Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas to all of you!  This time of year we are all focused on finding that perfect gift for our loved ones and friends.  I am reminded first of the gift God gave us all in the form of his son.  I am also constantly reminded of the gift each of you give to the children in Haiti.  Your gift of warm food, education and hope lasts all year long and is impacting entire communities.

To update you on what is going on in Hope in Haiti and the country in general I refer you to an article that a reporter from Manhattan had written for ABC News.  The title of this article is “How to Buy a Child in 10 Hours”.  I strongly suggest you go to this link, as it will open your eyes, as it did mine.  Although I have been to Haiti many times, seen the poverty and oppression, man’s depravity never ceases to amaze me.  And once again it’s so confirmed in my heart that building two schools and providing education for 550 children is life-changing for these families.  We are working with the poorest of the poor in the mountains of Kawo.  When parents can’t provide for their children what options do they have?  They cling to hope and promises of others, only to be betrayed and young lives are ruined and families torn apart.  By providing an education, we help stop this child slavery and give dignity to each family and child.

We are also looking into working with an organization to teach the Haitians in the mountains to raise rabbits for food.  I was sharing this with several of my Haitian friends and they almost fell off their chairs laughing.  “Haitians don’t eat rabbits!” was their reply.  Oh my!  There is a fairly new program in the north raising rabbits and it all makes sense to me.  These people will need to be taught to build cages, feed them and about diseases.  Even though they think I’m crazy, it seems like it would be a good source of protein for them.  Rabbits eat the stalks that humans can’t consume.   So please pray with me about this.  I would possibly go back in February to meet with this organization.

Thank you again for providing hope for these children and their families.  Thank you for being faithful in your support.  As you celebrate this Christmas with your families, I ask that you might pray for the family of your child (children).  We are making a difference in their lives and in their communities.  May you be richly blessed this season.

Merry Christmas!

Dixie