May 6th 2010: Continuing work at the new campus of Jubilee Christian Academy
While school has reopened work continues on the new school campus. Electical and plumbing is being installed and the administrative building continues to be constructed. Due to the small campus area SMI has decided to add more classrooms on top of the administrative building so that all of the necessary subjects can be taught and the students can receive a thurough education.
Again we thank everyone who has been a part of the effort to get Haiti's children back to school. It has truly been an awesome experience to see everyone come together in support of this project. It has also been a joy to see the hope that this school has restored to so many broken lives.
If you would like to become a part of this project, then there are several opportunities to do so. First, funds to finish construction and pay the staff are needed. The monthly expenses for teacher's salary's are around $8000. Typically, the school is self sufficient but in light of recent events, many parents cannot afford to pay the tuition. Another opportunity to get involved would be to send school supplies. Click HERE to learn more about sending commodity contributions. Finally, if you have teaching, administrative, or building experience, we encourage you to come and put your talent to work. All of these are great ways to be a part of something that will change many lives for the better.
Electrical wiring being run for lights and fans The foundation of the new bathrooms
Recently added doors and windows of classrooms The staff
April 26th 2010: Grand Opening of Jubilee Christian Academy's New School BuildingOn Monday the 26th of April Shabach Ministries International reopened school! Excited parents walked their children to the new campus and stayed to see classes resume. For many families the reopening of school is the first opportunity they've had to return to normal life; many of them are still living on the streets and most parents are still out of work. The new campus was built in response to the need for more schools (about a third of all the schools in the city of Carrefour were destroyed), and a government ban on school buildings with concrete roofs (which prevents Shabach from using the existing school building on the main campus). The classroom portion of the complex was built with steel posts and beams and features a corrugated zinc roof. The new campus is still under construction but is at a
point where classes can be safely held there. Windows and doors have yet to be added and some classrooms do not have chalk boards. The administration building is not safe for occupancy at present but soon will be. Also under construction are the bathrooms, kitchen, and cafeteria. The temporary bathroom consists of only a toilet seat over a hole in the ground and a bucket of water to flush with. There are 12 classrooms in total which is not enough for all the students. To handle the disproportionate ratio of students to classrooms classes are held in two shifts: primary grades (K-6th) are held in the morning and secondary grades (7th-13th) are held in the afternoon. Each shift lasts about five hours.Because there has been no school for the past three months summer vacation has been canceled. Classes will last through August with a one month break in September and then resume in October. We are honored to provide this return to normalcy to so many families. The joy that we saw when we opened was profound. We hope to finish the school building as quickly as possible so that we can provide food and other services to the students. Another $60,000 is needed to complete it. If you would like to help, please click HERE.
April 12th 2010: Construction Progress Report on Jubilee Christian Academy's New School BuildingAt the beginning of March the Haitian Government issued a ban on all schools with concrete roofs. The ban is still in place and it is unclear how long it will last as it was prompted by the frequent tremors that continue to shake Haiti. At the same time the Haitian government asked any schools that were able to reopen to do so by the beginning of April. In response to this request and honoring the ban, Shabach Ministries International (SMI) has begun constructing a new school campus. Although it is not yet complete significant progress has been made. The new structure will be built primarily out of steel and will hold 12 classrooms with the potential to add a second story.
Assembling the steel frame for Jubilee Christian Academy's new school building
Building the foundationErecting the frameJAC's new sign at the new school
The goal was to have construction done by the beginning of April, however, limited funding has required that more time be taken. Classes will begin as soon as this school is completed (supplies will be transferred from the existing but inoperative school building at SMI's main campus). To donate to this project click HERE.
Repairs on the existing concrete school building at SMI's main campus will begin as soon as the government lifts it's ban and the funding comes in.
April 8th 2010: Day Camp at Shabach Ministries International (SMI)
Through March and into April SMI has been hosting a camp for many of the children that attended Jubilee Christian Academy (JAC). The Haitian Government at present is not allowing schools to reopen that have concrete roofs. While Shabach Ministries International is busy building a new school we have opened our main auditorium as a temporary location for our students to continue their education, receive some food, and have some fun in this time of crisis.
