CHE Training spreads to the mainland

As a result of our March mission trip, we have a team of CHE trained leaders from Pastor Agones’ school traveling to the mainland to Ste Michelle to host a 5 day training for local leaders. As Pastor Agones says, “Everyone on La Gonave knows about CHE!” So now we will spread the word to the mainland where Pastor Joseph has 40 churches. We introduced the CHE program (Community, Health and Evanglism) back in March, and this team will now continue in depth classes. It is important for the Haitians to be teaching other Haitians, learning that they have the ability to change their lives for the better. They do not need to wait for relief or handouts. Another team, led by Pastor Gabriel, will be going from Ti Palmeste’s Church of the New Jerusalem to the village of Segur for the same purpose. God’s Face Haiti Mission is funding these outreaches with transportation and lodging costs. In reciprocation, Pastor Joseph is sending a team of evangelists to Ti Palmeste for a crusade/revival for 4 days. This community is struggling spiritually after the death of their leader and church founder, Pastor Amboiz. He was a very well respected man in this community, and he is sorely missed. Our plans for the future include returning to do Pastor training and Bible study, an area where there is much need. The young man taking over from Pastor Amboiz are still in seminary training, and many pastors of small churches in the area have very little training. Our prayers go with Pastor Agones and Pastor Gabriel as they travel.

Mission Accomplished on Latest Trip

The view was incredible, to the right a sheer drop down the mountain, to the left, another sheer drop. We were on a narrow road that snaked along the very top of the mountain. We had been climbing up mountains and descending into valleys with streams running through for several hours now as we explored a new area of Haiti, the northern Artibonite River Valley. When viewed from afar the mountains looked brown and inhospitable. We labored up the sides on rocky switchbacks, but what a sight when we looked back! There were green valleys and hillsides dotted with crops. Amazing! On one large hill our truck shuddered to a stop after hitting some rather big rock. Looking down, the last village was a long way away. Looking up, the next village was seven or eight miles. Ugh. We prayed, and waited, thinking of all the abandoned vehicles we had seen on our travels. The truck cooled off, and then started. Thank goodness, as there is no AAA out here! We never even saw another car or truck the whole way up this mountain, just a few motorcycles. Pastor Joseph did a great job driving, as we traveled with him for a week, visiting many of the churches he had started over the last 35 years. Arriving in Nan Paul, we spot a very pink house with a newer vehicle out front, and hope this is Pastor Sainvil’s home. We had met Pastor Sainvil in Naples where he is a pastor of El Shaddai church of Grace at Covenant Presbyterian Church. We were there to do a two day training in CHE for leaders from Pastor Sainvil’s church and also from Pastor Joseph’s churches. There were 53 in all, and they were really connected to what Ed was teaching. CHE stands for Community, Health and Evangelism, and is a holistic approach to third world countries who need the basics of sanitation and community development. After traveling with the Youth for Orphans group on Pastor Agones sailboat over to la Gonave, we headed up the mountain to check on Ti Palmeste. Things ok here after the passing of Pastor Amboiz, but the people seem sad. It was hard to lose such a popular leader. Pastor Gabriel took good care of us for the night and we have a good meeting with his CHE team. They are excited about the moringa tree and all that it can do to improve the health of the people, even starting micorbusinesses selling the powder in the market! They will make great trainers for the people over on the mainland. And Pastor Joseph had a great idea. He will send a team of four evangelists over to spend several days in Ti Palmeste visiting people and holding a revival. They need spiritual nourishment right now. In return, Ti Palmeste will send a team to Segur, Pastor Joseph’s home town to teach CHE. What an awesome exchange of ideas and resources. This is what CHE is all about, sharing of information so all may have a chance to learn and improve their communities. Meeting with Pastor Agones’s CHE leaders, we presented the plan to them about traveling to the mainland to Ste Michelle to train the leaders of Pastor Joseph’s churches there. As Pastor Agones said, ”Everyone on La Gonave knows about CHE!”

