by Steve Haddix | Sep 16, 2022 | Top 5
Disciples village nurse, Ms. Andremene, has been quite busy over the last month and we are so thankful to have her on staff to serve many in need! Her professionalism and expertise are such a blessing to the children and expectant moms she serves. The work she is doing makes a huge difference in restoring and maintaining health in an already ‘at risk’ population!
The Disciples Village schools who a feeding program in place also have a malnourishment tracking and training program that Nurse Andremene oversees. She continually monitors the status and progress of the children from the time they begin the program. Andremene visits the schools on a rotation and collects height and weight data allowing her to monitor the BMI for adequate nutritional intake. If any child in the program is identified as having a decreased weight consistent with moderate to severe malnutrition, she provides multivitamins monthly while also continuing to closely monitor the weight of those children.
Nurse Andremene also provides very important education through our Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Program targeting expectant mother’s as well as those moms who have delivered their babies and are now breastfeeding. Kits are distributed to the moms through this program that include the following items: pampers, soap, alcohol, toothpaste, crackers, rice and beans.
We are so thankful to have Andremene serving as the staff nurse for Disciples’ Village and ask that you keep her and the people she ministers to in your prayers.
by Steve Haddix | Jul 14, 2022 | Top 5
1. Alex’s House Kids Bring Home Awards
We’re so proud of the hard work and dedication of our Alex’s House students! Throughout the school year they’ve spent time each Saturday working with a tutor to help prepare for school exams. In addition, some of our students joined the academic team and pulled out a championship win against other schools in the area! We want to congratulate each of our Alex’s House students for a job well done! They’ve had an incredible school year and we are so proud of the hard work they’ve put into their academic endeavors! Thank you to our House Parents for the love and dedication consistently shown to each of our kids. Each of our House Parents are a true blessing!
Pictured left to right: Dorie, Pierre, Sterline, Wawens and Mike. (Not pictured is Dawens)
2. Disciples’ Village Schools Complete Another School Year
We are so thankful that we were able to finish our school year on time. In the wake of struggles from the prior school year, this year ran much smoother for the most part. There were some isolated events in a couple of our villages resulting in the cancellation of a couple of weeks of school; however, our dedicated staff and students extended their school days and even made some days up by cutting holiday weeks short so that all of our students could finish testing together. Our school leadership and staff have done an excellent job leading day-to-day activities in each of our schools. Although our American staff have not been permitted to travel to Haiti for some time now, the work has continued! We have exceptional Haitian staff who are continuing to step up and lead well.
3. Inflation in Haiti
Haiti is not exempt from the soaring inflation that we are experiencing in the United States. Unfortunately, diesel has increased nearly 80% in a year, food prices and supplies have increased 53%. Rising costs has caused a great deal of hardship on the poorest of Haitians and it has also forced Disciples’ Village to become more creative with managing supplies and food for our schools. Thankfully, we have been blessed with the ability to continue feeding our students in the village schools daily. However, we have been forced to change the menu to offer a more “inexpensive” meal. All students are still eating hot meals daily, but a little less variety is offered to keep costs down. We currently serve rice and beans 2-3 times a week depending on food expenses for the month. Some items are nearly impossible to locate such as propane and gasoline.
4. We Need 49 Sponsors at Alex’s House
Would you please prayerfully consider sponsoring one of our Alex’s House children? We have need for a total of 49 sponsorships to cover our Alex’s House kiddos. For just $40.00 per month or $1.33 a day, you can make a life changing investment that will make such a huge difference!
Please click this link to sponsor a child or if you have questions contact Steve Haddix at steve@disciplesvillage.org or at 502-680-4135.
5. Thank You to Our Sponsors
With the end of the 2021-2022 school year behind us, we have already begun looking ahead to prepare for the 2022-2023 school year. Over the next couple of months, we will be buying schoolbooks, supplies and uniforms. We will also be searching for a new food supplier that may be able to sell us food at a more affordable and stable price.
Without our faithful and generous sponsors none of this would be possible. We are so thankful for our many sponsors that invest monthly into the lives of our Haitian students and families!
Though your investment:
- The gospel is being shared throughout eight villages.
- Pregnant women are given the opportunity to receive pre-natal vitamins, see their doctor on a regular basis and deliver in a hospital where the baby has a better chance to survive in the event of complications.
- Students have a hope for their future and can dream about what they want to be when they grow up.
- Haitian staff have a steady income they can count on to provide for their families.
- New roofs and kitchens are being built at our schools.
- Medical care is available in our villages for those that need it.
