Haiti - Trip Day 11 - Sunday (November 9)

Roy and I woke up under our mosquito net for our first day in Haiti! After a great breakfast we headed over to church in a village called Merger. It isn't too far out of the city and is where most of the CVM projects are currently located. At church it was the end of a week long missions conference of all 7 evangelical churches in Merger. The church started a half hour late and was in the Creole language, and we enjoyed the worship! We purposefully sat in back in case the service went super long. After 2 hours we decided that we were ready to go. (I'm not sure how long the service lasted, but the sermon hadn't started yet!)

2 girls who wanted to sit with me in church

a church full of people

the church decorated for the missions conference

Ronald catching up on sleep during the service

Kelly showed us around the village. Not much was happening since it was a Sunday, but our tour was great! We went to see the building were Kelly's goat project was based and also a sewing school that Jan helps with. We got to peak into the sewing school where ladies design and sew their own dresses. They first make the patterns and sew their project in paper before they do it in cloth. 

paper dresses

On of the boys Kelly works with wandered up and Kelly gave him a hug and introduced him to us as Desperado. Desperado is one of the goat project's success stories. He was a troublemaker, had already spent time in jail and hadn't been to school. He was chosen as one to be a part of a "Gangs for Goats." He and several other older boys were taught over several weeks how to take care of a goat, how to plant a garden for them, and they were also taught basic literacy. They had to come every week to the trainings and show that they were ready for the responsibility and had a way to care for the goat, and then they received a pregnant momma goat that would later give birth. Desperado's goat is still doing well. And after receiving his goat he has also continued on into regular school with other gang kids. The program has been successful enough that they had to make special grades 1 and 2 for these older boys! What a difference it makes to give these kids a purpose, give them a way to be productive and to make a small income without stealing! They are introduced to Jesus too! 

Kelly and Desparado

Desperado showing off his reading skills

The Gangs for Goats is an extension of the Give a Kid to a Kid program Kelly started where 4th grade students in the village learn for a year about taking care of their goats and then they receive a goat. Eventually one of the babies from the goats will go back to the project to help others. All of the other offspring will be theirs to keep or sell and helps provide income to keep the child in school. (School fees including books and uniforms can be up to $250 per year!) I got to ask Kelly what happens if the momma goat dies...do they get a replacement? She said that each situation is looked into. If the goat was properly cared for then it can be replaced for them. However, if it was just running at large (the goats are supposed to be tied up so that they won't be stolen or hit by car, etc.) and not cared for then they won't receive a new goat.

Currently there are 96 children in the Give a Kid to a Kid program. And more schools would like to be added. Click here if you want to learn more about Kelly's work and see a video about the Give a Kid to a Kid. You can also follow Give a Kid to a Kid on Facebook for current updates. 

We also got to see Pastor Johnny's church and school. This is the organization that CVM partners with in Haiti. The school is in the process of expanding and is very open air!  Desperado and Ronald, (Kelly's son she is in the process of adopting), showed off some of their reading and writing skills on the chalkboard for us! 

As we were leaving Kelly pointed out "the village" on the other side of the main road. There is a church plant and a goat project in the beginning stages. It is neat to see the work of the Lord expanding out! 

the Shakabana!

Kelly, Jan and Rhoda took us out to a new joint to eat--it was something like Haitian food meets hamburger. Then we went Christmas shopping in a market where craftsmen make art out of old oil barrels. 

The metal craftsmen

Then finally we made it back to Jan's house to relax for the afternoon and prepare for our trip out to the countryside on Monday morning.