Mission Update January 2014

Despite the passing of Pastor Amboiz last summer, the church of the New Jerusalem in Ti Palmeste is doing well. The goats are flourishing, and the school which is now supported by the goat farm, is growing. We have been invited by the pastors to visit the four other mission churches they have started. Two young men share the church leadership, and are attending seminary classes in Port-au-Prince. In Baie de Tortue, Pastor Agones’ school is doing very well, and they will graduate a fifth grade class this year for the first time! He now has 7 grades, pre-k through 5th. This success is due to the support of teachers salaries we have provided over the last four years. This support has been necessary because of the severe lack of education in this area. It will take a little time to improve the conditions here. Several leaders are teaching the others in their community using the CHE method, which we introduced two years ago. Already they have improved sanitation, added many more latrines, and started several micro businesses. Of special concern here is the termination of Pastor Agones’ lease in May. He owns a piece of land and has donated it to the school. There is a project underway to build a combined school/church. Mattituck Presbyterian Church on Long Island, NY is taking the lead in this, and is sending a team this month to do a video which they hope will raise a portion of the needed funds. We will partner with them, along with Estero UMC and South Dade Haitian UMC to make this a reality. A new aspect of our mission will begin next month when we travel with Pastor Joseph of Naples Goshen Church of God, who has been praying for us to help in his area for several years . We will visit the Artibonite River Valley area where many of the churches he has started are located. ( he has over 40 in total) We will meet up with Pastor Sainvel of the El Shaddai of Grace Church, and do a combined CHE program for the people they have selected as leaders. This is an area of very great need and much suffering of the people. We visited the site of this new church in Petit Rivere in June of 2010. It now has a roof, but is still in need of a floor. CHE stands for Community, Health and Evangelism, and is designed for Haitians to help other Haitians. Instead of handouts, our mission offers mentoring and development of their communities. One of the things we do provide when we visit is a hot meal to all who attend the all day trainings. This is CHE, we must feed, develop community and teach God’s principles and how they can change their lives. It is not enough to offer food, and no encouragement, or to preach the gospel when the people are starving. All three aspects must be addressed in a holistic manner. The three legged stool will stand. Our goal is to show them they can solve many of their problems themselves. This has worked really well in Ti Palmeste, where we have been involved for five years. They have become a model for others to follow, which was our plan.. We will use leaders from this area to help teach others. For more information on any aspect of our mission, visit our blog at godsfacehaitimission.blogspot.com or call us. We would love to talk to you about it! Thank you for helping us share God’s love to the beautiful people of Haiti. Ed and Sally Ritter Ed-239-404-0934 Sally-239-595-7283 gfhaitimission@gmail.com

Success stories from our last trip, March 2013

Points of praise for God's Face Haiti Mission as of March 2013 on the Island of La Gonave Ti Palmeste-Church of the New Jerusalem (mountains Church attendance on Sunday very good, church is well kept and clean. Twenty men in pastor/Bible study class that Ed led. They are eager and hungry for more. Fifteen ladies in Bible study, studying the Apostles Creed The goat farm has over 50 goats now, and arrangements were made for the Nubian male goat. He will produce a superior breed that will bring more money. Farm ready for planting School (which they started on their own), now has 75 children CHE(Community, Health, Evangelism) is spreading in the community Four mission churches (plan to visit them next time) Purchased a case of children's Bibles. Mme Amboise is going to help organize classes for children. Also gave a Bible to all ladies and men attending classes. Baie de Tortue-Pastor Agones (Village School East) Lease extended one more year till May 2014, which gives us one year to develop construction on Agones property, working with Estero UMC and Mattituck Presbyterian on Long Island. School has 85 children, 4th grade will graduate this year, so next year will be a 5th grade! CHE leader, Wilson Alexander, has completed the latrine bases for 46 families. CHE is spreading in the community. Reinforced the need for water conservation and harvesting with gutters and cisterns. Pastor Agones sailboat is completed, and was used to transport us back and forth to the island. The two micro businesses we started last March are being fully paid off as of this month. This will open up funds for two more. In addition, we funded two more as well. Pastor Agones has a plan for the local people to help raise money for the school. We took embroidery thread over for them to make cloth embroideries. They will also paint pictures. Agones plans to bring these items over at the end of summer, and to have an event to showcase and raise money.  Thank you for all your wonderful support, encouragement and prayers! You have made a difference in this community!!! Ed and Sally Ritter and the Haiti Mission Team North Naples United Methodist Church 6000 Goodlette Rd Naples, FL 34109 Sally Ritter 593-7600 ext 248 email: sritter@nnumc.org or esritter90@gmail.com

