Doing for one what we wish we could do for all.
Prayer Needed
Prayer Needed
The last 24 hours have turned into something we could not have anticipated or expected. The staff and children of Tabarre 14 are currently surrounded by gunfire and gang members intent on taking over the police station in Clercine.
Monday we had our weekly leadership meeting, and we were so excited about the plans we were making for this week and Easter.
Tuesday we heard horrible stories out of a community north of Port-au-Prince, Mirebalais.
Yesterday was a normal day, though some parts of Port-au-Prince were having protests against the current insecurity.
But for us, it was a normal morning, and then a normal afternoon. The CCS children came for homework help and sports day.
But late in the afternoon, things began to change.
A warning about gunfire in the area started to circulate in security groups about the same time that Pastor Steeve was leaving the Caradeux location, headed home.
When Pastor Steeve was about halfway to his home, he was met with gunfire and had to turn around and return to Caradeux. Very few people were in the streets, and those who remained were moving quickly to find safety.
It has now been approximately 24 hours since this all happen, and Pastor Steeve still has not been able to return to his home. The community of Tabarre 14 has been in proximity to continual gunfire all this time. Our staff and all of the CCS Tabarre children, including the ones in this video, are being terrorized as Viv Ansanm tries to take control of the police station at Clercine, roughly a mile from where most staff and all CCS Tabarre children live.
Please pray with us that our community will be protected, despite the proximity to the violence, and pray that the Haitian National Police will be able to hold their position and fend off this advance from the gangs.
Pray that Pastor Steeve will find a way to return to his family soon. Being separated is hard on them all. Please say an extra pray for Caleb, Lorie, Stevenly, Widecherline, and Phebe. This is all so very hard on adults, but children do not have the coping skills we do.
Pray for peace in Haiti. As hard as things are for our community right now, many Haitians are enduring far worse circumstances.
Pray that we can continue to stand, by His grace, despite the great obstacles with which we continue to be confronted.
Thank you for continuing to love us and believe in us and pray over us, even as the days are ever darker. Thank you for investing in Haiti Awake and hoping with us that there are brighter days ahead.
And when the battle is over,
you will still be standing firm.
Ephesians 6:13
A day in Cap-Haïtien
A precious few days in Haiti
I have returned from a few days in Haiti.
Because there is no commercial air travel into Port-au-Prince, it took roughly 48 hours to arrive in Port-au-Prince and 48 hours of travel to return to Wilmington, but the long journey was worth the effort for the following reasons:
Time with Idelmy and Lorvens
Time with Davensky and Handy
Time with the boys at CERMICOL
Time with the children at CCS Caradeux
Time with staff
Time with EEGC
Time to connect with friends in Cap Haitien
Unfortunately, I was not able to go to Tabarre 14 yet again, and that was disappointing.
I left Wilmington Monday morning, overnighting in Florida. I then left for Haiti on Tuesday morning. The Lord worked it out that I was on the flight with my friend, Deb, who was going to Haiti to live for the first time. What a joy to be together on that trip!
Upon arrival in Cap Haitien on Tuesday, I met with another friend who recently arrived in Haiti to work. We had lunch and great conversation. The rest of the day was spent with Idelmy and Lorvens. You can read more about that by clicking on this button:
Arriving in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, I was able to spend time with staff and Handy and Davensky. Handy was proud to show off his new competence on the guitar, and Davensky was eager to show me that he can solve a Rubik’s Cube in roughly 1 minute and 30 seconds.
On Thursday, Steeve invited me to go with him as he and Manoucheka took Lorie and Caleb to school. It was a delight to see the surprise on Caleb’s face when he opened the car door and saw me there. The rest of Thursday was defined by meetings, including one with the staff of Haiti Awake and one with the committee of EEGC.
Friday started off with another meeting. This time with Steeve and Vorb. After that we went to CERMICOL for English class. We had such a fun time together playing Dog Bingo and looking at science specimens.
Saturday started off with English class at Caradeux, and after that we attempted to go to English class at Tabarre, but that was not meant to be - neither by the main road, nor by backroads. Eventually we had to turn around and head back to Caradeux.
We took the boys to the market, and then Vladimir was able to come by in the afternoon to bring a few products. I was extremely limited on what I could bring out of Port-au-Prince, but Mission Made was able to buy some things from him.
Sundy was the big day - the 5th anniversary of EEGC. So many people came for the celebration, many who are not able to come on a regular basis, including Stanley, Yvenson, Migerlson, and Fanor. I felt as if my heart might explode when I first saw them. We all sat together, and my heart was greatly encouraged to hear Yvenson singing heartily as he stood next to me.
