God moves through His people
Vision of Hope Ministries (VOHM) is faced with many challenges as we seek the
direction of the Holy Spirit in this new season in Haiti. The ministry leadership is strong
and focused. However, Haiti is facing crises in governance, leadership, finance, and
Covid-19, all contributing to food and job insecurity for the Haitian people.
We are faced with needs beyond our normal operating budget. Food and job insecurity
mean many cannot care for their families and consequently are not able to pay full
tuition for their children in our Christian K-12 school. The buses we use to bring
children into Cap Haitian are almost past their useful life and the repairs are very costly.
VOHM has been blessed with a partnership with Food for the Poor and has access to
40,000 lbs. of rice and beans for our distribution to those in need. VOHM needed to
raise $14,000 to purchase this food. The stark realization that we would be hard
pressed to cover the school payroll shortfall, bus repairs, and raise an additional
$14,000 for the food brought us to a hard decision.
So, on September 14th, the board made the decision to hold on a campaign for food.
This really was an impossible decision. Kevin Mayne from Food for the Poor (FFTP) texted me on the next day, September 15th, around 1PM telling me that the bishop in charge of FFTP in Haiti moved three hundred 100 lb. bags of rice and one hundred 100lb bags of beans (40,000lbs.) to their
warehouse in Cap Haitian earmarked for VOHM!!! Kevin said this was strange
because he had not yet made the formal request and Keven had told me Sept.1 st the
request for food may take a long time to process because the need is so great in Haiti.
I was most distraught because I had to call Kevin telling him of the board’s decision to
hold and our reasons. Kevin said he completely understood. I thought this was a dead
issue.
Then comes God…
Kevin asked me if I thought it made any sense for him to call an NGO in South East
Florida who previously helped with food purchase. I thought to myself no, they just
supported our first distribution in 2020. Then I said yes why don’t you ask and tell them
I will personally guarantee half or $7,000. So, Kevin went to work and called this donor
to reach out for help to purchase food.
While Kevin was working I remembered Patrick Franklin (VOHM Haiti business
Manager) mentioned to me on Sept 14 th that a supporting church in Pennsylvania said
they were praying to raise money to buy food for VOHM. I emailed them, explained
what we were trying to do and the church said they were trying to raise $5,000.
All of the above transpired in about 3 hrs. with three phone calls. This morning, Sept
16th , the agent at the Pennsylvania church emailed me and said they have the $5,000!
Then I began to put it together:
Why did the bishop move the food to Cap for VOHM without a formal request, why did
Kevin think to ask our faithful donor, why did I remember what Patrick said about our
Pennsylvania church raising funds for food? Why? I believe it is because God is
moving!
I received a text on Sept 21st from Kevin that a church and the NGO in South East
Florida raised the additional $7,000 we need to deliver 40,000 lbs. of food. Food that
has already been delivered to Cap Haitian waiting for VOHM to distribute. VOHM is
adding $2,000 from our disaster relief fund to bring our total to $14,000.
I have been serving in Haiti since 1995 and I know campaigns for funds and delivery of
containers of food NEVER, NEVER come together in 7 days unless God is moving. So,
all praise and glory to HIM. I just had to share this story of God’s provision with you.
Greg Schuenke
President, VOHM, Inc.
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