Posting a blog written by BVU Student, Abby, who spent her J-Term in Haiti.  Reality Check After being in Haiti for two weeks the reality of it all is starting to hit me. I remember at the beginning of the trip I had multiple people ask me how are you doing? Is Haiti overwhelming you? I had thought no I am fine. After two weeks my opinion on this question has completely changed. I have noticed that the first week I was very oblivious to certain things. I didn't realize the harsh reality of living in Haiti. As I am [...]

Excited to introduce our newest activity at LOVE Takes Root. The Roots Runners. LOVE Takes Root (LTR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating the future of children worldwide.  We help children around the world facing dire circumstances by delivering basic aid, education and the seeds for a sustainable future.  In 2011, we were called to Haiti where we have relocated and rebuilt an orphanage reduced to rubble by the 2010 earthquake.  For sustainability, we have also built a primary school, medical/dental clinic, and are presently building a secondary school. LOVE Takes Root is an Iowa-based volunteer-led grassroots organization that [...]

As the facilitator of LOVE Takes Root I have a lot of trips back and forth to Haiti. Which means I have a lot of time setting on a plane. Below I will share some of my plane reflections from my trip back this past week. As I compare the despair and sadness leaving La Concorde Orphanage in Port-Au-Prince in 2011 with the love and smiles I have while leaving La Concorde in Jacmel in 2016, it seems like such a quick journey. Although at the time having the knowledge of children with no clean water, food, shelter or healthcare made [...]

I am writing this as I look at the beautiful water crashing on the shores of Jacmel.  This is the second week of a mission and teaching trip to La Concorde, the orphanage,school and clinic that partners with LTR. Haiti time had a whole new meaning this March visit. In the past  Haiti has followed day light savings time. So they would be on  Eastern Standard Time.  This year however a decision was made not to "spring ahead".  This would not be a big deal if they had told the world clock and the airlines. SO if you use your [...]

On our blog we do not only want to give you a glimpse of mission trips and project status, but a journey with LOVE Takes Root as an organization. As the facilitator I am learning with you and gaining insight daily. Growth is often measured in size. We weigh and measure a baby often to document their growth. We measure the number of employees to define the growth of a new business. We visualize the growth of the tree as it reaches for the sky. We talk about the growth of a person in wisdom and knowledge. You hear many talk [...]

Sustainability is a buzz word in the work of non-profits. But I as the facilitator wondered what does that mean and is the meaning the same for all who use it?  The Definition in Webster's is: the ability to last or continue for a long time. The next question would be does this apply to the non-profit organization or the project they are working with? Another definition was the state of not requiring any aid, support or interaction for survival-- autonomy. Having a pediatric health background I could relate to autonomy. Immediately a picture of a toddler pops into my brain. Erickson's teaching of [...]

Yesterday was one of the days you have in life where you are just filled with comforting spirit. I as facilitator of LOVE Takes Root drove across Iowa to meet with Christy who is a Professor at Coe College, and who is interested in learning about May Term opportunities for students. And also a sister with a donation to memorialize her sisters. We met at a coffee shop in Cedar Rapids. Christy arrived and had her 16 year old daughter with her since it was trimester break. We sat down and I heard the painful story of Christy's sisters. Sarah and [...]

Sharing one of the blogs that was written by  BVU Student Haley. She spent her J-term in Haiti at La Concorde. She is majoring in education. In Haiti at La Concorde she taught a lot and learned a lot. The children loved the opportunity to share moments and LOVE. A Walk to Remember Our days in Haiti are quickly coming to an end and I have been thinking about leaving ever since this weekend. I am ready in some ways to go home, but if I had the opportunity, I think that I would choose to stay here or adopt a few [...]

LOVE Takes Root spent an afternoon at Sacred Heart Elementary School yesterday. The k-6th grade made different SNOW projects for the children in La Concorde orphanage, Haiti. They made snow flake people, snow globes, pictures of them making snowmen and snow angels. There is a wonderful book about snow that each child signed. The children were coloring, cutting and gluing with intense concentration. The project was full of love. The children in Haiti will receive the gift with thankfulness and open hearts. This is the same school children that started the fundraising of the playground at La Concorde last year.  They enjoyed seeing [...]

On December 22nd, I decided to sign up to become an Independent Consultant with Thirty-One Gifts, LLC. I was initially thinking I was going to purchase items for myself at a discount and maybe I would sell something here and there. However, on the very same day, someone on Facebook had shared the article from Iowa Radio (http://www.radioiowa.com/2015/11/26/spencer-doctors-love-takes-root-charity-raising-money-to-open-haiti-school/) about Love Takes Root. Having grown up in the Spencer area, I had heard about the Wilkerson family and their mission trips, but I hadn’t heard about Love Takes Root before. I was inspired by what this organization is doing. I gave [...]