Haiti Orphan Foundation

Bringing Hope and Provision to Children in Haiti through the Gospel of Jesus Christ

News & Updates

“God will provide…”

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Tripp and I just arrived in Port-au-Prince. The people, the chaos, and dust renders a familiarity unique to Haiti. It is always great to be welcomed so warmly by our friends and brothers, Pastor Lesly and Vixamar. As I pile in the back of a grate covered pickup with Pastor Lesly, I was able to spend some time catching up as we maneuvered our way through a sea of Haitians impacted by the current fuel shortage. He shared stories and updates as we headed to see the boys. Due to the current political and social climate, we were forced to acquire transportation with security through our partners in ministry at GOP.

The opportunity to see the boys was exciting. It had been too long. We were forced to postpone our last two trips due to the demonstrations in Port-au-Prince over government corruption and the rising cost of living. It’s a sober reminder of the challenges that are the norm in Haiti. We are extremely thankful that most of the violence resides largely in the capital and not in Croix-des-Bouquets. The situation here is reaching new heights according to Pastor Lesly. Cost for fuel and food beckons memories of the painful times surrounding the earthquake that first brought us to Haiti. Demonstrations pop up sporadically and spill into the streets creating a new norm in Haiti. Haiti needs your prayers.

I have always found the people here friendly and welcoming. Thankfully this remains, but you can see the tireless struggle weighing on them. Our hearts break. The struggle is palpable, as we see mobs of people surrounding the fuel stations. Too often tempers flare. “But God will provide” Pastor Lesly affirms. The streets remain busy but the added congestion surrounding the streets is evident.

Pastor Lesly shares in the public’s frustration and strife. He appears agitated with the things he sees and reports on, but remains hopeful. Because of his faith and others like him, I know there will be light again at the end of this dark season. Help us pray for Haiti and all of the people who call it home.

Dr. Bruce

Life-Changing Experience: A HOF sponsor meets their child

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by Tim Monetti

It’s been seven years since my neighbor and friend, Bruce Cope, returned from his first trip to Haiti. His passion was palpable as he told us of his experiences being one of the first doctors in following the horrible Earthquake that had ravaged the country. He and three friends were committed to doing what they could for the children there. The result was the creation of the Haiti Orphan Foundation (HOF).

Tim introducing Enochson to Cathy.

It didn’t take long for my wife, Cathy, and me to decide to support their mission by sponsoring one of the boys. Photos of precious little 7-year-old Enoch captured our hearts and we looked forward each year to updated photos via annual trips taken by the HOF board members. 

This year I decided to join them. Along with Bruce and a few of the other board members we boarded a plant to Haiti and the orphanage called the Grace Children’s Home. It was my great joy to meet Enoch in person. He is now 14 and prefers to be called by his adult name, Enochson, something I learned is traditional in Haiti when young boys begin to transition to young men.

What an incredible moment it was to meet him in person.  At 14, Enochson is healthy, smart, quick to smile and still young enough to allow a hug! He is also quite the athlete as we discovered when we played a very spirited game of soccer with the boys. With one of the staff at Grace acting as translator, I was able to show him a picture of Cathy and to tell him how proud we are of the young man he is becoming.  

I spent two days trying to learn the names of each and every boy. I did not succeed but that didn’t seem to matter. They knew me and called me by name, “Tim” (with that wonderful French Creole accent), then motioning for help with something or just wanting attention or a hug.

While each of the boys has his own personality, they all share a couple of wonderful traits. First, they consider themselves to be family, and the brotherly love they share shines through as evidenced by the many times I’d round a corner to find a group of them standing together, their arms wrapped shoulder to shoulder. Second, they are eager and quick to help with any project at hand. For instance, when a couple of us decided to relocate a pile of scrap iron away from where the boys play soccer, the boys jumped in to help without being asked. In moments ten or 12 of them appeared out of nowhere to help, doing so with joy and enthusiasm. 

It is not an exaggeration to say visiting Haiti and the Grace Children’s Home was a life-changing experience for me. I’d encourage any sponsor to make the trip!

Looking Good

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A group of five board members and sponsors enjoyed an amazing visit with the boys of Grace Children’s Home in early December. At this time, we have fifteen boys at the Home, ranging in age from 8 to 15. The boys looked great and all are very healthy. We enjoyed playing soccer with them and spent time demonstrating the toys and games we brought them as Christmas gifts. Thanks to all of you who contributed to the gifts. 

Your continuing support is truly making a difference in the lives of these children.

It was exciting to see how much the boys have grown and matured since our last visit. Their manners, respectfulness and contributions to household chores were impressive. They played well together and really seem to enjoy one another. Your continuing support is truly making a difference in the lives of these children.

What’s ahead?

