Talk to me for five minutes, and it’s almost guaranteed I’ll find a way to work Haiti into the conversation. People that know me know God has radically transformed my life through volunteer, missions work in Haiti over the last 5 years.
God has turned our family's heart toward the country and people of Haiti, and we believe God wants us to have a long-term investment in Haiti's greatest natural resource - her people. Because of this, we founded the Wilmington-based Haiti Awake as a 501c3 in late 2014.
Since our family began to focus more on Haiti, our lives don't look typical. Some of the things we do, the way we live, the choices we make don't make sense to others. But we believe with no doubt that God has put this love for Haiti in our hearts, and we will continue to follow where He leads us.
On Monday night, October 3, something amazing happened. People, many I did not even know, gathered in our home for almost three hours to help us pray over the people, the country that we hold dear to our hearts. As the day unfolded on Tuesday, the 4th, we rejoiced to see how God has answered our prayers of safety for the people of Haiti Awake, and yet we were intensely sad for those Haitian sisters and brothers on the southern peninsula of Haiti who were not spared from the wrath of Hurricane Matthew.
Our goal at Haiti Awake is to equip these local Christians to reach their own communities and their own country through showing Christ’s love in action. In line with this goal, our post-Hurricane Matthew relief is focused on allowing our trusted friends and co-workers to go south to minister to their own people. We want to be wise, purposeful, intentional in our assistance. Some of you have already given hurricane-relief funds to be distributed through Haiti Awake. We consider this to be a great responsibility, and we want to steward this money well.
This weekend, Steeve Derard, a seminary student, trusted friend, and ground director for Haiti Awake, will be leading a group of Haitian believers into affected villages. Further, we have an American ministry partner joining us with supplies. Steeve has led Haitian teams into the countryside from Port-au-Prince before on ministry outreach. Further, he has many contacts in the countryside due to his studies at STEP. His team will distribute food, medication, but most importantly, a helping hand combined with a Gospel-centered outreach through an established ministry in Les Cayes pastored by Joseph Jeneve Delpeche of Mission Eglise Baptiste Sud d’Haiti.
We believe this will be the first of many such trips, as the recovery process will be a slow one. Further, we want to see development in the southern peninsula, not just relief.
Will you consider partnering with us on this on-going project? All donations are tax-deductible, and we desire transparency and accountability as we distribute funds you entrust to us.
Donations can be made to
Haiti Awake
4630 Mockingbird Lane
Wilmington, NC 28409
Paypal donations can be sent to becky@haitiawake.org
Psalm 89:8-9
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.