Medical Response
We’re partnering with other ministries to respond to profound needs in southern Haiti. Please pray for the relief effort.
Shattered Lives
Please join us in praying for those who lost homes and family members in the recent earthquake.
Faces of LSM
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ !
Our LSM staff is a large, international ensemble of dedicated, hard-working professionals that in many ways reflects the diversity of the Kingdom itself. Below are a few short stories, testimonies and blurbs about the wonderful people who challenge and encourage us every day and who work passionately week after week in our shared mission of serving the last, least, lost and lonely. Many of these friends of ours reflect important qualities of God’s character, and we hope that their examples inspire you as much as they inspire us!
๐๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฒ: ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น, ๐ก๐ผ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐
Nehemie serves the important role of accountant or “controller” for LSM in Haiti. Responsible use of funding is key to everything LSM has accomplished, and optimization through accounting is a subject Nehemie has cared deeply about since grade school. But even as โcontroller,โ she recognizes itโs God who ultimately knows what’s best for each of us. When Nehemie needed a job, she took her prayer request to church. Her pastor, our own Wilfrid Remonvil opened the door for her to work at LSM. Next, Nehemie wanted to get married. Unable to resolve this herself, she simply attended to the task before her: helping LSM run effectively, serving as many vulnerable children as possible. Along the way, she fell in love with Evan Forges, a member of LSM’s business staff. The two married, and this summer, they celebrated the birth of a girl. As the name “LSM” reminds us, no matter the control we may or may not feel, the Lord is our shepherd. And because He loves us, we can trust that our true needs are never far from His attention or His Heart!
๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐: “๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ ๐๐!”
When Jean Noel first agreed to direct our Welsh School in Haiti, the school was not under LSM management. They couldn’t even afford to pay him, but Jean Noel agreed to help because when he looked around his community, he saw a cycle of uneducated kids growing up to become adults without hope or opportunities โ like their parents before them. “The school had no money to pay me, but I knew if I didn’t act in faith, then nothing would ever change. Someone had to step up in faith for these kids, and I couldn’t say no!” Since that time, LSM has acquired the school, and Jean now receives a living wage for his work. During this Season of Giving, let’s pause and reflect on Jean’s favorite Scripture: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). How is God asking you to step out in faith?
๐๐ถ๐ผ: ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ, ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐บ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ
Talking to Dio, LSM’s Vehicle Manager, one is struck by his smile, his compassion, and his deep care for others. You would never guess the hardships he’s endured. Four years ago, he lost his family’s farm and house to Hurricane Matthew. Dio also lost his father around that time and was the victim of a severe car accident. The oldest of six, he was left alone to care for his mother and siblings โ but his injuries confined him to bed. Undeterred, Dio read books and taught himself English during the recovery. Soon after, he learned about a job opportunity at LSM, and Dio’s mechanical skills, as well as his new ability to speak English, earned him the job. Huge thanks to Dio for helping us keep essential LSM vehicles on the road!
ย
๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐จ๐ฝ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ
In his first letter to Thessalonica, Paul reminds the church to “encourage each other and build each other up.” The person on LSM’s team who knows the most about physical building is Troy Leyse, our Construction Manager. Troy is the primary staff person responsible for managing construction of our new Homes of Hope and businesses in Haiti, as well as installation of other key features such as wells, security walls, bridges, and solar panel arrays. But as Troy would be the first to tell you, his biggest responsibility is overseeing the building up of people, not structures. In everything LSM does, our goal is to equip local workers and to empower local leaders who God is raising up to help usher in a new dawn for Haiti!
๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐
Micheline Taverne, LSM’s Impact Program Coordinator, says a big part of her role is encouraging our children and empowering them to reach their full potential. She helps the children track individual progress and reach academic and behavioral benchmarks so that they can unlock advanced educational support through LSM’s new Impact Program. “Working together, LSM staff and Home of Hope parents are creating an environment for these kids’ hearts and minds to be transformed,” Micheline says. “We want them to achieve their potential so they can share that success with others and bless Haiti, beginning with those around them.” Micheline’s favorite Scripture is Col. 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men!”
