Newsletter
June 2010 update
July 3, 2010 by Beth
(1).jpg)
We are very grateful for the love, support and services provided to Hope Haven Orphanage and Eternal Hope in Haiti by Cheron Hardy, MS,CNM, FNP-C. Cheron began her journey with Eternal Hope in Haiti as a graduate student at Emory University. She is beginning her eighth year as missionary to the children of Hope Haven and surrounding community. She is an integral part of Eternal Hope in Haiti.
June 2010 update:
Dear Family, Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for your support and prayers! How God my good is, I am just rejoicing in Him! I had a wonderful "part 2" of my sabbatical/furlough year which in the states for 2 months from late March to May. I got to spend quantity time with my little brother and sister while my mom visited my sister who just had a baby. Then I was able to travel to Arizona to spend time with my sister and new nephew Micah. While I was home I saw a public television special about the National Parks- and just thought about how much I would like to visit one. The very same time my friend Avery called me up and said she wouldn't let me get as far as Arizona without seeing the Grand Canyon! So she came down and we got to see the Grand Canyon and then drive to Colorado where I was able to have a personal spiritual retreat- me, God and the mountains! I had been fighting illness since I was in Haiti and my whole first month in the States, I slept for 22 straight hours one day at the Navigators retreat and felt well from that time on! The earthquake had drained me completely in mind, body and spirit but I was renewed! I also had the chance to reconnect with extended family I hadn't seen in over a decade, which was so special. I read and meditated on a book during my visit- "When Helping Hurts- how to alleviate poverty without huring the poor and yourself in the process." This book really ministered to me and confirmed my ministry direction for my return.
I came back to Haiti towards the end of May. It was a surprise, the kids and staff didn't know I was coming, I planned it that way so I could see how things were working without supervision and I saw God truly at work with many of the sincerely God fearing staff we have at the orphanage. I came back and saw progress in Haiti- road repairs and work on sewers, water system for the city etc. I also came back to see more instability...there were demonstrations my first week back which were very violent- a school student was shot during one of them. It confirmed that my sabbatical rest was exactly what was needed--time to attach more deeply than ever to Jesus and be directed by Him. Because in Haiti all the best programs, money and practices alone will never be able to succeed, unless there is supernatural intervention.
God is doing and teaching me so many things I don't even had words to express but I am reminded of the need for real prayer support as I battle for God's light to shine in the darkness.
Please pray for the healing of Berlinda and RoseManie-- I was reminded this morning in 2 Chronicles 16, that God does not want us to put our trust in physicians and medicines but totally in Him. Not to say we don't use them but our trust is in what God can do through them. These little girls do not just need treatment for the rest of their lives but real healing.
Please pray for a young man in our orphanage- Paul*. He is at a real crisis place in his life, unable to bear any longer the pain inflicted on him through the brutal abandonment of his father and death of his mother, amongst other things. He has hardened his heart against the pain, and turned hurt and sadness to anger towards me. However we did have a breakthrough this week in that he was able to express a little bit all the negativity inside of him....God was very gracious and allowed me to not get defensive or angry and see instead brokenness and pain. I told him I understand he was emotionally in pain, sick and hurt and would take him to the Soul Doctor for healing. He told me, "there was no hope for him because the sickness he had (in his heart) was more deadly than AIDS." I told him that physical AIDS or a totally broken heart were not to hard for Jesus Christ and he specializes in the impossible. He couldn't pray but allowed me to. Would you pray for emotionally healing for Paul and wisdom and an outpowering of love from me? Would you pray that the veil would be removed from his eyes so he could see the truth of God's love for him through it all?
Please pray for our summer programs to be established and for God's favor in all of them. I have several goals to train the young men and women in trade/life skills where they can prepare for their futures....We have several agricultural projects to make the orphanage more sustainable and teach the children life skills- how to fish and not just how to receive fish. I also am planning times of fun, rest and renewal as a family. I know from experience that these plans will not succeed without prayer, and not just that they would be established but that my ultimate goal- that they would know Jesus and follow Him because of seeing Him in every area of their lives- in providing jobs, fun, food etc!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed by prayer and financial support. We continue to need your generous participation to make these plans be established. Also we will be celebrating the 14th anniversary of the Hope Haven Orphanage in August of this year. If you would like to contribute an extra gift to make this celebration/thanksgiving service for what God has done all these years possible it would be greatly appreciated. Just not on your designation "Haiti- Anniversary Gift." I will be starting 8 years, on August 8th! God is faithful.
Joyfully Serving Jesus,
Cheron Rose Hardy, FNP, CNM, RN
Eternal Hope in Haiti
www.eternalhopeinhaiti.org
Please send financial support to: Hands of Love, Inc 9408 Highlander Blvd, Walkersville, MD 21793. Designate- Haiti or Haiti Anniversary on your check.
* real name not used to protect privacy.
