Update!!!!!

I got a call from Miss Baldwin today.  And she said they closed the thing for applications because it filled up, BUT she put me in behind the scenes.  So I am in there!! She just needs to contact George and get my $50 payment in.  I am going to raise roughly $1000 for trip and flights.  $445 for the trip itself and round trip airfare which I am expecting to be about $500. I sent my application in over the phone and online.  So lets hope for the best! I am super excited and hope God keeps me going on this path.  You can donate through mail, in person, or directly to Joni and Friends to my account (https://www.joniandfriends.org/donate/ make sure you put that you would like to notify the family/individual of your gift and then put my information in it.)  My trip is the Bison Ranch trip. It is from July 26- July 30. If you need my address or a time to meet with us comment your email address and I won't publish the comment. I will email with you and pick a good place and time!! Thank you for all the prayers!!!

Much love,
Dakota

Update

As of this morning I had not heard from Miss Baldwin. That makes three weeks. I have emailed her. Today I decided it was time to call her.  I called her at 9 this morning.  She said she has been on vacation and will contact my references this week and will contact me later this week.  So prayers would be appreciated!!! Thanks for your support!!!

Much Love,
Dakota

Fundraising and an Update

I am going to have to start raising money for my trip soon.  Before I know it I will be packing up and headed south.  I was wondering if you had any ideas. Some of my ideas were a bake sale, garage sale, lemonade stand and things of that sort.  You can contact me via comment or email if you have ideas. Hope to hear from you soon!!!!

I haven't heard from Miss Baldwin in a few days. I'm not sure if she has contacted my references yet or not. Hope I hear from her soon!! It has been a week today since she contacted me. 

Much Love,
Dakota

Videos

Here are some videos that I love from the Joni and Friends YouTube Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA8VJh0UJtg&feature=player_embedded
That one is about a little boy with DS and a dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epc56U-HffA&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEh2aFixEN8&list=UU5Ahuz2TiEpQ0y-DgaVHhcA&index=5
I want to inspire people like this!!!!!

Welcome!

Hi! My name is Dakota and I have a heart for special needs children.  I have been looking all over the internet to find a missions trip in the USA that helps people with disabilities.  I emailed Susanna at The Blessings of Verity and she suggested emailing the people at Joni and Friends, so that is just what I did.  I emailed to help in the Family Retreat section.  Before I knew it I was getting a call from Miss Baldwin who is the director of the Bison Ranch Family Retreat.  They have rules that you are supposed to be 17 or older.  When the time for this Family Retreat comes I will only be 16. I was kind of worried about if I would be able to go or not, but I kept thinking and praying if God wants me there he will make it possible.  Miss Baldwin asked for some references. I gave her those this morning via email.  I am not sure if she has contacted them yet though.  I gave her Aunt Chris, George and my mom. While I was on the phone with her I talked about Taylor, and how much she inspires me to help others who are like her!  I also told her that Susanna from The Blessing of Verity and Mrs. Taylor from Taylor Made For His Purpose inspired me to help children with disabilities.  Susanna and Patti (from A Perfect Lily ) opened my eyes to all the children with Down Syndrome all over the world. 

In the Family Retreat through Joni and Friends I will stay 5 days in Overgaard, AZ and be a 'buddy' to a child or adult with a disability. I will spend those next 5 days with him or her doing fun stuff like horseback riding etc. I feel like God has put this on my heart and I want to make it happen. The estimated cost for STM (Short Term Missionaries) for this location is $445. I am not sure what that includes. I need to find out some more information still but I want to hear back from Miss Baldwin after she talks to my references first.

Much Love!!!
Dakota