Today we’d like to introduce you to Pia Soule.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My husband, Larry, and I grew up as missionary kids so missions is in our blood. As an adult, I have led 35+ mission trips. We have personally been on 46 mission trips. Our passion has always been helping others. God has blessed us with much more than we need, so we want to help others in return. Larry volunteers three days a week at Christian Help in Casselberry, We sponsor eight children overseas, paying their school fees.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not always been a smooth road, but the Lord has always helped and blessed. Organizing often two mission trips a year, in addition to a regular job, was time-consuming and stressful. But the blessings team members and the receiving organization received made it worth it for me. Setting up Annie’s Hope as a charity was more work than I had envisioned, but it will be worth it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve been an Executive Assistant most of my working life, working in hospitals. When our parents started needing help, I went part-time to help them. I went into the staffing pool at Advent Health headquarters so I could have flexible time. So the last 20 years, I’ve been filling in for other executive assistants as needed and worked on special projects. It’s more stressful constantly being on a new assignment, but it’s satisfying when the bosses and the assistants ask for me to come help them! Currently, I just work occasionally, still in the staffing pool. I got my Masters in Public Health some years ago.
After a mission trip to Lebanon two years ago, we have continued helping the Adventist Learning Center, a school in Beirut for Syrian refugee children run by an American. A friend and I help fundraise for the school. I’ve just started a charity, Annie’s Hope, to help that school. In addition, I’ve started, through the charity, a reusable sani-pad project. Millions of girls around the world miss about 20% of the school year after their periods start because they are unable to afford hygiene supplies. So far Annie’s Hope is helping two schools in Lebanon and Ethiopia and two NGOs in Haiti with patterns, instructions and supplies so their organizations can sew and distribute the reusable sani-pads. We are also active in church.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Always do your best, even in small things, and always have a positive attitude.
Contact Info:
- Website: shareannieshope.org
Image Credits
Larry, my husband, took all of these pictures on our mission trips.
Top left – a lady that I had just found eyeglasses for in Iquitos, Peru
Top right – with children in Vacation Bible School in Iquitos, Peru
Middle left – with my translator in the medical clinic in Beirul, Lebanon
Middle right – these ladies seen in the medical clinic in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia wanted their picture taken with me.
Bottom – teaching a class in exercises to strengthen the back and legs in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
