God has continued to bless the work of IOCH. I arrived Friday in Haiti. We visited Madam Tabita at the Poorest Children of Haiti School and Orphanage. We enjoyed time with Dabenlove and the rest of the orphans. I delivered the remainder of the gift from my church, Landis Valley Christian Fellowship. In total, their generous gift covered Christmas gifts and a celebration for 35 orphan children, money for roof repairs and new beds for the two orphan houses, uniforms for 50 extremely poor children at the Good Samaritan School in Limbe to allow them to attend school, and 15 school benches for these children to sit on in school. What a blessing to so many children! Praise God!
Saturday held our monthly school director fellowship meeting. Between speakers, we were together and each director received funds to pay half the salary for each of their teachers, ensuring each school could continue to educate the next generation in Haiti. In total, 543 teachers were supported, covering 40 schools throughout the poorest area of Northern Haiti and giving education to over 7,000 children. 11,000 lbs. of food was also given directly to these schools to provide lunches for hungry students.
Sunday we visited a new church in Acul du Nord. As usual, I was asked to speak (I don’t consider myself a preacher). I shared on the power of the love of Christ in us to change our families, community, and country. It was a beautiful time together.
Then came the big loop through the center of the country. We traveled to Bahon, remade a swing set there, and spent the night in Steve’s house—no electricity, no water, no inside toilets. Though uncomfortable, I value these experiences to remind me what daily life is like for each one of my team members who don’t “visit” Haiti, but live there.
Early in the morning we set off over the mountains, likely the worst roads I’ve ever been on in Haiti. Wow… I felt breathless and curled my toes for nearly two hours straight. After many hours, we arrived in St. Michel. This is a beautiful small school directed by a Pastor in a very poor community, Dalus Filistin.
We quickly assembled a new swing set. That makes 35 swing sets built by IOCH, bringing joy to so many children every day. Pastor Dalus said the children will be so excited to come to school now!
Thank you for your support of Instruments of Christ Haiti. We thank God for using IOCH to bring the hope of Jesus to so many children suffering in Haiti.
May we bless God,
David Garman – IOCH