Category: Haiti Life

Merry Christmas from the McGarveys!

Christmas in Haiti

Merry Christmas banner

Can you believe it’s Christmas time already? We pray that you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It’s an exciting time for the children and families in our assistance programs in Haiti.

Christmas goats

We are so thankful to each of you who helped fund our Christmas shopping this year through the Project Essentials promotions. There are many more families that Hands & Feet Project (H&FP) is supporting this year than in previous years, and we can’t do that without the support of you and the rest of our amazing donors! One of the gifts we gave families in the communities that we support is a goat! Goats are gifts that can be used in a variety of ways. It has been an adventure for our staff in Jacmel and Grand Goave to find, purchase and deliver goats to families in need.

Families will also be receiving children’s Bibles in Haitian Creole so they can learn together and grow in their faith. This is a great time of year for families to sit together and read Bible stories. Children in our daycares hear Bible stories regularly and often share them with their families. Providing Bibles is just another way to share the love of Jesus and encourage others along their faith journey. We pray that these gifts will help these families have a Merry Christmas!

Leadership Change at H&FP

We have a new executive director for our organization! You can meet Letty Vendrell through a video interview on the latest version of the Project Red podcast. (The first link goes to the interview on YouTube; you can find different podcast formats and other Project Red podcasts on the 2nd link.) Our former executive director, Andrea McGinniss, announced early this year that she was stepping down in the fall of this year. After a long search and much prayer, Letty joined the team and is already having an impact on our organization. Andrea worked closely with us for many years, and she will certainly be missed.

Meet Our Haitian Staff

While we are talking about staff, there are opportunities to meet our Haitian staff through posts on The Hands and Feet Project Facebook page. The stories of people we work closely with in Haiti have been shared over the last several weeks and months. We encourage you to follow our McGarvey Haitian Adventures page on Facebook, and also The Hands and Feet Project page in order to keep up with things that are happening through our ministry.

In addition to receiving our newsletter (sign up here if you are not already on the list), you can also follow the activities of our ministry organization. The H&FP newsletter archive and a link to sign up to get those via e-mail can be found here.

Family Update

Please keep Denise and her family in your prayers as we all cope with the loss of her mom, Ruth Ann Vlasak, early this month. Denise went to Louisiana several times over the last few months to be with her mom as her health was failing. We are thankful for her faith in Jesus, and that she has taken up residence in heaven.

Our community in Florida held an event on the Longest Night of the year as many of us grieve the loss of someone we love. That grief often hits us just a little harder around the holidays. The Longest Night is a service of comfort and spiritual support for those who are walking through grief, loneliness, loss, hopelessness, or who are just feeling a little down during the Christmas Season, or desire a quiet & contemplative experience.

Year-End Activities

The end of the year is always a busy time in Haiti. Not only do we have the holidays to plan for, but also work contracts for the following year, year-end bonuses (some are mandatory in Haiti!), updating job descriptions and work contracts, payroll changes for the new year, and getting budgets approved. That is quite a list! It keeps us busy the last few months of the year. Even though we started early, our to-do lists are still pretty long!

Our team is planning a trip to Haiti in the early part of 2026. Please keep us all in your prayers as we make plans and travel arrangements.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
— Proverbs 16:9

Thank you to all of you who added a special year-end gift to your giving plans. We are so grateful to each person who helps us through prayer and financial support. If you are still considering a year-end gift, donations towards our support can be made here, and we also want to share a message that was just recently sent out regarding general donations to Hands & Feet Project. We appreciate your ongoing financial and prayer support. We cannot do this without you!

We pray that you have a blessed Christmas and and a God-filled New Year.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:11-12

Haiti Fall 2025 Update

Hello from hot and humid Florida! Our area of Florida has felt almost as hot as Haiti all summer long! The heat and humidity have not taken a break this summer. We are looking forward to the Fall season and a drop in the temperatures.

The hot weather has not slowed down all the work we are doing in Haiti! There is a new daycare in Ti Goave that is undergoing renovations with plans to open this Fall. We have celebrated children and staff at our annual Village Values weekend, and the summer Vacation Bible School was held on both of our residential campuses. And more great news…we have 5 children and 1 member of our Haitian staff that were recently baptized! It’s encouraging to see them step out and confess their faith in public.

As we add support for more children and families, and also add new daycares, the challenges of managing people and finances grows. We are standardizing our processes and streamlining procedures in order to handle the increased work load due to the growth in our programs. We are working together to manage the rigors of the financial reporting rhythm as we expand the regions where we work and increase the number of families we are helping. Please keep us all in your prayers.

Rochester Visit

We are sorry to say that Denise and Randy have been separated in their travels this fall. Randy will be in Rochester, New York for a week and a half at the end of October, and Denise will be in Shreveport, Louisiana to spend time with her mom and family during that same time frame.

Continue reading “Haiti Fall 2025 Update”

Haiti Update on the Project Red Video Podcast

We have mentioned the Project Red video podcast created by Hands & Feet Project in our previous posts. We hope you subscribe to the H&FP YouTube channel, Instagram feed, Facebook page and/or their Linked In profile in order to keep up with the amazing things that are happening. We cannot share all of the great things the organization is doing here. Be sure to follow them on your own in order to keep up with information about how God us using Hands and Feet Project.

We wanted to be sure you hear the latest news about what Hands and Feet Project is doing in Haiti. We are expanding our operations to reach more families in need. We are expanding our support of families and children in the Grand Goave area as more families are fleeing the gang-infested Port-au-Prince region. We are also adding more daycares to assist families with children, and to start more children along a path of general education and faith in Christ. For more current news, check out the video below for an interview with the H&FP Executive Director, Andrea McGinniss.

