Our most recent trip to Haiti, in the week of May 23- 27, proved to be a very fruitful trip where the Lord really did great things. While we were there, we were able to visit four schools, with children of all grades in attendance, and give them candy, toys, and school supplies. Most of the schools were out doors under very little shelter, and limited necessities as far as desks, chalk boards, and books are concerned. Yet, in these conditions, the children are learning and thriving, and the joy of the Lord in their hearts is in abundance.
As I last reported, the earthquake left the Candy House in ruins, and it has not been in operation. We were thrilled this trip to walk in the school, and see the children learning, singing, and smiling in a house that is rebuilt and running. Pastor Paraison and his wife are doing well, and the school is packed to the limited with eager children who want to learn.
We were able to visit Pastor Rom and his family, who since the earthquake had become very ill, even to the point death. I am glad to tell you that God miraculously has healed him through prayers and skilled doctors and he is able now to preach and conduct school. He needs our continued prayers and support, but Jesus is Lord, and Pastor Rom is alive and well.
I cannot stress to you how great the need is for school supplies. Most chalk boards we saw were not “actual” chalk boards, and some were cracked and broken from the earthquake (although still in use). Pencils, paper, books, erasers, there is a great need for all of these and we hope to fill some of the need when we return with the help of your donations.
Please continue to pray for us as we look for property to purchase and build upon this year. It is our desire to own a compound in Haiti where children are not only schooled and fed, but housed and cared for. We have some very promising things in the works to see this goal achieved, but we continue to need your prayers and support while making this decision.
We look forward to our next trip which will hopefully be in September, and plan on taking a group with us this time. If you are interested please contact us and let us know as we are gathering information. Understand that space is limited and not everyone will be able to join us, but we look forward to working with those who will.
The country of Haiti is located in the Caribbean as the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic. Although Haiti was the first black republic to declare it’s independence in 1804 (from France), today the nation stands as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of it’s people living below the poverty line, and 54% living in absolute poverty. Almost 40% of it’s population are 14 years old or younger, while 90% of Haitian children suffer with waterborne diseases and intestinal parasites.
In October of 2009, the Bridge Ministry began to feel a pull in their heart to Haiti, and made the first of their visits to Port Au Prince. After seeing such a need for food, shelter, and education, the Bridge Ministry felt that their next step in Haiti would be working towards building an orphanage. That November, the Bridge Ministry obtained a building in Port Au Prince called “The Candy House” , where they began to feed and educate children daily while also housing as many as their space would allow.
January 2010 brought great heartache and devastation to Haiti and its people though a catastrophic earthquake registering at a magnitude of 7.0. This natural disaster claimed the lives of nearly 250,000 people, while leaving around 300,000 injured, and an estimated 1,000,000 Haitians homeless. Unfortunately, “The Candy House” was reduced to rubble, and made many more children orphaned and hungry. In February 2010, The Bridge Ministry founder, Candy Christmas, and her family were able to make their first trip back to Haiti since the earthquake and assess the damage. Although the devastation and urgent needs are overwhelming, The Bridge Ministry came back with hope and a vision to rebuild and expand.
In 2010 and the coming years, it is The Bridge Ministry’s desire to purchase property on which to build an orphanage to house, feed, and educate Haitian orphans. Though the generous hearts of many donors, The Bridge Ministry is closer than ever to seeing that goal accomplished, and will continue to push forward until that vision is made a reality. We encourage everyone to be apart of our Haiti mission, whether through prayer, volunteering, or financially. Mathew 25:40 says, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Join with The Bridge Ministry today in bringing hope to the hopeless and helping people who can’t help themselves.
Photos from our last trip
Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti#Environment
As most of you know, the country of Haiti suffered a catastrophic earthquake on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. As a result, the hospital in Port Au Prince, Haiti has collapsed, as well as their main market, their homes, and numerous other structures. Since Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, what very little resources they had have now been destroyed by this natural disaster, and are now experiencing shortages of bare necessities such as food and clean water.
Since November, The Bridge Ministry has been leasing a building to feed and educate orphans in Port Au Prince. We are thankful and overjoyed to report all are safe at the “Candy House” there, but the need is great and growing by the hour for food. The staff here at The Bridge Ministry have been feeling a deep call to help these people even before this disaster, and now even more so. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”, and we believe that now is the time to demonstrate this simple truth.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Candy, along with other staff, are leaving for Port Au Prince, Haiti on Sunday, January 24th, to begin setting up feeding stations to bring as much relief as possible. EVERY PENNY donated between now and the 1/24/10 will be used to aid these people in their time of need. There is only ONE WEEK to donate to this cause and gifts great or small make a HUGE difference. If you have every wanted to be apart of something bigger than yourself, please visit our website and click “Get Involved” and contribute, or send donations to: The Bridge Ministry, Inc., P.O. Box 463, Goodlettsville, TN 37070. THIS IS URGENT. Please, join us in making a difference.
