New Life
Around 4:30 Wednesday morning, a Haitian husband brought his pregnant wife to the Hope Center for the birth of their child. Within an hour or two a beautiful baby was born. It was heartwarming to see the husband/father since the fathers do not usually come to the Hope Center with the mothers.
Mom with her new baby
Tony presenting certificate of birth to mom and dad
Preparing to go home only a couple of hours after the birth
People waiting to see the doctor or dentist yesterday morning. At least 30 people arrived at the clinic at 3:00 in the morning. Many more came later. We had a dentist from Lake, MS and an ER doctor from Wilmington, NC seeing patients.
Remote Village
We went to the remote, mountainous village of Thoman on Wednesday. This is the place where we will begin construction on a new Hope Center in 2014. Thoman has no electricity or running water. No medical care. The poverty is extreme.
While there, we visited with a family that has a mom, dad, and numerous children. They live in a stone hut that has dirt floors and two rooms. Each room is very dark and is about 7′ x 8′. I asked what they had eaten for lunch and they said they had eaten nothing. I asked what they would eat for dinner and they had no idea.
Several baskets were near the hut. The dad was making them to sell at a market. It takes him an entire day to make one basket. He sells them for $2.50. It takes him 5 hours to walk to the market. Extreme poverty. This is why we will be expanding our work to the village of Thoman in 2014.
Beautiful child in a filthy dress standing outside her hut
Three of the children living in horrendous poverty in Thoman. They are eating cookies we had brought with us.
The mom had recently given birth to yet another child.
Children in Thoman attending their outdoor school
Measuring for the placement of the new Hope Center in Thoman
Location of the new Hope Center in Thoman
Garden at the Orphanage
Last week, a team from Pensacola, FL built a garden beside the orphanage. The garden will provide food for the children. In addition, the Pensacola team built a cistern that receives rain water from the roofs of the 4 orphanage buildings. They cistern will provide water for the garden.
Loved seeing this progress at the orphanage
It’s Here, It’s Here, It’s Here!
The container we shipped from the U.S. finally made it to the Hope Center on Tuesday afternoon. We had to rent a crane to unload the contents. The items donated and sent on the container are tools that will help us to continue to meet needs and provide opportunities for some of the poorest people in the world.
Removing the container from the flatbed truck
Unloading the donated skid steer
We unloaded this donated, 60kw generator that will allow us to operate all of our previously built buildings plus the church, orphanage, and agriculture missionary house.
Auburn University
We have formed a partnership with the Auburn University College of Architecture, Design, and Construction (CADC). Nine professors from Auburn went with me to Haiti in September to study the site in Thoman for the new Hope Center. Two students in the CADC are doing their senior thesis on the new Hope Center. They are producing designs, drawings, and construction models for the new Hope Center as well as creating a new design for the houses we build.
Professors huddled at site where new Hope Center to be built
Auburn professors taking a lunch break near the site of the new Hope Center
Agriculture professors meeting with local farmer
Students, along with professor, making presentation to us last week at offices of Brasfield and Gorrie, General Contractors, in B’ham
Finally
As you can see, much progress is being made as we continue our work to share the love of Jesus Christ through building sustainable communities in Haiti. Please continue to pray for our work. Your prayer support is very important to us because of the endless challenges of working in a country like Haiti.
Also, please know that it takes many resources to do the work we are doing. If you would like to participate in our work, you can send your check to But God Ministries at 1440 North State Street, Jackson, MS, 39202 or give online HERE.
Can’t Wait To See What God Does Next,
Stan Buckley
Executive Director
But God Ministries
CONCERT
Broadway is coming to Jackson! I am thrilled to report that a veteran Broadway star will be performing a benefit concert for But God Ministries.
His name is J. Mark McVey. He has played the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway, in London, and on the 25th Anniversary Tour. In fact, Mark has over 3,200 performances of Les Mis to his credit.
Mark has sung at Carnegie Hall and with major symphonies around the world. He made his PBS debut with the Boston Pops and followed that performance with the PBS Christmas Special for the U.S. Military Troops where he was featured with Marvin Hamlisch and The National Symphony Orchestra. I could go on and on, but the best part is that Mark is coming to Jackson! Below are the details for the concert:
- Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2013
- Place: Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center
- Time: 6:00 p.m. Silent Auction
- Time: 7:00 p.m. Concert
- Cost: $40 – general admission
Mark will be singing many Broadway standards as well as a number of Christian songs. Of course, he will be singing his own version of the popular Les Mis song, “Bring Him Home.”
Frankly, it’s not that often we have a veteran Broadway performer in Mississippi. Won’t you join Mark and But God Ministries for the benefit concert on October 15, 2013? All proceeds will go to support the work of But God Ministries in Haiti.
If you are unable to attend the concert, would you purchase a ticket that we could give to music students or others who might not otherwise be able to attend?
You can purchase tickets online HERE or by calling 601-983-1179.
Your participation in this exciting event will enable us to continue providing spiritual care, health care, dental care, housing, jobs, job training, clean water, education, and agriculture production, among many other things. God continues to bless our efforts in Haiti as we provide a hand-up to hurting Haitians. So many lives have been changed over the last two years and we can’t wait to see what God does next!
Stan Buckley
Executive Director
But God Ministries