Within hours of arriving in Haiti and unsure of what they might encounter, Schanon and Kevin were greeted by Ucey and Julie, two orphan girls. The oldest would show Kevin around the sparse orphanage, holding his hand. Julie had just had a bath. They were both excited to pose for a picture before Kevin left. The orphanage housed 17 children, ranging in age from a 6 month old little boy with special needs to children as old at 14. Transforming the Map has visited the orphanage multiple times, providing food, medicine and supplies. It is a vital partnership for the future of these children.
Pastor Son has been in Petit Goave’s main prison for 6 years. He is the son of a well known voodoo priest, and was on course to do far better than his father. However, one day Pastor Son heard a traveling Christian minister speak, and began exploring the Christian faith. Not long after hearing the Christian minister, he accepted Jesus, became a disciple for Christ, and began speaking out against the voodoo religion.
Pastor Son also became engaged. However days before his wedding, his future in-laws (being pressured by the local voodoo priest) accused Pastor Son of raping their daughter. Despite no evidence, Pastor Son was found guilty and sentence to 6-1/2 years in prison.
Despite his circumstances, Pastor Son still preaches to over 100 fellow prisoners daily. He is a light in a dark world. He might be the only light. Kevin, Schanon and Roody have visited and prayed with Pastor Son in Petit Goave He is on their minds often and a model of courage they desire as followers of Jesus.
While Transforming the Map is focused on helping the people of Haiti, we are also as focused on helping and making a difference locally. This Christmas, we contacted a local school and asked if they had any families that needed assistance this Holiday Season. We had fourteen children that without assistance, would not have a Christmas. Through our Virtual Angel Tree, Transforming the Map was able to match all fourteen children with sponsors who helped make this Christmas one that these kids will never forget.
Street Kids Ministry: The goal of the Street Kids Ministry is to minister to young boys who are living on the streets of Haiti's cities. Initially, we will provide one meal a day, three times a week, and showers. We will provide literacy training, using the creole Bible as a textbook. We will be building relationships with these boys in hopes of leading them to Christ. We are enlisting mentors that will help counsel these boys about the warning signs and dangers of predators, sex trafficking, and terror agents. We are starting in Leogane, but as our budget increases, we will expand this ministry to other cities.