Our Budget

I remember when I was first in the process of planning for my move to Haiti. I was visiting a church in support of another missionary and I ran into the former president of a mission agency. I told him I was going to be serving in Haiti. He asked me how much I thought I was going to need, $2,500-3,000 per month? I said I thought $1,500 per month would be enough. I thought he was crazy for recommending that much! Well...if I was only in Haiti short term (1 year or less), and single, the $1,500 per month probably would have been enough. 

Now that I've been serving in Haiti for over a year, and I've become a married man, I realize that the estimate I was given is much more realistic than what my original budget called for. So, I decided it was time to give a budget update. Here is our budget:

Current/Ideal or Anticipated Personal Budget (Monthly)
Category	Amount (in USD)
Rent	400
Food (groceries)	400
Internet	60
Cell Phones	40
Health Insurance (Basic International Coverage for Josh, up to 200 if Fabiola is added and we get a better plan to include things like pregnancy costs)	45-200
College Loan Repayment	235
Life Insurance	10
Gas for Car	150-200
Car Maintenance (also includes insurance and other taxes)	75-100
Dining/Activities	100-200
Retirement Savings (at least this much)	100
Travel to States (estimated airfare costs if broken down per month)	150
Clothing/Hygiene/Other miscellaneous needs	50-100
Total Monthly	1815-2195
Taxes (Social Security/Medicare, state, local) at least 20% (after non income expenses are deducted)	324-369
Tithe (at least 10% after non income expenses are deducted)	162-185
Total Monthly with Taxes and Tithe included	2301-2749
One Time Costs:
Fabiola's Immigrant Visa/Green Card	1,500-2,000
Josh's Haitian Residency (Annual Haitian Visa, Costs Less to Renew)	200
Cooking Stove	250
Pots/Pans/Plates/Cups/Other Kitchen Items	200
Mattress                                                                                                                                                                                                             Monthly Donations Received Since January 2015: January: $1,490 February: $645 March: $1,565 April: $7,103 (Over $5,000 of this was used to pay 2014 taxes (about $3,000) and vehicle expenses/repairs (about $2,000)) Looking at our current budget needs and the monthly donations we have been receiving, it is clear that we are falling significantly short of meeting our monthly budget. God has provided in our time of need (look at April, for example!) There is no doubt somehow or another we will be able to to get by. Logically, and in my finite mind, it currently looks impossible, but God has brought me through so much. I have learned a lot during my time in Haiti. I've been living from one miracle to another for quite some time now. I look forward to seeing how God is going to come through for us!	250

Plans for the Next Two Months and a Trip Home!

It's hard to believe that Fabiola and I have been married for over 6 months already! I'm so thankful to have such a great wife! She is way more than I deserve!

The last day of school is quickly approaching. June 10th will be here before we know it! Our first graduation is happening on Sunday, May 24th. The senior boys have finished the English A Beka program. We are proud of them and look forward to seeing what God has in store for them!

After school is over I'm planning on spending more time in prayer and in the study of the word of God. I will still be at the school several times a week, but there shouldn't be a need for me to be on campus every day. I would like to focus more on sharing the gospel with those around me when less is required of me at the school. I also want to start a weekly Bible study with some of my friends. That could start as soon as this week. Fabiola will be helping translate for some teams coming this summer with Ken and Andrea Taylor.

Fabiola and I are moving to an apartment in the beginning of June. Our friends from church have an apartment on their property. They were willing to give it to us for the same rent we currently pay. It will cost more because it will require us to drive to go anywhere, but it is a nice area where we believe we will have more peace. It will also give us an official place to call home. Right now we are living in a place with other people and it's hard to have the privacy we would like. I have enjoyed our time where we are though, and it was convenient being able to walk to the ministry.

I'm excited to announce I will be coming to the States for about a month! I will be arriving in Pennsylvania on the night of Wednesday, July 22nd. I will be in Pennsylvania until Thursday, August 20th. Then I am flying to Florida the night of Thursday, August 20th and visiting there until Monday, August 24th, before returning back to Haiti. I really want get the most out of the time I have while in the States, so please contact me if you would like me to visit your church, or if you would like to just get together. Every moment is precious and I know it will go by so fast!

My hope is that Fabiola will be able to come with me. We have applied for a tourist visa. I have heard that they normally don't give a tourist visa to someone who has already applied for an immigrant visa, but we have to at least try. Fabiola's interview is scheduled for 11:00 am June 24th at the US Embassy. Please cover this in prayer! I would love for her to be able to meet everyone! If she does get approved, the airfare will probably cost a lot more than what I just paid for my tickets, because it will be much closer to the time we will leave. One of our current needs is help with the travel costs, especially if she is allowed to come.

Thank you to all of those who pray for and financially support our efforts in Haiti!

Praises and Classroom Visitations

April was a great month! I was faithful to God's call to come back to Haiti and He has been faithful to Fabiola and I! Our needs continue to be met. This month we received enough money to cover 2014 taxes and pay for the remaining balance on the car! I knew it was going to be an extraordinary month and it was. We praise God for His faithfulness and provisions!

Over the past month I've tried to make more time for getting around to classrooms. I think it is really important to spend time with the kids and see how they are doing. It also gives me an opportunity to evaluate teachers. We need effective teachers and leaders in the school in order to fulfill the mission we have set out to do. For the most part, I was very pleased with the primary grades I have visited. We have some wonderful, gifted students who are working hard to be successful in their studies. I still need to tackle the secondary grades. Hopefully I will have the time to do that this month.

The 4 year old's were eager to show me their drawings! Mrs. Fabiola and Miss Jocelyne have been doing a great job with these kids!

 Pre-K with Miss Guetty sharing the story of Esther

 Kindergarten with Mr. Monfort. I can tell he really cares about his kids.

 1st grade with Miss Stephania. She is one of our newest teachers. She is doing a good job so far.

 2nd grade with Mr. Joshua (I was filling in for a sick teacher)

 I also substituted in 3rd grade!

 4th grade with Mr. Peter

Nothing has been moving forward in regards to Fabiola's VISA. USCIS sent a letter to my parents at the end of March stating they wanted another marriage certificate and proof that I am an American citizen. We are currently waiting to get the other marriage certificate from the Haitian government. This can be a really slow process unless you know the right person and can pay the right price. I have been frustrated at times about the situation, but I have to trust that it will get done in God's timing. 

I'm about to start the process of getting my residency for Haiti. This will cost around $200. If anyone would like to help with this cost it would be greatly appreciated. Fabiola and I have had at least two more partners join us this month in pledging monthly support! It's always such an encouragement when our fellow brothers and sisters want to get involved in the work we are doing in Haiti! It looks like we still need more monthly supporters, but God continues to come through for us in some way or another each month. It's been incredible to witness and experience the provisions of God in our lives!

Please be in prayer for Christian Light School--the children, the teachers, the administrators, the support staff, the families in our community, and the leaders of the ministry. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the difficult decisions that are ahead. We are facing large budget cuts due to a lack of funding. The ministry continues to grow and donations are down. Something has to give sometime soon. Pray that God will provide, but ultimately that His will be done. Also be in prayer for America. I pray that Christians will rise up and take back our country! Reach out to your neighbors and show them the love of Christ! Show people their need for a Savior!

Thank you for continuing to be apart of this journey with us!