JEAN PAUL came to us in February of 2013. Although Jean Paul has endured a lot in his short life, the safety and security he has found in the Child Hope family has helped him grow in kindness and connectedness. He loves playing with the other boys in the home and playing soccer. Jean Paul feels very proud of himself when given praise and is a good cheer leader for others. He loves to learn and is a hard worker when put to the challenge. Please pray for Jean Paul, that he will continue to grow as a brother and friend to others, and in the talents and gifts that God has given him.

Jean Paul is currently 29% sponsored to cover his basic needs such as food, clothing, clean drinking water, education, and medical care. Click on the button below to sponsor him and become a part of his story! 

Some of the other Child Hope staff and I were out for lunch when we heard there was a hurricane headed our direction.  I didn’t really know how to feel. I had never been through one. So many questions ran through my head. What do we do? How do we prepare? Will our home flood? How long does a hurricane last?

I was shocked to see in the days leading up to Hurricane Matthew that there was absolutely no change in the manner of the locals. In the States there are evacuations, people going to the store to stock up on food and water, people making plans and taking action. But nothing was happening here. I was so confused. Why aren’t they getting ready? Do they even know it’s coming? As I sought answers it became clear that they did know.  This wasn’t their first rodeo. They just did not have the means to prepare. ‘Hunker down and hope’ was their preparation. This reality hit me like cement in my stomach. 

We did what we could to help our community prepare. We were able to donate some materials to reinforce homes, we opened the doors to one of our buildings for anyone in the neighborhood to stay in if their homes were unsafe, and we had food ready to serve the community after the storm passed, but I was still stuck in this tension of feeling like I wasn’t doing enough. What about those in tents and tin roof shacks? What about the homeless? It was still hard to tell exactly where or when Matthew would hit. My heart was in so much pain watching the storm inch closer and closer to this beautiful country so many people call home. In this helpless heartbreak, God reminded me of my role. The most powerful tool we could possibly possess isn’t more tarps, food, safe shelter, or clean water. It’s prayer. I went on the roof of our home and could see the black sky rolling in beyond the mountains. I sat on that roof and prayed over this country and that storm until I had no more words or tears to share.  Then I witnessed a miracle. Matthew parted right around our city. No 140 mph winds, no 70 inches of rain, no flooding in the streets. The Lord heard our prayers! This was sweet, sweet grace.

The south however, suffered the strength of Hurricane Matthew. My heart still aches for the devastation they continue to endure. This is where the Lord has met me again. When we see death tolls soaring and homes having been completely flattened, we are tempted into believing that our good Father has forgotten us. But his promises are stronger than any storm. We are called not to understand God’s every action, but to trust Him in everything that he does. He is good. While there is travesty, He is glorified in the rebuilding, the healing, the provision, the protection of others, and in the coming together of the body of Christ to support our brothers and sisters in a time of need. 

I urge you to continue to pray with us. Pray that our Father would continue to provide for those in pain. Pray that Haiti would experience His powerful, healing love. Pray the world would see Christ in Hurricane Matthew as He restores, redeems, and rebuilds His people. Would He be glorified and we be moved by the power of prayer. As Andrew Murray said, “We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.”

This month two of our graduates found jobs!  This is thanks to a connection with Ted Barlow of NouKod.  Ted has been in Haiti for almost five years and is helping break cycles of poverty, reunite & keep families together, and provide futures for aged-out orphans, street children & restaveks.  His ministry trains and develops work skills for local Haitians by giving them jobs.  The ministry also empowers locals to take part in the transformation of their communities.  The current project for NouKod is a data entry program, but there are plans for opening a 1,000 person computer programming center in Haiti.
 
When he approached Robert Taylor, our Chairman of the Board who was in Haiti earlier this month, Ted expressed interested in hiring a few people to start immediately.  Robert reached out to Adeline, Chedline, Isguerda, Evans, Marc Harold, and Renald, all of whom were excited for the opportunity.  None of them had ever done a formal interview, but once they loosened up, they interviewed with joy and a confidence in their God-given abilities. 
 
Ted emailed Robert to say how wonderful each the kids are and how difficult it was to only hire two at this time.  However, when he is hiring again in the coming months he said he would definitely consider those he had the pleasure of interviewing.  Praise God!
 
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

"Vin Aprann," literally translates to "Come Learn," in Haitian Creole. And that is exactly what we want to invite you, your friends, and your family members to do...come to Haiti, and learn about the ministry of Child Hope, and about the many other ways that God is working here! 
 
Visit our website to learn more, and sign-up today if you are interested in participating, as space is limited. Check out this short video to get a taste of what the week might look like!