As some might remember, we have two of the older boys progressing on to secondary school.   In Haiti, this school is equivalent to middle and high school.  This is a great opportunity we are able to offer the boys at the Grace Home.  Each day Faby and Enockson catch a ride to their new school just a few miles from the orphanage.   We are excited to report both boys are doing wonderfully.  They are enjoying the new surroundings and the challenging work.  Pastor Lesly has shared with us that this is one of the best schools in Croix Des Bouquet.   Excellence does come at a price.  The additional cost to send the boys to this private school is $42 a month per child.  Please continue to pray for us as we commit to meet this need.

“What is next?” has been the thought we have pondered most recently.  Our boys are getting older, and we will need to make big and meaningful decisions in the coming years.  We continue to explore options for further education and vocational opportunities.  We realize, much like our own children, that our boys are individuals with different talents and interests.  Not all are suited for higher education. Some of our boys may be best suited for becoming a tradesman.  We are currently looking at how best to give them opportunities.  We continue to have thoughtful discussions with Pastor Lesly and our friends at the Global Orphan Project.  We were blown away after touring GOP’s flagship vocational school.  They are doing remarkable work.  They offer a two year training program in sewing, farming, diesel mechanics, and most recently, construction.  Please continue to pray for wisdom as we seek more avenues to allow our boys to flourish.

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A big value of HOF is making a difference in the community through the local church.  Most of our trips include free medical clinics through Grace Assembly Church & School.  Such clinics provide care, education, and a strengthened relationship with the community. 

Help HOF as you shop…

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AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Haiti Orphan Foundation every time you shop at Amazon, at no cost to you.  When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you will find the exact same prices and shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the Haiti Orphan Foundation.  To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device.  On your first visit, you need to select a charitable organization (Haiti Orphan Foundation, Columbia, SC) to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping.  AmazonSmile will remember your selected charity, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.  (You may want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it easier to return and shop at AmazonSmile.)  Thanks for supporting Haiti Orphan Foundation while getting great deals shopping online!

GCH Staff Spotlight: Levy Bertrand

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Leadership was born out of tragedy .  Levy Bertrand and his wife, Martine, have now lived at the Grace Children’s Home for three years.  Soon after the tragedy and break-in of 2013, pastor Lesly felt the need to have a male figure who permanently resided at the orphanage .  That role fell to his son Levy Bertrand and his family.   

It has truly been a Godsend.  Under his tutelage the boys have flourished.  He has begun transforming young boys into young man.  His impact is felt over every aspect of their lives.  Not only does he require respect and discipline but he encourages individuality and personal growth.  Among many duties, he is specifically responsible for teaching the boys music and English.    They are all doing very well on both fronts.

His commitment and love towards the boys is palpable.  Though most are orphaned,  this sense of family at Grace points directly back to Levy.  We are fortunate to have such a valued member of our staff.  Please continue to pray for his ministry as he equips young Haitians for a harsh world ahead.

HOF Spring 2017 Ministry Update

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An American author once wrote, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” Like all kids, our boys are changing.  It’s fun to watch how their personalities, strengths and passions continue to evolve.  Much like our own children, we are not sure exactly what God has planned, but we remain excited and optimistic for their future.   It is a future that is only possible through your gracious love and support.  On behalf of the Haiti Orphan Foundation, we thank you for making a difference in all those at the Grace Children’s Home.

We just returned from visiting and I wanted to share how pleased we were.  All the children looked great.  They were all healthy, thriving and happy. Our smiles were only topped by their warm embrace and genuine excitement to see us.   It was a strong reminder of how God continues to bless much more than we give.

Peterson helping Dr. Bruce with the checkups.

Fortunately, there was minimal damage to the orphanage from Hurricane Matthew.  We only lost razor wire that customarily surrounds the property that will need to be replaced.  No further structural damage was done, but most importantly no one was injured.  Fortunately, our location helps shield us from storms because of the surrounding mountains.

Probably the most notable change since our last visit is the newly found leadership roles some of the boys now possess.  Pastor Lesly has allowed the older boys to run errands in the neighborhood and take on more responsibility in the home.   Additionally, we were encouraged to see more boys visiting and hanging out from the neighborhood.  They like to play soccer and other games.  It was good to see them become more integrated in the community.

The boys were so excited to get their Christmas gifts.

School is going well for all the boys.  We recently added another after-school helper to help maintain the positivity.  We will have some decisions to make next year as two of the boys, Enockson and Faby, will be finishing primary school.   We plan to send them to what is known in Haiti as secondary school (comparable to middle and High school in the US–grades 7-13).

We are weighing options to send them to either public or private.  The additional cost will be $1-1.50 / day for transportation for each.  Public school is free in Haiti; however, they often miss large gaps of time due to teachers not receiving a salary.  We are currently looking into the additional cost for better, more consistent private school.  We welcome your prayers and support as we prepare for this exciting new chapter.

