Please visit our new website at:

www.disciplesvillage.org

An Update on the Georges

Some of you have asked me for an update on the newlywed Georges.  As most of you know, last September they let us know they were going to transition back to the states to start their family and new life together.  They graciously volunteered to stay with us until Wes, Nicy and family had relocated here in March.  So after months of preparation and saying good bye, on March 22, we sent them off with all our love and blessings. 

I received an email from Kendall the other day and learned that things are going well and they are settling into their new life.  They are living with Kendall's folks and are enjoying time with family and letting everyone fall in love with Patrick.  Kendall went to a job interview and was hired on the spot for a permanent position at a temp agency.  As we all know, she makes a very good first impression and will do a wonderful job with them.  Patrick is getting used to American life and is considering doing some on the job electrical training with Kendall's Dad.  He's enjoying time at their cross-fit gym and is even trying his hand at cooking - preparing Haitian food for the family!  (Never saw that one coming!)

We love and miss them and all of us at Alex's House send them our love.

Bondye beni nou Kendall & Patrick!

 

Our Growing Family

We proudly introduce the two newest family member's of Alex's House, Diore(pronounced like Joey) and Lourdemia.  They were brought to Alex's House several months ago by IBERS, the Haitian governing body of orphanages.  Their mother is severely disabled and unable to continue caring for them.  We took them in to foster will IBERS further investigated their situation.  They are now officially a part of the Alex's House family.

This was the first picture posted of Diore and Yourdemia on
 Facebook when they arrived at Alex's House

Diore, 8

June 8, 2006
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite Food: Rice mixed with beans and legume(a mixed vegetable dish)
Favorite Subject: Grammar

Diore is such a great big brother.  On one of pairs first days at Alex's House, he brought over his water  cup for Lourdemia because she hadn't received one yet.  We explained that she would get her own cup of water and he could keep his!  He does great with school work.  Micky keeps him in line and makes sure he knows his lesson each day for school.  Like most other Haitian boys, Diore loves to play soccer.  He has a big smile and is just a generally content eight year old!


Lourdemia, 7
January 24, 2008
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Food:White rice, bean sauce and legume(a mixed vegetable dish)
Favorite Subject: Math

Lourdemia is a lively, extremely girly seven year old.  She loves having her hair fixed and likes to fix others hair.  Her naturing side can be seen when she is playing(ok sometimes bossing)Widena and Wislove.  Lourdemia loves to play with dolls and fashion new clothes for them.  She has the cutest snaggled tooth grin!


Both children are in need of full sponsorship-Daily Bread, Child to School, and Life Skills.  If you would like more information on sponsoring Diore or Lourdemia, please contact our Sponsorship Director Monica Langdale at monica@alexshouseorphanage.org.  We hope you come to visit us soon and meet our new family members!

Children's Leaders Conference

Alex's House hosted a three day Children's Leaders Conference led by Hope Community
Church(Kentucky) in January.  Over 50 Haitian workers and pastors from our partnering churches attended the training.  The team of ten workers from Hope Community Church have a combined total of 192 years working with children!  They used their experiences in ministry to develop a conference focused on  the why of teaching children, the how of practical methods and the importance of prayer in ministry.


Each day a variety of sessions including teaching, small group challenges, discussion questions, worship and demonstrations were presented.  Teaching sessions focused on why it is important to teach children, the differences in teaching children and adults, how to use objects from your surroundings to enhance teaching and different methods for conveying a message.

Attendees were split into groups and given different passages that teach about the importance of children.  Discussion prompts directed them to look at how children were involved in the scripture and what that says about the importance of children.  After studying the passage in their small groups, they presented the meaning of the passage to the large group.  Attendees took the studying very seriously and had great insight to share with the group.

A presenter spoke on the differences in teaching children versus adults.  This lesson was one that really resounded with the pastors and leaders.  In a follow-up discussion with Pastor Frito of Pierre Payen, he told Conference Director Steve Haddix that he had been teaching his children as if they were adults.  From the conference, he learned children cannot learn in the same way as adults.  He plans to get volunteers from his church to teach children separately now on Sunday mornings.


One of the challenges given to teams included giving each group items collected around the York House yard to create bugs.  This demonstration taught participants to think outside the box for items they already have available  to create crafts, teaching props, etc.