Earthquake Before and After Photographs
Jubilee Christian Academy's Library (JAC)A classroom at JAC The National Palace
April 6th 2010: Relief Supplies
We are happy to announce that the first shipment of material supplies have arrived safely in Haiti and have been distributed to those in need.
Over the past several months supplies for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti have been coming in from all over the United States. Enough supplies have been gathered for three shipments. In the first shipment there were:
- 14 tons of aid
- 5,000 pounds of food
- 1,600 pairs of new shoes
- 1 water purification system
- 2,300 toys
- 22,100 articles of clothing
- 1,000 gallons of drinking water
- Blankets and hygiene supplies
Praise God for the enormous response to a desperate situation and thank you to everyone who participated in sending supplies. However, what has been collected so far is just a drop in the bucket of what is needed. Because of the great need in the community surrounding Shabach Ministries International all of the supplies received have already been distributed. Therefore, we are continuing to accept donations. At this time, tents are the greatest need in terms of material donations. The rainy season has begun and most people are without proper shelter. Food is also in great need but it is readily available in Haiti for a price; the most cost-effective way to help feed the hungry is to send money to the Earthquake Relief Effort. So far, every week we have been able to consistently provide 300-500 people with a week's worth of food.
Unpacking the pallets in Haiti Loading the supplies on the church truck
Waiting in line to browse through the clothing items Local churches leaders receive some supplies to redistribute in their communities
March 8th 2010: Jared Kohler Documents "The Event of January 12th"
Shabach Ministries International (SMI) has hired photographer Jared Kohler to document the work that SMI is doing in Haiti. Jared arrived in Carrefour, Haiti, on Saturday March 6th. Immediately upon arrival he began documenting "the event of January 12th" (as it has come to be called in Haiti). What he has found so far on his five-day visit is what many of us have already seen: destruction, hunger, desperation etc. However, that is not all he has seen. Amidst the crises he has also found an unconquerable spirit of hope and even peace.
On Friday Shabach Ministries International (SMI) opened its doors to about 500 students. In lieu of school the ministry is offering what amounts to vacation bible school at the main campus. The purpose of the unofficial school is to keep children off the streets, to give them a little education, and to give them a little food. Word got out over the weekend and today each of those 500 children brought three or four of their friends and family. The volunteers at SMI did not turn anyone away and what was intended to be a half day event turned into an all day event. Before it was done the kitchen had run out of rice and was improvising with bread and sauce. Nevertheless, scores of hungry children waited patiently for what would probably be their one meal of the day. Everyone was eventually fed. The volunteer staff which was comprised of church members was exhausted but one of them expressed to Jared that it was worth it as he said in broken English, "Children are... what is it that opens a door... a knob... no... a key... yes, children are the key." It is our hope and
intention to run this impromptu school for one month until April 5th
when regular schools are scheduled to resume.
The volunteer that Jared talked with is also a leader in the church and on another occasion he expressed to Jared that before the event of January 12th many of the people in the church had an ideal understanding of God's peace; that is to say they knew God's peace but it was easy to know because things were going good. The event of January 12th put that sense of peace to the test and he was happy to report to Jared that, "when the earth shook it was not enough to take the peace away."
This sense of true peace in the midst of chaos is evidenced all throughout the church at SMI as Jared reported that the Sunday morning church service was as filled with joy, hope, and the love of God as it was before the earthquake (if not more so).
Children at vacation bible school An elder of the church cuts bread for communion Members of the church
March 4th 2010: Taifer School Update
On Thursday Pastor Jean Heder Petit-Frere was able to go up to the mountain school in Taifer to see what damage there was. Along the way they came across many small refugee camps full of people that have been displaced by the earthquake. At the school they found that it was still intact (as had been reported) but in need of substantial repair. As with all other schools, classes will not resume until the structure can be repaired.
Refugee camp along the road to Taifer Taifer School (Breath of Life Christian Academy) The cafeteria at Breath of Life Christian Academy Pastor Jean feeds some hungry children near Taifer
GIVE
PRAY 
GO
SHOP
