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Our Schools Sponsorship Team Trips Newsletters Ed Lockett Get Involved Missionary Ventures Home |
Dear friends, The rainy season in Haiti. That was the challenge we faced as Bobby Karaffa, Carole Nussbaum and I joined Pastor Abner, Ed Lockett and Manno in Haiti this past May. The first half of the one week mission trip was spent in Marchasse updating sponsored children, teaching English to some of the teachers (Carole) and doing sports ministry with the kids (Bobby). With torrential rains each afternoon we could not visit homes much (one of our favorite outreach activities), and the church services in the evening were cancelled. Roads are often impassable during the rainy season, which made it difficult during our travels to get to and from Marchasse. Ed and Manno's 4-wheel drive got stuck in the mud on the way there and had to be pulled out by another vehicle. After leaving Marchasse on the way to Petit Goave we had to cross a normally dry river bed, which was high and raging, delaying travel once again. Once the river subsided enough to cross, we were able to make it to Petit Goave where we stayed at Ed's Happy House during the second half of the week. From there we took a boat to Bananier and also spent some time at the Petit Goave school to update sponsored children at those two places. In the afternoons we spent time with the kids that stay at the Happy House, and saw some of the local children who stop by each day for lunch. Sometimes up to 100 children are fed. These kids represent over 20 schools in the area that do not have feeding programs. It's quite a sight seeing all the kids in various colors of their school uniforms coming to the same place to get a meal, perhaps the only one they have that day. During the trip we also handed out pens and pencils to children in half a dozen schools, including ones we passed along the way in the mountains without stopping very long. That seems like no big deal here, but it is a big deal in Haiti and a way to start establishing relationships. The Lord blessed this trip, and I continue to seek Him about what's next for this ministry. I have written recently about a transition phase where the focus will shift from the individual children to school sponsorships. Unfortunately, donations in general have been down, and the support going to these children and their schools may be cut in half for the upcoming school year. Please let me know if your church or fellowship might be interested in helping with the support of a school (and lunch program) in Haiti. I can provide more information, photos and even visit for a brief presentation. Thank you for your faithfulness in your support and prayers for these children. To keep you updated on the ministry in Haiti more regularly, please send me an email so that I have your current email address. Updates, including those from Ed Lockett, are sent more frequently online. For the least of these, Joel |