Last week we lost a dear friend and amazing servant for orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti. Jean Kuislin "Kiki" Alexis died unexpectedly on Thursday, leaving countless friends and family heartbroken. He worked every day to help orphaned children unite with their adoptive families (including our own twins) and quietly served in many other ways in his country. Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Kiki
Last week we lost a dear friend and amazing servant for orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti. Jean Kuislin "Kiki" Alexis died unexpectedly on Thursday, leaving countless friends and family heartbroken. He worked every day to help orphaned children unite with their adoptive families (including our own twins) and quietly served in many other ways in his country. 
Monday, August 8, 2011
Zanfan Lakay - One Year Later
A little over one year ago, Grangou (along with our partner Mosaic) opened a home for street kids in Port au Prince, Haiti. We didn't really know what would happen or how it would go, but we felt these kids deserved a life better than living minute by minute on the streets. We originally thought we would have about 20 kids and two house parents. Today we have 63 children. We could have hundreds more, but we simply don't have the resources or space. We have to focus on these 63 kids and help them recover from years of heartache and hard living. We want to help them get an education, build meaningful relationships and learn how to love and be loved. It is not always easy and we had no idea what this first year would bring. We have traveled back and forth several times over the last year and seen tremendous growth, but our most recent trip revealed a new hope and growth far beyond what we imagined could be accomplished in such a short period of time.
When we first started visiting the children (when they were all living on the streets), they were a little distant and skeptical of us. Not really surprising. We would bring food or shoes or other supplies, just hoping to start a relationship. We would't stay too long or push anything on them. We would talk with them and ask them things like, "What do you want for your future?" just so we could begin to understand them. The typical answer was to go to school or have a house, but the dreams were not really big. The future was beyond them at that time because they were jusy trying to survive that day.
Today, many of the children go out to school and the others have teachers who come and teach them at the house so they will soon be prepared to transition to school. Many of the children are learning English (yay - becasue our creole is pa bon) and doing exceptionally well at their studies. When we ask them what they want for their future now, we hear answers like "I want to be President of Haiti", "I want to be a pastor", "I want to change my country" and so on. The change is incredible. They have a new hope and it is so awesome to be a part of.
Another noticeable change is how Zanfan Lakay has become a family. When the kids first moved in, they were very rebellious. It seemed like someone was acting out at every moment and Jimmy was having to discipline constantly. Moving from life on the streets to a structured environment with rules and restrictions was not easy. But now most of them embrace this structure. They are eager to help out, they work hard and they support one another. It is so great to see the older kids loving and guiding the younger kids. Jimmy and Kathia Bonhomme (our truly amazing house parents) are Manmi and Papi to these kids. Zanfan Lakay is a HOME and we all are now FAMILY.
Obviously Zanfan Lakay is far from perfect. We take a few steps forward and then take a step back. We still have rebellious kids and troubles on a daily basis. But we also have growth and hope and transformation. And that is what this is about.
We hope you will follow us on this awesome ride that is Zanfan Lakay and working in Haiti. God has provided in so many ways and we are excited to share the adventures of our ministry with you. We have been changed and touched in so many ways and are so thankful to be a part of it.
When we first started visiting the children (when they were all living on the streets), they were a little distant and skeptical of us. Not really surprising. We would bring food or shoes or other supplies, just hoping to start a relationship. We would't stay too long or push anything on them. We would talk with them and ask them things like, "What do you want for your future?" just so we could begin to understand them. The typical answer was to go to school or have a house, but the dreams were not really big. The future was beyond them at that time because they were jusy trying to survive that day.
Today, many of the children go out to school and the others have teachers who come and teach them at the house so they will soon be prepared to transition to school. Many of the children are learning English (yay - becasue our creole is pa bon) and doing exceptionally well at their studies. When we ask them what they want for their future now, we hear answers like "I want to be President of Haiti", "I want to be a pastor", "I want to change my country" and so on. The change is incredible. They have a new hope and it is so awesome to be a part of.
Another noticeable change is how Zanfan Lakay has become a family. When the kids first moved in, they were very rebellious. It seemed like someone was acting out at every moment and Jimmy was having to discipline constantly. Moving from life on the streets to a structured environment with rules and restrictions was not easy. But now most of them embrace this structure. They are eager to help out, they work hard and they support one another. It is so great to see the older kids loving and guiding the younger kids. Jimmy and Kathia Bonhomme (our truly amazing house parents) are Manmi and Papi to these kids. Zanfan Lakay is a HOME and we all are now FAMILY.
Obviously Zanfan Lakay is far from perfect. We take a few steps forward and then take a step back. We still have rebellious kids and troubles on a daily basis. But we also have growth and hope and transformation. And that is what this is about.
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