Two weeks ago I had the privilege of going to Leveque with about fifteen Children’s Church leaders and fifteen Village of Hope kids.  We spent all Friday afternoon going house to house passing out flyers to inform parents about the launch of Children’s Church in Leveque.  We wanted the parents to know in advance before we just showed up with our crazy games and loud music.  Plus, it was a way of inviting all the kids…and there are a lot of kids in Leveque.  Beautiful kids.

The following Monday we pulled up to the pavilion with a canter full of Mission of Hope children workers.  I was only along for the ride and to take pictures.  It was beautiful to see so many kids already in the pavilion, waiting for church to start!  That first Monday we just planned to sing, dance and play with the kids.  It was a time to get to know the kids and more importantly, for the kids to know us.  We held multiple dance contests to the music of Israel Houghton, sang fun, action-filled songs, and spent the last thirty minutes just playing with the kids.  We had soccer balls and jump ropes and everyone was having a blast.  To be honest, I don’t know who was having more fun, the kids or the helpers!

As our first time together was coming to a close, we circled up all the boys in a giant circle and the girls in their own circle.  We counted the kids as we passed out Jolly Ranchers and we had 141 kids!  I am still amazed and thankful that we had enough candy, with only one piece remaining!  Throughout the afternoon I received the same question multiple times from the parents of Leveque.  "When are the white people coming?”  When I would explain that they weren’t, they seemed confused.  I told them that Monday Kid’s Church is 100% run by the helpers/volunteers from Mission of Hope Church.  Once they grasped the concept that Mondays were all about Haitian Christian leaders wanting to spend time with their kids, they smiled really big and just said, “Wow.”

Last Monday we went back for our second Monday Kids Church.  This time, we had more of a service planned for the kids.  We still played a couple of games and of course sang those action-filled songs, but we ended with a Bible Story.  For the month of April at our Kids Church on Sunday mornings, we have been talking about having Hope because Jesus is alive!  So we shared the same lesson on Monday at Leveque, and the kids were well behaved and listened intently.  After the lesson, we split the kids up into small groups to ask questions about the lesson they just heard, and we passed out Salvation Bracelets.  Because of all our wonderful teams at MOH who donated the Salvation Bracelets, we had enough to share with the adults too!

I now look forward to every Monday afternoon and the chance to love on so many of God’s beautiful children!  It will be very bittersweet when the day arrives that I no longer go out on Mondays.  I will miss it, but it’s exciting to see our Haitian team stepping up and taking ownership of Children’s Church, both in Leveque and here at Mission of Hope.  I am blessed to work with an amazing group of young people who love the Lord and genuinely love the children of Haiti.  Life transformation is truly happening among the next generation, right before my eyes!

At the beginning of this month, Mission of Hope hosted Watermark Church from Dallas, TX.  Watermark has become a Partner of Hope with the Church of Hope.  Before departing for Haiti, they spent many months preparing and praying for their trip. They came with the agenda of teaching and leading a marriage conference.  During their time of preparation, they emailed a few of the married staff at the Church of Hope to see which topics would be most applicable.  As it turns out, married couples in Haiti struggle with the same things married couples in the United States do.  Many of the attendees could relate to stories and testimonies of the teachers and couples from Watermark.

As a newlywed, I was looking forward to attending the conference with Ruben, my husband of only ten months.  As we are learning to live life and be involved in ministry together, we know we have a lot to learn.  The team members from Watermark were all so genuine; it was a blessing to sit under their teaching during the conference.  Over the two days there were many laughs, tears, and times of discussion.

It is so wonderful to see how God is partnering and bringing together the American church and the Haitian church, and it is such blessing to be a part of an organization that is ministering to the whole person.  Mission of Hope does an amazing job at being a place where people of all colors and cultures can come together to worship, pray, teach and learn about the one true God.

This past Sunday was the launch of our church in Leveque. It is exciting to have a church for both the current residents and the new deaf community to worship together. It was a beautiful sight to see; however, when we arrived at the pavilion last Sunday morning, there was nothing inside. I was a little concerned, but remembered how “Haiti Time” works. My mom and dad were with us and my mom asked, “Where will everyone sit?”

Within a few minutes we saw men carrying wooden benches our direction. Before we knew it, there was enough seating for everyone. As people started to enter the church, you could hear many greet each other with a “Bonjou” and at the same time, see others greeting with the sign for “good morning.” (I learned sign language in Elementary School many, many years ago, and I love how a few simple words are coming back!) I was able to introduce myself to a few people and even learned how to sign “Madam Ruben."

Pastor Patrice brought his guitar and began singing worship songs. Right by his side was a Creole to American Sign Language interpreter, Franklin. I looked over and the whole front row was following along, signing the words, and praising God in their own way. I didn’t want to stare, but it was incredibly beautiful. I started thinking about how God hears our heart, not just the words that come from our mouth. Anyone can sing the words and recite a prayer, but if we don’t mean it with our heart, it means nothing. In the book of Matthew, Jesus was asked what the most important commandment is. He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” It doesn’t say we must love the Lord by singing the best, preaching the loudest, or praying the longest…it says to love with all your heart.

After praise and worship, Pastor Patrice shared a great word from God. Again, right by his side, Franklin was interpreting it to ASL. It is such an honor, and I feel so blessed to be a part of what God is doing in Haiti!

If you have ever seen the movie Braveheart you recall that line when William Wallace screams Freedom!!!

