JUST MERCY
A School for the Mountain Children?
10th Haiti Trip – Vol. II
Bill’s last two weeks in Haiti during his October trip were full of many things. He still spent a few days in PAP working on trying to get the truck back. Our friends from California were there for another week. Corina, Cristin’s wife flew in for their second week. They worked hard doing whatever was needed, washing down donated cholera cots, organizing supplies, etc.
Dr. Alfredo examining patients at the mountain clinic with Cristin looking on
During that week, they and Bill took another trip into the mountains. This time, a 70 year old Columbian doctor went with them to hold a clinic for the mountain people where we had gone before. It was an incredible trip. The Columbian doctor and our friends worked tirelessly ministering to the people. They were such a blessing!
Mountain people lined up at the clinic door, hoping to see the doctor
Bill is working on writing an account of an encounter he had there I’ll send at a later date. The following account was written by Cristin, one of the men who visited during this time to help us.
Gods hand was evident in every aspect if this trip. From the shock of stepping out of the airport into the central market to being exposed to the harsh way of life in the mountains. He knew what we needed to see and experience and provided for it in divine fashion.
God working through Yvrose and Pierre-Richard touched me the most. The children are a direct reflection of the love, joy and faith that is so evident in their lives. They are a true light in Haiti and a model Christian family.
I was very frustrated not being able to take some of the load off of Bill. I watched as he had to rely on Gods strength to oversee the great work Just Mercy is doing. In dealing with the ever present need standing at the door to the corrupt government officials, Bill was a great example of taking life’s punches in stride to the Kingdom. He reminded me that it really doesn’t matter what is going on around you because it’s all in Gods hands anyhow.
My heart went out to the people of Pays-Pourri. Their existence is very simple but very harsh. They have to work very hard for little food. The food they do manage to grow is stripped of it nutrients by the parasites living in all their bodies. The childrens’ bodies are all several years behind their age from malnutrition. They seemed desperate for hope. The schools and clinics that Just Mercy supports have provided a great opportunity to introduce them to the one true hope. The challenge now is connecting the dots between the Savior learned and the Savior lived.
October was time for school to start in Haiti. We are continuing to support the Faith in God School of Pays-Pourri we took on last year in the mountains in the village of Pèlerin. It has approximately 190 students.
Some friends from the east coast sent us some funds to help open another school in another mountain village, Chapelle, which had closed for lack of funds at the end of last year. The money they sent was used to pay the teachers four months back pay so they would come back for this year. Our friends are doing some fund raising to help supply the needs for that school and pay the teachers.
In Robia where we have a cholera treatment center in the mountains, someone several years ago built a concrete shell with four rooms to start a school. Something happened and that was as far as the project went. The people of Robia came and asked us if we could somehow open the school for the children. We stepped out in faith and hired four teachers. School started there Oct. 29th, a month late, with 160 students. This will be the third school that we will be responsible for supporting.
We are working on some Christian character curriculum to be taught. We are working off of the Focus on the Family Character Crew posters. They teach 8-9 character traits, such as honesty, respect, courage, etc. The material says simply: “Honesty is ………… “ and “Dishonesty is………………” We are hoping to teach these traits in our schools along with the scripture and songs the children are already learning. During the last nearly two years of working in Haiti, we have come to believe that the children are the future and hope of Haiti. We hope to teach them to love God and to know what kind of character He has that we want to share with one another.
We would like to ask if you or anyone you know might be able to make a monthly commitment of any amount that could go toward the school in Robia. We would like to pay the teachers $75/month for each teacher, or $300/month for the school. Books and supplies cost about $10/student which would be $1600.
Our mailing list consists of about 260 people. Of those, only an average of 110 open each update. A few of those already help us on a monthly basis which enables us to keep the school in Pèlerin open. If the Lord lays it on your heart to help us keep the school in Robia open for these children who live in poverty stricken villages in the mountains with no opportunities to learn to read or write, we would appreciate hearing from you. Please pass this on to others who might want to help us with this. Just $75/month will pay one teacher. Three people, each committing $25/month, would pay one teacher for a month! There is a donate button through paypal on our website, www.justmercy.org, or a check could be sent to the PO box below. Any help would be appreciated as we seek to change the lives of the children in the mountains.
Bill will be returning to Haiti Nov. 30. Please keep him in your prayers as he goes back, hopefully to get the truck released (Please keep praying about this. It is vital!) so that we can pick up cholera supplies to keep the clinics stocked with needed medical items and also to check on the schools and be able to get them the supplies they need. Our mules continue to be valuable assets in taking supplies up from the trailhead. We are so grateful for them and all those who made it possible for us to purchase them.
We also continue to work at Yvrose’ home. The septic system is being dug. Her school has also opened for the year and a gentleman who had visited her earlier this year sent some much needed funds for her school. We are so grateful for his help.
We ask that you would continue to pray for us, particularly Bill, as working in Haiti is hard and draining but how can we say no to God when such needs are set before us? Thank you for your prayers and support. May the Lord bless you all.