Thursday, January 8, 2015

Healing Haiti Accredited by National Financial Accountability Organization

CHAMPLIN, MN – The ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) announced today the accreditation of Healing Haiti of Champlin, MN.

ECFA accreditation is based on the ECFA Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™including financial accountability, transparency, sound board governance and ethical fundraising. Healing Haiti joins a growing number of Christ-centered churches and ministries across America, supported by over 27 million donors that have earned the right to display the ECFA seal. When an organization is accredited by ECFA, it demonstrates its willingness to follow the model of
biblical accountability.

“We are pleased to accredit a ministry committed to bring clean water, food, housing, and education to the poor and most vulnerable of Haiti providing opportunities to live and share their faith and build strong Christ centered relationships,” said Dan Busby, president of ECFA. Founded in 2006, Healing Haiti (www.healinghaiti.org) encourages all to be obedient to God's call to serve the poor, to step out in faith and to see the world through a different lens through a short-term mission experience, and to share their experiences in Haiti with people back in the U.S. helping all to see how blessed they are and that God blesses not to consume his many blessings for themselves, but to let them flow to others.

To learn more about Healing Haiti and their stewardship opportunities, visit ServantMatch® , ECFA’s program that matches God’s servants with the stewardship options of ECFA members based on ministry sectors and categories. It is ECFA’s newest online feature that allows you to quickly and easily find giving opportunities.

ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA Standards pertaining to financial accountability, fundraising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ECFA.org or call 1-800-323-9473.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Family Style Homes Offer More Stability

We are grateful for the opportunity to provide care for over 40 children in Titanyen.  In August of 2014, we opened our family style homes.  Our orphaned children live in these home with two parents, providing a warm and safe environment for the children to grow up and learn about living within a family.  Included in the home is a structure that encourages independence.  All children are responsible to clean their rooms and the home, wash their clothing, help with food preparations and general house upkeep.

- Elisa Bachmann, Director of Operations Haiti


Friday, January 2, 2015

Thank You to Our Long Term Missionaries

Healing Haiti has been greatly blessed by many long term missionaries who are instrumental in moving our ministry forward.  We have had a number of our dear missionaries complete their time with us and start a new chapter in their lives.  We've highlighted each of them below.  Please join us in thanking God for each of them for their service to our ministry!


Mark Janowski first traveled to Haiti in the fall of 2013 and was so moved by the experience he returned a few months later, making a commitment to serve as the lead advocate for Aquaponics.  The operation ensures proper nutrition is available for Grace Village children and our elderly.  Great success was achieved during his tenure as fish and plant life thrived and the efficiency of the operation moved from 50% to 100%.  Mark and his team were able to grow six different kinds of peppers, along with chives, parsley, cucumbers, cabbage, watermelon and lima beans.  Mark was also instrumental in providing computer training to students at Grace Village and those in the Titanyen program.


Bianca Tlougan worked with our school and community outreach.  She is loved by many in the community and has a heart to serve.  She enjoyed valuable friendships that she made with the staff, children and community leaders.  She has a heart for others and truly a heart for the poor.  Bianca worked as aLong Term Missionary (LTM) from June 2013 through June 2014.  She is now working with one of our partners, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), and is able to use her experiences with FMSC in Haiti to help her in our current role in country.  We look forward to hearing how God works in her life.



Kayleen Smith Pfizer
worked as a LTM for Healing Haiti from July 2013 through June 2014.  She worked with our transition program, establishing 8 boys and 3 girls into two separate homes in the community of Titanyen.  Kayla also inspired our organization to change from orphanage living to family style homes.  Kayla worked with the transition kids on budgeting, integrity, life skills and more.  She is  greatly missed but we are happy for her as she recently married Jason Pfizer this past October.  Congratulations Kayleen and Jason!



Jessica Burmester came to Grace Village in July 2012 and she worked in each area of Grace.  Her guidance and leadership set the tone for Grace Village at its beginning.  Jessica later worked on adoption and advocate issues for the organization.  She has made many special connections with our children, staff, and especially our elderly and community members.  She has a heart to serve and has been a blessing to the organization.  She started a business called "Anchored in Hope" in which she provides opportunities for Haitians to make metal art.  People are then able to purchase the art, and funds derived from this endeavor will help her pursue her goal of becoming an adoptive mother.  In November, Jessica was granted guardianship of a young boy named Lovinsky, and is currently living with him in Port-au-prince.  She now works as a teacher.

Claudia Aleshire arrived at Grace Village in January 2014 and worked with our clinic's administration.  She was able to transfer paper documents to fully functional computer documents through MacPractice.  Claudia helped with coordinating medica/dental trips at the clinic.  She is a joy to be around at Grace.  All the children, staff, elderly and community members miss her joyful smile. Claudia completed her service in November.

We appreciate all that these incredible men and women have done to make a positive difference in the lives of the people of Haiti and the organization.  We are going to miss them greatly, but pray God's blessings on them in the next chapter of their lives.  Thank you!!