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฎ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ
Rebecca Webb, LSM’s Administrative Assistant, wears many hats. As she puts it, a big part of her job is “creating and maintaining a good first impression of LSM.” Anyone who’s ever visited or called our U.S. office has almost certainly interacted with Rebecca, who besides serving as a public face, manages our gift shop, supports our effort to record gifts and stay in touch with donors, assists with event planning, manages our supply inventory, schedules the staff calendar, and plans our recurring “Lunch and Learns,” which have become a highly anticipated tradition for the team each month. She says: “My heart’s been touched to learn about dire situations in Haiti and Ethiopia, as well as the promise of a brighter future.”
๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฎ: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น๐ผ๐, ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐
Paulos Mamo, one of our dedicated program managers in Ethiopia, has served LSM for more than ten years, helping children and their single moms break cycles of desperation and poverty through our business, education, trauma healing, and discipleship programs. Early in Paulos’ ministry, he still remembers the first time he and LSM helped a young mother who was on the verge of resorting to prostitution to feed her kids. A decade later, Paulos has collected hundreds of similar stories. The work is difficult, but also inspiring. Paulos says he has “no greater joy” than helping our moms become business owners and seeing the kids achieve their full, God-given potential.
God’s Hand at Work
๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐: ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ข๐๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐!
While many of the stories we tell come to us from Haiti and Ethiopia, the addition of the BrickHouse program to our LSM family has given us more to talk about on the domestic front. The BrickHouse program provides structured foster care services to hard-to-place young people living in Northeast Indiana and offers free counseling services to area foster and adoptive families. Our BrickHouse farm store helps fund our efforts by selling delicious, reasonably-priced meat and eggs, and all for an excellent cause. In addition to BrickHouse, we must also remember that God is working through LSM family sponsorship and service opportunities to touch the hearts of those here in the U.S. who are freely giving and volunteering. We often tell the stories of those who are recipients of generosity, but sometimes the stories of how God transforms and touches the heart of the giver are equally important. Here are several stories of generosity and ingenuity that have come out of the U.S. recently โ as well as a notes regarding a couple of crucial opportunities that are still available.
๐๐ถ๐๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ต: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ
โAt the heart of LSM Family Sponsorship is the idea of a lot of people doing a little bit. For us, budgeting to give to LSM each month is something we can do fairly easily. It hardly changes our lives. And yet we see that for those hurting or in need, our giving truly can make a life-changing impact. We appreciate how LSM takes the long approach, not just in terms of sustainable change, but also eternity. Weโve been particularly impressed by how LSM uses business as a tool for ministry, and we always look forward to Ed’s updates. But fundamentally, we know that the focus remains on helping vulnerable children and families. We love the concept of families helping families for God’s glory. Glad to do our part!โย โBlaine and Alyssa Aschliman
ย 
๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
The best person to guide any of us on our path to obtaining a new quality of character or new set of skills is a mentor, someone who has walked the path ahead of us. Mentors are particularly crucial to the hard-to-place foster youth in our care at LSM BrickHouse, who often need a little extra help in finding their way to the path that is possible for them. Do you have a skill that you would like to teach our children, such as leadership or public speaking? Maybe something hands-on like servicing a vehicle or playing a musical instrument? Contact Adam Carroll, adam@loving-shepherd.org, to learn how you can step up and change the course of young lives!
๐๐ฆ๐ ’๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ ๐๐น๐๐ณ๐ณ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
LSM BrickHouse offers structured foster care for hard-to-place foster care youth living in Northeast Indiana. At our girls’ home in downtown Bluffton, Kevin and Michele Mechling provide a loving home, plus valuable mentorship opportunities, skills training, and life experiences to help the girls reach their God-given potential. Do you know a couple in the Bluffton area who might be a good fit for our program? LSM is seeking foster parents to take residence at our 40-acre farm and provide a home for hard-to-place boys. After empowering vulnerable children in Haiti and Ethiopia for years, we’re excited to see God bring similar restoration and redemption to our own community here in the United States!
๐๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป โ ๐ฏ๐ฑ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ!
In 1985, our founder, Ed Schwartz, who was a church minister back then, traveled to Haiti for the first time to help build a school. That trip planted the seed for what would become LSM’s work in the country 20 years later. On his 1985 trip, Ed met a hard-working young man named Sylvain, a former orphan who was being helped by the two missionaries overseeing the repair project. Fast forward to 2019 when Sylvain, now an experienced supervisor, was hired to join our construction team. He recently played a significant part in our construction of the new steel building at LSM’s Industrial Site: “I never dreamed I’d work with Ed again. It is only by God’s grace!”
