaten). The next objective is installing a small, wood-fired oven that can be used to bake goods to be sold and eaten as well.
During my three previous trips, I have fallen in love with the people of the village, gotten to know many individuals despite the language barrier, and have developed a depper passion for improving the lives of others, with special consideration to Haiti, as it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. I am interested in volunteering for the Peace Corps after completing college, and I hope to make developing third world countries a large part of my life following college. It makes me very sad that I have not been able to return to a country that I love so much. However, I am confident that with the help of strangers, friends, and family, I will be able to return this April. I am blessed to have been given so much, and I will be extremely thankful to everyone who sends their thoughts, prayers, and donations toward my cause.
Thank you.
Attached is a video I made during my second trip, when the well was installed.
The development of third world countries is something that has beenextremely important to me since I took my first trip to Haiti in June following my junior year of high school. I returned in February of my senior year, as well as June following my graduation from Benilde-St. Margaret's high school. Since then I have not yet returned but have been making a constant effort to ensure that I can return to the village of pasquette and continue to do what I love to do, which is try and improve the lives of those who have been less fortunate than me. While being in college, I have yet to have found time to take a trip to Haiti due to the time commitment that college demands out ofa student. However, with the bi-annual trips both being over the course of my second semester this year, I have no choice but to sacrifice time at school to do something that I believe is more important.
Since my first trip, the village we work with, Pasquette, has seen so much improvement. The largest milestone that we have accomplished so far has been installing a solar powered well and a 500 gallon water tower, with a clorinator that allows the water to be used for everything, including safe drinking. In the most recent trips that have occured during my abscence, a peanut grinder has been installed, which is used to help produce peanut butter to be sold (and eaten). The next objective is installing a small, wood-fired oven that can be used to bake goods to be sold and eaten as well.
During my three previous trips, I have fallen in love with the people of the village, gotten to know many individuals despite the language barrier, and have developed a depper passion for improving the lives of others, with special consideration to Haiti, as it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. I am interested in volunteering for the Peace Corps after completing college, and I hope to make developing third world countries a large part of my life following college. It makes me very sad that I have not been able to return to a country that I love so much. However, I am confident that with the help of strangers, friends, and family, I will be able to return this April. I am blessed to have been given so much, and I will be extremely thankful to everyone who sends their thoughts, prayers, and donations toward my cause.
Thank you.
Attached is a video I made during my second trip, when the well was installed.
Organizer
Micah Vandersteen
Organizer
Eden Prairie, MN