This last month was full as the kids had two and a half weeks off for Easter Break!  Our time was filled with soccer tournaments, movie nights, crafts, beach days and lots of laughter!  Looking back though, one of my FAVORITE days off with the kids was going to Leveque.  We were given the opportunity to take a group of Hope House Kids to Leveque for an afternoon of ministry!

The church in Leveque started a few weeks ago, and just a couple of weeks ago the launched children’s church in Leveque (which, by the way, has already been bringing out 100+ kids!!!!!).  After meeting down at the church, we all loaded into the Canter with the Sunday School staff and off we went!  When we got to Leveque we split into small groups and spent the afternoon going from door to door handing out flyers and inviting families to come to church and bring their kids to Children’s Church.  We had such a great time!

After living here the past few months, God has been increasingly laying it on my heart to provide the kids with opportunities to serve.  You see, God is doing amazing things through Mission of Hope.  He is continuously providing us with opportunities to advance the kingdom.  I get to work with 63 future leaders every day!  These aren’t just 63 random kids.  Each one of them has been chosen, and it’s no mistake that they are living here.  They are here for a purpose.  God has a role for them in HIS plan to change this nation.

Summer is right around the corner!  As we plan and prepare for more opportunities to take the kids out into communities to serve, pray that the Lord prepares their hearts.  Pray that the Lord sparks a flame in each of them that is burning for Him, a flame of passion in their hearts for their nation and to see it changed!

Wow!  April has been a busy month for birthdays at the Hope House.  We had nine birthdays this month ranging in age from 4 to 18.  Birthdays in Haiti are a little different than back home.  Most children don’t get birthday parties or much of a birthday present.  We of course want birthdays to be something special!  However, with so many children, we have realized we can’t have a party for each child as there would have been four in one week this month, so we have one big party every month for all the birthdays in that month.

The kids ask regularly when the birthday party will be.  We mix it up, sometimes at the beginning of the month, sometimes the end, and sometimes in between.  Stevenson asks all the time what day the party will be in December (his birthday month).  He cracks me up.

We have our very own way of screaming out, “Haaaaappppppyyy Biiirrrthdaaaay” to each child as they walk in the door.  We light candles (sometimes birthday candles, sometimes regular ones!), sing Happy Birthday, and enjoy some yummy homemade cake.  Then each child receives their gift.  Once gifts are opened and everyone is finished showing off what they got, we pop in whatever movie the kids pick out, sit back, relax, and enjoy some time together.

What a blessing to be able to celebrate another year of life with these children, some who never would have made it to this birthday without Mission of Hope!

The six months I spent at Mission of Hope in 2011 were an amazing and challenging time.  I'm an Art Therapist from Canada and when I arrived in January last year, I fully expected to implement an Art Therapy program with the children and youth who live at Village of Hope orphanage.  I have returned for the year 2012 because six months, as you may have guessed, is really only a decent introduction to Haiti.  So here we are, moving forward with Art Therapy in the orphanage as part of the emotional care of the children and youth who live here.

Moving forward is not without hiccups.  The first one I faced, and the story that I want to share with you, was the issue of supplies.  In the Art Therapy setting, visual arts materials are used to facilitate creative expression and insight.  The supply list can be vast, but is not complicated.  Things like paints, brushes, drawing utensils, craft supplies, paper, glue, scissors and so on are all part of a well-stocked Art Therapy office.  Through donations and my own supply, we had amassed a great selection of supplies for the kids to use in sessions last year.  When I prepared to leave at the end of my six months in 2011, I created an inventory list that went on for pages.  I packed the unused supplies in two large storage bins and locked them up to protect them from insects and small animals.

Six months later I returned to continue the Art Therapy program and found that the locked doors and sealed bins had been opened.  Supplies had been strewn around indoors and out as great projects had been undertaken by the little boys.  The collection of quality paints, pencils, pastels and the rest had been reduced to barely half of a storage bin of dirty, broken, used, cracked bits and pieces.  Now I'm going to be honest here and admit that I was, let's say, ticked off.  I picked up the remnants of art supplies and carried them up to my room to re-inventory.  I let them sit there for a good two and a half days before I sat down on the floor and began to sift through the dust-covered pile of broken supplies.

And that's when the Holy Spirit gave me a nudge.  Actually, it was more like a stiff elbow to the ribs as the song "Beautiful Things" (by Gungor) began to permeate my thoughts.  Here are some of the lyrics:

All this pain, I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all.
All this earth, could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come out from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things,
you make beautiful things out of the dust.
You make beautiful things,
you make beautiful things out of us.

