VBS at HATS Haiti

As some of you know, I cannot be in Haiti at this time because of the gang situation. I am very much still involved, however, and in touch with Luckner regularly..

Awhile back Luckner, our on-site HATS-Haiti Director and our IMKH School Director, told me he wanted to do something for the children in our area. He wanted to have them come for a week where they would be fed physically and spiritually and also have fun.  I responded asking if he was talking about Vacation Bible School. If so, I was all for it! He was indeed. I gave a resounding Yes to move ahead on this. I really wished I could be there for it.

Luckner scheduled it for July 24th and purchased food and supplies for that week. He registered 100 kids as he thought that was all he could handle. Well, on the weekend prior to July 24th, the gang members returned to our area and caused a lot of trouble, especially in the Liancourt area again, killing, kidnapping, burning houses and businesses, including the town’s radio station. Everyone was terrified again, quickly leaving our area. Luckner needed to postpone the VBS for a week to see if it would be safe to try it the week of July 31st.

On Monday July 31st, the first day of VBS, the 100 registered kids turned up, plus 30 unregistered kids too, for a total of 130. Of course he did not turn any away and stretched the food prepared for the two meals for that day. He saw that the kids ate twice a day, shortly after they arrived and again early afternoon. (There is a very serious hunger problem in Haiti, in both children and adults.)

The day was an awesome success. Day 2 saw 141 there. On Day 3 more older kids started to come, so he enlisted one of the two pastors he had already helping, to teach something different to those older kids. They were taught on Sexuality and God’s Word. He had originally enlisted the help of 2 pastors and four other people so VBS week could be run properly.

On Friday, day 5, he had 150 in attendance. It was a great week for everyone, a tremendous success. The young teenagers and the older teens learned how to make shampoo, chlorox, vinegar and liquid soap, as well as learned from God’s word. With Bible references, they were taught on the subject: Being a Positive Model or a Negative Model in Life. Luckner had borrowed or rented from someone a small pool that the little kids had an absolute ball in. The older ones played soccer and other games.

The kids had very sad faces as they left the school yard on the last day. For some it was their only holiday week. Our kids in North America have so much and for these kids it was a vacation week. The best part of their summer was to be able to attend VBS, be taught from God’s word, to play and to be able to eat twice a day. When they left they were saying a lot of thank yous to those who ran it and to those in Canada who had made it possible and permitted them to attend the VBS week. A huge Thank You goes to our on-site director, Luckner Estimable.

Luckner wrote to thank our supporters: ‘Mesi, Thank You, Mesi, Thank you’ -so many times for this special week of blessing the children. He said he is asking God to continue to bless all who helped make this possible.

He told me how hungry people in our area really are. He asked if he could possibly do some Food Gift Packages to get into the hands of the most desperate. He has our kids who could work with him on the food preparation. Dickie (our Treasurer) has sent down some food money. For this Luckner is extremely thankful. He will take care of this, and many extremely hungry people in our area will receive some food.

He said thank you very much on behalf of all parents and children who will benefit from the food.

Matthew 25:35a ‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink’

Now for some sad news. There is a bad fever in our area right now, and this week 2 of our school students died. One was a pre-schooler and one was in grade 7. This grade 7 student was a friend of 3 of our HATS-Haiti kids.

Would you please pray for the families and the friends of these 2 precious children. And please pray for the other people in our area that this fever does not take more lives.

Thank you for all your past prayers for Luckner and the children. Because of this, they have been kept safe during very troubled and dangerous times. Thank you for your continuing prayers for the same reason and for the fever that is affecting too many people.

Love and God Bless you all,
Karen