Trust

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge HIM,

and HE will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Traveling from Haiti to Florida with Missionary Flights International

Trust is essential. Today we trust that God has us carefully under his wing of protection. A couple weeks ago there was a situation taking place in Mirebalais, a community south of where we live in Haiti. This caused plans to be made for us to travel temporarily to the US. This brought the unexpected Joy of being able to have Easter celebrations with our family when we will proclaim, "Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!"

MH Haitian staff are committed to stand strong in uncertain times. The citizens of the city of Mirebalais have experienced violence brought on by gang activity. Many residents of Mirebalais have fled to safer locations. There are many people that could be considered  'refugees' currently finding shelter in and around the Pignon area. The community, we count MH in that community, is doing what they can to care for these groups of people who find themselves homeless. 

Once again we are thankful for reliable internet connection on MH campus so that 'directing' from afar can be accomplished through Whatsapp messages and calls. We had an encouraging update from Pastor Jean-Ronel to say things went well this week. School was on Easter break, the First Thousand Days program was well attended throughout the week. All staff and programs had an official holiday for Good Friday, 'Vandredi Sen' which could be literally translated to Holy Friday. Efforts continue with MH 'Stretch Out Your Hand' ministry. The local area continues to experience tough economic hardship. Construction on the new school building is progressing well. Rain has started to fall bringing HOPE for the growing season. 

Weekly community bible studies led by MH Chaplians are thriving! 

The two newest bible study locations are on MH Me Bel Mer campus (above) 

and Savan Tabak campus (below)

Both centers are studying "New Life in Christ" Volume 1

Through support of generous donors, MH is beginning an Audio bible distribution effort. 

Madam Monchere is part of MH Raised Bed Garden program. 

Now she has her own solar rechargeable Creole Audio bible.

Above, the woman in this picture was being fitted for the wedding gown she would wear as she would be married in December of 2024. Madam Telemaque, in the lower part of the picture, was visited in November 2024 with a MH Stretch Out Your Hand food gift. During the visit she expressed how she became a Christian some years back but that she had not been able to become married to her husband due to hard times.

Today, she and Georges St Fleur, who is blind, are part of twenty couples that are preparing to be united in marriage on MH campus on May 17th.

Ring sizing is one of many steps in preparation for the upcoming May 17th wedding day.

April 11th was "Say YES! to a Dress" day for twenty couples. The same day, Pastor Jean-Ronel, records all the essential personal information to register each couple to receive a legal Marriage License. 

Meet wedding tailor Jean-Gary Joseph (below)

He will handle the project of making all alterations and pressing of the suits and dresses 

for the BIG DAY!

Below lists the grooms. Shoe sizes were recorded. 

Jean-Gary's wife will assist in buying shoes.

We TRUST God has control of all things MH, past, present, and future! For me personally, my prayer is that we can be back to MH Campus in time to be part of the May 17th wedding ceremony. It would be pure JOY to see these couples being united as ONE in marriage before God on that day.

There is a wide variety of life situations represented in the couples shown here. Some are young, no children yet, wanting to start their lives together as ONE in Christ. The other end of the spectrum, much older couples who have lived hard lives together, In one case, a blended family with 13 children (first spouses died and they found each other later in life).

What a BRIGHT outlook WE have for MH and the GOOD that is happening each day. One simple thing of twenty couples being united in Christ to be a blessing to each other, to their families, to their churches, to their communities. Their choices and actions today are passing on a generational blessing for generations to come. Three of the couples are part of a church called "A New Generation" in the community of Bohoc. These marriages bring a REAL change for a new generation!  

These couples expressed their appreciation for the opportunity MH has offered to accompany them in this process of marriage. Don't be misled by a few somber expressions; this is more customary in Haitian culture when having your picture taken.

Would you accept the challenge to pray for these couples? Use the list above. The first groom listed is Frednel. His wife would be Madam Frednel. You could pray for each couple by name. Pray that God's strength, power, and love would be evident to each couple in preparation for the Wedding day and in the years that follow.

We ask for that same prayer to cover all of Many Hands ministry. We TRUST in God's plan to show the path to take. There are hungry souls which can be fed by the love and promises only Jesus can offer.

This verse of an Easter Sunday hymn displays confidence which can be found in the Christian life because of Jesus' Resurrection.

The world against me rages, 

Its fury I disdain; 

Though bitter war it wages, 

Its work is all in vain.

My Heart from care is free,

No trouble troubles me. 

Misfortune now is play, 

And night is bright as day.

All in a DAY!

The day begins... 

Our Father in heaven,
May your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 
And don't let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.     Matthew 6:9-13

Many Hands School of Light fundamental school is GROWING! On this day the new classroom pod for upcoming 7th, 8th, and 9th grades began to take shape early in the morning. The work day begins early to beat the heat. Haiti is currently nearing the end of the dry season, ready to move into the rainy season. A consequence of this time of year is water supply can be sparse. Strategies need to be implemented so that MH campus can support the water that is needed for all that goes on in a day.

Here, WATER is a critical element along with sacks of cement, the piles of sand, gravel, and block. These materials will be transformed into a beautiful environment for educating with the use of wooden stakes, string, picks, shovels, buckets, wheelbarrows, and loads of HARD WORK.  

On this day, (below) two local men have been hired to dig a new trash pit on campus. Even though it is hard, dirty work, both men are thrilled for the opportunity for the job which is available to them, even if it is temporary. 

