Hearts United with Haiti: CENTER

We do a really good job of updating this blog every day we have a mission team in town, but between groups it is not something we do well with. Sorry for that. If you want updates, we DO update instagram and facebook regularly, but this news was just too exciting so we had to share here too!

If you remember, one of the dreams/visions God gave us a long time ago was to have a Center (we called it a Training & Discipleship Center) where we could interact with the community He has placed us within. We have ideas of offering classes (nutrition, parenting, first aid, health/wellness, c literacy, English, etc), Bible studies, and job training/continuing education. Well, in November the property across the street from our mission base was for rent. We looked at it, prayed about it, and felt like we needed to take a little more time so we left Haiti with the idea that we would give it a few weeks before making a decision. Sure enough, the place rented two weeks after we left (to a family to use as their home). "Well God, there's our answer.", we replied. But, the very same day the property NEXT to the mission base came available for rent. This one had a huge yard and open floor plan that would be perfect for what we felt God wanted us to use the Center for. At the same time, a generous donor contacted us and asked what our greatest needs were. One we listed was that we were praying that we could rent this building and start the Center God had impressed upon our hearts and minds. Low and behold, the donor decided to pay the first year's rent for the Center. So... with that confirmation, we decided to step out in faith and rent the building.

On this most recent trip to Haiti the former tenants finally moved out (a week before I was due to leave) and we were able to take possession. We are still working out the details of what the Center will be used for to start (we can't do ALL the above right away) but we do know that we are opening it up for a small business to use in the mornings. More about this business in another post, but this has created 3 jobs for locals from Carrefour. We are also figuring out how to fix up the yard and building to best utilize it for classes and outreach. It is in a GREAT location and we couldn't be more excited about the potential it has.

This is where YOU may come in. We are looking for some people to come to Haiti from June 18-25, 2016 to help us set up the Center. People are needed to clean, paint, do yard work, build shelves, move items into the Center, do some wiring & plumbing, etc.... We hope to open the doors for English classes again on or about the 27th of June if possible and need to have the building ready to host them. Cost for a 7 day trip is $500 and that includes all food, lodging, clean water, translators (if needed), and some for materials.

Here are some photos of the Center as it looks right now. (video on our facebook page- too big to load here) Feel free to share the info. with others and pray about whether or not YOU can come help us. If not, we are always in need of financial donations to buy materials for those who do come to set it up. We need to buy paint, wood, nails, and other supplies to build benches, temporary (mobile) walls to section it into different rooms, chalkboards, etc.

THANK YOU for your prayers and support. It is beyond exciting to see how God is providing for this project. It is obvious that this is going to be a great way to reach our local community and walk through life with them- learning about Christ together and discipling as we go. God is so good!