Today's the day!

The first day of the 2015-2016 school year for some special kids.  For most of them, this is the first day of school they've ever attended in their entire lives.  A day to remember.

Thankful to the friends who saw the need and helped us believe it was possible to do something.  Thankful to the friends who financially gave to make this day possible.  Thankful to those who continue to pray for Haiti Awake as we seek God's will regarding our future with these children.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

— Ephesians 3:20-21

The Clarity of Compassion

And if we take the risk of personally touching and being touched by a suffering person, the miracle of sight can break into our own darkness.

When the clarity of compassion illuminates our vision, we can visualize healing that goes far deeper than physical cure. Through eyes of faith we recognize that this could be an opportunity for tragedy to be transformed into celebration so that the power of God may be seen at work in him and in her.

And even more amazing , when we stoop to personally touch one of these “undesirables” with hands-on care, we are touching the very heart of God :

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers [and sisters] of mine, you did for me”

— Matthew 25:40

                                                                                               ---Thoughts from Bob Lupton.

Romans 12:13

One of our goals at Haiti Awake is "to equip these local Christians to reach their own communities and their own country through showing Christ’s love in action."

Today our Haiti Awake staff was able to live that out in a very practical way.

A local minister has been sick and unable to work. Today, because of money raised at the Food for Haiti Yard Sale 2015, Haiti Awake provided his family with some basic provisions. These provisions meet so much more than a physical need.

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

— Romans 12:13

Thank you to those who helped make last year's yard sale a success. Please consider what part you might have in making the 2016 Sale even better.

The 2016 Food for Haiti Yard Sale will take place on January 30 in the fellowship hall at Grace Baptist Church.

‪#‎foodforhaiti2016‬
‪#‎haitiawake‬
‪#‎haiti‬

Now that I know.

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

— William Wilberforce

Some days my heart is just so full of Haiti.   Today is one of those days.

Prior to the August trip, I didn't know every single child at the orphanage by name.  I knew their faces, and I had a list with all of their names and birthdays.  But I couldn't match each individual child to his or her name.

But now I can.

And some days that's just so hard.

Like today.

This is Handy.  He's the one who captured my heart in 2013.  He has a way of capturing everyone's heart who has the chance to meet him.

This is Augustin.  He's the oldest boy at Federick's.  He dreams of being a pastor one day.

This is Phebe.  She's small for her age (9 years old but the size of a 5 year old), and all she wants is to sit in your lap and be loved.  And . . . she has the most adorable dimples.

This is Davensky.   He's four years old.  He's the smallest child living with Federick.  Federick's son is younger, but Davensky is smaller.

This is Antonide.  She'll be 13 in October.  She's interested in learning and helping, and she mothers the younger boys and girls.

Esterlin is 10 years old.  He has the kindest, most gentle spirit.  

The is Fabenson.  He's a clown.  He likes to make people laugh.

This is Antoine.  He will be 9 years old on September 11.

This is Yvenson.  He's slow to warm up to people, but when he does, he lets you see his sweet spirit.  He feels things so deeply.

This is Lorvens.  He has the best smile.  He loves people and having fun . . . and he has some great dance moves.

Widcherline will be 8 years old in just a few weeks.  She is Davensky's older sister.

I'm just getting to know Cesnel.    My favorite thing about him?  His birthday is the same as mine!

This is Migerlson.  He's quiet.  He's easy to miss.  And I've got to make a great effort to get to know him better.

The other 4 children are Federick's own.  And they're loved by us, too.

Fenley

Fedlin

Roudelin

Kertchie

“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.
”

— Wess Stafford

 I have called you by name, you are mine.  Isaiah 43:1

A Time for Celebration

“ Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”

— Psalm 147:1

Today we are extremely proud to announce that Steeve Derard passed his national exams and has completed high school!  This is an amazing accomplishment and the result of a year-long journey of difficult decisions, sacrifice, and hard work.

A classical high school education in Haiti isn't easy.   In fact, it's quite intense.

Steeve sacrificed a great deal in the last year - including spending time with our summer teams - in order to study.  It wasn't easy staying behind while everyone else went out in June, but the results are evidence of his determination to succeed.

Steeve studied so many hours, writing on the chalkboard behind the house.

The next step for Steeve is seminary training.  Please continue to pray for him as he pursues God's best for his life.

