Soma Austin

Seventeen months ago I went to Haiti with Chris Marlow (@chrismarlow) and a still forming Help End Local Poverty(@helpendpoverty) for the first time. We landed in Haiti seeking new ministry partners who were already working hard but who could be helped by new relationships and resources. And God blessed us in meeting and partnering with Pastor Gaetan Alcegaire who also runs an orphanage and community school in Petion-ville, Pastor Jean-Alix Paul who oversees nine churches & two orphanages as well as running a business and Pastor Jean St-Cyr who pastors a church in the largest tent city in Haiti. Each of these men are paying hard costs so that others might find physical, social and spiritual renewal.

Since that first time on the ground we have seen multiple churches partner to sponsor over 30 orphans, build orphan housing for those 30 kids, rebuild 7 water wells and drill several more. We've seen homes built for families, medical care provided for hundreds and investments in local Haitian leaders. It's been a sweet 17 months.

We are currently working with HELP on the 100 Home Project which will provide homes for families and serve as trafficking prevention while providing new opportunities for orphans aging out of their current homes. Personally I am working on a project to help these families by providing fuel efficient stoves & solar lightbulbs for each home. Approximately 40% of a families income in Haiti goes toward cooking fuel. With the fuel-efficient stoves they can cut that cost in half while being healthier and saving six trees per year in a country with massive deforestation problems. With the solar lightbulbs they can save money on buying kerosene, kids can study their schoolwork late into the night and dads can read stories to their kids at night. Both of the projects combine together to help families save money, provide new education opportunities, healthier homes, preserve natural resources and keep families together which prevents orphans and trafficking. A big win for only $80 a house.

On this trip Austin New Church will be building two homes, and Chris Marlow and I will be visiting local Haitian partners and discussing our future work together. We will also be taking an in-country flight to Cap-Haitien to see some land where some homes and small businesses may be built.

Please pray for Chris Marlow, the Austin New Church team and myself during the next week. We look forward to sharing stories with you when we return.

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