Volunteers needed in Haiti orphanage project

Haiti (MNN) — The rebuilding of Haiti continues. Schools, homes, government buildings, businesses and orphanages are all being rebuilt.

Unfortunately, Haiti can't do it alone. That's why Orphan's Heart, the international arm of the Florida Baptist Children's Home, is getting involved.

Volunteer coordinator and project manager Lou Davis says, "We're working with a Haitian foundation for the construction, staffing, and training for an orphanage for approximately 90 children in the town of Bon Repos–which means 'good rest'–which is a northern suburb of Port-au-Prince."

Orphan's Heart is helping to build an orphanage there. "We actually start the construction proper at the beginning of this year. Almost all of our work is done by teams of volunteers, and it's financed by donations here in the U.S. of course."

This week Davis is leading a team of workers helping with phase one of the project. It includes "the building of the first of three houses for the children, along with all of the infrastructure needed to support them–water, electricity and septic–so that we can get the children out of miserable conditions that they're living in, hopefully by Christmas this year."

There's much more to do, and your help is needed.

Davis says this is not only about providing physically for children. "We're convinced from what we've seen that there's no way for Haiti to change through any outside influence. The only way it's going to change is by raising up a generation of responsible Christians adults that can change everything from the outside."

The orphanage is called "The Mango Tree Orphanage," and it's in an area where Voodoo is practiced heavily. "We're providing an influence there, kind of a' light on a hill' type of thing, where we can show the love of Christ to many more people than just the kids in the orphanage."

Orphan's Heart needs more volunteers, skilled, and unskilled. "There's room for everybody and activities for everybody there–not just construction, but also in evangelism and outreach."

If you'd like to help with the project, click here.