Wow! It has been along time since we have posted on the blog! That doesn't mean we haven't been busy working to support the kids, though. The website is finally up and running! Yeh!!
Check out http://preciouskidsministries.org/
Now that we have the website, we can use this blog more as a forum for anyone to comment, question, and share ideas. So feel free to spread the word. We are looking forward to sharing the excitement about what God is doing in the lives of the children we serve.
On that note, please sign up for the Precious Kids e-newsletter. It is available in English and Spanish. That way we can send you updates on the kids and PKM events, etc.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
All of us at Precious Kids Ministries would like to thank you for your continued prayers and support. Because of your generous hearts, many children have been blessed. God is so evidently moving in our efforts to continue our support to the children in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. So much has happened since our fundraising dinner and silent auction in November. We were able to send clothes, shoes, toys, Spanish Bibles, and Spanish Bible School materials for about 200 children in the Dominican Republic.
We also started our outreach to Haiti with a trip there in January (see article below); and were able to send clothes, shoes, toys, sheets, and blankets to children, many of whom are orphans, to several villages in Haiti under the direction of native ministers there.
One of the things that struck me while I was in Haiti was the number of children with diseases stemming from the effects of poverty. For instance, many of the children we met have worms which rob the children of what little nutrition they get and cause the distended bellies and limbs as you may have seen in person or in pictures. Worms can most easily be prevented by wearing shoes. Precious Kids just sent out about 100 pairs of shoes (we counted) that will make such an enormous difference in the health and lives of the children we serve.
Thank you for sending the shoes, clothes, toys, and toiletry items! Also, thank you for your financial support which has been used to purchase Bibles, Bible school materials, and food for the children; and have enabled us to send and distribute your donated items to children who need them so desperately.
So our cupboards are bare now! (That's a good thing!) Therefore, if you have done some Spring cleaning, and have found clothes and shoes that don't fit your children anymore, please consider passing them along to us!
Please send donations to: Precious Kids Ministries
c/o Manhattan Church of Christ
48 East 80th Street
New York, NY 10075
(CLEARLY LABELED "PRECIOUS KIDS")
Please pray for Precious Kids Ministry and for the ministers and families who daily care for the children we serve. Also, please join us in praying for the children who need the basic necessities of life and the hope offered through Jesus's love for them.
When we open our hearts to those God cares for, we enounter His presence. We are changed and others are blessed.
We also started our outreach to Haiti with a trip there in January (see article below); and were able to send clothes, shoes, toys, sheets, and blankets to children, many of whom are orphans, to several villages in Haiti under the direction of native ministers there.
One of the things that struck me while I was in Haiti was the number of children with diseases stemming from the effects of poverty. For instance, many of the children we met have worms which rob the children of what little nutrition they get and cause the distended bellies and limbs as you may have seen in person or in pictures. Worms can most easily be prevented by wearing shoes. Precious Kids just sent out about 100 pairs of shoes (we counted) that will make such an enormous difference in the health and lives of the children we serve.
Thank you for sending the shoes, clothes, toys, and toiletry items! Also, thank you for your financial support which has been used to purchase Bibles, Bible school materials, and food for the children; and have enabled us to send and distribute your donated items to children who need them so desperately.
So our cupboards are bare now! (That's a good thing!) Therefore, if you have done some Spring cleaning, and have found clothes and shoes that don't fit your children anymore, please consider passing them along to us!
Please send donations to: Precious Kids Ministries
c/o Manhattan Church of Christ
48 East 80th Street
New York, NY 10075
(CLEARLY LABELED "PRECIOUS KIDS")
Please pray for Precious Kids Ministry and for the ministers and families who daily care for the children we serve. Also, please join us in praying for the children who need the basic necessities of life and the hope offered through Jesus's love for them.
