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Monday, October 24, 2016

Fall Update - Post Hurricane Matthew

First and foremost, we ask for continued prayers as the west side of Haiti is still battling to recover from Hurricane Matthew.  All of our campuses were prepared for the coming wind and rain and faired the storm well, minus a few trees.  We truly appreciate the prayers, especially as the sad reality is that the vast majority of Haitians, including our precious neighbors’ homes are never prepared to withstand storm of Matthew's magnitude.   Flooding and mudslides have continued to wreck havoc on our neighbors out west.  Praying for the rain we desperately need without the continued destruction.

Here the crazy summer months have come to an end and school is back in session.  The street are filled with matching uniforms and bouncing backpacks and us, as the staff, are grateful for the return of a normal schedule.  
  
Pictured:  Our neighborhoods ready for school.  Kendi, Stanley, Michlin, Gibson & Ason.  As you guys have continued to support us, we were able to help these awesome kids with some much needed school supplies again this year.  We all appreciate the continued support!

In September HAFP hosted our annual Village Values event to encourage and reward our staff and kids to continually grow in their responsibilities, obedience, honesty and loving others well.  This was our 3rd consecutive year, but the first time we have celebrated at our Gran Gwav campuses.  The girls took over our Ikondo campus for a massive weekend slumber party and big screen movie nights while the boys invaded the Thozin campus.  Our kids and staff love this opportunity to connect with their friends from across the island and join together for a weekend of fun and celebration.   The event included the fan favorite, Jacmel vs Gran Gwav soccer match, awards ceremony, ice cream, an evening concert, pizza and a fireworks finale.  For the 2nd year in a row we have had the amazing privilege of Derek Minor, of the 116 crew, come and perform for us as the evening headliner.  He followed up a dance routine from some of the Gran Gwav boys, two young rappers from a neighboring organization performing their own gospel centered lyrics, and then a local group of some of our very own young men and Haiti Made employees.   The night was a hit with good times had by all of our kids, staff, neighbors and fellow expats.   

Pictured:  Maj and the neighborhood boys “patiently”waiting for the concert to start.  

Pictured:  Jean Baptiste, HAFP 1st young adult to transition out of HAFP, and Derek Minor getting ready to go cruise town to shoot some video footage for an upcoming video.  

We have had a few very busy months with groups in and out.  The last few weeks have been filled with only a few small special groups, which has allowed us the flexibility to focus more on our childcare responsibilities, Haiti Made, our neighbors and last, but not least, our family.  With more time to focus on childcare we are honing in on one of our HAFP goals to continually build up and empower our Haitian staff.  This goal is 2 fold.  1, to encourage our staff to continually grow into their God given potential and 2, to set up our staff as examples and leaders to our kids.  It’s vitally important that our kids and staff learn to see each other as the change and opportunity that they want to see in Haiti.    

Pictured:  HAFP Gran Gwav admin staff.  Merlande, Madam Pelio, Samuel & Lapaix.  We are so grateful for this amazing group of young adults leading the way for our kids and staff.  

Baby Dyeni Update:  Ti Papa, Manoucheka & Dyeni are doing great.  Dyeni is growing like a weed with giant cubby checks and their new home is complete.  They have settled in and making their new house a home.  Thank you for the continued prayers for our sweet friends!


We have a stateside trip planned for November, to spend some time in the cooler temperatures, enjoy some of our beloved fall activities and see friends and family.  We have been blessed this year with the opportunity to return stateside more often than expected.  This amazing blessing allows us to refuel and get some much-needed community that we lack while here in Haiti.  
We are so thankful for everyone that continually prays for us, encourages us and supports us financially.  Our family is facing a season of growth and change, and we are praying for wisdom, discernment and guidance as we continue to walk down the path that God has set before our family.  Currently we have more questions than answers, but we are seeking the Lord to grace us with the answers we need.  Raising kids anywhere is challenging, but Haiti has added its own set of challenges that only Haiti could do.  We consistently fight to create an environment that is healthy for our family, but God has revealed to and convicted us that we need to do more to ensure our family is our number one priority and first call to ministry.  Please join us in praying for quiet minds to hear Gods words as He offers us what is next, for courage to move forward in His call and for the joy to know we are in His presence and will. 

Sean