Happy Mother’s Day!

One year old Wood Jean

Today is Mother’s Day in Haiti.    I was adopted at the age of four and for whatever reason I always had a terrible time getting along with my new mother.  As an adult I did make some attempts to establish a better relationship, but it was always a major effort and the results were lacking.  The point being that I did not have the love and respect for my mother that I really should have.

Here in Haiti, I have noticed that it’s unusual to find someone who truly doesn’t have any respect for their mother.  I see children who were raised by aunts, grandmothers, godmothers, sisters, missionaries…  One might think their mothers had abandoned them and perhaps they did.  But 99% of these children grow up and take care of their mothers, whom they have appreciated their entire lives.  They recognize that their mothers chose to have them.  They could have been aborted, but their mothers chose to suffer through the pregnancy and push them into this world.  As my husband shared with the church this morning, “Everything I am today and everything I do is (after the Grace of God) by the grace of my mother.  I never pass up an opportunity to kiss my mom, because I owe her everything.”

Construction Update

The front entrance of the new school is taking shape!

This week we continued to make progress, laying block, hauling in and compacting fill.  It’s just wild to see all that foundation work covered.  I’m glad we took pictures so we remember all the materials that are covered up now.  In this picture you can see that the ground floor is filled to the right height in the building.  We will be working with Paul Fallon this week on the fancy entrance way, as well as preparing for electrical conduit in the ground floor.

This construction project will provide jobs for local tradesmen and laborers for at least two years.  It will provide a place for discipleship and education for generations to come.

Feeding School Children

Agelaire ensures that all the food is accounted for.

This year there are 29 schools receiving WFP food through Mission of Hope International. The logistics are often difficult, as many of the schools are located out in the mountains, but we are so thrilled to have a part in feeding thousands of children who may not otherwise eat daily.

Please keep this important operation in prayer.  Over the past couple of months we’ve encountered security problems in the neighboring city of Petit-Goave when delivering food to the schools there. We are determined to continue the distributions there, so your prayers are important to us.  Thank you.

 Sponsor a Child

Here is Kimberly Jeznach with her newly sponsored child, Steevenson René.

For a commitment of only $25 per month, you can sponsor a child here at MOHI in Haiti.  With 800 children in school, there are many children available to be sponsored.  When you become a sponsor, you open the door for a child to attend school, participate in the hot lunch program, access to basic healthcare and  all the programs that come to MOHI.  You also have the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with this child through email, photos and gift giving.  You can even come to Haiti to meet your sponsored child.  If you’re not yet sponsoring a child, please consider doing so today.  Another way you can help with the work here in Haiti is to talk with friends, co-workers and family members about MOHI and encourage them to sponsor a child with an organization that you are already familiar with.  As always, thank you for the role you are filling to help the work here to continue.

Come with Your Talents

We will be traveling back to America this Fall and hopefully seeing many of you.  One thing that we’re sure to suggest is that you let the Lord utilize your talents here in Haiti for a week.  There are so many ways that you can be a blessing to the people of Haiti.  Whether it’s by fixing a computer, pouring concrete, teaching English, working in medical clinic, preaching the Gospel, praying or just loving on a child – you can be a blessing!  Our friends from the World Race put their artistic talents to work at the missionary compound.  Perhaps one day these murals will be an encouragement to you, as you go out to bless the people of Haiti!

Mural in the Men's Dorm

Mural in the Women's Dorm

Abby Steverson painting the kitchen mural