Adapting to Challenges and Nurturing Hope for Children
October 2023
Dear Supporters and Friends,
We wanted to bring you up to speed on the recent whirlwind of events in our mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children on the Dominican Republic and Haiti border.
Several months ago, we started crafting our development message to plan for the future of our ministry. One part of that was to craft the wording of our core priorities. One of these priorities is a "Flexible response to the immediate needs of children in vulnerable situations."
Flexibility has been a constant companion, especially in the past month as unanticipated situations have presented themselves from all sides. We continue to trust in God’s provision and remain committed to creating a future where children who were once in vulnerable situations can radiate hope and reflect God's love and splendor to others.
Here are a few of the challenges we’ve faced this month.
Our Home Situation: Our long-standing desire for a permanent home that we can call our own is closer than ever. Our current landlord expressed her wish to return to our rented house in Jimani, where we've lived for the past eight years. This sudden change prompted us to explore the possibility of purchasing a home. At first, we thought we would need a new place to live by January. We found a home and then found it had been rented to someone else for the next year. Then, we found another home, only to find out it was sold the day after we looked at it. Our landlord did then let us know we have until late 2024. This extension allows us to either find a suitable home in town or embark on the journey of building our permanent home.
It has been a bit of up-and-down emotions as any change is difficult. The thought of leaving the place we’ve called home for the past eight years to be excited about a possible move and then back to square one. We have realized that we need the finances in place sooner than later to be able to move when the right opportunity becomes available.
We need about $140,000 for this endeavor and have 10% of the required funds. We'll share more about opportunities to partner with us to achieve this goal in the next few weeks. So stay tuned :)
Border Closure: The Dominican government's decision to close the border between Haiti and the DR in response to a canal dispute has significantly impacted our work. This move was met with tensions and ongoing deportations, affecting the livelihood and safety of Haitians on both sides of the border. In response, we've had to adapt our support, including supplying food and assistance to the boys in our Haiti shelter. Given the current political environment, we've also had to temporarily put our plans to establish an office at the border on hold.
Transition of Older Girls: Our three older girls, Avila, Johana, and Marisol, are preparing for the next stage of their lives as independent adults. Given the border closure and an inability to get a passport stamp for Johana, her plan to shadow a Physical Therapist at her clinic on the North Coast of the DR has been postponed. The closure also affects our plans for Avila to volunteer with a ministry in Brazil, as she’ll need to travel to Port Au Prince, Haiti, for her visa.
So, what to do? In the midst of all these challenges, we also face a pressing need concerning our temporary shelter and the two boys currently residing there. They have been under our care for seven months, a duration that was initially intended to be just a few weeks, but this has been extended with no clear end in sight.
These boys, unfortunately, cannot attend school due to their lack of birth certificates and uncertainty of how long they will remain in Jimani. Sadly, we know that they are not the only children in the community who face obstacles to enrollment in public school. So, our “flexible response” in this situation is to employ Avila and Johana as their teachers. We've secured a space in a local church where classes can be held.
Marisol is also undergoing preparations to find a suitable job, and the three girls will soon move into their own home. This new space will include an emergency overnight shelter for girls in need. It's a significant change in the dynamics of our home, but we are excited to see the growth it will afford the girls.
In just one week of classes, Johana and Avila have already made strides in teaching four boys, and their commitment to this endeavor is exciting to see. We are proud of the enthusiasm they bring to this essential aspect of our work. With your continued support, we aim to ensure that these children receive the education they deserve and a chance for a brighter future.
Despite these ups and downs, our commitment remains firm, thanks to the incredible support we receive. Through your dedication to our mission, you are bringing hope, love, and a brighter future to children in vulnerable situations. We thank you for being part of our ministry and making this journey possible. We couldn't do it without you, and we are deeply grateful that you allow us to do this work for you. Together, we are changing kids' lives.
Blessings from all of us at Three Trees in the Dominican Republic and Haiti