GIVING THANKS

Thanksgiving 2011

We would like to share with you what the
Haitian Lutheran Mission Project
is giving thanks for this year.

Although we will miss one of our most faithful servants,Dave Alm, who is now with his Lord and Savior,we are grateful for the progress we witnessed on our most recent visit to Haiti..

The 30 Orphaned children in pastor Isaac's care are not only being fed, educated and receiving medical care they are growing spiritually and learning to be responsible, loving family members.


We are very thankful for the well being of these children, largely due to your support, but we cannot forget the thousands of other children who live in the mountain villages that Pastor Isaac is responsible for.


Most of the Orphans come from these villages and there are dozens of children actually WANTING to enter the orphanage. In my mind there is something wrong when children WANT to go to an orphanage but this is reality in Haiti.

The purpose of our October visit was to decide where our focus would be for the coming year in Haiti. We feel we are being lead to expand our assistance beyond Pastor Isaac's Orphanage into the villages in the Jeremie District. We zeroed in on two related areas. Enlarge our sponsorship program for the Lutheran School Teachers in Haiti and Starting Lutheran Schools in some of the villages where schools do not exsist.

We are standing on the foundation for the new school in Fond Rouge - church is in background.


Fond Rouge is one of these villages where a school is needed. We have raised enough funds to begin the work and hope to have the building finished and teachers hired so that school can start next September. We feel confident that this school can make a real difference to the people of Fond Rouge and expect we can accomplish this in the months to come.

The Children in Fond Rouge want to attend school. Their parents see education as their only hope for some kind of future. Maybe their child will be able to make a living and not face the despair they live with.

Many of our Haitian schools are now also qualifying for the Feeding Program through Trinity Hope, Nashville, TN. which provides each child 1 meal a day of rice and beans while they attend school.This means that children who normally do not eat everyday will now get a dish of rice and beans 5 days a week. Think of what this means to families that cannot afford to feed each family member every day.


Since the earthquake I have been asked repeatedly where did all that money go?
My answer is. I guess it depends on who you gave it to.
We have seen great progress in Jeremie over the last several years. The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project has an ongoing relationship with Pastor Isaac. We communicate regularly, require accountability, and evaluate the progress of the projects continually.

We understand that each donation is given to us in love and we convey that to Pastor. We respect your sacrificial giving and are committed to directing your gifts where they will do the most good.
This year we will give thanks for YOU the people who are making a difference in so many lives.

We pray that you continue to support the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project this coming year.

Thanksgiving Blessings to you and your families.

Sue Gross
suelynn144@aol.com