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Dear Friends and Family
Early Saturday morning I arrived in Michigan from Port-Au-Prince. As I walked through the beautifully decorated airport, I was reflecting on the Christmas season in light of the reality I had just experienced with my dear Haitian friends. The beautiful Christmas lights of Michigan stood in such stark contrast to the darkness which enfolds the homes of the families of New Life Village who live without any electricity or running water.
Over the past weeks, as I walked with my Haitian friends through their struggle for justice and survival, something deep inside me was touched. I saw some of my friends valiantly fight to bring about safety and justice for others. I am talking about a quest, not for the perfect Christmas gift, but a fight to extend the most basic needs of food, water and safety for others in need. I thought of each one of my friends and I was reminded of their testimonies of perseverance, faith and good will. I thought of Shilet, Pastor Renald, Widmy, Alex, Jean - each one taking a posture of unmovable strength in the face of deep hardship, injustice and risk to themselves. I was reminded of how PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!
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Some of our kids from New Life Village
Your prayers have protected these little ones from being suddenly forced from their home
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How deeply grateful I am for your prayers, particularly for the situation with the land owner as he used tactics of fear and intimidation to scare the village residents. He declared that he would forcefully move the families of New Life Village off the land over this Holiday Season. All of this threatening was in complete disregard for the signed contracts the land owner has with us and UN-OPS. It has been a process of progress and set backs over the last several weeks but the Lord has responded to your prayers in incredible ways. Thank you for praying - Prayer changes things!!!!
 God gave us great favor and friendship with the top Police Commissioner of Croix Des Bouquet province. He kindly went to the village and met with us numerous times. After reviewing all of the information he assured me that there was nothing that the land owner could rightfully do to harm the people. The police chief assured me that he will see to it that justice is served if the land owner causes any harm. This is an incredible gift as Chief Alex has 250,000 people under his authority.
In one of our meetings, the Chief asked about our future security plans for the new village after we re-locate. He volunteered to put a police station and 24/7 personnel in the new village. This station would service security needs of the whole surrounding area. He told me o contact him personally if we had any additional security issues. Our God answers prayer!
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I want to give you an update on Katiana since her surgery for hydrocephalus in November. Physically, Katiana has made significant improvement. Pictured above is the one room mud hut that Katiana, her mom and four siblings live in.
When I stopped by her home to check on her, I found her by herself closed inside the little mud house. She was lying on pieces of cloth on the dirt floor. At first I felt judgmental toward her mom for leaving her by herself. When I investigated further I realized that her mother was forced to leave her alone in order to gather enough money to buy food. Katiana's mom bought vegetables from a local farmer and took them into the city to sell at a small profit which left her enough to buy food for her five children. With no way to carry Katiana on such a journey, I was seeing the absolute misery of extreme poverty.
Russ and Sherri Cole were able to give me a five gallon bucket of rice and beans to give Katiana's mom. What a smile she had on her face when she received that pail! Please continue to pray for Katiana and her family.
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 | | Right -the only closet for a family of six over the only bed in the one room mud hut. |
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As I read these words written by Jim Wallis I was reminded of how we serve a God of hope. As we trust in him, He is our strong tower!
"Hope is not a feeling. It is a decision - a choice you make based on what we call faith or moral conscience, whatever most deeply motivates you.
I have said that for many years, but this Advent and Christmas season tests my words - even in my own heart.
This is not a time that many of us are feeling a great deal of hope. I hear that from many friends and allies as well.
In fact, many events this year feel like they have sucked the hope right out of us.
And yet, even in the midst of terrible events and stories, the possibilities of hope still exist depending on what we decide to do for reasons of faith and conscience. In fact, people of faith and conscience are already making a difference in the most difficult situations and places.
And that gives me hope. This season of Advent, in the Christian tradition, is a call to patient waiting.
Christmas is the celebration of God literally coming into the world in order to change it."
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In November, we had the joy of receiving Grandma Carmen, Aunt Keila and Cousin Chanel (7) from the Dominican Republic! None of them had ever seen snow and they were delighted when we had an early snow storm in Michigan. The boys enjoyed getting their grandma to go for a ride on the 4 wheeler! We then drove to Virginia where Samuel met us and shared the Thanksgiving Holiday with the boys.
 | | Keila, Landon, Chanel, Nathan and Andersen |
 | | Watch out - Abuela Carmen is behind the wheel in snow!!! |
 
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Christmas morning with Great-Grandma Bethavery Voller surrounded by my sister Kristi's three children and my three boys.
At 96 years of age GG (as she is affectionately called) continues to offer us a great example of a positive attitude and a life dedicated to loving and serving others.
We are so blessed!
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Thank-you for your prayers and financial giving. You makes it possible for me to reach out with Christ's love. I will not know if we were able to close the financial gap that I shared with you in November until after the first week in January. May Christ be close to you this New Year and may He fill you with His abundant grace and love. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the Savior!
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Tax-deductible donations can be sent to:
Kendra Luna - Vision4Word
c/o Davison Free Methodist Church
502 Church St.
Davison MI 48423
****Please attach a note stating "Kendra Luna - Vision4Word".
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 * If you DO NOT need a tax deductible receipt and want to donate immediately through pay pal click the donate button to the left.
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