Welcome to the AWAKENHAITI team, Gerritt and Julie!

     In addition to supporting the daily needs of the children at the Good Samaritan Homes, AWAKENHAITI desires to look to their future.  In order to help meet the needs of the young adults finishing secondary education, AWAKENHAITI has begun a transition program.
     The mission of the transition program is to assist the children we minister to through the Good Samaritan Homes in reaching their full potential in Christ and in becoming successful independent adults.
     Creating opportunity and providing life skills and business training for young adults has been on the heart of AWAKENHAITI since 2009.  For the past three years, we have offered a scholarship fund to support post-secondary schooling and/or professional training opportunities.  We currently have four young adults in the program with the addition to three more in September 2015.
     Over the last seven months, the AWAKENHAITI leadership team has been in prayer and conversation about the next steps for the ministry.  Through this time, the leadership team has determined that there is a greater need to not only provide scholarship opportunities, but to take that a step further in offering life skills training, assistance in early stages of career research & goal setting, and guidance through life changes from living in the children's homes to transition home living, and eventually independent adult life.  AWAKENHAITI determined that in order for this to be a successful and sustainable part of the ministry, it would be necessary to have AWAKENHAITI in-country oversight.
     These months of prayer and conversations have led to this exciting announcement:

     We introduce to you our new Transition Program Directors, Gerritt and Julie VanWagenen!  Gerritt and Julie have been living in Haiti for 3 1/2 years.  They bring their knowledge of Haitian culture, language, and experience in business development, as well as work with children, teens, and young adults.  In addition, they truly have a heart for transitioning young adults well, and most importantly a desire for furthering God's kingdom!  Gerritt and Julie will continue to live in close proximity to the Good Samaritan homes as they begin to develop a relationship with the kids and Max & Margarette.
Prior to Haiti, Gerritt and Julie called Boston their home.  Their supporting church is Westgate Church in Massachusetts.
Together, Gerritt & Julie, AWAKENHAITI, and Max & Margarette will work toward opening a transition home and further developing the transition program.  We welcome Gerritt and Julie's leadership and oversight and we welcome them to the AWAKENHAITI team!
     We know it will take a lot of work and many resources to successfully transition the Good Samaritan young adults.  We are committed to the work and we would love for you to partner with us and spread awareness!  We hope together, we can make a difference in the lives of the Good Samaritan children, the young adults, and in Haiti!

Gerritt, helping Widnelson read a letter from his sponsor

Julie, helping Jamesly read a letter from his sponsor

Team July Day 6

Today was our scheduled field trip to the beach with the Good Samaritan kids.  We took them to the retreat center of Cadasha.  This organization has an outreach program for orphanages and organizations.  We loved hearing their vision for further development and had a great time at their facility.  We love being able to network with other organizations as we all work toward a common goal:  loving others and furthering God’s kingdom. 

The older kids had to get a soccer game going of course!  Most of the kids loved swimming.  The littlest ones spent most of the day in the water.  We are so thankful for the flotation devices that were donated, THANK YOU!  And THANK YOU to those who donated to make our beach trip possible!  It was great to get them out for a fun day and to see them having so much fun!

The team has been incredible with the kids and it has been really cool to watch each one play and love on the kids!

On behalf of AWAKENHAITI, the Good Samaritan family, and the Haitian people we work with and serve, thank you team for all of your love and service and to your families for the support you have provided in your family member being part of this week!  We trust you have been blessed just as much if not more than what you have given!  We pray you carry what you have learned back into your own community!