“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer. Share with God’s people who are in
need…” Romans 12:12-13
June 29, 2014
Vocational Program providing source of
income for Haitian families
The vocational program continues to grow. A jewelry
program started last Fall is giving eight young women the
opportunity to earn a fair wage to help support themselves
and their families. Jewelry is brought to the United States and
sold, with the proceeds used to help fund the program in Haiti.
A special “thank you” goes to Shannon Simpson for her
tireless efforts in preparing jewelry kits and selling the jewelry
once it gets back to the United States! If you are interested in
purchasing jewelry, contact Shannon at: 636-357-5389 or
[email protected]
Edouard continues to teach people gardening skills. The
food grown is given to students, providing fresh produce for
their tables. The vocational program will soon expand to
sewing, hygiene, computer and English classes.
Office space is being constructed on the lower level of the
school building to give our newest staff member Allison
Owens space to administer the program and to provide a
secure storage space for supplies.
Kayla Meyer, intern at House of Hope
Welcome Allison!
Allison Owens, our newest staff member, just graduated
with a Masters Degree in International Disaster Psychology
from the University of Denver. Allison is not new to House
of Hope. During her previous visits she established close
relationships with the girls and staff. She will manage the
vocational program and will work with schools to help
teachers develop strategies.
She will also work with
students that require special help. Allison is a valuable
addition to our staff. Her creativity and dedication are a real
blessing.
Rosemary Cushman begins
handprint project with the girls.
We are blessed by creative people! Rosemary Cushman,
from St. Louis, MO made her first trip to Haiti this May. She
began working on a project that uses the girls’ handprints to
decorate quilts, pillows and other items. Plans are being
formulated on how these products can be offered for sale to
both raise awareness of Haiti and help provide support for the
children.
Kayla Meyer is interning at House of Hope for six weeks this
summer. She has extensive experience leading in children's
programs both in her home church and at Macgomery Christian
Service Camp. She has a love for children and is making use
of her musical talents to serve in Haiti. Kayla has a servant’s
heart and has volunteered, doing manual labor at The
Sparrow’s Nest Maternity Home, inner city ministries or
wherever else called. Kayla shared her philosophy: “If I can
help children to come to know Jesus or disciple those who
already do, I know I am carrying out His kingdom work.”
Allison Owens and Rosemary Cushman
helping House of Hope girls place their handprints on fabric for the quilting project.
Kayla putting together a puzzle with two of the girls.
P.O. Box 45298 • St. Louis, MO 63145-5298 • (314) 344-4364 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: http://www.ahbz.org
Difference Maker– June 29, 2014 page 2
Thank you, Steve Tompkin
To our sponsors and friends,
We want to share some recent life events. Easter week,
Carl was short of breath and ended up in Missouri Baptist
Hospital, coming out with a pacemaker. He has been
released and “tested” it on several roller coasters at Silver
Dollar City.
After over 48 years at Boeing, and its predecessors, Carl is
taking advantage of Boeing’s voluntary retirement offer and
will retire September 19. Our freedom will allow us to travel
more, research our family tree and do some projects with
Carl’s father’s art. By being a consultant, Carl will continue to
keep his finger on the pulse of an industry where he has made
considerable contributions over the years.
We continue our commitment to Haiti and AHBZ. The
additional freedom will allow us to travel and meet with our
supporters outside of the St. Louis area.
We are blessed by wonderful volunteers around the
country and a dedicated support staff in St Louis. Carl looks
forward to managing the completion of the clinic and
expanding our churches. Please see the article about what is
next with the clinic an how you can be involved.
Carl and Carole
Steve serves as one of our board members. He also heads
up the Kids Against Hunger program at Hope Lutheran Church in
St. Charles, MO. Over 500 boxes of Kids Against Hunger will be
going to Haiti because of his commitment.
In addition to helping organize two runs a year, his latest
project is to refurbish a diesel generator.
Steve, you are truly making a difference in Haiti!
Container shipped
After many months of delay, waiting for Haitian paperwork, a
40 foot ocean freight container finally shipped from Highland,
Illinois on May 10th. As of this writing, it is sitting at the Antillean
Marine container yard, waiting to get through the red tape that is
so common in Haiti. Meanwhile, the organization is being
charged $30 a day in dock fees.
The container is holding a compete dental office, including two
chairs and two x-ray units donated by Dr. Mark Alward, from St.