Our mission remains unwavering-to help raise strong Christian children to effect positive change for a darkened Haiti.  Education is the cornerstone in this pursuit.  We ask for your help.

We welcome your prayers and support as we prepare for this exciting new chapter!

With growth come challenges, and we have opportunity for more people to become involved through sponsoring one of our two new boys.  Please pray for our boys and the continued impact HOF might make for all those in Haiti.  God bless you as you continue help us bring hope and provision to the children of Haiti through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Welcome to GCH: Guendy

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Guendy is the newest boy to come live at Grace Children’s Home.  His mother, Modeline, works on staff at GCH.  Pastor Lesly accepted him into the home when he learned that he had never been to school.  Guendy is very loving and very much appreciates everything he gets. He is quiet, but has acclimated quickly and easily to life at GCH.  Guendy is very smart and perceptive.

Please pray for Guendy as he gets settled at Grace.  We know that God has great plans for Guendy, and we believe that God is going to use the ministry of Haiti Orphan Foundation and Grace Children’s Home to do incredible things in and through Guendy!

Disaster Strikes Again

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On October 4, 2016 Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti as the strongest storm to hit the island in the last half-century and the third strongest on record.  The storm devastated much of southern Haiti, washing away homes, crops, roads, and taking many lives.  

While most of the work of Haiti Orphan Foundation is around central Haiti (Port-au-Prince & Croix-des-Bouquets), we are connected to southern Haiti through the ministry of Pastor Lesly Bertrand.  Pastor Lesly oversees nineteen churches across Haiti.  (He personally started five of them, and the others have come to him for leadership and support).  Two of his churches are located in Saint-Jean, a town near the larger seaport city of Les Cayes, an area that was severely affected by the direct hit of Hurricane Matthew.  On our recent trip to Haiti Tripp Atkinson and Bruce Cope made the difficult five-hour trip from Croix-des-Bouquets to Saint-Jean with Pastor Lesly to survey the damage and deliver aid to the community.

The further south we drove, the more devastation we saw.  Nearly two months since the hurricane, there were still downed power lines everywhere, washed out bridges, downed trees, and destroyed 

homes.  When we arrived in Saint-Jean, we met Pastor Mario who had his church destroyed and the roof blown off of his home in the storm.  Pastor Lesly made it a top priority to put a tin roof on Mario’s house, as he and his wife are caring for a new baby.  Rebuilding the church building for this 160-member congregation will require a much greater effort and resources.  

Pastors Ovner & Mario are praying to rebuild.

Up the rough terrain a few miles from Pastor Mario’s church we met Pastor Ovner, who ministers to a beautiful hilltop community of a few hundred people.  Pastor Ovner not only lost his current church building in the hurricane but also the partial construction of their new larger church building.  His congregation has constructed a make-shift hut under which about 120 gather on Sundays to worship.

While the loss of church buildings is certainly heart-breaking, they are certainly not the most difficult tragedies from the storm.  Pastors Mario and Ovner lost six church members in Hurricane Matthew.  Most of them drowned when the storm surge covered their houses.  While mourning the loss of loved ones, this community is struggling to survive.  The storm washed away their crops, which not only fed their families, but also were a source of income at the local market.  The many coconut trees that were blown over will take as long as ten years to replace.  Other crops will take several months.  Very little aid has reached this community, and starvation is a reality to the people.  Pastor Lesly informed us that 127 people in the region have died of starvation since the hurricane.  

Pastor Ovner not only lost his current church building and new church construction, but also church members who drowned in the storm.

While we want to do so much more, it was such a blessing to deliver a monetary gift from  Sugar Hill Church to Pastors Mario and Ovner.  I’m told that the gift will ensure at least one meal a day for the next two months for those in these churches who are starving.  That will allow some time for crops to be planted in the area.  Pastor Lesly delivered a bag of seed that the people hope to get in the ground soon. 

While we were there, Dr. Bruce offered a medical clinic for those in the area that needed to see a doctor.  Among those seen was a baby that survived being born during the hurricane.  Nearly all the medicine that was bought or donated to us was given out that day to this hurting community.

Going forward, we want to do more to help this hurting community.  A big immediate need is for seed to plant new crops.  Only limited seed can be purchased there, and Pastor Lesly has requested okra, watermelon, red pepper, green pepper, and yellow pepper seeds.  These can be used to feed the community and will sell well in the market in Les Cayes.  

In Pastor Mario’s destroyed church we found a Bible lying among the ruins, opened to Psalm 138 which reads, “As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.” Thank you to those who have sent strength & encouragement to those hurting in Haiti!  Please continue to remember these pastors and this sweet community in prayer as they rely on God’s strength in these tough days.

Pastor Mario’s church was destroyed in the storm.  This Bible was opened to Psalm 138.