For the past eight days I’ve had the privilege of serving with two Vision trip teams. Here are a few highlights/quotes from our time together in Haiti:

- “I thought I came here to run away from a tough situation at home. Now I realize God brought me here to speak truth to help me reconcile.” — Team member

- “This is the first time I’ve had a team of Americans ask me about my family.” — Haitian Pastor

- “I’ve spent a lot of time trying to ‘fix things.’ God showed me in Matthew 25 that my job is simpler — to visit, to love in tangible ways.” — US Pastor

- An 82-year-old sharing the Gospel with a fellow team member as they filled up water balloons one afternoon. Two hours later she welcomed Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

- “I’m learning more about God everyday.” — US College Student

For those of you who have gone, “Thank you.” For any who are thinking about GOing, please know what a joy it would be to serve with you.

Last fall, I received an e-mail from a return trip GO’er offering to cover a large portion of a club-foot surgery for Rennel. Rennel’s spirit deeply touched this man. Yesterday, at Saintilus (Gonaives, Haiti), I had the opportunity to meet Rennel, 17. I now understand.

Rennel’s warm eyes welcomed us. I then noticed his clubbed left foot; so twisted his body weight comes down on the knuckle bones. I usually like to play soccer with the older boys, but in my mind, I committed my time there to Rennel. He and I helped the younger children build balsa wood airplanes and then flew them in “longest distance contests” outside.

Nearby a soccer game was underway. Rennel looked at me and said, “Trace, annale jue footbol.”

While I don’t know much Creole, “Let’s play soccer” is a phrase I often use; yet, this time, I didn’t understand. Was Rennel inviting me to play soccer? Well, maybe we could go off, out of the way, and I could gently kick a ball to his good foot? As we stepped onto the field, it quickly became obvious Rennel had far more in mind than some neutered side show.

Rennel hopped, loped, and began to juke American after American with his “step over” move. Despite getting juked myself, I smiled. My heart filled.

Rennel is not on the sideline, feeling sorry for himself, waiting for someone to fix his “problem.” He is in the game of life, giving his best, helping others.

Later, I learned more of Rennel’s story. His father left when Rennel was 2. His mother died in the last 12 months. Yet Rennel pushes on. He shared with me he would like to have surgery on his foot. I joked with him that it might slow him down on the soccer field for a little while. He grinned and assured me that was ok.

Rennel is an inspiration to me. Helping him is now a very personal call. He needs a surgical team. We need to pray and ask God to provide. Are you in?

by Jenni (GO Fellow)

With GO, you hear a lot about ideas like “sustainability” and “transforming lives through orphan care.” Though these concepts are not altogether distant from one another, they unite in unique ventures that provide income for orphan care, but also open the door to increased levels of community involvement through employment and production of different resources.

Through God’s providence, GO is developing poultry farms in partnership with Haiti Broilers, part of the most successful poultry company in the Caribbean. Our pilot project – a chicken farm in Croix-des-Bouquets – is up and running.

The Meat of the Matter

Now chicken farming may not sound at all glamorous, and really it’s not, but God doesn’t always use glamorous things to show off. The truth is that Haitians consume a lot of chicken. But they don’t produce much of the chicken consumed.

While you may see some live birds in the market places of different areas, the majority of chicken sales are in legs and other “dumped” products imported into Haiti.

It’s vital that Haiti start producing for itself, instead of outsourcing food security to the international aid behemoth. Poultry is particularly strategic, in that poultry provides an efficient, affordable form of protein for children. Ministries like ours have an important role to play in developing this market: we can help Haitians produce, and encourage our donors to get behind the effort.

More than Just Feathers

The chicks are just one day old when they arrive on the farm and it takes a full six weeks of growth for them to reach the right size and maturity for sale. The new Croix-des-Bouquets farm is currently home to one hutch full of 400 yellow fuzz balls, that will soon be full grown birds. Our farm has the capacity to add 3 more hutches. That’s more than 1,600 birds in just one cycle! With a potential of 6 cycles per year, this farm has the capacity to produce nearly 10,000 birds per year. God willing, we will help facilitate a network of regional farms, like this, in Haiti.

The Bird’s Eye View

What’s this got to do with “sustainable orphan care?” Three things:

(1) Profits: Such farms produce profits, all of which will go to pay for life costs of our children.