STEP is the seminary Steeve hopes to attend

Steeve's test scores were the 2nd highest in his class, and he was class president this school year.  His resolve and dedication certainly paid off.

“Successful: coming about, taking place or turning out as hoped for.

”

— Webster's Dictionary

Watching the Parable Come to Life

Luke 15:2 may be one of my favorite verses in the Gospels.

“And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!’”

This verse is at the beginning of a chapter rich in love and understanding, showing how our God pursues us and loves us and is merciful and gracious to us.  Chapter 15 goes on to record Jesus' telling three parables - The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

On June 19th, we got to experience our own version of the parable of the lost coin at Haiti Awake.  And it had everything to do with the young man pictured below.

This is my friend, Hudson.  I call him my "sweet friend," and he calls me the same.  There's just something special about our friendship.  It's comfortable.  It's easy.  Maybe it's because he's young (23 years old).  Maybe it's because he has a tender heart like his uncle (Steeve Derard).  Maybe it's because we're about the same size (I love walking side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, with him). Maybe it's because he's helped me expand my music choices (TobyMac, Lacrae).  Maybe it's just because . . . because Hudson hasn't trust Christ yet, and I pray for that every.  single.  day.  

When you pray for someone on a regular basis, they just become so dear to you.

On June 19th, the last Haiti Awake June team went home.  After driving them to the airport that morning, Steeve and I decided to do our accounting  and pay all of our Haitian staff for a month of hard work.  In talking, I realized Steeve hadn't paid anyone on the first of the June, and we decided to pay everyone for June 1 AND July 1, as well as their wage for daily work.  It was a BIG payday for everyone.  

Fast forward a couple of hours.  It was a time to celebrate three successful teams, so Wendy (an American friend who was staying a few extra days) and I asked some of the Haiti Awake staff to go with us to Petionville for lunch.

Here's where Hudson's part of the story begins.  He ran home to get ready . . . and change his clothing. And he came back just in time to jump in the back of the truck at 11:30 a.m. 

We had a great lunch in Petitionville, and we returned to our home, Hudson and a couple of the other men took a nap.  The rest of us just spent the day relaxing.

About 9:00 that night, Polo and I were sitting on the porch talking, and Hudson came to ask if he could have the keys to the truck.  It was dark (no city power and we weren't running the generator), and I could see Hudson using his phone to look for something in the cab of the truck.

When he went back into the house, I asked him what he was looking for in the truck.  And he told me he couldn't find his envelope.  THE envelope.  The envelope that contained so much cash.  The last pay he would receive until August 1. 

Hudson had last seen that envelope BEFORE we left for Petionville that morning.  

Soon everyone in the house was looking.  And praying.  And searching.   As we were searching in the dark using various devices to light our way, I was reminded of the parable of the lost coin and how the woman diligently searched by candlelight.  

And we found . . . nothing.

And soon it was time for Hudson to go home so that Steeve could lock our gate.  When he left, he was so sad.  We were all so sad for him.   In my mind, I was running through all of the possible scenarios of how God COULD answer our prayer, IF He answered our prayer.

“so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power”

— I Corinthians 2:5

A few minutes later as Steeve and I were sitting  in the dark, his phone lit up.  It was a text message from Hudson.  He had returned to our gate and found it locked, but he wanted us to know something very important:

He had found his lost envelope . . . but not in the way any of us had expected.

Walking home in the dark, using his phone as a light,  he found his envelope lying on the road.  Lying on the road.  All day.  And no one had touched it.  No one had taken it.  No one had seen it.  If you've ever been to Haiti, you know how impossible this seems.  First, at night dark is dark.  Second, the streets are always busy.  People are everywhere all the time.  Third, there is trash everywhere!  Why would one object stick out from all the others at dark?

But Hudson found it . . . in the dark . . . hours later.  And the only explanation we had was : God did this.

As we had been searching that night, I had been reminded of the parable of the lost coin.  And I had been praying for us to find Hudson's "lost coin."  And God had answered our prayers.  Just.  like.  that.  Wow.

The next morning, I read through Luke 15, and one verse just hopped off the page at me:

“And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’”

— Luke 15:9

And that's exactly what we did the next morning when Hudson came to the house.  We rejoiced together.