The close of an era, but not the end of a story. After nearly twenty years of carrying the weight of brokenness and the hope of possibility, Andrea McGinniss has pressed pause on her role as Executive Director.⁠
⁠
In our newest episode of Project Red, Andrea reflects on what it means to lead with faithfulness over flash, to press when everything resists, and to step away with integrity and trust.⁠

Here is the direct link to the YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCHUx43hWtM

We are looking forward to meeting the new Executive Director and pushing ahead with the vision of reaching more children and families with the hope that only comes from Jesus Christ. Please join us in prayer for God to provide a great fit for the organization and a smooth transition in the executive director role. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit 
you may abound in hope.
-- Romans 15:13

Back to School Update

It’s time for back-to-school planning in Haiti! We appreciate all the support we’ve received for our school supply drive. It’s always amazing to see such a generous outpouring of support each school season. There are always new school uniforms needed, along with many books and supplies for our growing community that we support. The outstanding needs on our Project Essentials fundraiser page continue to drop as more people donate towards this cause. There’s a story about Marvens and his experience with school in a recent post from Hands & Feet Project that fills in some details of the impact that you can have on school children in Haiti.

Continue reading “Back to School Update”

Haiti News – April 2025

Here are details regarding how to get more information about Hands and Feet Project, and about Randy and Denise’s visit to Rochester, New York.

Hands and Feet Project Information

Do you ever wish you knew more information about Hands and Feet Project (H&FP), the amazing organization that we work with as missionaries to Haiti? We have shared the H&FP web site and posts from their Facebook page fairly frequently. There’s also their Instagram feed and YouTube videos page, and now…there’s a podcast! It’s called, “Project Red”. Project Red is more than a podcast—it’s a message, a vision, and a call to action. The first episode is already available, where Mark Stuart, Will McGinniss and Patrick Austin sit down and talk about the past, present and future of Hands and Feet Project. They also talk about the meaning of the Project Red name. These guys are all fun, entertaining and informative. Check it out and subscribe to get notifications about upcoming episodes. You can find the podcast episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube, Amazon Music, and Spotify.

Plans to Visit Rochester, New York

Continue reading “Haiti News – April 2025”

Haiti News Update – Spring 2025

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 and US inflation rates for the last year (source: https://tradingeconomics.com/haiti/inflation-cpi#)
Continue reading “Haiti News Update – Spring 2025”

Stories of Hope from Haiti

Do you ever wonder what keeps us working in Haiti? Many people have expressed concerns about traveling to Haiti, and some have suggested that we pursue ministry in “safer” countries. For us, God continues to draw us to Haiti and the amazing people that we have come to know and love there.

It’s also exciting to see the transformed lives of the children that we work with. As with many kids growing up, especially those that have experienced trauma, they go through hard times. They sometimes push away those that are there to help them. And sometimes they just withdraw. At times, they have breakthroughs and turn their attitudes and their lives around. And there are times where God coordinates an amazing sequence of events to turn lives around.

Here are 2 stories that Hands and Feet Project recently shared on their social media that we don’t want you to miss.

God is working in the lives of the young people around us in Haiti. It’s such a blessing to witness the transforming power of God in their lives.

“For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”

Hebrews 3:4 (NASB)
Continue reading “Stories of Hope from Haiti”

Late Summer Update

Yes, It’s Still Summertime in Haiti!

Can you believe it is still “summer” in Haiti? Okay, so it always feels like summer in Haiti! The schools across the United States have all started by now, but the official start of school year in Haiti is October 1st this year! I’m sure that would make many kids in the States jealous…until they find out that kids in Haiti will be in school through mid-July.

Thanks to everyone to contributed to the back to school fundraiser for books, backpacks, school supplies, and school shoes at the Lekol Marketplace. (“Lekol” means School in Haitian Kreyol.) It was a great success! Here’s a short video update from Will McGinniss and Mark Stuart about Lekol Marketplace. The kids are all prepared for school and lessons to begin. We appreciate all the help provided to prepare for another successful school year.

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Haiti Summer Plans and Haiti Made

Hands and Feet Project 20th Anniversary

Hands and Feet Project (HAFP) is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year! What a impact this organization has made in the Jacmel and Grand Goave communities of Haiti, and beyond. Here’s a short video that talks about the challenges and successes of the organization over the years.

As we look back on our history, it’s hard to believe that we joined HAFP over 7 years ago! We’re excited about continuing to serve the children and families in Haiti as God leads. Thanks to everyone who has participated in the ministry through prayer, financial support, and encouragement over the years. This is a ministry of many hands, and we are thankful for each one who has propped us up and supported the calling God has shared with us.

Continue reading “Haiti Summer Plans and Haiti Made”

Haiti Happenings & Visiting New York

Haiti in the News

You have probably seen Haiti in the news more than usual recently. The news is causing quite a stir as more people see the conditions around the Port au Prince capital region. We have heard many reports about people being evacuated from the country by various methods. This is giving us more opportunities to share about the work that we continue to do in Haiti with the Hands and Feet Project.

The current news you see and hear about Haiti is still primarily concentrating on the activities around the capital region, in and around Port au Prince. Outside that region it is still relatively peaceful, although it’s sometimes difficult to find fuel and supplies. In March 2024, inflation increased to an annual rate of 23%. Some sources report it as high as 34%. As a comparison, the US annual inflation rate is currently only 3.5%. Despite the ongoing challenges, we continue to find all the resources needed for the children in our care, and for the families we help in the community. Please continue to pray that peace will be restored across the country.

Road Trip to New York

It’s time for a trip to Rochester, New York again to see friends, family and our faithful supporters. On our way north over the weekend, we saw 92 degrees in Georgia. But it was cold and rainy for our layover in North Carolina, and it’s about the same in New York. We’re just hoping we don’t see snow!

Continue reading “Haiti Happenings & Visiting New York”