A One-hundred-fold Labor of Love!

On a recent trip to Arkansas, we received one of the most amazing gifts ever given to Reformation Hope. A wonderful woman named Grace Owen had delivered to one of our ministry partners a true labor of love — one hundred times over. Grace spent hours upon hours, driven by compassion for our Haitian orphans, in creating not one, not 10, but 101 hand-sewn sundresses for the little orphan girls in La Plaine. We want to take this opportunity, during this season of giving, to express our hundred-fold thanks to Mrs. Owen for her incredible, sacrificial gift. We cannot wait to deliver these dresses to our precious little girls and collect as many photographs as possible of their smiling faces to bring back in gratitude to Grace. Thank you, dear sister in Christ, for imaging the Christian name with which you were given.

Christmas Greetings from RHI

Rev. Alan Lutz,Chairman

Dear Friends of Reformation Hope:

Merry Christmas greetings to you as we enter the advent season! We rejoice in celebrating the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners and King of the nations! One of my particular joys this Christmas season is preparing to lead a team to Haiti in January (5th-9th). I am excited that our group includes men from Cherokee PCA and Grace Church in Canton, Linda Maphet — our women’s advisory leader, and hopefully a couple college students, my son Daniel included! Pastor Jean Paul has asked me to lead a seminar on the subject of Eschatology — the doctrine of “Last Things.” So we will be studying about the end of this age at the beginning of the New Year. Perfect! Our team will also be providing computer instruction, women’s discipleship and micro-financing planning, and care for the children and youth. We will be taking quite a sleigh-full of gifts down for them, thanks to the generous giving of people from many quarters. Please pray for our expedition to be directed by the Lord in every respect, and full of encouragement to our brethren in Haiti and missionaries alike. The Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesian elders of our Savior’s words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). May God bless all givers and receivers alike as we glory in His Only Begotten Son!

Joyeux Noel!

Ministry Milestones and Project Updates

Rev. Martin Hawley, Executive Director

Timothy Project Micro-finance: Peterson, our first micro-finance loan recipient, has expanded his beverage business and is seeing increased sales. Our second project, a pasta shop to be launched by Osseille Joseph, is now in the final stages prior to loan approval. Many thanks to Christ Presbyterian Church of Marietta, Georgia, who has provided an additional $1,000 for the micro-lending fund, as well as a $1,200 annual pledge to the fund going forward.

Ministry Vehicle Replacement: You may recall that our long-serving 15-passenger van caught fire and was rendered totaled. Thanks to Michael Dresdner, of HDS Vans & Mobility, our Haitian ministry will receive a like-new 2004 Ford E450 van with full handicapped capabilities soon. The van will be delivered once some minor tune-up and spare part acquisitions have been completed. The challenge now is raising $8,000 for shipping and customs. We give thanks that Mr. Dresdner is working hard in raising the needed funds and we thank Christ Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Geo. for their support in providing $2,000 of the needed total.

Church of the Messiah-sponsored Kitchen Project: Our partners at Church of the Messiah in Canton, Georgia remain hard at work, seeking to reach their $20,000 goal to provide a fully-equipped new kitchen for our orphanage. By God’s grace expect to reach their goal early in 2012.

Harvest of Hope Goat Farm Project: Another note of thanks goes out to the students and staff of Covenant Christian School, a ministry of Midway Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Geo. The children responded in an amazing way to the recent Goat Week project, collecting $1,600, enough to buy 16 goats to start our goat farm in La Plaine in 2012. Way to go CCS!

Christmas for the Orphans and Haitian Staff: No less than three partner churches are busy organizing and wrapping Christmas gifts for our orphans, ministry staff, and Scout troop in Haiti. Cherokee Presbyterian in Canton, Geo., Smyrna Presbyterian in Smyrna, Geo., and Young-Meadows Presbyterian in Montgomery, Ala. are making sure our Haitian brothers and sisters have a wonderful Christmas. Thanks to all of you for your efforts for the least of these among Christ’s redeemed.

American Style Chicken Restaurant in Croix-de-Bouquets: The Haitian restaurant project continues to employ 18 Haitian men and women, offering them the self-sufficiency they need to provide for their families and in many cases return to school when not working. All levels of schooling in Haiti require tuition. There is no taxpayer funded school system as we have in the United States. Jean Paul reports that the restaurant should be in the black and self-sustaining by mid-2012.

Year-end Giving Investment Opportunities at RHI

Many of our partners and supporting churches and organizations make special year-end investments in the work of Reformation Hope in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We are so very grateful for these Christmas season and New Year’s investments, as they often fuel our mission through the lean months of January and February. If you are considering a year-end investment in kingdom ministry and development, we encourage you to consider these projects. Of course, undesignated gifts are also a wonderful help in sustaining our food, clothing and school programs. We also have orphan sponsorships at $60 per month or $30 per month for a co-sponsorship.