Prayer request...

I will be going back to Haiti in two weeks and very excited to see how God has been putting things into place as we seek and follow His direction for our ministry.  We have a prayer request for those of you who are committed to praying for us.   The longer we are in Haiti and involved in missions in general, the more we are convinced that in order to be part of any long term solutions we need to help provide jobs while working with the people and building relationships.  This way people can support their families and children can remain at home where God intended them to be- with parents who love them and love the One who created them.  Through some generous donations throughout the past year we have started working toward some sustainable programs with the goal not only vocational training and mentorship but Biblical discipleship as well.  This is still in it's infancy but God has opened up a few really BIG doors already so we are trusting Him and stepping through them.  In March when I am down in Haiti for a few days after the team leaves please pray that God will make His plans for Hearts United with Haiti's role more clear and will guide/direct us those we will partner with on the ground in Haiti to properly implement these plans.  I know this is vague, but details are honestly still coming together.  We will keep you posted though and for now, we trust that God will lead and direct your prayers for our ministry and for these projects in our future.

One such project we CAN tell you about is the gardening program at the Orphanage.  Here are just a few photos of the seeds we planted.  Reports are that they are still growing well and that the orphans are excited and taking good care of them.  We pray these seeds will be used by God to ultimately nourish not only the children's bodies, but also their souls as we use the seeds and the gardens to teach MANY Biblical lessons!  For now, they are learning about stewardship.  In the future?  The good soil/bad soil parable (faith), seasons in life/faith (how things may look like nothing is happening right now, but that doesn't mean that God has forgotten them and some day they will see fruit), evangelism (how some plant, some water, etc...), faith as small as a mustard seed (show them seeds that turn into large plants/trees- now they will understand better), etc... You get the idea??  But in the process, they are learning responsibility and how to care for something and literally get fruits (and vegetables) from their labor! If YOU would like to be part of this program- perhaps coming to Haiti to help us build the large gardens this summer, teaching the lessons, planting the gardens, or contributing financially to the success of this-  then please let us know!  We would LOVE to have your help and prayers.  God bless!

Here is the soil before planting (we planted in colanders to start the seeds- best "pots" we could find with drainage)

Pepper seeds-  we started with peppers, tomatoes, basil and spinach

Here are the finished product after planting.  :)  

In less than a week the seeds were SPROUTS..... now they are even bigger.  

First we met with the orphans and we had a discussion about stewardship.  We explained that just like in Matthew 25:14-27 when Jesus uses a parable about bags of gold, they are being trusted with little. What they do with it is up to them. We only started four pots of plants when I was in Haiti in January.  Then, if those seeds are well cared for and we have healthy plants when I return in the end of February we will plant them and give them more seeds to start (and build a small garden with the March mission group).  If when I return in June those are doing well, we will have groups over the summer build a LARGE garden that they can plant and that ultimately can bring them some great fresh vegetables but will also have taught them in the process as stated above.  One reason for doing this is that the orphans have not really been "parented" so they do not have an appreciation of the value of things and the importance of caring for what they have.  Pastor has shared with us that he gets frustrated when we bring things (donations) for the children but they do not care for those items and soon they are damaged and of no use.  So, since we had received this donation toward sustainable food sources for the orphans it seemed to fit together nicely.  We could have just gone in there and planted seeds, made a large garden or even bought them food with the donation, but using this method to teach lessons and having the orphans directly involved in the building, planting and care of the plants is a much more lasting answer we feel.  Pray with us that this idea is used by God to teach them much!  Thank you!!