He is obedient. He is always ready to help others with what they are doing. Even when others do not want to work around the house, he does it without complaining.
What Can We Celebrate from November?
Handy - We have the big tap tap to get more people to church, to come worship in the name of Jesus.
Davensky Fevrier - Haiti Awake went to the boys’ prison to help them, and the fact that Pastor Steeve could travel to the States and God keeps him safe.
Pastor Steeve - God gave me the opportunity to come to the United States to experience Thanksgiving for the first time. I even had the opportunity to break the wishbone!
Hudson - Our program for the community is growing constantly.
Big - I’m thankful that God gave us EEGC to help us grow in His Word.
Yvenson - God gives us the pportunity to be in church every Sunday, and we continue to grow in learning the Word of God.
Stanley - I am going to school to learn and also having an English class every Sunday and having church every Sunday at Kay Timoun.
Lorvens - The innovation at church, like having a big screen so that we can worship God together.
Caelle - I was sick, but I feel better now.
Stevenley - God allows me to see December in good health
Esterlin - I’m growing in learning the Word of God.
Migerlson - The fact that God continues to help me understand life better and learning new words at school.
Idelmy - The fact that I am back to school, and I went to the doctor. He gave me some new medicine and I am getting better.
Antonide - God allows her to see another birthday this year again
Widecherline - God helps her to have an amazing month,
Phebe - God allows her to go to back to school.
Cesnel - I’m getting better in my vocational school, and God continues to protect me when I’m traveling back home by myself late at night
Maken - We could go to the boys’ prison
Wesly - School is open and the children can go back to school and continue to learn.
Dieussait - The opportunity that God gave us to go back to the boys’ prison.
A Life Characterized by Helping Others
Each month during 2020, we have chosen a Person of the Month at Haiti Awake based on popular vote. We ask people why they are voting for a person, as well as who they are voting for.
This month’s Person of the Month is Wesly. Here are some things both staff and other children said about him when they voted:
he is always there for everyone
he always motivates me
he always wants to take care of his friends
he always give us good advice to motivate us to be someone better for ourselves, our family and our friends.
he is always there to help us, make us ready to go to English class.
when I don't have transportation money, he has given me money from his own money
Wesly helps in so many ways at Haiti Awake including driving for Haiti Awake Chauffeur Services, living at the boys’ home, working with teams, and generally being available in whatever capacity Steeve might call on him, including driving many, many people to church each Sunday on our large tap tap.
We are thankful for Wesly’s faithfulness to Haiti Awake.
If I myself (Becky) could vote, I would vote for Wesly because when I visited Haiti in October, he was awake before I was every single morning and made coffee so I never had to wait for it to brew.
That is true friendship!
What Can We Celebrate from October?
It has become our monthly practice to publicly share our praise for what God is doing here at Haiti Awake.
Wesly
I celebrate that my mother was able to come home from the hospital.
Lorvens
I celebrate the opportunity to be registered at school again this year, and I celebrate the fun we had with Sè Becky as we played games.
Vorb
I celebrate the fact that God provided so that we could go to visit the boys’ prison providing some stuff they really needed and the fact that God has allowed the Finks to finish their adoption.
Cesnel
I celebrate God’s protection, and the fact that Haiti Awake makes a free English class for the community.
Idelmy
I celebrate that I am attending a new school and advancing to the next grade.
Yvenson
I celebrate that no one in my family is sick.
Fanor
I celebrate that God has given me and people I care about good health.
Migerlson
I celebrate I am growing in grace and intelligence.
Stanley
I celebrate that I passed my entrance exam at my new school, I had a fun week with Sè Becky playing games.
Pastor Steeve
I celebrate the good week we had with Sè Becky. I celebrate that the Fink family came to pick up their girls, and now their family is all together.
Hudson
I celebrate the surprise of our friend Becky coming back to visit because we didn’t think she’d come to see us again until 2021.
Big I celebrate that my friend Becky can come twice since Haiti is open again. It’s a blessing and a grace for us.
Dieussait
I celebrate health because I was sick but thanks to God I"m good now.
Makendy
I celebrate that I have so much joy this week playing games, and I had a good year in school. I took my official exams, and though I am waiting for my results, I believe I will be successful in that.
Davensky
I celebrate that God has allowed me and Handy to go back to school, and we are safe.
Handy
I celebrate that Sè Becky came to see us safely, and God allowed us to come here to church every Sunday to praise him
Antonide
I celebrate the fact that God keep us healthy .
Widecherline
I celebrate God's protection, and the fact that He has allowed our activities to start again this month.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Psalm 105:1
Photo credit - Louis Hudson
Person of the Month
What can we celebrate from the month of August?
The Privilege of Serving in the Kingdom
I Am A Child Of God
"Show us how to increase our faith!" - Luke 17:5
On July 17, 2013, I met Handy Oge for the first time. Though our meeting was brief, and though I never thought I would see him again, God knew. And He made a way.
Since that day, we have seen miracles with our own eyes as our Father has done exceedingly abundantly above all that we could have ever imagined (Ephesians 3:20).
As we look toward the future we believe the promise of Isaiah 64:4, waiting with hopeful expectation:
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
What can we celebrate from the month of June?
Is the camera ready?