When we open our hearts to those God cares for, we enounter His presence. We are changed and others are blessed.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Life is Hard in Haiti
The work of Precious Kids Ministry has begun in Haiti!! Last night we returned from a 7 day trip to northern Haiti. I am still processing all of my amazing, intense experiences there. We stayed in Gulman du Plaa at the Center for Biblical Training (CBT) which is close to Cap Haitian, the 2nd largest city in Haiti. As we crossed the border into Haiti from the DR, we were in awe of the stark contrast between the level of poverty and the lack of natural resources due to pervasive soil erosion. It's as if we went from a lush tropical land to a desert.
We are so very thankful for everyone's prayers. It was evident that people were praying for us and those we ministered to, and for all of our protection. In general, I had an extra measure of energy, peace, joy, and love for those I met. God's presence was palpable and my faith grew immensely as His Spirit moved in my heart, words, and actions. We would love to convey all of these experiences to you so that you, too, would be encouraged and grow in your faith as well- as that is not possible- you just have to go with us next time.
Before I go on too much, we need to tell you about the children from Milot. Perhaps you are all on the edge of your seats to find out how that went. It was the greatest challenge for me on the trip. We had spent the week getting to know many of the ministers from the churches in northern Haiti. (I have never met more loving, gracious, couragious, and faithful brothers). Then we went to each of their churches (7 in all) to encourage them and their members, provide a clinic for the sick in the congregation and from their village, and do an interactive program for the children.
We were headed to Milot to be the 1st church for the day on Saturday. When we called Kensley and Choumay, the ministers there, they said they were going to meet us on the road in Milot. So as we were driving there, we saw the sign (see picture) for the church/orphanage site and asked the driver, Moise, to stop. We stopped there for several minutes to take the pictures but there was no sign of Kensley and Choumay. Aracelys told me (from her conversations from Geraldo) and from my conversations with Kensley that the children and ministers all live there in Milot, so I figured they were more in the downtown area.
So we went all the way in to town when we needed to actually stay where we were originally at the sign. The children, teachers, and ministers were even before we reached the sign. By the time we were on our way back out of Milot, we were headed on the road to our next church in Dondon. So we missed them. So sad. I called Kensly and told them we had to keep going to Dondon and we would see them in 4 hours.
So we went all the way in to town when we needed to actually stay where we were originally at the sign. The children, teachers, and ministers were even before we reached the sign. By the time we were on our way back out of Milot, we were headed on the road to our next church in Dondon. So we missed them. So sad. I called Kensly and told them we had to keep going to Dondon and we would see them in 4 hours.By the time we got to them, it was dark. There are no street lights or even house lights from the houses close by for us to see each other. The only light we had was from the headlights from oncoming traffic. So we were all on the side of the 
road and the children were crying, tired and hungry from waiting all day for us. I hopped off the truck and met the ministers; then grabbed a bag of things to hand out to the children. Two of the nurses with us went out with me and handed out worm medicine to each child. The guys on the truck started handing down the four 120lb bags of beans and rice (2 bags of each) and 4 boxes of other food items and Bibles Precious Kids bought for them the day before in Cap Haitian. The situation was not safe being on the side of the road in the dark and with the towns people starting to crowd around as well. So we made sure they received all the things we brought for them- including the $860 raised for the children's school tuition, took one last picture (see picture), then we drove away. 
road and the children were crying, tired and hungry from waiting all day for us. I hopped off the truck and met the ministers; then grabbed a bag of things to hand out to the children. Two of the nurses with us went out with me and handed out worm medicine to each child. The guys on the truck started handing down the four 120lb bags of beans and rice (2 bags of each) and 4 boxes of other food items and Bibles Precious Kids bought for them the day before in Cap Haitian. The situation was not safe being on the side of the road in the dark and with the towns people starting to crowd around as well. So we made sure they received all the things we brought for them- including the $860 raised for the children's school tuition, took one last picture (see picture), then we drove away. 
We found quite a contrast between the children in the villages with strong churches who are supported by churches in the States with those who do not have regular support. For example, the church of Christ in Duty, Haiti was supported by a church in the States up until Oct. 2008. There is a school with a feeding program for the children affiliated with this church. The church building itself is beautifully finished- which further makes a statement to the community. Good teachers stay because they are able to be paid some for their work. The children in Duty have more clothes and shoes to wear, are better nourished, and are less diseased compared to the children in villages without churches with assistance.