For one session, Hope member Ricky Hall taught the story of David and Goliath in costume as if he were David.  He showed the group how interactive storytelling captures the audience and helps them to grasp the concept better than simply standing in one place reciting a lesson.

The group gave examples of how to teach through music using hand motions, reading a story from a book using character voices and having children involved in a skit.  After the session, groups were given a story prompt and had to come up with the best method to share the story with a group.  They first had to identify the main point of the story and then tell how to best teach it.  Several groups said a skit was the best teaching method while another used finger puppets to demonstrate their main point.

Conference Director Steve Haddix said he was uncertain of the reception his team would receive going into the conference.  Would the methods used in US to teach children translate cross- culturally?  At the conclusion of the three day conference he was blown away with the level of participation by attendees. He had several post conference discussions with pastors who were eager to implement the teaching methods they learned.

Alex's House extends a huge thank you to the members of Hope Community Church who spent many hours prepping for the conference!  We pray that the training will impact many children in Haiti for the gospel.

Amazon Smile

Are you an online shopper?  You can use your shopping to help support Alex’s House when making purchases on Amazon.com!  Amazon Smile is the same website, however, it allows you to designate a non-profit to receive a portion of your sale. When shopping online go to amazonsmile.com  and sign-in using your Amazon username and password.

Next search for Alex’s House Orphanage as your charitable organization.  Select Alex’s House(Lexington, SC) as the organization you want to support.

Now as you shop, your purchases will help support Alex’s House.

It’s a simply way to give back while you do what you were already doing.  Simply make the switch to amazonsmile.com for your online Amazon purchases.  Share this easy way to give to Alex’s House with other online shoppers today!

Our Next Step - Piercing the Darkness!

Hello Alex’s House Family!

I want you to know how grateful I am for the love, support and prayers you offered Alex’s House in 2014.  Our children are happy and growing and through you, the Lord has met all of our needs. Your love and support is literally changing the lives of our children!

This February will be a great milestone in our history – our 5^th anniversary!  I stand in awe at the amazing progress the Lord has allowed us to make in these few short years.  Yet, there’s a trembling in my spirit as well - for as you know, the Lord does not allow us to stay in one place for very long.  

The Lord has given me clarity in where we should go next.  Please click on the following link and watch our new video – Piercing the Darkness.  The video and the information that follows it will tell you all about our next steps forward!

After watching, if you agree that the Lord is calling us in these new efforts, please make a generous donation to help the vision become a reality.

You have been so faithful in standing with me in this calling to reach Haiti for Jesus. 

Thank you for your faithful financial support, your prayers and your friendship.  I’m so grateful to be in ministry together with you.

…for the least of these….

~Bill

Click Here to Watch Video

Mission Calendar for 2015

By the end of 2014, over 250 people will have served on mission teams at Alex's House within the year!  We had team members from Colorado to West Virginia, from Michigan to Alabama and New Mexico to South Carolina.  Because of the reach of these teams, Alex's House held medical clinics, trained leaders in children's ministry, taught adult Bible classes and ministered to local widows.  Mission teams allow us to go beyond the walls of the children's home to minister in the local communities.

We hope you can join us in 2015 as we continue to reach the least of these for Christ.  This next year we will continue with children's ministry, adult ministry, women's ministry, sports ministry and medical missions at our ministry sites.   In addition, the Lord has shown us the need to hold deeper training sessions for local leaders.  We will host children leaders training, youth ministry training, pastors training and worship leaders training conferences in 2015.

Alex's House invites you to join us in 2015 to be a part of the work the Lord is continuing in Haiti. Check out our missions page for next year's schedule.   If you have a church or missions group that would like schedule a trip, please contact our Missions Director, Kendall Moss at kendall@alexshouseorphanage.org.  We look forward to serving with you in 2015!

Alex's House Goes to Beach Camp

After a busy schedule of mission groups this summer, we took the first week of August as a time of special celebration for our Alex's House Family-Beach Camp 2014!  The excitement started weeks ago when flyers were posted announcing camp.  Everyone hurried around to get the details of the upcoming event.  You could hear children reading the details out loud then running to tell their brothers and sisters the news.

