{"id":3082,"date":"2024-03-07T14:56:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T19:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/?page_id=3082"},"modified":"2024-03-07T14:57:05","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T19:57:05","slug":"february-2024-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/?page_id=3082","title":{"rendered":"February 2024 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Coastal Haiti Mission Newsletter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\u00a0 February 2024 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

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CHANGE<\/h3>\n

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I remember Christmastime in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts during the late 1940s.\u00a0 World War II was over and the ominous sound of the air raid warning system was silent, now, and the economy was on the uprise.<\/p>\n

Arriving at the city on one of Worcester\u2019s grand old buses, one became immersed in the resplendence of colored lights and other decorations placed in the large store windows lining both sides of Main Street.\u00a0 (If it snowed, it was like a Norman Rockwell painting!)\u00a0 There was Barnards, Grants, McGinness\u2019, Denholms, and, of\u00a0\u00a0 course, those famous five-and-dime stores, Woolworths and Newberrys. Those two, along with Grants, had long food counters inside.\u00a0 One could get anything from an ice cream soda to a full dinner.\u00a0 My favorite fare was a hot-turkey sandwich with peas and cranberry sauce!\u00a0 Christmas shopping with my mother sometimes ended with a special treat at one these stores.\u00a0 Outside, the sound of age-old Christmas Carols filtered through the air emanating from the large speakers placed outside the department stores. And then there was the sound of the tiny bell being rung by the Salvation Army volunteer and the ever-present news boy standing on the corner chanting his pitch to sell the latest edition of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. And to top it all off, strangers were warmly wishing strangers a \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d\u00a0 (I know that most of you, my dear readers, are not familiar with Worcester, Massachusetts, but I think I was speaking of your home town as well, back then.)<\/p>\n

Ah, a fine time it was!\u00a0 But all that has changed now.\u00a0 With the advent of the shopping mall, most of the stores I mentioned are now gone.\u00a0 Most of the shoppers are also gone, preferring to shop in the huge malls raised up in the outskirts of town. The \u201cShopping Mall.\u201d Long, utilitarian-type buildings housing an abundance of commercial enterprises including \u2013 and mostly \u2013 retail stores.\u00a0 Open day and night, they offer free parking in their large lots. Very convenient. Very fashionable and\u00a0 contemporary.\u00a0 But to me, there is something missing.\u00a0 Something warm and friendly.<\/p>\n

CHANGE.\u00a0 For better or worse, it\u2019s unavoidable.\u00a0 Automobile styles change, our environment changes, the weather changes, the landscape changes, clothing styles change, music styles change, our friends change \u2013 and we change (Hopefully for the better!)<\/p>\n

But there is One Who does not change.\u00a0 No need.\u00a0 He\u2019s perfect.\u00a0 \u201cJesus Christ the <\/em>same yesterday, and today, and for ever.\u201d\u00a0 (Heb. 13:8 KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n

His TRUTH will never wear out.\u00a0 No matter what the world tries to peddle in the area of philosophy, reality, and religion.\u00a0 And artificial intelligence will parrot its unenlightened programmers. \u201cGet with it,\u201d they will say, \u201cthings change.\u201d<\/p>\n

His LOVE will never fizzle out.\u00a0 Have you ever had anyone say, \u201cI don\u2019t love you anymore?\u201d\u00a0 A cherished relationship gone cold.\u00a0 A husband or wife who walks out.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d they say, \u201cbut I\u2019ve changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

His PROMISES will never bow out.\u00a0 Has anyone ever promised you something that you waited for and relied upon only to find out it was only an empty pledge?<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d they say, \u201cI\u2019ve changed my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isn\u2019t it great to know we have a Savior Who is irrevocably trustworthy and dependable?\u00a0 That\u2019s Who He is!\u00a0 <\/em>And He wants to change us, to lift us out of depression and apathy.\u00a0 To break down the lies we may have believed for years.<\/p>\n

Lies about ourselves, our world, and lies about Him.\u00a0 He wants us to know truth <\/em>as it explodes in our hearts under the leading and guidance of His Holy Spirit.\u00a0 He wants to set us free to love, free to serve His good purposes.\u00a0 Free to become who He made us to be.\u00a0 Remade into the image of Christ.\u00a0 Free to live a life of peace, confidence, excitement, and adventure as we submit and commit to walk in His <\/em>way.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

But,\u00a0 they say there \u201cain\u2019t no free lunch.\u201d\u00a0 There is<\/em> a cost <\/em>in following Christ.\u00a0 How much?\u00a0 YOU!<\/p>\n

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\u201c\u2026If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps he must give up<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 all right to himself, take up his cross and follow me.\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Jesus in Mat. 16:24\u00a0 J.B. Phillips<\/em><\/p>\n

Walking this Way with you,<\/p>\n

Connie<\/p>\n

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The Saturday Sunday School<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Pastor Coty Writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you look at the children, shown in the photos below, you are looking at the future of Ha\u00efti.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We as a country are experiencing the result of bad character in some of the Haitian people. We realize that the bad character in these people, is in part because of the education, or lack of education, that they have received. <\/strong><\/p>\n

