I was first introduced to FFTP by a Bishop who was a clergy speaker at one of my assigned parishes. I was very moved by his witness of the sufferings of the people of South America. After praying about the my potential involvement with FFTP I called and accepted an invitation to a mission trip to Haiti. I went on the trip in late 2009, 3 weeks before that devastating earthquake. For me, that trip to Haiti was my first experience with profound and extreme poverty. I was shocked at witnessing the complete lack of opportunities especially for women and girls. However, I also moved by the generosity of the people and the deep faith they had in God with the belief they would be provided for.
After the earthquake in January of 2010, I prayed to God asking for a sign of how I could assist the people of Haiti. A few weeks later I was approached by a Baptist couple who had heard that I had been to Haiti and told me of a property they had in Haiti. It was a home and another building that was used as a church. The compound already had cement block walls and a steel door around it. I told them that I would love to use the property as an orphanage for girls who had lost their parents in the earthquake. They agreed and we went down to Haiti and found 30 girls who were in extreme need of care. For the past 15 years they have been cared for with food, fresh clean water, clothing, housing, education, and an income source, medical needs and spiritual and psychological counseling.
This is the all encompassing assistance I know that FFTP will provide for all those that are served. I am confident FFTP will continue to address all levels of poverty as we provide opportunity and love to all we assist.