Bon jou!
Montrouis, Haiti main road
Dear friends & family,
Bon jou, and 'mesi!' (thank you) for checking out my Blog! :) I'm glad you're here. Before you read on, I must admit- I am terrible at keeping up with this blog on a regular basis, but I like to stop by from time to time and give you an update. I'm hoping and praying that God be glorified through my life in it all, and that you are encouraged through it, and fall in love with the great and merciful God who made and knows each of it intimately, and came down and gave His life up to save us to Himself. (Romans 6:23- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")
I started this page when I found out that I was going to serve God in Haiti (in September 2011) but I have updated the blog since then being back in the states. The ministries I mention in my intro, and blog have changed over the last few years, so those websites will be updated under the tabs pages. If you are interested in getting connected to any of the ministries mentioned, please do so under the updated link.
About me, post-Haiti: I came back to the U.S. in February 2012, then moved to Seattle in August of 2013. I am currently working on my first Bachelor's degree- in Sociology- at Seattle Pacific University, and attending Mosaic Community Church in Seattle. The whole moving experience has been eye opening, educational, and humbling to say the least. I have found new passions for social justice, slack lining, and being a part of community. I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without God's grace and mercy on me, and His sweet encouragement and guidance, through the help of friends, family, my new church family, and professors. All the glory goes to God, and I am so grateful for His help, and the help of everyone in my life.
Since this blog was written originally for the trip to Haiti, I've left the intro I wrote back then below. For now I'll be updating the blog part once in a while, and leave the Haiti letter as a reminder of past glories God has done, and a reminder of the hope that He is still working. I hope you enjoy. Much love and blessings to you and yours.
-Nicole
--------------------
September, 2011:
Hi!! Welcome to my blog page!
I am so excited to share all that God is doing down here in Haiti, and I wanted to give you a quick 'who, what, when, where, why' intro before you continue onto the rest of my blogs. Most of the information is scattered through out the blogs, and I appologize if my explainations are not very clear, but I will do my best to keep up with our day-to-day :)
On Friday, September 2nd, myself and my 5 other team members (Kelsey, Amber, Lindsey, Elise, and Shala) stepped onto a plane heading to our new home- a small fishing village in Haiti, called Montrouis (Mo-wee). This is our home for the next 6-9 months under the direction of Kerry & Joy Reeves, in support of New Vision Haiti. IMPACT missions (through the Presbytery of Santa Barbara) has partnered with New Vision in establishing this 9-month internship program to assist in their many different ministries -an orphanage, a feeding program for the elderly, an American Christian school, a feeding & sponsorship program for the kids in the community, a fishing business, and medical/ eye clinics.
The American Christian school, Libery Academy, is the most recent ministry opportunity presented to Kerry & Joy. Liberty Academy is located on the YWAM base in St. Marc, but the school was going to close down this year due to a lack of teachers. Turns out the Lord had other plans... After prayer and petition to friends and family, our team has stepped in as the teachers/administrators for the school so it can remain open this year!
We are living in the New Vision orphanage, but because of the reputation in Haiti of orphanages, it is called 'the mission' instead. The children who live here range from age 2-16, while other families and children just stop in for the day to eat or help out with the little kids. Most of the children who live here were either orphaned, or given up because the parent's couldn't affort to take care of them. We are living with them, eating with them, playing with them, and learning Creole from them. We are living on the top floor of the orphanage right above the 20+ little ones we have already fallen in love with. <3 These kids are so sweet, I am so excited to share some of their lives with you.
A couple members of our team are also working mainly with Kerry in the Fishing Village- fishermen are considered the lowest class here in Haiti, and many of them are not educated at all, and don't speak English. Kerry has been working along side them for 2 years now to teach them how to manage their money, sell and market their product, read & write in Creole, and to speak English. These men love Kerry & Joy so much, and New Vision has transformed 'the ghetto' of Haiti into a place where business can thrive, and the poorest people in Haiti are learning English skills that even the middle and upper class may not ever get to learn. In Jesus' name, New Vision has given these men and families hope and pride that they never could have had before, and even though it will still take time to see a major change, the progress that has been made is huge, and apperent already. These people are hungry to learn, and both the men and women of the village practice their English skills diligently.
Among the fishing village are about 14 local Haitian women that New Vision are working with too in assisting to establishing self-sustaining businesses. Most of them have fallen into the trap of prostitution in order to feed their kids, but want to get out and some want to go to school. Many of these women are widows, who lost their husbands in the hearthquake, and have had very little options to really take care of themselves. They have been learning English too, and we will be doing many of the feeding programs and ministry after school with them and on the weekends to get to know the fisherman and all the families. Please be praying for protection and wisdom for our team members to come around these women as we grow with these women to help them see the beautiful creations God has breathed them to be.
The more I get to know the Reeves' family and the growing needs they have for help, the more excited I am to be here and serve. Please check out the New Vision Haiti website to hear their hearts on everything that's been going on, and how they got here. Their experiences will grow and change you just by reading what their family has seen. Some will break your heart- others will give you amazing joy. They are such a blessing to the Body, and they truely love the Haitian people, and they all love God, and truely love these people.
Again, I want to thank you for reading my blog, and please continue to pray for all parties involved, but most of all- please continue to eagerly seek and praise the Lord. He makes all things work together for our good, and all the glory goes to Him alone. May His will be done, here on earth as in heaven.
Thank you again, and please continue to remember New Vision and the Haitian people in your prayers.
