COVID-19 Update

Hello, Friends!

Some of you have reached out to inquire about the state of affairs at Haiti Awake during this time of worldwide concern.

First, we would encourage those of you who wish to pray for Haiti Awake to watch our new video produced by Jake Flaming.  This will give you a good overview of our ministry, helping you to understand the different facets.

Click on this link to view the video on YouTube.

Second, we are like every other ministry right now.  We are waiting to see what the next 24 hours will bring as things continue to change rapidly day by day, it seems.  Last night the President of Haiti announced the first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Haiti and suspended all travel to and from the country.  We are waiting to see what that will actually mean and how that will be enforced.

Please pray for God's provision in a country with a fragile health care system and economy.   The level of suffering that could be experienced is uncertain, but we trust our future to a sovereign God who is always in control and is not taken by surprise by the events each day.   Our children and staff currently have all that they need, and leadership is working on a plan to provide provision in the days ahead should the country go to a strict quarantine.  Right now schools and some businesses have been asked to close by the government, but other businesses remain open.  (Similar to what is being experienced here in many parts of the US.)

One of our staff members sent this passage this morning:

Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

We are not concentrating our prayers on our own comfort, safety, and security.  Instead it is our prayer that God will use our ministry during this time to point people to the hope we have in the Gospel.

Life is not about safety.  Life is not about comfort.  Life has an all-consuming purpose - and that is to share the truth of the Gospel with those who are without Hope.   Our prayer is for opportunities to be light during a time many people find dark and confusing.

We welcome your questions and will do our best to answer them in the days ahead.  Please watch our Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Eglise Evangélique de la Grâce de Caradeux

On Sunday, January 26, 2020, God brought many dreams, many prayers, and much work together as Eglise  Evangélique de la Grâce de Caradeux gathered together on their first Sunday with their pastor, Steeve Derard.

As we look forward to the months ahead, much of our efforts at Haiti Awake this year will be concentrated on Church Ministry Development, equipping this young body of believers to do the work of ministry and live out the mission statement of Haiti Awake which says:

Our goal is to equip these local Christians to reach their own communities and their own country through showing Christ’s love in action.

To see more photos of this very special day, click on the box below.

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.

Ministry Focus at Life 90.5 - December 2020

We Grieve With Hope

Because He lives, today we grieve with hope at the passing of Steeve's beloved mother, Nann, who was 75 years young.

Wife of Anora for 54 years, she was the matriarch of a beautiful family with a legacy of faith and good works.

We believe her passing is precious in the sight of the Lord. Psalm 116:15

Virginia Joseph 3/27/1944 - 9/20/19

Because we see ourselves in relationship with people

I journal every single day. Sometimes my journal entries are simply a quote, a Bible verse, or a single thought. Other days, I might write a page or two or more.

Today I was looking back and found this message from 2014. How true it rings still - and how appropriate to share it with you now.

You see, when I first started going to Haiti in 2012, personal interaction in the community was not encouraged by the organization with whom I worked. In fact, in many ways it was actively discouraged. In those brief times when I was free to leave the compound walls, I found myself face to face with people in Tabarre 14 who I quickly came to love and know by name.

One of the first children I came to know was Kenny. There are so many children in our community. But she has always stood out because of her big personality. She may actually be the first child I came to know outside of the family members of adults I knew.

When we started Haiti Awake in 2014, she and her sisters began coming faithfully to our neighborhood Bible schools. And we have over time gotten to know more of them and their story.

Kenny’s family was one of the families who you blessed through Christmas for our Community two years ago.

And now, it seems appropriate to make Kenny our first sponsored child in our neighborhood. Our vision is to stand with her family, support their parenting, encourage Kenny in her schooling and her walk with God, and make her part of our extended family. Though she will continue to live with her family, she will very much be part of our Haiti Awake family, as well.

Kenny needs a sponsor who will believe in her, who will be faithful in financial and prayer support - a sponsor who sees himself or herself in relationship with this precious young lady. Is that someone you?

Sunday we invited Kenny to the monthly Haiti Awake birthday party for our children and staff. We did this in faith, knowing that someone will step up to be her sponsor.

Yesterday Steeve wrote this in the Bible Haiti Awake gifted her for her birthday:

Kenny, we want you to know God loves you. You are a beautiful girl. Always allow the Word of God to light your way like Psalm 119:105 says.

Haiti Awake loves you so very, very much.

God bless you.

We are so thankful that God has led us to include Kenny in our greater vision for our community. If you would like to sponsor Kenny, please contact Kelsey Stott at sponsorship@haitiawake.org

Thank you for caring about the people we love.