After the festivities ended, I was happy to offer the four older boys a job before they left. We had ornaments for Lifepoint Church that needed string, and we had bracelets and necklaces that needed to be made for Mission Made Jewelry. This opportunity was reinforcing what we’ve been teaching them for so long - you get what you work for. They finished the jobs, were paid, and went home with their wages.
After everyone else left on Sunday, Dieusait, Steeve, Hudson, Handy, Davensky, and I had a cheese-tasting together. We’ve been talking a lot lately about how there’s more than one kind of dog, more than one kind of cat, more than one kind of ____________. Sunday it was a chance to decide which cheese each person preferred. Gouda got the most votes. Sharp cheddar got the least.
Monday morning was marked by quick goodbyes and scrambling to get out of Port-au-Prince, but Monday afternoon in the north was an unexpected adventure which brought great joy to my heart.
Tuesday was my last morning in Haiti, and I spent it with people who filled my cup.
I arrived back in Wilmington late on Wednesday morning, exhausted but thankful for time with some of my favorite people.
The prevailing question during my visit was: “When will you be back?” The answer is, “I don’t really know.” This was not an easy journey, by any means, and we do not know when certain doors will open to allow me to go back again.
What I do know is that these precious few days of togetherness in Haiti were good for us all. And, as we have been saying for many months now, we’re still standing, by God’s grace. We will continue to remember to remember the faithfulness of God, and we will continue to move forward, as He allows.
Glwa pou Bondye!
A look back at 2024
As we close out another year, we wanted to take time to reflect month-by-month on the faithfulness of God toward our organization, even as we have walked through what was, without a doubt, the most difficult year Haiti Awake has yet to face.
In January we celebrated the 4th anniversary of the EEGC. Leading up to that special day, we did not know if it would be possible due to increasing insecurity in the area. But by God's grace, we were able to gather and celebrate.
In February, we were able to hire a new English teacher for Saturdays, David. We were able to do this because so many friends from The Bridge decided to partner with us in CCS.
In March, Becky and Hudson worked on new designs for necklaces, bracelets, and earrings for Mission Made Jewelry before she had to leave Haiti, as the airport shut down.
In April, school was canceled due to insecurity, but because we have Starlink and solar at both locations, we could communicate with sponsors and help the children continue to learn from home.
We still schedule calls like this. For more information, e-mail Hudson at haitiawake@gmail.com
In May we celebrated our flag day together. We are proud to be Haitian!
In June, a series of incredibly events came together to make it possible for Steeve to have his US visa renewed - in Jamaica, no less!
In July, we said goodbye to Migerlson as his time at Kay Timoun came to a close. We were so proud of him and celebrated his departure with a party.
In August we organized a soccer tournament for the boys at the CERIMCOL prison, and we had summer camp with them.
In September, we went back to school, and we were able to help CCS parents get uniforms for their children.
In October, we celebrated Haiti Awake’s 10th birthday. Our theme was Remember to Remember.
In November, because of the generosity of a faithful friend, we had a special Thanksgiving meal together with the children in our community.
In December, we celebrated Christmas together with parties for CCS, as well as the staff and children of Kay Timoun.
As we look ahead to 2025, we continue to pray a Scripture that has guided us all of these years:
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Tout glwa pou Bondye.
What does this mean for the future of Haiti Awake?
I have to admit. I felt this was coming. But now that the announcement has been officially made, it does feel so final, so real, so heavy.
As I sat in Haiti at our 10th anniversary celebration in October, I felt as if I was holding a holy moment in time, a moment I would look back on with great nostalgia and longing. Little did we know that October trip would be my last trip to Haiti for the foreseeable future.
When Pastor Steeve came to the US for the month of June, little did we know that would be his last trip to the United States for the foreseeable future.
But God knew. In His infinite knowledge, He knew. Nothing catches God by surprise.
“Standing here
Not knowing how we’ll get through this test
But holding onto faith, You know best
Nothing can catch You by surprise
You got this figured out and You’re watching us now”
What does the absence of commercial air travel mean for the future of Haiti Awake? Very simply, it means we will need to adapt - again. We are adept at adapting as that has been the only way to keep the ministry moving forward in the chaos of the last 6.5 years.
All these years we have been saying, “These are hard days in Haiti.” And we so long for a better day, a day we cannot yet see. Though I have known the following verse most of my life, it now carries a completely different meaning.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Please continue to pray for the communities we serve in Haiti. While my heart is grieving from afar, this chaos and dysfunction is daily life for those I have come to love as family. It is hard to explain the great suffering that is taking place in close proximity to both of our facilities and the incredibly difficult issues the Haiti Awake staff faces on a personal level day-by-day.