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐
In the summer of 2020, a group of local Boy Scouts donated their time at LSM’s BrickHouse farm in Bluffton, IN. Projects included stacking nearly 180 bales of straw, mulching around and cleaning the interior of the farm house, cleaning out pens and a feeder wagon, and washing vehicles. During the group’s lunch break, Adam Carroll led a short training on the importance of positive thinking. When their projects were completed, the boys celebrated their hard work with a water balloon fight. Our farm exists to help bring vital foster care and counseling resources to hard-to-place youth in the area. August Stettner, 13, says, “Volunteering at BrickHouse was a great chance to work with friends and to help others at the same time!” Thanks for lending us a hand, Troop 140!
๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป!
In the summer of 2020, Kevin and Michele Mechling moved into LSM’s BrickHouse property in downtown Bluffton as foster parents. Together, the two of them provide the love of a Christian family for up to five hard-to-place teenage girls! LSM BrickHouse also provides additional support by helping to equip these young ladies with valuable life skills, including emotional and spiritual counseling, preparing them to thrive and positively impact our community for Christ! Thank you for your continued support as we pursue these exciting avenues for helping vulnerable teens in Adams and Wells Counties and engage with the needs here on our own doorstep!
๐ข๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐น๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ!
IN early 2020, LSM received an opportunity to invest in the next generation of advocates for vulnerable children and families at Taylor University’s Care Conference, hosted by TU’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) office. We had numerous exciting encounters throughout the scheduled lineup of speakers, panels, and breakout sessions, including Keegan, a junior at TU who was mentored years ago by an LSM staff member that shared with him our Business Development Plan for Haiti, inspiring him to attend TU and study OVC and Business Development. Seeds planted today may bring a harvest in generations to come!
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ
In early 2020, Construction Project Manager Troy Leyse used our office studio to record a video for Haitian Home of Hope parents in which he explained and demonstrated some exciting new cooking equipment. A rice cooker and warmer, two induction burners, and a set of compatible pots and pans were shipped down to nearly all of LSM’s Homes of Hope to replace more expensive and less reliable propane burners and equipment. The cost of propane was going up, and we anticipated that the rise would continue. Also, unrest in Haiti at the time was causing a supply shortage that further escalated the issue. Our solution uses electrical solar panels, meaning our Homes will be able to cook effectively and inexpensively without propane โ or even local power. Bon Appรฉtit!
Testifying to His Faithfulness
๐ช๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ
This past year, LSM marked some exciting programatic milestones in Haiti. We saw students’ academic performance rise measurably with the implementation of a new accountability program. We brought on a psychologist and a social worker to help us advance our crucial trauma recovery initiatives for the children. We opened our doors at LSM Tech and at our new Business Office. And we built a prefabricated steel warehouse structure at our Industrial Site, which represents a new high-water mark for our technical building expertise and precision in Haiti. Read on to learn more about these exciting milestones within LSM’s various Haitian teams and programs.
๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐!
LSM’s Impact Program in Haiti incentivizes our Home of Hope children to meet certain academic and behavioral benchmarks in order to earn special funding possibilities when they’re ready for college and technical school. And we’re already seeing great results! This past year, 32 out of 34 qualifying students successfully passed a critical, graduation-qualifying exam. Hope is a powerful motivator, as is accountability. Congratulations to LSM’s Haitian students!
๐ช๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐น: ๐ข๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐น ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
Meet Wesly, a psychologist, and Enel, a social worker. Both joined our Haitian in 2020 to help LSM implement our Trauma Recovery program for the kids we serve, as well as to support overall mental health and well-being for our staff and families. In his letter to the Romans, Paul describes one key aspect of faith-based trauma recovery and healing: “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future…nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God.” We want those in our care to know that God loves them and that He’s given them incredible potential โ even if they’ve seen tragedy or abuse. Did you know that Jesus Christ is also the victor in your own life?
๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ช๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐
Jean Wesly grew up in a Haitian orphanage, earned his MBA here in the United States, and returned to his country to join with LSM in helping vulnerable children. In 2019, Jean married Lencia from Cayes, who shares his passion for children, and who has a strong background in accounting and administration. Together, they oversee LSM Tech, which is equipping college-age Home of Hope students for a life of service to God and their community.” Sometimes we think ‘change’ has to be big,” Jean says. “But we cannot underestimate how God often uses a simple conversation at a key moment!”
๐๐
๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ถ๐๐ฒ
Among LSM’s businesses in Haiti, our Industrial Park and Block Plant have proven to have a significant profit potential, which we can use to help vulnerable children. As a result, we’re expanding to further harness a huge market demand. The structure below is an American pre-engineered steel building on a Haitian-designed, earthquake-resistant foundation. Creating the foundation to precisely match the dimensions of the building is an impressive feat, demonstrating how far our Haitian Construction Team has come. The frame was erected in a couple days, and the remainder of the building was completed in the weeks that followed. This cutting-edge project is among the first of its kind in Cayes, and it opens the door for exciting future possibilities!
๐๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ
This past summer, we launched a Business Center in Haiti for our Construction, Maintenance, Concrete Products, and Automotive businesses. The new Business Center also provides a home for key administrative functions, including Management, Sales, and Accounting. As we grow our existing businesses and start new ones, LSM collects revenue that we can use to help even more vulnerable kids โ but we also want our businesses to be known for excellent products and service. A physical storefront is an important way for these businesses to increase visibility and engage as contributing members of the communities we serve!
Christmas in Haiti
All around the world, Christmas is celebrated through the lenses of various cultural traditions and perspectives, all pointing back to the hope that we find in Jesus Christ! And while culture and tradition may vastly change what Christmas looks from one part of the world to another, the holiday can also be changed through lens of personal perspective and experience.
COUNTING BLESSINGS: LET’S KEEP A THANKFUL, HEALTHY OUTLOOK
Here at LSM, our mission is to help and empower the world’s most vulnerable children, those who have suffered as a result of human trafficking, starvation, and extreme poverty. Even here in the United States, suffering has increased this year due to a global pandemic and a subsequent nationwide economic downturn affecting local businesses and jobs. Pains like these are even more deeply felt in developing countries that don’t have safety nets and economic surpluses to fall back on.
As we enter this Christmas holiday, let’s not let the disappointments of this year cause us to forget that there are still many in this world who are worse off. Let’s remember to count our blessings and to remember that our “rock bottom” would be considered a “mountaintop” for many in this world!
Let’s look to Scripture, our guide to understanding the mind and heart of Christ: the meaning of the Christmas season. Here we find plentiful reminders that his heart is with the last, least, lost and lonely at all times โ but even more at this time of year. As we gather with family โ or perhaps schedule video calls instead โ let’s reflect on these passages below, and remember to say a prayer for those who have no family that loves them. How can these individuals ever hope to experience the love of God, if not for the Hands and Feet of Jesus?
IN THE SEASON OF FAMILY, GOD’S HEART IS WITH THOSE WITHOUT
James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Matthew 5:3-4 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Psalm 146:9 “The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”
Psalm 82:3 “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”
Psalm 34:18 “Theย Lord is close to the brokenheartedย and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 68:5 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
Psalm 68:6 “God sets the lonely in families.”
INVISIBLE SCARS OF TRAUMA IN HAITI AND THE LONG ROAD BACK
One of the darkest realities in Haiti is the restavek system, which is a system of child slavery that results in all imaginable forms of abuse and deprivation. The children LSM helps are either former restaveks or are in a situation of desperate poverty that puts them in danger of being trafficked. The kinds of hardship our children have experienced results in psychological trauma, meaning our kids come to us mentally and spiritually broken. We can’t simply put them in school and hope for them to succeed. Our recognition of the deep soul surgery that our children need to heal and thrive is what led us to establish our Trauma Recovery program, which provides our children with the spiritual tools they need โ not only to lead healthy, well-rounded lives, but to become leaders and help others in their communities.
