Heart of God in Haiti
by Julie Young

“So in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.”
(Romans 12:5 NIV)

uring December, Heart of God in Haiti continued its work with Helping for Christ.  Helping for Christ had 70 children enrolled and regularly attending their Christian day school during this fall session. 

In addition to math, reading, French, geography and Haitian history, the children are being taught Bible in class.  An additional 35 students began attending in January when the school reopened for the spring session.  The team members of Helping for Christ are working to build additional benches and blackboards to accommodate the new students.

Although the tuition that Helping for Christ charges is very low, only $7 per month, the majority of the families cannot pay it.  However, Helping for Christ continues to teach the children and, in exchange, the parents who can’t pay have agreed to volunteer at the school when needed and also attend weekly church services. 

Heart of God in Haiti is working to get people to sponsor a child with a regular monthly donation of $10.  We are also working to raise monthly funding to provide a meal to all of the children each day they are in school.  Many of the children come to school hungry, not having eaten in some time, and this significantly affects their ability to learn. 

During December, Helping for Christ mourned the loss of one of their teachers, Itelia. Itelia  passed away suddenly the week of Christmas from a stroke.  Her son is also active with Helping for Christ.  Itelia was buried with her Creole Bible, which Heart of God International provided for her. 

Dicksent Jeen Welch, co-founder of Helping for Christ said, “A couple of weeks ago, I remember when we were distributing the Bibles.  She was so happy and said that it was the first time in her life that she received a nice present like that… she loved to go every where with her Bible.  That is why we put her Bible in her coffin.”  We are saddened by the loss of Itelia, but joyful that she is now with our risen Lord in heaven. 

During December, 15 street children came to Helping for Christ asking for help.  They had heard of Helping for Christ and the good works they have been doing.  While the operation of a children’s home for the street children of Port Au Prince is one of the goals of Helping for Christ and Heart of God in Haiti, it is not yet a reality. 

However, the members of Helping for Christ could not turn these children away.   Each of the team members agreed to take in some of the children so now all 15 children have a place to call home and are no longer living on the streets.  They have all started school beginning with the January 5^th session.  We praise God for the generosity of our Haitian team and their willingness to help these children despite their very limited resources. 

For Christmas, Helping for Christ teamed up with a local church in Port Au Prince and raised funds to give the children at the school a Christmas.  A nutritious hot meal was served to all the children and they all received gifts.  The day was a big success.