MICROGRANTS:
Pastor Martin in Haiti recently shared a story. “A few weeks ago, a street vendor named Claudia happened to pass in front of my house. The very few things she had for sale caught my attention and broke my heart. I told my wife that we had to do something for her. A few weeks later, thanks to World Wide Village, we were able to help with a much bigger business. Thank you to everyone at World Wide Village for your love for Haiti and its people. I like this simple philosophy of ministry… do as much as you can, as often as you can, to as many as you can, for as long as you can.”
Giving a $500 microgrant might sound like a small gesture to many of us, but it can change the life of a family in Haiti. Today, instead of selling just a few tubes of toothpaste from a bucket carried on her head, Claudia has a small shop set up with a variety of personal care products. Her prayers for provision have been answered through your generosity. Praise God!
Meet even more families who have received microgrants over the last two months at: https://worldwidevillage.org/livelihood/
CURRENT SITUATION:
Gang violence continues to disrupt life in the capital of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. Weekly reports of gang raids and attacks cause instability and fear. Hundreds of thousands and possibly as many as one million Haitians have been displaced as gangs continue to wreak havoc.
We praise God that our rural area of Haiti has been quiet since the first of the year. Schools have remained open and students are learning. Many families have returned home since fleeing in October and are re-building their lives. Families continue to push forward with perseverance.
Even as families push forward, poverty is soaring. Countless families have no work as the instability has affected many areas of life. Building has come to a halt as families cannot afford to build homes and construction workers are struggling. Farming has been affected because the land has become gang territory and farmers are falling into poverty. Fishing is down as boats are often used for patrolling the waters and fishermen have little work. Life moves on, but the daily grind is tough.
With these ongoing struggles hurting families in Haiti, you are stepping in to fill the gap for many. You are helping keep children in school where they can have a safe place to learn and receive school lunches. You are helping provide food and new vocations for families in need. Thank you for being an ever-present help in trouble!
HAITIAN KANAVAL:
Haitians celebrated Kanaval (Carnival) last week. Haitian Carnival is a festival that takes place annually in Haiti. It’s an exciting time of music, dance, food, and parades throughout the streets of Haiti. Each year the celebration leads up to the final day on Mardi Gras.
Even though violence has dampened the celebration, students at the Luly School held a small party with homemade hats and lots of glitter. In the midst of ongoing struggles, it’s a blessing for students to just have fun!
