What a season of transition this is about to be! I have spent the last year interning at Root Elementary School and working on completing my Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Arkansas. I presented my Action Research (thesis) presentation last Friday, and GUYS-- I PASSED!

There's more good news.

May 23 I will begin my NEW JOB at New Heights Church as the Early Childhood Team Leader. I couldn't be excited. Jesus has been so extremely faithful to me this year. He has encouraged my heart and affirmed a lot of really sweet gifts that he has put inside me to use to honor and glorify Him.

One of those really sweet gifts has been my love for teaching and kids with special needs. This year has been a deepening and affirming process as I have learned how to more effectively teach and as my skill and knowledge of children with disabilities has been refined. I have gotten to spend the year teaching and learning to teach, in sixth grade, in kindergarten, and now I am finishing up my last placement in the autism resource room at Root.

My mentor teacher (who happens to be THE BEST) in the autism resource room is leading a trip to Haiti this summer to help train special education teachers and SHE INVITED ME! The trip is through 99 Balloons, which I have been involved with for years, and we will be going in July for a quick 5 day trip to support and encourage teachers, families and students at school 99 Balloons have partnered with there. I am so excited.

This trip combines my love of the world, my heart for children with special needs and my training and education as a teacher. All of my favorite things! I am so excited to see what God does through this trip.

I cannot do this trip without you! I need lots of prayer and petition as we set forth in loving and teaching and, most of all, learning from these kiddos. Will you pray for me? Will you pray for my team?

Would you also consider supporting me financially? I really need help getting there and it would bless me tremendously if you could help support me!!

I love you all. Thank you for hearing my heart and helping me love those kiddos that are made in Father's image!

Karly

Trip Cost: $1850

Participants will be supporting 99 Balloons’ Global Partners in Haiti.  In addition to experiencing the story of disability in Haiti, team members will provide special education training for local educators, direct care for kids with disabilities, and therapy training/equipping for parents and workers.  The team will be working at a school that serves over 500 students and recently launched a special education program for kids experiencing disability, as well as a pediatric therapy program and counseling services for children and families.

Professionals:

• 2 Special Educators

• 1 Speech-Language Pathologist

• 1 Occupational Therapist

• 1 Physical Therapist

• 1 Counselor or Social Worker