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We decided, long ago, not to pursue the orphanage/school/church model of orphan care. We chose, instead, to rent a home in a neighborhood, send the kids to a local school, and even allow the older kids to choose what church they wanted to attend. Is this the right thing to do? Maybe and maybe not. We believe it is the right thing for our kids because it is so important for them to learn to live in their own culture. To have friends that they interact with on the outside, to have mentors in their churches, and to have discipline from their schools. Basically, to have a well-rounded life that can help them to mature into well-rounded men and women.

The dark side of really well-run orphanages that are backed by a lot of supporters and money is that many of these places do not prepare their kids for real life in Haiti (you can substitute any developing country for Haiti). The truth is, we have made a lot of "American" mistakes. But this is also the reason that we have Haitians in charge of every aspect of our ministry. People that we trust and listen to, and people that make sure our kids are raised in the country where they live rather than an American oasis that is nothing more than physically located in Haiti.

The truth is, I know that these numbers could mean nothing, but it does scare me for Haiti and for our kids. The country is so ill-prepared for something like Covid-19, and I cannot imagine what may come from this. That is the purpose of today's blog. To ask for your prayers. I know that our country is under attack, and even as things begin to open up, there is still an uneasiness about things. With that said, please continue to pray for America, but do one thing for me...

Add Haiti To Your Prayers!

Most people who run orphanages make 1 of 2 mistakes. Many orphanages that are backed by foreign money will "pamper" a kid with things that they will never have again outside of the orphanage until they are 18 and then send them into a world they are neither prepared for nor equipped to handle (I will write more about this at a later date). Other orphanages, mostly those who do not have the same backing, use the kids in their orphanage for as long as they can in whatever way that they can until they are no longer useful and they send them out. Neither of these 2 mistakes are acceptable. 

My challenge to everyone reading this is to be careful who you give your money to. It is important to know what is happening on the ground at all times because it can be the difference between taking care of children or allowing children to be taken advantage of. It is so important to be equal parts giving and wise, and this is why we take every precaution with every donation we receive to make sure our kids and our employees are taken care of.

This story sets up the rest of this series about the dark side of Haitian orphanages. It is there and it is very prevalent. I wanted all of you to know that we have some experience in this. We got our kids out of a place that was terrible and into a place where they are loved and care for. To hear some of their stories from their old orphanage, and to know that the ones that they don't tell are much worse is a very difficult thing. But it is really important to talk about this side of orphan ministry and to do our best to make sure it does not happen to other kids.

We are so thankful for Lener and Gina and the way that they have taken care of the kids and the ministry in our absence. In fact, this weekend, the kids may be taking a trip to a plot of land that Raymond and Gina have purchased and sits abandoned. The kids could get there and back with no other human contact, but they will get to run around, play soccer, and eat mangoes. In case you were wondering, those 3 elements are the makings of a perfect day.

Covid-19 has come to Haiti, but it is really difficult to ascertain how much of an effect it has already had or how bad it could possibly get. The only thing we can do for now is pray and then wait for reports from people on the ground in the midst of it.

The Coronavirus is attacking many aspects of our lives not to mention our physical well-being. One of the things that could easily be effected is our ability to take care of children who do not have families to take care of them. This is my way of pleading for anyone who is able to do whatever they can to help.

Hopefully over the last week you have noticed All Things New has a new look! We have a new website: atnhaiti.com and a new logo.  We are so excited...

Living in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with a 2 and 1-year-old is not an easy task.  Our days start before the sun comes up, last until well after it goes down and typically include meetings with employees, going to schools, punishing kids, praising kids, turning people who need jobs away, trying to […]

A couple of days ago I booked a flight to head back down to Haiti for a week starting on Monday May 22. It is funny, I will be flying up to JFK and getting to Haiti at 1:50 that afternoon for more than $100 cheaper than I could have gone through Fort Lauderdale and […]