January Newsletter



Giving Tuesday 

On November 30th, Facebook held their annual Giving Tuesday event  For those who generously donated, Thank You! Your donations were matched by a donation grant by Candoris Technologies. Over all, with the grant we raised $5,820.00. This will go towards our rent for both homes.
 

Year End Giving

For those who gave a generous donation at the end-of-year, Thank you! If you would like a year end statement for tax purposes, please contact; nan@loveandgracehaiti.com
 

Meet Our Newest Boy
Lens, age 5, was brought to us in early January. With both of his parents deceased, Lens was in need of a home. Lens has a bubbly personality that fills a room with smiles and laughter.  He has started Kindergarten.  If you would like to sponsor Lens or know anyone who would like to, please go to our website; www.loveandgracehaiti.com and click on the sponsorship page, fill it out, and mail it, along with your first month's support to: Love and Grace Ministries - Haiti, 229 Blythe Island Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910. If you have any questions, please contact nan@loveandgracehaiti.com 
 

 

Church Mouse Grant

Love and Grace just received an $8,000 grant from The Church Mouse, a local thrift store on Hilton Head Island. With this money we will be able to purchase a generator for the boy's home, much needed furniture, bibles, and washing machines for both the boys' home and bridge home. We will also be able to further the older boys education as they learn a trade or attend college. With 25 boys in our homes, you can imagine how long it takes to do laundry by hand! The laundry women at the homes will be praising and singing when they see the new purchases.


 

Latest Update on Haiti

Haiti is still experiencing turmoil throughout the country. Gang violence continues to take over the country. People are afraid to leave their homes. Haiti has no government, other than an interim Prime Minister who is corrupt. Elections are scheduled to be held on February 7th for a new president, but no one knows who is going to run. They are expecting demonstrations and tire burning throughout the country.  At this time future mission teams will remain on hold. We are hopeful that as the safety of the country increases, we will be able to take teams down to visit with the boys.

Schools have opened and the boys are on a day-by-day basis as to whether they can travel to and from school. This is also true for our staff who have to travel to and from work.  

Rony and Kervensley, who were scheduled to retake their government exams to receive their high school diploma in August, were cancelled due to the unrest, will now take them February 21-24th. They have been studying very hard!

Wilson, Laurent, and Davidson Pierre Louis will find themselves in the same position this June. Please keep these boys in your thoughts and prayers as school in Haiti is not easy!

We have three boys taking music lessons. Dieuferson and  Donley are taking guitar lessons (We just purchased them guitars) and Ecclesiaste is learning keyboard. We have three more boys waiting patiently to join them. 

 

Did you know!

Haiti celebrates their Independence Day on January 1st each year. Over 200 years ago, Haitians fought France for their freedom after 145 years of slavery. During their enslavement to the French, Haitians were denied any access to squash soup. Soup Joumou, as it is called in Creole, was a sign of delicacy and wealth in the Caribbean nation, therefore the French made it off limits to their slaves. Haiti became the first free black nation in 1804 after a long 12 years of fighting. In order to celebrate their victory, Haitians across the country ate Soup Joumou for days on end! This tradition is still practiced to this day with the squash soup being eaten every Independence Day and every Sunday for those who can afford it. You can find a link below to a recipe if you would like to try it yourself!
https://www.caribbeangreenliving.com/how-to-make-haitian-soup-joumou/