Should we Stay or Should we go??

The beginning of October will mark our 2 years in Haiti. We’ve always had it in the back of our minds that we would head back to the States after our two years were over. About 6 months ago, we made a trip back to the States to try to get some things planned and figured out for our return. We had hoped to return after that trip with a very clear idea of what would happen when we returned to the States. However, I think we came back to Haiti more confused than before. Craig has been working with the same company for 12 years and they have made a way for us to be here in Haiti and for Craig to continue working with them over the internet. This was an agreement for two years only. In April, they extended that agreement to the end of the calendar year. After that, we will either need to move back to the States to find jobs, or else find a way to raise support to stay here in Haiti.

The more that we thought and prayed, we really didn’t have clear direction either way. We didn’t feel like God was calling us back to the States, but we knew that our original plan was two years. Even though we have accomplished what we came to accomplish in these two years, we feel like our impact is just beginning. We are just now able to make deeper connections and relationships because of the time that we have spent here among the Haitians and because we have been able to learn the language. It takes so long to adjust to culture, learn a language and develop relationships. We feel that we are in a great place to make some real progress in many areas.

We are committed to Okipe and the Children’s Village. We are so thankful and proud of all the things the staff and children have learned and are implementing daily. They are truly running the daily affairs of the village on their own. This is a HUGE success. However, just yesterday, Mme. Soliette said that she “has big dreams for the community of Turtle Bay.” She just doesn’t have the resources. We want to continue to dream with Mme. Soliette. We want to help her as the children age out of the orphanage. We want to create new jobs and train the older kids in business and trade skills.

We have sat down and created a list of over twenty small business ideas that we think would work here on La Gonave. In order for a business to be successful here on the island, a person only needs to be able to profit around $5/day!

Future plans for the orphanage also include building a primary school and eventually adding more housing pods to be able to care for more children. Currently, Mme. Soliette cares for 82 children and the future housing plans will allow her to care for up to 150. She also opens up the primary school at the children's village to allow children from the community to attend who cannot afford to attend school anywhere else. This year, they have just under 200 children enrolled at the primary school at the village. Continued teacher and staff training as well as managing teams who interact with the orphanage are also weekly tasks.

Craig has also made several relationships with local business owners and is beginning to look into their systems and is starting to help them run their businesses smarter so that they can be more profitable. This is right up his alley and is something that makes him excited!

Renee has been teaching English at a local school and has the opportunity to teach at another school. In addition to teaching English, this past March, we helped to start an English speaking church service. Every Sunday we lead the worship and help local Haitians and other expats to worship together in English.

Even though we are involved in so many different ways, the people here in Haiti have no money to give in return for any of these services. 100% of what we do here in Haiti is on a volunteer basis. That is why we need people to partner with us. We want to continue to have the ability to work alongside our Haitian friends, but once Craig’s contract with his company is over, our funding will be finished as well. So, in order for us to continue our ministry in here in Haiti, we would need your help.

If you are willing and able to financially partner with our family to support our efforts here on La Gonave, there are two ways that you can give.

You may give online here –

Or you may write a check, payable to: Craig Janofski. 

You can send it to:

Craig Janofski

503 N Keal Ave.
Marion, IN 46952

Also, if you would like to give, but are not ready to donate today, please send us a message so that we know that we can count on you and what amount you plan to give!!

We would love to talk more with you if you have any questions, so please feel free to send us an email at crjfamily@gmail.com. Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration. This is a huge step of faith for us and we know that without all of you, this will not be possible. To stay up to date with our day to day activities, please follow us on Facebook!

Sincerely,

Craig & Renee Janofski