I stood crying in my kitchen earlier. I had a skillet chock full of spinach, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and fresh organic eggs. I was looking out the window at the tall green grass and purple irises, while I sipped on some cool filtered water and probiotic juice. I walked over and petted Hank, my awesome dog who’s a healthy weight of 65 pounds, and gave him a generous scoop of omega-rich food to ensure he doesn’t develop hip problems. I wasn’t sad because the grass needs mowing. I didn’t burn my omelette. Hank wasn’t in pain. The tears were for those I flew away from yesterday who have never tasted spinach. The malnourished children, adults, dogs, goats, chickens, horses, cows, donkeys and other animals living in what’s comparable to one of our landfills. Those that may have had some rice or a piece of candy for breakfast, if they were lucky enough to have anything. Those that walked to contaminated wells this morning to fetch water for the day in a hot plastic yellow container they will carry home on their heads.
Its hard to understand why. Or how. Its hard to pray when you look around at the suffering and there doesn’t seem to be an answer.

But then I see the smiles and roaring laughter of children jumping a frayed rope and experiencing a swing for the first time at a sponsored free school that provides them uniforms, an education and a nutritional meal every day. And I see them eager to help saw or drill or hold a board, or just put a hand on the back of one of us…anything to be a part of helping. And I see a Canadian contractor who employs a crew of locals to hand dig and carry off dirt (some in their bare feet) for $10 US dollars a day, rather than use available equipment like an excavator, so they can afford to send their child to school for a full year. And I hear a small band and choir perform and clap and dance and cheer in excitement as we present them with six more instruments. And I meet with fourteen young men in their best dressed clothes who have built a school of 225 students and have a fire in their lean bellies to create a music/art/technical academy for the entire community, with hopes to ultimately change their country. And I am utterly compelled to help them achieve their dreams. I believe together we can help them help themselves. I am proud and feel extremely blessed to participate as one of the founders of this promising program at La Reference School in Ganthier, Haiti.

Would I rather spend my money on an all-inclusive resort on an island in the Caribbean and sit on the beach sipping a drink with an umbrella and walk out into the fresh blue water with no trash floating around my waist? No way.
I’ll be going back with more instruments tucked away in suitcases, hoping to slide through Customs without a raised eyebrow, and I will help give those people hope. I am not really the fund-raising type, nor do I typically ask for help, but I will continue to ask you to open your hearts and help young adults and children change a country full of oppression. If you don’t want to help them, I’m asking you to help me. If you don’t want to help me, do yourself a big favor and help someone, somewhere, out of your comfort zone. You will be rewarded in more ways than you can imagine.
We will have a website soon but in the meantime, if you can donate some type of musical instrument or accessory, or if you can spare $10 or $25 or $100 or $1000 dollars, or whatever amount, please do so. I’m happy to come pick up items or arrange for shipping. And I would be grateful if you share my posts and videos.

Thank you and may God continue to bless each of you.
Shine On,
Dawn
Mailing address:
Sho-Bud Music
4706 Elkins Ave.
Nashville, TN 37209
PayPal.Me/shineonhaiti


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