All around hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in you

And so I sat on the floor, covered in the dust of Haiti and chalk pastel, and God brought to my mind each of the faces and hearts of our 63 children and youth, each of them with their own stories, each born into our world with hurts and broken bits.  And the Spirit reminded me of God's love and grace for us through Jesus.  He reminded me of how, because of Jesus,"from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become NEW." (2 Cor 5:16,17)

Each of these broken dirty pieces are beautiful treasures being used to further the Kingdom.  Each of these broken bits of crayon is a seed of Hope.  All of this mess is beautiful.  In fact, it is glorious.

Pierre is a miracle baby through and through.  Not a moment goes by when I am with him that I cease to be amazed at his joyful and beautiful life.  His baby talk, his vivacious giggle, his wide eyes, his little limbs swinging to and fro.  It's a blessing to watch him grow and advance forward in his quality of life during visits that are never frequent enough for my liking.

This afternoon on the way up the hill, I poked my head into the nursery and there he was, arms lifted high in his crib, bursting with eagerness to enter into the life happening around him.  Not long after I brought him into my arms, Bernadine, one of the Hope House girls who was socializing with some of the toddlers, came over to us.  She quickly engaged with Pierre, and then asked to take him so that she could show me something.

Within seconds, she took his little body and propped him up on a nearby mattress.  I watched curiously as his legs were folded under him and his two little hands were set strategically in front.  After some stabilizing, Bernadine released her grip and there he perched like a little frog on a lily pad.  By this time a small audience had gathered, and with the sight of Pierre sitting independently, we let out a giant cheer.  The cameras started flashing, and Pierre broke out his famous grin.  Classic.

Last night the Hope House kids had a talent show!  Seeing them up there full of life, energy, and hope reminded me of the verse God has put on my heart for Haiti.  “Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which You have broken rejoice.” - Psalm 51:8.  God allows events or circumstances to happen that will break our bones, but He loves to redeem and restore, to heal those bones so they can rejoice once again.

Hillsong United sings a song called “Bones” and I wanted to share a few of the lyrics:

Verse 1:
You can take my dry bones
Breathe life into this skin
You called me by name
Raised me to life again

Verse 3:
You move in the unseen
You set the captives free
As I stand and sing
You're breaking the chains off me

There was joy and gladness shining through each child who went onstage as they twirled, laughed, and sang their hearts out.  As I watched, I started to think about how I didn’t know most of the kid’s stories, how they got here and what all they have seen and been through.  However, I think it’s fair to say they’ve seen many bones (including their own) allowed to be broken in their lifetime.  Yet there they were up on stage singing, dancing, or in the crowds cheering on their friends, and I thanked God for His redeeming grace and this beautiful picture of broken bones rejoicing being played out on a small stage, in a cross-shaped church, on a Friday night, in Titanyan, Haiti.

Mesi Jezi.

Soudnell and Soudline are a set of four month old twins (boy and girl).  One of our visiting teams met their grandmother a few weeks ago and started to learn about their story.  After bringing the information back to our director, Rachel Bernard, a team from the church set out to start the process!  We found out that the babies were living with their grandmother after their mother passed away when they were born.  We have all enjoyed spending time snuggling those babies and loving on them.  I don’t think there will ever be a shortage of hugs around this place!

What a beautiful story this is!  God sees the broken and it’s His desire to see them restored.  Who knows what kind of life Soudnell and Soudline would have had.  Sometimes we don’t understand why things happen when they do, or why they have to happen at all!  I love the way that God sees the big picture and He provides for His children.  I truly believe that God has great things in store, not just for the new additions, but for all of our Hope House Kids.

After spending two months working here, I’m reminded over and over again that God can take any situation and make it work together for our good.  I see it in the teams that come, I see it in the staff around me, but most of all I see it in the beautiful smiles and hugs I’m around everyday!  Today it’s my prayer that all who read this will be filled with God’s perfect peace, and that you would be reminded in a very special way that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.

I’m off to go love on some babies!  Be blessed.

Over my years at Mission of Hope the question I have been asked most often is, “Does Mission of Hope do adoptions?”  Or more specifically, “I have fallen in love with one of the children.  What are the chances I could take him or her home?”

Mission of Hope’s vision is: As an organization following Jesus Christ, we seek to bring life transformation to every man, woman and child in Haiti.  Each of our sections, whether that be the church, school, clinic, nutrition program or orphanage, all work towards one common goal... to bring life transformation to every man, woman and child in Haiti.  We are by no means against adoption - we think it’s a wonderful thing, and many families who are or who have served with Mission of Hope have adopted Haitian children. 

