Hope for Haiti Newsletter April 2013
Lets just call this reality. Something to think about anyway. Have you ever done something and later the light came on to reveal something that was right before you the whole time? Welcome to my world, next time maybe the light will come on first.
A few years ago a request was brought before us to see if there might be an interest out there for sponsors to walk with children from Bataille. Simple enough and we prayed. Yes, we moved forward and photo’s were taken, names were gathered to match the photo’s and it all began. School in this area was started back up about that same time and it was obvious that this need was great. 90% of the adults do not read or write in this area and if things stay the same there’s little hope of that changing. So we embarked on this journey and started to process the information that had been collected. Somewhere along the way the names and photo’s did not all line up. Let me explain, the information about the children had been collected and shared by the people at Bataille. Then it was sent on to another person for “processing” and something seemed out of place. Further investigation proved that we needed to look further into this so we did. Updated information was gathered and still something did not add up. A copy of what was collected was sent with a team to Bataille so that both photo and name were together to make a positive id. Finally it looked like all was well. If only that were true! Next trip an attempt to acquire birth dates and simple bio info came up as a priority. A teacher at the school took the info and hand wrote all the names and birth dates, for those that had it recorded. Back home once again and as this information was being recorded it became apparent that many of the names had misspellings. So just what is going on!? Remember the light coming on? In a land that time had pretty much forgotten and the people were even called “The Forgotten One’s” things are just different. Many of the people go by nicknames such as “Let it go” and “When he was good”, few have recorded vital statistics, Most cannot read or write and I had expectations of clear and accurate information to share with those that would sponsor children! Go figure. So here we are today with more children sponsored at Bataille than we imagined, a school that started with 30 children in October 2010 and is now over 250 and growing. This has been a humbling season and a great season to see all that the Lord is doing in a land that once was Forgotten. Maybe you would like to sponsor a child there, just come with foreknowledge that the “information” may be sketchy but the photo’s and children are very real as well as the need. Check them out here Bataille Children. Or check out the children at the other schools, Bois Neuf, Colmini or Charrette.
Lots more going on right now with preparations for Annual Conference at Bois Neuf. The building is in full swing this week with roofing going up. Walls will come at a later date as well as a concrete floor. This, though, will be the first year the conference will be held under a permanent roof with the addition of a tarp for the small section that will wait completion for a future date. Over 1000 people gather each year for this time of worship, teaching, baptisms and more. Photo’s of the current work are available right here, Bois Neuf Building. Please pray for Marcel and the EMEVI Team as they work towards this goal.
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