October

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

Dear Friends in Christ,

Once again, we come to you sharing many blessings from the Lord Jesus this month. He has provided through you, our family of Believers, who have poured out sacrificially for the needs of many in Haiti and Mexico. To God be the glory, great things He has done! We are grateful to see His love reflected through so many of you!

Last month we shared that one of you provided the funding so we could spray for termites, repaint and do repairs on the school buildings before beginning the new school year. This is a huge help and blessing as the wooden structures need extra care to keep from deteriorating. We were able to find someone local to the school to come and clean, spray for bugs, repair, and repaint the whole building inside and out. It looked so much better with the fresh coat of paint. Thank you for making this possible!

While this was happening, we had a new tailor send his assistant to measure the children for their uniforms for the year. The children always enjoy this part of the process. The tailor we used last year is in Mirebalais and could cannot get to the school safely. Nady was able to deliver the fabric he purchased in Port-au-Prince to the tailor who has already begun the sewing project with some of the uniforms even completed. Next month we will have pictures of the children as they receive their uniforms.

In September we took the backpacks we have been collecting to MFI so they could fly them to Pignon (pee yon). Nady and Amadeau (ah mod ow) went by truck to pick them up from the airport. They must be there when the plane lands, so they can negotiate the cost of customs with the Haitian government official who flies to Pignon from Cap Haitian. When the plane lands, they separate each ministry’s boxes and sup-plies to different piles, then a Haitian official walks from one ministry to the next to decide the amount of money that mission will pay to customs to have their supplies brought into Haiti. This is on top of the shipping cost MFI charges for transporting the supplies. Our teachers had success in negotiating customs for the backpacks this year, so we were very grateful! Getting supplies to MFI, flown in to Haiti, and then going through customs is quite a process. We are always relieved to see the backpacks finally arrive at the school!

The children are thrilled to receive their new backpacks, this is a very special day for them. In the past, we have shared how excited these children are to go to school. It is such a privilege to attend school in Haiti and these children are very aware of this. Their education means so much to them and their parents. Many of the parents in this part of Haiti did not have the opportunity to get an education. We feel honored God is allowing us to love this village through equip-ping these precious children’s minds to read and write, nourishing their tummy’s with a hot meal, but most importantly our goal is to fill their hearts with the love of Jesus Christ every day. These children are encouraged to read and learn God’s Word and to live their lives unto Him. The teachers are all told this is their most important priority in working with the students. School begins each morning with the children lining up outside for a time of prayer, scripture reading, saluting the flag, and the Haitian national anthem. After spending the morning in classes the day comes to a close with a hot cooked lunch and games in the school yard. You can image how much this means to these students and their families. Sadly there are so many more in the area who would love to be attending the school. Hoping to include more and more children, as God provides for us to do so, this year we added 15 students so we now have 165 children. We praise the Lord for the growth He has allowed for each year!

We are disappointed to share we have not been able to have Woodson’s surgery. It has been very frustrating for us, and him, to be there at the hospital and nothing happening. At one point, we were waiting on one of the doctors to sign a contract with the hospital, which they do monthly. Now, we do not know what we are waiting on, as Woodson has had every test they wanted done. We have to believe that God is waiting for the right time. Our prayer team has been faithfully praying over him and his situation for months. Pastor Bertho’s daughter is a doctor and though she does not work at the hospital that will perform the surgery, she is trying to get answers for us. Dealing with doctors in Haiti can be very complicated, but with the added challenges of the gangs in Haiti, the hospitals are especially overloaded now and we are at their mercy. Please continue to pray for Woodson.

This month, Woodsaiedmie has also started school. She lives in a completely different area than our school, but we are still able to get money to her Mom so that she can go to school. Although her walking has improved, she is still not walking normally. We pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen her legs. For now, we are happy that she can walk at all. She seems very happy with her progress and happy to go to school. Her Mom thanked us and those who made all this possible for her. Thank you so much for helping this precious little girl!

Pastor Eliezer and his wife, Ilanka in the Dominican Republic are sending updates often of little Evline. Though we are still working to have her seen by a doctor, it appears the nourishment she is receiving is helping her, praise the Lord! Her family is very grateful for the food we are sending for her and her siblings, and the special vitamins and protein drinks she is receiving daily. This also gives Eliezer and Ilanka a reason to visit them often during the week and speak into their lives. We are grateful for the opportunity to show the love of Jesus Christ to people who are often ignored and forgotten.

In Nava, Mexico, Sister Lety is continuing to share the gospel with the girls who live in her community, through the Dorcas House. These girls come to make crafts and learn to sew each afternoon after school. Lety has a time of prayer and reading the Bible with the girls and then they work on projects under her supervision. It is so helpful for these sweet girls to have somewhere to go and do useful things with their time instead of “hanging out” in a drug and crime filled neighborhood. Please pray for Lety as she must be creative with the time she spends with them and that she can help point these girls to our Savior.

We are grateful to you for your outpouring of love, your care, prayers and generous support financially for these ministry opportunities. On this earth, you may never meet these little ones you see in the newsletters, yet God knows them and their needs, as He lays them on your hearts to help. What an amazing witness of our Way Maker, our Protector, and Provider. He uses the needs you see here to bless you and them. Such a beautiful picture of God’s blessings, which He rains down on His children.

Serving our Savior with you,
Ken and Debbi