In Part 2 of this series, we will look at the second goal of Branch Schools, which focuses on the future of the Church in Haiti.
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Goal #2: Identify children with potential to serve in ministry to be trained in the future by Pastor Rona Abraham.

Pastor Rona Abraham is the only WELS-trained pastor currently serving in Haiti. He leads several congregations across Haiti, including one in the village of Les Palmes, where the upcoming opening of the pre-k/k school will take place. Branch Schools communicates frequently with Pastor Rona as he visits the schools and provides valuable insight and updates on conditions in Haiti. We are so blessed to have his wonderful friendship!

In order for the Haitian National Lutheran Church to continue expanding in Haiti, more pastors are needed. Two young men, Schneider and Nozier, are currently learning from Pastor Rona, and Branch Schools has the pleasure of knowing both.

Schneider grew up at Yvette's orphanage, and recently conducted a confirmation service for 6 children also from Yvette's facility. He is now 20 years old and has completed his high school education, and is known for his infectious smile and enthusiasm for God's Word.

Nozier will be the head teacher at the Les Palmes pre-k/k school this fall, serving both the young children there and the village congregation. Both he and Schneider are learning as much as possible from Pastor Rona even as travel is difficult, utilizing video conferencing to continue studying while the violence and unrest rise.

Branch Schools looks forward eagerly to these two young men's future, and we thank and praise God for their hard work! Please keep Schneider and Nozier in your prayers as they prepare to share God's precious Word with many people in Haiti.

Pictured below: Schneider leading the confirmation service on June 6th, 2021.

Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti's mission includes 4 goals that emphasize a Christ-centered, holistic approach to serving the children in Haiti. In this series, we'll look at how each goal can be seen in the past year at Branch Schools.

Goal #1: Provide Lutheran education and nutrition for orphans and other under-served children in Haiti.

Since Branch Schools' beginning in 2015, providing an education built on God's Word and support for health and wellbeing have been at the forefront of the schools in Haiti. To find more details on how Branch Schools is combatting these spiritual and physical challenges, see the comparison below.

In the 2020-21 school year, many physical blessings came to Branch Schools. Yvette's orphanage and school continued to grow in enrollment, creating a need for an expanded water cistern in the fall. New solar panels were installed in the spring at Yvette's facility to bring reliable light and power. Branch Schools was granted WELS Affiliate status in October 2020, and had incredible donor support throughout a challenging year of social unrest in Haiti and COVID-19. Along with many other joys in this past year, we praise and thank God for these blessings on the work being done in Haiti!

To answer that question in a quick sentence: Branch Schools provides money every month to cover the operating costs of four Lutheran schools in Haiti.
More specifically, the funding we send goes towards the salaries for 30+ teachers, 4 directors, and a superintendent, nutritious snacks for the students and food for the orphans, school uniforms and supplies for the orphans, special projects, and more. This chart highlights a few of the monthly costs, but these amounts represent so much more than just numbers. For the students attending Branch Schools, when these costs are funded, it means another day of learning in their classes, another day of nutrition, and another day of hearing God's Word.
Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about the funding to Haiti!

Branch Schools was invited to attend the Dodge/Washington Lutheran Women's Mission Society rally on April 17th in Slinger, Wisconsin, and delivered a presentation to an audience of 100 people. This presentation shared the history of Haiti and information about the Vodou religion, as well as background on the WELS involvement and founding of Branch Schools, and the current operations and ministry.

Branch Schools was represented by Lee and Linda Petersen (Chair of the Board and Special Projects Coordinator), Emily and Caleb Helmen (Development Coordinator and volunteer), and Mike Nichols (board member). Attendees were able to ask questions, visit a table of information, and take home brochures, magnets, business cards, and more.

This rally was the first public event for Branch Schools since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are incredibly excited to begin visiting churches, schools, and rallies again to share the wonderful story of Branch Schools! Thank you to the LWMS rally for the invitation and for providing an excellent space to present.

The powerful message of God's hand at Branch Schools reached the hearts of those in attendance, and the rally raised over $1,000 for the vital work in Haiti. Praise be to God!​

We thank God for the immense blessings of health and growth to these precious children in Haiti!

Following recent protests, political clashes, kidnappings, and even the presidential assassination attempt in February, it is easy to look at Haiti right now and feel that there is an overwhelming shadow blocking out all light and hope. Basic necessities like food, clean water, and electricity are growing to be luxuries for many.
 
At Branch Schools, these struggles are experienced firsthand by the young students. High food prices and difficult traveling conditions restrict access to the meals, snacks, and cistern water delivery that Branch Schools funds. The rising danger has also forced many parents to keep their children at home for safety.
 
Director Yvette in Smyrne operates the largest school and orphanage of Branch Schools, with 470 students currently able to attend. For four months, she and the children have suffered a lack of electricity resulting from the extreme economic hardship affecting people all across Haiti. Yvette's electricity was provided by a private company that serviced the whole area, but her neighbors became unable to pay for their portion. Eventually, the electric company shut off the power and removed the electrical boxes, leaving the entire neighborhood--including Yvette's orphanage and school--completely without electricity. Once the sun goes down, there is no light on the premises at all. The orphans who reside there are unable to do their work and studies and the school classrooms cannot be lit.
 
Yvette hopes to purchase solar panels at a cost of $2,745 and install them at her school. These desperately-needed panels can eliminate the reliance on electric companies and bring light back into the orphanage and classrooms for the hundreds of children who are struggling in this darkness.
 
Yet, in the midst of the physical darkness across Haiti, Jesus' eternal light shines clearly. The message of salvation proclaimed at Branch Schools includes these comforting words: "Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12)
 
We thank God for His constant presence at Branch Schools and for touching the hearts of so many people who donate to keep the schools open. With your help, Branch Schools can both continue to share the saving light of God's grace and bring back the physical light to fill the darkness once again.
 
Will you please consider donating to Yvette's solar panel fund? If 110 people give just $25, Yvette can bring the new solar panels home today!

Please help us share this message with your friends and family! (Any donations that exceed our $2,745 goal will go directly towards the other expenses of the schools.)
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"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5)