We spent Monday and Tuesday at a camp site in Pierre Payen.  Each day we had an interactive Bible story, craft time, and recreation.  The children studied creation and the effects of sin;  they made pouches to carry fish and loaves from the story of Jesus feeding the 5000; and they played many games including jump rope races.

To end each day of camp, we spent time playing in the ocean.  The big kids swam out to stand on the barrier and the littles splashed in the shallow end with beach toys.

We used camp as a training opportunity for our older children.  On Wednesday, we spent time teaching them how to "put on" a day program.  They practiced teaching the creation story, aiding with a craft and directing game time.  

While the older children learned the program, the younger children practiced greeting guests and giving directions.  They also rehearsed a song to welcome visitors to our home.

On Thursday, we invited our friends from Pastor Louissant's Orphanage in Barboncourt to a day camp at our house.  They were greeted at the door by our whole family singing "bienvenue a tout"- welcome us all.  We sang together and opened in prayer.  The Alex's House children gave our visitors a tour of our home, then we started our program.  

We moved between four stations-Bible story, craft, creation book, recreation- and made it until almost the very end with all groups still intact!  Each of the stations were led by Alex's House children. Our kids did a PHENOMENAL job of leading.  They took their task to heart and did an excellent job of teaching our friends.

 We headed back to Pierre Payen on Friday for our final day of beach camp. It was a joyous time of singing together, learning more about our Savior and having fun as a family.  Everyone-kids and adults- had a wonderful time at camp.  A special thank you to the Howard family for coming and leading Beach Camp 2014!  Here's a final photo of us all enjoying our last day of camp.

Welcome to the Family

One great thing about Alex’s House is that we function as a family.  Many organizations that care for children operate as an institution.  Our children’s home, however is truly a family.  And we are a family that has grown.  We introduce to you our newest brother Cheridson.

Cheridson, or as many refer to him SonSon, came to our family a little over a month ago.  When he first arrived he weighed just over 9 pounds at almost 6 months old.  You can see from this photo that he was severely malnourished.  Each of his ribs showed and his arms with nothing but bones. (No worries as he now has a very plump belly and is getting some rolls on his legs!)

Since his arrival, Cheridson has really grown.  When he first arrived simply taking a bottle of milk was enough to exhaust him.  He’s gained several pounds.  SonSon  loves to touch your face and coos and giggles when you talk to him-he even recognizes his name.  He can sit up on his own and is very close to rolling over!  The signs of malnutrition are quickly fading away.  Cheridson has quickly adjusted to his new family. As you can tell they are very happy to have him around as well!  Everyone wants to pitch in and help care for the new baby.  Even Widna and Wislove like to "hold" and care for him!

Cheridson’s father passed away in a car accident.  The loss of income left his mother unable to care for him.  He was not receiving the food or care he needed.  Each child's story begins with some heartbreak.  It's never a good thing when a child has to leave their family.  However, here at Alex's House the story doesn't stop there!  Baby SonSon was welcomed here at Alex’s House the beginning of June with open loving arms by everyone.  What started from loss will be redeemed as Cheridson is raised in a family dedicated to training to make him a disciple of Christ.

Welcome to the family Cheridson!  We hope you get to come meet our newest brother soon.

A Pop of Color-Gate Mural

Each week team members come with special talents and gifts.  In June, we had a few team members from Welsh Baptist in Maryland were artists.  Erin & Barb designed a mural for the front gate of Alex's House.

They used the inspiration of the tropical backdrop of Haiti for the main portion of the mural.  They also designed silhouettes for around the outer edges of the door.

Over the course of the week team members helped prep the door, paint base coats, and outline silhouettes.  Next the artists went to work on the main focal point.  The mural adds a nice pop of color to our home.  After it was completed, many of the children would stand and gaze at the art!

Check out a few photos of our new mural.  Thanks to the team from Welsh Baptist for our beautiful new artwork!

A view down the drive before the mural was started.

The team prepped the door for the mural.

A team member works on one of the silhouettes.

Artists Erin & Barb put the finishing touches on the almost complete mural.

The finished mural adds a great backdrop to drive!

