Sunday, January 28, 2007

The Start

My name is Alexandrea Scott. I attend HDCH, and I'm about to start my second semester of grade eleven. In thirty one days I will be flying to Cancun, then driving nine hours in a bus with 17 students, from both HDCH and TDCH.

Here is a copy of a letter that I sent out to my friends, my family, and my church, New Life Pentecostal in Milton.

Dear Friends & Family,Hi my name is Alexandrea Scott. I am in grade 11 at Hamilton District Christian High School. I turned 16 in November. I have been given an amazing opportunity I would like to tell you about.Last year I heard of a Mission / CO-OP trip to Belize that would be going on in 2007.When I first heard about it I thought Wow that’s cool. But when I realized it was a three month trip, I wasn’t sure. The second time they made an announcement about it I felt like God was telling me I should go to this meeting. I was especially interested when I heard where you could volunteer at an orphanage. You see, I was adopted when I was two and a half months old, and orphans have a bit of a soft spot in my heart.In the last week of school, before summer break, my grandma died. That’s when the interviews for the trip were taking place. So, I thought I had missed my chance. I was pretty upset, but I didn’t let on that I was that disappointed to my family. They were already going through enough. I thought to myself, if God wants me to go, he’ll make a way.In the first week of September, my principal came to see me in my art class. He asked me if I was still thinking about Belize. I was pretty blown away because I thought it was all over with. Still I wasn't so sure, my parents talked to me about it but still I felt I wasn't ready. Then at a barbecue, Mr. K approached my dad and talked to him about the trip. The next day my parents talked to me again. After that conversation I really felt I was ready to go.So then I was part of the team. Like I did to apply for this experience, I'm putting my heart on paper, so you can share in my dream.Let me tell you how I will spend these incredible three months. During the week, I will be living with Christian families located near the places where I’ll be working.I will be volunteering at The Kings Children’s Orphanage, which is located in the capital city of Belmopan. For another couple of weeks I will volunteer at The Belize Faith Missions, which is an orphanage and an elementary school with 500 students.A trip like this costs a lot of money. To me, it seems like an absolutely huge amount. I need to raise $4,000, I still have a long way to go. But I know that just like God put this in my heart, He will put it in your heart to be a part of something special. If you would like to talk to me about this you can call me. And hey, some of you even see me at school or church, and we can just talk. I’m not going on this trip alone, because I know you’ll be praying for me, and you’ll see what your gift will allow me to experience by following the online journal that I’ll set up. Thanks for reading my letter and I can’t wait to hear from you.

So, here it is that online journal. I am happy to say that I am done raising my money. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me.

31 days to go!!

Alexandrea