A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM OUR CHILDREN IN HAITI
In 2020, our children took a moment to say “thank you” to our donors here in the United States. Without your generous gifts, it wouldn’t be possible for LSM to help bring about God’s redemptive work in the lives of children. One of the most powerful lessons we teach our kids is through the LSM Gospel Project, in which our children go out into their communities with humanitarian supplies and evangelistic materials. The takeaway that we teach our kids is that when we’ve been blessed, God wants us to bless others in return. As you and your family count your blessings this holiday season, please take a moment to consider how God is calling you to partner with us to bless LSM’s children in Jesus’s name, empowering them to become leaders and pay your gift forward!
HOW DO HAITIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?
Haitian families celebrate the birth of Jesus by decorating their homes with candle-lit paper lanterns called “fanals” and candles called โpetas.โ On Christmas Eve, Haitians traditionally attend church and sing songs like “Minuit Chretien,โ their version of โO Holy Night.โ After church, families return home to celebrate Christmas together. Children enjoy playing “wosle,” a game similar to jacks. Popular food items at these gatherings include pumpkin soup and โkremasโ or eggnog. Haitians rarely exchange gifts for Christmas. As we thank God for our family this Christmas holiday, don’t forget to thank God for the broader family of God โ and the incredible opportunity we have to serve one another!
>WHAT CAN I DO?
- You can learn more facts and statistics about how Christmas is celebrated around the world at WhyChristmas.com. And while learning about the countries and peoples of the world, perhaps use the site as an opportunity to pray for them. Ask God to move in their lives.
- You can follow all of our other Christmas coverage on Facebook and Instagram, including our Year-End 2020 video and more!
- Finally, open your Bible to Luke 2 for a great reminder of what the season is truly all about. How does God sending his precious son to earth inspire and compel us to live differently? Perhaps in 2020, you have a new idea for how you would like to partner with LSM as we spread the hope of Christmas to all by serving the worldโs most vulnerable. Tell us your idea, and letโs work together to shine the light of Christmas around the world in 2020, starting in the darkest places!
Gospel Project
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐?
LSMโs Gospel Project begins at our U.S. Office in Bluffton, Indiana where groups of visitors learn about our work in Haiti through our immersive Haiti Education Wing and then pack Gospel kits containing living essentials and evangelistic materials, which we ship down to our Home of Hope children in Haiti, who distribute the kits within their communities to those in need. Many of our HOH kids come from backgrounds of poverty and trauma, themselves, due to experiences they sufferred before entering our care. These kids may have been harmed by Haiti’s societal problems, but we believe they can also be a part of God’s solution for their country, because one of the best ways to help someone heal is giving them an opportunity to help others. No matter what we’ve experienced in our past, when God blesses us, He wants us to bless others in return, magnifying His message of hope and love!
๐๐ป ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ข๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
Visitors begin by walking through nine immersive rooms filled with exhibits explaining the plight of Haiti and the work that LSM does to help vulnerable children and to lift up impoverished communities in Haiti through business, child development and more.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ
Next, volunteers donate their time and treasure to pack food, hygiene supplies, New Testaments, and other Gospel literature into drawstring kits, which we send to our Home of Hope children in Haiti for distribution. We’re never too young to serve others!
ย ย 
๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ!
Here is a powerful story about what happened one day while our children distributed Gospel Kits, as told by Haitian LSM staff member Abdias Victor: “While passing out Gospel Kits this week, our Home of Hope children told a young girl (1st photo below) about the Gospel, and she accepted Jesus! We also met an elderly man (2nd photo, below) whose home was damaged by Hurricane Matthew and who can’t walk without aid. He has no friends who can help, so our kids offered to assist him in walking to church on Sunday.”
ย 
To plan a tour and pack kits, email rick@loving-shepherd.org. Thanks for playing a part in God’s work!
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ:
- Follow us onย Facebookย andย Instagram.
- Invite your friends to follow us on social too.
- Sign up for our enewsletter and prayer list.
- Learn moreย about LSM Family Sponsorship.
- Give directlyย to support our work.
Meet Our Ethiopia Team
๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฎ: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น๐ผ๐, ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐
Paulos Mamo, one of our dedicated program managers in Ethiopia, has served LSM for more than ten years, helping children and their single moms break cycles of desperation and poverty through our business, education, trauma healing, and discipleship programs. Early in Paulos’ ministry, he still remembers the first time he and LSM helped a young mother who was on the verge of resorting to prostitution to feed her kids. A decade later, Paulos has collected hundreds of similar stories. The work is difficult, but also inspiring. Paulos says he has “no greater joy” than helping our moms become business owners and seeing the kids achieve their full, God-given potential.
๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ: “๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐ก๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ!”
Hlina Wondwossen developed a heart for the overwhelming needs she saw growing up as a child in Ethiopia. Today, she has realized that calling by working with LSM, helping vulnerable young women who have been forced to make desperate decisions to provide for their families. Hilina and Paulos Mamo help our single moms find dignified jobs. LSM also provides counseling, educational opportunities, and local church support for our moms and their kids, empowering the next generation to break recurring cycles of poverty and desperation. “For me,” Hlina says “There’s no greater success than seeing someone find true hope!”
๐๐ผ๐ต๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐: ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ช๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ, ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐, ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฎ’๐ ๐ฉ๐๐น๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป
Before becoming an incredible husband-and-wife ministry team for LSM in Ethiopia, Johney and Mekdes grew up as kids in a massive orphanage. They received food and education, but they were not prepared for the outside world, given the nurturing of a family, or introduced to Jesus. Both came to faith outside the orphanage. The pair reconnected and eventually married. Due to their history, Johnny and Mekdes have huge hearts for the single mothers and their children for whom LSM is providing educational help, counseling, small business training, and physical support. “A parent,” Mekdes says, “is like the loving shepherd who sacrifices their own life for their sheep.” We are so thankful for these two and their transformative work for families in Ethiopia!
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ:
- Follow us onย Facebookย andย Instagram.
- Invite your friends to follow us on social too.
- Sign up for our enewsletter and prayer list.
- Learn moreย about LSM Family Sponsorship.
- Give directlyย to support our work.
Semira: The Gift of Empowerment
I am a 33-year old single mother living in Ethiopia, and my family is a living testament to the faithfulness of our awesome God, who has walked with us through our darkest days. Our little family has seen many stormy times, and I can’t say that I’ve always understood the Lord’s plan. All I know for certain is that He’s never abandoned us, and His grace has always been enough.
๐ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด
From the beginning, my life never seemed to go as planned. I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Following cultural customs, I married at the young age of 17 and moved over 300 miles away from my family to a new town, where I gave birth to my first child. When my son was 6 years old, my husband passed away without warning. The pain of losing him was very difficult, but I pressed on.
Alone with my son, I moved back to Addis Ababa to restart my life. For two years, I worked hard and cared for my son. Every day was difficult, and I feared for our future. During this time, I met a nice man and remarried. A year later, I gave birth to my second child, a daughter. My husband worked hard, yet our growing family’s financial struggles began to strain our marriage.
I was desperate to help solve my familyโs financial problems, so I made the difficult decision to leave my two children and travel to the city of Dubai. I worked hard as a housemaid in order to give my kids an education and future opportunities. After five years, I returned to my family with money saved and a renewed hope for our future. Our lives were good for a short time. A year after I returned from Dubai, I gave birth to our third child. My husband and I planned to use our savings to start a business so our growing family could become more financially stable.
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป
But one day changed everything. Our house was robbed, and the money I had worked so hard for during my five years in Dubai was stolen. My hopes and plans for a better future evaporated instantly, and the painful sacrifice of being separated from my seemed to have been all for nothing. Adding to the devastation, my husband blamed me for the robbery. Our conflict spiraled, and soon my husband divorced me. I was once again left alone as a single mother, now with three children. Without money, I was unable to pay my family’s rent, and we were soon evicted. While we were homeless, I used the small amount of money I had to send my children to school. We slept on the street at night, hungry, scared and never knowing what the next day would bring.
๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐
But I soon learned that God had plans for my family! After living on a crowded street in the slums with my family for a number of weeks, I met LSM staff members Paulos and Hilina. They had been praying that God would direct them to vulnerable families like mine, and they could see my familyโs despair, as well as signs of the trauma we had endured. They showed us Godโs grace by taking us off the streets that same day and inviting us to stay at the Family Renewal office. I was humbled to receive help from strangers, but I was also grateful that my children could feel safe at last. Over the next 8 days, LSM’s Family Renewal staff helped me find a new home. I knew God was giving my family a second chance.
