August 2, 2018
Back to Normal…
It’s so good to have everything back to normal in Haiti following the weekend of protests several weeks ago. Unfortunately, we had to cancel a few trips but this week we have two large teams in both Galette Chambon and Thoman.
Plus, I am thrilled to report that every week from May 25 – August 9, 2019 is booked in both of our locations in Haiti. Some of those teams are small so there are still opportunities to join with another team, but we are very excited to see so many teams already signed up for next year. In fact, for the entire year of 2019 we already have 41 teams signed up. Praise God! If you or your group are interested in a week, click HERE to see the schedule.
This week we have a veterinarian named Dr. Jonathan Faulkner with the First Baptist Madison, MS team. He is doing great work in Galette Chambon. Haitian pastors Jean Baptiste Jean and Inoma Leoma are leading the charge in this village to see that all animals are vaccinated and dewormed. As you can see, many of the animals are not in great shape and can really use Dr. Faulkner’s care.
Housing Boom
Something really great is happening in Haiti. We are having a housing boom! We are right in the middle of building eleven new houses in Gallete Chambon, Thoman, Mathias, and Bois Polite!
One family lives in the mountains up from Galette Chambon (GC). They are far away from healthcare, healthy food, church, and all other necessities. They live in extreme poverty. The father walks several hours each way to our Hope Center every day to try and work and make a little money. Last week we start building this family a house near the Hope Center. Now, it will take him two minutes to get to work and they will be next to the medical clinic and the church and not far from the nearest town. Thanks to a godly couple near Memphis, Tennessee, they will be surrounded by people in case they need anything. It’s truly life-changing!
The 2nd family getting a house in GC consists of a mom and her five children who were abandoned by her husband. He beat her and then left them, including a five-year-old with cerebral palsy. They currently live in a mud hut that is falling down. She has no way to better her family, feed them regularly, or provide a decent place to live. They are stuck in a shack that we would not allow our dogs to live in. But not for long! Thanks to some awesome folks from First Baptist Church Biloxi, Mississippi, we started on their new house last week.
A 3rd house is being built in GC this week by First Baptist Church, Madison, Mississippi.
A 4th house was built last week in Thoman thanks to the love and generosity of Aspen Park Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
The 5th house is being built in Mathias this week. The 6th and 7th houses will be built in GC by some college students and a couple from Florence, MS. The 8th and 9th houses will be the first ever houses built in the village of Bois Polite.
Finally, the 10th and 11th houses will be built in Thoman and Mathias in November by some young businessmen from Jackson, MS.
The houses we build in GC and Thoman cost only $5,785. They have a porch and two rooms and they will be painted a bright color. The families will be able to lock the doors at night and no rain will enter. Our houses have endured four hurricanes over the years with little to no damage. The houses in Mathias and Bois Polite cost a little more because of the difficulty of getting materials to these remote locations.
We started construction this week on the very first house we have built in the remote village of Mathias. Thank you First Baptist Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Hopefully, this will be the first of many!
Other Great News from Haiti
There are so many amazing things happening in Haiti right now. Here are a few examples of the incredible work that is taking place.
Terry Warren, our original missionary in Thoman, has spent considerable time in Haiti this summer. Here, he is standing with Dr. NeNe, a Haitian dentist who is now working one day per week at our clinic in Thoman. This is a HUGE blessing to the people of that area!
This is Wesley, Pastor Mathurin’s son. Wesley is currently attending community college in NW Arkansas. He lives with Terry and Kathy Warren. Wesley will be graduating from there in December and he has made all A’s thus far! After graduation, he will transfer to a senior college here in the States. The goal is for Wesley to go to dental school after finishing his undergraduate work and then return to Haiti to practice dentistry in his own village of Thoman. He is well on his way!
Apparently, Anthony Britt, Missions Pastor at First Baptist
Madison, MS, has been stealing kisses in the clinic waiting area
this week in Galette Chambon! This sweet lady was so excited
to have been able to see the physical therapist for her knees, receive a knee brace and pain medicine, and even a new walker
AND an audio Bible! Praise the Lord!
One recent team in Galette Chambon built benches and desks for schools for this coming school year! These Haitian young men love being a part of the summer work program where they work alongside the Americans building desks for the schools we support. It’s a great program for both the Americans and the Haitians.
The children in our orphanage prepared a skit of David and Goliath for VBS recently. They did a super job sharing one of the great stories from the Bible!
Progress in the Delta
It’s been a great summer in Jonestown, MS. We’ve hosted 8 teams at our new Hope Center. They’ve come from all over Mississippi and also Tennessee and Arkansas.
In addition, we’ve made great progress with the Montessori school, the dental clinic, and the new housing program. We’ve even begun the planning stages for the medical clinic. Great days are ahead in the Mississippi Delta!
We are thrilled to have Pinelake Church serving in Jonestown, MS with us this week. We love how their members, like the photo above, love the children of the Delta.
It was great hosting Silverdale Baptist Church of Chattanooga, TN several weeks ago. They shared Bible stories and the love of Christ with the children of Jonestown.
We loved having Brilla Soccer Ministries of Clinton, MS several
weeks ago. They loved the kids, played soccer, and shared
the hope of the Gospel.
Job Openings in Haiti
We have two openings in Haiti with BGM. First, we have an opening at the orphanage. Our current American couple, Nash and Emily Barber, will be transitioning back to the States between now and the end of the year. They will have spent almost two years loving the children and providing guidance and stability. We are now looking for a couple or a single person to live at the orphanage and give leadership and guidance to this very important ministry. If you are interested, please email two people: Al Stubblefield at astub52@gmail.com and me at stanbuckley@butgodministries.com.
We also have an opening at our In-Patient Malnutrition Center. Our nurse, Katie Ethridge, will be moving back to the States at the end of the year to pursue a Nurse Practitioner’s degree. She has done a marvelous job and we are looking for another nurse to live full-time at the Malnutrition Center along with our Director, Rachel Charpie. If you are interested, please email me at stanbuckley@butgodministries.com.
Finally…
As you can see, God is using But God Ministries in marvelous ways. Also, as you are aware, it takes a great deal of resources to do what God has called us to do. Would you please consider financially supporting BGM and our work in Haiti and the Miss. Delta? Your gift will go a long way in helping us share the love of Christ in very tangible ways in these challenging places.
You can give online HERE or send a check to: But God Ministries, 400 Fontaine Place, Suite 103, Ridgeland, MS, 39157.
In addition, I ask for your prayers for wisdom and energy for our Haitian staff, our American staff in Haiti and the U.S., and our Board of Directors.
Can’t Wait To See What God Does Next,
Stan Buckley
Executive Director