by Steve Haddix | Sep 11, 2020 | Top 5
Staff Spotlight – Greg Estes
Greg joined the DV staff in January 2020 as Pastoral Training Director after having served in Haiti multiple times during weeklong mission trips since 2016. We appreciate Greg’s faithful work with our established Haitian pastors and the work he has also begun with our Next Generation Pastors as well as the Alex’s House older boys. Greg’s heart is to make disciples and he looks for intentional opportunities to engage the young men God puts in front of him. In addition, Greg is leading the partnership with Fontana Ministry located next door to Alex’s House where he oversees Sunday worship and weekly discipleship for both Fontana and AH children.
Annual DV Teacher’s Conference Held August 31st
With the anticipation of a new school year right around the corner, the annual DV teacher’s conference was buzzing with activity as the staff gathered from all of our partnering villages for a day of training and professional development. This was the day all DV teachers renewed their contracts for the upcoming school year as well. The teachers were very engaged with each other and utilized this time to network with colleagues and collaborate about various learning/teaching styles and the importance of building meaningful relationships with students. Please be in prayer for our students and teachers as they prepare to head into the new school year!
Alex’s House Younger Girls Small Group
Brooke Carson, DV Hostess is spending some quality time with the younger girls at Alex’s House each week during small group! They get together on Friday evenings for a little Bible lesson and small craft. This allows the kids to learn so much from their time together and it’s FUN! Recently, they learned about God’s promise and made colorful rainbows! The girls were all smiles and so excited at their created masterpieces! This also offers weekly opportunities for our older AH kids to translate for Brooke!
Jack-of-all-Trades where it Matters Most!
Britt Smallwood can be found just about anywhere in Haiti! He might be doing mechanic work one minute and construction work the next! He will suddenly appear out of nowhere in his Sunday best with a Bible in hand ready to lead a group of guys toward Jesus through Bible study! An hour later, you might find him one-on-one with a young Haitian having a serious conversation in Creole! Britt speaks the language quite well making him invaluable to many of our American staff that is still learning the language. We are so thankful to have Britt and his willingness to serve wherever needed!
No Ill Effects of COVID-19 in any of our Villages
We are so thankful to report there have been no COVID-19 effects reported in any of our partnering villages. All church buildings continue to post hand-washing stations so everyone can exercise good hand washing prior to entering the church building for any meetings. We invite you to pray that God will continue to protect our Haitian villages from a Coronavirus outbreak.
by Steve Haddix | Aug 9, 2020 | Top 5
1. Davis Family Makes Move to Haiti
Jamey Davis, our new DV Missions Director and family began the month of July praying that they would receive passports for his wife, Elizabeth and son, Elisha in time for their August 3rd departure date to Haiti. In God’s perfect timing, the passports arrived on July 30Th! The Davis family of five will finally make their new home in Haiti! Please be in prayer for the Davis family as they settle in and get adjusted.
2. DV Plans to Expand Territory to Dominican Republic
Expanding our mission field to the Dominican Republic has been on our radar for a while, but the timing to move forward has never seemed right until recently. With 11 million people in the D.R., the opportunities to reach both Haitian and Dominican people groups are vast! We hope to have two to three teams minister in the D.R. this fall/winter and begin full-time ministry by 2021. Please pray that the Lord would continue to open doors and prepare the way for this incredible opportunity!
3. Mayard Feeding Program to Begin
The people in the village of Mayard are so excited about the upcoming school year! We will be kicking-off the new year with a school feeding program, and that means students will be able to learn with a full tummy! In preparation, we’ve already purchased kitchen utensils, plates and cups so we are ready to begin serving our students very soon! We will begin the process of hiring cooks in the next few weeks as we meet with the teachers and parents to get books ordered and uniforms purchased. Thank you to Summerville Church and Pastor Randy Harling as well as First Baptist Church Loretto and Pastor Kevin Cheatham for their support through sponsorship!
4. Haiti Fairing Well During COVID-19 Global Pandemic
Home to nearly 11 million people, Haiti has had 7,300 reported cases of COVID-19 resulting in 160 deaths. We are so grateful to report there have been no COVID-19 related illnesses in any of our villages. We thank God for these low numbers and ask that you join us in prayer as we seek the Lord’s protection over the Haitian people.
5. 2020 Corporate Sponsors
We would like to give special recognition to our 2020 corporate sponsors for their generous support to the ministry at Disciples’ Village! Without the donations of these businesses, it would be impossible to do all that God has called us to do here in Haiti! If you are able to utilize the services of our partnering sponsors please support them as they continue to support the work we are doing here in Haiti!
by Steve Haddix | Jul 8, 2020 | Top 5
1. Alex’s House Remains Healthy Amid COVID-19
Our Haitian staff members are doing an incredible job carrying out the procedures we have in place while things are being affected by the coronavirus. We are thankful to report there have been no health effects on any of our Alex’s House kids or staff and we continue to pray that God will protect them and keep them healthy and safe.
2. Sponsorship Sunday for Mayard Village
We are excited to announce First Baptist Church Loretto led by Pastor Kevin Cheatham and Associate Pastor Chris Dodson of Loretto, TN will be partnering with the church in the village of Mayard. On June 14th, they hosted a sponsorship Sunday where several of our DV team members were able to attend. The congregation covered 40 food sponsorships! As primary school food sponsors, this will allow us to begin a lunch program immediately in the village of Mayard. We cannot thank First Baptist Church Loretto enough for their generosity and look forward to how God will change lives in this village!
3. Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies Ministry Thrives
Two of our partnering villages, Cadanette and Dahl, are participating in the Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies Ministry. In total, the two villages have had 22 women enrolled. HMHB offers support to expecting mothers through regular visits with the DV nurse, Andremene. She offers training for moms before and after delivery to make certain moms are taking pre-natal vitamins, tracks growth of the baby once born and observes for any early signs of malnutrition. Moms are educated and encouraged to get their baby’s vaccinated. Most of our moms deliver in the hospital, but we are also seeing healthier home deliveries as a result of implementing HMHB pre-natal care.
4. Growing Leaders at Alex’s House
It is so heart warming to watch our older Alex’s House girls grow into young women of God. For the past several months, Shersty has spent a lot of time with the girls diving deeper into God’s word while also having great topical discussions about life. As Shersty headed back to the states for a visit, our sweet girl, Jenny has stepped up to facilitate the ongoing Bible study. She has translated prep sheets that will last until the end of July so the girls can continue to learn and grow. Technology allows Shersty to stay connected with the girls through WhatsAPP so she can continue to send outlines, materials and voice messages. They are really enjoying this time of growing in the Lord.
5. American Missionaries Returning to Haiti Soon!
The airport has finally opened up although it may still be a bit before airlines have enough passengers to book inbound flights. We are hopeful that our American DV staff can get back on the ground in Haiti by the latest of mid-August. There is a lot of great work to get done and we cannot wait to have the opportunity to get back and serve.
by Steve Haddix | Jun 5, 2020 | Top 5
1. Feeding Program Continues Amidst Government Changes
With heightened concern for the coronavirus, strict Government guidelines have been established throughout Haiti. This called for an alternate approach for food distribution in our partnering villages during the month of May. Groups of 6 or more people can no longer gather making it impractical to continue the school-feeding program in its usual manner. We implemented a plan to provide rice, beans, spaghetti and cooking oil to all schools with established Disciple’s Village feeding programs that would allow the Pastor to assume the responsibility of rationing the food supply according to each families size.
2. Leadership in Action
We are so proud of Mickey and Remy, two of our older boys from Alex’s House! On May 24th, they stepped up without hesitation to lead the morning church service at Fontana while Pastor Dorcean was unable to attend due to sickness. Mickey led worship and Remy shared a devotion! According to Shersty, these two young men did an amazing job!
3. Creole and French Resources Available
We are grateful for Delight Thyself Ministries out of Hurricane, WV who is partnering with us as a resource for FREE Bible tracts! A huge thanks goes out to Ganaud for translating the tracts from English to Creole and French in exchange for the tracts! The most recent translation is called “Hope in the Darkness” and we pray daily for continued opportunities to pierce the darkness of Haiti with the hope of Jesus!
4. Women in Business Pivot to Goat Sales
A group of women recently completed a business-training refresher arranged by Shersty Stanton, Women’s Advancement Director, in hopes to sell various products such as Haitian rice, vegetables, oil, vinegar and spices at the local market. After checking in with the ladies, it was clear the economy would not sustain enough sales of these various products. The training group agreed it would be best to purchase goats to sell so not to suffer any greater losses. In the coming months when restrictions ease up, the business owners plan to return to their “ti commerce” or small business opportunities. Keep these hard working ladies in your prayers!
5. Flag Day Celebration May 18th
Flag Day is one of the most celebrated holidays in Haiti. This year celebrations were toned down due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the Alex’s House kiddos still managed to observe this special day in Haiti’s history.
by Steve Haddix | May 10, 2020 | Top 5
1. Mission Teams Reschedule
Mission Director, Jamey Davis has spent most of April sheltering in with his family stateside while using this time to connect with mission teams to discuss rescheduling for later dates in the year. We are looking forward to hosting teams in the future and can’t wait to see all that God has planned!
2. Rescheduling the School Year
Vice President Steve Haddix, School Superintendent Pastor Ensor and Pastor Ganaud have reached a difficult decision on the 2019-20 school year. Because of countrywide protesting, followed by COVID-19, the students were only able to complete 73 of the usual 193 days of classroom instruction. As a result of these uncontrolled circumstances, we plan to have each student repeat the school year and refrain from promoting to the next grade level to ensure each student does not fall behind academically.
3. Facebook Birthday Fundraisers
We are in the process of getting our Facebook page set up for birthday fundraisers! The required paperwork is submitted and all we need is the green light for approval. Stay tuned for more information because we would love to partner with you and celebrate your birthday BIG!
4. Sheltering In Place at Alex’s House
With everyone hunkered down in Haiti in response to COVID-19, having a little fun and making memories is at the top of the list for our Alex’s House girls! Shersty, Women’s Advancement Director remains in Haiti and during this time of lockdown with limited work she can be found hosting a dance party, working out, or playing basketball with the girls! They have also honed their kitchen skills by making chilli and cookies together. The slower pace has been such a sweet time of opportunity for deeper connection and getting to know and enjoy the blooming personalities of our girls.
5. Continue to Pray for Haiti
Father, Thank you for the people of Haiti and the opportunities you’ve given us at Disciples’ Village to reach your people. We know there is more work to be done here and we ask that you continue to guide us and provide all that is needed to carry out the work you have planned. We ask that you cover the Country of Haiti with your Sovereign hand of protection against any widespread virus threatening your people. We ask that you contain any known cases and use the medical personnel placed in Haiti to successfully care for those in need. Use this time of uncertainty to draw people unto yourself. Push back the darkness and confusion that tends to fall on the Haitian people as a result of the dark culture that has prevailed for so many years. Open the eyes of their hearts so they may see truth ! Amen.
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