Camp in a Box 2009

Dana Ver Burg, a familiar face to Haiti and especially Maison de Lumiere, graduated from Biola University in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in intercultural studies.  She moved to Haiti this month to live out a lifelong dream to become a missionary. 

Over the last few years, she has served the Lord in short and longer term missions opportunities in places like Mexico, Romania, Samoa and Haiti  -- but it was Haiti that truly grabbed her heart.  Ever since her first visit in 2002, followed by a three month stay with Maison de Lumiere in 2006, she knew Haiti was the place the Lord wanted her to serve.

Some of her new responsibilities include overseeing the feeding program, guest house management, mission team relations and sponsor and electronic communications, just to name a few.

The children at Maison de Lumiere love Dana and are very happy to see she's here to stay.  We are thrilled to have her as part of the Child Hope team and are asking that you include her in your prayers as she adjuss to her new life and responsibilities.

Welcome Dana!  May God bless and use you in a powerful way as you seek to serve Him by serving His very special children.
 

A few enterprising members of the Bible Group Mission Team above, Aaron & Winston Tao, took along their video camera to record their Haiti trip and to make a short film for a contest being held on YouTube.com.  If enough people view the film and post a favorable comment, they could win and the kids of Maison de Lumiere will receive the cash prize.  If you want to help out, click on this link and post a favorable comment.  Thanks.

Three days a week, 80 to 100 children come to the Maison de Lumiere Sports Center (next to the boys home) for a time of worship, games, Bible study and a hot meal.  The Child Hope Haiti Feeding Program, also known as the muTch  program (Meals and Uncompromised Truth for the Children of Haiti) is completely run and operated by the children of Maison de Lumiere.  It is their ministry to shine the light of Jesus to suffering and hungry children in the area.  The program  which provides nutritious meals three times a week,  also assists children who have medical needs.  Beginning as  a simple effort to feed a handful of children outside the gate of the Manassero's home, the program has grown into a full-fledged feeding program that helps our children learn how to serve and minister and impacts the community with the Gospel and Hope of Jesus Christ.  Please keep this program in your prayers and if you are interested in assisting financially, you may contribute at our web site at childhope.org.

There are a couple of ways you might want to consider supporting the efforts of Child Hope in Haiti and they cost you nothing.  By doing your Internet searches through GoodSearch.com (basically a Yahoo search engine), with Child Hope as your designated charity, funds are sent to Child Hope for each search you do.  You can also use GoodSearch as a gateway to Target.com, Wal-Mart and hundreds of other online retailers that will credit Child Hope for each purchase you make. 

Another excellent resource is Cars for Causes who come and pick-up broken down cars, trucks, boats and RVs from your home and send a donation to Child Hope based on the value of the item 

As these difficult financial times are impacting many people, we are no exception.  Significant reductions in child sponsorships has directly hit the children at Maison de Lumiere and we are praying for the Lord to fill the gap.  These other resources are a viable way to help offset those losses.  Thank you.

Next month's newsletter will spotlight our special summer school program that ran from June through August.  It was the most complete offering of classes and seminars we've ever had for the children at Maison de Lumiere.  Without the selfless dedication and hard work of Bethany Mills, Jamie Kruse, Mike Wilson and Tyson Bohlinger, our summer school program wouldn't have been possible.  Thank you all!

Stay tuned for details...