​Lee Petersen, June 2019
The end of the spring term for Branch Schools is in mid-June. What tremendous blessings God has showered on Branch Schools this school year! Enrollment at the three schools was 654 children - about 100 orphans and more than 500 children from the surrounding neighborhoods. Despite an October earthquake and ongoing unrest that caused the schools to close on occasion and drove up food and fuel costs, the schools flourished. God willing, the 2019-2020 school year will be even more successful.

The directors and teachers celebrated the end of the term with a closing worship service led by Pastor Rona. He traveled from his home near Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti to near Port-au-Prince, to the orphanage and school run by Yvette. In the first photo, Pastor Rona is leading the service.  The second photograph shows the teachers after the service.

Thank you, friends, for your faithful love, concern, and support for these children.  Please join us to pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for your blessings on Branch Schools for the 2018-2019 school year in which Pastor Rona, the superintendent, directors and teachers shared the Gospel message of salvation earned by your son Jesus. We humbly ask for your continued blessing on the schools. Keep all safe over the summer and bring them once again to the schools for the fall term.
In Jesus precious name we pray,
Amen

For several months, we’ve been forced to cancel plans to visit our friends in Haiti due to a Level 4 Travel Advisory issued by the U.S. Department of State.  This is painful.  We have gifts for the children and our medical team worries about the disruption of regular visits.  But we also have reason to be deeply grateful - vital systems are in place to continue the flow of love and support to Haiti.  As we wait, here are five things friends of Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti can do when travel to Haiti isn’t possible.
 
1.  Remember the school children, staff, and Pastor Rona in our daily prayers.  When a crisis, whether political unrest or natural disaster, temporarily closes the door for travel to Haiti, we know the people of Haiti are suffering pain and massive disruption in their daily lives.  Pray that God eases their burdens and comforts them.
 
2.  Thank God for the systems in place in Haiti.  When we can’t physically travel to Haiti, we know trusted people are in place and working hard for the physical and spiritual benefit of the children – a national pastor, confirmed orphanage directors, and a school superintendent.  This allows us to continue operation of the schools during tough times as much as possible.
 
3.  Check in online.  We’re blessed to be able to communicate online so we can keep posted on the current events, learn of emerging needs, and provide encouragement.
 
4.  Send financial support.  We have secure and reliable systems in place to send our regular financial support and additional aid as needed.  This aid becomes even more essential during a crisis when prices escalate and supplies run low.  In the current crisis, the prices of food, charcoal for cooking, and other essentials have doubled.  God led many friends to help and we’ve increased our support and, despite the political unrest, successfully transferred the necessary funds. 
 
5.  Wait patiently in the Lord.  Haiti is a challenging place to live and work, but God has not forgotten his children there and we won’t either.  We remain patient, persistent, and hopeful.  The schools are equipping more than 650 children with gospel and education that will sustain them their entire lives and help them make a positive impact on their community in the future. 
 
We’re monitoring the situation closely and we’re confident the travel ban will pass.  For now, we trust God, we’re grateful to have systems in place in Haiti, and we look forward to seeing the children and our friends face-to-face as soon as possible.

​ 
Dear Friends of Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti,
The political unrest in Haiti, which has been ongoing for months, has intensified in recent days. The unrest is driven by "a worsening economic crisis that has led to a drop in living standards, inflation at around 15 per cent, a growing national deficit, and allegations of corruption leveled at President Jovenel Moise, before he took office." according to the UN News. (https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1032441).
 
The US State Department has issued a security alert as well: "The security situation remains very unstable with demonstrations very likely. The potential for violent pop-up demonstrations is high and they are proving to be sporadic and unpredictable. Public transportation is shut down again today. Many roads have debris, so caution is needed to prevent damage your vehicles. Rock throwing from small groups is likely in numerous areas."
 
Branch Schools is not immune during these challenging times. Pastor Terry Schultz, WELS missionary to Haiti, summarizes reports from the school directors: "The continued turmoil in Haiti has led to many businesses and markets closing for days on end. Our schools may be closed for the entire week. Meanwhile, prices on basic food supplies have skyrocketed between 30% to 100%. Huge increases are also reported in drinking water, charcoal, and cooking oil. At least one of the 3 orphanages (Boursiquot’s) is down to one meal and one snack per day."
 
The orphanage directors report: "We rise under a black sky, without hope in a completely blocked country. On the 7th day of the political problems, the hunger only gnaws at our children, the prices of the basic products multiply by 2, sometimes to the highest bidder, the water of drinks increases to approximately 30 to 40%, the vehicles cannot transport anything..."
 
