December 1, 2021
Happy Holidays!!! HCH exists to meet spiritual, nutritional, educational, social, and medical needs of Haitian children in Barbeau and Destra areas. Thanks for your prayers and financial contributions to each of these areas!
We are in our 10th year of serving the area and 7th year of school. Haiti’s Children’s Hope has over 290 children in school, grades Kindergarten to 8th Grade. We are feeding approximately 7,000 meals monthly. Our Kid’s Clubs have up to 400 each Saturday.
This year we had the opportunity to add a small farm and a 4th and 7th grade garden program. We are in the last stages of adding a water well at the farm for irrigation. We are in the final phase of completing a modern kitchen to support our food program. Moving from wood burning to propane should be more efficient. Having a cafeteria will get the kids out of the classroom for lunch.
December brings us to Christmas once again. Generally speaking, children’s birthdays and Christmas are not marked with gifts or celebration in Haiti. Christmas is a joyous time, but not a time of abundance of gifts for our students. It is a time to celebrate God’s gift to us. HCH plans to provide a birthday celebration for Jesus and special nutritional food gifts and candy for each of the children, teachers, and support staff. This year’s kind gifts were provided by a church in Northern Nebraska.
In early December 2017, I was in Haiti, planning our first official Christmas, in a world of deep, dark, poverty. We were a small, but growing organization. Before I left Haiti, an HCH artificial Christmas Tree was purchased with decorations and lights. It was wonderful watching our Haitian Director, purchase and plan all of this. It was fascinating to watch 5 grown men work and plan, as we lit the decorated tree, at night. We started the donated generator, to power the lights and the men stared in awe, as if it was their first Christmas ever. I enjoyed the moment, as our cultures crossed. Perhaps, they thought of past Christmas experiences or lack thereof; and the fun experiences the children would have this year.
We are looking forward to 2022 with great expectation. I would like to thank all of our volunteers, contributors, and teams that have worked to provide funds, or have prayed for our efforts this year. We are anticipating finishing many important projects; including a farm water well, poultry and fish farm, kitchen and cafeteria, medical clinic expansion, and a water purification system.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all. May we always remember the true reason for Christmas, as we celebrate God’s gift to us.
In Jesus for His Children,
Jacob Wilson, President HCHO