But there's more to the story.    The next verse (v. 10) - the point of the entire chapter - is this:

Many of the June team members fell in love with Hudson.   They saw his sweet spirit, his kind heart, his attention to detail, his work ethic . . . and they loved him.  And many of us are motivated in the same way  - the need to pray for Hudson every day because he hasn't trusted Christ as Savior.

Will you join us in praying for his salvation?  As happy as we are that he found his lost envelope, we will rejoice even more the day he accepts Jesus as his Savior.

Polo and Hudson the day after the envelope was found

“It doesn’t matter what the world says
I’ve seen what you can do
I know it’s more than just coincidence
It’s amazing how you move

It’s not always parting oceans
Sometimes it’s the little moments
When you show how close you are
Some would say it’s only chance
I’m not gonna second guess
I’ve seen the hand of God

’Cause I believe in miracles
You can do the impossible
Every single heartbeat means
There’s a God who’s in control

”

— Audio Adrenaline

Giving Opportunities to Specific Funds Related to the Home for Orphans (a.k.a. Federick’s Orphanage)

Haiti Awake maintains the following separate funds for use with the Home for Orphans.  Donors may designate their gifts to these various funds and then these funds will be used as provided in the fund description below.  Recurring annual or monthly donations are particularly helpful for planning to cover the needs of these children.  

Consistent with federal law and to preserve the tax deductibility of donor contributions, there can be no legal requirement that Haiti Awake use a contribution for a particular purpose.  We do not anticipate this occurring; but, if funds are ever used other than for the purpose of the designated fund, then the donors will be contacted and informed of the reason for the different use of the funds. 

Tuition

We have found a suitable school for the 17 children for this school year.  It is the school where our coworker, Polo, teaches English classes. He will be able to see the children daily and provide oversight for Haiti Awake.  

Public education is not an option.  Even government schools charge tuition in Haiti and require uniforms.  However, they do not always pay their teachers, and teachers are frequently not in the classroom because they have not been paid.  A reasonable private school is the best option.  

Medical

The children have a variety of medical needs, including head fungus, rashes, and other complications from malnutrition/under-nutrition in the past.  All of the children need a basic health assessment and ongoing screening.  The benefits of good general health are obvious, but better health has a specific positive impact on young students as they are able to concentrate on their studies rather than their empty stomachs.  The children need regular visits from health care professionals who can distribute needed medications, vitamins, and offer on-going education in basic hygiene.  

Clothing

Like children everywhere, these children need basic outerwear, underwear, socks, and shoes in order to be properly clothed for school and for normal life.  

Schools in Haiti require students to have uniforms and an extra uniform, with underwear, shoes, and socks.

Food

Existing generous monthly donations to this fund provide the children with basic daily rations (beans and rice and other simple dinners).  Other donations to this fund are used to add meat and fresh fruits and vegetables to the children’s diet and may also provide a snack and water to each child for school each day.  

Housing

Land cost in Haiti is very high compared to rent.  Because rent has been reasonable to this point, and because we do not have the funds to purchase facilities at this point, at this time we are renting a house for the home for the children.  

 

 

while unrestricted donations are always appreciated, gifts to these funds a great way to know exactly where your donations are being used.  Thank you for your generosity.  

34 Days in Haiti

This verse from Proverbs most accurately sums up the 34 days recently spent in Haiti:

"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps."  (Proverbs 16:9)

God determined each step.  Even though our ministry team had planned out the three teams and all of their activities, God had other plans day-by-day.  We visited places we did not plan to visit.   We were unable to work with ministries we had planned to partner with.  And . . . We made new friends and made lasting memories.

In the end, it was clear:  Each of the three summer teams was put together by God with each member having special talents and abilities that complimented the group and allowed the group, as a whole, to learn more, experience more, be more effective in sharing the Gospel through daily living

Team 1 was exuberant and lively and constantly in motion.  Psalm 150:6, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!"

Team 2 was characterized by love and hard work.  I John 3:16-18,  "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Team 3 exhibited great unity of purpose and spirit.  Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. "

Caleb Steven Derard

“My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.”

