“Sponsoring a child at Haiti Awake is believing in authenticity. Why? Because at Haiti Awake we are who we say we are, and we do what we say we’re doing.” Pastor Steeve
Why not let the heart grow big with a love large enough that it breaks your heart and gives bits of you away?
10 years. Hills. Valleys.
10 years. Gains. Losses.
10 years. Laughter. Tears.
10 years. Hellos. Goodbyes.
10 years. Building. Tearing down.
10 years. Hope. Despair.
10 years. Teaching. Learning.
10 years. Success. Failure.
10 years. Celebration. Mourning.
10 years. Joy. Sorrow.
He is good.
He is faithful.
He is kind.
October 19 was a special day for Haiti Awake in two ways.
First, it was a special day because it was our anniversary and second, we had the privilege to meet with some of the parents and allow them to experience even for a couple of hours the life of their children at the center.
They were so proud and happy when they could see their children practicing English. The parents also learned a few words with Vorb. It was so awesome when we could see the happiness on the parents' and the children's faces while they played different kinds of games together.
One of the best parts also was when the children taught their parents how easy it is to turn on a computer, and they showed off how they shut it down.
It was an excellent day when the staff, the children, and the parents could work together to have the best experience.
Happy Birthday, Haiti Awake!
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.
I am in Arkansas for a couple weeks, helping my son and his soon-to-be bride prepare for their big day. Being here brings a pause from the normal and extra time for morning reflection.
This morning’s readings took me to Psalm 78:
“I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.”
A fun time for Handy at his 9th birthday party yesterday. Oh, how God is redeeming his story.
May we always remember what God has done at Haiti Awake through the years, and may we never fail to remind the next generation of all we ourselves have seen and experienced.
“So the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.”
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Thomas Chisholm
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
“The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.”
Yesterday I sat in a coffee shop, chatting with a friend about life and service and responsibility and what it means to live on mission. And my thoughts were directed back to this quote from Richard Stearns:
“The adventure that God invites each of us on is a life filled with meaning and purpose. His plan for each of us is unique, but it is always filled with a sense of passion to complete God’s mission to demonstrate and share His love. He may send you to Wall Street or the local soup kitchen. He may ask you to spend years in preparation or to drop everything and start doing what you feel totally unprepared to do.”
Two years ago God clearly called the Graves family and the Derard family to partner together in Haiti Awake. He has given us a passion for Haiti and her people, and He's continued to clearly show us what He would have us to do day-by-day.
On this special day, we are thankful for the many people, both Haitian and American, God has used over the last two years to teach us, to encourage us, to support us, to help us more clearly define our mission and our philosophy of ministry.
We are excited to watch our Haiti Awake family continue to grow, and we look forward to continuing to share the goodness and faithfulness of God in the years to come.
Below are just a few of the memories we're been blessed with here at Haiti Awake.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
You are wanted.
You are treasured.
You are loved.
Happy 10th birthday to the sweetest girl with the cutest dimples. We love you, Phebe.
“Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.”
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
-----Zephaniah 3:17
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Today we celebrate the 24th birthday of our friend and co-worker, Hudson! We are blessed to know him.
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
We love the Derard family. Simply love them. They are part of OUR family.
And today, as they celebrate Caleb’s 1st birthday, we can’t help by think about the goodness of God in their lives over the past year. God is faithful.
Caleb's first day at Bible school, March, 2016
“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep.”
“Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Never once did we ever walk alone
Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Ever more we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful.”
