From Ashes to Glory

Going on a Foundation for Peace mission trip is a life-changing experience, but sometimes God opens doors for opportunities to serve that cause us to stand in awe at His provision and love.

Last summer the mission team from Long Valley Presbyterian Church went to La Victoria to continue building a church. Community and church members Kenia, Fernando and their five children were excited to reconnect with their American friends.

As the walls of the church rose, members of the community, including Kenia’s family, worked hand in hand with the LVPC team. Dominicans and Americans were one big, happy family.

On Thursday tragedy struck.

Kenia and Fernando’s house caught on fire. The group saw smoke and ran to the house. Powerless to stop the fire, they watched the house and all its contents burn to the ground.

Says Meghan Sullivan, “It had been raining all day and we think a power line sparked over the house and caught the gas tank on fire. Normally the kids would’ve been in the house, but they were helping at the worksite—even the three-year-old who’d been napping in the house 30 minutes before the fire started. I don’t want to think about what would have happened to the kids if we weren’t there. Our entire team was really shaken and upset.”

After the fire—the remains of Kenia and Fernando's house

The group quit working for the day and reflected on the tragedy. They quickly agreed on what needed to be done. “That same day our group of 24 committed enough money to rebuild Kenia and Fernando’s house. Since they are part of our family we invited them to stay with us for the rest of the week. Every day they had showers and meals. And they were surrounded by the love of family,” says Meghan.

On Friday, the day after the fire, rebuilding started. The group cleared debris and prepared the site for reconstruction. They bought the family shoes and a few days’ worth of clothes. The church community in La Victoria also rallied together and got bags of clothes for each family member.

Within a few days a new house started taking shape!

As if this wasn’t enough tragedy, Kenia and Fernando were supposed to be married on Saturday but their papers were destroyed in the fire. “So we threw them a wedding! We worked with the church to arrange decorations, flowers, tuxes and a wedding gown. We even had a reception! For a wedding gift our group gave them a new stove, gas tank and some kitchen items. A few members also sent them on a one night honeymoon!” recounts Meghan.

Wedding day! Kenia, Fernando and their children: Kevin, Derlis, Denzel, Keidel and Enmanuel.

The happy couple!

What seemed like a tragedy on Thursday was such an overwhelming joy by Monday. It was certainly not the trip they expected, but everyone from LVPC will never forget the experience and the tremendous joy that comes from giving. 

Today Kenia and her family live in their new home. Her eyes fill with tears of gratitude as she recounts the blessings from her Dominican and American families – and a loving God who is her Great Provider.

Kenia with sons Denzel and Keidel, and FFP staff members Alenny and Maura, stand in front of their new house 

God is good. All the time.

Bringing Health and Hope to Haiti

Latrines.

It’s a topic so basic most of us never think about it. But it’s a problem Hank Belusa and his mission team from the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township (PCCT) talked about when they distributed hygiene kits in the impoverished community of Despizo, Haiti. They saw the lack of proper sanitation in the village and knew that properly constructed latrines could transform the health of the community.

The village of Despizo in eastern Haiti

In Haiti, latrines are almost as important as food and shelter. Without them, unsanitary conditions spread diseases like typhoid, malaria, and dysentery. According to the World Health Organization, “2.4 billion people do not have access to any type of improved sanitation facility. About 2 million people die every year due to diarrheal diseases; most of them are children less than 5 years of age.”

The PCCT team talked to the community leaders of Despizo and promised they’d build latrines. Back at home in Chatham, Hank planned to raise $1,500 for two latrines, but was surprised he raised enough for four.

One set of the latrines built by Foundation for Peace

Pastor Valentin asked if they’d consider building enough latrines for the entire village -- which meant raising another $5,000. “I thought, we now have a proactive effort in Despizo where we’re impacting the lives of 200 people who pretty much felt nobody cared about them,” Hank recalled. He gave Valentin his word and trusted God to provide, “We’re giving them hope. I couldn't let this fail.”

In June 2013, he began fundraising again. Thanks to a significant donation from a church member's employer, the goal was within reach. “It was amazing how we all came together. By mid-August we’d raised the funds,” said Hank.

“We told the villagers we’d build more latrines if they properly maintained the first four---and they have,” Hank said. “What this means is that while they can’t pay for it, the community members have a stake in it and they can say, ‘I actually made an impact on my village.’”

Pastor Valentin and Ken Culver lead the dedication ceremony.
CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO OF CEREMONY.

In November, Foundation for Peace leaders dedicated the latrines and presented them to the community.

It might not seem like much to us, but to the people in Despizo these beautiful new latrines mean improved health, renewed hope and evidence that they are cared about and loved.

Consider going on a mission trip to Haiti or the Dominican Republic to see for yourself how lives are being changed and communities transformed. 

Would you like to help Foundation for Peace bring hope, health, education and transformation to communities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti? 