Becky Graves, Executive Director

When God Calls Us to Live & Stop Planning

A Life That Is Planned Is Not Life At All Because A Life That Is Planned Cannot Be Lived

If you know me, you know I’m a planner and organizer. I have my moments of being cool as a cucumber and not planning and organizing. But honestly it takes a lot of talking with God to get there.

While in Haiti this summer, I was co-leading our team. One of our goals was to paint the Tap-Tap. And again if you know me when I plan out art or pretty much anything, I’ve envisioned how I EXPECT or WANT it to be. And I EXPECT what I WANT to be the end result.

How self centered and selfish does that sound! Wow! You’re probably wondering if there is any redeeming to this story.

But GOD!! I talked with God pretty much every minute of the two evenings we spent painting the Tap-Tap. Asking him to give me patience, ability to let go, be okay with not controlling the painting technique.

I was afraid of running out of our base color. I was afraid the lettering wouldn’t look perfect & clean if I wasn’t the one painting it. I was focused on what had to get done so we could get to the fun part where I’d been promising myself that’s when I can let go & allow the kids to do what they want.

But GOD!! In all that talking to God through out those two evenings He showed me the beauty of not planning. Well planning to an extent haha…

The older boys finished painting the inside even when I told them we were done for the night and to save paint. Did we run out of paint? Nope! Did the inside look okay? It was more than okay. The boys had it gleaming white!

Could I do the lettering on my own? Nope! Bradley held stencils while I traced, Lizzie and the older kids asking to paint the letters. Did the letters come out prefect? Well close enough! Was one of the letters technically upside down?  Yep, but hey that’s okay (if you can find it, you get a gold star). I honestly forgot about this part until writing this post haha

Did amazing designs get painted without it being part of my plan? Yep! And they are beautiful and glorified God through the skills He has given Wesly and Hudson.

Did everyone have fun. Were we LIVING?? Yep! That’s all that matters!

God doesn’t want us to not plan. Nor does He want us to plan so much that we miss out on living in His presence, in His glory, in His beauty, in His grace, and in His joy.

Remember to LIVE today and everyday!

Erin Meyer-Cuno

You lose a part of yourself

I think it’s easy to look at our social media and believe that somehow life at Kay Timoun is a fairy tale, that the children have been “rescued” and somehow they’ll just live happily ever after.

That is not real life.

The children have suffered immeasurable loss in their lives. Issues of abuse, neglect, abandonment are not easily overcome, and in many ways this is a daily struggle for all of us. The deep wounds and scars they bear are unique to each child, but they are there. And they are real.

This summer God impressed on my heart the need for us to find some familial connection for Idelmy, in particular. Idelmy and I talked a lot last summer about his family. We had similar conversations this summer. One of those conversations including him trying to explain himself by saying, “When a person loses his mom and dad, he loses a part of himself.”

It has been 7 years since Idelmy was abandoned, 7 years since he has seen a blood relative. And his heart has yearned to find that connection again.

We knew Idelmy was from Cap Haitian. We were going to Cap Haitian for Leadership Retreat. It made sense to see if we could find Idelmy’s extended family while we were there. And by God’s grace and in His Divine providence, we did.

Idelmy and his uncle

Reconnecting with family for two days filled a void in Idelmy’s heart, and left him asking if he could possibly visit them next summer for an extended period of time. By God’s grace, we want to see that happen.

Idelmy and his cousin

Please continue to pray with us as we seek to bridge gaps between the children and their families, bridges that will bring emotional healing and restoration.

Saying “see you next time”

They are more than can be numbered

As I sit here this morning thinking back over 40 days in Haiti, all I can say is “Thank you, Jesus.” My heart is full. The blessings of God, the favor He showed - “if I should declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40:5)

Our guests

The teams we hosted blessed us. They served us. They refreshed us. They came alongside us with unity of vision and purpose.

Our interns

Words are inadequate to describe how God used these amazing young people to point so many people to Jesus this summer - myself included. These young people are the real deal. They love people. They love Jesus. They are self-sacrificing. And they are pursuing what it means to Seek Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly. (Micah 6:8)

I thought I would pour into their lives this summer. Instead, they did that for me and helped heal some of the parts of my heart that had been hurting for so long.

Our staff

Steeve, Vorb, Polo, Wesly, Big, Dieussait, Manoucheka, Alantah, Makendy and Donalson, you are dear to my heart. You are more than friends. You are family.

Our leadership retreat was far more productive than we could have anticipated, producing good memories and renewed focus for the days ahead.

Looking forward with great anticipation to the days ahead.