On June 18, Lynden Kiwanis Breakfast hosted Mike Leland from Lynden, WA who, with his wife, Chris, have for over 17 years accomplished something extraordinary in one of the poorest countries in the world: Haiti.

Mike and Chris Leland first traveled to Haiti 30 years ago and were so moved by the need that they started New Generation Haiti in 2008. For 17 years they have been training, teaching, and establishing good Christian leaders with like-hearted compassion for their own people. They established three village partnerships; a home for 68 orphaned children and 10 dedicated adults; a medical clinic that turns nobody away; a history of drilling high-volume, solar-driven, agricultural wells; a Christ-centered church; a School of Ministry; affordable quality education for all grades, with school uniforms, books, teachers, and nutritious food serving over 1,500 students and paying living wages to 80 teachers and directors; and a transitional ministry for young adults when they turn 18. Visit https://www.newgenerationhaiti.org/ for all of the details.

Lynden Kiwanis Breakfast member Ed Hinkle, his wife Valerie and a small group of people from their church went with Mike to Haiti. Ed said each person was allowed two suitcases that were checked, one with their clothes and one with medical supplies or other things the Orphanage would need. Throughout the years a well was dug, buildings were constructed and 1000-gallon fresh, gravity-feed water tanks were installed.  Eventually, generator power was converted to solar-power.  When Ed and Valerie visited, there was a small clinic where a doctor would come once a week.  Now they have a Medical care clinic that employs all Haitian doctors, dentists, and nurses and a Laboratory and Pharmacy, and nobody needing medical assistance is turned away. The orphanage is located just outside of a city and women’s and men’s transition schools have been created to guide students age 18 and older to integrate into the community and possibly onto university.

Perhaps New Generation Haiti mission says it all, “To come alongside the people of Haiti to help them help themselves attain a sustainable life in Christ, with a real hope for the future.” Lynden Breakfast Kiwanis enthusiastically supports New Generation Haiti.