Common elements... Picks and shovels and hard work... all in a day.

At the same time.. MH Spiritual shepherds, Pastor Jean-Ronel and Pastor Jean Rubert, are out and about in the morning visiting people and sharing the Good News that Jesus is our one and only Saviour. This visit finds Jonel Charles expressing his gratitude to MH for the special medical assistance he received in the form of orthodpedic surgery which MH arranged at Dikini Hospital in Port au Prince. A metal plate was put in. Safely back at home in Pignon, Jonel is doing well.

Above, Pastor Jean-Ronel prays with Jonel because he wants to restore his life in Christ to follow Jesus in a deeper way.

This beautiful young girl is Josiane. MH met her a few years ago. She began experiencing weakness and deformity in her knees. MH assisted with medical consulting and at the time, the doctor wanted her to receive follow up care at a hospital in Port au Prince.  Josiane was living with her aunt and the aunt was not willing to send her niece into a dangerous place. MH has remained in contact with Josiane. She is not currently going to school due to the problem with her legs. 

 

All in a DAY for Josaine brings a gift of a Creole bible and a Creole songbook into her hands. She is making it her own by writing her name inside the front cover. Pastor Jean-Ronel added John 3:16 to remind her WHOSE she is!!! She belongs to Jesus.

All in this day, Lumanise Jean-Noel is leaving St. Joseph medical clinic in Pignon. She is being treated for Typhoid and H-Pylori. This was her fourth follow up appointment made possible with benevolence support of MH. She has a 'randevou' again after 15 days. She along with her husband Chansner, seated on the back of the taxi moto, are forever grateful for the support they have received. As MH believes with the effort invested into the First Thousand Days program... "The health of the mother determines the health of her children." Lumanise and Chansner have three children who depend on their mother and father. This day is making a difference.

In the garden, MH agronomy department is working on this day to be able to provide produce to be used in the future for the First Thousand Days program meals. That same strategic approach to managing the water supply is critical to the success of these MH gardens. Spinach, leeks, carrots, etc. aren't going to fare well without watering. All in this day, the garden is getting the needed water.

At the same moment, a new garden space is being prepared with wooden stakes, string, hard work. A common theme all in a day. Green peppers will be growing soon in this garden space pictured below. 

Hard work of a different nature is also going on all in a day. Here is MH adult literacy class. 72 year-old student, Erose Cine, is being helped by Sonide, the teacher. 

More hard work all in a day below as primary grade students are being tutored by MH accompaniment teacher, Venia. These tutor sessions take place in the afternoon after the regular school day has ended.  

Just past the education buildings, a former congo bean field is being cleared to be used as future recreation space for the 'growing' School of Light. More hard work with wheelbarrows and rakes on this day.

Hard work taking place up to the close of the day. MH is committed to tree planting. A 2025 goal for the Ag department is to prepare 8000 trees to be distributed to local community members to plant. An upcoming Haitian holiday, May 1, is similar to Arbor Day in the US. On this day, a large quantity of tree seedlings will be shared in the area. 

More water usage to manage. Without it, the tree planting program won't GROW. ALL in a DAY.

In addition to all this work happening with MH all on a single day, Monday of this week, the signature program "Premye Mil Jou" happened in five locations as well.

Time to rest tired bones, tired muscles, tired well water system because tomorrow is a whole new day to use for God's glory here in Haiti with MH and for others around the world. 

We serve because we strive to 

'Love the Lord God with all our passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' 

(as found in Mark 12:30 The Message)

Sante ki Robus

Take a look at the view through the window of our main administrative workspace in the guesthouse on Many Hands Campus. Most of the time you could label this space "Grand Central Station". It is where all the swirl of MH ministry in Haiti comes and goes. Then one step outside the front door is...

And below is one look to the left ...

You may have heard us use the term Paradise of Poverty to describe where we live and work.  

Part of the 'Paradise' aspect for us is the way in which we are supported in prayer, not only by dear family and friends in the US, also by many friends and MH staff right here in our neighborhood.

For the past three weeks, Craig has been in Ft Pierce, FL getting all arrangements in place with a cancer center so that he can receive the IVIG infusion that he is told he needs on a monthly basis. Since the onset of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, the oncologist has reported Craig's 'immunoglobulin' is low and the 'treatment' is the IVIG infusion. 

After much effort and much patience, the long awaited treatment was scheduled for 9:15 am today, Friday, February 21. I get a message at 9:19 am saying... "Bloodwork shows the immunoglobulin level looks good. No need for the infusion. Come back in two months."

As much as we would have REALLY liked to know that sooner... We can only give GOD all the praise and honor and glory for this unbelievable occurrence. 

Below is a group of women that are bound together as a group of praying warriors. I had been asked if the group could come to MH and pray for the organization and for us personally. Monday afternoon, February 17, by 2:30 this is what was taking place right on MH Main Campus. 

By 3:00 the group had grown to this...

The singing, the shouting of 'Alleluias', and the audible praying like you can't imagine continued till nearly 5:00 that afternoon. At that time there were 80 people gathered in this space!

People would believe that without good health, life has greater challenges. If someone is praying for me I often hear this phrase asking God to provide "Sante ki robus". In English, Health that is ROBUST. I heard this Monday afternoon. So that prayer was heard and answered! 

Thank you Lord God for your faithfulness. Bless our Eternal King!

After two months we will see what that appointment shows.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make you paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6