(2) Nutrition: Very soon we will ask givers, like you, to purchase chickens from the farm. Not to get. But to give. We want to process a good portion of these chickens to supplement the diet of children.

(3) Pathways: Little children become big children. Some of the older children in GO partner villages will learn poultry farming here, which will give them a very practical, promising life skill in a growing market.

Making Sustainability Fly

Soon we will be reaching out to have you help us grow our sustainability ventures, like this farm. And to rally your circles to buy chickens from the farm for the kids. Stay tuned!

What a blessing to serve a God who is intentional and mindful of us, who moves on our behalf, as we seek to serve Him globally.

by Jenni (GO Fellow), from Haiti

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Permit the children to come to me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.’ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.” –Mark 10:13-16

Jesus used this occurrence in His ministry to show us His soft-spot for the little ones of this world and how much we can learn from their faith. It’s hard to argue their level of importance to the King of Heaven when He declares that His kingdom actually belongs to them.

Recently God opened the door to help a two-year-old little girl living in our partner-led village of Cherette, located in the Les Cayes region of Haiti. Little Mataine Janvier has spent half of her life with a cyst inside her nose, making it difficult for her to breathe. A three hour operation took place on March 21st in the Brenda Straford Hospital in Les Cayes to remove the cyst. Mataine is now in recovery and the staff of the Cherette Children’s Village are thankful that the Lord has made something like this possible. What a blessing to stand by those who serve the Lord and to open our arms with them to the children as Jesus taught us in His ministry.

We look forward to updating you more on Mataine’s healing and recovery in the next few weeks!

Great pictures tell great stories.

As a GO Fellow, John has had the opportunity to get to know many Haitian children personally, resulting in some beautiful connections. One special friend is five year old Brianna. Brianna has a smile that will melt the hardest of hearts, and she has a burly buddy in John.

This weekend John was hosting our Team’s trip to Leogane. John and his wife, Abby, are expecting their first child and heading back to the States for the birth. This was the last time John would see Brianna for awhile at best.

Saying goodbye is hard, especially when you care about someone. As John wrapped Brianna in his arms for one last time, my mind raced back to Kansas.

I have three girls who call me Daddy. My love for them knows no bounds, but even on my best Daddy day, the hugs I give them are not different from the hug John gave Brianna.

Then I realized John was just a tool in the Master’s hands. Jesus sent a big-hearted, bearded, Blonc so that Brianna could feel her Daddy’s love. Brianna knows what a good Daddy hug feels like…oh, how she knows that!

In Psalms, our Lord declares He is a Father to the fatherless. They are His children and how great is their Father’s love!

I have very good news to share with you from Rukore. Obed (Archdeacon and Champion of the Father’s House) continues to be a faithful servant and an amazingly efficient manager of construction. I visited the site and found they had completed the construction of 6 homes, a kitchen with attached store, two different clusters of bathing and latrines, and a fence. He shared with me the needs for bringing the water line from the existing branch to the new site and the purchase and installation of the rainwater collection tank.

We have now met with the Management Committee twice regarding child selection and once regarding mother selection and they are ready to begin.

Obed and the completed children’s homes

Putting on the finishing touches

Construction of the latrines

Completed latrines and bath houses

Rukore Children’s Village, Uganda

Thanks,
Scott
GO Project Global Development Manager

Since January many have been following Barrett Keene on his eight-month, 3,475 mile trek across America to raise awareness and support for orphans. Barrett  made his way through Florida and is now headed across Georgia. We’ll be sharing updates from his journey, but you can also track his progress HERE>>

The impact of identifying a source of passion in our lives…
by Barrett Keane

Adrien Lewis, my main contact with The Global Orphan Project told me during one of our first conversations that he was as excited to see what God was going to do in me as he was pumped to see what God was going to do through everyone’s efforts to serve orphans through the walk. I found this to be a curious statement. After being on the road for 50 days or so, I am beginning to understand the power of Adrien’s words. When we choose to give, to serve, to join in a fight against a problem larger than ourselves, there is something that happens within us. Think back to a time when you gave…you served…you fought against some source of injustice. What was that experience like for you? What impact did you have on others? What impact did the experience and those involved have on you?

I experienced this beautiful reality while losing every game and still receiving a gold medal with my wonderful friends and teammates in the unified Special Olympics. I knew it to be true every year at the National FFA convention rocking my corduroy jacket with 50,000 other FFA members who were strangers, yet somehow family members as well. I knew it to be true the first time, second time, and every time God opened the door to serve children in need. However, it was not until I sat down and really prayed and reflected on “What was it for me?” that my efforts to impact our messed up world began to have some focus, and thus, more of an impact.

