Personal Message
Greetings in the Awesome Incomparable name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - who is mighty in power and faithful from everlasting to everlasting!
We pray that you are well and that God is moving powerfully in your life and blessing you and your family.
Life in Haiti never ceases to amaze and inspire us. Sometimes it's difficult to keep up with all the great things the Lord is doing here. That's why this newsletter is a blessing for us -- it allows us to stop and take a look at the many miracles happening around us and to lift up a big THANK YOU JESUS! to Him. Praise His Name!
We pray that this newsletter is a blessing for you also --not just another item to delete in your email inbox. We pray it will help you to see the miracle of God's hand as He moves here in Haiti -- to see the fruit of your prayers and support -- and to rejoice in the knowledge that we serve a faithful amazing God!
We will never cease thanking the Lord for you, for your friendship, prayers and support.
God bless you!
The Manassero Family
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 Everyone Loves Cendee!
She's the youngest resident of Maison de Lumiere. Cendee, 4 years old, is a little blessing at the orphanage who has stolen the heart of staff, visitors and even many of the older children.
She is a special little girl who was very quiet and withdrawn when she first came to the home and always seemed sad. But, by the grace of God, over the last three months, she has blossomed and is now running, singing and playing just like all the other children.
Born to a mother who did not want here, Cendee eventually ended up with an aunt, a widow, who could barely feed her own children. Her aunt took her in because the mother threatened to drop Cendee off
in a place called Cite Soleil -- Haiti's most dangerous slum. A
Christian and very godly woman, her aunt could not see this precious
little child in such a horrible place, so she took her in -- praying
that the Lord would provide for her. Her prayers were
answered.
When we first found out about Cendee, we prayed that the Lord would direct us in how to help her. She did not meet the profile of most of our children - being homeless or living on the street - but her situation was nonetheless desperate. After confirmation that the Lord wanted her to come with us, she moved into our new girls home.
Today, Cendee gets lots of love at Maison de Lumiere -- especially from Brittany, our missionary intern and preschool teacher. Our live-in nanny and staff also are always holding her, playing with her and nurturing little Cendee.
She loves school and enjoys reciting her ABCs and showing you that she knows her colors. She also made up a little song that she sang all the way back from one of our field trips. It translates - "Look at us kids now!" Yes, look at this wonderful kid now -- and please keep her in your prayers, that the Lord would complete her healing process and grow her into a godly young woman.
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 Day at the Beach
It was the last few days of spring vacation, when the truck's retrofitting was completed, that we said -- "it's done. Let's take a field trip!" We had been praying for years for a day when we could take all the children to the beach. Unfortunately, without transportation to accommodate all our kids, we could never see it happen. This spring, however, we finally got to take the trip of a lifetime, to a beautiful Caribbean beach with all the children.
There was much excitement! For days we waited as the welders worked hard  completing the safety cage and seats for the back of our big truck. Everyone knew that when the truck was completed we were going to try to fit a beach trip in before school started up. But the delays continued and soon it was Friday. It didn't look like it would happen but then the welder said, "We're done. Come pick-up your truck." We knew the trip would actually happen. The children were beside themselves with joy -- jumping up and down and laughing out loud.
When we finally got there (after a 2 plus hour drive), the children jumped out of the truck and ran a beeline right into the water. They didn't come out until lunch was served -- no small task in itself. Our cooks got up before sunrise to cook a rice and hot dog meal that we packed up for all the kids and carried to the beach on top of the truck.
All the children had a great time swimming, splashing, covering themselves with sand and a special treat -- a boat ride up the coast!
It was a blessed day that the children will cherish for a long time to come.
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 Sunrise Celebration!
We were blessed to celebrate our risen Lord at a very special Easter sunrise service with all the children from the orphanage. Our local church, Port Au Prince Fellowship, had a special service at a beautiful look-out point called Boutilliere, located up the mountain from Port Au Prince.
At the crack of drawn, all of our kids and staff were loaded into our two new trucks and driven up the hill. The service began with worship music provided by Bill, Rod and Renald, followed by a powerful message from Pastor John McHoul. The service concluded with everyone joining hands as we looked out over and prayed for Port Au Prince and Haiti.
After the service, we enjoyed a typical Haitian breakfast of bread, bananas and mamba (peanut butter) with juice and coffee.
The children so loved the event they are already asking if we can go to next year's event. Praise our Risen Savior for He is Alive!
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 Israel Update
Many of you have asked how our progress is regarding our pursuit of plastic surgery for Israel Jean Baptist.
On our side, we are still getting his passport and medical information together so that when a specific opportunity occurs we cam move quickly.
We have had some encouraging contact and emails from people who are interested in helping Israel and are hopeful that we will find a clinic or doctor to perform the surgery. We are praying that the Lord will present us with just the right opportunity once his paperwork is complete.
We will let you know through this newsletter or a separate email as soon as we have something more firm.
A special thank you to all who have responded and are interested in helping. God bless you! Keep praying!
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 Blessings From Southern California
We were blessed beyond measure as a missions team from Southern California visited us this last week. The team consisted of about 15 people, many of whom are great friends from our home church - Kings Harbor in Redondo Beach - including pastor Chris. Here they are (picture on left) at the airport, being picked up in our new retrofitted truck.
While here, they replaced a water pump and replumbed, added a hand pump, visited families and children in a nearby ravine, conducted crafts with and taught songs to the children at the orphanage and ministered to the Manassero family -- just to name a few things. They also visited a plot of land that may possibly, Lord willing, be the future home of Maison de Lumiere.
It was a very special week where we made new friends, the children at the orphanage were blessed and encouraged and we felt the presence of God through dear brothers and sisters in Christ who took the time to come and serve in His name. God bless all those who were part of the team! We love you!
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