September 2009

by Rev. Vernon Giesbrecht

It hits you every time you travel to Haiti. The heat, the pot-holed roads, the gathering road-side trash, the unfinished buildings, the endless small vendor stalls, the crowds of people going somewhere, the crowds of people sitting idle, the looks of quiet desperation, the smells of third-world poverty. Yes, there are bright spots, places of respite, signs of affluence, friendly smiles, but they are few and far between. Double Harvest is one of those bright spots – a place of hope in a seeming hopeless situation. My wife and I recently returned from Haiti where we spent a week with another couple, both photographers, taking the annual pictures of our school's 490 students for their sponsors. These children and youth offer hope for the future of their country. However, there are other signs of hope with what Double Harvest desires to accomplish in "Sowing Seeds of life". Here is some of what we learned and observed.

Houses continue to be built for needy families in nearby villages. Besides the 140 people the Clinic sees every day, surgery teams from FL and KS conducted life-changing operations, including cataract surgeries, for up to 100 patients each visit. Over 20,000 vitamins have been distributed to local children in an attempt to combat deficiencies in their diet. The farm continues to produce large fields of grains and various vegetables. Almost complete is the replacement of gravel floors in the greenhouses with a concrete ebb and flood system. Over 3 million trees will now be grown annually, making it the largest reforestation project in the country! A new kitchen and cafeteria is being constructed to daily feed 900 people a noon meal, employees and students combined. The initial 1200 chickens are “doing their job” with the proceeds from the eggs supplying income for the project and a livelihood for vendors. In time, this will grow to 10,000 hens. The Tilapia Fish Project is 95% into its first phase, with a small lab being equipped to monitor the temperature, PH and ammonia levels of the 75,000 fish. Projections are for a first harvest in November. Key to the chicken and fish projects is the development of our own feed, not only to be self-sustaining but to provide a cheaper source than imports for local businesses. We thank you for your investment in this ministry, for that is what it is, and give God the glory for these accomplishments!