Our school latrine project has been officially kicked off. We were able to gather the funds and did a successful bank transfer to Haiti. Pastor Harry and his help Anddy arrived in Les Ceyes on Friday and hit the ground running.
16 plus years in Haiti and this is the first time I’ve not physically been involved with the work. This is why we’ve worked so hard with Harry over the years. I told Harry that this is his project to oversee while I concentrate on the Ukraine crisis. Please keep Harry and Anddy in your prayers.
Thank you supporters who have contributed so generously to this ministry. We are thrilled that these children and their teachers will have a sanitary latrine at their school!
As planned we loaded up the school supplies and headed back out to Grandou bright and early Thursday morning. Upon arrival you could see the students getting their stoke on with anticipation. Funny how we can take such a small thing as this for granted. All the teachers and the director were also very excited.
I did learn some very interesting things about the school. This school sprang up due to the August earthquake. The original school was in a different location and was totally destroyed by the quake. Some farmers donated this piece of land to the Grandou community and the community pitched in and built this School. The National School of Saut Matirine of Grandou. Though it is a public school, that means little, as these bush schools fall through the cracks and receive little government support.
We had so much fun distributing the supplies. 152 students strong. Friday we went back to the school to have a chat with several community and school leaders. This chat came about due to the discovery of the fact that I noticed there was no latrine. I was like “What?!” They had started digging one but it was not complete. So our meeting was all about a latrine. I told them if they finished the dig we would help with the rest… Blocks, rebar, cement, sand, rocks etc.
Once we get the material list we will certainly be asking for all you kind folks to reach deep and help us give them a push to a healthy school. The meeting went well and they promised to get the hole finished. We have to act quick due to the fact that rainy season is right around the corner. We don’t need the hole washed away and cave in.
Today we went to my favorite place in Haiti. I’ve shared this place many times on other blogs. The area is St. Louise de Sud. I always visit this little fishing village and bring rice, noodles, oil, beans, herring etc. I love the family here so much. I ran across this place shortly after hurricane Mathew. It’s about an hour and half from Les Cayes. It was a great day with our friend Chuco, the main dude of the village. Tomorrow I head back to the states and start plans for what’s next.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Kenny
(Click the photos to open slideshow)
Me and ChucoFresh lambi and fried bread fruit. Perks.Gathering us a few coconuts.The coconut jelly is killer.The village from the roadThe latrine meeting.Harry and me talking with the school director.The 4th grade so happy.I was the pencil handing outer.The hole for the latrine.Preparing lunch for the students.Nothing needs to be said. Precious.Handing out school suppliesChuco and platters of fresh grilled lambi and fried bread fruitChuco cracking lambi (conch)Happy students with new school stuff
We are back in Haiti from the 6th of February till the 13th. We have been unable to travel here since the August 2020 earthquake due to political unrest and heavy gang activity through out the country. Pastor Harry will never allow me to come when things are not good.
We are back in Les Cayes to reconnect with the small bush village called Grandou. This was the most accepting community to us in our August trip. In the larger towns you see a lot of progress, but not in the small villages. These folks always seem forsaken. On Monday we drove out to the village and spoke with some of the community leaders about the people, the destruction and the village in general. We have identified 14 homes that we may be able to help.
One thing the folks do not want in a home now is concrete. They want simple structures that they can rebuild easily. We also found a small school out in the bush that has 152 students, 1-6th grade with zero school supplies.
On Tuesday we headed into Les Cayes to purchase supplies for the school and will deliver them on Thursday to the director of the school and we will help distribute them to the children.
Today, Wednesday, we meet with three elders from Cayette to discuss continuing with the Raise the Roof Project. We have 26 roofs left to complete the project. The roof project has probably been one of our best projects in my 16 years working in Haiti. (I think our school rivals it though.) They were so thrilled to see us. It was a beautiful time of fellowship.
More to come. Please pray for us, this country has gotten crazy. We are so fortunate to have Pastor Harry as our leader down here.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Kenny
Our meeting with the elders from Cayette. Pray for resources to complete this project.This is what they do not want anymore in Grandou. Concrete.
Harry at the entrance to Grandou.
This is what they want since the earthquake destroyed most concrete dwellings in the area, I simple dry, safe place to live that can be easily rebuilt over time.Here is the bush school we came across. This small shanty houses 152 students. Can’t wait to deliver the supplies.
Praise God that we are heading back to Haiti today. The political and gang violence has kept us away for over a year. Thankfully it has subsided, but please keep us in your prayers this week. Kenny will be posting updates and photos here on our blog and social media.
Thank you to the many supporters who faithfully support Give Me Shelter Ministries every month. We could not accomplish spreading the Gospel and helping those in this third world country as we do, without your contributions.
If you have not contributed to GMSM, we hope you prayerfully consider supporting our mission in Haiti. Please visit our website to view the recent mission trips and projects in the past. You may make donations securely through PayPal on our website.
It is hard to believe that Haiti is less than 700 miles from the USA. The vast difference in the lives of people in the US to those in Haiti is quite shocking. But thanks to the peace that can only be provided by our Lord Jesus Christ, there are many Haitians who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and are living full, abundant lives. Please help us continue to support the Church in Haiti so that more people can be aware of this amazing gift from God that provides an abundant life through Jesus.
Your financial contributions are important, but your prayers are what we need most. Please keep Give Me Shelter Ministries in your prayers throughout the year, so that we may serve others to the best of our ability, and to fulfill nothing but the will of God.