A Story of God's Providence
Hi, Everyone! I’m Steeve Derard, Ground Director of Haiti Awake and Pastor of EEGC. I am here to update you on what’s happening in Haiti. This update is a little longer than a usual weekly update, but it is such a beautiful story. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read about it!
Though we did many things last week, I want to tell you about Friday because it was such a special day.
First, let me explain something to you. On March 19, when the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Haiti, our President closed our borders. This has prevented our friend, Becky Graces, from coming back to see us, and it has also prevented many Haitians from returning home, including a man named Edvy Durandice who was in the States for medical care.
In a true example of the providence of God, Edvy is staying next door to Becky in WIlmington, NC. They never knew each other before this, but now, they are friends who spend time together every single day.
Every night when I call Becky, I ask her, “How is Edvy? Did you see him today?” And she tells me about their English lesson and other things they talk about.
Then we found out that Edvy’s daughter lives very close to the children’s home in Carradeux, and I was able to meet her a few weeks ago.
After that, God put it in our hearts to go to see Edvy’s family in Leogane, to show them that we care, to let them know that Edvy is okay, that we are praying.
Friday was a long day. I left my house at 6;30 a.m. and returned just before 9 p.m. The drive was long, and we also got stuck in a traffic jam for 3 hours in Martissant on our way back.
But despite this, we had the best day.
I was so happy to meet Edvy's family and different people from this peaceful and very clean community. The hospitality we have received was exceptional. The food, the coffee was "wawwww." The only thing is that the trip was not long enough to know everyone well.
But listening to Edvy's wife talking and the deep conversation I had with Edvy's Son, Etzaire, helps me to know how to pray for people in this community better.
We were welcomed . We laughed a lot. And I was so happy to meet Edvy's sister who lost her husband recently because I was able to sharde some encouraging words with her.
Everyone was happy to meet us. And we let them know that we are here because of Edvy's meeting with Becky.
Our trip brought so much joy and made Edvy's family have less concern about him.
I am thankful that we were able to go and help the family with some food as well as some other people in the community. It was a short trip but such a blessing.
Please pray with us that Edvy can return home to his family soon. They miss him so much!
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth
What Can We Celebrate from the Last 30 Days?
COVID-19 Update
Hello, Friends!
Some of you have reached out to inquire about the state of affairs at Haiti Awake during this time of worldwide concern.
First, we would encourage those of you who wish to pray for Haiti Awake to watch our new video produced by Jake Flaming. This will give you a good overview of our ministry, helping you to understand the different facets.
Click on this link to view the video on YouTube.
Second, we are like every other ministry right now. We are waiting to see what the next 24 hours will bring as things continue to change rapidly day by day, it seems. Last night the President of Haiti announced the first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Haiti and suspended all travel to and from the country. We are waiting to see what that will actually mean and how that will be enforced.
Please pray for God's provision in a country with a fragile health care system and economy. The level of suffering that could be experienced is uncertain, but we trust our future to a sovereign God who is always in control and is not taken by surprise by the events each day. Our children and staff currently have all that they need, and leadership is working on a plan to provide provision in the days ahead should the country go to a strict quarantine. Right now schools and some businesses have been asked to close by the government, but other businesses remain open. (Similar to what is being experienced here in many parts of the US.)
One of our staff members sent this passage this morning:
Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
We are not concentrating our prayers on our own comfort, safety, and security. Instead it is our prayer that God will use our ministry during this time to point people to the hope we have in the Gospel.
Life is not about safety. Life is not about comfort. Life has an all-consuming purpose - and that is to share the truth of the Gospel with those who are without Hope. Our prayer is for opportunities to be light during a time many people find dark and confusing.
We welcome your questions and will do our best to answer them in the days ahead. Please watch our Facebook and Instagram for updates.
And the winner is . . .
Eglise Evangélique de la Grâce de Caradeux
On Sunday, January 26, 2020, God brought many dreams, many prayers, and much work together as Eglise Evangélique de la Grâce de Caradeux gathered together on their first Sunday with their pastor, Steeve Derard.
As we look forward to the months ahead, much of our efforts at Haiti Awake this year will be concentrated on Church Ministry Development, equipping this young body of believers to do the work of ministry and live out the mission statement of Haiti Awake which says:
Our goal is to equip these local Christians to reach their own communities and their own country through showing Christ’s love in action.
To see more photos of this very special day, click on the box below.
10 Years after The Earthquake by Steeve Derard
"It is not the dead who praise the Lord, nor any of those descending into the silence of death. But we will praise the Lord, both now and forever." Psalms 115: 17-18
January 12, 2010.
10 years since a terrible earthquake had shaken our dear Haiti and affected all the Haitian people.
10 years where we can not forget good friends, siblings or someone we knew and neighbors we have lost on that day.
But 10 years also where God has never stopped pouring abundantly His blessing on the life of the Haitian people despite it all.
We bless the name of our Lord.
He is faithful yesterday, today and forever.
I truly believe, that God has used this difficult moment for our good.
Not all houses have been repaired yet, neither the National Palace, the Haitian cathedral, some schools, some hospitals. But I can testify how God used this earthquake as a tool to call several members of my family and my friends to God's family. Now it is amazing to see how they are growing in the Lord.
"We know that God works all things together for our good." Romans 8:28
God is our hope, when there seems to be no hope.
He is our light in the darkest moments.
He is faithful and good.