— Steven Curtis Chapman

How true these words became to my heart and soul during my recent trip to Haiti.  I had my trip all planned out for April 15 - 26.  I knew what I was going to do, where I was going to go, and what I was going to accomplish.  And guess what?  God had other plans.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

— Proverbs 16:9

When I called Steeve for our daily afternoon "Bonjou.  Bonswa.  Orevwa!" phone call (thanks, AT&T for raising your rates.  Not!), he told me that Manoucheka had been admitted to a local hospital with symptoms of pre-eclampsia.  In addition to my concerns for her and the baby, I have to admit I also thought, "Oh!  I'll get to meet that sweet baby while I'm there!"  Little did I know that That Sweet Baby would become the focus of the entire trip.

Tuesday Manoucheka was transported by ambulance to Zanmi Lasante in Mirebalais.  That is a story in itself, and a part of the larger picture that God painted through this entire experience.  God was in control of every detail of Caleb's arrival.

Wednesday I arrived at the airport in PAP, and soon after Wesly accompanied me north to Mirebalais where Steeve and Manoucheka were.  Steeve and I were thrilled to see each other after 48 hours of worried phone calls.  We snapped this photo with my phone, and I've since told Steeve this is The Photo we need to remember when we're having a disagreement in the future.  We were so happy to see each other.

Thursday a group of us headed back to PAP.  The doctor assured us Manoucheka was not going into labor any time soon.  They were just keeping her to monitor her blood pressure; however, by Friday afternoon, it was evident they had done something because after Manoucheka received a medication, active labor began.

We went back to Mirebalais Friday evening and found Manoucheka in the throws of hard labor.  It was hard to watch and hear. She was in so much pain, and it is nothing like it is here in the States.  Let's start with the fact that there is no air conditioning and there is no privacy as the patient beds are one right after another.   Being there with her made me realize that no matter how intense labor is in the United States, we have NO IDEA how good we have it.  NO IDEA.

Manoucheka labored well into the night, and about 2 a.m. she was taken in for a c-section.  About 2:30 a.m. Caleb Steven Derard made his grand entrance into the world.  Steeve and I were able to see him and Manoucheka just minutes later.   My first thought upon seeing him?  "He's huge!"  And he was.  We are told Caleb weighed about 11 lb. at birth.

“Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still.”

— Steven Curtis Chapman

Caleb's birth was rather dramatic, and the next morning I listened to "Be Still" over and over and over.  It was as if God was reminding me of what was important.  And there was that word "faithful" again.  He is faithful.  Always.

Caleb and Manoucheka came home on April 20, one week after their ordeal began.  But they weren't home long before we began to realize Caleb was going to have a few challenges.  First, Manoucheka noticed that Caleb's foot was turned.  Then, I noticed that Caleb wasn't exhibiting normal newborn reflexes.  That Wednesday, April 22, God sent us to just the right pediatrian, Dr. Nathalie Theard, in Petionville.  She had referrals for Caleb's foot, and she also asked me to text her over the coming days regarding his reflexes.  She is an amazingly caring physician.

By Friday, April 24, we had many questions about Caleb's health, and not many answers as of yet.   Steeve, Manoucheka, Caleb, and I drove around the PAP area trying to find an orthopedist based on Dr. Nathalie's referral.  And, I just got completely overwhelmed.  Completely.  Like crying overwhelmed.  Like "Steeve, you just have to pray before I can even drive this car" overwhelmed.

Rick, Jared and Ethan were headed to PAP via Atlanta, and I messaged Rick  and told him I just didn't think I could return to the States on Sunday, as planned.  I asked him to see if we could change my flight.

That is a story in itself, but to make it short, it comes down to these facts:  1)  Delta changed my ticket at absolutely no cost to us at all, 2) the only date Delta could change that ticket to was the very date I told Rick was my absolute "I must be home by then" date, and 3) God knew that I needed to stay 8 more days . . . Not just to help Steeve and Manoucheka, but for me to learn more about the character and the provision of MY God.

There are still some questions about Caleb's health, but he's under the care of Healing Hands for his orthopedic issues.  The newborn reflexes are now being displayed, though not as strongly or as consistently as we would want if everything were "perfect."

But this is what I know.  

“But God will, He will finish what He started
No thread will be left unwoven
Nothing will be left undone
Every plan and every purpose
That He has will be accomplished
And God will finish what He’s begun.”

— Steven Curtis Chapman

 In the end, staying until May 4 allowed us at Haiti Awake to do the "big thing" I had thought would be the focus of my trip - moving Federick's children into their new home.  I love those 17 children that live under Federick's care.

