Dear Sweet Friends, 

This is a letter that I have taken a long time to finally sit down and write. It’s a hard one. You all know my heart best and know that I have been to Haiti to serve alongside Respire Haiti for 3 of the 4 times that I have been to Haiti. I have fallen in love with the organization and with the people of the community we serve.

I write this letter to inform you that on my last trip to Gressier, I was asked to be a part of the RH team. I am completely honored and humbled by this opportunity. I have been praying about this since I returned and feel like this is something that I just can't pass up. I will be serving alongside RH and using my Doula skills in hopes to educate women on natural birth. I will also love to serve the widows (young and old) by joining them in a weekly Bible Study. There is so much encouragement that needs to be shared. Another role is to serve the Respire Haiti Christian School. I am so excited to get to know all 300+ students on more of a personal level. The idea of serving the community of Gressier makes my heart pound. My heart yearns to serve the people and build lifetime relationships. 

“The vision of Respire Haiti is founded on the principles of sustainability and empowerment. Respire Haiti’s mission is to encourage, educate and empower the people of Gressier, Haiti so that they are a successful, self-sustaining community. Respire Haiti was founded by 24 year old Megan Boudreaux.  After visiting Gressier only one time before for about 45 minutes, God began working in her heart.  Later when she returned to the United States, He began to pull her heart back towards Gressier and the children there.  In December of 2010, God gave her a vision for this community and their children. With so many children not in school and so many families struggling to provide for their kids, she moved to Gressier permanently in January of 2011 and began helping the children and people of Gressier. “

I am honored to join Jesus and RH to serve in Gressier. Please join me in prayer as I prepare my heart for this. I will be leaving the last week in September and as of right now, I’m not sure of the duration of my journey. However, I will be diligent in keeping you updated through facebook (Jessi White) and my blog (www.jessikayde.blogspot.com).

If you would like to be apart in financially supporting me, you can go to www.RespireHaiti.org, click on “donate now”, click on the "greatest need" box, and put my name in the comment tab. All donations through RH are tax deductible. There is also a choice to mail locally to my mom (Pepper White) at 2956 March St. Zachary,La 70791. For support through Prayer or financially, I will be forever grateful. What an honor it is to serve! When you support me you are supporting Respire Haiti and the people of Gressier. Their lives will be forever changed because of what the Lord is doing!

Thank you for your unwavering love and support,
jessi white

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

                                                                      Romans 12:9-13

letter to my clients:

Dearest Client,

This is a letter that I have taken a long time to finally sit down and write. It’s
a hard one. You all know my heart best and know that I have been to Haiti to
serve alongside Respire Haiti for 3 of the 4 times I’ve traveled there. I have
fallen in love with the organization and with the people of the community we
serve. Gressier, Haiti is a beautiful place. The Lord is doing huge things in this
community and through Respire Haiti (a non-profit that my friend, Megan
Boudreaux, founded). It’s been such a beautiful thing to share.

I write this letter to inform you that on my last trip to Gressier, Megan asked me
to be apart of the RH Team. This was huge for me. I am completely honored and
humbled by this opportunity. I have been praying about this since I returned
and feel like this opportunity is something that I just can't pass up. I will be
serving alongside RH and using my Doula skills as part of medical clinic. I hope
to educate women on natural birth to prepare their hearts and minds for delivery.
Along with living in a third world country comes all sorts of roles. Serving the
community of Gressier is what my heart yearns to do. I just want to be used, in
whatever the Lord has.

I am super excited about this journey. I’m excited to learn. To serve. To be used up.

I’m hoping to leave sometime in October. As of right now, I’m not exactly sure
of my departure date and I will work up until then. Honestly, I am unsure of
the duration of my journey. However, I will be diligent in keeping you updated
through Facebook (Jessi White) and my blog (www.jessikayde.blogspot.com).
By visiting www.RespireHaiti.org, you can learn more about the mission of RH,
read Megan’s blog or donate to a great mission. If you would like to donate in
my name, from the website click on the box “donate now” and it will lead you to
another page. From there, donate under “greatest need” and in the note put my
name. When you donate to me, you are also donating to Respire Haiti. For this I
am forever thankful. All donations are tax-deductible.

