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| Child Hope International | August 2011 |
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Blessed Be His Name!
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The month of September marks our seventh anniversary here in Haiti. It was September 1, 2004 that our family, with our entire lives packed into fourteen 30-gallon bins arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for the adventure of a lifetime.
As we reflect back it seems like we have been here so much longer. For Elijah, for example, he came here when he was 4. Now he's 11. Haiti is more home than California. And for those of us who serve the beautiful people of Haiti here daily, it is more home to most of us than the states as well.
We've seen attempted kidnappings, riots in the streets, fuel and food shortages, UN occupation, hurricanes, earthquakes and many lives transformed in the mighty name of Jesus.
It has been an experience of contrasts too diverse to explain. Some of the most intense and frightening times of our life and some of the most beautiful and compelling-- all within the last seven years. i (Bill) can definitely say these are the best years of my life.
Haiti is a place where there is very little "gray" -- everything is either black or white. It is the same in the spiritual realm. Everyone is a "believer" of one type -- believing both in God and the devil. It's just a question of whom they chose to trust.
God's calling for us, spurred by the dream of our daughter Ariana, who, at 9 years of age, knew Haiti was where God wanted her, brought us to serve street kids, restavecs, and homeless at-risk children in Haiti.
Seven years ago, we started with 12 boys. Today, we have 52 children, 32 boys and 20 girls (and growing); a school serving our kids and others in the local community; a medical clinic; a guest house; a feeding program that feeds 150 kids three times a week and a transition/vocational training program. Much has happened.
Of the original 12 boys, only 3 remain in the home. The others have grown up and have moved out. Three have jobs in the U.S., one was adopted, two moved back with their families, and one lives on his own.
It's a blessing to see God's hand upon these very special children. He has been faithful to protect and provide.
We look forward to sharing more stories in the future of how these wonderful, special children grew up to become responsible citizens, good husbands, wives, fathers and mothers and devoted disciples of Christ.
It's a wonderful life!
Thank you Jesus!
In Christ in Haiti, The Manasseros |
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Camp-in-a-Box IV
We returned, for the second year in a row, to Le Montcel, the mountaintop camp near Kenscoff, for Camp-in-a-Box number four. Despite the fact that Hurricane Emily was headed directly for Haiti, the camp was amazing!
Our speaker/Bible teacher was Pastor Junior Bataille. Pastor Junior is Haitian but grew up in the U.S. He left Haiti at age 9 and felt the call to return to serve Haiti in 2007, after he graduated from Duke University.
His father has a church in Port-au-Prince. He serves as Youth Pastor at th e church. His wife, Joycelyne, whom he met at Duke, is also a native Haitian and currently works in administration at Quesqueya Christian School.
Junior's message focused on who we are in Christ and touched the hearts of many of those attending. A number of children experienced dramatic encounters with the Lord and saw their faith strengthened and renewed. It was a powerful week.
The games, food, worship and fun were abundant. Usually, on the last night of camp, the traditional "Haiti's Got Talent" talent show is scheduled but there was so much spiritual movement that everyone decided to postpone the talent show to spend time in worship and to hear the testimonies of kids in the camp. It was a beautiful night. The talent show was, later, held on Sunday night, in the Ben's Sport Center, next to the boys home.
By the grace of a faithful wonderful God and through faithful fervent prayer, we witnessed miracles -- we saw transformed lives and even a defeated hurricane. We watched weather reports as Emily grew in intensity as it headed for Haiti. As Emily rapidly approached, strangely, it just stopped and paused just off the southern coast of Haiti. Then, it just dissipated altogether. And if that were not strange enough, a day later, we saw that Emily had somehow reformed north of Haiti as it moveded north for Florida. The power of prayer!
It was another amazing camp, "the best ever," according to some campers -- the reason: God's miraculous presence!
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Widow Fund
 | | The Ysilio Family |
The absence of fathers in Haiti is an all too present reality, but it is even more disheartening when you have a loving, devoted father who passes away at a young age.
One of our post-earthquake rebuild construction team workers,Ysilio, a faithful father and husband, recently went into the hospital for a check-up and died the same day of an unknown ailment. Unfortunately, a common occurrence in Haiti. He left a young pregnant wife and five children.