However, what I learned on this trip is that there are many children in Haiti, there are many needs in Haiti, but one little guy most definitely has my heart.

And his name is Caleb Steven Derard.  

Wesly Bien-Aimé

Earlier today, I wrote this post to share with our summer ministry teams.  But . . . the more I've thought about things today, the more I thought it was an appropriate post to share with all of you who are part of Haiti Awake.

Two weeks from today, Jared, Ethan and I will be on our way to Port-au-Prince to get ready to welcome YOU. We're so excited about hosting three separate teams and sharing Haiti with our friends.

We'll be waiting for you at the airport!

I was thinking yesterday about how difficult it still is for me to remember everyone I have met. Sometimes it's overwhelming. I've met people, I know I'm supposed to know them, but I just can't remember who they are or how they fit into the grand picture. And I know you'll experience this, too . . . trying to figure out who everyone is. Right, Sharonda?

For the next few days I want to introduce you to some of the people who will work with us while you're in Haiti. Hopefully this will help you put names with faces and put you more at ease from the start.

This is Wesly Bien-Aimé. I've known Wesly for over three years. He can do just about anything, and I personally depend on him and trust him a great deal. On my last trip, I really don't know what I would have done without him. He was with me morning until night, and he took care of what needed to be done.

He's a hard worker, a really smart guy, and although he looks tough (muscles, muscles, muscles!), he's really got a great heart.

Wesly is learning English. If you're patient in communicating with him, he'll be patient in communicating with you, too.

Wesly knows there is one thing I want for him more than anything else.  I want Wesly to know Jesus Christ as HIS Lord and Savior.

The most important thing about Wesly? He's my friend.

When Jesus Says Yes . . .

July of 2013 found me in Haiti for the 5th time.  But I was not in Port-au-Prince.  Instead, I was north of the capitol, in unfamiliar territory, with unfamiliar people, and feeling quite lonely and out of place.  In fact, I felt so "homesick" for PAP that the day after I arrived, I found a way to get back to PAP, and I asked Steeve to meet me at EpiDor to talk.

Once there I explained to him how miserable I was, how isolated I felt, how much I didn't think I was in the right place.  I was having trouble integrating with my team, I felt marginalized, I felt I had no place or purpose where I was.

Steeve reminded me that God has a plan in every situation, and he told me that I needed to stay where I was and learn what I needed to learn.

Two days later, I was still struggling to find my place with the team I was with, but another team welcomed me with open arms.  So I basically joined up with them, and I was invited to visit some orphanages back in the PAP area.

That day we visited three locations.  I had no idea where we were, and I did not know the people I was in the vehicle with.  I had never been involved with orphan care before, and this new experience tugged at my heart in a real way.

I remember seeing this sign in the first orphanage.  It had a profound impact on my thinking the rest of the day.  

That day we visited three orphanages, but one grabbed my heart in a special way.  And at that one orphanage, one little boy stole my heart.  His name is Handy.

When it was time to leave these children, I felt so helpless.  I had nothing with me that I could share with them.  Nothing but a pack of gum that didn't even have enough pieces for each child to have one.   As we drove away, my heart ached for those precious children.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

— James 1:27

Fast forward seven months.  Rick and I were taking a short trip to Haiti to visit Steeve and Manoucheka.  And I thought, "Hey!  We could see those kids again. We could take some things to them . . ."  Except there was one problem.    I didn't know where "those kids" lived, and I had no contact information for them.

But I had photos.  So I sent the following photos to Steeve and asked him if he could possibly find these children.  I knew it was a long shot, but I also felt God really wanted Rick and me to see these children.

And you know what?  I was right because Steeve found the director and was able to make contact with him.  He agreed to let us visit in February of 2014.

https://youtube.com/devicesupport http://m.youtube.com

The summer of 2014 found us once visiting the precious children under Federick's care.

“The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”

— Psalm 146:9

“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.”

— Psalm 87:3

The fall brought unexpected changes regarding Haiti for the Graves family . . . and the first Haiti Awake team in October of 2014.  It seemed like a natural choice to do a 4 day Bible school with these children who were quickly becoming a big part of each trip to Haiti.

And in January, the 2nd Haiti Awake team spent 4 days with these precious children.  We all felt there was more we should be doing for them.

