7/18/11
Bon Swa! (Good day)
Today, Troy, took us around and oriented us to Heartline Ministries' houses that held their ministries. They have 3: Harbor House, Maternity Center, and the Sewing Center . And, he also took us to their new property they just purchased so they can move all of their ministries to one site, and not have to rent houses anymore.
The first one we went to was the
Sewing Center.
John and Beth used to have an orphanage they ran, and many mothers came to them with their babies because they couldn't afford to feed them or themselves. When they noticed the trend, they decided to find a way to give the women an income so they can keep their kids. They opened a Sewing Class, and taught the women how to sew. They can have 36 people in the class for a year (9 months), but they have 102 applicants right now. One class was created upon another need to make 3 classes available in one sewing center. When they found out that some were illiterate and couldn't take the entry test, they started a Literacy Class to bring their literacy skills up to take the tests. Then, they later saw that some still didn't have the skills to sew, so they started a Beading class. They sell these crafts at the gift shops at the center and in the guesthouse, and online called HaitianCreations.com. A couple in California decided to help Heartline by creating this website for them, and selling the purses there. Check it out!
*sorry if this next one is too gross for you guys*
We later went to the Maternity Center, where they taught Pre-natal classes, and breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has been thought as a bad practice among Haitians, and it would kill their babies than nourishing them. They would feed their babies water at birth, and then rice and beans at 4 months. It took a lot of work to teach the mothers that it was the best thing to give their babies. They have 2 healthy babies right now that are prime examples that breastmilk is best for their babies, and other women are sharing this news with other mothers. Hopefully, they'll see more healthy babies than malnourished. They also taught them how to care for themselves while pregnant so they can have a more healthy, uncomplicated birthing experience. It's been 2 years, and they've been seeing wonderful results. However, they wish they can do more for them.
Next door to the Maternity Center is Harbor House.
It's a house for pregnant teens, and teen moms that were thrown out of their families' homes when they were pregnant, because the family couldn't feed an extra person. So, they came to Harbor House for shelter, learn to be good parents, and learn how to provide for themselves and their child.
Lastly, they took us to their new property. They're hoping to move all of these ministries to one property, and no longer rent the houses. Troy also shared that they're hoping to start another ministry for the Haitian men. They can't touch the lives of every man in Haiti, but they can invest their time, and disciple 12 men and give them a job in their future bakery.
Please pray for their ministries:
* that they are able to do more for their pregnant patients, and can feed than more than once a week, and have a healthier pregnancy.
* for the teenage girls. The ministry can not only raise them to be great parents to their kids and provide for themselves, but also to disciple them and raise them to be Godly women.
* for their men's ministry. Teaching them to be responsible fathers, and godly men that can turn around and disciple other Haitian men.
Haiti can not change because non-profit organizations are coming to Haiti. Change needs to take place in the Haitians. To teach them the skills they never learned, and bring them out of their poverty. But, also to bring them out of their Relational Poverty with others, spiritual poverty with God, and Being Poverty with themselves. That may sound "weird" to you, but we read a book called "When Helping Hurts". It shares how STMs (Short Term Ministries) have done more damage than good by focusing on the material poverty (food, finances, and homes), but neglected on helping them heal their relationship with God, themselves, others, and with creation. How can they bring themselves out of material poverty, if they don't believe in themselves, in others, and especially in God. There's a saying the missionaries say: in Haiti there's 80% Catholics, 20% Protestants, and 100% Voodoo. Their relationship with Christ is distorted, and God wants to bring them back to Him.
And, we ended our day with more Nertz!! Awesome ending.
Bon Swa! (Good day)
Today, Troy, took us around and oriented us to Heartline Ministries' houses that held their ministries. They have 3: Harbor House, Maternity Center, and the Sewing Center . And, he also took us to their new property they just purchased so they can move all of their ministries to one site, and not have to rent houses anymore.
The first one we went to was theSewing Center.
John and Beth used to have an orphanage they ran, and many mothers came to them with their babies because they couldn't afford to feed them or themselves. When they noticed the trend, they decided to find a way to give the women an income so they can keep their kids. They opened a Sewing Class, and taught the women how to sew. They can have 36 people in the class for a year (9 months), but they have 102 applicants right now. One class was created upon another need to make 3 classes available in one sewing center. When they found out that some were illiterate and couldn't take the entry test, they started a Literacy Class to bring their literacy skills up to take the tests. Then, they later saw that some still didn't have the skills to sew, so they started a Beading class. They sell these crafts at the gift shops at the center and in the guesthouse, and online called HaitianCreations.com. A couple in California decided to help Heartline by creating this website for them, and selling the purses there. Check it out!
*sorry if this next one is too gross for you guys*
We later went to the Maternity Center, where they taught Pre-natal classes, and breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has been thought as a bad practice among Haitians, and it would kill their babies than nourishing them. They would feed their babies water at birth, and then rice and beans at 4 months. It took a lot of work to teach the mothers that it was the best thing to give their babies. They have 2 healthy babies right now that are prime examples that breastmilk is best for their babies, and other women are sharing this news with other mothers. Hopefully, they'll see more healthy babies than malnourished. They also taught them how to care for themselves while pregnant so they can have a more healthy, uncomplicated birthing experience. It's been 2 years, and they've been seeing wonderful results. However, they wish they can do more for them.
Next door to the Maternity Center is Harbor House.
It's a house for pregnant teens, and teen moms that were thrown out of their families' homes when they were pregnant, because the family couldn't feed an extra person. So, they came to Harbor House for shelter, learn to be good parents, and learn how to provide for themselves and their child.Lastly, they took us to their new property. They're hoping to move all of these ministries to one property, and no longer rent the houses. Troy also shared that they're hoping to start another ministry for the Haitian men. They can't touch the lives of every man in Haiti, but they can invest their time, and disciple 12 men and give them a job in their future bakery.
Please pray for their ministries:
* that they are able to do more for their pregnant patients, and can feed than more than once a week, and have a healthier pregnancy.
* for the teenage girls. The ministry can not only raise them to be great parents to their kids and provide for themselves, but also to disciple them and raise them to be Godly women.
* for their men's ministry. Teaching them to be responsible fathers, and godly men that can turn around and disciple other Haitian men.
Haiti can not change because non-profit organizations are coming to Haiti. Change needs to take place in the Haitians. To teach them the skills they never learned, and bring them out of their poverty. But, also to bring them out of their Relational Poverty with others, spiritual poverty with God, and Being Poverty with themselves. That may sound "weird" to you, but we read a book called "When Helping Hurts". It shares how STMs (Short Term Ministries) have done more damage than good by focusing on the material poverty (food, finances, and homes), but neglected on helping them heal their relationship with God, themselves, others, and with creation. How can they bring themselves out of material poverty, if they don't believe in themselves, in others, and especially in God. There's a saying the missionaries say: in Haiti there's 80% Catholics, 20% Protestants, and 100% Voodoo. Their relationship with Christ is distorted, and God wants to bring them back to Him.
And, we ended our day with more Nertz!! Awesome ending.
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