Running for a House of Hope!
March 5, 2015
Running the race together? A Half Marathon and 15 K for Houses of Hope
by Rene and Marianne Lako, HFI Haiti Coordinators
As the month of March was ushered in, we found ourselves putting the finishing touches on our Half Marathon training. For several weeks, we increased our long runs on weekends to about 12.5 miles to get ready for the 13.1 Miles in the Nashville Tom King Classic Half Marathon on March 7th. The following weekend, we set our sites on the 15 K River Run in Jacksonville, FL -- along with no less than 20,000 other runners.
We enjoy running, but in Haiti it can be a challenge with things like heat, rain, mud, rocky roads. As we train, we run by schools where several Hope Force International sponsored children are enrolled, we pass churches that we visit through our ministy, and we also run past other local ministries. It encourages our hearts when not only the children, but also the adults cheer us on and call out our names.
We have been running for the purpose of raising funds to build a House of Hope for one of the single moms in Sous Savanne. The cost to build a new home is $5,300 -- and we have actively sought sponsors. You can still help us reach this goal by donating on the Hope Force International DONATE NOW page and designating for "House of Hope Marathon."
In the meantime, two Houses of Hope have been in progress for some time; the walls have been erected and are ready for the roof and doors to be placed. We are excited to report that we've recently started building house #49; the foundation is dug out and all materials are in place. A visiting team expected in April will finish this home with trusses, roofing, doors and painting. It?s always a privilege to dedicate a new house with prayer, the gift of a Bible, a mosquito net, clothes lines -- and of course...the keys to the house!
To read more about our Houses of Hope initiative Click Here
View and Download our Haiti Brochure... and consider bringing a team to Haiti!