I cannot emphasize enough how much a Google Meet would mean to staff and children. If you would give 30 minutes, it would be so encouraging.
“But to a friend, time is an investment of the heart, not just the hand. Friends spend time. ”
With all of my heart I desire to return to Haiti as soon as the possibility presents itself. I long to give hugs, to have face-to-face conversations, to share a meal, to laugh together. Perhaps that day will come sooner than we expect. But until that day, we will continue to remember to remember - just like we did as we sat together for our anniversary celebration less than two months ago.
“Remember the way He led us up to the top of the highest mountain
Remember the way He carried us through the deepest dark
Remember His promises for every step on the road ahead
Look where we’ve been and where we’re going
And remember to remember.”
May I please tell you about that piece of art?
"May I please tell you about that piece of art?" I asked a lady who was browsing the Mission Made Jewelry table.
Before she could say anything, I continued. "My friend, Vladimir, made that. Isn't it lovely?"
The lady stopped and looked at me.
"Well, thank you. I was afraid you were about to tell me about poor people. I'm not interested in a pity story. Now I'm listening. Tell me more."
So for the next 20 minutes, we talked about the beauty of Haitian products as she browsed the table, choosing 10 different items - including this one - as Christmas gifts for family and friends.
She took Vladimir's cards, one for each gift, because she wants her friends and family to know who made their gift.
"I'm glad I stopped by," she said as she walked away.
Ma'am, I'm glad, too. Thanks for letting you tell you about all of the good things to be found in Haiti. Thanks for focusing on that part of the narrative. 🇭🇹❤️
A change of plans
Friends,
We know that many of you have been following news reports since yesterday detailing how a Spirit Airlines flight was struck by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince. Many of you also know that upon further inspection it was found that a Jet Blue aircraft was also struck.
Today the FAA effectively grounded all air traffic from the USA to Haiti.
We do not know exactly what this will mean in the days ahead, but we can tell you the following with assurance:
Becky will not be traveling to Haiti this week as planned. Becky will store the packages you had sent for your children and get them to Haiti as soon as possible.
Steeve will not be coming to the US later this month as planned.
Just like commercial aircraft, MFI can not fly. Please do not mail any more packages until directed to do otherwise as MFI will not be able to get them to PAP.
What can you do?
You can continue to pray for our friends in Haiti as we all hope together for a better future.
You can sign up to teach a class via Google Meet as we did in the spring. It appears schools in Haiti will also be closed again for the foreseeable future. If by Monday we do not see a change in circumstances, we will begin sending information on signing up to teach.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry whether you are a new partner or you’ve been with us from the beginning. By God’s grace and with your support we are still able to operate today, despite all of the adversity.
Reflecting on 10 years of ministry
10 years. Hills. Valleys.
10 years. Gains. Losses.
10 years. Laughter. Tears.
10 years. Hellos. Goodbyes.
10 years. Building. Tearing down.
10 years. Hope. Despair.
10 years. Teaching. Learning.
10 years. Success. Failure.
10 years. Celebration. Mourning.
10 years. Joy. Sorrow.
10 years.
He is good.
He is faithful.
He is kind.
He is worthy.
Look at God! Glwa pou Bondye toutan!
A number of weeks ago, we stepped out in faith and opened a 2nd community location - CCS Caradeux. We knew that in doing so we would need to hire additional staff. We did not have funding for this, nor did we have sponsors for the 10 children we invited to be part of the program's beginning, but we believed God was calling us to grow our operations.
Today we would like to share that six of the 10 children are now sponsored, and this week we have received unexpected contributions that will fully fund the new location through the end of the year.
Some of these children came to church on Sunday for the first time. Church attendance is not required, but weekly the children at both programs are reminded that they are welcome. How wonderful it was to welcome them at EEGC!
Look at God! Glwa pou Bondye toutan!
How thankful we are for those who continue to bless our ministry through your generosity. You make it possible for us to invest in our community - our communities - as we share the hope of the Gospel through Christ-honoring relationships.
"In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Philippians 1:4-6
An opportunity for you to be involved in something wonderful
Finding the balance
More than meets the eye
We have good news!
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20
An update on Pastor Steeve
It's been three months
Three months ago today, I left Haiti on what would turn out to be the last commercial flight out of Haiti before the airport shut down.