Project Playground: COMPLETE

Project Playground: COMPLETE
The kids have a fun new place to play.  Like many things at Alex's House, our new playground was a team effort!  It was the work of many that together created a beautiful new play structure for our children.




Many committed to raising money through our latest fundraiser.  VBSs and children's ministries  took the challenge to help raise the money to build the playground.

Team member after team member worked hard to clear the grounds of rubble.  In between ministry sites teams would shovel buckets of rocks to make a clearing for the new playground.








Building plans were sketched and drawn out weeks in advance.  And then of course, thrown out and completely reworked once the project started!
















Truck loads of supplies were brought in from Port au Prince.  The JAC truck was so weighed down with materials, it took an extra to get home from Port one day.  Several trips were made to the hardware store to collect everything needed for the project!

A team from The Gathering in Illinois welded, measured, sawed, and hammered.  Their blood, sweat and tears were poured into the playground.  The team did a great job of working quickly to get the project completed in one week!

And all the hard work paid off when the final results were unveiled!  We see many years of squeals, smiles and laughters!

The playground has a rope ladder, baby swings, trapeze bar, climbing ladder, bridge, and big kid swings!

Let's Build a Playground!

Alex's House has started developing the lot beside the York House!  The land has been walled in, the transition home foundation has started and the land is being cleared.  What will go on the land being cleared?  A NEW PLAYGROUND!  Our children are going to be so excited to have a place to play in the afternoons.

Is your children's ministry or church's VBS program looking for a fun way to invest and get your children involved in missions?  If so, join us in building the playground for the Alex's House children.  Children participating in the fundraiser will commit to praying for an AH child, raise money for the playground and perform an act of kindness.  They will participate in global and local missions all at once!

We have play money designed for the children to sell to friends, family, neighbors, etc to raise money for the playground.  On their play money, the will also write the name of their AH child to encourage others to be praying for the child as well.

All the materials are designed and ready for you -flyers, play money, and fundraiser instructions.  We just need your church to get involved. If your church would like to participate email kendall@alexshouseorphanage today to request the materials.  Together we can build a playground!

I love it when God works like that-Widow's Ministry

Alex's House is excited to announce a new ministry for widows in our surrounding communities.  Read about this new focus from the words of co-director Debbie Weeks.  Debbie has traveled to Haiti multiple times serving on medical, construction, Bible School and teaching conference teams.

There are times in my life (when considering a certain ministry opportunity)that I wonder, "Is it God's will for me to do this certain thing, at this time?".  There are other times,  it seems

 as if the Lord is very clearly, NO DOUBT, saying, "This is what I want you to do!"...I love it when God works like that!  That is the way God spoke to me about helping 

to set up the widow's ministry for Alex's House. 

The background...

One reason I began learning the Haitian Creole language, was that I wanted to be prepared for when God would give me the opportunity to talk with some of the dear widows there.  I wanted to be able to talk with them "friend to friend", "face to face", in their language. Each time I have gone, I have always been drawn to the dear ladies of Haiti, but have never really had the chance to spend any time with them, until the summer of 2013.  One afternoon, our team was able to provide lunch for a group of widows.  We prayed with them, rubbed their hands and feet with lotion, and praised the Lord together with them in song for a couple of hours.  Let me tell you, I left a part of my heart with those dear ladies!  As we prayed, sang, and cried together, I knew I would never be the same. I knew God was giving me a longing to build relationships with them.

The burden...

One morning, the end of last year, I awoke very burdened for the Haitian widows.  As I stood at my kitchen sink, staring out the window, I began to feel discouraged, as I wondered if I would ever get to minister to the Haitian widows again. (At the time, Alex's House did not yet have an "official widow's ministry" set up).  I had not yet checked my email for the day.  This was unusual for me, as it is usually the first thing I do.  I just prayed that the Lord would meet their needs and If it was His will I would get to  minister again to some of them.

After praying, I checked by email and noticed that there was an email from Bill Howard, asking me if I would consider co-directing the new "Widow's Ministry" for Alex's House!  Wow, God is so good!  God was working behind the scenes working out the details to begin a ministry to widows, and at the same time, placing a desire in my heart for those widows!   

