Journey to Ferrier, Haiti

Friday, July 21 -
We had another early start today. We woke up for breakfast at 4:30 in order to catch our flight to Ferrier. The flight was quite an experience for us but it got us there and back so we are grateful we were able to fly to visit the girls!

We arrived in Ferrier after a very bumpy ride from the airport. When we pulled in to the girls home all of the girls and staff were waiting for us. They were excited we were there but were most excited to see Jude and meet Millie, the youngest members of our team. Let's just say those two were the life of the Ferrier party and they loved every minute.

After a very warm welcome from the Ferrier girls home, we took a walk to check out other projects Together for Haiti has going on. The first stop was the Ferrier church. Pastor Jean Aix told us the history of the church and how the Lord has made it a beacon of light in a very spiritually dark place.

Next we saw the Kindergarten and Primary School. Although school is out for the summer, there were some summer lessons going on so we were able to get a glimpse of the work that is done there.

Then, we went to visit Rosena, a dear friend and one of the first children who grew up in the children's home. She is currently the Director at the Ferrier Village, a compound with family style homes for vulnerable children.  It is wonderful to see her worship the Lord by serving "the least of these". What a testimony!

Photoshoot time with Kyle

After we finished visiting, we headed back to the girls home. Although we had only a short time there, we took photographs of all of the girls, passed out shoes and backpacks, recorded clothing sizes with our IAM ministry friends and ate lunch! It was quite the afternoon... I love being able to bring down tangible items like shoes and backpacks for the kids. They are so grateful and appreciative. It's something so small that anyone can participate in which truly fills a need. Thank you to all of the supporters who made it possible!

After we said our goodbyes we headed back down the bumpy road to the airport. The plane ride back was just as exciting as it was going. This time the Suttons sat in the very front row, and watched out the cockpit window the entire time. We even saw the pilot TEXTING during takeoff!

After we landed (safely) we started the drive back to the mission center. We were stuck in Friday afternoon traffic for what seemed like forever but finally made it up the mountain to our temporary home. After another delicious dinner, we all headed to bed. Traveling is exhausting!

Please continue to pray for us. We are seeing a big picture of what the Lord is doing through Together for Haiti. We love seeing how He is working in so many areas and are excited to see where the Lord will use Hope for the Hungry to be His hands and feet. Join us?

- Jen Sutton

Walking through Ferrier

Pastor Jean Alix showing new Executive Director Larry Reeves
the Church and School in Ferrier

Inside the one of the Kindergarten classes 

Narah and the girls trying on new their backpacks.

Hope for the Hungry and Together for Haiti

Thursday July 20 -
We are so grateful to be spending a few days in Haiti. Our journey began Wednesday at 2:30 in the morning. Although it was early, our team was eager for what was ahead. After two pretty uneventful flights we made it to Haiti by early afternoon. Our team is made up of Hope's Executive Director, Larry Reeves, Hope's Founder, Dan Kirkley, a Hope staff member, Jen Sutton and family, a professional photographer, Kyle Pierce, and an IT supporter, Mike McIntyre, who brought laptops for the University students. Our purpose this week is to taste and see all that the Lord is doing through our ministry partner "Together for Haiti" and determine how we can best partner and serve them.

When we arrived yesterday, our partner, Pastor Jean Alix Paul, brought us to tour Agape, a huge church plant he started a few years ago. It is in Petionville, a large city outside of Port-au-Price and is a great model for future church plants in the area. The church reaches thousands on a weekly basis as it focuses on evangelism and continues to grow through the discipleship of new believers. We will worship there on Sunday and look forward to experiencing it ourselves.

Today has been our first day of exploration. After breakfast we walked up to the boys home in Guibert and tried to take in the magnitude of all that takes place on this compound. This land houses the Mission Center, a three story elementary and jr high school, a boys home, and a church. The property is used for all of these things and more. Last week there was a huge teachers' training, a few weeks ago there was a children's camp for a few hundred children and just today, there was a blood pressure clinic being held for around 100 people in one of the classrooms. If there is open space Pastor Jean Alix fills it up however is needed to share the gospel and serve the community.

After lunch, the team went to Marothiere, another town where Together for Haiti has a school and church to see the work being done in that community. The Lord is doing wonderful things there and it was great to see progress.

The rest of the day was spent hanging out with the children in the home. Lots of basketball, running around playing tag and even a walk down the mountain to fill up some water buckets. All in all it was a great day.

Tomorrow will be a crazy one. We are catching an early flight to get to our girls home for a few hours then turning around and flying back here. It'll be a crazy travel day but we're looking forward to seeing all of the Ferrier family.

Please continue to pray for us. Pray for good rest tonight because we are pretty exhausted. Pray for the hectic travel day tomorrow. Pray that our flight plans work out and that we don't get stuck in Ferrier overnight. Also, pray for us as we are seeing such a great need everywhere we go. Pray for clarity for each of us as we try and discern the Lords call for our ministry.

Love Haiti

Next we headed to the Mission Center to unload all of our bags full of shoes, backpacks and laptops we will be distributing in the next few days. We then headed to Jean Alix's home for dinner. It was a delicious meal that was much appreciated after a long travel day. We arrived back at the mission center after dark and all went to bed, exhausted from a busy day.

Mackenlay

Jude playing with the boys