As for you, I will have everyone’s formula available to the girls at the shop. Angela
and Nicole are no longer at The Shag. They are working at Shear Image
(658-7771), located in Zachary. I would trust anyone of these girls with you,
and I hope that you would continue to use their services.

I am so thankful for you. Thank you for understanding my heart.

Through Jesus ONLY,
Jessi White

my favorite teenagers. (brag post)

ill start with:   Hunter Cain White.


Hunter is my favorite 16 year old. the cutest 16 year old i know.  he's a great big brother - who loves and protects his sisters and brother. he is a strong hearted king of guy. of course, i think he's an awesome baseball player and a great dancer. he loves people and always greets with a hug. even though sometimes, i call him a "punk"-- he really does have the sweetest heart. Hunter is learning so much about himself and what is means to love with all your heart. Hunter loves Jesus and is learning what a relationship with HIM looks like. Hunter knows what is to put family 1st. Hes an awesome big brother and a great cousin, darling nephew, humble son, and a wonderful grand-son. Hunter is my pride and joy. the 1st born. i am so proud of him.


so, Hunter was at zhs.  he was on the "famous" zhs baseball team, his friends were great. life was good. 
life is still really good for Hunter. he now goes to Silliman in Clinton. he lives with his dad (my brother) Jo-Jo, step-mom Jerry Kay, step-sister Madeline and brother Deacon in Norwood.  it has been a huge adjustment for Hunter but, he has done so very well.  he is a teenager boy, and where some teenager boys would have taken longer to adjust, Hunter has done so well.  at his new school, he was able to be on the basketball team,  the baseball team and now he is in spring training for football!! while on the baseball team he injured his pitching arm and had to sit out for about 4 weeks. his attitude stayed positive and his teammates and coaching staff were super encouraging to him. he was voted on by his classmates for "all around beau" for the sophomore class.  SHS academically was a challenge for Hunter but, now he is holding good grades and even told my sister that next year he will have straight A's. although he misses seeing his friends daily at ZHS, his new friends at SHS have been so great!  oh, and he even got to go to his 1st prom with his darling girlfriend Haley, who is a junior and a golf-pro (go haley!) 
Hunter is also learning what it means to work and earn money. he is understanding that is takes hard work and that nothing is ever handed over. it has not been easy as a 16 year old to "get this" but, hes learning. 
i can see so much growth in Hunter since the move. we all, as his family and support, have learned something from this. 


we are Hunters #1 fans!!!!  

my next favorite teenagers... Alissa Lee and Camrie Marie


Ali and Cami are 15, inseparable, and love each other so much.  i love that they are best friends.  one can't do something without the other.  C&A stick together. i love that they have each other in this teenager world they live in bc i know that i would not want to be a teenager in 2012. they love to dance and act goofy together. they really are the funniest people i know. they don't have to have "the best" and they are thankful. their hearts are so sweet. the Lord has everything to do with this. 


--->Ali is so fun. her sweet personality attracts many friends. she loves cami so much and tends to her like "shes the big sister".
--->Cami is a goof- ball. she loves Ali so much and is thankful that Ali does all the "important" stuff.  Cami's super laid personality is such a blast to be around. 


Cami and Ali live with my momma and dad (their mawee & pawee).  they surely miss living with Hunter but, they make sure that they see him a couple times a week and every weekend. this has also been an adjustment for them as well as the family. they have become little ladies and its been so fun to watch them grow. C&A have been so sweet to my parents. they're learning to cook and help around the house, only bc my momma does not play when it come to house work..hahaha. they are in 9th grade at ZHS with really good grades!!  Cami and Ali just recently made the ZHS cheer team for their 10th grade year. they LOVE cheer. in February the cheer team went to disney world to compete in nationals and got 12th in the nation. i was so thankful to share this experience with the team. they have improved so much in cheerleading. i am so impressed with what they can do!! 
they also looked beautiful at their 1st homecoming dance. they were asked to ZHS and Sillman. Popular! haha.  they looked 15 and not 25. thank goodness. 
along with Hunter, C&A are also learning what it means to work. they are starting to babysit and learn responsibility. they love babysitting their 1/2 sister Katie and are thankful to do so.  C&A have great friends who love them so much.  they are looked up to by their friends bc of their strong desire to want to be like Jesus. Cami and Ali are great sisters, great cousins, great daughters, great grand-daughters and great nieces. they always put family 1st. 

