Thanksgiving in September!

Thank You for Praying for Protection from Irene

The Lord answered your faithful prayers in August, sparing not only our compound but much of Haiti from the torrential rains and winds accompanying Irene as she passed by on the way to the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. As the praise song puts it, “What a mighty God we serve!” Please being praying now that God will be merciful with the newest potential level 3 Hurricane named Katia, now located east of the Caribbean islands.

Double Your Dollars Matching Grant Challenge Exceeds Goals

What a time for thanksgiving to God for His abundant provision! And what a time to thank all of you who responded to generously during our recent Double Your Dollars Matching Grant. The congregation of Christ Covenant Presbyterian in Woodstock, Georgia deserve a double share of thanks for making, first their $5,000 challenge, and then adding to that goal another $2,000 toward the end of August. The highlight of the whole matching challenge came on Sunday, August 28th when Reformation Hope received a single gift of $1,000 which put us at goal and $14,000. That same evening, Midway Presbyterian Church hosted a Northwest Georgia Presbytery joint-worship service in which another nearly $7,000 was raised!

Thanks From Our Soccer Teams

We want to thank several short-term teams who have recently been to our mission compound in La Plaine and have provided both soccer training and amazing soccer equipment to both our junior and our older Haitian soccer teams. Equipment donated has included soccer balls, cleats, uniforms, socks, and other essentials. Players on both teams want you to know how very much they appreciate and are using the items you have provided. And by the way, we have two of the best soccer teams in Haiti — coached by Jean Paul and composed of the children and youth we love and provide for!

Teams who have provided for our soccer ministry include:

• Smyrna Presbyterian Church in Smyrna, Georgia
• Pacific Crossroads Church in Santa Monica, California
• Young Meadows Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama
• Mullins Presbyterian Church in Mullins, South Carolina
• Church of the Messiah in Canton, Georgia
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Atlanta area

Thanks again to all of you. Thank you too for increasing our basketball court from half-size to full-size this summer! And isn't it amazing how quickly new soccer balls and basketballs in Haiti can look like they're 10 years old?

Urgent Medical Need

During a recent Mission to the World medical team visit to our compound in Haiti, one of the men in our congregation was diagnosed with testicular cancer. This is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated as soon as possible. One of the MTW medical team professionals is busy raising funds to provide for surgery and treatment for this young man (who is only in his thirties). If you would like to help us reach the $3,350 we estimate will be required for this surgery, please use our website (www.reformationhope.org) PayPal link, or the link provided below in this newsletter and add a notation on your donation that this is for the cancer surgery patient. Please keep this young man in your prayers as well for complete and total healing.

New Orphanage Kitchen Set as Top Priority for 2012

There are always many projects and needs in Haiti. This is no surprise to those of you who have been partnering with RHI for some time. Pastor Jean has asked us to seek support for construction costs and equipment costs for a kitchen for our orphanage in La Plaine. Right now, the children’s meals are prepared and cooked outside or at the end of one of the school rooms, using primitive charcoal and without good sanitation. We do not have the final estimate, but expect to need as much as $50,000 in order to build kitchen space and supply it with propane for cooking, some electrical and plumbing access, and the necessary appliances, cookware, and utensils. In our October issue, we will provide a list of all the current and pending projects with an update on just how well we are doing so far in reaching our funding goals.