I had planned to return to Haiti last week, but those plans changed. You can read more about that on my personal website.
The situation in Haiti remains precarious, but the staff of Haiti Awake continue to lead with love and dignity, finding a way to adapt to the new difficulties our organization is faced with on a regular basis.
Thank you for your continued support.
Suffering too great for words
“When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him…
When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him...Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.” Job 2:11-13
For the last several nights, I have woken up multiple times to pray. Each night there has been a specific member of our community for whom the Holy Spirit was leading me to intercede. And last night when I woke up, I was not only led to pray for one specific family, but this verse from Job came to my mind, as well - “No one said a word to Job . . . his suffering was too great for words.”
And that’s where we find ourselves today. There are no words.
It all happened so quickly.
Last Thursday, we had an amazing Google Meet call with so many of you. All those on the Haiti Awake team were encouraged and refreshed. Friday we ran programs with a new plan, and it was incredible. We were all hopeful as we looked to the future. Saturday there was a phone call with a sponsor. Once again, it was a sweet time that filled everyone with joy.
And then the afternoon came.
The events that have transpired since Saturday at noon defy any explanation. Members of our staff and community have suffered staggering losses and disappointment, but we will not comment on those matters publicly. In an effort to preserve people's privacy and help them hold their dignity, we have decided not to share stories we do not believe are ours to tell.
In full transparency, however, our suffering is great. Our sorrow is real. We are in a time of lament.
But due to the current circumstances, we can not all sit on the ground together. We can not gather around the one family whom we all wish to hold close at the moment.
We can, however, stand together in solidarity and silence by going dark for the next seven days.
The groanings have been too deep for words many times over the last six years, but this week we have reached a level of sorrow even we can not articulate. We find ourselves in the depths of affliction.
Nevertheless, we do not want you to mistake our silence for capitulation, despair, or defeat. No. Senior leadership has consulted together and reached the decision that in order to heal, in order to process recent events, in order to find the path forward, as an organization we need to rest, breathe, and, in the absence of words from others, hear the voice of God. We are doing this with the support of the Board of Directors of Haiti Awake.
Please pray with us as we discern what God has for us in the days ahead.
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. ”
If you have a need that requires immediate attention, please contact Kaitlyn Stephens at 910-599-1753 or kaitlynmariestephens@gmail.com.
In the midst of chaos, we trust God
Click the link abve to watch a news story which aired in the West Palm Beach market this week. Thankful for opportunities to share Hope and what God is continuing to do, despite the difficulties.
Thank you for your prayers.
Friends,
Thank you for your prayers. We appreciate you.
We are continuing to navigate an incredibly difficult time. As such, we must prioritize our time and focus our attention on what is most important - the people of Haiti and Haiti Awake.
Therefore, I am going to ask you to continue to check our Facebook and our Instagram for near-daily updates on both feeds and stories. Louis Hudson is doing an exceptional job day-by-day.
There is also an email list for financial partners. If you are a financial partner and not receiving emails, please let Hudson know by writing him at haitiawake@gmail.com
We also have two websites where people can learn more about the ministry and what is happening.
This is the Haiti Awake website: haitiawake.org
This is my personal blog: fearisnotmyfuture.com
Hudson has also shared a number of wonderful videos through the years on the Haiti Awake YouTube channel.
It is impossible to answer everyone's specific questions right now. As I shared on my personal Facebook page recently:
"Thank you to those have reached out in concern. I apologize for not having the emotional bandwidth or time capacity to be able to answer you each personally. Please do not be offended when I can't respond to all of your kind messages."
We continue to hope and pray for better days ahead. Thank you all for caring.
Becky Graves, Executive Director
Individual faces, individual stories
I've watched this video over and over again.
While the world talks about prison breaks in Haiti, my prayers this week have been with those incarcerated at CERMICOL, those whose names we know, those whose faces I hold dear.
This young man's story is the story of so many.
This teenager was 11 years old when he started working for a gang. He was homeless and hungry, he told CNN, and the gang offered him food.
Now, when other members of the gang kill people, they make him burn the bodies, says the teen, who is now 14.
He would like to get out – but he doesn’t know how. His mother lives outside of Port-au-Prince; he’s not sure how to reach her and couldn’t afford such a trip anyway."
“I wish she could come get me,” he told CNN. “I’d like her to take me out of this place.”
Haiti isn't 11.5 million people. Haiti is individual people with individual stories.
From the comfort of our US existence, it's impossible to comprehend living in conditions where one truly does not see a way out, one does not believe there are choices, one is only looking to survive.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.