Personal Message
Greetings in the name of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Please know that you are in our prayers and that we never stop thanking our Lord for the blessing of your friendship and support.
Susette is doing well and enduring the grueling chemo therapy treatments with grace and faith. Already one third of the way through the treatments, we see progress and hope each step of the way.
Each day brings new vision and reliance upon our God who is faithful and true. During this season of growth and healing, the Lord continues to draw us closer to Him and each other. We know it must sound strange, but we thank Him daily for this situation and the challenges we currently face. Our faith deepens every moment we trust and rely in Him completely.
We miss our children, staff and friends in Haiti but know that our God and this ministry is bigger than us and that His hand has never stopped being firmly upon the children of MDL.
Thank you, Lord, for your love that is deeper and wider than we will ever know.
Thank you, Lord, for our dear friends and family that have stood by us prayerfully and faithfully -- testifying to Your Greatness and Glory.
May the Lord bless you abundantly.
In Christ in California,
The Manasseros
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 Meet Gregory
Gregory is the newest resident of Maison de Lumiere boys home. An excellent student and athlete, Gregory was receiving assistance and education through a fellow missionary in Haiti - Michel Charbonneau. When both of his parents died within days of each other, he moved in with his grandmother. In a few years, his grandmother died leaving him with no remaining relatives to help. Michel was fortunately able to find him another Haitian family to live with. However, within a short time, the family left Gregory and moved to the countryside. Gregory was forced out to the street. When the Charbonneaus found out, they approached us about taking him in. We told them that generally we don't take in children his age but that we would pray about it and seek God's direction. We felt the Lord directing us to let him stay for a trial period. During that time, the other MDL children and our staff grew to love Gregory and made an appeal for Gregory to stay. After more prayer, we agreed.
Today, Gregory loves his new home and friends. He is very helpful and is always the first to volunteer to assist us in whatever we need. He just got a job helping newlyweds Rod & Brittany with regular maintenance at their new home. Please keep Gregory in your prayers, especially that he continue to grow in his relationship to Christ. Gregory is still in need of sponsors as well.
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 Awesome Reunion
Between chemo therapy treatments, Bill Manassero was able to take a short trip to Haiti to check on the children and help our our visiting missionaries - the Hojaras. It was a short trip but a busy one. Many people wanted to meet to discuss things and decisions had to be made on a number of issues. But, all that aside, the most incredible part of the trip was the reunion with the MDL children. The hugs and tears that came at first sight were overwhelming. "It was perhaps one of my most difficult trips to Haiti," said Bill. "i just wanted to dig my feet in and jump back into the lives of these beautiful children, but i knew that was impossible at this time." Bill spent much of his time trying to explain Susette's disease
and treatment and reassuring the children (many of whom know deep feelings of abandonment) that they were coming back as
soon as the Lord allows. One especially blessed time was shared at a rooftop worship session at the home of Rod and Brittany with all the MDL children worshipping the Lord, interceding for Susette and shouting His praises to the heavens.
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 Congratulations Fritz & Margalie!
Those who have been to the orphanage know Fritz Desir, our manager at the homes. He has been a dedicated employee and trustworthy friend since he first joined Maison de Lumiere nearly 4 years ago. Recently, he married long-time friend and fiance Margalie in a beautiful ceremony at Port Au Prince Fellowship church. Bill was blessed to have been able to attend the wedding ceremony on his recent visit. We just want to extend our heart-felt congratulations and blessings upon the newlyweds. We are very excited for both Fritz and Margalie. May the Lord bless them abundantly and may they continue to build their relationship upon the Rock of Our Salvation.
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 MDL Documentary
Recently, two young film makers (Jonathan Olinger and Bret Junvik) came to Haiti to document the plight of street children. He met and interviewed Ariana Manassero where he heard her story of how, at 9 years of age, she had a dream to start an orphanage in Haiti. The results of the visit and interview are now included in a documentary called "A Child's Hope." He hopes to complete the film by Spring 2008. If you would like to see a brief trailer of the film, it is available for viewing at www.discoverthejourney.org/haiti. |
Love Heals
A local nei ghborhood handyman and painter named Fritnaire has been working with our ministry for many years painting, fixing things, doing masonry work, various repairs and much more. He is a dear Christian friend. A while back, he asked if there was anything we could do for his mother who had a growth in her neck for the last ten years. When he brought her to our home we were shocked by the size of the growth and said that nothing had been done. We prayer with her and sought God's help for her problem.
A short time later, we had a visiting medical team visit MDL. Part of the team was a nurse named Pam Chmielewski. She took a strong interest in Fritznaire's mother and offered to cover the expenses for tests to determine the status of the growth.
We found out it was a non-malignant goiter. Relieved, we proceeded to investigate the next step. We took her to one of the few surgeons in Haiti who could perform the surgery and he said the operation would cost around $7,000US. We were shocked but continued to pray that God would either provide the resources or show us another way. We spoke to friends, ministries and others we knew in Haiti to see if there was any way she could receive assistance.
Renald Toussaint, our activity director at the orphanage, said that perhaps the med clinic at Double Harvest (an agricultural ministry in Croix de Bouquet, Haiti) could assist. He said the clinic often hosts medical teams that have missionary surgeons. Sure enough, a surgeon from New York was scheduled to be at the clinic who, after seeing her, agreed to perform the surgery-- at no cost. The doctor effectively removed the gigantic growth (that weighed nearly 5 pounds) from Fritznaire's mother's neck. He was so amazed by the size of the growth that he asked if he could take it back to the states to show colleagues and students.
The result, as you can see above, is a smiling little old Haitian woman who now thanks God every day for the miracle that God brought into her life.
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Stuff Needed
Even though the Manasseros are in the states, things are continuing to move forward at the orphanage. The children are being well cared for, educated and discipled. Much is being done and there is much to do. We have a few items that will help us to do our job better that we are praying for. We are presenting this list for you to add to your prayer list as well. Here they are:
A small used truck - to help transport kids, conduct food shopping trips and daily maintenance/building supply runs and support for the three homes. (approx. $5,000)
A generator-powered welding machine - to help us launch our own in-house welding vocational training program and micro-business (approx. $4,000)
Two foot-powered treadle sewing machines - to help launch our girls home vocational training program and micro-business. (approx. $1000 each plus shipping)
Heavy duty soccer goals - for our kids regular soccer games. (approximately $300)
If you, your church, school or other organization is interested in helping sponsor the purchase of one or more of these items, contact Brooke Herman at our U.S. office at 888-808-9595 for details.
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 Susette Update
Susette is now one third through her chemo therapy treatments. She is doing remarkably well and God's comforting hand and peace is upon her. For an update on her treatments, you may visit her update blog at http://susetteupdate.blogspot.com.
Your continued prayers for Susette and her family are greatly appreciated.
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 Easter Celebration
What has become an annual tradition for the boys and girls at Maison de Lumiere, the Port Au Prince Fellowship's sunrise service, was enjoyed by all on Easter Sunday. Even though Bill, Susette and family could not attend, Lisa Hojara, the MDL staff and Rod & Brittany Meadth took the kids up for an inspirational event and blessed time of worship. Praise our Risen Savior for He is good!
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