On a personal note, the biggest blessing for me was getting to spend time with and talking to the ministers from the school (CBT) as well as those who have already graduated and have churches, schools, and orphanages of their own. I learned so much from their faith, courage, and insight into the scriptures and relationships with God. Their work is so challenging on many levels. They must contend with the pervasive Voodoo beliefs which instill fear, hatred, and oppression in its followers. Everyone in town knows these ministers have contact with missionaries who bring food and supplies and perhaps money to them occasionally. So whenever anyone from the congregation or the village needs anything, they go to the minister for help. They give what they have if anything. Almost all of the ministers who have graduated have families of their own and most of the them have orphans in their care. Also, most of them run schools which have anywhere from 60-300 students each. They are well known, loved and respected in their communities, but their lives are at stake. They are easy targets for bandits/ thieves and kidnappers. Some of them have horrid stories to tell, but yet they keep preaching, serving, feeding and teaching. They ask for our prayers for their safety and for God to provide them with tools needed to teach and serve the children who God sends to them. That is what Precious Kids Ministry aims to do.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support. Please consider going with us next time. You will be blessed as you serve.
In His love,
Cynthia
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Haiti's children
We just learned that the balance of the childrens' school bills is ~$3700 US dollars! Wow! It is more than I thought. I am praying for more faith on this one, especially since we leave for Haiti just next week!
The plans and preparations for the trip are going well, though. Thank you for your prayers for this trip to Haiti and to all of you who supported Precious Kids Ministry. Please continue to pray for the children and others we will be ministering to next week.
In His Love,
Cynthia
The plans and preparations for the trip are going well, though. Thank you for your prayers for this trip to Haiti and to all of you who supported Precious Kids Ministry. Please continue to pray for the children and others we will be ministering to next week.
In His Love,
Cynthia
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Haiti
I want to tell you about an immediate need; and I pray you can help us meet this need. One of our Spanish speaking ministers at the Manhattan Church of Christ, Hugo Monroy has a friend, Geraldo, who was an engineer in Haiti and lives in FL now with his family while he is going to school. This brother, Geraldo, found and was helping to support 57 children who were orphaned after the hurricanes this year. Haitians from the Church of Christ in Milot have been caring for them as best they can with their limited resources. Geraldo has since lost his job and is unable to continue supporting these children at this time. He is devistated about not being able to provide funds for their food and to keep them in school. Hugo told Geraldo about Precious Kids Ministry.
Meanwhile, at the same time, I was at a breakfast-meeting in Abiline, TX learning about the Haitian Christian Foundation's work in northern Haiti. They support a Ministry school in northern Haiti which provides further biblical training to men who are already ministers in their local communities/ villages. Several times a year, groups of 15 people from the US go to help support these rural church communities.
While at that breakfast, I had that knowing- (you know, the knowing that comes with the confidence of the power of God with it) that Precious Kids needs to somehow partner with them. The question remained as to how could we help to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the children from the ministry school's ministy students' rural church communities. After the breakfast, I was asked to go with a group from CO in January led by Milton Eckhardt. Yes, the only way to know how we can help is to go to Haiti and see. So I started praying about going with them.
Within a couple of weeks, Hugo and Aracelys tell me about these orphaned children who have lost their support, are hungry, and are in jeopardy of loosing their opportunity to continue to go to school. Would you believe that these children are in Milot, a town in northern Haiti VERY close to where the group is going in January!! What an amazing "God-incidence"!!
Thanks to everyone's support and the success of the fundraising dinner, we are able to go with the group in January (5th-13th) and start to answer the question, how can Precious Kids help to meet the needs of the children in the rural commnities in northern Haiti as well as to continue the support of the 57 orphaned children in Milo.
This is where we need your immediate help... Although we have enough money to pay for the trip and some to help buy food for the children, we need more money to pay the balance of the children's school bills. It is my hope that while we are in Milot, we can take the list of children and the money to the school and pay off their school bills so they can stay in school.