Much love in serving Him,
Nikki Garcia
Bon jou, and 'mesi!' (thank you) for checking out my Blog! :) I'm glad you're here. Before you read on, I must admit- I am terrible at keeping up with this blog on a regular basis, but I like to stop by from time to time and give you an update. I'm hoping and praying that God be glorified through my life in it all, and that you are encouraged through it, and fall in love with the great and merciful God who made and knows each of it intimately, and came down and gave His life up to save us to Himself. (Romans 6:23- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.")
I started this page when I found out that I was going to serve God in Haiti (in September 2011) but I have updated the blog since then being back in the states. The ministries I mention in my intro, and blog have changed over the last few years, so those websites will be updated under the tabs pages. If you are interested in getting connected to any of the ministries mentioned, please do so under the updated link.
About me, post-Haiti: I came back to the U.S. in February 2012, then moved to Seattle in August of 2013. I am currently working on my first Bachelor's degree- in Sociology- at Seattle Pacific University, and attending Mosaic Community Church in Seattle. The whole moving experience has been eye opening, educational, and humbling to say the least. I have found new passions for social justice, slack lining, and being a part of community. I wouldn't have been able to do any of it without God's grace and mercy on me, and His sweet encouragement and guidance, through the help of friends, family, my new church family, and professors. All the glory goes to God, and I am so grateful for His help, and the help of everyone in my life.
Since this blog was written originally for the trip to Haiti, I've left the intro I wrote back then below. For now I'll be updating the blog part once in a while, and leave the Haiti letter as a reminder of past glories God has done, and a reminder of the hope that He is still working. I hope you enjoy. Much love and blessings to you and yours.
-Nicole
--------------------
September, 2011:
Hi!! Welcome to my blog page!
I am so excited to share all that God is doing down here in Haiti, and I wanted to give you a quick 'who, what, when, where, why' intro before you continue onto the rest of my blogs. Most of the information is scattered through out the blogs, and I appologize if my explainations are not very clear, but I will do my best to keep up with our day-to-day :)
On Friday, September 2nd, myself and my 5 other team members (Kelsey, Amber, Lindsey, Elise, and Shala) stepped onto a plane heading to our new home- a small fishing village in Haiti, called Montrouis (Mo-wee). This is our home for the next 6-9 months under the direction of Kerry & Joy Reeves, in support of New Vision Haiti. IMPACT missions (through the Presbytery of Santa Barbara) has partnered with New Vision in establishing this 9-month internship program to assist in their many different ministries -an orphanage, a feeding program for the elderly, an American Christian school, a feeding & sponsorship program for the kids in the community, a fishing business, and medical/ eye clinics.
The American Christian school, Libery Academy, is the most recent ministry opportunity presented to Kerry & Joy. Liberty Academy is located on the YWAM base in St. Marc, but the school was going to close down this year due to a lack of teachers. Turns out the Lord had other plans... After prayer and petition to friends and family, our team has stepped in as the teachers/administrators for the school so it can remain open this year!
We are living in the New Vision orphanage, but because of the reputation in Haiti of orphanages, it is called 'the mission' instead. The children who live here range from age 2-16, while other families and children just stop in for the day to eat or help out with the little kids. Most of the children who live here were either orphaned, or given up because the parent's couldn't affort to take care of them. We are living with them, eating with them, playing with them, and learning Creole from them. We are living on the top floor of the orphanage right above the 20+ little ones we have already fallen in love with. <3 These kids are so sweet, I am so excited to share some of their lives with you.
A couple members of our team are also working mainly with Kerry in the Fishing Village- fishermen are considered the lowest class here in Haiti, and many of them are not educated at all, and don't speak English. Kerry has been working along side them for 2 years now to teach them how to manage their money, sell and market their product, read & write in Creole, and to speak English. These men love Kerry & Joy so much, and New Vision has transformed 'the ghetto' of Haiti into a place where business can thrive, and the poorest people in Haiti are learning English skills that even the middle and upper class may not ever get to learn. In Jesus' name, New Vision has given these men and families hope and pride that they never could have had before, and even though it will still take time to see a major change, the progress that has been made is huge, and apperent already. These people are hungry to learn, and both the men and women of the village practice their English skills diligently.
Among the fishing village are about 14 local Haitian women that New Vision are working with too in assisting to establishing self-sustaining businesses. Most of them have fallen into the trap of prostitution in order to feed their kids, but want to get out and some want to go to school. Many of these women are widows, who lost their husbands in the hearthquake, and have had very little options to really take care of themselves. They have been learning English too, and we will be doing many of the feeding programs and ministry after school with them and on the weekends to get to know the fisherman and all the families. Please be praying for protection and wisdom for our team members to come around these women as we grow with these women to help them see the beautiful creations God has breathed them to be.
The more I get to know the Reeves' family and the growing needs they have for help, the more excited I am to be here and serve. Please check out the New Vision Haiti website to hear their hearts on everything that's been going on, and how they got here. Their experiences will grow and change you just by reading what their family has seen. Some will break your heart- others will give you amazing joy. They are such a blessing to the Body, and they truely love the Haitian people, and they all love God, and truely love these people.
Again, I want to thank you for reading my blog, and please continue to pray for all parties involved, but most of all- please continue to eagerly seek and praise the Lord. He makes all things work together for our good, and all the glory goes to Him alone. May His will be done, here on earth as in heaven.
Thank you again, and please continue to remember New Vision and the Haitian people in your prayers.
Much love in serving Him,
Nikki Garcia