As for us, we are doing what we read in Proverbs 22:6 which is: ( Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it).<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, we know already, that when these children become adults, we will have people with different values in the future. <\/strong><\/p>\n

I thank God for my wife Nana. She has a heart for this ministry. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, we will always be grateful to our supporters, because they keep this program\u00a0alive by providing funds to purchase food items for these children at every meeting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"CHM Family and Friends; You provide these incentives for each meeting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The School Lunch Program <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Recently there have been protests in Haiti, including the northern City of Cap-Hatien, which is about 20 miles from the Village of Cahess. The roads have been blocked, the banks and other places of business have been shut down. The schools have also been closed. \u00a0These were the conditions that framed the following report by Pastor Coty.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Pastor Coty Writes<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the days of demonstrations in the streets of Ha\u00efti, we had the school children come to school without their uniforms. This was done so that it was not apparent that the children were continuing to attend our school. We thank God that we can keep the same routine with them. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Sometimes, some of the teachers who are from Trou-du-Nord (the closest city), have been unable to get to school, because the roads have been blocked.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to anyone who remembers to pray for our country.\u00a0 We need peace, stability, and security in addition to the many other needs of this poor country.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"\u00a0Attending school in disguise.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today we took legumes from the garden and prepared lunch for the school children. The food was very good. <\/strong><\/p>\n

We took eggplant, spinach, tomatoes and I brought some papayas. <\/strong><\/p>\n

It was a good experience, using vegetables from our gardens to feed the Kids.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"School lunch using veggies from the garden project.<\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Food for the Needy Program<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Pastor Coty Writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Food is very expensive now. But people still need to eat. That is why CHM provides this food program. By providing food for the people who cannot provide for themselves, we meet their principal and essential need. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of the big stores are closed, while some are open, but they have no rice. When you finally find \u00e0 place to buy rice, the price is very high. However, we have to get it anyway, because we have people depending on us.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"Thank you for supporting our poor people in the Village of Cahess.\u00a0Pastor Coty Joseph<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Life in the Village <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Pastor Coty Writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a good description of what is called KONBIT.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Konbit in Haitian culture, occurs mostly among the people in rural parts of the country. <\/strong><\/p>\n

When I was growing up, people often enjoyed going to Konbit. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The way a Konbit \u00a0is structured, is as follows: When a person has a large project to accomplish, like garden work for example, he goes around and invites people to come and help. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you host a Konbit, your obligation is to feed the workers 2 meals for the day. One as they start in the morning named (kolasyon), and one at the end of the project that day. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of the time, when you invite 20 people, you need to prepare for 30, because other people who are passing by, will join in when they see it’s a Konbit. They will come even if you did not invite them. <\/strong><\/p>\n

A Konbit is a charitable group effort to help accomplish a project or task. <\/strong><\/p>\n

A photograph cannot really describe the feeling of a Konbit because during the work, the workers sing some country songs, that helps them to tolerate the hardness of the job.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, in recent times, the Konbit is no longer popular. Instead, the Konbit has been replaced by (JOUNALYE), which is a daily paid job, with hours from 7:00 in the morning, to 1.00 in the afternoon. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The workers are still fed 2 meals, along with being paid at the end of the work day. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now you see more young people, and even some children go to Jounalye because there are no workplaces locally, where they can earn some money.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"\u00a0<\/strong>Fellowship while working together<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Proverbs 19:17 ESV
\nWhoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A blessing for you from the scripture:<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2 Thessalonians 3: 16<\/span>
\nNow may the Lord of peace himself<\/span>
\ngive you his peace at all times and in<\/span>
\nevery situation. The Lord be with you all.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you, Family and Friends of Coastal Haiti Mission, for all that you do to help the people in Cahess, Haiti. You are making a huge difference for these people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please remember, that CHM must continue to send our monthly commitment of $1700 to carry on the ongoing CHM ministry in Cahess. This is in addition to the cost of the School Lunch Program.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you desire to help, please send your tax-deductible check to our address and tell us how you want us to use your donation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coastal Haiti Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n

C\/O Constance Goddard<\/strong><\/p>\n

3048 Spring Fancy Lane<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indian Trail, NC 28079<\/strong><\/p>\n

Or For tax deductible \u201conline donations\u201d, please use our PayPal service. Also please designate how you want us to use your donation.<\/strong><\/p>\n


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May the Lord our God, who knows your heart and sees your actions, grant you great joy as you serve Him.\u00a0 Connie, Esther, Pastor Coty, Carl, Dan, and Ken are very grateful for your sacrifice.<\/u><\/em><\/strong> Ken Johansson CHM Newsletter Editor<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Coastal Haiti Mission Newsletter   \u00a0 February 2024     CHANGE   I remember Christmastime in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts during the late 1940s.\u00a0 World War II was over and the ominous sound of the air raid warning system was silent, now, and the economy was on the uprise. Arriving at the city on one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":30,"menu_order":901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3082","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3082"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3111,"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3082\/revisions\/3111"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastalhaitimission.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}