Merci! Merci!

Eternal Hope in Haiti Inc.

On behalf of Eternal Hope in Haiti and the children of Hope Haven orphanage, we say thank you so very much for your faithful support in 2022. We are grateful for your financial support, donations, and prayers as we have transitioned the foundation over the last year to one single location. We are pleased to share that our children are well and being cared for during a really challenging season in Haiti. For many of you, the struggles of Haiti are not new and we have shared our stories of victory and challenges over the nearly thirty five years of our ministry in Cap Haitien with our committed partners. This year has been the hardest season of our work. The political instability and global economic changes have impacted everyone in Haiti. Gang violence is on the rise and foreigners have been urged to stay out of the country, including missionaries and foreign aid workers. Schools close for long periods of time and the costs of gasoline and food have escalated rapidly. We rely on fuel for generators for our orphanage as Haiti does not have an electrical infrastructure to support access to electricity. We can only run the generator for a few hours at night so the children can keep up with their studies and food can be prepared. We use a propane stove, but fuel is scarce and orphanages are not a priority. Schools are closed everywhere. Our food costs have escalated. These increased prices make it hard to keep up with the needs of our children. We face additional pressures from the local women and children who live around the orphanage and are facing desperate hunger. We feel compelled to share with them to exemplify the hands and feet of Jesus. We are traveling to Haiti in January with a very small, mostly family, group to take resources to our children as the banks have been closed most days over the last five months. Can you imagine trying to use your debit card or going to the bank, only to find the doors locked because of the gang violence and insecurity for employees and customers? If no money is being exchanged for goods and services, an already fragile system is in jeopardy of collapsing, but we are trusting in God and His faithfulness.

We have 47 children in the orphanage. We have graduated and aged out 17 children this year. They have left the nest and are seeking their futures with our full support and continued love. We have six in college, and others who are now working in carpentry, plumbing, mechanics, agricultural programs and goat farming. We are very proud of them and continue to love them as they are our own. We have seen tremendous progress with Marie Michelle as she was sitting up recently, but the challenges to keep her in ensure is ongoing and impacts her health. We have three additional children with chronic diseases who require regular trips to the local hospital as we are not on site.  

We will resume a small level of clinics in January attempting to care for the most critical. It has been over two years since we have been able to provide clinical care and we know the need is greater than ever before. Our goal is to return to bi monthly trips once the climate settles and it is safer for group travel.

What do we need?

·       Prayers, and lots of them every day to be obedient and seek ways to serve Him.

·       Resources. Our operational expenses have increased with economic impacts in Haiti. We need money for operations of the orphanage, educational support (remember no such thing as public schools in Haiti), clinical support to care for our sick children in the orphanage and to resume the operations of the mobile clinical work of the foundation. Shipping is costly and have we need to send two containers of supplies to resume clinicals and to deliver much needed goods to the children, including ensure. We have not been able to normalize life for our children at the new site due to the unsettled times and we would appreciate the support to transition to consistency for them. We know this season will pass and we are committed to making sure the foundation continues to focus on our priority of leading others to Christ in our service.

·       Donations of goods and services. We have ongoing needed supplies for our ministry and would welcome your partnership. An updated list is available on the website.

·       Time: When we resume travel, we would love to have our partners invest in the work face to face with us. Please prayerfully consider joining our work which includes clinical, building teams, educational teams and groups willing to host camps and love on our children.

On a sad note, we lost our beautiful Sandhrene this year. She had a cardiac abnormality, likely as a result of not getting a simple $3 antibiotic when she had a strep infection as a young child. When she came to us, she was significantly malnourished and fragile, not expected to live through the week. We loved and cared for her for nearly five years. She flourished at times and struggled at times, but she was loved. Her mom asked that she be returned to their home community for services. Her spirit and beautiful smile stay with us, and we know she was welcomed at the gate by “Mom Twilla”.

I know this is a long update, but we are so grateful for our friends and supporters. The life changing impact of your investment in this work is so appreciated. We know that God has much more for us to do and are looking forward to serving this year and resuming our mobile work and continuing with our educational priorities.

We wish you the very best of this season where we truly celebrate our Eternal Hope. Merry Christmas and Best for you and your loved ones in 2023! Please remember us with your year end giving and join our email listserv for regular updates in 2023.  Matthew 25:40 remains our call to action and service, for our beloved Omar and Mom Twilla.

Much love,

Angie

Angela Haynes Ferere and Ben Ferere

Elie and Ana Haynes (Izzy)

Rodney and Elaina Haynes (Rebekah, Jake, Sam and Seth)

Kenneth and Danyelle Lynch (Rocksie and Josie)

Hope and Patrick Bussenius (Abrielle and Luke)

And Papa Doug Haynes…