Greetings from Pastor Isaac and his family in Haiti.
Team #1 made up of 9 men and 2 women from Christ Lutheran Church, Orland Park, IL, Pastor ST Williams from St Paul Lutheran Church, L.A.,CA, Pastor Marky Kessa, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti and Laurent Lophane, Coordinator for Trinity Hope Feeding Program arrived on Friday July 4 and worked construction each morning until the heat became too much and they broke for lunch and relaxation. The women used most of their days working with Pastor Isaac’s children (teaching crafts, Bible stories and songs) and visiting another nearby orphanage where they were welcomed with much enthusiasm.
Our afternoons were spent visiting a medical clinic where we were able to supply vitamins and over the counter meds to those who could not afford them. We also visited and toured the facilities of The Haitian Health Foundation where women with high risk pregnancies can get care. Pastor Isaac was told that he can send women to them for a very small fee if he feels they qualify.
We were also fortunate enough to visit other Lutheran Churches that Pastor Isaac is responsible for in 2 of the more remote areas surrounding Jeremie. Mar Franc and Marone both are what he calls “Preaching Stations” run by lay pastors. Both Churches support a Lutheran School which is very important because there are no other schools available in these areas. These Churches are very poor but they struggle to support a teacher who does NOT get paid regularly. Many of the teachers do not stay long at these Church Schools because they must feed their families so they take other jobs when they have not been paid for a long period of time.
What a great opportunity for a congregation or school here in the States to support a Teacher in Haiti!!! (about $50.00 a month).
Team #2 made up of 8 men and 8 women from Fellowship Of Faith Lutheran Church, McHenry, IL, Living Christ Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, IL (including Pastor Paul Klopke), Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY and Tim Hetzner (president of Lutheran Church Charities) arrived on July 12 as Team #1 left. We did more construction each morning and lots of VBS in the afternoons. We also held a Soccer Clinic and Art Classes for the children and found the adults had just as much fun when they joined in. Our free day was spent walking through the street market, walking along the warf, and visiting some very beautiful spots that Pastor wanted to show us.
Team #2 also had the opportunity to visit a “Preaching Station”. The village of Bouduin was one that I visited 3 years ago with Pastor and it was as beautiful as I remembered it. To get there we drove over a very rugged road while standing in the back of a pick up for about 35 minutes until we got to the river. We then took off our shoes and waded across the river and walked into a very jungle like area up the side of a mountain. A couple of us fell along the way but it was worth the hike when we heard the people singing their welcome song to us at church. What a celebration! The singing and dancing rocked the church and we witnessed 12 baptisms that afternoon. What a glorious day. Even the ride home made us smile.
The two weeks ended very quickly for me but I know the teams went home feeling that they really did accomplish something 
and we were all very happy to see how well cared for Pastor Isaac’s Orphans are. They are truly HAPPY and healthy looking. They do not have the blank stares that so many of the other Haitian children have. They are smart, well behaved and very loving children. They have their daily jobs like collecting water from the well, washing dishes and helping with the care of the younger children. I never heard a complaint form any one of them and their smiles told me that they are glad to be with Pastor and his family.
The facility that Pastor plans to build is comprised of a building for a school, orphanage, medical clinic, chapel and guest house. We worked on the very first portion of the complex which is the school. The children will move into this building until enough money is raised for the orphanage section and then the school will be opened to the children in the community. The income from the school should help pay for the teachers and then Pastor will no longer have to pay for his children to attend public school. The Guest House also will provide income property for Pastor.
There is still much work to be done but we got a good start. God was truly with us as so many things coulda/shoulda gone wrong.
Thanks to so many of you who sent gifts from your heart directly to us for the trip and those who donated through Lutheran Church Charities You all made this building possible.
He wishes to thank all of you who helped to make his dream of building the orphanage/school come true.
Yes, it has begun. The foundation was poured and the walls for the orphanage/school were almost finished when we left Jeremie on Saturday July 19.
Yes, it has begun. The foundation was poured and the walls for the orphanage/school were almost finished when we left Jeremie on Saturday July 19.
Team #1 made up of 9 men and 2 women from Christ Lutheran Church, Orland Park, IL, Pastor ST Williams from St Paul Lutheran Church, L.A.,CA, Pastor Marky Kessa, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti and Laurent Lophane, Coordinator for Trinity Hope Feeding Program arrived on Friday July 4 and worked construction each morning until the heat became too much and they broke for lunch and relaxation. The women used most of their days working with Pastor Isaac’s children (teaching crafts, Bible stories and songs) and visiting another nearby orphanage where they were welcomed with much enthusiasm.
Our afternoons were spent visiting a medical clinic where we were able to supply vitamins and over the counter meds to those who could not afford them. We also visited and toured the facilities of The Haitian Health Foundation where women with high risk pregnancies can get care. Pastor Isaac was told that he can send women to them for a very small fee if he feels they qualify.
We were also fortunate enough to visit other Lutheran Churches that Pastor Isaac is responsible for in 2 of the more remote areas surrounding Jeremie. Mar Franc and Marone both are what he calls “Preaching Stations” run by lay pastors. Both Churches support a Lutheran School which is very important because there are no other schools available in these areas. These Churches are very poor but they struggle to support a teacher who does NOT get paid regularly. Many of the teachers do not stay long at these Church Schools because they must feed their families so they take other jobs when they have not been paid for a long period of time. What a great opportunity for a congregation or school here in the States to support a Teacher in Haiti!!! (about $50.00 a month).Team #2 made up of 8 men and 8 women from Fellowship Of Faith Lutheran Church, McHenry, IL, Living Christ Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, IL (including Pastor Paul Klopke), Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY and Tim Hetzner (president of Lutheran Church Charities) arrived on July 12 as Team #1 left. We did more construction each morning and lots of VBS in the afternoons. We also held a Soccer Clinic and Art Classes for the children and found the adults had just as much fun when they joined in. Our free day was spent walking through the street market, walking along the warf, and visiting some very beautiful spots that Pastor wanted to show us.
Team #2 also had the opportunity to visit a “Preaching Station”. The village of Bouduin was one that I visited 3 years ago with Pastor and it was as beautiful as I remembered it. To get there we drove over a very rugged road while standing in the back of a pick up for about 35 minutes until we got to the river. We then took off our shoes and waded across the river and walked into a very jungle like area up the side of a mountain. A couple of us fell along the way but it was worth the hike when we heard the people singing their welcome song to us at church. What a celebration! The singing and dancing rocked the church and we witnessed 12 baptisms that afternoon. What a glorious day. Even the ride home made us smile.
The two weeks ended very quickly for me but I know the teams went home feeling that they really did accomplish something 
and we were all very happy to see how well cared for Pastor Isaac’s Orphans are. They are truly HAPPY and healthy looking. They do not have the blank stares that so many of the other Haitian children have. They are smart, well behaved and very loving children. They have their daily jobs like collecting water from the well, washing dishes and helping with the care of the younger children. I never heard a complaint form any one of them and their smiles told me that they are glad to be with Pastor and his family.The facility that Pastor plans to build is comprised of a building for a school, orphanage, medical clinic, chapel and guest house. We worked on the very first portion of the complex which is the school. The children will move into this building until enough money is raised for the orphanage section and then the school will be opened to the children in the community. The income from the school should help pay for the teachers and then Pastor will no longer have to pay for his children to attend public school. The Guest House also will provide income property for Pastor.
There is still much work to be done but we got a good start. God was truly with us as so many things coulda/shoulda gone wrong.
Thanks to so many of you who sent gifts from your heart directly to us for the trip and those who donated through Lutheran Church Charities You all made this building possible.
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