Louis. This will be a great asset for the clinic. It also holds Kids
Against Hunger meals that provide relief for many starving
families, peanut butter and 75 boxes of soccer supplies for The
Pitch soccer program.
While shipping a container may seem expensive, it is still the
most economical way to ship a large volume of food, clothing and
equipment. The cost still puts a crimp in our budget. Between
freight charges, licensing fees and other costs in Haiti, the total
bill will be approximately $9,500 US. Please consider a one-time
gift to help offset the costs.
Harvester Christian Church Hosts Soccer Camp
The Pitch is a soccer-based youth outreach program in
Tabarre, Haiti. Through our soccer teams and training
programs, we are able to teach the importance of selfdiscipline, teamwork, personal health, and the Gospel. Our goal
is simple: to provide a safe place for kids to play a game they
love while showing them they are loved by God. A group of men
and women from Harvester Christian Church hosted a soccer camp
June 22-30 culminating with a Haitian-American match. You can
guess who won! Visit us at www.thepitchhaiti.org or follow “the Pitch”
on Facebook
Paul and Kate’s Corner
The Pitch is in full swing and has been a very exciting program.
Through it we have been able to start a team of 17 boys, ages 1114, and give them a safe place to come play the sport they love, but
also use soccer to build relationships with these kids and their
families. These relationships have allowed us to show Christ to
these kids, as Eduar, a House of Hope employee, leads them in a
devotion and team prayer every practice. It has also given me and
the two coaches, Ralph and Reuben, a chance to be a positive male
role model and encouragement to these boys. Many boys in Haiti
don't have or know their father, and many of them never get a good
example of how a man should behave. Getting to know these boys
has been one of the most fulfilling things I have been privileged to
take a part in. Through "The Pitch" I have also been able to play with
and meet some guys 17 years and older. Over half of them are not
believers and the relationships I have been able to build has given
me, and the guys on our staff, the opportunity to be a strong
example of Christ to these guys. We are looking forward to the
summer groups that are visiting, one of which will be hosting a
soccer tournament and camps. It will be amazing to get to introduce
these kids to more people and more influence towards Christ.
Thanks for you prayers and support.
Paul
As the 2013-2014 school year is coming to an end, everyone at
House of Hope is looking forward to the summer! We have some
exciting things to look forward to. Similar to last year, the House of
Hope kids will continue to learn cooking, cleaning, hygiene, and
laundry skills from our wonderful staff. In addition, I will be working
with our older kids to help them broaden their English speaking
skills, and will be introducing them to typing and computer use.
Having these skills in Haiti can open up more job opportunities,
something that our older kids will benefit from in their futures. Paul
and I will continue to work alongside the children on their spiritual
growth and development, setting aside specific times each week
for a Bible class and teaching time, both for the older kids and the
younger kids. We also have a summer intern coming that will work
on teaching the children how to play music, with the goal of putting
on a concert at the end of her stay. We're looking forward to
hosting Kayla! In between all of these new projects, we will be
hosting and assisting with a number of work teams. We are looking
forward to the fun, exciting, busy summer ahead of us at House of
Hope. Thank you for your prayers and support. We appreciate
each one of you!
Kate
Difference Maker– June 29, 2014 page 3
What happens on a mission trip?
These photos are from the eighth mission trip by Stillwater Christian Church. They are a glimpse of what might happen on a
typical mission trip. Each work team has its own personality and is met with something unexpected. We always say there is a Plan,
then Plan A, then Plan B, then what actually happens! For example: The van repairs were unexpected, as was a sewer repair. But,
still, there were time for devotions on the roof every evening, and plenty of time for building relationships with the girls and with
each other. Also, we can’t forget, the trip the tropical beach with a baptism in the ocean at the end of it all!
Acting out the Prodigal Son story.
(Yes, those are pig noses.)
Playing games with the girls on the new property, with the
soccer field in the background.
Washing the feet of our dear “grannies” as an act of
service. These women have lived long lives caring for
their families, most without recognition. Now, it was
their time to receive pampering.
Removing, repairing and replacing a cracked oil pan in
our old van along with repairing leaky brakes. Our
vehicles get quickly destroyed on the Haitian roads, no
matter how careful you are.
Thank you to the Paraguay UN for building new
bathrooms and showers, demolishing the old
facility and installing a new water tank.
Special need for donation of a used
extended cab pickup truck
Workers constructed a security wall between the
facility in the background and the orphanage to
the left. Cost of the wall was $1750.