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
We humbly request your prayers for the violence to end, the economic crisis to lessen, and protection for the children, teachers, school directors.
 
Branch Schools is using the remainder of our funds donated and designated for emergencies ($400) to supplement our monthly food assistance. However, more funds are needed to offset the increases in food cost. If you wish to donate, please follow this link to our donation page on our website and if you choose to donate by using either WePay or PayPal, please designate your donation to our food fund. Any check donations can be sent to Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti, c/o Kathleen Menke, 1627 Dunlap St. N, St. Paul, MN 55108. Please write food donation or your check. All amounts donated to our food fund will be used for food, fuel, and water. Thank you in advance for your prayers and donations. 
 
Blessings,
Lee Petersen, Chairman of the Board of Directors

​Update from Lee Petersen
A few weeks ago, I reported that new classrooms were under construction at the orphanage and Branch Lutheran School location under the leadership of Luxon Boursiquot. The facility is located in Carrefour, Haiti, about 6 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. Boursiquot’s enrollment increased from 96 last school year to 130 this school year.
One of Boursiquot’s existing classrooms was without windows, without electric lights and natural light was limited to a few inches over the top of a wall. This classroom had no air flow and was not conducive to learning. Boursiquot’s new classroom is being built along the side of the existing building.
Above, at left is the new classroom in use. The construction was finished in time for the spring term. In comparison to the old classroom, the new classroom is open, airy, and well lighted. In the background, younger students are having a lesson.
We thank God for the growth of this ministry, and for the faithful donors who support the directors, superintendent, and teachers and provide water, food, and materials for this new construction.
 
Blessings,
Lee Petersen
Chairman of the Board of Directors

Last Wednesday (October 17, 2018) tens of thousands of Haitians took to the streets in nearly every major city in protests against the government.  The protesters were demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moises over the misuse of a multi-billion dollar relief fund, which they say he so far refuses to investigate.  The demonstrators also demanded the arrest and trial of the former first lady of Haiti over missing funds.
 
Our schools were closed, as it was safer for the children to stay home than to be on the streets going to and from school.  Public transportation was suspended.  None of our children or families of our school children reported any injuries, praise the Lord!
 
Others in Haiti we not so fortunate, as two persons died in the demonstrations and scores were injured.
National Haitian Police fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas, while demonstrators responded with rocks, bottles, and barricades of burning tires.  In Pastor Rona’s hometown of Cape Haitian a government office was burned. 
 
In a country that has seen so much natural disaster and civil strife, we pray for healing in the nation of Haiti.  In the midst of turmoil we finds strength and peace in God’s words to us through the prophet Isaiah:  Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10).
​

Hi! 
 
I thought it might be a good time for a Branch update. 
 
First, I want to share some exciting news. The enrollment total for all three Branch schools for the 2018-2019 school year is around 680 students. That's almost 280 more than last year.  Our schools are extremely well respected in their communities and the number of neighborhood children now hearing God's word is phenomenal.  He has truly blessed this ministry in Haiti. With the larger enrollments we have added classrooms, teachers, desks, chairs, blackboards, and so on. Our budget is growing, but so is the spreading of God's word.
 
Second, I want to thank the women and groups of women who have been sewing pencil cases as Christmas gifts for all of the students this school year.  As of today I have about 460 promised of the 680 needed.  Hopefully we will reach our new goal before our return to Haiti.  Our trip might be postponed until very early January, but we will be able to give out the gifts for Three Kings Day (Epiphany).
 
Third, I wish to extend a special thank you to all the women who are supplying handmade items for our 2nd Annual Christmas Bazaar for Haiti Schools which will be November 3rd.  Also, thank you to members of Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran of St. Paul, MN who have offered their time to help that day.
 
Last, but most certainly not least, we all wish to thank the many individuals, groups, and church bodies that have contributed to Branch.  Without your generous donations, Branch would not be able to carry out this ministry which has been entrusted to us.
 
Some of you have signed up for monthly recurring donations which are an easy and not overwhelming way to contribute. $25 a month = $300 a year. $300 would be equivalent to salary for a teacher for 1 1/2 months.  And, it's much less of a strain on the budget to donate this way.  $25 is about what you would spend to get pizza delivered for the family one time, yet it would go so far to help hundreds of children in Haiti.
 
Please see the Gallery section for more photos from our schools.
 
God bless,
 
Linda Petersen,
Special Projects Coordinator