Our 2021 Year in Review

Life in Haiti has never been easy, but this year life reached a new level of difficult.

As one friend put it:  “It’s like you’re in the middle of an ocean, and while you’re trying to swim and keep your head out of the water, others count on you to take them out of the water - to rescue them. Some are even pulling you down the water because of their own panic.  It’s just the sad reality that we are facing.”

People from our community were kidnapped.   We faced day after day of no electric power.  Finding what we needed to just function day-by-day became almost impossible at times.  This was our reality.

And yet, by God’s grace, we continued to walk on.   And in walking, we found another reality - what a beautiful year we had at Haiti Awake.

We wish we could tell you everything, but that would be impossible.  So we have chosen to work together to give you one bright spot we experienced each month.


January

In January our friends Michelle Carr and Lauren Risedorf came to visit.

February

In February we started having monthly meals together as part of English class.

March

In March we celebrated Becky’s birthday together and the anniversary of the Graves’ family’s first trip to Haiti in 2012. (We won’t tell you how old Becky is, but let’s just say it was a significant birthday. Oh, wait! Does Hudson’s photo give away the answer?)

April

In April we celebrated Caleb’s 6th birthday, remembering all that God did during that special week in 2015.

May

In May we celebrated Haitian Flag Day by taking the CCS children out to a local restaurant.

June
In June Michelle, Alexandria, and Ethan came to visit.

July

In July we had our first fully Haitian-run summer camp. The children had so much fun every day. Snacks, games, stories, songs, instruction . . . and so much more!

August

In August Steeve went to the US for a visit, and while he was traveling home, an earthquake shook the southern peninsula of Haiti. We had the opportunity to do outreach in Les Cayes, Camp Perrin, Pestel, and Jeremie in the weeks that followed.

September

In September,  we began rebuilding in Camp Perrin.

October

In October our friend Keverly came to visit. It’s not easy for people to come to visit any more, so it meant so much to have her here. She encouraged us so much.

November

In November,  the extreme fuel shortages nearly closed down Port-au-Prince,  but by God's grace,  we pressed on and did what we needed to do day-by-day.

December
December was a month of celebration - celebrating being together, celebrating the birthdays of Handy and Wesly, celebrating the birth of Vorb’s new daughter, celebrating Christmas.

5 Things on a Thursday

It’s hard to believe it’s been an entire month since I wrote that last update, so I wanted to give a quick summary of what’s going on at Haiti Awake right now.

• Back to school is in full swing. Some of the children have gone back already. Some will return in October. As we plan toward the transition out of care for the older children at Kay Timoun, their educational plans have changed and include vocational training and night school for several of them. Sponsors, Kynda Colson, our child sponsorship coordinator, has sent out updates to keep you informed.

• Kynda Colson is doing a great job as child sponsorship coordinator. She has been a blessing to me personally, and I encourage all sponsors to reach out to her with your questions and comments. She will do a much better job than I will do in answering questions, as child sponsorship is her focus. She has helped all of us at Haiti Awake become better organized and productive, and for that we are so grateful. Her email is sponsorship@haitiawake.org

• Rebuilding continues in Camp Perrin post-earthquake. Vorb and I are hopeful to be in Camp Perrin in October and be able to give a first-hand report of how work is progressing. We are thankful for community participation in the construction efforts and for the faithful supervision of Frè Jacques, our trusted friend.

• We are one step closer to our dream of having a computer lab at the community center. Through partnership with Aprann.org, ten laptops have been secured, and we are now gathering other needed items like software licenses and accessories, as we make plans for classes to begin in 2022.

• Next week Pastor Steeve and I will be in Missouri for training with a Gospel-focused ministry called Concilium. We will be learn basic security principles, hostage survival, and first aid, and be trained in how to respond in a variety of situations, including active shooter, through extended immersion experiences. We are thankful for this opportunity, and Pastor Steeve is looking forward to taking the things he will learn in Missouri back to Haiti to teach others. The lack of security in Haiti has created a desperate situation, and we want to be proactive in stewarding our opportunities well.

It is hard to describe the difficulties facing our Haitian friends day-by-day. Fuel shortages, kidnappings, gang violence, inflation, dwindling resources, the assassination, the earthquake…

There are days I don’t even know how to pray for our friends, but the events of recent years have given me a deeper understanding of what true Hope is - and how to rest in it. This is my constant prayer for Haitian believers - that they will rest in Hope despite all of the uncertainty around them.

Hebrews 6:18-19 says: “It is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.”

The hope that lies before us. Amen.

A Life Characterized by Helping Others

Each month during 2020, we have chosen a Person of the Month at Haiti Awake based on popular vote.  We ask people why they are voting for a person, as well as who they are voting for.