Instead of simply helping as opportunities found me, identifying and cultivating my desire to serve orphans has provided purpose, backbone, and direction to my desire to serve. When we choose to give and to serve it is not simply the immediate output that is of consequence. There can be a transformation, an emptying of our former and selfish selves and the creation of a deeper reservoir and resource to serve from and with. This is a blog post I wrote a while back for the leadership work I am blessed to be able to do with various groups regarding the impact of passion and purpose in our lives and development as leaders: CLICK HERE>> to continue reading…

by Jenni (GO Fellow)

180 children live and go to school in the GO Project-partner village of Casa Major, Haiti. Recently, they enlarged their eating pavilion, which previously felt crammed at about 30 children. I found myself wondering about the importance of having a meal with other people. Jesus frequently ate with people of every variety: from tax collectors to Pharisees, friends like Lazarus to His own disciples. The book of Acts makes note of Christ’s followers and early church leaders continuing prayer, teachings, and eating together on a regular basis.

So what is the significance?

I’m reminded of my own family. It has always been difficult for us to get past all of our activities and distractions to come together and spend time talking and eating. Those times when we finally do sit down with one another are refreshing, although a little awkward with their infrequency. These instances have always reminded me of how key it is to fellowship with family, whether that be with friends, fellow believers, or biological family members. The simple act of being together has the potential to unite us, encourage us, and grow us, while giving us a sense of security, a safe place for those times when the world is a scary place.

But what is it about eating together?

I’ve often heard it said, “You are what you eat.” If this only meant food, I’d have to be worried about the amount of chicken I’ve had since coming to Haiti in December of 2011. But eating also relates to consuming. What is it that we consume when we eat together versus eating alone? The children of the Casa Major village often eat rice with beans and bread from the bakery but what more are they consuming when they are in one another’s company and able to talk and pray as a group? Now that the cafeteria space is finished, it seats all of them and provides a shelter for eating and praying that protects against the sun and bad weather. In addition, it creates an open and shady place for kids to play and spend time together. While the larger eating pavilion may start as a small concept, more tables and benches with a roof overhead, the impact on the relationships being built with it are complex and integral to Casa Major’s life as a village and a family.

Jenni is a GO Project Fellow serving in Haiti. You can learn more and follow her adventures HERE>>

GO Friends and Family,

Yesterday, we celebrated receipt of Alison’s e-mail below and wanted to share a few excerpts and photos with you.

Thank you for caring for children who need family,
Trace

Dear Trace,

Greetings from Uganda in Jesus’ name!

Scott, Rose and I are just wrapping up a quick visit to Gulu and will soon be moving to Lira. We had a great time yesterday afternoon with the Management Committee…and, children and mothers! Yes, that’s right!

In mid to late February, the Management Committee decided it was time to start, so they finished the interview process and brought in 19 children. They have hired four house mothers and an Askari (watchman). 17 more children will be coming in a week or so. They are conducting the interviews and cross-checking on their condition end of this week or next week.

The Senior House Mother (pictured right) is a widow and a retired school teacher, and was a member of the Management Committee. She went to Kabale with the group from Gulu that I took there. So, she has a good model in the back of her mind for how to move the ministry forward. I’m very pleased.

The children (pictured below) are age 6 to 9 years old and are in P1 – P5. They are enrolled at Gulu Primary School, and their uniforms are in the process of being made.

In the meantime, the local community has become aware of what they’re doing and have really appreciated it, and have even brought in things for the children. Some bring a little food when they come. Some in the church have contributed some other sacks of food. An Acholi young lady now living in Canada, but from the area around the Cathedral, visited recently with a group of Canadians, and they were so happy with The Father’s House that they contributed paint for the interior of the homes. Another partner is contributing mosquito nets for each of the children.

The Committee has an idea for a local business.

Of course, there are some things that still need to be done, but the children look good, they’re adjusting to their new home and environment, and the local church really is “owning” the ministry and taking appropriate initiative. Really…I couldn’t be more pleased….So, this is where we are for now!

Blessings,
Alison

Alison L. Barfoot (Rev. Canon Dr.)
Executive Director, GO Africa