A special thank you goes to those who have donated
vehicles in the past. Thank you to Jeff Lindner for donation of
a Subaru Impreza and Carl and Carole Vorst for donating their
Astro van and a 1995 Mazda Tribute. The van already had a
new engine installed that was shipped to Haiti, and is due to
get new springs that will soon arrive on the latest container. It
is on its “last legs”. A number of front end parts have been
replaced on both of the older vehicles.
There is a desperate need for donation of a solid extended
cab pickup truck. The vehicle can be donated and reported at
its fair market value to the IRS. The organization can pay the
costs of getting the vehicle to the dock in Miami. Cost of
shipping and licensing in Haiti will be approximately $8000,
depending on the value of the vehicle..
Difference Maker– June 29, 2014 page 4
Work teams forming for 2015
Medical teamsBe part of a medical team during 2015. If you want
to help us make a difference in Haiti, contact Carole for
details. This next year will be a transition year as we
establish a Haitian staff for the clinic, with ongoing
training from American professionals. Medical work
teams will become even more important with the
medical skills they can teach. We are praying that
someone will be called to take over a management role
at the clinic, similar to what Paul and Kate do for the
orphanage. Four dates are scheduled for medical
teams in 2015:
January 15-19
April 16-20
July 16-20
October 15-19
Other work teamsWork teams play a significant role in the life of
House of Hope, vocational training, the church and The
Pitch soccer programs. A number of groups schedule
annual trips to assist with ministries. Slots filled up fast
for this year’s mission trips. Let Carole know if you are
interested in finding out more on availability.
Clinic update
Plans are progressing for opening of the George Shinn medical
clinic. A business plan is in place and a group of professionals are
working together to formalize operating plans. The next big hurdle
will be obtaining a license for operation.
Through a gift from a generous donor, and the proceeds of the
Haiti 5K and 10K run (see below), a good portion of operating
costs will be covered.
While the structure is complete, funds are still needed for
building a new septic tank, finishing the waiting area in front of the
building and completing interior finishes on the second and third
floors. These two floors will be used for work team and resident
medical personnel living space, patient overflow and storage.
The immediate need is installation of a septic system. The cost
of this project is $14,031. This was not included in the original
estimate because it was determined that a nearby septic system
for the school building did not have sufficient capacity to serve
both the clinic and current programs in the school building. Please
consider a one time gift to help with this project. Cost of a rooftop
water tank and piping are covered by existing funds designated for
the clinic.
Completion of interior work and construction of the waiting area
shown below, will be completed as funds are available. They are
not as critical as getting sewer and water system working.
Clinic to serve needs in a country where
health care is out of reach of most people
The George Shinn Clinic will help satisfy a critical
healthcare need.
Few medical clinics are available in
neighborhoods. Even though fees are very small by U.S.
standards, they place medical care out of reach of most
Haitians. As a result, many people depend on treatment
based on salves and superstitions that do not work.
When Haitian physicians were asked how the heath care
system could be supported, their overwhelming request was
for basic health and hygiene teaching. When fully operational,
the clinic will not only provide treatment for diseases which
may seem minor here but can be life threatening in Haiti, but
will also provide a base for teaching about disease prevention
and care of the body.
Rendering of the future clinic waiting area.
5th annual Hope for Haiti 5K & 10K to support operation of the George Shinn Foundation clinic
This year, the goal is to raise
over $12,000 dollars to
provide
$1000
monthly
support for the George Shinn
Foundation (House of Hope)
Medical Clinic.
Mailing address:
Amer-Haitian Bon Zami
PO Box 45298, St. Louis, MO 63145
The 5th annual Hope for Haiti 5K and 10K will be held on Saturday
July 12th, 2014 in Frontier Park, St. Charles, MO. Both the 5K and
10K runs begin promptly at 8am, with the one mile fun run/walk
starting at 8:05am. Registration and packet pickup will be available on
Friday July 11th, 2014 at Hope Lutheran Church in St. Charles, MO
from 5pm - 7pm. Registration is available online or by mail by using
the mail-in registration form. If you know of a place to advertise this
race, please print off and display the race poster. For registration
information and to download the poster, go the race website:
http://www.hopeforhaiti5k.com .
Shipping address:
Amer-Haitian Bon Zami
11146 Morrow Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074
(314) 344-4364 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: http://www.ahbz.org