Update 2013

It has been a difficult year for the Haitian people, but they are recovering from the effects of having too little water (summer drought) and then too much water (Hurricane Irene). They are a resilient people, who continually pick themselves up and get on with life. When food became scarce in the mountains, people migrated to the cities. Now with new crops planted, they are returning to their homes. We are putting together a team for our next trip which will be March 8th to 16th. Part of our time will be spent in Ti Palmeste (Church of the New Jerusalem) with pastor training and Bible study. We will see completed goat farm and the baby goats! Then on to Baie de Tortue where Pastor Agones has his church and school (Village School East). In 2012 we made two trips here teaching CHE ( Community, Health and Evangelism/Education). There are now several trained community leaders who go into the community to teach their fellow Haitians. Several micro businesses were started here and we will try to expand this program. The building that Agones rents has been sold, and he will have to relocate his school. He had purchased a piece of land nearby and will donate it to build the church and school. An engineering study has been funded, and we will soon have an estimate as to what it will cost. One multi use building will be constructed first as a church, with classrooms added as money is available. Education is the key to escaping the life of poverty in this community. The families want to be self supporting. They are asking for job training and help in starting small businesses. They are learning the value of the education their children are receiving. Without this school, these children would not have an education. Before Agones, they stayed home with no money for school and no clothing to wear. We have helped him to make a huge difference in the lives of these children. Thank you for all of your wonderful support, encouragement and prayers! Amidst all of the negative publicity about Haiti, it is awesome to see progress, even in just one small area! We can make a difference in Haiti, one small community at a time. You have helped to make that difference!

Good News!

After a difficult summer of drought and loss of food, followed by Hurricane Sandy, we have finally received some good news! It seems nature gives Haiti too little or too much. The hurricane that cost many lives also gave much needed water to the island. The water table was dangerously low and needed a major rain event. Life is never easy in Haiti. We were concerned over the goat farm after we learned that the area had been severely affected by the drought. Many people had to leave their homes to find food. They have begun to return, and the goat farm is thriving with the first new baby goats being born. Hallejulia! Pastor Agones lost one boat, but the one with the new motors is safe and intact. He will be able to transport us next time we visit. We had planned a trip for November, but thought it too soon from all the issues that they have suffered with. The next trip is now planned for March. By then food production will be back to normal. There are now several CHE trained leaders who are actively out teaching other members of the community about the basics of hygiene and community issues. This is how CHE (Community, Health and Evangelism Education) works. We train a few leaders, and they train the community. We continue to support the teachers as much as we can. Education is the key to escaping a life of poverty. We pray that as families have jobs and earn money, they will be able to help with their childrens education. This will take a little time, but we have made great progress. Thank you for all your wonderful support, encouragement and prayers! You have made a difference in the lives of these communities!

Meeting for ladies in training for micro businesses

Pastor Agones visit in July

Pastor Agones presented Jamie Baker of the Village School with a hand carved Haiti globe during his visit here in July. He was very thankful for all the Village School has done for his school in Baie de Tortue, La Gonave, Haiti. At the end of this school year, the school donated all of their used uniforms for Pastor Agones's children in Haiti. The initial donation of uniforms a year and a half ago allowed an additional 50 children to attend school who were unable to attend due to lack of clothing. Pastor Agones spent a Sunday with Estero Methodist Church, speaking at all three of their services, and being hosted for lunch and dinner. Three members of Estero UMC, Debra Haley, Carol Hadley and Margie Campbell traveled to Haiti to visit Pastor Agones school in January. Pastor Agones told us that the building and property he uses now for school and church has been sold. He has a year, but then must move his school He personally purchased a piece of property next door, and hopes to be able to raise funds to build a school and church there. There are 80 children attending, who otherwise would be at home, unable to attend school. He has been a true blessing to this community. We are looking for people to partner with us to turn this dream into a reality. Please pray for this ministry that is making such a huge difference in the lives of some of the poorest people in Haiti.