Last year we placed a down payment of a 20 acre parcel of land that we planned to be used for future construction of a self-sustaining village.  In light of the numerous changes within Haiti since the earthquake and an amazing new opportunity to serve God by providing immediate emergency housing, we have refocused our vision and our efforts.

We have now donated that parcel of land to a local church.  It has already been planted with food crops in order to feed the members of the congregation and others within the city.  The church plans to pay the remaining balance due on the land by making payments to the seller with proceeds from sales of some of the crops.

It should not surprise anyone that, in closing one door, God has opened another one.  Along with one of our ministry partners, we are now actively engaged in negotiating leased land acquisitions with local landowners, securing year-long leases on appropriate parcels of land for the purpose of constructing transitional housing communities complete with security, sanitation and water.  An added bonus is that a number of our young men are gainfully employed and obtaining construction knowledge and skills as they are being paid to build these shelters.

These transitional communities are intended to provide a safe, protected environment in which qualifying people can live for a full year while they figure out where they will go and what they will do to rebuild their lives.  At the end of the year, residents can simply "pack up" their temporary shelter (complete with wooden bunk beds and shelving - see photos) and relocate it to a permanent location of their choice.  We have also been empowered to distribute shelter units to qualifying individuals who own their own property and lost their homes.

The majority of the residents of these safe havens will be single mothers (with designated play areas for children) as well as elderly and handicapped people. The first of our communities, consisting of 172 transitional shelters, was completed last week and now protects grateful residents from crime and the torrential rains.

We are praying for the partners God will call to join us as we fulfill His plan of provision for our brothers and sisters in Leogane during their darkest hour.  Are you one of them??

HE WILL DO THIS - HE ALWAYS FULFILLS HIS PROMISES!  It's always just a question of who will choose to answer His call and receive the resulting blessings.