An update on .............   Moving to Haiti

I look around and our house is looking the same, toddlers hanging from me, dog barking, endless chores, etc. so it doesn't really feel real that we are making our way to Haiti in a few months.

We sent out a newsletter at the beginning of the month and if you didn't receive it and want to, please email me to add you to the list. You can also scroll down to read it. Since we sent out the newsletter, some details have come together!

Charles and I were praying for three main things to happen to get to the next stage of logistics. 1) To find a family who would love and care for our beagle, Bailey. We found a family down the street and are excited to have an answer to that prayer. 2) We were looking to sell or rent our house and this past week we found someone who will be renting to own it! That is a huge answer to prayer! 3) We are trying to raise some one-time support to cover initial expenses to get out of Waco and on our feet in Haiti. Our goal is $15, 400. We are over half way there!! Praise God!

Since we are moving on to the next level of logistics, here is an update. We will be moving out of our house by December 21 and hauling everything to Memphis! We will be in Memphis until just after New Year's. The plan at this point is to come back to Waco in early January for Charles to finish up some of his work and cut back to part-time. We will live at the World Hunger Relief Farm, which is a farm here in Waco that is similar to what  Charles hopes to launch in Haiti. He plans to help teach and learn from others there while we live in a little apartment on the farm for a few weeks. I will start the adventures of homeschooling there as well!

Our launch date is to leave for Haiti the first week of February. (13 weeks away)

Here's how you can help:

1) Please be praying! Take a minute now and pray that the details would be worked out and that God would be preparing us as well as those in Haiti for this new aspect of ministry. Also, we ask for prayer for the transition itself to be smooth.

2) We are still in need of one-time financial support to cover plane tickets, setting up the house in haiti, language learning, etc. Please consider giving a gift to go toward those expenses!

Charles and I appreciate all of your prayers and support. Thank you for partnering with us in this journey. We are grateful for God's well-orchestrated plans in our lives!


Be blessed,

Hannah for all of us
P.S. The two ladies in the picture above are Haitians who cook for the teams at the Hope Center!

Dear Friends and Family,

   Charles and I both remember a conversation we had in college regarding our dream jobs in which Charles went on to describe how his dream was to work overseas and train orphans to do hands-on skills, especially those related to different regenerative systems such as renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, and sustainable agriculture. He also wants to use this as a platform for sharing the Gospel. To some extent we did live that out during our time in Bolivia, but not completely. Ever since we let Santa Cruz in 2008, we have talked about going overseas again. As many of you know, the last few years have been a roller coaster of events leading us to various international mission opportunities. In 2011, doors closed for us to serve in Uganda despite our extensive training. In February of this year, Charles got a phone call from one of his grad school professors who had recommended him for a job in Haiti. Charles went on to interview for it and told me about it over lunch one day. I missed some of the interview details but I specifically remember Charles saying, "This may be it."

   I was hesitant to acknowledge his comment since we had just found out Lilly got into one of Waco's top lottery charter schools and I had just signed on to more work throughout the fall. I felt like it has taken years to regroup from re-entry and now we were settled in Waco with a new house, life group, good jobs, schools, friends, church, Bible studies, etc. But God has continued to open doors and work in ways we could not have imagined.

   In June, Charles and I took a 3-day scouting trip to Gantier, Haiti, where we would potentially join the team of But God Ministries (BGM). Director Stan Buckley was looking for a Director of Agriculture to pioneer sustainable farming and economic development. BGM started with Stan when he transitioned from helping with post-earthquake relief efforts to full-time ministry in Haiti in 201. BGM believes in a holistic approach and has taken their ideas and made them into realities through housing, medical care, Bible studies and a new church. As a result, in a rural town of Haiti, people have gathered to become a new community. Their next step is to be self sustaining or to live off the land. We were immediately in awe with what God was doing through BGM for the people of Haiti.

   The Hope Center is a 16-acre development project that includes housing for teams, a medical and dental clinic, a church, an orphanage and 42 homes for displaced families. BGM is now in the process of replicating the Hope Center in a nearby town with hopes to bring together another community in physical and spiritual well being. However, the conditions after the earthquake continue to be devastating. As we considered the offer to join the team, we spent the summer weighing the opportunity as well as the challenges. We continued to feel a stirring in our hearts, and in August Charles accepted the offer.

   The next step for this community is to be self sustaining. Charles will join the staff to oversee the agricultural improvements for the existing environment. He will be responsible for small-scale farming projects by educating local farmers on ways to increase productivity and expand available land through innovative irrigation systems and natural fertilization techniques. He will also be involved in animal husbandry that will include raising animals such as goats, chickens, and sheep. Charles also plans to work alongside the orphans in order to teach them about agriculture and taking care of the environment.

   We will live at the Hope Center along with one other couple, Tony and Mickie West, who have been there for a year serving in the medical clinic and hosting teams. BGM has graciously built a house for us and is awaiting our arrival. We plan to move in January and have not limited the commitment to any set time period. Lilly (5) and Ava (2) are excited about the move as they are hopeful to make new friends in Haiti. I plan to home  school Lilly as she continues kindergarten and get involved with local mission opportunities as I can.

   We hope that as we embark on yet another adventure, you will support us through your thoughts and prayers.

Blessings,

The McCalls



Donations:

   We are blessed in this ministry opportunity to have resources that will cover our living expenses once we get settled in our new home. This will greatly offset what we need to raise in order to go and serve in Haiti. However, we still need to raise all initial expenses such as moving, language learning, and annual travel expenses to and from Haiti.
   If you wish to support us financially we are needing to raise approximately $15,410 to cover up front costs associated with our move, such as plane tickets, home furnishings, and language tutoring. One hundred percent of the funds donated will go to helping us get started in this new ministry. But God Ministries is a 501-c3 organization and all money given will be tax deductible. If you wish to send a donation to help us get started, here are some methods to do so.

Sending a check:

Please make checks out to But God Ministries with Agricultural Ministry written in the memo line.

Send your check to:

1440 N. State Street
Jackson, MS 39202

To give with a credit or debit card:

https://my.simplegive.com/g3/
at this web address there will be a tab on the left with the option of registering to give or to quick give if you do not want to register.

You may also go to http://www.butgodministries.com/ and click on "Make A Donation" on the left side of the home page.

If you still have problems or wish to give in an alternative way, please contact Charles McCall at charleskmccall@gmail.com

We appreciate your generosity and support as we journey to Haiti.

Thank you.

Charles and Hannah