Behind each and every face is a story of life and a story of desperation.

"You don't understand what they mean by poverty, lack of infrastructure, need, and despair.  Literally, it's a very desperate country," said Debbie Lindell.

She's been to Haiti twice in the last year and a half working with a children's support organization called Mission of Mercy.

She says it only took one trip to an orphanage to open her heart and her mind.

"After being there, you pray differently.  You want to raise awareness of the need," said Lindell as tears came to her eyes.

Since her visit, Lindell and James River Assembly began sponsoring more than 1,100 Haitian children; children that need the help now, more than ever.

"They don't have the infrastructure, or government structure, or policing structure to go in and say, we're going to take care of this situation.  It's not in place," said Lindell.

She says sponsoring a child through Mission of Mercy gives many of them their only hope for survival.

"They are providing them with extra nutrition, with educational support, supplemental support.  They are providing them with medial care, and supplemental nutrition," said Lindell.

All of that only costs 34 dollars a month, and will help a child until it's finished with school.

It's Lindells hopes that both locally and nationally people will open up their hearts to help our neighbors in Haiti, who were suffering before and after the earthquake.

"This may usher in some change for those people.  It may provide a new direction for a country that has been living in a desperate way for years and years," said Lindell.

GET INVOLVED:

If you would like to sponsor a child in haiti, James River Assembly says it has sponsorship packets available at the church for pick up, or you can call it at (417) 581-5433.

You can also visit Mission of Mercy by clicking here.

If you can not sponsor a child year round, there is also a one-time donation site at CherishKids.org.  (Click on Bring Hope to Haiti at the bottom of the webpage.)

Story ideas or comments?  Email me at wcarter@kspr.com