However, at the Village of Hope orphanage, our goal is to raise up a generation of leaders who will stay in their home country and influence their nation.  We want to provide the best possible foundation for each child, including a Christ centered home, a loving family environment, a great education, nutritious meals three times a day, fun activities, opportunities to serve, and an active church they can be a part of.  Our hope and our prayer is that our children’s lives will be transformed, that they will grow up confident, proud of their country and proud of the person they are through Christ.  We believe behind the doors of the orphanage are the future movers and shakers of Haiti!

So unfortunately for those who were hoping - no, we don’t do adoptions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play an active role in a child’s life!  Commit to pray for one of our children every day, become a Partner of Hope and see how your donation transforms the lives of these children, or become an orphan sponsor.  Not only are you investing in your child but you’ll play an active role in their life, with monthly correspondence and newsletters from the orphanage.

You may not be able to take them home, but you can still be a part of their lives!

I don't even know how to begin to describe the last four weeks I've spent here at MOH.  It's hard to believe that one month ago today I was waking up in Haiti for the first time!  Sometimes it all feels like a dream.  I feel blessed beyond words to be working on staff with the Hope House kids!  The last few weeks have been some of the most challenging yet most rewarding weeks of my life.  Having never visited Haiti before moving here, I definitely experienced some culture shock and frustration with the language barrier upon my arrival.  However, it's been a blessing to see the ways that God gives me joy, strength, and favor in overcoming these struggles!  I'm starting to understand alot more Creole, and it's been awesome!

One of the biggest things God has been teaching me over the last four weeks is how to show love.  It's one thing to speak love, but another to show it.  God has been challenging me to invest love in these beautiful children.  I get to love them through laughter, hugs, smiles, and tears!  This last week has been full of laughter and smiles.  The kids were off school for the week and we've been having some special activities!  Today was the best day I've had with the kids since I've been here.  We spent a good part of the day at the beach!  It was a blessing for me to spend hours in the water with the kids laughing, splashing and having a great time!

I'm really looking forward to being part of what God has in store for the kids and for Mission of Hope in the next few months.  I came here feeling called to be a light for the Lord in Haiti.  God is teaching me that WE are the light...all of us!  Whether you are reading this in North America or Haiti, we are ALL the light.  So many people here are showing light to me and I'm humbled and blessed.  Go out and be a Light, wherever you are, whoever you're with... be the light!

Christmas 2011 was pretty amazing at the orphanage. We had, by far, the best Christmas program ever. I already knew the kids were talented, but my word! I was literally jumping out of my seat, cheering, laughing, clapping and getting choked up all in just over an hour. Each year the kids put on a show for us. We all met down at the church and the kids got started with poems, dances, songs, more dances, a rap group, a skit and more dances. It was such a fun time to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the moment. Our teenage boys really blew me away. They have put together a rap group and they are AMAZING! They also performed a dance to Justin Bieber’s version of Little Drummer Boy that had me jumping out of my seat with excitement!

I cannot deny that Christmas is a pretty stressful time of year for me. I am responsible for preparing gifts for 63 kids plus 25 staff, and that’s not including my own family. It’s quite the feat! My goal each year is to give the kids something they will really love, and something that reflects who they are. Thankfully I came up with the idea of wrapping their gifts in white garbage bags and colourful ribbon a few years ago. This saves A LOT of time!

After the AMAZING show the kids and all our invited guests came up to the guest house for a delicious Haitian meal, followed by decorating cookies and then we opened gifts. This is the kids favourite part of the evening of course. I love watching them open their bags. Each child is different, some of them just rip the bag open and start taking out their gifts while other carefully open the bag and take their items out one by one. I love when they find something they really love and start yelling out, “Wow! Wow! Wow!”

The evening always ends the same, with us all snuggled up in front of the movie screen watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The kids nod off one by one and I can take a deep breath knowing the kids had another great Christmas!

-Rachel Montgomery

Our buddy Pierre from Hope Village orphanage has reached a lot of milestones in the past few months.  It's been exciting to see the transformation in his little life, and it just keeps on getting better.  This past weekend, I found the baby house buzzing with action as usual.  Pierre was taking a bottle in his crib while the other toddlers, kids and teens bobbled around.  Some of the older girls eyed up the parts of the Jolly Jumper I had brought along with me, and after a brief explanation, they were eager for him to try it.  Not long after, Pierre was being lifted from of his bed to try out his new toy.  He was chattering and laughing the whole time we were strapping him in... and he hasn't stopped since.

Truly, Pierre puts the JOLLY in jolly jumper.  Thank you for your continual prayers for our Hope Village kids and babies.  It's incredible to watch them grow and to see who they will become.  Please continue to pray for Pierre, that his legs would continue to strengthen as he spends time standing upright, and that the Lord would bless him more and more each day, just as he blesses ours!