UPDATES

Sorry I have not kept up again... there are just too many social media outlets to manage (facebook and instagram get the most attention because they are easily accessed on my cellphone).  Anyway, here are updates from the last time I wrote....

-Upcoming mission trip (Dec, 30, 2015- Jan. 9, 2016)  WILL be happening.  There was some question due to elections and potential for unrest, but things are calm here in Haiti (at least in and around Carrefour).  Also, it was just announced last evening that elections will be postponed until January 10th so this makes the trip just like any other.  We have medical (nursing) students coming as well as some others who have been here to Haiti before.  We plan to do clinics and observations in other health settings, but also to hold a pretty in-depth young adult Bible Study for a few days and visit the orphanage quite a bit (even holding our annual Christmas Party with gifts and a HUGE meal for the children there).  Follow this blog to see daily updates from the team starting Dec. 30th.

-Training & Discipleship Center HAS BEEN RENTED!  This is very exciting news and the house God picked for us could not be more perfect.  Now we just need to get in there, clean, and set it up to use.  We have already talking to someone and will be meeting again early January. She has a small business and is looking to expand her production line.  She needs a new location where a few locals can be hired/trained to make pieces of her products- they will then either be sent to the main location to be finished, or possibly even finished here in Carrefour.  This is RIGHT in alignment with our vision of creating jobs for our neighbors, but also for cleaning up our community (she uses recycled trash) and for being able to mentor/disciple those who come to the center.
     We are still trusting God for the rent money for this house.  We still need $3000 US to rent the building for a year and get it ready, but the opportunities for outreach and impacting lives for Christ is well worth that investment!  This is SO EXCITING!  (if you would like to help toward the costs associated with operating this facility, please let us know or send a donation noting that it is for the Training & Discipleship Center to Hearts United with Haiti  PO Box 55, Morgantown, PA 19543- thanks)

-Orphanage-  Pastor's family is still in "crisis mode".  It has been quite a year for them.  First, his illness in the beginning of 2015, and now his wife is ill so there have been many financial hurdles for them as well as many physical/emotional ones.  We have been over there visiting and trying to help in any way we can with the children.  New chickens (30 of them) have been purchased and delivered to replace those that stopped laying eggs.  Food, fruit/milk, and other supplies have been delivered and donated to them.  The Nannies have been paid (including a Christmas bonus) and have started their Bible Study which I will continue to lead until one of them assumes the leadership role for this.  The children are well and look great when we go visit.

-Bas-Citronniers;  Goats are doing well and they are actively seeking to sell them during this Christmas season when the price is high.  The school children had a Christmas party I was not able to attend, but I got LOTS of photos from the committee there.  The children are making progress in school and test results have shown that.  We were able to repair some areas of the roof where there were holes (from wear) and replace some rotting boards holding the structure together.  They were rotted due to water damage from the holes in the roof.  We are still VERY pleased with the progress out there and the decisions/leadership initiative that the committee has taken.  They are WELL on their way toward sustainability which is exciting.

That's about all the battery life I have time for today.  Keep looking for updates from the team starting December 30th and I will try to post again prior to that.  God bless!