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March 2012 Update

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:12:30 -0500

We had a very productive medical clinic trip to the island in March. Many thanks to Tina Huddleston, our Medical Coordinator, who headed up this trip during her Spring Break from her job as a school nurse in Springdale, AR.

We were able to distribute a supply of vitamins and hygiene items to nearly 600 people as well as following up on a confirmed case of cholera in a young boy in one of our schools. Thankfully the leaders in the school recognized the gravity of Stanley’s symptoms and alerted our Field Director. Within hours the subsequent steps to have Stanley transported to the hospital in Anse-a-Galet (3 hours from his home village) were taken. He spent several days in the hospital receiving treatment and recovering. As you can see from the photograph of Stanley and Nurse Tina, he is now by God’s grace, doing well!

As thankful as we are for Stanley’s improvement, we are equally concerned with the health of many of the other children. In one particular village, their lack of nutrition during this dry period of the year makes them very susceptible to many diseases. After seeing their condition firsthand and receiving reports from leaders in this area, we are working on plans to increase our current meal program during this most difficult time. Please pray with us as we endeavor to alleviate some of the suffering of these children by providing basic nutrition. We ask clarity of vision and provision to carry out the plan the Lord has given us.

There was much excitement as we also were able to distribute goats provided by sponsor families to their children and their families.

We would not be able to carry out this ministry without those of you who support this work by your prayers and gifts. Thank you and may the Lord continue to bless you and yours!

Looking ahead...

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:26:33 -0600

AUGUST update

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:26:39 -0500

TEACHER TRAINING CONFERENCE

Twenty-three teachers from the four HFL Schools gathered in Anse-a-Galet for five day seminar focusing on continuing education and training.
In mid-August, the teachers from the four Hope For LaGonave Schools traveled from their remote villages to the city of Anse-a-Galet to attend a five day seminar provided by HFL to expand their skills in the classroom.

The Pre-School and Kindergarten teachers were able to share about the new curriculum they will be using this year for the very youngest children called “Mwen Kapab” (I can).
Professor Julien Leones taught six hours each day on various subjects and aspects of teaching including goals, strategy, classroom discipline and lesson planning. His 15 years teaching experience was evident and his enthusiasm and insight were very informative and refreshing.
In addition to the learning experience, the teachers had a chance to get better acquainted and have much good fellowship in their days together.

Dumerle St. Jean, HFL’s Field Director, did a remarkable job coordinating every aspect of the event to achieve the greatest benefit for all.

It is very exciting and encouraging to see the growth in the quality of education being provided in our schools. We determined from the beginning that we would use the teachers who were available in the communities. That being said, we also purposed to give them the opportunity to increase and expand their knowledge and skills. The investment in them is one that we believe will return great dividends in the lives of their students in the months and years to come.

Providence Christian School Partners with LaPye School

In January Richard Towns and Joan Kornblatt spoke at Providence Christian School in Savannah, GA after having made a trip to LaGonave in November of 2010. The school wanted to find a “hands-on” ministry project in which the children could interact with a sponsored child from another country. They spent the next few months raising money and gathering school supplies. In a second presentation in May, the school choose to support Fredson Gay at the LaPye School. When Joan returned to Haiti she was able to take the supplies to the school along with letters and drawings and small gifts for their child.

Partnering with one of the schools we serve on LaGonave is a wonderful way to expose children to the real needs of the rest of the world and allow them to begin growing missionary hearts at any age!

Christmas Cards that send more than a greeting........

Send a Christmas greeting card this year that will help a needy child in the name of someone who is special to you. These cards can be ordered now in denominations of $10,$30, or $50 providing a pair of shoes, food for a child,or purchase a goat for a needy family. The message reads, “Merry Christmas...A goat has been given to a needy family in Haiti in your name.” (or shoes to a child, or food for a family,etc.) Use the handy order form and return envelope enclosed to make this Christmas greeting one that gives all year.

may update

Mon, 30 May 2011 13:05:26 -0500

As our team of seven set out on May 13th, we had several diverse tasks to accomplish. In our devotion time, the first night at Kaliko we embraced the overall goal of “making much of Christ” in all that set out to do. Our collective intent was that all would flow from this wellspring … bringing glory to our Lord Jesus.

Dr. Troy Kerber from First Presbyterian Church of Dyersburg, TN did dental work on about 100 of our school children and their families as well as some of the local residents at Anse a Galet. Most of these children had never come down from the mountains to the port town and few, if any, had seen a dentist. It was such a blessing to watch Dr. Troy pray with them before clinic and then be able to not only extract problem teeth, but do fillings and fluoride treatments along with lessons in dental hygiene.

