Ready smiles on the return to Haiti!

“Welcome to Port-au-Prince. The current temperature is 95 degrees!”

It is a blessing and a privilege to serve in Haiti, but it can also be a bit of an adjustment every time we return. What will we face? Storms or drought? Peace or lots of unrest with the prolonged presidential elections? Thankfully, we always find God is with us and He never changes. Great is Your Faithfulness!

Grace’s 5th/6th grade class at the Cite Lumiere Christian School! She is happy to begin a new year!

School started last week for Grace at the missionary school as well as for all the Haitian kids. The first week of September is typically when school starts, but it doesn’t mean everyone is actually prepared! Because a Haitian child cannot attend school without a uniform or books, this is often a very difficult and stressful time for families. The difficulty isn’t limited to only those paying their own way…inflation has increased so much that even sponsored children struggle obtaining the needed items.

Ricardine and Malaika were pretty excited to see us return!

Malaika getting measured for her new uniform!

Since our return we have been busy helping Ricardine and Malaika order their uniforms and getting all their necessary school supplies. A week after we arrived they finally were ready to go! This was so good for us to experience…how one has to barter for every item in the marketplace, how one has to purchase the uniform material and contract with a tailor to sew them.

Getting Ricardine’s books was another event! It was quite an experience to be out in the beastly hot sun and chaotic market stalls all afternoon haggling over everything! One time we experienced such a mob of people in the street that we couldn’t move! And motorcyclists were trying to get through at the same time. “Let’s get out of here!” were our thoughts.

Ricardine is bartering for her school supplies in the streets downtown!

Next, searching for the perfect school shoes!

We always wonder how they keep track of the pairs in these piles?

Sponsored kids are lined up at the Haiti Child Care office (where we work) getting their checks to go buy the needed items…or seeing how far they can stretch it at least. While they sit there waiting it is really a harvest field to give gospel tracts and speak to them about the gospel! They are served a hot meal of rice and beans while they wait. Next, they line up to receive health kits and school kits that are packed all year across the U.S. and distributed at this time. These are a great blessing to the families! Thanks to everyone who gives in any way…it is greatly appreciated here!

We are looking forward to upcoming school visits to make reports on existing schools and take information for new schools that will soon be available to sponsor. We are looking forward to getting out into the country, sharing the gospel and teaching God’s Word wherever we go, and then the upcoming cooler weather!

Sharing the gospel with young Haitian believers; David Brown is on the far right!

Does Child Sponsorship really make a difference in a child’s life? This is a valid question to ask and it deserves an answer. We will begin sharing some examples of how Child Sponsorship has personally affected young people in Haiti. We hope to make this an ongoing series as we continue to make friendships with many here!

David Brown has a big smile to match his big heart!

David Brown: evangelist and youth leader
David is from our town of Simon and currently lives in a simple room in his aunt’s house right beneath our hill. He lives right beside his church, and we can often hear the services from his church going on from inside our house! David’s education was sponsored by Brent Hodel from Roanoke, IL, and he graduated June 2016 from the 13th year (Philosophy) at the age of 24. Because Brent came on many work teams over the years, he and David have a nice friendship.

David was extensively mentored by Joan Reinhard. The advice she gave him from God’s Word had a huge impact on his life. By his own admission, David made a huge change when he came to the Lord as his Savior and found forgiveness for his past sins. His thankfulness for his salvation has propelled him into full-time Christian service! We are privileged to disciple David in God’s Word and to labor together to advance God’s Kingdom.

David is easy to write about and the list of what he is involved in is huge! Because he loves the Lord and has a heart for the Haitian people this love motivates David like no other here we have seen! He has been instrumental in two visionary projects that are currently under construction: a home for 16 orphans where he intends to live as a houseparent, and a school for very poor area students. The home was purchased and is almost renovated. He is building a security wall around it as funds are available. Classes are being held on the porch of the home until the school is built. He has broken ground this summer for the construction of two classrooms, and is trusting the Lord for additional funds to complete it. (If anyone is interested in helping let us know!)

David is a frequent visitor at our house!

David is the president of his church youth group. David also runs a Bible School at his church every Saturday for about 30 area kids; we help provide a simple meal. David loves to evangelize and teach others. Because of his connections he is well aware of who needs Bibles. We can trust him to get the Bibles we have to new converts and the neediest people.

David has a pretty good command of English. Because of this he is now taking a one-year cruise course in an English school in Les Cayes. His plan is to get a job on a Caribbean cruise ship to fund his building projects. We love his vision to advance God’s Kingdom!

David is always thinking of others and how he can help! What a motivated guy! But without a sponsor and the proper education, he would not be the real success he is today by God’s grace.

From David’s facebook page, here is a photo of his baptism in 2010.

David praying with the group before going on the streets to share the gospel.

David has a real heart to proclaim that gospel message!