“In all of my 65 years in Haiti, I have never seen anything like this.” – Pastor Wilfrid, LSM Home of Hope Director
Ed Schwartz, Founder & President of LSM shares an update and ways you can get involved right now:
On June 28, 2016 LSM hosted a Dedication at the Welsh school. Nearly 400 people came to celebrate, including:
• LSM staff and construction workers
• A team from the U.S. whose family and friends funded significant portions of the school project
• Officials from the region
• Surrounding Home of Hope families
• Welsh community members
• Welsh Church members
• LaSource Church members (a church plant in early 2016 from the Welsh Church)
It was a powerful celebration of hope and excitement for what God continues accomplishing through LSM! Here are some of the highlights:
2015 has been an incredible year and we praise God for the incredible growth in the children we serve and the new initiatives developed that continue to change lives. Here are a few of the highlights:
Our child development staff has been hard at work creating new initiatives for our Home of Hope children. They have started regular day seminars that cover a range of age-appropriate topics and are working on an individual basis with our children to ensure they are receiving the educational and emotional support they need. In addition, they have created a rotating library to be shared between families and are brainstorming new projects for 2016!
This year has been a huge step forward for a small Ethiopian business (Moriya) that now employs 11 women. They were living in complete desperation – doing whatever it took just to survive and support their children. They are now empowered to work with dignity and have hope for their family’s future. In 2015, the business expanded its online presence, inventory is now sold through many new channels and the product offering has expanded in both quality and variety! Check out the online store here.
2015 has been full of some incredible events across the U.S. From orphan care conferences to moving presentations from Stephanie Fast, benefit auctions, gospel sings and much more – it’s been a busy year. We are grateful for the opportunities to represent the voice of the most vulnerable with churches, groups and individuals across the country.
In 2015, the Welsh campus was expanded to include a two-story church and school for Home of Hope families, their children and those in the surrounding community. Construction is finishing up, and the students are excited to be in the building very soon!
LSM continues to work with families interested in pursuing adoption. Although the international adoption scene is changing dramatically, we are still providing information, support and guidance for couples and individuals interested in learning more about their options. We are also providing resources for those considering adoption through the foster care system. You can learn more here.
None of these initiatives could have happened without you and your support. Together, our efforts are creating long-term change in the lives of vulnerable children around the world. We look forward to what God has in store for 2016!
This week, a small work team is spending time in Welsh, Haiti. They are putting the finishing touches on a new school for two of our Homes of Hope in the area as well as the surrounding community. They are working hard to wire the campus for solar power and are making great progress! Not only that, but the team’s expertise as electricians is being passed on to our Haitian staff and several of our Home of Hope boys in the process!
We have two Homes of Hope in Haiti nestled in a small, very poor community called Welsh. The needs across the country are great, but God has been opening doors for LSM to do more in this particular community. One of the projects has included the construction of a new school for our Home of Hope children. This new, bigger building will also provide the chance for kids from the community to attend school (many for the first time)!