How it all Started

Some of the children in Massey

Jodi and Yvena

I realized that I said quite a while back that I would write about how our school program got started, and I never did! So, for those who are wondering...here you go...

Since Hugues has been living in Massey, a little girl named Yvena has taken quite a liking to him. Yvena, who is 6 years old, quickly deemed Hugues her "Parin" (Godfather). Last August, Yvena's mother, Yayan, came to Hugues and asked if he and I would adopt Yvena because she was not going to be able to send her to school and wanted Yvena to have a better life. Adoption was not an option for us, and Hugues and I felt that if school was the only reason Yayan would be willing to place her child for adoption, that we could pay for Yvena to attend school. As my mom and I told this story to people, we found that many were interested in donating. Meanwhile, people began coming to Hugues asking if he could help them send their children to school as well. Within a couple weeks time, enough money had been donated to send 14 children to school! Our goal is to be able to follow these 14 children, and hopefully more, through their school careers and one day see them graduate from High School

Right now what we are concentrating on is raising funds for children in Massey, which is a small mountain community outside of Les Cayes, Haiti, to attend school. There are about 3,000 children in this area and each year about 1,000 go to school. They are required to pay monthly and by the end of the year at least 20% of the children have had to quit attending and nearly all have missed days or months here and there due to lack of payment.

We do not yet have an official organization, but when I return home in one week I will begin the process of starting our non-profit. We are still working on a name. Right now our goal is to pay the tuition (which includes uniform, backpack, school supplies, etc.) for as many children as possible. Tuition is approximately $300 USD/year, give or take a little depending on the school. We are putting the children only in private schools as public schools are not good or reliable. Eventually, our goal is to be able to build a school in Massey and provide a free, Christian education to as many needy children as possible.

In the past two weeks, we have been able to speak to several leaders in the Massey community to gain information about the area and lay the groundwork for our organization. It has been difficult as so much hope is placed in us and there are so many expectations, but we are trusting that God will provide for what he has started here and lead us in the direction he would have us to go. Being together here has solidified that this is what God is calling Hugues and I to do and we are so excited to see God form it together and use us in exactly the way He has planned. Thank you to all who have contributed, both financially and prayerfully. Knowing we have an army behind us praying gives us hope that in the midst of such enormous need, maybe we really can make a difference here.

NOTE: Once again, God provided means for us to feed 15 kids this morning! The number is multiplying daily and we are just thankful to always have something in the house to be able to whip up some breakfast. This morning it was spaghetti (which actually is a NORMAL breakfast in Haiti!) We will take a break from breakfast tomorrow as it is Saturday and we are having a 2pm 6 month "birthday" party for Jovan for all of the kids! Pray the food would be multiplied as word is spreading and we really don't know how many will show up for the party! Bon fet, Jovan!