It’s hard to reach this time of the year and not think about that first trip to Haiti in December 1994. It’s impossible to get here and not think of all the people who have made all those years possible.

Obviously, all of you have been very important to the ministry and us personally, but there are two people you may not know about. In late October 1994 they decided to pray that God would open more doors for Steve to be more involved in missions than he was. Working in three area hospitals, he would save discarded supplies that were still usable, and had converted our two-car garage into a “warehouse,” complete with inventory system. International Aid, an organization in Spring Lake Michigan, would send a truck to our house in Wentzville to pick them up.

Within 48 hours after the two started praying, Steve was asked he if could be a member of a team going to La Gonave, an island off Haiti’s west coast. Steve would replace a person who had committed to going, but with just six weeks to go, he had to drop out. Steve’s name came up, and the rest is as they say “history.”

At first, we were just trying to provide free medical care to those would had no money to pay for it anyway. Schools and nutrition programs were nothing more than dreams. We weren’t ready for that and God knew we weren’t. Then, fifteen years ago, we had the money to start the first nutrition program, then the first school. Now hundreds of kids get to go to school free each day and receive a good hot meal along with daily vitamins.

We know you have seen this picture before, but it sums up all we work for and do: providing those things for kids. What child doesn’t want to learn how to read and write, not to mention eat?

Thank you for providing the ability to do these things for the kids in our villages. We hope your Christmas is blessed with the knowledge of what you given to these children. It wouldn’t happen without the gifts you give each month and year.

Merry Christmas!

Steve and Terry

P.S. Terry’s next visit to the bone marrow clinic is December 7th. Remember that date.