Forward Edge International

By now, you probably know that Hurricane Matthew made landfall on Haiti as a Category 4 storm on October 4, 2016.  It was the strongest storm to directly impact Haiti since Hurricane Cleo in 1964; approximately 2.1 million Hatians were in the path of the the storm and it is estimated that 1.4 million (12 percent of Haiti's population) are in need of assistance.  I'm asking you to consider blessing 1 family in tremendous need by donating to this campaign and helping to build a home for Carl and his family.

The week before the stom hit, Forward Edge International sent a mission team to Port-au-Prince, Haiti as a part of their Nouvo Lavi ("New Life") ministry and to work with local pastor, Louighins Jean, in an impoversihed area of the city known as Meyotte.  I was blessed to have been able to serve on that team.  We arrived home safely ahead of the storm on September 30th and in the following days my wife and I decided sponsor a child in the Nouvo Lavi program.  We chose Carl Henry Simon.

[For more information about child sponsorship click here.]  

I first [briefly] met Carl and his family on September 25th when our team accompanied Pastor Louighins to his home after church service to deliver food and new shoes which were donated to our team--and most impotantly to pray with them.    

Carl receiving new shoes.

Pastor Louighins with the family.

During this visit, we saw that Carl lived with his father, mother, and 2 siblings in a small, one-room, wooden, tarp-covered structure with no water or electricity.  The kitchen was outside and the toilet was not in good condition.


We met Carl one last time during our trip--at the school run by Pastor Louighins, which sits atop the hill overlooking Carl's home.   (It is because the Forward Edge child sponsorhip program that Carl is able to attend school.)

On October 10th, we received the following news from Haiti: 

"We have just today received some news from the director of our Nouvo Lavi ministry with some updates on the children and their families.  So far, there have been no reported deaths of anyone in our program, thank the Lord, but 52 our our children and their families have been directly affected.

Unfortunately, Carl is one of those. What we know right now is that Carl's home was damaged by landslides. The family is in a temporary shelter and we do not yet know if the family will be able to return to the home or be permanently displaced."

The good news is that below the wooden, tarp structure that was damaged by landslides sits a half-completed home for the family to return to--if we can raise the money to finish the build.  The estimate to complete the home is $5,000-$6,000.   Carl's parents are unemployed (which is not at all uncommon in Port-au-Prince, with unemployment estimates as high as 85 percent); even if they were employed . . . we'll, I'll let you do the math: average income is $3 to $4 dollars per day!

Will you help Carl and his family and send us back to Haiti to finish their home?


When we were in Haiti before the storm we built a house for another family in the Nouvo Lavi program and we'd really like to get back there to build another!


Thank you for taking the time to read about Carl and his family.  God bless.

If you're interested, click here more information about the Nouvo Lavi ministry at Forward Edge.

Hi friends & family,

As many of you know that July 12, 2015 will mark the BIG 4-0! I have been thinking about how I wanted to celebrate this milestone and I decided I wanted it to do something I have never done....go on a mission trip. For anyone who knows me you know I love finding hearts in nature. So when I read that Kenya is called "the heart of Africa" by her people I knew that was exactly where I am meant to go.  Here is where you come in. I am asking that you help me raise funds to take this great adventure and do something special for those in Kenya in the process. Please donate $40 (or more if you really like me) for my 40th birthday.

Below is a breakdown of the cost and how the money will be spent. All donations will go directly to Forward Edge International so it will be tax deductible. This grand caper takes place Sept 27-Oct 10, 2015.  I will post updates and videos so you can feel like you are on this journey with me because it wouldn't be possible without your generosity and support, so thank you in advance.

 

Cost of mission trip                                  $1895

Airfare estimate                                         $1400

Wash station at Mama Beth’s             $4000

GoFundMe Fees                                         $705

                                      Grand Total         $8000  
                                      ($40 from 200 friends)

 
Here is a link to see what I will be doing on the trip. 
Forward Edge International - Kenya Trip Details


Below are some of the adorable kids we will meet.