Kaleo Church

In just a few days Jeremy and I leave, along with Dave and Josh from The Porch, for Haiti.  As we’ve prepared for this endeavor two books have been very helpful for me.  The first, Paradise Lost: Haiti’s Tumultuous Journey From Pearl Of The Caribbean To Third World Hotspot, is authored by Phillipe Girard and is a very helpful work in terms of getting a sense of Haiti’s history, struggle, and what has led it into the issues it currently faces.  The second, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest Of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World, is authored by an author I’m growing to enjoy more and more, Tracy Kidder.  It chronicles Farmer’s work in Haiti and beyond, giving a glimpse into the medical and social need that exists in Haiti while also putting us in touch with the resilience of a people too familiar with death, power plays and the like.

I have both of these if you find yourself interested and wanting to take a deeper look at the context where we’re entering this long term friendship and partnership in mission.

Finally, to all who have invested in this work, thank you!  In the last week we have brought in somewhere around $1,200 – $1,500 (and this doesn’t count the amount brought in by our co-conspirators at The Porch).  Any money brought in beyond the amount mentioned for the water project will go to other needs that arise, such as one that we just found out about this week.  Our friend to be, Herod, who pastors in the village of Godin, is involved in the development of the school, water project, agricultural initiatives and beyond wrecked his only transportation last week, a motorcycle.  For Herod, this is a hard loss as the bike enabled him to mentor other church planters and develop projects in villages beyond Godin.  If you’d like to give towards the Haiti work in general, or Herod’s transportation, you can do so during this Sunday’s gathering.

To stay up to speed on this partnership, be sure to check in with The Haiti Collective site.

Three weeks from today will find a small collection of folks from Kaleo and The Porch on their way to Haiti.  The trip is a starting point.  A starting point for friendship, collaboration and mission.  You can find out more about this partnership at The Haiti Collective.  And you can also participate.  Here’s a post from our friend Dave Wilkinson that will tell you how.

Most of us are hooked up to a municipal water supply or a well. We turn on the tap and water comes out. We flush the toilet, and yep, there it is, water. We rarely even think about it unless something breaks. In Godin, water is difficult to come by. One of the projects we hope to help out with in June is a water collection project. Tanks, gutters, and fittings will cost about $1500. You can help by going to Kaleo or The Porch and donating. Will you help us?