Please consider sending a tax deductible check made out to Precious Kids Ministry- with "Haiti" or "school fund" in the memo. Please forgive the last minute invitation, but with God, all things are possible!!
Aracelys and Geraldo talk frequently over the phone about the needs of the children. Also, I am in regular contact with Milton and another woman, Melissa from Philadelphia (who is also going and lived in Haiti for 3 years), as we plan the trip to Haiti in just about 2 weeks!!! So we will keep you updated with further information.
Thank you in advance for your support of this immediate need. I am learning that it is more blessed to give than to receive- that it is in giving that we receive. May God bless you richly through your giving.
Cynthia
Meanwhile, at the same time, I was at a breakfast-meeting in Abiline, TX learning about the Haitian Christian Foundation's work in northern Haiti. They support a Ministry school in northern Haiti which provides further biblical training to men who are already ministers in their local communities/ villages. Several times a year, groups of 15 people from the US go to help support these rural church communities.
While at that breakfast, I had that knowing- (you know, the knowing that comes with the confidence of the power of God with it) that Precious Kids needs to somehow partner with them. The question remained as to how could we help to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the children from the ministry school's ministy students' rural church communities. After the breakfast, I was asked to go with a group from CO in January led by Milton Eckhardt. Yes, the only way to know how we can help is to go to Haiti and see. So I started praying about going with them.
Within a couple of weeks, Hugo and Aracelys tell me about these orphaned children who have lost their support, are hungry, and are in jeopardy of loosing their opportunity to continue to go to school. Would you believe that these children are in Milot, a town in northern Haiti VERY close to where the group is going in January!! What an amazing "God-incidence"!!
Thanks to everyone's support and the success of the fundraising dinner, we are able to go with the group in January (5th-13th) and start to answer the question, how can Precious Kids help to meet the needs of the children in the rural commnities in northern Haiti as well as to continue the support of the 57 orphaned children in Milo.
This is where we need your immediate help... Although we have enough money to pay for the trip and some to help buy food for the children, we need more money to pay the balance of the children's school bills. It is my hope that while we are in Milot, we can take the list of children and the money to the school and pay off their school bills so they can stay in school.
Please consider sending a tax deductible check made out to Precious Kids Ministry- with "Haiti" or "school fund" in the memo. Please forgive the last minute invitation, but with God, all things are possible!!
Aracelys and Geraldo talk frequently over the phone about the needs of the children. Also, I am in regular contact with Milton and another woman, Melissa from Philadelphia (who is also going and lived in Haiti for 3 years), as we plan the trip to Haiti in just about 2 weeks!!! So we will keep you updated with further information.
Thank you in advance for your support of this immediate need. I am learning that it is more blessed to give than to receive- that it is in giving that we receive. May God bless you richly through your giving.
Cynthia
Friday, December 19, 2008
THANK YOU! The dinner and silent auction were a great success!
Sorry it has taken me so long to get this new article going! Tis the season... to be swamped! Anyway..
Thanks so much y muchas gracias to everyone who volunteered their time and expertise, donated an auction item, contributed money, or just came to the 1st Annual Precious Kids Thanks-for-Giving Dinner and Silent Auction!
Almost all the food, the beautiful location and center pieces, and great entertainment were also donated. Thanks to everyone working together, we were able to raise over $5000! It is so faith building to see and experience how everone worked together to make the evening very nice and SO FUN! Karen stated, "The food was delicious- like a 5 star restaurant." Another one of our "socialites" in attendance, Myriam, even stated "Of all the events I've ever been to, everything with this event seemed to go perfectly." To God be the glory!
We are now able to continue to support the poor and orphaned children we met in Mao and Esperanza Dominican Republic. We ordered Bibles for all the children, teaching supplies for the Sunday School teachers, and have mountains of clothes and some food ready to be sent. We have a "packing party" planned for tomorrow.
In addition to the support for the children in the DR, I am privileged to be able to go to northern Haiti (in just a few weeks now!) to start the work of Precious Kids there. I can't wait to tell you how God is already working through the planning of this trip. So, I'll post more about that soon.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support for this ministry!
