2019 Q1 Newsletter - From Brian & Heather

HAITI UPDATE Q1 2019 - Brian & Heather Tucker Grace & peace to you! We stand amazed at what is going on through Community of Hope Haiti. God's love is pouring out....in spite of the greatest challenges in COHH's history. This newsletter shares challenges, the mission's activity, & the hope that is rising from them all.  Hope in Haiti's Turmoil Instability in Haiti over the past 3 months has been significant. Markets on the mainland closed to our village boats, leaving our village without food for 2 weeks in Feb/March.  Two medical clinics cancelled their visits. Our team's women & kids evacuated Feb. 28th, as U.S. Embassy recommended. Inflation rose prices 17% in February alone. This article explains what is going on in Haiti Why Haiti's Struggles? Click HERE In this time, Brian & Ryan stayed in Grand Vide. The Lord radically used COHH to bring hope & turn peoples' hearts to Him. See below how.  Codependence to Sustainability  Instead of "Giving a man a fish & eating for a day" in these hard times, we're "teaching a man to fish, so he can eat for a lifetime". Brian worked with the people to fence 12 acres of farmland. 125 people removed rock from the land for 2 weeks straight. That rock is being used to build the 1st Park & playground...."for the people, by the people"! 36 parents worked to pay for their childrens' school. Instead of COHH "rescuing" our Pre-K/K school from financial collapse, COHH provided jobs to those parents. They received dignity & honor in providing for their kids with THEIR OWN HANDS! That example strengthens families and teaches their kids work ethic & value. On that land.....we planted Watermelon, Sorghum, & beans! This will enrich poor soil, generate food & jobs/income, & will create sustainable feed for future livestock...which will create more food, sustainable jobs, & economy! Our goal: This village will never face food shortage due to mainland dependence again.  Kids..Sing a New Song!  Kids are the future. 80+% of Haiti's population is under 30. COHH's investment SW La Gonave's 1st school after 6th grade (currently 7-9th) is growing rapidly. This fall we hope to add 10th grade, 3 teachers, and a new Principal. Over 50 6th graders will double our size in space we share with the elementary school. We need to build a new school; used for 7-12th & vocational training so we don't have to start at 1pm. Best of all, kids are coming to know The Lord thru Bible class. It's incredible to see challenged teens transformed inside-out by God's love!  COHH School of Music & Adoration is also exploding. Our full-time Music Director is teaching 50+ students 5 days/week; piano, guitar, & recorder. Like King David who hired 4413 musicians & singers to worship in the House of Prayer, we are called to connect abandoned kids to their Father in Heaven, who never leaves or forsakes them (Romans 8:15). Check out this VIDEO (Click HERE) that shares a glimpse of what is starting through COHH Music.  COHH's Poultry Project continues to grow. Our current location is too small, so we hope to build 3 chicken coops and duck space for our current 135 birds. Our goal: give each preschool & elementary child an "Egg a Day" for protein & vitamins, helping them grow. We project 300+ egg-laying chickens. Here's a video of our village's Pre-schoolers visiting COHH's Poultry Project. We are currently mentoring kids how to do their own chicken business.  Ongoing Projects  1. ELECTRICITY Renewable power is a key piece to COHH's sustainability plans. Local welders installed solar panel racking on the Mission Home's roof in March, for 72 solar panels. A 14kW inverter arrived, as well. We're waiting  shipment of a solar battery. This system will power Clean Drinking Water Filtration, Ice Block Production, Music School & House of Prayer use, Computer Lab, Future Fish storage, & all Mission home, Pier/Boat Dock, future Medical care, & playground needs...as well as potential for future Municipal power.  2. PIER & BOAT In March, we paved 250 feet of COHH's 450 ft. long pier. Rock removed from COHH farmland was used. A boat lift for COHH's boat "Sons of Thunder" is being constructed, to be completed in June. We hope to open the Dock to Fuel distribution & Fish transport in September. Our local fisherman cannot wait for COHH to assist them with better, sustainable fishing methods. We purchased a GPS for the boat to assist them with future FAD placement to attract larger migratory fish, which will help reef fish, lobster, & conch population heal from severe overfishing.  3. FARMLAND 12 acres of farmland were fenced in April. Our Water Well was completed, which will irrigate newly fenced land with on-site drip irrigation; pumps & lines hope to be installed in August. 1000's of tons of rock was removed from farmland in March & April. We've begun planting watermelon & sorghum for human & livestock. Check out this VIDEO Click HERE sharing all!  How Can I Be a Part? 1. Pray for us! Our healthy growth is creating needs for more staff, & administrative & financial support. We also are forming our local Haitian team. Pray for The Lord's wisdom in who we invest in, mentor, & raise up to lead.  2. Serve. We need Bookkeeping, Website development, & Fundraising help in the U.S. when we're in Haiti. Know someone? Email us at brian@communityofhopehaiti.org.  2. Give. You can partner with us via your Tax-deductible gifts. We need more monthly contributions to meet expenses. CLICK HERE TO GIVE. Check, Debit, Credit Card are all accepted.  Upcoming Projects & Needs  1. Van: Our truck is no longer safe for travel. We badly need a 15-passenger diesel van for team travel, supplies.  2. Chicken Coop Expansion: We need to transfer our Poultry to COHH's Farm & Build 3 chicken coops to meet our 300 eggs/day goal to provide for each child one egg per day for nutrition & growth.  3. School Construction: Our 7th-9th graders meet in Grand Vide's Elementary school. We need to build a new school: 7th-12th, Vocational, Educational, & Discipleship Training.  4. Livestock/Fencing: Our 100+ acres of land need to be fenced to begin our Livestock Project (Goats, Cattle)  5. Housing: We need to construct 1 home for a Widow and 2 homes to house our Music Director & married Staff.  6. Full-Time Staff Agriculture, Music, Education, & Youth Development Community of Hope Haiti is a U.S. based 501c3 Non-Profit organization doing full-time work on La Gonave island, Haiti. We are family & volunteer operated & supported. Since 2013. "Arise, Shine! The Lord will shine upon you like the sun". - Isaiah 60:1 Thank You! Lord Bless you & Keep you. - The COHH Team & People of SW La Gonave Island, Haiti.