HSLC's Partnership with VOH

Holy Spirit Church has over a 20 year relationship with the Village of Hope (VoH) in Ganthier, Haiti. The VoH is sponsored by the Lazarus Project which is a group of over sixty Lutheran Churches and various other churches and organizations throughout the world. These groups unite to sponsor over 700 preschool through high school students; support a community health care center at the VoH; and conduct several yearly mission trips to the VoH.  To learn more about the Village of Hope, log on to: www.villageofhopehaiti.org . You will find a downloadable brochure. This brochure contains information about the Village of Hope/Lazarus Project and explains various ways you can support this important ministry.

Recent News from the Village of Hope

OCTOBER 2023 UPDATE FROM THE VILLAGE OF HOPE

Thank you for being a part of our story. Thank you for your prayers, your support, your generosity, and your love for the most vulnerable. You are the heartbeat of our mission! Despite what you are seeing in the news, there is continued HOPE. I just returned from a week in Haiti where I spent time preparing for the reopening of the Village of Hope School and Health Center and I would like to share my update with you. The one thing that has not changed in the midst of the instability is our heart to provide hope through education and healthcare throughout Haiti!


Thanks to you
We provided HOPE through education to more than 500 students in 2023 during the most challenging year in our history. When the entire country was struggling to find food, Village of Hope served more than 50,000 meals to our students. We employed more than 90 teachers, staff, and health care workers. We provided healthcare to the community during a time when most hospitals and health centers were closed. We did not back down from the gangs in the area and opened when we believed our staff and students would be safe, evaluating the security level daily. We did not have one student, staff member or patient harmed during the year. We did not close our doors and abandon our ministry like nearly half of the NGO's in the country. We continue to put our ministry in God's hands and pray that the Lord will continue to bless our work.  


Current security situation in greater PAP

Greater Port-au-Prince continues to be controlled by multiple gangs. We had hoped to reopen the school and health center in October, but the violence in Ganthier has forced us to keep the doors closed to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community. Most schools in greater PAP are closed. In October, the UN announced Kenya’s plan to send 1,000 troops to help stabilize the country. The plan is currently delayed, but we pray that it will be approved in the next couple of weeks. 


Plans and preparation for reopening

I spent a week in Haiti earlier this month meeting with Maryse, VOH Field Director, planning the reopening of the school and health center. We believe this school year will look much like it played out last year, with a delayed start. We have contracts prepared for our staff with a goal to reopen in December. Our goal is to have the 2023/24 school year run from December through June. We will continue to pray Lamentations 3:22-23 over our VOH family: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning: great is your faithfulness”. We are extremely encouraged by our staff who are eager to serve and lead with incredible courage and boldness. 


Growing the ministry

Thanks to many generous donors who pledged to help grow the Village of Hope ministry, we were able to collaborate with two new partners in Cap Haitien (Northern Haiti) and make a significant impact in some of the poorest communities in all of Haiti. School began in September and we have already distributed school books and school supplies to more than 200 students. Throughout this year, we will be providing more than 40,000 meals to this community.  Hope continues to grow!


How you can make a difference

Your help is needed now more than ever! We are calling on all student sponsors to continue their giving and we ask each of you to do what you can to help us reopen for this school year. Your gift today will make a difference tomorrow. Last year, the school and health center were offered completely free to all students and patients. We plan on making the same commitment this year. Thank you for your faithfulness!


Prayer Request

We ask for prayers of peace, safety, and security. We ask for the Lord’s wisdom for our staff and leadership as they continue to shepherd and care for hundreds of vulnerable children. Due to the current unrest and insecurity, we pray for the children and families that are experiencing trauma and every day suffering. We ask for the Lord to provide faithful donors and ample resources to continue the important work we have been called to.

In Christ,

Dan Zieschang
Executive Director
Village of Hope/Haiti


OCTOBER UPDATE FROM THE VILLAGE OF HOPE

We want to share the latest update on the volatile situation in Haiti and how the Village of Hope is responding.


Unfortunately, there is still incredible social unrest throughout Haiti.  Most of the country is shutdown.  Gas stations are closed.  In Port-au-Prince, the capital, there is little access to food, clean water, propane, diesel  fuel, or financial services.  The Ministry of education has postponed the start of the school year.


However, even though the future looks bleak, VoH is poised to make a renewed impact in the Ganthier community whenever it is safe to do so.  We have 80 new students prepared to start school this year.  We have secured a house in Ganthier where our teachers will stay during the week to protect them from dangerous travel.  The Health Center has made accommodations for the medical staff to reside on the second floor during the week.  Books and curriculum are in hand.  We are at the starting line prepared for this new year.


As we journey into each new day, we choose faith over fear and watch how God will find a way through this challenging time.  God has great work planned for us on the other side of our fear.  Let us be ready to step into it!  Pray fervently for our success.


God's blessing,

Dan Zieschang
Executive Director
Village of Hope/Haiti

APRIL NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE OF HOPE HAITI

Dear Members and Friends of HSLC,

We rejoice that HOPE and NEW LIFE have been restored to Village of Hope Haiti. We have faithfully prayed for peace during the unprecedented tribulation of this past year and we are now able to rest on Jesus’ promise of new life!  We thank all of you who have prayed for this day.

The staff at the Health Center has been very busy this past month. They have been performing physicals and checkups on all of our students. In addition, the community needs are greater than ever. The staff has been devoted to serving this population well. The VOH Health Center is a critical asset to the Ganthier community and we are thanked daily for this blessing! 

Our School Staff continue to focus on the theme for this year: ON OUR WAY TO EXCELLENCE! The classrooms are full and the students are ecstatic for the opportunity to learn from an outstanding team of teachers. The morale at the school has been great despite the daily challenges faced by everyone in Haiti.

Thank you for your faithfulness throughout this year! With your continued support, we have been able to move forward with our mission to provide hope for the future. Thank you for being a part of our Village of Hope family!

In Christ,

Dan Zieschang                                                                                  Pastor Ron Qualley

Executive Director                                                                           Board Chair

Sponsor A Child At VOH

You can support the Village of Hope by sponsoring a student.  Your annual sponsorship will give the gift of education and health care to the student.  If you would like information about becoming a sponsor, please contact Julia Soistman. Email: jrsoistman@aol.com. Cell phone: 443-243-0886.