"Awaken Haiti" awareness / action / hope

Yes we finally officially have a name: Awaken - Haiti

Who We Are:
Awaken – Haiti was founded by a group of people who are striving to be the hands and feet of Christ by stepping outside of themselves and their own desires in order to help those in need.

Mission:
Awaken – Haiti desires to establish avenues to begin breaking the cycle of poverty through providing aid to orphans and the poor while intersecting diverse cultures in order to further one's spiritual transformation.

Why We Are Here:
We want to make people Aware of the need among orphans and the level of poverty in Haiti. We also want to Awaken spiritual Awareness in those who serve as well as those we serve. We desire to be a vessel for people to Act on this awareness of physical and spiritual need. We desire to bring Hope for the physically and spiritually impoverished.

What a blessing it has been to be a part of seeing the passion that so many people have for the people and children of Haiti. We have been very busy getting all of this off the ground, coming up with concepts to support and carry out the mission, and trying to juggle life at the same time.

I want to share with you some of things that have been and still going on with the ministry over the past month:

1. Myself and Tony Brandt took another trip to Haiti to meet with our Haitian leaders and continue to follow through with our relief and restore effort with our orphanages and ministries.
2. Continue to work on and are in the final stages of launching the Awaken-Haiti web-site.
3. Designing and launching of our new logo.
4. Have had two sponsor meetings.
5. Broke ground and completely framed the House4Haiti. (Thanks to Doug and Randie Thomas, the H4H team, and all the volunteers.)
6. Have had numerous small fundraisers
7. Drafted and got approved an outline of the ministry so we are now a sponsored ministry of the Carlisle Brethren in Christ Church.
8. Rented and will be moving the girls of Good Samaritan into their new home next weekend.
9. Are in the process and in the next month will open our new boys orphanage that will house and take care of 15 boys.
10. Have been assisting two orphanages with there monthly budgets.
11. Helped fund a construction project at pastor Nathan's church.
12. In the process of making 25 bunk beds for the orpahanges and guesthouse. (Thanks Glenn and the Sawdust Alley team)
13. Gathering items for the 40 foot container that we are going to pack and send to Haiti on June 11th.
14. Writing trip manuals and gearing up to host trips for people that want to serve in Haiti. - Dates for fall and winter trips coming soon!!!!!!!:-)
15. Made many improvements to our financial and receipting system.

I could go on and on and on..........

None of this would be possible without a very gifted, dedicated, and resourceful group of people that is also known as the Awaken-Haiti Leadership Team:

Director of Haiti Operations: Myself and Deb
Director of US Operations: Doug and Ger Denlinger
Director of Ministry Development: Robin Richardson
Director of Finances: Bryan and Amy Gobin
Director of Sponsor Relations: Michelle and Jeff Bell
Director of Mission Trips: Tony and Cindy Brandt
Director of Construction: Marv Diller
Director of FH/FG Relations: Matt Reichard

We have asked a lot of these people, and they have delivered. Deb and I can't express to them enough how critical they are to this ministry.

As we continue to do our best to be obedient to what God has planned for this ministry, we need your prayers. Please pray that:

1. God continues to give us a clear vision on how He wants us to carry this mission.
2. We continue to seek out and listen for that guidance.
3. People's interest continues to turn into passion for Haiti.
4. The container will go smoothly.
5. Our house here the States sells in a timely manner.
6. Deb, myself, and our children as we go through this transition of leaving friends and family and moving to a developing country.
7. The hearts and minds of all the people touched by this ministry will draw closer to God and His desire for their lives.

May God continue to bless Awaken-Haiti, the people of Haiti, and all those involved in helping us to carry out this mission of making people aware, turning that awareness into action, and giving people hope....

Jeff