Fall/Winter Newsletter 2018
2018 Highlights
As autumn befalls us, 13 of 14 of our children are back to school. They are excited and anxious to reunite with their friends, meet new kids and teachers, and start new grades. This is usually a time of conflicting emotions for us. On the one hand we are excited to see the physical, spiritual and intellectual growth in them, but it is also a time of extra expenses for us - time for new uniforms, books and tuition fees (education in Haiti is not free at any level or grade). Thanks to all of your donations, we have been able to keep up. Haiti is not an easy place to do ministry. There are challenges every step of the way. From little things like running out to pick up some eggs or screws and not readily finding them to trying to find dedicated people to execute various jobs. Notwithstanding these challenges we have encountered on this journey, we are still here. The positive and remarkable changes we see in our kids motivates us to continue and not be weary.
NEWS FLASH:
Just before this publication, we received a phone call informing us that our home’s car had been totalled in an accident with a couple of our staff members and some of our children inside. We are very thankful that none of the occupants nor bystanders sustained any injury. Praise the Lord! We are now in need of another vehicle. Any help to replace it would be greatly appreciated.
We have come a long way from our very modest and very humble beginnings in Cabaret to our current home in Marotte. Our children have continued to thrive, to love and care for one another - sharing treats and clothing, as well as pray for each other – a beautiful and encouraging thing to behold! Truly a family.
During our trip to Haiti in February, we were able to:
Complete the playground set that was started in October of last year. The kids were excited, especially the little ones. They would line up to climb the platform and slide down the “big banana” slide and take turns on the swing set while others try their skills on the monkey bars. Big hit and lots of fun for them. Thanks again Bryanna for the play set.
We built a kitchen counter with a water filter spigot which unfortunately was not completed because there was a missing part that we couldn’t source in Haiti.
We ordered a small dump truck load of top soil, constructed a 6 x 3 m garden and planted some seeds – carrot, peppers, beet, lettuce, but no germination happened while we were there, so this project continues to be a work in progress.
This past school year, some of the kids did not perform well in their mid-term exams so we decided to try something new to perhaps motivate them to do better. We pulled some personal funds together and treated all those who passed to an afternoon at a beach resort. It worked! They all passed their finals.
Next visit to Haiti...
God willing, the next visit to the orphanage is going to be in February 2019. In addition to Audrey, Camille and Sam, 5 other people have already volunteered for this trip. There is quite a bit of maintenance work and minor construction that needs to be done on the house and this will be one of the main focuses of this trip. We will also be working on the garden. Audrey is an excellent gardener and has grown and canned a variety of vegetables for many years so we will be drawing from her expertise. Lastly, we will be doing community outreach in Marotte.
Reflective Perspective
The problem of Haiti is enormous. Some people look at it and “run” because they think they cannot possibly make a difference. But we stayed and have been able to make quantifiable difference. You know what they say about how to eat an elephant – one bite a time. That has been our approach. Take what God has given us and do the best we can with it.
Our success can directly be attributed to 3 main factors:
1. The Lord has been our help and strength. He has been always present to help us through all our trials. We believe that it is He who made it possible for us to start this good work and that He is going to be watching over us as our labour continues to bear fruits. Praise God!
2. For every one of the challenges we faced then and now, there remained and continue to remain many encouragers who have never wavered in their faithful prayers and goodwill for us. They have affirmed us and supported us financially. Some have visited the orphanage and helped in various projects, including in local community outreach. Thank you!
3. Our dedicated board and group of volunteers here on the home front, have continued to work hard in various capacities to help keep WHCC strong and afloat. It is not an easy thing as we all have other lives to live and yet they make the time to help. Thank you!
2019 ...
We are going to start the implementation of the 2nd phase of our site development plan. This will include the construction of a large gazebo as a gathering multipurpose place for the kids and visitors, a dormitory each for the boys and the girls. The initial planning is all in place. The gazebo design is complete, and the design of the dorms is starting shortly. We are going to be looking for help in this area – both in the form of funds and worker bees. Please don’t get weary or run away from us now. We need you all to continue to partner with us to see this work become self sustaining. Every little bit helps. “Little drops of water and grains of sand make a mighty ocean” so they say and so are we believing.
Please pray for us:
• For us to have stable, reliable and Christian workers, especially a driver. It is a big challenge to get trustworthy and reliable workers.
• Pray for the children, that they may continue to walk in the ways of the Lord.
• Pray for the board of WHCC here in Canada for wisdom and for the Lord's direction in the coming year.
It has been a good run for WHCC but we need the next 5 years to be great! We are counting on all of you to help make it happen. Please continue to remember us in your prayers and try and visit Haiti sometime. THANK YOU!
