Mission Waco's Community Development Work Bearing Fruit After Years of Involvement
Crippling poverty, disastrous natural disasters, years of political instability and lack of a solid infrastructure have caused many Western nations to write off Haiti as a fatalistic mess that will never emerge from decades of problems. That is why the Haitian proverb about "mountains beyond mountains" accents the seemingly endless challenges. While we understand the enormous barriers preventing development, our understanding of who God is and how we are called as his people to "bring good news to the poor" does not allow for such hopelessness, regardless of the circumstances. So even as we do with the poverty in Waco, perseverance is our ministry style with a faith that God can bring new life from the hardened cracks and pain. And after 25 years of "keeping on keeping on," we are so encouraged to be a part of numerous grassroots efforts alongside the Haitians in the Northeast that are bearing more and more signs of fruit. We thought you might want to hear about those and even choose to participate in the joys and challenges.
For $3000, you can provide the gift of clean drinking water from a new well and hand pump that will serve 800 or more Haitians who otherwise may only have polluted river water.
Several years ago, Mission Waco purchased and shipped a commercial truck with a mounted well drilling machine that allowed the Haitians to drill well over 100’ to reach clean water. Once tapped, the team completes the well with permanent parts and a Mark V hand pump. The Haitian team also repairs wells in the area they break down.
Here are just some of the groups that have donated water wells:
1. Pure Water Pure Love (WMU)
2. St. Peter Church “Get Well Haiti” committee (Memphis)
3. New Life Church (Houston)
4. Meadowbrook Baptist Church Youth (Waco)
5. Gary and Diane Heavin Family Foundation (Waco)
6. Beacon Hill Baptist Church Youth (Waco)
7. And many others…
New Clinic Dedicated While Work Continues
360 patients seen by Central TX Docs/Nurses
From removal of a fatty tumor to diagnosing a patient with full blown AIDS, three Waco area doctors and two nurses worked alongside a Haitian doctor, nurse and pharmacist to see over a hundred patients a day for the three-day clinic. With a small ribbon-cutting ceremony, the new "unfinished" clinic, funded by Mission Waco donors, has been a work in progress for several years. The Dorrells first met Paulan Pierre in 1984 in her tiny 3-room clinic behind the church. Now, 28 years later, her son is the pastor of the church and still committed to his mother's dream of bringing Christian-based healthcare and prevention to his village of 13,000. While only one room of the nine is actually completed, four more of the concrete block rooms were used by the medical team of Drs. Waganeck, Lovett, and Perez, and nurses Michele Davis and Georgeen Scanes. The first-ever Haitian medical team includes Dr. Johnny Dasny, Surlin Rosna, and Julien Antione. Mission Waco took several thousand dollars of pharmaceuticals for the patients. Solar panels, wall and floor tiles, and toilets are still needed to complete the building.
New School Completes Rooms For Grades 1-6
Funds still needed for Grades 7-9 Construction
After years of contentious land disputes, Jackson Nelson determined that the gift of a nearby piece of land funded by his daughter would finally resolve the frustration of a potential closure of the school he had worked years to build. With funds from Mission Waco, construction began on the new land in the spring of 2010 and by the fall, children were already filling the partially completed classrooms. Still unfinished, the school bell rang in September and children filled the rooms, most still in need of more work, benches and blackboards. The school hopes to enroll grades 7-9 in the fall of 2011 if construction funds are donated in time.
Micro-Credit Program for Women
25 women in first phase; 15 receive loans
The room was filled with laughter, clapping and vitality as we attended the weekly meeting of five groups of five women who had been accepted into the "MCFF" (Micro-Credit Women of Ferrier) program just less than one year ago. Fifteen women, three from each group, proudly put on their name badges as a symbol of being a recipient of a loan of up to $60 from the $3000 established by Mission Waco donors. Ten of those women had already made enough profits from their small businesses that they had repaid the required $10/month ahead of schedule. From increased inventories of used shoes, rice, candies and other items, each woman had an approved business plan that was working to increase their income to support their families. One group had actually doubled its collective income. Not only did they receive kudos from their peers that night, but they came for more training, from bookkeeping to raising their children. It was a night we will never forgot. No handouts. Just empowerment!
Baby at Death's Door Responds
From orphans to widows, James 1:27 is a reality
Little Cerge was virtually lifeless a year ago when he was discovered by one of the Mission Waco group members. With more mouths to feed than available food, his mother has fatalistically given up on him and expected his death in the days ahead. But due to intensive help then, and even more this year, the listless 15 month old was rehydrated and given antibiotics and became the favored child among volunteers. Death before the age of five is way too common in Haiti. With the addition of over fifty orphans migrating from the earthquake area, Jackson Nelson added another ministry to his list, feeding them each day. Zenas Pierre took the leftover building materials from the clinic and built an orphanage, "the Mission Waco orphanage," without us even knowing it existed until we showed up. The church in Haiti takes seriously their ministry to widows and orphans and programs abound there. While many of the "orphans" may have living parents, like Cerge's mom, they cannot care for them, and often ask orphanages to fill the gap. Belton's "Hope for the Hungry" has one such orphanage in Ferrier and another on the other end of the island. Widows also receive special help in the churches.
Church Alive amidst Suffering
Packed congregations with vibrant worship
Even while some come hungry, many local churches fill wooden benches and fan themselves in the heat, never complaining. At Beraca Baptist Church, where Pastor Zenas Pierre leads a growing congregation that brings life to his community. Pastor Zenas and his wife, Dasny, have led the congregation started by his parents, to be one of the most invigorating and involved churches in Northern Haiti. From the new clinic to the director of the micro-credit program, Pastor Zenas understand holistic ministry and the importance of discipleship for his bulging church. Mission Waco continues to help with the purchase of Bibles, new benches, and basic needs of the church.
Donations Still Needed for Projects and People
“Generous” describes Mission Waco donors for poor
In just one year, a new school, a new clinic, a micro-credit program, 184 school sponsorships and numerous water wells have reshaped the landscape in one small village of 13,000. God has given Mission Waco the privilege of bringing hope among some of the world's most hopeless conditions. From buying $2 bricks in the Turbeville's jazz concert ("Tips for Bricks") to youth groups like those Meadowbrook Baptist, Beacon Hill , and Toliver Chapel to major gifts from Curves and The Dwyer Group, compassionate folks have sacrificed for the Haitians. Mission Waco decided a while back not to charge any fees for the time and cost of seeing that these donations get to the need....and every dollar does! You are invited to join that force of donors and know you are making a difference. Over $30,000 is still needed to finish the clinic and school. Wells ($3000) are still needed. Or you can even sponsor a child to go to school and eat one meal a day for only $195. More information is available and online gifts can be made at www.missionwaco.org. Contact us at 254.753.4900 if you want more information.
