Garden Produce Production

Written by: Mike King

The beautiful land at Heart for Home in Port Salut when you see it in person is something to be awe struck by, peering out over the ocean, with a gentle slope from the mountain backdrop. It has a few boundary trees and trees surrounding it, with two halfs, one ready for some construction and future development site for the mission's community center, church and training areas, and the other half ready for agriculture.

This year, Ricot decided to test that land with a variety of plants to see what would grow and what produce would do well in the rich soil. It has proven to be very successful indeed and a local is hired to help care for the garden and the community is benefiting from the peppers, carrots, cucumbers and many other types of produce.

It's a blessing to see the interest from the community in the agriculture and wonderful to see what rich land we have for the agriculture portion of the mission.

Ministry Update - Oct 2014

Please enjoy Ricot Leon Speaking at Oakpark in Calgary on July 6th, 2014 if you were not able to attend in person. He shared many of his experiences and encouragement of God's work in Haiti.

View his sermon here:

https://vimeo.com/100930129

New Pastor

Heart For Home welcomes the new pastor in Port Salut, Pastor Wilfrid Lotin! He brings his experience as a Haitian pastor with leadership, organizational, and agricultural skills to the team for Heart For Home. He just started in September and is accelerating the agricultural program, hosting morning prayer and now lives in Port Salut with his family of great musical talent and is sure to team well with Ricot and his existing team to enhance the ministry even further!

Conversations with Ricot

There are new Church services starting now as well with help from Pastor Lotin. Monday is Cell group at the Church. Wednesday has prayer service, Thursday has music service, Friday is Bible study. New service for Saturday starting up. There is more and more requests from the church people for services, worship and fellowship. Pastor Lotin loves it, he lives close to the church and is able to help. The people are asking for more and more! Pastor Lotin's energy and passion, as well as the response of the people has really been Ricot's encouragement since returned after the summer.

When Pastor Lotin first looked at the Garden and the land we have, he said, "We have a huge resource right here on the property. How much income has it made in the last few years for the ministry?"

Ricot, replied, "Well, nothing really yet. We just started this year and minor earnings have been used for more seeding." Then with passion, Pastor Lotin responded, "Unacceptable, Unacceptable!! We cannot expect the blessing to continue to come from outside the country, when we have this blessing right here." From this you can just imagine the passion of Pastor Lotin for the agriculture program and since starting, he has already doubled the size of the current garden, with students and community help, they will plant more and expand. With some minor funds donated, they can expand further and develop a basis for some local revenue for the ministry.

Attendance at the Church has gone up significantly, with 70 people attending, both inside and outside. The people love the growth and expansion and have commented they want to see it continue, without restriction. Some outside portable structures or tent coverings may be a way to grow the Church from the small building that is there now.

Dec 6, 2014 - Gala du Chocolat

This year's fundraiser for Heart For Home will be hosted at Oak Park Church of Christ in Calgary onDec 6, 2014 at 7PM.

Tickets: $30 each of $240/table
Deadline: November 24
Ages 14 and up
Sponsorship opportunities available
Dessert and auction donations needed

To purchase Tickets, Sponsorships and donations, please contact:
Kristin Briard: 403-796-2804 or Dawn Driediger at Oak Park 403-251-5150

Internship in Haiti
Written by: Felicia Kroeker

During my internship in Haiti, I had many different experiences that have grown me and shaped who I am in Christ. While I was there, I taught English to 3-5 year olds at the kindergarten down the road and young adults at the English school, helped Patrick with Kids Club, learned the language, and lived life with the people. I even spoke in church 3 times (and in Creole for 2 of them!). My heart has grown for the people and the country of Haiti. I know that this was only the beginning, and I look forward to what God has in store down the road.

My heart melts and smiles whenever I remember the kids who came over in the evenings. Each one had a different personality and showed me the importance of being present with people. I may have been in the middle of reading a book, or writing in a journal, but when a kid walked through the gate, it was only a matter of time until I put down what was I my hands and played with them. Those moments are forever etched on my heart. They are the reminders for me to BE WITH those around me, not only physically, but with my whole being. As I poured out into them, the kids were filling me up again. My heart was (and still is) full because of each person, child or adult, who loved me. God truly has hidden blessings each day and continues to if we look for them.

Blessings,
Felicia Kroeker

Container Contents

We have a 40 foot shipping container to fill with donations and construction materials/tools to further support the ongoing needs and work started in Haiti to develop the site and ministry. All of the items below are needed so would love donations of high quality items from the list or funds to acquire them. Due to customs restrictions and paperwork around shipping contents, we are specifically looking first for these items and funds directly for construction materials.

Materials and Tools we’re fundraising for:

Cement Mixer
Jackhammer
Compactor
Night work lights
Moving dolly
Bobcat
Scaffolds
Water Tanks
Chain/metal fence for gardens
Rotor Tiller
Pressure Washer
Lawn mower
Water Hose
Irrigation system (drip)
Role of flex pipe for water well (Polly pipe)
Chain saw
Ladder

Other Ministry Needs:

Volley ball net
Basketball hoops and posts
Musical instruments- guitars, bass, guitar amp
Projector screen
Electric guitar amp
Sound board with chords 30'+ in length
20 cups coffee maker for the church
Microwave
TV flat screen
Extra tires for the vehicles
Kids play ground (disassemble and assemble in Haiti)
Metal frame for multi purpose building
Washing machine and drier
A couch
A four wheeler (quad)
Bicycles
Computers for computer class, about 25 good working comp.
Printer
Fold up tables 8' and picnic fold up tables
Chairs
Slot board

Donate to Heart For Home online!

You can now make a donation online to the Heart For Home mission. You will get a tax receipt from Oakpark Church of Christ.

Got questions or Ideas for the Newsletter?
We've love to hear from you if have any questions about the mission or the newsletter. Also, if you have something to include or something you'd like to see in an upcoming newsletter, please just reply to this and let us know. Or comment at the facebook page and we'll do our best to get back to you or include that in the future newsletter. Many thanks.