FFP Leaders Return from Review Trip in DR and Haiti

Last week Foundation for Peace leaders spent six days visiting current FFP projects and partner communities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. During the trip we reviewed the progress of current projects, met with pastors and community leaders to assess future needs, and looked for new projects to bring into the FFP family.

At every community we saw the story of FFP — doing the work of God hand in hand" told over and over again. Because of the work of our tremendous short term missionaries, nursing groups and in-country staff live have been changes and communities transformed.

• At Complexe Educatif Men Nan Men in Ganthier, the local government and FFP have worked together to establish a vision that is transforming a region. Today over 500 men, women and teens are learning English and Spanish. They have hope for a better life. 

• At Despizo, nine families received keys to their brand-new FFP-built latrines, vastly improving sanitation in this remote village. 

• In La Javilla de la Cruz a pastor and his wife envisioned a church in the wilderness. God led them to FFP and together have built a church and school. This wilderness has become an oasis.  

• In Pantoja, one of FFP's first projects, the community sent their children to school in a shack. With FFP's help a beautiful. mulit-level school now educates over 500 students. A vibrant church is a beacon of light, clean water vastly improves health and soon a medical clinic help save lives. Property values have even increased because of the revitalization of this community.  

• In El Cachon, one of our newest communities, a partially finished church has become a spiritual center for the community. Children attend weekly Bible school classes ... and we were blessed to witness one of them!

• In Batey San Joaquin, one of the poorest communities in the DR, young women desperate for money prostituted themselves at a nightly disco. FFP helped the pastor and today, a community center stands where the disco once stood and the women are being trained in skills like furniture making. 

• Last year in La Victoria, one of FFP's groups were working there when a house in the village burned down, leaving one of the church's families without a possession or place to live. Responding immediately the FFP group had extra funds wired to the DR and started to build her a new house. Today this woman has a lovely new home and gives tearful, heartfelt thanks God for the blessings He has provided to her and her children through FFP. 

These are only a handful of the dozens of stories we experienced last week. We were all inspired and encouraged that the work FFP is doing really and truly is making a difference. 

Said one trip participant, "Before I came on this trip I had no idea about all of the things FFP is doing in the DR and Haiti. To see it for myself makes me feel so blessed to be part of this organization and makes me want to do all I can to help. Working hand and hand isn't just something you say, it's something you do!"

To learn more about FFP and the work we're doing, go to our website.

The next review trip is scheduled for February 13-18, 2014. You can sign up here. 

Mission Trip Participants Give FFP Highest Marks

Help Us Load the Next Container to the DR and Haiti

On September 13 and 14 we'll be loading the next container headed to the Dominican Republic -- filled with school furniture, computers, classroom supplies and linguistics equipment -- for our schools in the DR and Haiti. As you help us work together, hand in hand, we're bringing hope to so many!

Container loading will take place in Hamburg, NJ on Route 23, Friday evening September 13 and Saturday afternoon, September 14.

Call or email Ken Culver for directions and loading times, 973-489-5218 or ken@foundationforpeace.org.

We also need the following donated items:

We need 40 headphones for
our linguistics classes

• Laptop computers that are functional and less than 5 years old. Click here to buy a laptop for < $300 at Amazon.com 
• Dry erase markers. Click here to buy dry erase markers at Amazon.com
• 40 headphones with a microphone (as pictured below). These will be used in our linguistic school laboratory. Click here to buy headphones at Amazon.com for < $25.

Please drop off, or mail, markers, laptops and headphones to Ken Culver's home: 8 Jared Drive, Mendham, NJ 07945, 973-252-7165.

We cannot accept any additional items in this container. 

See you on the 13th or 14th -- or if you can't the will you help us pay for shipping by making a donation online. or sending a check to Foundation for Peace, P.O. Box 424, Ironia, NJ 07845.

In the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, God has called ordinary people to an extraordinary calling. Michel Valentin, featured in the video below, is one such individual. Valentin is now working full-time with the Foundation for Peace to build up our ministries in Haiti in partnership with local churches.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:31

Great Idea from a Group Member

Hey everyone!

It has been sometime since I last contributed on this blog or on my own. The Foundation for Peace staff and group members have been hard at work building a school, attending to medical needs, spreading gravel, building soccer goals and volleyball courts in Camp Hope (ARC) in Fond Parisien, Haiti. I have been enjoying every second of my time in Haiti and every time I go to work it becomes more difficult for me to leave. Over these past few months I have had the blessing to meet and work with so many wonderful people who have signed up for some hard work in the sun. With each new group a new wave of fresh and enthusiastic energy is spread throughout the entire FFP staff. It is such an awesome experience! I saw that one of our group members, Jean Lee has come up with a great idea to raise money for even more Haitian relief! Jean is selling these shirts online for only $20 and all the proceeds go to Foundation for Peace's earthquake relief effort. I just ordered one and I know that Wendy did as well! I look forward to receiving mine in the mail when I go home for my visit! I encourage you to check out the shirt. It is for a great cause and it is quite the fashion statement! Take care and God bless!