Hope Grows Haiti Update 2015

20 Dec 2015 Hope Grows Haiti Update 2015

It has been a wonderful, blessed year as we watched God working in Grand Goave, and Petit Paradis, Haiti. This year has seen many changes and
developments.

We have taken on another school with an additional 150 children attending. This school is deep into the fourth section of the Mountain ranges. The Superintendant is Abel, a Godly man who cares deeply for his remote community.

We have also increased our feeding program to five days a week. We have 250-300 children arriving everyday to receive the only food they will have that day—a heaping bowl of rice and black beans, with added spices and nutrients. The kids go directly to the church for singing, a short Bible lesson and prayer.
The difference in these kids over the past two years is incredible. They have had to learn many things that North Americans take for granted; respect for others (especially the little ones), lining up in an orderly fashion, and saying thank you when handed a delicious plate of steaming food—making a marked improvement to both behavior and health.

There is a new full time pastor at the church now, running weekly Bible studies and regular visitation. Pastor Dort travels each week from the neighboring town of Leogan to pour into the community of ‘Eglise Evangelique Hope Grows’. He is well respected and a welcome addition to the Mission family.

Our senior’s care group has both expanded and decreased. We are saddened by the death of our precious “Charles” but rejoice in the fact he gave his life to Jesus just months before his passing. Others have been added to the group and it keeps our team busy providing care and showing God’s love to each one.

In August, Ike Selby left to hike the Pacific Crest Trail as a fundraiser to build a school on our compound. Of the $40,000 needed, he raised $17,000, enough to begin building the first pod, and he plans to keep fundraising for the amount remaining. We are so grateful to Ike for his amazing endurance over the four months of mountain trekking on behalf of these precious kids.

The clinic is up and finished, just waiting for the final touches by the medical team booked to come in May of 2016. It is exciting to see how God cares and provides for every detail in the lives of these impoverished people. There will soon be regular medical care available for all residents of the once forgotten town of Petit Paradis.

Thank you all for your part in this Journey. We are so happy to share the good news with you and pray God’s blessings on you and your families in the new year.

Heather Rodin Executive Director