Coastal Haiti Mission Newsletter

 

July 2022

 

ABOVE AND BEYOND

 

“JUSTIFICATION” – Just as if I’d-never sinned.  Oh, yes!  But so much more. If it were only just-as-if-we’d-never-sinned, that would place us back in the Garden of Eden with the first man and woman before the temptation.   Innocent, but not yet “justified.”  If Adam and Eve had resisted the temptation of the evil one and had refused to disobey God’s command to not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it would have been considered an Act of Righteousness and Justification.

Instead, because of their felonious act of disobedience they were deemed guilty by the God who made them, and mankind was doomed.

and there was nothing we could do.

 The offense was too great.  Too flagrant.   The disobedience too intentional.  The insolence too disparaging, the irreverence too outrageous – The fall, too far.  Way too far.  We were “totaled.” And sin had entered the world.

 But wait!  God was not surprised.  And He had a plan.  Only ONE “being” in existence would qualify as a worthy sacrifice to pay the price of atonement for the atrocity committed against Yahweh by the first male and female.  Only one.

It was the Father’s only begotten Son.  At the right time He would enter the world as a new-born babe, born of a Jewish woman – a virgin.  His name would be called “Jesus.”  He was fully God and fully man, yet without sin.  He would live among men for thirty-three years, healing the sick, casting out devils, and preaching about the Kingdom of God.  He would mentor twelve men who would later “turn the world upside down.”

Eventually, He would be labeled a criminal by the powers-that-be, and allow Himself to be crucified on a wooden cross where He would suffer and die for the sins of the world.  Your sin and mine.  He was the Supreme Sacrifice.  When He closed His eyes in death He set off  something of seismic consequence.  Redemption!  Forgiveness for all who call upon His Name!  And, yes, justification before God Who raised Him from the dead three days later to be alive forevermore!

Now the price paid for our salvation was even more than what was needed.  No longer “just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned,” but we were deemed “Justified! Made “right” before God, restoring access to our Heavenly Father.  It was like paying a ten-dollar debt with one-million dollars.

“But God’s free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass –

         His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man (Rom. 5:15a TAB)

 Grace was “SUPER ABOUNDING.”  God is like that.  Giving more than what is needed.  But what about us?  Do we give more than is needed in any given situation?   Or do we simply do our duty.  You know, the least we can get away with.  The other day our president honored several war heroes by bestowing the Medal of Honor upon them for going “above and beyond the call of duty.”

 Going above and beyond the call of duty brings blessing.  If someone I know is in the hospital and it is my unspoken duty to send a card, just any half-decent card will fulfill my obligation.  However, if I send a card that is special, one chosen in line with, or peculiar to, the person’s interests, it will be more of a comfort to the recipient.

And then there is the Word of the Master …if anyone asks for your tunic, give him your coat, also. Or …if someone forces you to go one mile with him, go with him two.

A friend of mine said she once asked the baby-sitter if the children had been good while she was away.  The baby-sitter replied that,”Yes, they were good. They didn’t do anything bad,”  My friend’s question:  “Does not doing “bad” constitute doing “good?” Think about it.  At the risk of sounding nonsensical, let me ask a question: “Am I doing “good” because I didn’t steal from you?” The answer is, of course, “No.”  In not stealing from you I am only doing what is expected of me.  Jesus said it this way:

“Even so on your part, when you have done everything that was

      assigned and commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants –

      possessing no merit, for we have not gone beyond our obligation;

      we have {merely} done what was our duty to do” ( Luke 17:10b TAB.)

 

Walking this Way with you,

Connie

 

 

The School Lunch Program

 

The school is on summer vacation, and so the cooks and kitchen staff are having a break. The fall semester begins on September 12, 2022.

 

 

The First Graduating Class

We have just been notified that the entire 9th grade class passed the government exams. In order for a student to continue to the 10th grade (high school), they must pass this exam. It is unusual for an entire class to pass this exam, so we congratulate the students and the teachers and staff for this great accomplishment.

The students from left to right are:

 Ronise Jean-Gilles, Roselande Pierre, Bertide Alexandre, Derlande Jean

 Loudwige Joseph, Asley Saintil, Dawensley Joseph, Louvintz Etienne

We congratulate these 8 students for this important achievement in their lives.

 

Food for the Needy Program


Pastor Coty Writes:

This month I want to introduce Madame Tony, one of the beneficiaries of this program. Madame Tony and her grandmother are both in this program.

Previously, only her grandmother was in the program. However, a few weeks ago, Madame Tony came to us and asked that we put her in the program as well.

We studied her situation, and we agreed to add her to the list. Now we double the quantity of food we provide to this family.

They live in 2 rooms. Each room measures 6 ½ feet by 5 feet (1.5 by 2 meters).

5 children, Madame Tony and her grandmother live in this extremely small space.

Sometimes when Madame Tony’s husband comes by, he stays in this house also.

He moved to other villages to look for work. Apparently, he has not found any work, because it was after he left, that his wife came to us and asked us to do something, because the children were extremely hungry.

The Food for the Needy Program helps many people in the village.

As the misery is increasing in our country, life is becoming harder and harder day by day.

The importance of the Food for the Needy Program is increasing dramatically.

Madame Tony is not the poorest person in Cahess, but her family clearly has a huge need.