- Training for our pastors, inspiring business owners and families in our villages continuing monthly.
- Children are growing stronger and healthier both spiritually and physically.
Again, to all of you that continue to sponsor and invest in and through Disciples’ Village we say, “thank you!”
by Steve Haddix | Jun 14, 2022 | Top 5
1. DV School Feeding Program Helps Decrease Malnutrition
As the school year ended, Ms. Andremene, our DV nurse was busy finalizing end of year heights and weights for our students. This allows us to trend the student’s weight and monitor their growth. If any of our students show signs of malnutrition, the village pastors along with the nurse check in on the families during the summer to see if they have food to eat. Each year we have seen improvements in our student’s health and overall malnutrition declining. A special thanks goes out to every one of our sponsors who make feeding our students a daily meal possible. Your generosity and support provide life changing opportunities for our students! Thank you!!!
2. Alex’s House Staff Unite in Prayer Weekly
Our Alex’s House staff started meeting weekly to pray and encourage one another. Uniting with other believers in times of difficulty can be such a catalyst for strength and resolve in challenging times. The staff are intentionally praying for our kids at AH, the country of Haiti, and the DV ministry. The ladies meet each Monday, and the men meet every Thursday for prayer. This is such a great time for building community as they lift each other up in prayer.
3. Counseling Support Provided for AH Children
As our AH kids get older the need to offer support to these youngsters is becoming more evident. Processing issues of life are normal for everyone, and we are taking steps to offer space for our kids to do that. Pastor Leclerc, who has training as a counselor to families and children, has been meeting weekly with our Alex’s House kids. They discuss tragic events from our kids’ lives, sexual purity, and any abandonment pain they may be experiencing. Pastor Leclerc is our village pastor in Mayard, and we are so thankful to have him serve our kids in this way. Emotional health is so important, and we want to help our kids grow up to be healthy, stable, well-rounded adults.
4. Opportunities to Serve Haitians in the Dominican Republic
During the time while travel to Haiti has been hindered, Shersty Stanton has been serving alongside the Davis family in the DR. She has had some unique opportunities to translate for Haitian women in a pregnancy program located in one of the more impoverished parts of Santiago! Each week women come for lessons on pregnancy or beginning of life topics, vitamins, referrals for sonograms or labor and delivery. Sometimes they share thoughts about a verse of scripture they’ve heard. Shersty speaks great Creole and has been able to talk through many difficult life circumstances with several of the women. God also keeps placing other young, pregnant Haitian women whose families have disowned them into Shersty’s path. We look forward to seeing how God continues to work in these various situations.
5. Weekly Zoom Bible Study Continues with Older Guys
Pastoral Training Director, Greg Estes continues to facilitate weekly Bible study with the guys in the transition house. With travel to Haiti being on hold for our American missionaries, staying connected via technology is the next best thing. What started out as Greg leading the calls and teaching has slowly evolved into the guys taking the lead to discuss various lessons and dissect scripture for deeper meaning and life application! This has served as a lifeline for maintaining long-distance relationships and continued growth in the Lord.
by Steve Haddix | May 16, 2022 | Top 5, Uncategorized
1. 2022 DV Pastor’s Conference was a Huge Success
The 8th annual DV Pastor’s Conference was held in April, and we are so excited to have had the opportunity to host over 100 attendees! Pastor Dorcean and our partnering Haitian church Pastors put much prayer and effort into the preparations for the conference throughout the last few months. In the midst of unrest throughout the Country, our Haitian brothers and sisters continued to travel long distances to sit under the teaching of God’s Word! Our Haitian Pastors, led by Pastor Dorcean, did an outstanding job preaching and teaching through the book of Ephesians over the course of 3 days. We are so thankful to Pastor Dorcean, Pastor Neo, Pastor Wiltzer, Pastor Leonel, Pastor Lecler and Evangelist Ganaud for leading and teaching.
2. Davis Family Hosted Friends in the DR
The Davis family welcomed 3 longtime friends to the DR for a weeklong stay in April. From the time they stepped off the plane until they headed back to the states there was no shortage of odd jobs to get done while extra hands were on deck! The Davis party of five have been living in a 2-bedroom rental home while in the DR. After repurposing some space, the kitchen was moved outside to open an extra space for a 3rd bedroom. They were also able to get screens installed on all the windows to keep the flying/crawling things outside where they belong! Having familiar friends around for a week served as refreshment and encouragement to the Davis family! Continue to pray for the work they are doing in the DR!
