In Haiti, most school doors opened on September 11th. As we enter the 2023-24 school year, Trinity HOPE is celebrating another big milestone. Since 1999 we have been feeding hungry souls in Haiti, and this marks our 25th year of ministry. During these 25 years, Trinity HOPE has provided over 68 million meals to children throughout Haiti, and currently we serve about 1.2 million meals each month.
Our founder, John Hall, set out to feed 42 children at one school. He often said, “God told us to feed kids in Haiti in 1999, and he hasn’t told us to stop.” For those of us who carry on this work, those words ring in our ears. We know and believe that the meals received are not just life-saving sustenance, but those meals also allow children to retain what they are learning in school.
Our core belief is that bringing the Good News of the Gospel to children surrounded by so much strife is showing the love and mercy Jesus has for them. When they are fed, the children can learn and retain scripture that will bring them comfort and direction. They are also retaining more of the lessons they learn in school which makes them employable, critical thinkers as adults. This is ultimately what will begin to break the generations of poverty and political unrest.
In these past 25 years, Trinity HOPE has seen many crises in Haiti. By the Grace of God, we have weathered earthquakes, hurricanes, and political unrest. Yet, in that time we have also watched children come to know Jesus, have seen their physical transformation as they are provided a consistent, nutritious source of food, and we have even heard stories of children so impacted by the experience they have in school that they grow up to become teachers, or to pastor fellow believers.
Though we see the fruit of our work, it is not yet complete. With nearly 190 schools now on our waiting list, we see there is still so much more to do. Trinity HOPE’s work in Haiti is being administered mightily by 35 Haitian Feeding Program Directors. These men and women are now serving their community as they live through one of the most challenging times Haiti has ever seen. The political unrest and gang violence continues to make life in Haiti unpredictable, dangerous, and is driving inflation throughout the nation.
Families are more in need now than they have ever been before, and this situation is creating drastic changes in communities. Last year, we saw 9 schools close their doors. 7 of those schools closed because the danger of traveling to school was too great, and families were migrating to other areas of the country. In our August board meeting, our Board of Directors voted to replace the schools that closed with other schools on our waiting list, allowing us to start 8 new schools this year. Today, Trinity HOPE is providing over 60,000 meals to children in 270 Christian schools each day.
We continually see God’s provision and protection over this ministry. The closing of the schools was timely because, as families migrate out of the Port-au-Prince area, we are seeing school attendance in other areas increase significantly. Some schools currently in the feeding program have doubled in size as families seek safer homes.
Coming into year 25, we are more resolute than ever that we must persevere. Romans 5 tells us that perseverance produces character and character produces HOPE. We see this every day through our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Their resilience, perseverance, and tenacity show us their character. They continue this work in hard times, and bring HOPE to the children at the schools we serve. I’m reminded of one feeding program director who told me the children call him “the man with the food,” and I know this gift, made possible through your generosity, matters more than any of us can fathom. It matters to the children, it matters to the communities, and it matters to the Kingdom. Thank you for your continued trust and support. All glory be to God!
Please visit us at www.trinityHOPE.org to learn more about this ministry. You can also email us at admin@trinityhope.org
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