LSM’s Family Renewal program has provided us with counseling, encouragement, and support in our time of desperate need. Besides my family, LSM’s Ethiopia staff is also reaching 40 other single mothers just like me who were on the brink of giving up hope. We thank God every day for LSM, and for this program, which is helping us restore both our dignity and our faith!
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐๐
My three children are continuing their education. They attend LSMโs after-school tutoring program three days a week with a meal before lessons. Each Saturday, my children are given trauma recovery training, taught life skills, and provided with individual counseling sessions. Along with these tools, my children enjoy daily meals, Bible studies, and activities that empower them to build safe, healthy relationships with other children. When my children first came to LSM, they were often sick and had low self worth and poor hygiene. Now they are happy, healthy, confident young leaders who are performing well in school and who are hopeful about their future for the first time!
The Family Renewal program also provides my family with food support and medical care. I attend life skills and pre-business training, which is equipping me to start my own business! I never wanted to depend on charity, but LSM’s program does not feel like charity. Instead, Family Renewal is helping me build long-term independence. I feel like am regaining confidence every day. Above all, LSM is teaching my family that God is in control and that He knows everything our family has been through.ย Despite hardships, we are learning God has a purpose in our lives and that He loves us dearly. After years of desperation, my familyโs emotional and physical wellness is being restored. Hope is replacing despair. Dignity is replacing shame. God is showing us our worth in Him and planting seeds of hope in our hearts!
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ:
- Follow us onย Facebookย andย Instagram.
- Invite your friends to follow us on social too.
- Sign up for our enewsletter and prayer list.
- Learn moreย about LSM Family Sponsorship.
- Give directlyย to support our work.
Child Snapshots
Meet a Few Children Helped by LSM!
Learn more about the stories of redemption God is telling in the lives of a few of our children in Haiti!
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ต: ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐
Sarah’s father died when she was young. Her mother, who suffers from a mental health condition, gave Sarah to another family as a restavek (child slave) and moved to Port-au-Prince. Sarah worked long hours carrying water, and her family beat her when she was tired. Thanks to the help of supporters like you, Sarah was rescued and welcomed into one of our Homes of Hope. Today, her future looks a lot brighter. She studies and works hard, and she is dearly loved by her parents and eleven sisters. We are all thankful to see Sarah’s heart healing and shining for Jesus!
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐๐ผ๐ป: ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Wilson grew up the youngest of eleven children in rural Haiti. His father was old and unable to provide for the family, so they ate just once each day. The family’s situation was so desperate that Wilson was in danger of becoming a child slave. Today, living in a Home of Hope, Wilson still counts himself as part of a large family (twelve boys), but everything else about his life has changed. He never wants for food, shelter, or educational opportunities. Wilson is known within his family for his gentle words and courteous attitude. He has a sharp mind and is pursuing a career in mechanical engineering!
๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ต: ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ
Joseph’s father died when he was very young. His mother, who was unable to provide for her kids, often mistreated and beat Joseph. He was on the verge of starving or becoming a slave when LSM found him and welcomed him into a Home of Hope. Joseph is now five years old, and his life today looks very different. He has food to eat, his own bed,ย brothers to play with, and parents who teach him about Jesus. When we see Joseph’s beaming smile, it’s easy to miss signs of his traumatic history โ a powerful testament to God’s redemptive work in his life. By providing a quality education and trauma recovery programs, we are setting Joseph up to succeed and bless those around him.
๐๐ฒ๐’๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ’๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ
Vanessa’s dad died of a fever when she was young, and her mother struggled to provide for the family. When LSM found Vanessa, she was thin and weak and had never attended school. Today, she lives in one of LSM’s Homes of Hope, where she excels in her literature and computer classes. She enjoys music and cooking and hopes to become a nurse. Vanessa’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 27:7, “Hear my voice when I call, Lord. Be merciful to me and answer me.” At LSM, we want to help answer that prayer for Vanessa and hundreds of children like her by getting stories like Vanessa’s in front of as many people as possible.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ผ๐น๐๐ฒ๐ฑ:
- Follow us onย Facebookย andย Instagram.
- Invite your friends to follow us on social too.
- Sign up for our enewsletter and prayer list.
- Learn moreย about LSM Family Sponsorship.
- Give directlyย to support our work.