Personal Message
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ!
As we begin the new year, we are excited and blessed to
enter year three of service here in Haiti.
2006 was a year of incredible miracles and exciting
developments. We saw tremendous spiritual growth in
the children at the orphanage. We relocated the
orphanage to a bigger facility and safer location in
Port Au Prince. We opened a home for homeless
girls. And that's just a few of the highlights. The
details of so much of what we experienced have God's
awesome hands all over them.
The challenges we face in 2007 are both exciting and
faith-building. Looking at all that is ahead can be
sometimes overwhelming and seemingly
impossible but
we know that "with man this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) So,
"forgetting what is behind and straining toward what
is ahead, (we) press on toward the goal to win the
prize for which God has called (us) heavenward in
Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:13-14.
Thank you for your prayers and faithfulness! We
look forward to continued work for God's
glory here in Haiti. We appreciate you all so very
much. God bless you.
In Christ in Haiti,
The Manasseros
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Meet Keso
Keso is a very special little boy who recently came
to Maison de Lumiere with his brother Daniel.
We have known Keso
and Daniel pretty much since we
moved to Haiti. They used to come to our front gate
asking
for food. Later, their sisters started coming to
Ariana's weekly bible study.
Living on a vacant lot near our home (as
squatters), Keso lived in a dilapidated 2-room
cinder block shack, with no running water, along with
his mom, brother,
three sisters and two other families.
We have watched him for two years roam the steets,
at all hours of the day and night, searching for
food. Keso and Daniel were severely neglected and
malnourished (stunted growth, orange hair). Their
ability to thrive was waning.
We offered to take the boys into the home, feed them
three meal a day, teach them about Jesus and send
them to school. Their mother gratefully accepted.
Since arriving at the orphanage, both boys have
changed dramatically.
They are both happy, playing, looking healthy and
are doing
great in school. They are a joy to have at the home.
Keso and Daniel both are still without sponsors but
we are hopeful and praying that the Lord will
bring the
right person(s). Please keep Keso and his brother
in prayer, for their spiritual growth, health and
for sponsors. Thank you.
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Girls Settle In - School Begins
We now of a total of 12 girls now living at the girls
home and they are doing great! To find out more
about who the girls are click
here.
Their first few weeks were focused on basic living.
They have never lived in a nice home with a
bathroom, kitchen and room to run around so there
was a fair amount of orientation required. Much
of our time the first few weeks consisted of
conducting impromptu classes such as, "Why Toilets
Are Better than the Yard," "The Dangers of Throwing
Rocks at Your Sisters," and "The Joy of Cleanliness."
After getting the basics down (ha, ha), we began
with "The
Schedule" - another foreign concept. Devotions at
6am, Breakfast at 7, School at 8, Lunch at noon,
P.E. at 1, and Homework at 2. After that, there is
free time. So far, they really seem to like the
structure and are adapting pretty well.
Two of the girls are qualified for outside school.
The rest attend our inhouse school room at the
boys home. Their classes are Bible, Reading,
Writing, Math,
and French Phonics. Already, we see that most of the
girls will be able to attend outside school in
September.
It has been both a joy and a challenge to work with
these wonderful precious little girls. Some have
big issues that will take time and lots of prayer to
work out. We are confident that the Lord will
restore them one-by-one because with God "all things
are possible.".
In all cases, Jesus is needed and lots and lots of
prayer! God is great!
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Welcome Brittany Bohlinger!
Brittany Bohlinger, who has been serving with us for
the last two months as a short term missionary, has
returned from Christmas vacation to commit for
another two years.
We are so excited to have her join our team. In
addition to teaching our preschool class everyday,
she is our inhouse photographer, is organizing a
youth group, teaches P.E. to our girls and helps out
in a million other areas
from sewing, homeschooling and organizing, to
cleaning and nuturing
our youngest children.
She has been an incredible blessing and her heart
for Jesus is in everything she does. She is an
inspiration for the girls, the
boys, and the Manassero family.
We are thrilled to have Brittany join us here in
service to God and the Haitian people and we would
like you to please add her to your prayer list. It
is not easy to be here - let alone to be away from
your family. Keep Brittany in your prayers and
encourage her when you write her.
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Girls Still Seek Sponsors
Fortunately, many of you have come forth to become
sponsors for
the girls at the girls home. Praise the Lord! We
are very excited, however, many more are
needed to reach 100% sponsorship.
If you think you
might be interested in sponsoring one of the girls,
you can see photos and profiles at
http://maisondelumiere.org/sponsor-photos-girls.htm.
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Family Gets a Roof
Although Child Hope's primary purpose in Haiti is
helping homeless children, there are many families
and individuals we also assist, as we can, with living
expenses, jobs, medical care and special needs.
Matilla is a godly widow and mother of six who works for
us. Her husband was shot and killed two years ago.
Her home is located on a ravine and when the
rains come the water rises to dangerous levels and
literally rushes through their little home. Her tin
roof
leaked so much the inside of the house was soaked
every time a big storm
came. We knew she needed a new roof and
were praying for help for her.
We brought some visiting friends to Matilla's house
to meet her and her children. One
woman in the team (who prefers to remain anonymous)
was so moved that she and her husband stepped in to
replace the tin roof with a cement roof.
Matilla and her children were so happy that they ran
around their house singing praises and shouting
"Mesi, Jezi!" (Thank You, Jesus!). And we join her
- Thank You, Jesus and thank you dear family who
reached out to help this widow in need. God bless you.
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GoodSearch.com
We are really excited that many of you are now doing
all your Internet searches through GoodSearch.com
(powered by Yahoo) for the benefit of Child Hope.
Every month the number of
searches increases. And each time you do a search
it benefits the children at Maison de Lumiere.
Thank you for helping in this little way. You are a
blessing.
To find out more about this great resource, go to
goodsearch.com.
Thanks.
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