Coastal Haiti Mission Newsletter

August 2022

THE CROWD

It was no light gale that blew through Newport Harbor on March 29, 1869. Undeterred by the inclement weather, a late winter snowstorm, two soldiers hired a local 14-year-old boy to guide them across the bay to Fort Adams.

As they made their way, battling wind and waves, their boat, no match for the storm’s fury, capsized, and they were thrown into the frigid water. The two soldiers clung to the side of the overturned boat and struggled to stay afloat as numbness and exhaustion swept through their bodies. Surely, fear must have gripped their very souls. Was this the “end” for them? Would they soon be lying at the bottom of the bay, their hopes and dreams for this life gone forever?

Enter Ida Lewis, the Lighthouse Keeper’s daughter. They must have thought they were seeing things when suddenly they were not alone. The young woman, who seemed to come out of nowhere, accompanied by her younger brother, managed to pull both men out of the icy water and onto her own boat. She then proceeded to row in circles searching for the young boy they told her had been with them before the boat keeled over. The two grateful soldiers were saved. Tragically, the boy was not.

Idawalley Zorada Lewis (Wilson) was born on February 25, 1842, in Newport, Rhode Island. Her father, Capt. Hosea Lewis, was keeper of the Lime Rock Light Station, and Ida lived there with her parents and younger siblings.

By age 27, when she rescued the two soldiers, she had already rescued more than a dozen people. Referred to as the “Bravest Woman in America,” she received the Gold Lifesaving medal from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1881. She received a visit from President Ulysses S. Grant, one her admirers who summered in Newport.

In all, Ida Lewis is credited with rescuing 36 people from drowning, beginning as a teenager. When in her early teens, she and her mother took over the lighthouse duties when Capt. Lewis became ill. After the death of her parents in the 1870s, Ida was appointed Lighthouse Keeper and tended the light until her own death on October 24, 1911. Throughout that night the boat bells rang out over Newport Harbor, tolling in tribute to the Lighthouse Keeper’s daughter

–Ida Lewis.

(The light was renamed the “IDA LEWIS LIGHTHOUSE in 1924, the first and only time a lighthouse was named after it’s Keeper. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.)

Jesus Christ came to this earth on a rescue mission.

We were drowning in our own human nature – Self-seeking, self-serving, self- indulgent, and self-interested. It was, after all, all about us. Wasn’t it? And so we ran with The Crowd. Thought like The Crowd, talked like The Crowd, played like The Crowd, and dressed like The Crowd. Some of us went to church, but it was The Crowd that had our attention.

And then, one day, we met the Man, the God Man. An encounter with the Lion of Judah – Jesus, the Christ. He reached out his hand to us and issued an invitation: “Come, follow Me.” And we found what we didn’t know we were looking for; purpose, meaning, forgiveness, and eternal life. He wants us to be with Him forever.

And now it’s up to us. We are His witnesses. We need to reach out to those still trying to stay afloat, That’s our assignment. Because, you see, He wants The Crowd, too.

“The Lord does not delay and be tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9 TAB)

Walking this Way with you,

Connie

Life in the Village

Pastor Coty Writes:

There is a new business that is growing up in the village.

This is the real, life story of a typical worldly young woman, trying to survive in a very difficult situation, that she helped to create. She is a victim of evil men, who used her for their pleasure, and then discarded her, leaving her with the results of their combined sin.

At the same time, she deserves credit for not abandoning her offspring, like the evil men who put her in this position.

She does not attend my church, but she certainly needs the message of salvation, and the help that a Godly and dedicated congregation can provide for her.

Almost anywhere in the Village of Cahess, you may see this little stove standing along the road, attended to by Filomena.

Filomena is a young lady who has already given birth to 4 children, with 3 different men. Unfortunately, none of the men live with her.

She was working in the industrial park, but she was fired for the lack of work. She was one of the 4000 workers that were let go, when it was decided to close some of the Korean factories.

She did not have much time on the job, so she did not receive much money when she was terminated.

She started this little roadside business to support her children. She purchases the hotdogs at the border of the Dominican Republic, during the free market on Monday and Friday, when the Haitian People are allowed to cross the border.

Each cooked hotdog costs 40 cents US.

Filomena cooking hot dogs on her stove.

The Home Lighting Program

Last month the distribution part of the Home Lighting Program was revised by Pastor Coty Joseph, Carl Lamour and Ken Johansson. This was done to provide direct control over who receives a light, how the light is used, and to provide user training so that the recipients are able to get the most and best use of their lights.

We also revised the distribution to make sure that there is no misuse of the lights, that would frustrate the sacrifice of those of you who have invested your money in making life better for the families in the Village of Cahess, Haiti.

A review of the July 2022 CHM Newsletter will indicate the specifics of this newly revised distribution program.

Pastor Coty and brother Monel Pierre have implemented these new guidelines. Pastor Coty interviewed five candidates individually to determine their qualifications, and willingness to comply with the restrictions of the program. The most important restriction being that they agree to never sell or give their light away.

Pastor Coty and brother Monel Pierre then met with these five successful candidates in a training class, which Pastor Coty describes below.

Pastor Coty Writes:

For a better learning experience, we have now decided to have small group training on the use of the lights.

Yesterday we met for a class with 5 candidates. The time was great together. After the training, each of the candidates received a light.

Of this group, two women are very poor and in great need for light. They each qualified for a free light.

These same two women were happy that we have a charging station. They said that they would not let anyone else charge their lights, so that their lights will not get damaged.

The home lighting class

Pastor Coty teaching the lighting class.

Monel Pierre placing a Cyclops light on a wall mounting plate.

Monel Pierre demonstrates a very bright Cyclops light.

The Cyclops light magnetically attached to the ceiling.

These two ladies received a free Cyclops light.

A note from Ken Johansson, Project leader

I asked Pastor Coty about the number of Cyclops lights that remain to be given to families. The answer was that he has eight lights left to distribute. This means that we will need to provide another 50 lights in the very near future. I will begin a search for the best pricing for these lights immediately. However, it always seems to take several months between when we purchase them and when Pastor Coty receives them in Haiti.

My estimate is that the total cost for a light including shipping and Haitian Custom charges will be $50.

If you would like to change a Haitian family from living in almost total darkness, to living with reasonable lighting in their home, we welcome your donation in any amount.

If you would like to help, please send your check to the address at the end of this newsletter, or if you want to give “online”, please use our PayPal service, also found at the end of this newsletter.

The School Lunch Program

Pastor Coty Writes:

The Haitian Government has advanced the school opening day to Monday, October 3^rd.

Also, Pastor Coty sent us the class breakdown for the fall school semester. The school breakdown is listed below by class:

Grade Number of Students

Preschool 25

First grade 25

Second grade 26

Third grade 33

Fourth grade 54

Fifth grade 38

Sixth grade 26

Seventh grade 27

Eighth grade 22

Ninth grade 19

Teachers 19

Staff 6

Total 320

The number of meals that CHM needs to supply for a 20, school day month, is calculated here.

5 meals each week for each student. For 320 students, teachers, and staff, that is 1,600 meals each week.

That amounts to 6,400 meals for each month that school is in session.

At $0.50 for each meal, that amounts to $3,200 for each school month.

We are very grateful for all of the CHM Family and Friends who have faithfully underwritten the school lunch program in past years. As we begin the new semester, we invite you to again, invest in the feeding these students.

As economic conditions continue to decline, the meal these students receive at school, becomes increasingly more urgent and important.

Proverbs 19: 17
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

A promise to you from the scripture

Numbers 6: 24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine on you
and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace

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