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Sing to God,sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides throughthe deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
Psalm 68:4-5 ________________________________________________________________________
His children all used to all be in our feeding program but when he started working regularly with our construction crew he decided to pull his children from the feeding program to open their spots for other needy children in the neighborhood. Ysilio, when he was working near his home in the ravine, would often run home on his lunch breaks to bring food to his wife and spend time with his kids. He was a very hard worker and a dedicated father and husband.
His wife is going to have a difficult time providing for her children, let alone, sending them to school. We are going to take as many of the kids into our school but they will still need assistance. For $150 per month, this family will be able to survive. It is not a lot but it is enough for this family to have shelter, food and to sustain. It is our prayer that a church, school, youth group or individuals within the body of Christ will be called to help. Please join us in praying for the Lord to touch the hearts of the saints. We currently support two other widows in this way. God bless you.
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| MDL School Graduation
 An education in Haiti is a luxury most cannot afford. There are few public or free schools. The expense of uniforms, books and tuition are beyond the grasp of most Haitian families. Currently, 48% of the adult population in Haiti is illiterate and 80% is unemployed. This was part of the reason for establishing MDL School.
This year marked the first "official" MDL Primary (Elementary) School graduation. Our 6th grade graduating class consisted of 12 children: Semy, Willie E., Jeff, Clifford, Isquerda, Gipson, Dieunite, and Renise from MDL home. In addition, we had four outside kids -- Santia, Nadage, Elisee and Cassandra. We also had four kindergarten students who graduated up to first grade - Angelo, Samson, Mino and Roseline.
The graduation ceremony, organized by Kaitlyn's Evan's visiting mission team, was held at the Ben's Sport Center (next to the boys home). It was a joyous, memorable, fun-filled event, complete with various performances b y the kids (dance routines, singing, Bible verse recitals and speeches) as well as the formal diploma presentations. MDL school principal Ivens Bastiens hosted the event and many children and parents attended.
We later found out that ALL of our 6th grade graduates passed the vigorous 6th grade government exam. And one student's score, Ranise, ranked amongst the highest in the nation.
We are so very thankful that the Lord has provided the opportunity for us to have a school that proclaims Christ, first and foremost, that seeks to raise up disciples for His glory and to provide an outstanding education for Haiti's needy children.
Congratulations graduates! To our Lord be the glory!
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Summer Teams Rebuild Haiti... One House At a Time
Many of our summer missions teams chose this year to build houses for needy Haitian families. Here are some of those teams and the homes they helped build.
 | | Carmel Presbyterian Church missions team, from Carmel, California, built this house for a needy family. |
 | Kaitlyn Evans, who interned at CHI Haiti last year, compiled a team comprised of individuals from Northern California to Boston, who built a house for another homeless family.
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 | Jody Giles and his team from Revolution Church in Annapolis, MD funded this house that will help yet another family to move out of a tent city.
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Graduate Updates
We will, as we can, try to provide updates on what some of the MDL graduates are doing in their lives outside of mission here in Haiti. Below are highlights from a few of our graduates.
James Delva Passes GED
 James was one of the first boys to graduate from MDL. He had the opportunity, along with fellow graduates, Alex Thoma and Jocelyn Joseph, to visit the U.S. on an educational visa. When the earthquake hit Haiti, their visas were extended.
Since coming to the U.S., James passed a Berlitz English language course in New York City, has worked full-time with Bergeron Construction in Southern Florida (receiving OSHA certifications as a road roller) and, most recently, passed the GED high school equivalency exam. Congratulations James! Maybe you can come back and fix Haiti's roads! Keep up the great work and God bless you!
Israel Baptise Produces Chri stian Pop/Rap CD
Israel graduated last year with an interest in electronics and in completing his education. While working with the transition program and trying to juggle school, he found school work to be overwhelming. He still, however, managed to do some cell phone work/repairs and sell small electronics on the side but it was not enough to cover his bills. He was becoming concerned about his future.. At a Monday night Bible study at Bill Manassero's house he found comfort in God's words "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV). He put his complete trust in the Lord. More an act of love for his God than a means of survival, he decided to record some of his original songs of praise,with some of his brothers from the boys home, plus Ariana Manassero and a few other friends. The group soon became known as Preachers4Christ. The CD will soon be available through Child Hope. Standby for details. Congratulations Israel!
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Upcoming Events
Aug 20-27 - Existence Church Missions Team
Oct 14-21 - Living Way Christian Fellowship Missions Team
Oct 28-Nov 5 - Kings Harbor Church Missions Team
Nov 11-18 - Ranch Church Missions Team
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