Haiti and Hands and Feet Project
Working with the Haitian and American staff to help children and families in Haiti continues to be challenging, yet rewarding. Haiti life is not easy, but it’s the only life most Haitians know. Sometimes it is challenging to find certain supplies or food. And because the usual trade route through Port au Prince is closed, many things are more expensive month to month. And at times certain items are not available in some areas. It’s quite impressive that the local markets and stores are able to offer such a large variety of products and food, but prices are constantly increasing. The Haitian community has such resilience in the face of opposition!
Inflation in the USA is currently around 2.8%. Can you imagine an inflation rate of 28.4%? That’s what Haiti has been facing for the last several years. Despite the rising costs, Hands and Feet Project is still committed to purchasing items in Haiti as much as possible. We make this commitment because it helps the local businesses survive and thrive, and provides market vendors with money so they can feed their families.
Haiti Life Update
There continues to be hope for Haiti, as we continue to see faith in action from Haitians, humanitarians and missionaries. The media has not featured many stories about the conditions in Haiti recently. Unfortunately that does not mean that the Haiti gang problem has stabilized. With the challenges that the world is facing, there is a lot of other news to report that is deemed a higher priority than an update about Haiti. The gangs continue their battles for power around Port au Prince. Unfortunately, life around the capital region has not improved a great deal recently. Many people are protesting the gang violence and deteriorating conditions.
But God continues to make ways for the work we are doing there. He has laid out plans for us to help the Haitian people and to share the good news with them. He has also put it in the hearts of our Haitian staff to reach further in their communities and prisons to help people with physical provisions and to encourage them in their faith journey. It is our duty to follow the plans God has laid out for us: to provide spiritual, physical, medical and educational support for children and families, and to intentionally share the good news about Jesus Christ with others.
Expanding Impact in Haiti
Hands and Feet Project continues to grow their reach and impact in Haiti. In one recent month, over 20 new families were added to our Stronger Together program that is committed to provide necessary support to help keep families together. The current daycares are doing well, and families are gaining huge benefits from having a free daycare available to them. Please join us in prayer about the possibility of opening up to 8 new daycares in 2025!
The daycares are having a strong impact to families and communities. As we help children in vulnerable families, their families learn about Jesus as part of training sessions that they attend, and from their children who are learning about Jesus in the daycares! If you would like to contribute to the startup costs or ongoing support of the additional daycares, you can visit the Empowering Communities page on the Hands and Feet Project web site to help purchase necessary items.
Ministry Roles Looking Forward
As Hands and Feet Project prays about further expansion of the ministry, we are standardizing processes between our existing locations so there is a repeatable process that can be used for new locations. Randy is working on analyzing and standardizing financial processes and procedures so that new locations use the most efficient way possible.
Our Haitian finance team are doing a great job of handling the day to day operations. There’s a rhythm of activities that need to be done each day, each week, and each month. That cycle never lets up! With more efficiency in how we do things, even more can be accomplished. We know that’s not for everyone! We are thankful to have a great team in Haiti and in the US to work with.
Rochester Visit & Family Info
We are tentatively planning our trip north around the end of April and into early May. This trip will be a bit shorter than our usual visits since we need to be in Missouri in late May. In case you haven’t heard, our son Forrest is getting married! Forrest and Alexandra are tying the knot on May 24 in Rogersville, MO. Please keep them and both families in your prayers as plans are event and travel plans are made. Please also pray for a bright and God-filled future for this wonderful couple.
We’re looking forward to seeing as many people as possible while we are in New York! It’s so great to see people face to face and be able to catch up with how you and your families are doing.
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