Hello Friends
Hope all is well with each of you. I would like to again thank you who have been praying for and supporting the work in Gonaives, Haiti. I was there the last week in June. I am continually amazed at what God is doing there through those who are there. The second floor of the school is looking great as construction continues on it. Below is a note from Kathy which gives an idea of what real change is about.
The medical clinic is running well from the original building. We have placed the construction of the new medical clinic building on hold while focusing our efforts and resources on continuing with second floor of the school so it will be available when school resumes in September. Brian has arrived in Gonaives this week and is working on the school in order to get the roof on before school starts. Please pray for funding to complete this and to continue with the medical clinic.
Most of the team are here in the states, now, working jobs for support for next year, Please continue to pray for each of them in their different roles.
The Kia truck which we have in Gonaives has been a very good and dependable machine, but is in need of some rest. While I was in Haiti, Beaver and I were able to place a deposit on a new truck which will be for transportation to and from PAP with teams and supplies. Since then, there has been $20,000 committed to the truck and we are need of $10,000 more. Please make this a matter of prayer. If you would like to donate to the truck, please donate at muchministries.com See photos of truck attached.
Many of you have asked where you can get the jewelry and journals which are made in Jubilee. You can now order them retail or wholesale at secondstorygoods.com
Brian, Cody and family are making plans to move to Gonaives in September. Please pray for them as they make this transition. In addition to working on the school roof this week, Brian is continuing work on the living quarters for his family.
God is leading us to have another time of prayer and visioning for Haiti. This will be held August 9th through the 12th at Honey Creek in Waverly, Ga. Please pray for us as we come together to look for the vision of God and the work is expanded.
Please continue to pray for funding for medical clinic and truck. Also pray for the team and upcoming prayer and vision week end.
Below is a note from Kathy
A note i wrote about my week....thought i
could share it with you guys !
Preti mwen .
Borrow me, Can i have a loan. Ba'm ti
kob. A little money.
this week i noticed an increase in this
request. It is not unusual for folks to
ask for money straight out for a specific
need for a medical situation, or a school
bill or a bit of a hunger issue.
But it was a little disconcerting to
have four or five of the folks that i know
are working in the guilds that are making,
baskets and jewelry and rugs and such
asking for loans.
" Like, didn't you just get paid for
your goods, yesterday?" Geez ~ ( I'm
thinking - but don't know how to say "geez
" in kreyol...so I don't say it out loud,
not to mention that attitude would not be
very Christian , ha ! )
So I start asking, What is going on?
where is the money you just made?
And I begin to understand ...
~ many ( 40 ) that i know of have
started savings accounts. Each week they
put in so much into their account. They do
this in groups. and each week one person
gets the whole pot. So if 10 people put in
100 dollars each week, each week, for
ten weeks, one person gets 1,000 dollars.
Which is an awesome way to save money,
invest in others in your community and
there is plenty of healthy community
"support" to make sure you keep the deal.
~ They are also investing in live
stock, starting other small businesses and
putting money back (usually someone else
is holding for them) for school fees and
supplies coming up in September.
So therefore, they have a shortage of "
pocket money " because they are thinking
Forward , Investing.
They (someone somewhere) told me it
takes a year of consistent sustainable
income for us to change the way we see our
resources. If we never leave the feeling
of desperate, we will always use money for
relief for the moment.....but if we begin
to gain confidence...we will plan for the
future.
~ Two of the ladies that make Angels
and have been with us for many months now,
pulled me out of the workshop the other
day...wanting to show me what they were
working on (I thought great...they want
me to buy something...where is my faith? )
but NO, they wanted to show me that they
were in the middle of building new real
Concrete homes, elevated out of the mud
....to replace the mud and stick and tin
homes they are presently in. They were BEAMING with pride. They kept hugging me
and saying thanks to God for bringing
businesses to Jubilee.
~ And then the day ended with a
friend...who is an Angel Maker,asking to speak with me.... waiting patiently for me
to finish with the sewing group...i
finally made it out to speak with her and
the first words i caught were..." "Prete
mwen"...i was like, "Christella, Not you
too !" i said, "love, i can't , everyone
is asking for a loan today" (slight
hyperbole there, like 4 people, not the
entire population)
Anyway, this precious friend said, no
mommie , no....You GAVE me..Ou te prete
mwen....a loan last week...as she slipped
the bill she owed me into my hand !
eyeieyei !
Borrow me
some grace~
blessed are those who huger and thirst
for righteousness for they shall be
satisfied
Courage !
Kathy Brooks
