It's Great To Be Back!

Got to spend alot of time with the children!

Playing Basketball

I need to teach them the American game of football!!

On February 4, my feet were walking on Haiti's soil once again.  A month after my last visit, I returned with a much smaller team and a different purpose.  I was joined by Mike and Laura Donovan and their daughter Kelley Wilson from near Boone North Carolina.  Mike is a videographer who has volunteered to put together promotional video for RLMI. Kelley was there on a vision trip for 2 upcoming trips she is leading this year! So the 4 of us with our Executive Director, Michael Sineus, Widow's Mite Coordinator, Solner Mazier and our Translation Team Coordinator, Ronald Guerilus set out to record what RLMI is doing in Haiti.  Since it was the beginning of the month, we assisted with the distribution of food to our widows/widowers in the villages of Minoterie, Belladere, Thomazeau and Monnonville.  We covered alot of ground on foot and by vehicle.  On some of our trips we were chauffeured by King David himself! (King David promised me citizenship after 5 more trips!)

This gentleman rubbed my belly why I prayed for him!!

Our Chariot!

A path in Monnoville we walked to visit widows.

Along with the trips to each of the villages to distribute food and meet with our leader in each village, we visited other ministries in Haiti.  We stopped by The Joseph School in Cabaret and the Church of God school in Minoterie (2 schools where our children attend), visited Healing Haiti in Titayen, and Nehemiah Vision Ministries in Chambrun.  We also met with the Mayor of Cabaret at the medical clinic in Minoterie where we will soon be providing health services. On Sunday, we worshipped at the Church of God and at nearby Mission of Hope Church.  Back at our ministry compound, we had a lot of time sitting and playing with the children and cleaning up some of the leftover garbage together (see last month's post).

Meeting with the Mayor (red shirt) at our new medical clinic.

The Joseph School children leave at 6:15am each day!

This was a valuable trip for me.  The nature and purpose of the trip gave me a great immersion into the Haiti life and culture as well as seeing the great ministry that is happening through RLMI.  I had the opportunity to listen to our village leaders to hear their heart for the needs of their people and to encourage our staff that serve our children, lead our ministries and care for our ministry compound.  I am so grateful to God to be connected with so many wonderful people and to work side-by-side with them in bringing the Real Love of Jesus to Haiti!

Solner Mazier (left) & Ronald Guerilus (right)

PS.  As you can see from the pictures above, the children loved the game balls that I brought along. Thank you to everyone who helped supply the soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, kick balls, air pumps, etc.  The children were ecstatic each time I brought out some new balls!  I will let you know what I will be taking on the next trip.




                                           

Help Our Support Grow!

Last summer, we launched our Van Nest Vision Team.  The purpose of the team is to partner with us in our ministry to Haiti.  When God calls someone, He often calls a team to surround them.  We are grateful for the 40+ individuals and churches who are partnering with us in prayer and finances!  We are 80% of our minimum goal and 47% of our maximum goal (covers salary, housing, ministry support and travel). Let us share some ways you can help right now:

• For February, we are $600 short of what is needed to cover this month's expenses.
• Since we are well below our maximum goal, we do not have a travel budget to work with yet. In March, we must travel to North Carolina to participate in the RLMI Board Retreat (March 10-12).  Our estimated cost for travel is $300.
• If you are presently supporting us, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!  Help us reach our goals by connecting us with friends, family, churches or other groups to share our ministry.
• If you have yet to partner with us, please contact Russ to arrange a time to talk.

Because the work to be done is so great and the ministry is so dear to our hearts, we made the unusual choice to jump into the work before being fully-funded.  We are trusting in God's provision as we make known our needs.  Most of all, we ask that we be a regular part of your prayer life.  Let us know how we can pray for you.

Your contributions can be given through RLMI (tax-deductible) online or by mail at
RLMI
P.O. Box 846
Rutherford College, NC 28671
Mark "Van Nest Vision Team" in the Memo/Comment

or directly to Russ Van Nest at
RLMI-PA Office
2308 Hanna Street
New Castle PA 16102

You can reach us at russ@reallovehaiti.org

Ministry Update

Another highlight of February, was traveling to Champion Christian School near Donegal PA.  I had the opportunity to share in their Friday morning chapel about Haiti, mission work and RLMI.   It was a great group of young people from K-12.  They are sending a team of 22 older youth and adults to serve in the Dominican Republic next month.  Haiti and the DR are neighbors on the Caribean island of Hispaniola.

March 10-12, the newly formed Board of Directors for Real Love Ministries International will be having a planning retreat at Crosslink Church in Rutherford College, NC.  Crosslink has been the sponsoring church of RLMI since its early days.  Now, with their blessing, RLMI is launching out as its own non-profit ministry.  In February, we held our first Board meeting with our 9 members from North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Haiti via online conferencing.  Pray that this upcoming retreat is a very productive, Spirit-led meeting.

2017 will be a big year for RLMI in many ways.  Not only as we grow organizationally but, most importantly in ministry.  God has provided us the opportunity to re-open our Medical Clinic in Minoterie in a government-built clinic that has stood empty since it was constructed over 2 years ago! This will allow us to bring much-needed medical care to the village and surrounding areas, support our mobile clinics into the other villages we serve, and allow us to educate and address the challenges to good health.  An exciting partnership is also developing with a new hospital that is being planned right in our area!

We are also moving forward with our school project, Real Love Academy. Initially designed to serve Pre-School to 3rd grade, we will continue to add grades through High School. This will allow us to provide a quality education environment for our own children and to the surrounding area at an affordable cost. Education is not free and many are not able to attend school.  This is a vital next step in our ministry. Please be praying for us and watch for more news on this developing project.  It is our Executive Director, Michael Sineus' vision to open for this Fall!

Come To Haiti

We have the following trips open for you to see and experience first-hand what God is doing in Haiti through RLMI!  Right now, our trips cost about $1800 which covers airfare, lodging/meals and ministry projects.  There will be additional incidental costs (baggage fees, souvenirs, fun trip, etc.) Please contact us, if interested in any of these dates.  Also, if you want to put a group together, talk to us about that, too.  WARNING: your heart will be captured!!

June 24-July 1, teachers trip focus (for school prep, but others can join!)
Aug 10-17, multi-purpose trip, construction, medical, all ministries
Oct 7-14, multi-purpose trip, construction, medical, all ministries
Oct 28-Nov. 4, multi-purpose trip, construction, medical, all ministries
Dec 27- Jan 3, 2018, multi-purpose, construction, medical, all ministries
**There is another trip that will focus on widow ministry, VBS for children, relational ministries and evangelism that will be scheduled for the Fall 2017 as well, but no date as of yet!

For more information: info@reallovehaiti.org