Barbara Freeman, Susan Bentley and Joan Kornblatt delivered gifts and gathered information from sponsored children so that we can communicate their progress to their sponsor families. Joan, who was our designated photographer for this trip, had also compiled beautiful picture posters for each school to the great delight of the children. They almost never see photographs of themselves.
Tim Pesole, a student at Purdue University joined our team just one week before we departed. Tim’s family sponsors two children in the schools and they were both very excited to meet a member of their sponsor family. Tim was a great help with the vitamin distribution as well as inventory in the dental clinic.

Ben Baugh and Allan Huddleston were excited to launch the Moringa Tree project with the planting of Moringa seeds at each school. The Moringa is a rapidly growing tree which has incredible health and nutritional benefits. We will be planting trees at each school location and educating the local population how best to use the leaves and bark. The excessively dry conditions prevented the planting on this trip but instructions for planting were given to church leaders at each location. We will be checking on this project in August.
Kreyol Bibles were distributed to students along with ‘Kesyon Lafwa Yo’ booklets which is the Kreyol translation of the Children’s catechism.

We are thankful for all that was accomplished on this trip. To those who take the time and bear the expense to come along on this journey and to those who support and pray for us and to our Heavenly Father who sustains us as we go, thank you.

school bench construction

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 16:28:52 -0600

During our November trip to the schools it was evident that with growth comes some practical needs. The leaders within each school voiced their need for benches (or desks) to accommodate the growing classes. Thanks to funding provided by Grace Church of the Islands in Savannah, GA, we are happy to report this project has now been completed.

Winter update

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 17:47:42 -0600

In late February a medical team of a doctor and two nurses and EMT set out for Haiti and the
island of La Gonave with us to conduct clinics at each of the four schools. Our goal was to administer preventative care medications, vitamins and worm medicine, and to treat the children
and their family members who might be ill.

Dr. Brian Kornblatt along with Danielle Gibson and Greg Harris from Grace Church of the Islands in Savannah, GA made up the Georgia contingent of the team. Tina Huddleston, RN from Springdale, AR served as team member as well as Coordinator for the group.

A total of 527 patients were treated for complaints ranging from ear infections, skin infections and fungus, hypertension and fevers. While the the sick patients were being treated Tina along
with her helper Cladel dispensed the vitamin and worm meds along with packs containing Tylenol, Ben-Gay, eye drops, and fungus cream for treating their recurring problems.

It was with a great sense of fulfillment that we watched many who had suffered much return to their homes with hope of relief. Our prayers go with them that our Heavenly Father will open their minds and hearts to the greater healing provided in Jesus Christ.

Distribution of New Textbooks
We are so thankful for donations which have been made for the purchase of new textbooks for the students. The schools are growing at a remarkable rate which presents the need of additional materials. Dumerle St. Jean presented the new books to the School Directors on behalf of Hope For LaGonave. The children watched expectantly as the boxes were opened and a great cheer went up when they saw what was inside. How blessed we are to have supporters who share our vision to see these children receive an education.

A new heart for haiti

Sat, 1 Jan 2011 13:20:36 -0600

My November trip to Haiti was the sixth time I had been there in the last eight years but the first time to the little island of La Gonave. As always, I am out of my comfort zone when I go but the Lord keeps leading me back! I took this trip with two friends from Savannah, GA and we joined Barbara

Freeman and her son Ben Baugh. They were wonderful guides as they spoke Kreyol and allowed us to meet and interact with their friends of many years. I have always said that those who go on a mission trip come back more blessed than what they give. It’s wonderful to see someone with a heart change come back and be pro-active about serving in their own community! Instead of compartmentalizing my experiences from this trip they just multiplied daily! I had truly had a heart change and fell in love with the people of Haiti in a new way! I got to work with the children on the sponsorship program. Whereas I had to use a translator this time to do the children’s profiles, with my new Kreyol language cd’s I look forward to the day that I won’t need one! I have a long way to go but God is the giver of all wisdom and I certainly am praying for understanding! It was a joy to take gifts to my sponsored children and to see their faces now as I pray for them. When the Lord lays it on your heart to go where He would have you to serve, then He paves the way! I have been flooded with creative ideas to help this ministry grow and am overjoyed to have found a family with a passion for the children of Haiti! Knowing that every dollar that is given to this ministry goes to the children and the projects that serve them has made me bolder to share this vision with friends and others. Haiti needs so much help and in this tiny way I can make a contribution that is truly giving unto the Lord. I would be happy to ever answer any questions from a “newbie’s” perspective and give encouragement to someone hesitant to take that first trip to Haiti.