This past month, 118 people were able to experience the Freedom that Christ gives you when you give your life to Him. I am reminded though, how incredible it is that we are able to give daily nutrition to over 65,000 children, give over 2,800 children Christ-Centered Education, and help many people medically and it all comes down to a relationship with Christ. Mission of Hope exist to bring Chris life transformation to every man, woman and child in Haiti and this past month 118 people found Freedom in Jesus Christ. Praise God!

As well as praising God, I am challenged by the people of our church. In order to see these 118 people come to know Christ, they went to prisons, hospitals, and villages to minister to those who did not know Christ. What did I do? What did you do this month to take the Gospel to those in your town or to your neighborhood? Because again, it all comes down to a relationship with Jesus, Freedom in Christ and Jesus called us all to go!
Thanks for your support and prayers that made this possible.
Brad
 

The dedication of a child is an important step in a families walk with Christ, and in their commitment to their children.

It is a ceremony where believing parents make a commitment before the Lord, their friends and church family to submit their child to God’s will, and also to raise that child according to God’s word and God’s ways. It is a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise their child in a godly way, until he or she can make their own decision to follow God.

Recently, we had a very exciting day for us at the Village of Hope. We dedicated all of our children, the babies and the teens, to the Lord. It was especially moving to have Pastor Patris ask the church to stand in support and pray for us, encouraging everyone in our congregation to be a part of the children’s lives, to encourage them, and pray for them, and keep an eye on them as they are “Mission of Hope’s children” and therefore we are all responsible for them.

Please continue to pray for the Village of Hope as we raise these amazing children with Godly principles!
 

I have been at Mission of Hope for a month now, and it truly has been one of the greatest months of my life. It is hard to know where to begin, but I’d love to share a couple of experiences that God has used to bless and teach me. A few days ago I took my team to Oscar’s orphanage which is in the city of Titanyen right down the road from Mission of Hope. We stepped off the bus, and it wasn’t long after before a Haitian boy about 7 years old grabbed my hand and walked with us to the orphanage. He was covered in open sores but that didn’t stop him from climbing in my lap, putting my arms around his belly and falling asleep soon after. We stayed in that position for over an hour, long enough for my legs to go numb and to have blood on my shirt from his arms, but I wouldn’t have traded that hour for anything. All he wanted was for someone to hold him and to love him, to feel safe and secure. He didn’t know he was painting a picture of the gospel in the eyes of those around him. Oscar told the story of the orphanage to all of us there that day and emphasized over and over that faith was/is the only way he was able to care for the children and provide for them. He knew he had other job options that would result in a much greater income and way of life for himself and his family, but he believed with his whole heart that God wanted him to stay with the children and serve the orphans. He said they were his children too. That’s exactly what God wants from us too, to love each other and put our 100% trust in Him.

Church here has also been one of the biggest highlights of my experience at Mission of Hope. There are usually close to 1000 people (mostly Haitian and a few Americans) worshiping together. A couple of Sundays ago a Haitian mother sitting behind me gave me her baby to hold during the service and the boy in front of me just wanted a hand to hold. We stood there the 3 of us singing songs (in Creole but familiar in English..."I'll Fly Away," "How Great Thou Art," "My Daily Bread" and others) and I had chills down my arms the entire service. It was so REAL. It was in that moment all I could think was that God is really here. Here where they have nothing and yet still have a reason to thank and worship God for life itself. What more do you truly need?? With that assurance, trust, and steadfast faith, I truly believe anything is possible. Everyday Mission of Hope gives people the opportunity to experience this faith, to touch the lives of the Hatians, and most importantly to be blessed by everything God is doing here. I am SO thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible mission.
 

- Allison Jarriel

Today is an exciting day for us at the Hope House! This evening at the Tuesday night church service , when Pastor Patris did the alter call, Widler, one of the orphanage children who was sitting next to me asked, “Am I allowed to go up and accept Jesus?” I of course answered, “YES!”

He looked a little nervous but then got up and walked up to the stage all by himself and Pastor Patris led him through the sinners prayer. I watched that little guy standing up there in front of hundreds of people while he took that step of faith and thought to myself; This is why I am here, this is what Hope House is all about! This is why Mission of Hope exists – to bring life transformation through Jesus Christ!

Praise the Lord, God’s kingdom just keeps getting sweeter!
 

Today, the anniversary of the earthquake was a tough day for those of us on MOH staff that were serving here during that horrible day..….

Mission of Hope had special church services this morning and this evening to commemorate the anniversary and it was packed!! People were spilling out of the church and onto the grass. There was standing room only. It was reminiscent of church in the weeks following the quake.

I think the most touching part of today was the worship this morning. I was expecting tears and wailing amongst our church members as they remembered the horror but it was quite the opposite. It was a picture of hope, a picture of the faithfulness of God. It was a picture of His grace, a picture of joy. People were dancing in the isles, smiles of pure joy on their faces at the sound and the beat of the music. Instead of tears and depression, instead of defeat and sorrow, I saw hope and laughter and an overwhelming joy just to be alive….. to have a second chance. People were praising God for his awesome power and His infinite grace.

I am constantly awed by the resiliency of my Haitian friends. How they take such suffering and move forward with hope. How even if they have lost their house, lost their babies, lost their wives or lost their sons, they sing out with thanks to God for their life. They sing out thanks to Jesus that even if they die from this world, Satan cannot really hurt them.

Thought provoking sermons by the MOH pastor challenged us all to think about the fact that it was only by the grace of God that we are all alive today standing there in the church. He is right. We were challenged to think about why. Why did God allow us to be spared? I can only think that for those of us that work at Mission of Hope, it is because He is not done with this ministry yet. He is not done using us for His purposes yet. He is not done working through us to bring life transformation to every man, woman and child in Haiti.