What do doughnuts have to do with musical instruments and you? Weāre glad you asked!
During February, our elementary and preteen kids explored the Life App of Service ā lending a hand to help someone else. Our sermon series on Mission/Outreach/Service provided the perfect impetus for our kids to put service into practice and work together on a church-wide initiative. We asked Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM), our ministry partner in Haiti, for ideas of something they would like to provide their children. Their response was immediate ā MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. Hereās a little of what they saidā¦
Kids in Haiti do not have chances to have after-schoolĀ activities (sports, dance lessons, music lessons, art classes, etc.) like lots of kids in other countries have. Learning to play an instrument is a privilege that only a limited number of adults are able to experience. Very few children in Haiti have that privilege because their parents donāt have the money to pay for their kids. Learning to play an instrument opens doors for them to develop new skills and the ability to bless someone else with that talent because some of them use that talent to play at someoneās wedding or church special events and even at Christmas galas.
The team from Kairos got to witness this desire and reality first-hand as they were treated to a concert, pictured in the photo above. These girls have been adopted by one of the HOM school principals and are taking violin lessons. (In the photo, one of them is using a violin donated by a Kairos family.Ā Our team saw what a difference learning to play an instrument has made in the lives of these girls.
So, after hearing about this desire, our kids jumped into action, deciding that if the whole church participated, we could buy 5 instruments (our younger elementary kids had the goal of 100 instruments!). Kids have been hard at work for the past several weeks raising money. There have been lemonade sales and cookies sales. Extra chores have been done. The story and need have been shared many, many times with family members, friend, neighbors, teachers, and even parentsā coworkers. A few ideas ā charging friends to pet the family dog and charging for tours of their backyard – were ultimately rejected by parents. Many little coin collection boxes have been filled.
And, hereās what doughnuts have to do with musical instruments and you!
This Sunday our preteens will bring our collection to a close by selling fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the gathering space, beginning at 9:45am. All proceeds from the doughnut sales will go toward purchasing instruments. Come early (despite the time change) and enjoy a doughnut or a dozen. We’ll have hot coffee and milk, too.Ā Our kids will gladly accept your donation of $1 minimum per doughnut or $10 minimum per dozen. Please bring cash or make your check payable to Kairos and note āInstruments for Haiti Fund.ā Of course, if for some reason warm Krispy Kremes donāt tempt you, you can still give a donation!
– Jan