This month’s Person of the Month is Wesly.  Here are some things both staff and other children said about him when they voted:

• he is always there for everyone 

• he always motivates me

• he always wants to take care of his friends

• he always give us good advice to motivate us to be someone better for ourselves, our family and our friends.

• he is always there to help us, make us ready to go to English class.

• when I don't have transportation money, he has given me money from his own money  

Wesly helps in so many ways at Haiti Awake including driving for Haiti Awake Chauffeur Services, living at the boys’ home, working with teams, and generally being available in whatever capacity Steeve might call on him, including driving many, many people to church each Sunday on our large tap tap.

We are thankful for Wesly’s faithfulness to Haiti Awake.

If I myself (Becky) could vote, I would vote for Wesly because when I visited Haiti in October, he was awake before I was every single morning and made coffee so I never had to wait for it to brew.

That is true friendship!

10 Years after The Earthquake by Steeve Derard

"It is not the dead who praise the Lord, nor any of those descending into the silence of death. But we will praise the Lord, both now and forever." Psalms 115: 17-18

January 12, 2010.

10 years since a terrible earthquake had shaken our dear Haiti and affected all the Haitian people.

10 years where we can not forget good friends, siblings or someone we knew and neighbors we have lost on that day.

But 10 years also where God has never stopped pouring abundantly His blessing on the life of the Haitian people despite it all.

We bless the name of our Lord.

He is faithful yesterday, today and forever.

I truly believe, that God has used this difficult moment for our good.

Not all houses have been repaired yet, neither the National Palace, the Haitian cathedral, some schools, some hospitals. But I can testify how God used this earthquake as a tool to call several members of my family and my friends to God's family. Now it is amazing to see how they are growing in the Lord.

"We know that God works all things together for our good." Romans 8:28

God is our hope, when there seems to be no hope.

He is our light in the darkest moments.

He is faithful and good.

January 12, we will never forget you.

Happy Graduation!

On May 16, 2019, the dream that in essence birthed the ministry of Haiti Awake came to fruition. Steeve Derard graduated from seminary.

We praise God for His work in Steeve’s life, and we wanted to share what Steeve wrote on the morning of his graduation:

I want to start by expressing my gratitude towards God for His faithfulness, His abundant grace and His unending love. 
This is a dream that God had put in my heart 6 years ago, and it becomes a reality today. 
And, yes, after 4 years God has done it. I do not complete it with my own strength, but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"(Phil 4:13).

This is the end of a short journey, and a longer one will begin. But I have no doubt that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6).

I want to thank all of you, friends and family, who have been praying for me.

I am so thankful for Haiti Awake and my family who supported me in this hard journey.

Thank you very much!

- Steeve Derard

We are anticipating great things in the days ahead, as Steeve is able to fully devote his time and energy to being the Director of Church Ministry Development at Haiti Awake.

Glwa pou Bondye.

A new friend and partner

Carine Robert is currently a junior at Madonna University, where she is completing her bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Leadership.

As a community service learner at Haiti Awake, she has been offering her time and talents as volunteer hours the last several weeks.

According to Carine, she has felt welcomed and supported at Haiti Awake.

Recognizing that our children’s home gives our children access to education and better living conditions, she has assisted in a number of tasks, as indicated by Saturday photos, including but not limited to, helping the children improve their French pronunciation, gardening, and assisting the children (especially the girls) in other activities.

This experience has made her aware of volunteering and the love of serving others.

As a service-learner, she is now part of the Haiti Awake family.

We at Haiti Awake are thankful for the diversity of viewpoint and experience Carine has brought to Haiti Awake.

And introducing our 2nd summer intern

I won't describe Hannah Hewling as a new family member, as I described Alexandria yesterday, because Hannah's been a part of Haiti Awake since the first Bridge team came in the summer of 2016.  Last summer Hannah stayed in Haiti with us for two weeks, and this year she's coming back to intern for the 2nd half of our busy summer.

Hannah is a third grade teacher in Garner, NC, who graduated from UNCW in 2017.

While living in Wilmington, Hannah was a member of The Bridge Church, where she met Becky.  On her first trip to Haiti, Hannah instantly fell in love with the people and culture of Haiti. 

Hannah can not wait to continue to build on relationships she has made as well as, use her teaching background to encourage the children. In July,  She will be teaching English at the children’s home and assisting with the three teams during her trip.

How thankful we are at Haiti Awake for the many people God has brought to work alongside of our staff through the years.  People like Hannah bring fresh ideas and new energy to our efforts.

Looking forward to a great summer!