wow. im in tears after writing about my darling heart White kids. i really could go on & on about these 3. they make my heart so full. i wish we could press the pause button -- they are growing up way to fast. im thankful that the Lord allowed me to my their aunt. its been such a blessing. so thankful. i wish i could explain how my heart feels when we are together. pure joy. they have taught me so much about life and hardships, how to balance them and keep your head up. they have taught me that family is a gift from God. a gift. 

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.  Eph. 6:4

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Cor. 13:7

30 is here.

30 is here. i was surprised by what was supposed to be a friday evening family dinner ended up with lots of fabulous friends as well. it was such a joy to see some of my favorite people all together. i was overwhelmed by the sweet gifts and a jar of $ for my next Haiti trip. we ate and danced the night away that ended at Teddy's (a world famous blues bar).  i had so much fun and i'm so very thankful!!!

im 30. its fun.
wow. a year goes by so fast.  this past year was so fun for me. pictures are fun too.

 im 29. 4/28/11

 a little bday buddy. Levi James..4/28/11

april:   D-now weekend with some amazing teens.

 fun evenings with fun friends.

started doing some furniture painting. i love other peoples junk.

april-may:  coached these darlings in softball. we were considered "most improved"

spent most of the days with my most favorites.

 may:  bayou country fest with these nerds.

 oh crap, i just cut my hair.

june--HAITI with Respire Haiti.

 loved to gressier neighborhood kids. they made my trip! 

met and loved on Gabrielle. alot.

wanted to take her home. still do.

finally met michaelle. now, she belongs to megan!!

im a doula. its such an honor to experience birth.

taught the missions class for VBS @ Feliciana Baptist Church. loved this!! 

july:  went to youth camp with fbc. camp was great and i learned that i really do enjoy teenagers. they were such a joy to be with!! im so thankful that i got/get to share life with them!  we ended the week off with an atlanta braves baseball game on July 4th.

 

got over a fear. rode it 4 times. that was enough.

 july:  Disney World. 20 years later. my 1st time was when i was 9.

 same goofy hat that i wore at 9.

in august:  beach with family and friends. oh, so much fun!

the white girls at the beach. 

spent lovely days with Genevieve.

ACL

love wins.

.

  september:  i went to austin with lana for acl. got to hug katheryn davis, see stevie wonder and lots of new bands. and i got a new tattoo.

had to get glasses. and .. beth moore conference with amazing friends.

 lsu football with sweet friends.

Thanksgiving week. Haiti again to serve alongside Respire.  an awesome week was spent serving the people of Gressier. this trip was life changing in so many ways. 

Patot. she has my heart.

national champioship. lsu lost but. we had a great time!

loved being able to share this time with C & A

feb:  disney again with zhs cheer team. 12th in the nation!!!!

i love my girl friends.

feb:  mardi gras ball for princess carley fudge with beautiful friends!!!

Easter Sunday was very special bc Addie got baptized. 

and.... im 30.
im single.
i love what i do.
my family is the bomb.com
im healthy.
i love.
i try to serve to my best.
Jesus is my hearts desire.
im thankful for family.
my friends are lovely.
if i ever complain, you can punch me.
i love seeing others serve.
my church is real.
im simple.
Jesus is my remedy. 

a letter to Genevieve

beloved Genevieve,

every time i have started to sit down to write this letter i can barely do it because i start to cry. i know, you're probably thinking, "well, Lord have mercy. why?"

well, it because when i think of you, i always think of my Hero. when people ask me who my best friend is, i always reply with Genevieve Mclin Hopkins. shes my grandmother. SHES MY GRANDMOTHER.