Cynthia Mudd
Thanks so much y muchas gracias to everyone who volunteered their time and expertise, donated an auction item, contributed money, or just came to the 1st Annual Precious Kids Thanks-for-Giving Dinner and Silent Auction!
Almost all the food, the beautiful location and center pieces, and great entertainment were also donated. Thanks to everyone working together, we were able to raise over $5000! It is so faith building to see and experience how everone worked together to make the evening very nice and SO FUN! Karen stated, "The food was delicious- like a 5 star restaurant." Another one of our "socialites" in attendance, Myriam, even stated "Of all the events I've ever been to, everything with this event seemed to go perfectly." To God be the glory!
We are now able to continue to support the poor and orphaned children we met in Mao and Esperanza Dominican Republic. We ordered Bibles for all the children, teaching supplies for the Sunday School teachers, and have mountains of clothes and some food ready to be sent. We have a "packing party" planned for tomorrow.
In addition to the support for the children in the DR, I am privileged to be able to go to northern Haiti (in just a few weeks now!) to start the work of Precious Kids there. I can't wait to tell you how God is already working through the planning of this trip. So, I'll post more about that soon.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support for this ministry!
Cynthia Mudd
Monday, October 27, 2008
"Thanks-For-Giving" Dinner and Silent Auction
The menu is set and is quite delectible (I've tasted samples of the main courses already); The entertainment will be phenominal; and there are really special items going up for auction. It is not too late to RSVP to the Precious Kids "Thanks-for-Giving" Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction. However, space is limited, so please RSVP as soon as you can- Nov. 9th at the latest. You will not be able to sign up at the door.
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Place: The Parc Vendome
353 West 56th Street
New York, NY
Time: 6 pm
Cost: $40 per person
We are still collecting items for the silent auction. Please contact us, Aracelys Barreto or Cynthia Mudd by email: preciouskidsorg@verizon.net to RSVP to the dinner or to donate an item for the silent auction.
Thank you to all of those who have already donated items and finances for this event, to the volunteers who are sacrificing themselves and their time, and to all you prayer warriors who are lifting up this fundraising event, this ministry, and the children in need of God's love and provision around the world.
In Christ's Love, for His glory,
Cynthia
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Place: The Parc Vendome
353 West 56th Street
New York, NY
Time: 6 pm
Cost: $40 per person
We are still collecting items for the silent auction. Please contact us, Aracelys Barreto or Cynthia Mudd by email: preciouskidsorg@verizon.net to RSVP to the dinner or to donate an item for the silent auction.
Thank you to all of those who have already donated items and finances for this event, to the volunteers who are sacrificing themselves and their time, and to all you prayer warriors who are lifting up this fundraising event, this ministry, and the children in need of God's love and provision around the world.
In Christ's Love, for His glory,
Cynthia
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Fundraiser Dinner Nov. 15, 2008
We have collected a heaping amount of clothes, Bibles, and Bible materials in Spanish to continue our support to the many poor and 20 orphaned children in the churches in Mao and Esperanza, Dominican Republic. We are getting ready to send several shipments there within in the couple of months.
Also, Cynthia went to a meeting with the Haitian Christian Foundation on a recent trip to TX where they asked her, and anyone else interested, to go with them to the northern part of Haiti in January. I, Cynthia, are prayerfully considering going (I'm also very excited about the opportunity). One of the ideas we have is for Precious Kids to partner with a Ministry school there where we could provide children's Bibles and Bible school materials as well as clothes and provisions for food and medical needs on a case by case basis to the ministers for them to reach out to the orphaned and poorest children in their local, rural church communities.
With these exciting opportunities ahead of us in mind (and more which God has in store for us- and you), we are having our 1st semi-annual "Thanks-for-Giving Dinner and Silent Auction" ***November 15, 2008*** So please save the date and consider partnering with us in bringing the love and hope of Jesus to children in the DR and in Haiti.
We are collecting items for the silent auction now. All donations are welcome.
