Hearts Filled with Hope!

Hôpital Claire Heureuse exists to "Evangelize, Teach and Heal", serving the marginalized, the sick and the needy. This is not something new, but rather something built on a foundation that was laid over 30 years ago. Despite ongoing political unrest in Haiti, the hospital continues to grow, sharing Gods love to those who need it most. On any given morning the corridors are filled with Expectant Moms, Moms and babies, Parents and kids, HIV patients, and surgical patients to name a few. We continue to have stories that encourage us, stories that challenge us, and stories that keep us give us hope for the future. Each of these stories has a face, and
Hope Lives continues to be an active part of Gods work in Dessalines!

Discussion, planning and executing future growth needs for Hôpital Claire Heureuse kept the fall season busy. North wing Ward rooms, centralized nursing station, and conversion of existing space to private and semi private rooms have been priority. The electrical service has always limited hospital growth, so plans and initial work have begun to double the capacity for output. Jerry & Carrie Elmore from Quincy Free Methodist, WA continue to provide a valuable role in these electrical upgrades. They are a big asset to very important work. Very recently a team from our home church, Gorrie Bible Fellowship, were to come and volunteer their time alongside the Elmores. We want to give a BIG shout out to Quincy FM and Gorrie Bible Fellowship for the support and funds they have raised to move the electrical project forward, hopefully with completion in the new year!

Solar power! Another step to successfully living "off the grid". The Hope Lives construction crew have built a roof structure on the balcony of the White House compound, which awaits the installation of a metal roof and solar panels. This should help reduce overall operating costs to house short term teams, ministry workers and doctors living on the compound, and once this project is completed it will be a good test project for future solar installation at the hospital.
An important aside is during times of unrest it becomes very difficult to get diesel, due to limited accessibility on the roads. The solar upgrades will eliminate that crucial need for the hospital ministry.

Relationships. They keep us going. Friends. The people we love. We have a young friend who had to make a difficult decision to leave his country, leaving behind his family with two small children ...all in hope of providing a better life for them.. As we sat and talked with him, it broke all of our hearts that he had to do this. Such tough choices that we don't know a lot about. These things challenge us but keep us fighting for justice. He was sent on his way with our blessing, a kreyol bible and Proverbs 3:5,6, believing God will walk with all of them on this hard journey. Please pray for them, that one day they will live a life filled with hope.

The other young man is Celibien. A dear friend to us and a dear friend to many. There has been much excitement as he prepared to marry the love of his life and as we watched them grow together in love for each other and for God. A cord of three strands is not easily broken! Even though we were so disappointed not to be able to share in their special day, we were filled with joy as they chose to honour God, and each other through holy matrimony. Pray for them too!

The Van Norman family visited Dessalines with 10 family members! Ian and Alice Van Norman, along with sons and daughter, grandchildren and extended family all toured the hospital and met with the hospital leadership. It was a highlight for us to have our mentors back on the ground, and as you can see they picked up right where they left off, pitching in to help!

Last ... a little about the HOPE we have for Haiti. As many of you have heard through media sources, Haiti has been a hotspot for ongoing political unrest. It is true that for 5 days in November the city of Port au Prince was all but shut down. Public transportation was not running, schools were closed and businesses were at a stand still. The city was a mess! Sandy was scheduled to travel in with the Gorrie team during this time and we made a decision to cancel them at the eleventh hour, looking to our national leadership for advice. Route 1, which runs along the coast and is the main access between Dessalines and Port au Prince, had ongoing road blocks and demonstrations, along with the airport route. It was a critical time and a day by day watch. The main source of their frustration remains with government corruption stemming from the PetroCaribe agreement and lack of accountability of funds. It emphasizes the problems systemic poverty brings.
The sad part is this isn't the ministry we're involved in, or the friends and co-workers we rub shoulders with everyday,
We love Haiti and all the beauty on the island and the wonderful people we've grown to love.
We have HOPE that some day there will be no need for aid, and only access to fair trade.
We HOPE and PRAY for Haiti, knowing that God cares.

Please continue to pray for Haiti, for the hospital ministry, and for its people.
Please pray for wisdom for us in every decision we make, and that each decision will be bathed in love.

Thank you for walking with us throughout 2018, praying and supporting us generously and faithfully.
We are so grateful for you, our partners in ministry.
If you are interested in supporting this valuable work, please refer to the the home page of this site.

May we always remember that ...
"Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day" (Helen Steiner Rice)

"And his name shall be the hope of all the world" Matthew12:21 (TLB)

Wishing you and your loved ones Peace, Joy and Hope this Christmas season, that only comes from knowing Him.