i always have a since of pride when i tell people your my grandmother. like i should sign autographs because we carry the same blood. how proud am i to say that im Your granddaughter. im the granddaughter of a Queen.

maw, my memories with you have been stored up as treasures in my heart. i can't even begin to pour out my feelings towards you because i might burst with joy. Thats exactly what you are Pure Joy. a perfect example .you are the most joyful person i know. its contagious. your constant smile will light up the room where ever you go. people run to you because you show them Jesus and do it so well. your strength as a mother to your 12 children has set a beautiful example to teach us to be strong for our own families. your faithfulness to the Lord has shown me that you can't survive without Jesus. your life has taught me that Jesus has to be the center. you have lived that example and your descendants are so very thankful for your love for Jesus.

i love that you make me feel so special. like im your favorite among the 29 of us. how have you been able to do that? how have you been able to love all of us the same? its because you know the true meaning of LOVE. you know how to love. you know how to be loved. you know and love well because Christ lives inside of you and He LOVED YOU first and your love in return shows us, all 29 of us, JESUS. you always point back to Jesus. you have taught me to love and to love like Jesus. thank you maw. thank you for being so faithful. even in the bad times, at every crossroads, you decided to follow Jesus. In the dark times, and in the good times, you are a woman of God, and that has defined your life.

at times you were larger than life to me. you have been so good to me. you have held my hand. let me cry to you. let me sleep with you. rubbed my back and my feet. let me take care you and you take care of me. you have let me hold your hands. your hands that have worked so hard. you came to my ballgames and i always wanted to play extra good when you were there bc i wanted to make you so proud when honestly you could have cared less about the game, you just wanted to see me play. you always had a meal ready. biscuits for days. sweet tea like nobodies business. avon goodies stored in boxes and you never got mad when we piddled with them. chap stick and gum are always a must. the blue house on 19 has a ton of memories. the railroad track and the woods before it was a place for many clubhouses. you never fussed when we probably didn't have any business back there. dancing with you is a FAVORITE of mine. you're the only 89 year old i know that can still cut a rug! hearing stories about your childhood, when you met pawpaw, and 12 kids later always amaze me. i love how even though your kids are all grown you still tend to them as they are still young. that shows that you always need your mom. no matter what. i love the relationship between you and my momma. that teaches me, kelli and jojo to always have a strong relationship with momma. no matter what. i love when you tell me stories about your mom. i love how you let me take care of you. you let me cut your hair. pick out your outfits when we go to town. you even let me pick out your new glass frames recently. now, thats a day that i will treasure forever!!! one of the best days in my 2011. i love how you support me on my mission trips through prayer. and how when i am away your prayers are the ones i feel the most because i know you are praying for me. i love how on birthdays and holidays you give what we need like panies and lip balm...instead of what we want like junk. you always have given to us whats best. i loved going to church with you as a young girl and sitting next to you in church. i can remember you singing your heart out to the Lord. your hospitality, your kindness, you generous heart has been far better than any amount of $ in the whole world. you have taught my heart to be kind. to be faithful. to be generous .. the list goes on. and for that i am forever thankful.

when i think about you proverbs 31:10-31 comes to mind.

^{10 [b]}A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate... i outlined this in red because its your favorite color..and its YOU!

im so thankful that God made me your granddaughter. im so glad that He knew that i would need YOU. maw, thank you for always tending to me and my heart. thank you for believing in me and my ideas. thanks for holding my hand when times are tough. thanks for always being there. thank you for walking in the ways of the Lord and for teaching me Jesus. you are so loved. i can only hope that one day i will be just like you. YOU ARE MY HERO!!!! im so blessed because of you. im thankful to our Father who created us to be family. im a stronger person because of it.

i feel like i could write for days about you. and the letter still not be ready to give to you. oh mawmaw Genevieve, you are so dear to my heart and its completely full.

God is good. im thankful for you my beloved grandmother/mawmaw/gen/queen

yours forever. merry Christmas.

your granddaughter jessica kayde white