Goat Project Director, Marv and Cathy DeVisser (Spring Arbor, MI) will leave Michigan November 3 for a week in Haiti to visit Goat Project families and churches as well as vaccinate more goats. Traveling with them are Wayne and Dottie Miller of Spring Arbor, MI. Pastor Dottie will teach at the Bible Institute while Wayne works on building projects. At Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, Wayne leads Men of Faith & Action, a group of men of all ages who have an interest in helping others, sharing, praying and studying God's Word together. Each week they discuss present and future ministry opportunities for community members in need. Wayne will share with Haitian pastors how MOF&A works and the spiritual growth the men experience while helping others and give them suggestions on how to start similar growth groups for men in Haiti.
The goat project helps Haitians by teaching them to use their natural environment to raise goats, giving them much-needed protein. The Goat Project is designed to help Haitians develop skills to raise livestock themselves as well as instill in them the need to help each other and give back to their community.
The process begins when someone sends $45 to purchase a female goat which is given to a family which has been trained in caring for a goat (vaccinating for parasites, trimming hooves and proper feeding). The female is bred and the first kid is kept by the family. The second kid born is given back to the community and goes to another family. the third kid is kept and the fourth is given back. The cycle continues. Under this plan, new families receive goats and the original family is able to build its herd. Male goats are usually sold and the money is used to purchase new female goats.
Marv travels throughout Haiti several times per year to vaccinate and trim the hooves of the project goats as well as teach the families how to repeat the process.
Traveling is most difficult in the Southern regions because the only access is through long and winding rivers. There is a very short period in late winter which is dry enough to travel. One must ford the rivers 27 times! Often times there are many other animals not associated with our project that show up for the vaccinations. Since our ultimate goal is to help as many Haitians as possible find Jesus as well as the means to a better life, Marv attempts to vaccinate as many of these non-program animals as possible.
There are over 55 churches that participate in our goat project and there are many more
Marv's home church in Spring Arbor, MI, has celebrated Jesus' birthday the past several years by publishing a 'wish list' of gifts that Jesus would probably choose. A goat for a Haitian family was on the list and was a favorite gift for families with children!
East year their Vacation Bible School has a contest between boys and girls to raise the most money for a designated mission project. The children bring pop cans and loose change. Several years ago, FOHO's Goat Project was chosen as the recipient. Every time $45 was raised, another paper goat was hung on the wall amidst lost of cheering. It was especially fun to deliver all those goats! If you would like to sponsor a goat, contact Marv at marv.devisser@springarborfm.org or send $45 to FOHO, Box 222, Holland, OH 43528 and mark "Goat Project" on the check.
Marv DeVisser, Director, Goat Project
