El Túnel is a residential area in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The DR is often seen as a vacation spot or destination wedding venue. But the truth is, many Dominicans live in extreme poverty. The Dominican Republic has many slums, and El Túnel is just one of those. This boy is one of the children living there. While I was there, I had the opportunity to work with an organization called Healing Waters International. The organization "empowers local ministry partners to bring physical, social and spiritual transformation to poor communities by providing sustainable, safe water solutions." They sell purified water for a fraction of the price it is normally sold for. This creates better health, more job opportunities, and hope for the communities they work with. To learn more about this organization or to donate to their cause, click here.

More faces of El Túnel:

The City of Light. The poorest region of Port-au-Prince. Though the people living in these tiny tents have next to nothing, they have more joy than many people I know in America. They worship Jesus with dancing and smiles. This area is known as one of the poorest and most dangerous areas in the western hemisphere, and it is also one of the biggest slums in the northern hemisphere. Many of the people I met here, however, were some of the kindest, most hospitable people I've ever met. Though they had nothing, they insisted I come into their home and take a seat on their only chair. We tried to communicate with what little I knew of Creole, and what little they knew of English. Their gestures spoke louder than their words ever did. The children I played with needed love more than anything. We played all day long in the crazy Haitian heat, twirling and clapping as long as we could. Here are some of the people that will be in my heart forever.

Lovela is an orphan at New Life Children's Home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. New Life is a rescue center and orphanage that receives orphaned, abandoned, sick, and special needs children. They seek to change children's lives through God's love. New Life was established in 1977 and currently is a home to about 130 children. The stories of the children staying here are amazing. Many were abandoned by their parents or orphaned in the earthquake. A number of them were injured while stuck in the rubble after the earthquake. New Life makes a point of caring for special needs children, especially those with hydrocephalus, a disease which involves an excessive amount of cerebralspinal fluid in the cavities of the brain. In turn, this causes swelling and infections which many Haitian parents cannot afford treatment for. New Life takes these children in and provides for their medical treatment. To learn more about the home or to donate to their cause, click here.
More orphans living at New Life:

The palace stands in ruins, a metaphor for the state of the country. Since the earthquake of January 12, 2010, the city of Port-au-Prince has continued to be in a state of devastation. When the palace was built in the early 20th century, it was dedicated to the religion of voodoo. Seven virgins were sacrificed; their blood being poured out to mix in to the foundation of the building. Many of the presidents who have lived inside have been corrupt and selfish. Voodoo has taken over the country more heavily than any other country. Haiti dedicated the country to the Devil in exchange for their independence from the French in 1804. He reigned over the country for 200 years. The contract ended in 2004, but they are still under constant oppression. Voodoo priests often require sacrifices, sometimes human ones. Children are kidnapped from hospitals or given up by their parents for the sake of the religion. However, there is still hope for the country of Haiti. People are beginning to see the horrors that go on in secret. Helpless, anemic children are beginning to be rescued from the mountaintops. Though it has been a year since the earthquake, your help is still greatly needed. Even the smallest donation can make the biggest difference in a Haitian's life. You can learn more and also donate to YWAM Haiti here. 

1. Free coffee. Obviously.

2. They let you put art on their walls.

So, this month some pictures from this summer will be up at Kirsten's Starbucks, the one in Sammamish right by Eastlake High School. It's the drive through one, not the one by Safeway. So if you feel so inclined, go check it out. The display should be up sometime next week. Probably Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how long USPS decides to take. Also, I'll be putting up some stories to go with the pictures, so if you see stuff you've already seen, it's for the Starbucks people. Just ignore it. Or read it again. But seriously, if you can, go check out the pictures in person. They're always way better on a wall. And they're going to be HUGE. 20x30. Yeah. You're gonna want to go.