For more information please call or email me: cynthia802@comcast.net
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support of this ministry.
Cynthia
Also, Cynthia went to a meeting with the Haitian Christian Foundation on a recent trip to TX where they asked her, and anyone else interested, to go with them to the northern part of Haiti in January. I, Cynthia, are prayerfully considering going (I'm also very excited about the opportunity). One of the ideas we have is for Precious Kids to partner with a Ministry school there where we could provide children's Bibles and Bible school materials as well as clothes and provisions for food and medical needs on a case by case basis to the ministers for them to reach out to the orphaned and poorest children in their local, rural church communities.
With these exciting opportunities ahead of us in mind (and more which God has in store for us- and you), we are having our 1st semi-annual "Thanks-for-Giving Dinner and Silent Auction" ***November 15, 2008*** So please save the date and consider partnering with us in bringing the love and hope of Jesus to children in the DR and in Haiti.
We are collecting items for the silent auction now. All donations are welcome.
For more information please call or email me: cynthia802@comcast.net
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support of this ministry.
Cynthia
Monday, February 4, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Getting the Foundation started with a trip to the Dominican Republic
Aracelys has been sending clothes and toys to poor children in the Dominican Republic since her son passed away. This is the passion of her heart fueled by the love for her family and most evidently by her love of God (and assuredly God's love for her and all people). It is an understatement to say the God puts people together for His purposes. That is what He has done putting Aracelys, Yomaira, Elizabeth, Vilma and me together to serve poor and orphaned children.
Aracelys and I went to the Dominican Republic with our bags stuffed with clothes, toys, school supplies, and Bible class learning materials. We worked with 50+ children from churches in Mao and Esperanza, ministered to people on the streets of Santiago, and visited an orphanage for children with special needs (Cynthia is an occupational therapist who worked with this population for several years). While we were there, we stayed in Santiago. We were there at the time of the tropical storm in December and the devastation caused by the release of water from the dam protecting the city. Thousands of people were swept away in the middle of the night and over 4000 people became refugees following the flood. God was there. I was so humbled to be in the presence of God among some of the poorest of the poor in this world and among a group of people grieving and angry from their loss. God gave me words to pray for them and gave Aracelys words to encourage the people. (Aracelys is from the DR, but my Spanish is severely lacking at this point).
We came home with an even deeper conviction of God's anointing on this work to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of those He sends us to. We have been collecting more clothes, toys, toiletries, Bibles, and other materials to send to the DR and then to branch out to other areas as God leads. Specific plans are being made now to go to Romania, Brazil, and Haiti as provisions become available.
We would love to connect with others who have this type of ministry in their hearts and have connections in the DR, Haiti, Brazil (especially Sao Paolo), and Romania.
Through Christ's love.
Cynthia
Aracelys and I went to the Dominican Republic with our bags stuffed with clothes, toys, school supplies, and Bible class learning materials. We worked with 50+ children from churches in Mao and Esperanza, ministered to people on the streets of Santiago, and visited an orphanage for children with special needs (Cynthia is an occupational therapist who worked with this population for several years). While we were there, we stayed in Santiago. We were there at the time of the tropical storm in December and the devastation caused by the release of water from the dam protecting the city. Thousands of people were swept away in the middle of the night and over 4000 people became refugees following the flood. God was there. I was so humbled to be in the presence of God among some of the poorest of the poor in this world and among a group of people grieving and angry from their loss. God gave me words to pray for them and gave Aracelys words to encourage the people. (Aracelys is from the DR, but my Spanish is severely lacking at this point).
We came home with an even deeper conviction of God's anointing on this work to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of those He sends us to. We have been collecting more clothes, toys, toiletries, Bibles, and other materials to send to the DR and then to branch out to other areas as God leads. Specific plans are being made now to go to Romania, Brazil, and Haiti as provisions become available.
We would love to connect with others who have this type of ministry in their hearts and have connections in the DR, Haiti, Brazil (especially Sao Paolo), and Romania.
Through Christ's love.
Cynthia
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