7 People live in this tiny house.

 

 

The Home Lighting Program

Introduction by Project Leader Ken Johansson 

Pastor Coty is in charge of the lighting project in Haiti. He noticed that a small percentage of the people who had received lights, were not using the lights as intended.

We have expectations that the recipients will honor you the donors, by using the lights for the reasons you provided them.

When Pastor Coty observed this, he stopped the distribution portion of the program until a set of guidelines was prepared and in force. The guidelines are listed below.

 

Lighting Distribution Guidelines:

 Written by Pastor Coty Joseph, Translated by Carl Lamour

Distribution plan for the Lighting Program

1 – Each household/family is entitled to one Cyclops-Light, starting with the less fortunate families.

 2 – Each Head of Household who desires to illuminate their home with a Cyclops light from this program, will have an interview with Pastor Coty Joseph and Monel Pierre. The program and the requirements for participation in this lighting program will be explained. In order to proceed, the candidate must agree to abide by these requirements.

 3 –  Once a determination has been made for a Head of Household to participate in this lighting program, they must attend a class to learn how to safely charge the light, and how to effectively use the light to its greatest advantage. This class may be attended by additional family members, and also may include other successful candidates from other households.

 4 – A small contribution is expected from each family/household that has a Cyclops-Light or a charger. The contribution can be broken up into small payments and the total contribution will not exceed, $10 U.S. Pastor Coty has the authority to adjust the amount of this contribution.

 5 – Our charging station, which can charge 60 lights simultaneously, is available daily and there is no cost to charge a light. Owners are not obligated to use our charging station. They can charge their light anywhere, at their convenience.

6 — Monies collected from the owners, will be used for the program, to cover electrical costs, if needed, for the charging station, and for purchasing of materials such as metal mounting plates.

 7 — Pastor Coty has veto power (final say) in the approval request process.  This is put in place as a preventive measure against misuse and abuse, because the lights have a dedicated use.

 8 — Brother Monel will be supervising the installation of the lights, as well as how the lights are being used, and he will be providing a monthly report.

 9 — No Cyclops light/charger owners, are authorized to sell them, even if they have been paid off. If it is brought to our attention that someone has done this, he/she will be a persona non grata, in any existing or future CHM program.

This charging system can charge up to 60 Cyclops Lights at the same  time. The lights are charged with no cost to the light owner.

 We continue to raise funds to light up the homes of the people in the Village of Cahess. We will soon be sending another shipment of Cyclops lights. If you would like to help us provide lighting for the dark homes in this village, please send your donation to the address at the end of this newsletter, or if you prefer “on line” giving,  please use our PayPal service also at the end of this newsletter.

 

The State of Conditions in the Village of Cahess

 Introduction by Ken Johansson, CHM Newsletter Editor

 Periodically I ask Pastor Coty to write a description of the living conditions in the Village of Cahess. In the past, the reports have followed the national trends as the country has continued its downward slide, due to governmental instability and the deterioration of the economy. However, I was not prepared for the unfolding economic picture that he describes in his latest report.

 Please read carefully, the following message from Pastor Coty. Much of Haiti’s problems can be laid to the entrenched Oligarchs, who rule the country from hidden positions in the background.

However, now in addition to its own problems, the Country of Haiti is now being affected by World conditions, such as the war in the Country of Ukraine.

 

Life in the Village:

Written by Pastor Coty Joseph; Translated by Carl Lamour

Every time I write an article in connection with my country or my village, it is always to show our gratitude to our loyal supporters who have sacrificed a lot to help us. The CHM supporters’ generosity, and their kindness, help us survive in the difficulties we are facing daily. I have always been hopeful, and remain confident, that I will find positive progress and improvement to talk about.  The reality is, that we are not at that point yet.

Several years ago, an Industrial Garment Park was opened near our village. Many people from our village have been employed there. The employment there has helped many people to improve their standard of living. About a month or so ago, the workforce has been reduced and many people have been laid off. It is said that about 4000 people will be laid off, because of the war in Ukraine and that not many orders have been placed. Some of the factories at the park are already closed and many folks from our village, have already been let go.

Many of the people that were let go/fired, may not feel the effects of it yet, because of the small severance package they now have. But, once that money is gone, it is going to be difficult.

I have a feeling the situation is going to be dire in the days to come. We don’t know what to do, there is misery, no security, and no government. Only God knows.

 Please intercede to our Heavenly Father for the country of Haiti and its people.

 

Hebrews 13: 16
“And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

 

 A promise to you from the scripture

Isaiah 41: 10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand .

 

 Thank you Family and Friends of Coastal Haiti Mission, for all that you do to help the people in Cahess, Haiti. You are making a huge difference for these people.

Please remember, that CHM must continue to send our monthly commitment of $800 to carry on the ongoing CHM ministry in Cahess.

If you desire to help, please send your tax deductible check to our address and tell us how you want us to use your donation:

Coastal Haiti Mission

C/O Constance Goddard

3048 Spring Fancy Lane

Indian Trail, NC 28079

Or For tax deductible “online donations”, please use our PayPal service. Also please designate how you want us to use your donation.




May the Lord our God, who knows your heart and sees your actions, grant you great joy as you serve Him. Connie, Esther, Pastor Coty, Carl, Dan, and Ken are very grateful for your sacrifice. Ken Johansson CHM Newsletter Editor

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