In Christ,
Joan Kornblatt

July Update – Medical Clinic recap (Ben)

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:45:19 -0500

The objective during the July 12-21st trip to LaGonave was to give each student and his or her parents the opportunity to get medical care. It is important to understand what specific needs/illnesses our students have as we work to reflect the love of Christ as those gifted and called to the medical field. As always, the Lord provided the people needed to help! My sister in law, Tina Huddleston who is a school nurse in Springdale as well as Dr. John Furlow, who specializes in Internal Medicine for the Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic in Fayetteville, AR were the primary care duo along for the trip. In addition, we had Alan Huddleston, Tina’s husband, who is a Captain and paramedic within the Springdale Fire Department and their son Craig, a Harbor High School student who worked alongside his dad in the mobile pharmacy.

This 4 man medical team saw over 500 people in the 3 days of clinic and distributed over $2,000 worth of vitamins and de-worming medicines to each family. I am so thankful to report that we are seeing the Lord bless these efforts as consistent nutrition is indeed making the kids more healthy. To God be the Glory!

As the medical team worked to treat each patient with immediate need and distribute worming meds & vitamins, I worked with Dumerle on Child Sponsorship. We collected thank you letters and pictures from the children for their sponsors and explained the details of the program to their parent or guardian. What a joy it was to give them such hope in knowing someone selected them and is praying for them as well as providing the costs to be enrolled within our schools! Needless to say, they were thrilled to get this news of God’s provision.

June Update – Nutritional Program Launch (Barbara)

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:39:23 -0500

Each time I go to Haiti, I return exhausted but usually with some sense of accomplishment after visiting the schools and the children. It is true that the schools are progressing and the children are learning and the food distributions have been a blessing to them. In May when we visited, I was struck again by the thin children with the pale skin and hair. These sure signs of malnutrition are common. In conversation with Dumerle, our Haitian helper there, he reported that some of the children eat only once a day and are so lethargic they can’t participate in class. While the food distributions to the families were a big help, the children were not eating consistently.

My heart was heavy when I returned. Each time I prepared food for my family, I thought of those gaunt faces and skinny arms and legs. I knew they would thrive on our leftovers.

For more than a year we had prayed for the funds to begin a feeding program in the schools. We hoped to provide the food and some of the mothers would come and prepare the meals so that the children could be fed on sight. The funds had not come and so we continued to pray. One morning I was feeling particularly “down” about the whole situation. As I prayed again for funds for food to be provided, I cried out to the Lord in total frustration.....”We do not have the means to do this..we know you will provide, and YOU need to do this..” but the feeling of hopelessness stayed with me.

About mid-morning the phone rang and I recognized Ben’s voice on the line. He sounded “emotional” which frightened me. I asked what was wrong and he told me that the President & CEO of his company along with his wife and visited his office that morning and handed him a sizable check. They wanted it to be used to feed the children. I was overwhelmed and tears of relief flowed freely. Our God had, once again, provided. He had used his people to do His work. I felt so ashamed of my impertinent prayer, but the Lord had not faulted me just as He had not forgotten these little ones! How grateful we are for partners who walk along with us in this effort. Your faithfulness will no doubt be rewarded.

May Update – Child Sponsorship Program Launch (Barbara) w/ Video

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:37:46 -0500

As we traveled to LaGonave in May our goal was to distribute vitamin and fortified rice packets to the school children as well as identify children who were the most needy as candidates for sponsorship. Twenty children, five from each school, were identified and we gathered profile information and photos so that we could actively work to find sponsor families for these.

Of the twenty children we selected to launch the sponsorship program, sixteen have already been sponsored. How grateful we are for God’s provision as He uses His people. One family chose a handicapped boy and when they heard the need for a wheelchair, responded immediately. Last week when Ben and the medical team went to the village of Plain Mapou, little 6 year old Doubens was delighted to receive the snazzy new wheelchair supplied by his sponsor family.

It is a reminder that the need is overwhelming, but everyone can do something... In recent days we at HFL have taken the motto....”Doing nothing is NOT an option!” That should be true of everyone as the great need in the world looms larger each day...but for the children of God it is a command. Sitting on the sidelines watching pain and destruction cannot be our posture!

Our goal for the sponsorship program is that it will be not only serve to provide for children in great need in Haiti, but that those who make the commitment to “get involved” will receive an even greater blessing as they communicate with and become vitally involved in the lives of these little ones.

We will return to LaGonave in late September to gather more profiles for children for the sponsorship program and to bring back the latest news from the newly sponsored children to their sponsor families. Pray for God’s blessings on this effort as our desire is to honor Him and Him alone.

Those interested in sponsorship may call our sponsorship office at 662-235-4464 or make request in the guestbook section of our website, www.hopeforlagonave.com