Did you know we have an orphanage/children’s home at our location in Galette Chambon, Haiti? It’s officially called the Children of Christ Home and is fully sponsored by an awesome group of Christians in Pensacola, FL. The home was initially sponsored by two churches in Pensacola, First Baptist and Hillcrest. Then, the key leaders formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit that oversees all their work with the home. We have 14 children at the home, 6 or 7 full-time Haitian workers (director, cook, clothes washer, etc.) and two full-time American missionaries who live at the home. The home was designed for 32 children and we will slowly add children as time and resources allow. These children are a vital part of our work in Haiti. They receive love, security, food, clean water, education, the good news of the gospel, and all that is needed for them to live godly, productive lives. Plus, they are a delight to get to know and spend time with.
I got to ride to school with Bigenson and Gillot a few weeks ago. Love their smiles!
Three weeks ago, the beautiful children of the orphanage sitting with Barry Howard (Senior Pastor of FBC P’cola) and Al Stubblefield (Board Member of Children of Christ Home)
I took this photo during the nightly devotional time at the orphanage. Every night before bed the children gather to sing and hear a devotion from the Bible that is taught by our Haitian Director, Ydalia.
Education, Education, Education. At BGM, we sponsor 483 children at three different schools and we also have our own secondary school. The secondary school started two years ago with a 7th grade and this past year we added an 8th grade. There are about 40 children in each grade. The Great Bridge Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA has been completely supporting our secondary school. They have done an incredible job and are currently having the school building completed with stucco and paint. It’s going to look awesome and give the children a big boost.
The workers adding the smooth stucco last week to the school building that otherwise looks crude and unfinished. Next month, the stucco will be painted and it will seem like an entirely new school.
To continue with the secondary school and add a 9th grade in September, we need to sponsor a minimum of 37 children between now and September. Otherwise, these children will have to drop out of school and their lives will become disastrous. A sponsorship is just $37 per month and, among other things, pays for a child’s tuition, uniform, books, materials, and, when enough children are sponsored, a meal each day. My family sponsors a little girl named Jusmithe in the village of Thoman and we take great joy in knowing she is in school each day and her life is dramatically different as a result. Our $37 is automatically deducted from our checking account and I never have to think about sending it. If you would help us sponsor the children in our secondary school, please click HERE and sponsor a child that is in the 7th or 8th grade.
Last Week I was blessed to be in Galette Chambon last week with two awesome groups from Grace Crossing Church in Madison, MS and Crossgates Church in Brandon, MS. These marvelous Christians made desks and tables for schools, painted at the Hope Center, led a Motherhood Class, taught a men’s Bible class, worked at our clinic and pharmacy, devised a master plan for one of the schools, held VBS, and shared the love of Jesus wherever they went.
A moving ceremony as our American team missionaries from Crossgates Church washed the feet of the pregnant Haitian women who had attended the Motherhood classes all week.
The pitiful benches where some of the children have been sitting at school
Nine of the eleven benches made by the team
Standing with Pastor Johel in front of one of the two new tables made this week for the pastor’s school
Helping feed the school children at lunch last Monday. Our sponsorship program is feeding over 700 children every weekday at three different schools in Haiti.
Painting the dental clinic. A vast improvement!
I even got to help paint the pharmacy. It looks so much better!
So. Much. Hunger. Two years of drought has malnutrition on the rise in Haiti. According to Meds and Foods for Kids, one in every five kids in Haiti is malnourished. As a result, one of our full-time missionaries at the orphanage, Rachel Charpie, recently began an out-paitient nutrition program that is helping saving lives. We have seen over 30 patients come through our outpatient clinic recently. 20+ are currently in the program with 15+ receiving regular well-checks after reaching a healthy weight in the program. In our outpatient program, patients receive Plumpy Nut (a ready to eat, peanut butter based bar) or Manna Packs (a fortified rice and soy blend) depending on the severity of their malnutrition.
Last Friday, this little 3 year old named Leonel was brought to our outpatient clinic. He is 3 but he is wearing the clothes of a 12 month old. Rachel is feeding him Plumpy Nut.
On the right is Leonel’s father, Leotess. He told me has 9 children and a wife. They live an hour’s walk from our Hope Center. He said he is a farmer but doesn’t own his land. That makes him something akin to a sharecropper – in Haiti! Currently, there is no farming for him to do. I asked him how he gets money for rice and beans to feed his family when there is no farm work. He said sometimes he gets odd jobs and sometimes they live in misery for a few days at a time. In fact, he told me his family had not eaten in two days.
Three Weeks Ago
The first of this month I was in Galette Chambon with the DOT company of Clinton and the Senior Pastor and Missions Pastor of FBC Pensacola.
The pastors from FBC Pensacola held a two-day Pastor’s Conference that was well-received by these area pastors who are displaying their Certificate for completing the conference.
We realized we had a nice contingent of Miss. College graduates at the Hope Center that week.
And finally . . .
As you can see, God is using But God Ministries in marvelous ways. Also, as you are aware, it takes a great deal of resources to do what God has called us to do. Would you please consider financially supporting BGM and our work in Haiti? Your gift will go a long way in helping us share the love of Christ in very tangible ways in that poverty-stricken nation.
You can give online HERE or send a check to: But God Ministries, 400 Fontaine Place, Suite 103, Ridgeland, MS, 39157. In addition, I ask for your prayers for wisdom and energy for our Haitian staff, our American staff in Haiti, our staff in the States, and our Board of Directors.
Can’t Wait To See What God Does Next,
Stan Buckley
Executive Director
But God Ministries