Giving

Did you know that Giving Tuesday is this week?

Please remember our students here in Haiti as you consider giving this week. By sponsoring a class at the MOHI school, you will be helping to provide a great education, healthcare, nutrition and so much more to children that are truly in need of assistance. Just like Lex, who was able to attend school by the grace of a sponsor, these children will be prepared to impact the world around them. Please visit our sponsorship page and pledge from $10 to $100 per month to ensure these kids are receiving all the benefits that school will provide for them. Thank you.

A few years ago we decided to start celebrating Thanksgiving here in Haiti. Although it’s not a national holiday here, we really do have plenty of reason to celebrate. This year our Thanksgiving celebration included friends from Haiti, America and Chile. We had a truly international experience with many people bringing dishes to share with everyone. Before dinner we had a baptism service where two American visitors were baptized. As we began eating, Pastor Laramie Brown read some excerpts from William Bradford’s writings, reminding us of America’s beginnings, the difficulties and deaths faced that first Winter, and the gratitude the colonists expressed to God for His provision and care.

Thanksgiving 2014

While Thanksgiving may be an American or Canadian holiday, it is certainly fitting for all who put their trust in the Lord to express their gratitude to Him in all things. I must admit that I am so grateful for the wonderful community we have become a part of here in Grand-Goâve. Fourteen years ago I felt very isolated, but today I am at home with both my Haitian friends/family and our international friends/family. I am truly blessed!

This week our friend and fellow missionary, Travis Knipple, brought his Haitian work crew to our Thozin campus to install a solar powered electrical system. Travis is an electrical engineer by trade and a missionary by heart. It was wonderful to have Travis, his wife Jamie and his workers join us for Thanksgiving dinner, too. Electricity is very expensive, as is running and maintaining a generator that usually runs for about 12 hours per day. This solar system will reduce those costs significantly, while also enabling us to expand our medical services. Having 24 hour electricity means we can consider storing medicines that require refrigeration – such as vaccines.

Solar Installation at the Thozin Campus

Dr. Lavaud and his staff continue to “hold down the fort” while Leah is in the States.`We had so many babies this week and lots of ear aches. We are so grateful for our Haitian medical staff that can tend to the needs of so many each week.

The MOHI Medical Clinic was full of babies this week.

School has been going well at both the Thozin and St Etienne campuses. This week we distributed peanut butter to over students in St Etienne.

Peanut butter distribution to over 200 students in St. Etienne

I often hear our school administrators and Lex saying that the success of our students is a direct result of the investment of our students, their parents and our teaching staff. All three aspects are critical to the students learning and performing well. Before we even moved to Haiti, Lex would share with me about his vision for the MOHI school. His desire was to have a school that would provide an outstanding education for kids whose families would never be able to send them to an expensive, private school where that quality of education might be found. Things did not start out quite so amazing, but today our track record is phenomenal. We have graduated four high school classes and every single one of those students have passed their national exams on their first attempt. Today we have students, parents and staff that are content and full of hope for a bright future for these incredible kids!

The preschool teachers have been decorating the classrooms for Christmas while the students continue working hard.

Happy elementary school students at MOHI in Thozin

Did you do your homework?

Stephanie Harper joined us for a few days of work as well as some R&R.

Earlier in the week, Stephnie Harper joined us for a few days. Stephanie works at the Union School in Port-au-Prince and was looking to enjoy a few days outside the city. Besides helping to prepare some food for Thanksgiving, Stephanie also spent a day organizing some of our E-book titles.

Two of our very favorite people arrived yesterday for a short visit. Bob and Sally Heier were our mules, carrying in some needed supplies for us – including something perhaps not so necessary, but definitely appreciated: Christmas lights! Sally is an amazing, Haiti-seasoned RN and will be helping out in the clinic some this week. Bob is an amazing preacher and blessed us this morning at the church service in Thozin.

Pastor Bob Heier preached the Word of God with power in Thozin this morning.

Dr. Rowlens Melduni also arrived yesterday with a medical team from Clinicians of the World. They will be working in the mountain regions of Grand-Goâve this week, focusing on providing medicine and education to rid children of worms. He was sharing with the church this morning that approximately 80% of all Haitians living in this area are infected with worms and they steal about 30% of the nutrition being consumed by their hosts. Medical care is almost nonexistent in many of the mountain communities. We are happy to be a support to Clinicians of the World as they work in these villages.

Welcome to Clinicians of the World!

It was great to have Dr. Rowlens share with the church about their work. LaSonya, who travels with the team, blessed us with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace this morning.

Dr Rowlens shared with the congregation about Clinicians of the World’s work in the mountains of Grand-Goâve and LaSonya did an amazing rendition of Amazing Grace.

Another longtime missionary friend, Ed Locket, joined us in our worship service this morning, as well. We haven’t seen him in quite a while, as he spent considerable time in Honduras and also in the States. The church (including me!) was really interested in hearing his report about his time in Honduras. The area he was in has a lot of gang activity. Every day someone is killed. He told us that the government and police do what they can, but that the church also plays a critical role in impacting the community. As gang members hear the Good News of Jesus, they turn to Him and endeavor to follow His ways. Not only are they now preaching the Gospel, but they are no longer killing and they are influencing others to stop, as well.

We LOVE having Ed Locket share about his adventures at church.

Here are some more pictures from this morning in Thozin…

Worship Music

Snack time in Sunday School

Baptisms at the Missionary Compound this afternoon

Most Sunday afternoons we have a bit of a crowd at the missionary compound, as friends and children come together to enjoy the beach and fellowship with one another. For the past month, we’ve had people getting baptized, too. It’s so awesome to see young people making the decision to die to their own selves and rise up to serve the King of kings.

Did you know?…