3. Making Haitians Connections in the DR
Shersty is currently serving alongside the Davis family in the DR while travel to Haiti is hindered for a season. In God’s perfect timing, an organization that provides medical care in a slum that is majority Haitian held a training on women’s reproductive health/STI’s. This organization needed a translator and Shersty speaks great Creole! We are excited about this connection! Additionally, Shersty had the honor of interviewing women from two separate organizations that work with young women in sex tourism/sex trafficking/prostitution in Santiago and an ocean town, Sosua, for a research project on crisis intervention with female young adults in the international sex industry. This is an issue that is incredibly relevant for Haitian women in the DR and we cannot wait to see how God works in these connections!
4. Alex’s House Children’s Director Maintains Remote Connection with the Kids
Holly Vanco, AH Children’s Director, contacts our AH kiddos weekly via WHATS APP to stay connected while unable to travel to Haiti. The kids are all preparing for testing to wrap up the end of another school year. During this time, Bible study has been on hold for a bit. However, Holly contacted Pierre in April to ensure that he could continue to facilitate weekly Bible study with the older kids. While in the States, Holly serves the kids in her home church by teaching Sunday school as needed.
5. KY Sunday School Class Makes Precious Donation
Steve and Vickie Haddix recently shared about Haiti with a children’s Sunday school class in Lawrenceburg, KY about missions. They answered a lot of questions and there were several youngsters who expressed great interest! The class decided to sponsor one of our Alex’s House kids! Isn’t that amazing? Kids sponsoring kids! They also donated their weekly offering for the last couple of months to specifically go towards the needs at AH to buy clothing. The Haddix’s went shopping and bought several pairs of jeans and a few other items with the money. Seeing the heart of God in children is precious!
by Steve Haddix | Apr 9, 2022 | Top 5
1. Sponsorship Needed for Lourdemia at Alex’s House
Lourdemia is 13 years old and is currently in the 9th grade. Her favorite subject is English! Lourdemia has hopes of becoming a seamstress one day. For only $40.00 per month, you can invest in the future of Lourdemia. By doing so you can make such a difference in her future hopes and dreams. To start your sponsorship, click this link and following the prompts. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Haddix at steve@disciplesvillage.org
2. Update on DV Schools
Students have just completed their testing for the 3rd quarter of the school year. It’s hard to believe school will be out for the summer in a couple of short months! Our Haitian staff are doing an incredible job of keeping everything rolling and have really stepped up in their leadership roles. We are so proud of the wonderful job they are doing!
DV President, Steve Haddix, met with school leadership via Zoom on Tuesday March 29th to discuss registration for our next school year. We will begin registering students for the 2022-2023 school year as of Thursday, March 31st. Please pray as we finish out the 4th quarter of the current school year and begin to prepare for the new year this fall!
3. Davis Family Hosts Two Visionary Teams in the DR
March has been a busy month in the DR! The Davis family hosted 6 people from First Baptist Loretto to share what the Lord is doing! The team was able to serve in student ministry, provide teacher training, as well as preach and lead worship in a local church. They also built bunk beds and worked on the roof of the church where the Davis family attend. This group has plans to return with a mission team sometime this fall.
The 2nd group hosted was from First Baptist Church Decatur where Jamey Davis formerly pastored in TN. The new pastor and staff came to the DR seeking the LORD about being involved with future ministry opportunities. FBC Decatur has been a tremendous support to the Davis family and much of the ministry would not be possible without them! While in the DR, the church held a leadership conference, served in children’s ministry, and preached in the church where the Davis family attends. FBC Decatur is making plans to bring a group to the DR sometime in October.
4. Older Alex’s House Girls Move to New Transition House
The Alex’s House older girls made the exciting move into the Smith House! This will allow them to begin transitioning out of Alex’s House and become more independent as young adults. While living at the Smith House they will begin to cook some of their own meals and be responsible for keeping the house clean. Thank you, Bill Smith and Kathryn Kuhnert, for your generous donation to The Smith House in honor of your parents!
Pictured: Jenny, Nadege, Carline and Sterline on the front porch of The Smith House
5. Call to Prayer for Haiti and Dominican Republic
The last year has been a continuous cycle of challenges and we humbly ask that you please help us continue to pray intentionally for the following:
- The Country of Haiti and Leaders
- The Country of Dominican Republic and Leaders
- Disciples’ Village Pastors, churches, and schools
- Alex’s House Kids, House Parents, and other staff
- Fontana Church and Orphanage next door to Alex’s House
- Gang violence to cease
- Neighbors in Kaliko Village
- Pray for new ministry opportunities in the DR
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