I agreed to help organize and set up a plan for widow's ministry in Haiti.  Leah Wagner and myself are co-directing this effort, with help from Missions Director Kendall Moss.  Please join us in praying for this ministry and these dear widows.  Pray that we will follow the Lord's direction in how to best love, serve, and most importantly, point them to our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I am so very thankful for our God, who calls us and equips us!  Praise His name! 

Debbie Weeks  

NOTE: God has filled all four scheduled widow's ministry weeks for 2014!  We have a few open slots.  If you are interested, contact Kendall at kendall@alexshouseorphanage.org.

New Sponsorship Opportunity

You can change the life of a child beyond the walls of Alex’s House in Haiti!  We need sponsors for our Education Sponsorship Program in Arachaie.  Barboncourt is one of our partnering churches that also runs an orphanage with 33 children.  Also, the church runs a school that provides education to over 100 children.

We recently secured a water storage tank and filters so these children will have clean water to drink.  With the help of your sponsorship money, we will be able to send these children to school and provide them with one hot meal a day.  What a wonderful gift you can give to them! 

For clarity: This sponsorship program is totally autonomous, and is not part of Alex’s House. These children are in our surrounding community and not under the roof of Alex’s House.  This  Education Sponsorship Program will not lend itself to sending and receiving letters. However, there will be periodic updates about the orphanage as a whole and you will have the opportunity to visit your child while on a mission trip to Alex’s House. 

Please view the pictures of these children(by clicking on the photo below), and pray about the difference you will make as their  education sponsor.  Jesus said “let the little children come to me….for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”   Please help Alex’s House reach beyond our walls to feed and educate these precious children.

Contact Monica A. Langdale, Sponsorship Director, for more information about this Education Sponsor opportunity.  We need your help!

Alex's House Celebrates Four Years

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY ALEX'S HOUSE!

February marked the 4 year anniversary of Alex's House!  The first week of March our Haitian staff planned a "fet" (Creole for party) to celebrate our birthday. We decorated Vaught Dining Hall, cooked up a fine meal and invited our partnering church leaders, our Haitian builders(those who constructed our buildings) and members of the community. We hope you enjoy a few snapshots from our party!

We put on our party dresses and shiniest shoes!

Everyone shared a meal of fried chicken, rice and beans, plantains and salad.  The kids especially enjoyed the Cokes and juice.  What a treat for them!

Papa Bill cut the birthday cake after we sang Happy Birthday to the cake.  Yep you read that correctly!  Haitian fets include singing Happy Birthday to the cake after you sing to the birthday boy/girl.

The whole party was centered on bringing praise to our Lord and Savior.  Papa Bill shared the story of how God lead him to start Alex's House.  Our director's Jimmy and Patrick shared updates on what God is doing in the lives of our children.  Each of our house parents spoke a few words of thanks and encouragement for how God is working.  A very special time was when our children sang several songs of praise to our Father.  You can see the video of our children singing here on our Facebook page.

Thank you for being a part of our last four years.  We look forward to many good years ahead!

Raise & Rescue 2014

Praise the Lord!  $116,000 has already been given towards our budget for 2014.  Another $50,00 will be given throughout the year by our faithful Partnering Churches.  That will put us over the $144,420 needed to provide for our children this year!  Meci Jezi!

Alex's House is so grateful for our wonderful Partnering Churches and so many faithful supporter like yourself.  You are making an incredible difference in the lives of our children and in the lives of those in the surrounding communities.  God is doing great things through Alex's House!  You are a great blessing to us!

Thank your for your faithfulness!

New Cottage and Dining Hall Signs

Alex's House's cottages and dining hall have a new look with a special meaning.  We would like to thank several of our supporters for their deep generosity in housing and feeding our children.

The Malachi Cottage - funded by Rick & Lynette Owens in memory and honor of Rev. Robert 

Malachi Owens.

The Martha Cottage - funded by Rick & Susan Mann in memory of Martha Mann -

"A NOBLE woman."

The Teresa Cottage - funded by Carl & Birgit Lumpkin in memory of Carl's sister Teresa -                  "a beautiful sister and daughter who is loved and missed greatly."

Vaught Dining Hall - funded by the generosity of Mike & Gwen Vaught

The older boys cottage is in need of a sponsor

Praise the Lord for our wonderful supporters.  

We are grateful for you!