trade school

Trade School

“WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT AS IF WORKING FOR THE LORD…” -COLOSSIANS 3:23

Mission Possible’s newest ministry area in 2016 was the creation of a trade school for the older kiddos at Freedom House and for widows and single moms in the Croix des Bouquets community.  Through its creation, Mission Possible hopes to help “Break the Cycle” of spiritual and economic poverty in Haiti. 

Many children in Haiti are raised up by a mother or father who pass on a trade or job skills.  Since over 400,000 were orphaned by the quake of 2010, they don’t have that opportunity.  In addition, jobs for adult Haitians as we know them in the U.S. are almost non-existent in Haiti since there is an 80% unemployment rate.

Through generous donations, Mission Possible purchased sewing machines and hired an instructor to teach the Freedom House kids and a class of 12 single moms and widows how to sew and tailor.  The Lord subsequently blessed us with our own 2-story school building, where our single moms and widows have Bible studies, learn English and learn how to sew and tailor.  Our group of Freedom House children have also learned to sew and tailor, in addition to learning how to fix both treadle and electric sewing machines—all valuable skills in a country where all school uniforms are handmade, and where there is an emerging textile/clothing industry.

We pray that these efforts will allow our kids to be able to work their way through college and on to perhaps owning their own businesses and supporting themselves and their families.  Our single moms are given their own sewing machines after graduation and also get help with raw materials to start their own home-based businesses.  We pray that these individuals and families will be preserved and strengthened through these efforts.  Your prayers and support will help!

SPECIAL PROJECTS/MEDICAL MISSIONS

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God means caring for widows and orphans in their affliction.” -James 1:27

While Mission Possible wasn’t created with medical missions in mind, the Lord had other plans. When surveying clean water sites after Hurricane Mathew in the Fall of 2016, Michele ran across this young man, Odley Pierre in a hospital in Les Cayes.  Odley’s mother suffered a nervous breakdown after the Hurricane and fled to Port- Au-Prince.   His father abandoned him in a hospital in Les Cayes.

Odley suffered from hydracephaline, an advanced form of hydrocephalus which can result from birth defects or diseases like encephalitis which block fluids from draining from the skull.  Through an amazing series of God-ordained connections, Odley was released by the Haitian government into the care of Michele and Mission Possible and airlifted to Port-au-Prince by Mission Air Flights.  

Mission Possible donors supported round-the-clock nurses for Odley for 2 months, the purchase of various medical supplies, and the acquisition of a new feeding pump.  Unfortunately, Odley didn’t get strong enough to undergo brain surgery and went to be with the Lord in the Spring of 2017.  

Odley never uttered a word, but he touched thousands of hearts.  He showed us what God meant by caring for orphans in their affliction.  

Baby Ericka was another child that the Lord put in our path.  She was born with spina bifida, where the spine is exposed outside of the skin on the back.  Haiti’s Child health and welfare agency, IBESR also released this child into Michele and Mission Possible’s care.  People across the U.S. and in Haiti helped with life-sustaining medical equipment donations including brain shunts and surgical kits, and she was given ‘round the clock care for 7 months awaiting surgery in the U.S.  Unfortunately, a brain infection and bed sores were too formidable for baby Ericka.  She too touched the lives of so many—once again without uttering a word.  

We are confident that we will see Odley and Ericka again, free from pain and suffering and in perfect risen bodies!   Your support and prayers helped us to show them the love of Jesus Christ and made their last months on this earth more comfortable.  And we await the Lord’s direction as we help the lost and the least. Thank you so much for your love, prayers and support!