Taylor's Heart for Haiti

(written by Taylor's Mom, Stephanie)

Hello friends!  I believe that we should take every opportunity to share what God is doing in our lives and in the lives of our friends and family.  I want to share what God has been doing in the life of my seven-year-old daughter, Taylor Alexis (also known as Smudge or Bug).  She is such an inspiration to me.  Taylor accepted the Lord as her savior when she was five-years-old.  As all working mothers know, a lot of our conversations happen in the car, traveling to and from school.  When she was five, on the way to school, we began discussing Jesus and how He lives in our hearts.  I explained to Taylor that we have to ask Him to live in our hearts and asked if she would like to invite him to live in her heart.  She replied, "Oh mama, I already have done that......I said Jesus, will you come live in my heart?  And He said, ok."  After much discussion and prayer, she was baptized later that year by both of her grandfathers.  It is such a blessing to know that she is a child of God.  Little did I know the plans He had (and has) for my child.......

Taylor has always been a very compassionate person.  She cannot watch anyone cry or she will cry.  Last year in her Sunday school class, she learned about the earthquake that struck Haiti.  She learned that they were in desperate need.  She helped her Sunday school class raise money to send for the relief effort.  Since that time, she has prayed for Haiti every day and continually asked questions.  When this did not end after one month, after two months, I knew that God had other plans for her in this area.  A couple of months ago, we again were traveling in the car, out of the blue she said, "Mama, God just told me what I need to be when I grow up."  She explained that God wanted her to be a missionary to the people in Haiti and bring them food, water, medicine, and bibles.  She was so specific in what God had called her to do.  We discussed this in detail and also began praying about what she could do now regarding this call God has placed on her heart.  Shortly after, her grandfather was reading The Baptist Message and ran accross a story of this organization that builds houses for the people in Haiti.  There are over 800,000 people still living in tents and this organization can build a house for only $2,500.  Once this was presented to Taylor, she said that God wanted her to help raise money to build a house for a family in Haiti.  "This is how I can be a missionary here at home," she said.  She developed a fundraising plan, she wrote down how she was going to raise this money, and set a goal date.  I have to admit, I was not so sure that she would reach her goal of $2,500.  God had other plans.......

One of the ways Taylor wanted to raise money was by speaking at churches regarding her Heart for Haiti.  On March 13, 2011, Taylor spoke at our church, Family of Grace in Alexandria.  God used her tremendously!  Family of Grace, through offerings of the people in the service, provided the money for one entire house!  Taylor said, "Mama, it's a miracle!"  She said that she just did what God told her to do and her church listened to God too!  Wow--if we all did what God told us to do!  After that service, a person who heard Taylor speak went home and called a friend.  He told his friend what he heard at church that morning and the friend donated the entire amount for house number two!  Another miracle!  In addition, Jacob (Taylor's dad), and her two grandfathers (Pappy and Poppy) are going at the end of the year to actually help build houses in Haiti.  Several others from our church are going with them.  Taylor will be able to see how God uses people of all ages for His work!

Taylor is now working on house number three and already has $1,200!  She is speaking at a church for the next two Sundays and has several more to confirm dates.  She is also going to participate in the Maker's Fair in Shreveport on April 30th and the Cane River Green Market in Natchitoches on May 21st where she will be selling baked goods, cup coasters, and homemade pickles.  She is so excited about how many houses God will provide in Haiti.  I am so blessed to be a part of this work God is doing in her life.  This  blog is to keep everyone informed of God's provision.  Taylor believes that God will get rid of all the tents in Haiti!  Wow, if only we could have that kind of faith!  I will keep everyone posted on the upcoming events and how many houses God is providing.  Please pray for Taylor and her Heart for Haiti, that God will continue to work in her life and provide for those in need.  Also, that we would all be willing to listen and obey God's calling.

This is Taylor getting ready for a dance line competition.