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