Mercy & Sharing UPDATE June 11, 2011

Williamson - Because it Takes a Village!

Who said "It takes a Village to raise a child?"

The phrase is attributed to an old African proverb. Its exact origin seems to be lost in time. In 1994 children's author Jane Cowen-Fletcher released a book, published by Scholastic Press, titled It Takes A Village in which a young African girl searches for her younger brother, only to find the rest of the village has been watching over him as well.

Well, thanks to your generous donations in two recent grants Mercy & Sharing Williamson campus is about to become the most well-rounded Village in the area, and one of very few in the entire country, that provides care for children from infancy through adulthood.

Williamson Village - on the Left are Three Orphanages; Medical Clinics in Center and Williamson Learning Academy on the right

The Anschutz Foundation has funded the construction and one year of operations for a therapy and rehabilitation facility for the handicapped and disabled! This will include cost to hire a professional to evaluate every child and develop a unique and specific therapy program for that child.

And if this were not enough, Richard K. Taylor and his family have funded the first phase of the vocational and trade school at Williamson!

The new facilities will be able to provide two of the most critical elements to the master plan for Williamson, so that the disabled children are able to receive therapy and rehabilitation on site, and the healthy children will be equipped to venture out into normal life as adults in Haiti, as we are able to provide vocational training for automobile mechanics, small businesses, computers, sewing, beautician and training in the hotel and hospitality industries. Food for the Poor has also provided computers and a local area network within Williamson that will be part of the new vocational trade school.

Williamson Learning Academy

This school year we have had approximately 175 children in the primary schools at the Williamson Learning Academy and enrollment will increase to approximately 300 children in the fall.

(left) Students Washing Hands as Cholera Precaution Before Attending School

(below) The children helped to complete the painting of the schools at Williamson.These Two Primary School Buildings Were Built After the Earthquake and Opened Last Fall

Williamson Church - Leading a Spiritual Life

We continue to have services at the Church for both the healthy and the disabled children and the local neighborhood parents and children

Terry Swope and Girls at Williamson Church Services, Children are keen to learn

Music Classes are a BIG HIT!

Thanks to the generous support of the Vibrant Village Foundation, we are able to expand our music classes at the Williamson Learning Academy, and some of the boys have decided to start a jazz band!

Can you imagine that these children were orphaned or abandoned and have come so far since then, thank to your support and donations.

Bidson on Keyboards; Bob on the Recorder;
and Jean Paul on Saxophone

These are a few of the exciting things happening at Williamson. Stay tuned for updates on our other projects.

Wisdom for Today

"Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2

Thank you all for your continued support of Mercy & Sharing. Pray for the children and staff as we seek to plan ahead for their very lives and salvation.