And God has made that possible.  Through the generous monthly donations which have come in, we are now able to help these children in a real, tangible way each month.  They are "our" children.  There are still many needs (school, furniture, toiletries, more caregivers) and we need more monthly support, but we are doing SOMETHING now.  We are so thankful for what God has done.

God is sovereign over all circumstances in our lives. We don't always understand why He has us in the place He puts us. We might feel alone, forgotten, unneeded. But the beauty of those moments comes later when we can look back and see WHY God had us where we were . . .

I am thankful for that very hard week in July of 2013.  I'm now thankful that I didn't fit in with the team I *thought* I was supposed to be on.  I am thankful God had another plan.  And I'm thankful that He directs each step we take.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

— Proverbs 16:9

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

— I John 3:16-18

Steeve Derard's Testimony

In early February 2015, Steeve came to Wilmington for a few days and met with pastors from several ministries in the area.

On Sunday night, February 1, he had the opportunity to publicly share his testimony at Grace Baptist Church.

Grace Baptist Church February 1, 2015

Important Contribution Update

Important Contribution Update  Haiti Awake, Inc. was formed as a North Carolina non-profit corporation in December of 2014.  Haiti Awake filed for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in early March 2015.  When this application is approved, then exempt status will be granted retroactive to the date of formation (that is December 2014 for Haiti Awake).  This means that gifts made to Haiti Awake starting in 2015 will be tax deductible unless the IRS denies Haiti Awake's application for exempt status.  This is the IRS's policy since a vast majority of the 70,000 applications a year are approved, because our country encourages charitable activity and giving, and because the IRS is aware that it can take several months for an application to be approved.  Since our application was made in early 2015 and the current processing time is approximately 6 months, we expect to have our exemption approved before the end of 2015.  In the extremely unlikely event that the IRS denies Haiti Awake's application for exempt status, then Haiti Awake will inform donors who have made gifts.  This policy of retroactive application is available from the IRS in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2013-2, Section 11 (http://www.irs.gov/irb/2013-02_IRB/ar07.html#d0e1098).  This is great news for those of you who have been waiting for the tax exempt application to make donations.

Spring 2015

What a long, cold winter it's been here in North Carolina!   This last week we've finally seen the promise of spring with trees blooming and warmer temperatures.  Spring always reminds me there are beautiful days ahead.

Here at Haiti Awake we're anticipating great things in the coming months.

Rick, Jared,  Ethan and I will be in Haiti in April, and then the boys and I will head back down May 27.   Jared and Ethan will be in Haiti until June 19th, and I'll be there until June 29th.  During the month of June we'll host three separate teams . . . with a house filled to capacity (and beyond!) nearly every night.

We've had the opportunity to teach a Wednesday night class at GBC based on the book Helping Without Hurting.  The class is made up of summer team members and others in the church who are interested in missions.  It's been a great time on Wednesday nights as we study, share . . . and learn some basic Creole together.

Speaking of Creole, the Lord sent me a wonderful teacher named Gloria.  She's Haitian, and she teaches her classes via Skype.  We've only had a few lessons, but her teaching method and insight are EXACTLY what I needed.  I feel like my grammar and pronunciation have improved immeasurably these last few weeks.   My comprehension has gone up substantially,  too.  I'm still a long way away from being fluent, but progress is exciting.  

Jared and Ethan are learning quite a bit of Creole, as well, and the three of us have been practicing music for the summer.  We're looking forward to leading some of the music for the children instead of just listening.  I LOVE hearing my boys sing "Glwa Pou Bondye" most of all.  

I've been thinking on Romans 1:12 this morning : "That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine."

 This is Haiti Awake.  This is my heart.

Becky

So much has happened in such a little time

Three months ago, Haiti Awake was an idea.  Today we're a fully functioning organization with four full-time Haitian employees.

The October team was more than we could have hoped for.  Sharonda, Kim, and Kelli worked well together to hold 3 Bible schools each day for 4 days.    

The January team is just a few days away and in the final days of planning.

The June teams are forming.

We are thankful for the love and support we've received from so many friends who share in our vision of Relationships.  Gospel.  Hope.

Our prayer is that in 2015 God will help us see clearly precisely what He would have us do as we refine our mission statement  and continue to form relationships with people in our community and the surrounding areas.

October 19, 2015

Tonight Rick shared Haiti Awake with our Grace Baptist Church family.  We're excited about this new direction in which God is leading.