Dear Sponsors,

It’s with great joy today we give you this update on Community Child Sponsorship.

First of all, we want to thank you for the impact you are having in the lives of these children. All of the activities are happening because of your true love, your faithful generosity, and your fervent prayers. And the results are visible. Because of what you do, we can see how God is moving in the childrens’ lives.

Here are some activities we did with the children in April.

1- Wednesday is our sports day.

In April all the children had the opportunity to participate in this activity at least twice during the month.  We praise God for this activity in the community. In this activity we have devotions and prayer, and the children have the opportunity to learn new games. Fresh water is provided for each child every week.

2- We also had Bible study three times in April,  studying in the book of Ephesians. Even though the children are not obligated to participate, some of them always come to learn God’s Word.

3- We had library 2 times this month and all the children were able to participate at least once. 

The Haiti Awake Staff members were  there to teach them and to help them with the books chosen.

4-   This month, we celebrated six birthdays of the children in our program.

Beside the cake and cold drinks provided by Haiti Awake to the child, we want to thank you sponsors for the care packages you sent for those children for their birthdays.  (This year, through a special one-time gift, all children will receive a cake and drink on their birthday.)

5- Every Saturday we also have English class for all the children in our program.

This program is well-appreciated by the parents who are happy to send their children every single week.   Sometimes children miss a class but overall, they are there every week. We rewarded 35 children this month with a small pizza each for their perfect attendance.  Not only that, all children at the English class were able to receive a very good Haitian meal this month, cooked by our Haiti Awake staff. 

6- We enjoyed so much this month, spending days helping the children with letters received from their sponsors, distributing the care packages from the sponsors to the children and also, helping them write the sponsors back.

7-April is often a very hard time for Haitian parents who have children in school because it is school exams period. Parents have to pay for children to be accepted in class.  This April we had the opportunity to help all the children in our program with their school fees.

8- This month, we also had the opportunity to meet with all the parents to talk about our vision for the community and the future of the children in our program.

9- Every Sunday most of the children in the program enjoy coming to church to worship with us. What a blessing!!!

I am currently reading a book called Visions of Vocation by Steven Garber.  In it, Garber says, “Why do we care?  Because we see ourselves in relationship, ‘obligated by the very fact of our existence.’  And now knowing what we know, we are responsible, for love’s sake, for the people and places that are ours - if we have eyes that see.”  

Sponsors, thank you again for joining us to raise a new generation for God’s kingdom in this beautiful community.  We have no doubt about which people and which place God has called us to serve, and this clarity of vision allows us to invest our time, our resources - and yes, even our hearts - in Tabarre.

With thankfulness,

Pastor Steeve Derard