November Newsletter

News Flash!

Two weeks ago, I received some very exciting news.  The Haitians have decided to move ahead with the professional school!  If you've been following my story, you know that the Haitians have been very intentional with this process and have been moving along a little slower than I would have liked.
What this new information means, is that they will be finishing off the a classroom space where they will host English, Computer and TWO music classes for children that are sponsored by the program.  The children will be invited to come for free classes offered every weekend.  The hope is that by participating in these classes, they will gain more knowledge and greater skill set to prepare them for more success in adulthood.
The two music classes that will be offered are a piano and guitar/bass class, and a wind instrument class.  The wind instrument class will be taught by my friend, Adelcon.

Travel Plans

My next trip to Haiti is next week, November 11th - 15th.  I am especially excited about this trip for several reasons, but two of the biggest are that Andy is coming with me, and we will get to observe the Haitians teaching the music classes!
Andy's reasons for coming are three fold.  First, I want him to see where I'm working and meet the people I'm working with.  Secondly, he's a music teach and can add another prospective and some insight into building this program.  Third, because there is a small group of students from Edina High School that have voiced interest in coming next May to teach music lessons as a part of their school's May Term program.  Andy will be acting as a scout of sorts for EHS, and for these particular students.  
 

Prayer Requests and Praises

Praises

• For the launching of the professional school.
• For all of the support I've been receiving from various people and organizations while getting this program rolling.
• That Andy is able to come with me next week.

Requests

• Safe travel next week (November 11-15th).  There is a chance that due to the recent elections in Haiti, it will be unsafe for us to travel.  Please pray for peace in Haiti so that Andy and I can go on this trip.
• That our flights will go smoothly and as planned.  
• That we will stay healthy while we're there.  
• That we will have a productive time of planning with the team there.
• For our kids while we are gone.  
• For the GF program as they talk with the young women in the program this weekend (November 7th) about how God created their bodies and the changes they are facing/going through and what that means for them sexually and culturally as women.   

September Newsletter/Annual Report

Happy Anniversary!

I can hardly believe it has been one year since I started working with GlobalFingerprints.  In this newsletter, I'd like to give you a sort of annual report: highlights, goals for the next year, a note from my boss, and a financial snap shot.  Thanks for sticking with me!

Highlights

Travel/Spiritual Development

In the last year I have traveled to Haiti three times.  Each time I was there, I it was clear that this is exactly what God wants me to be doing at this stage of my life.  His provision and protection through a variety of situations has caused me to increase in faith and trust.  It's such a blessing to me.

Relationships

I am growing in my speaking and understanding of Creole which has allowed me to start building relationships with my Haitian co-workers/friends.

Progress

I love to building things/programs and watch them grow.  I have really enjoyed watching the music program in Haiti starting to take shape, and the interest and investment it's getting from others in the music education community.

Goals for the Next Year

In the next year, I would like to travel three or four times.  I would like to build on the musical master classes I started in July, expanding them to become more like a music class that can eventually be taught by the Haitian supervisors.  I would like to expand the variety of instruments included in this music class.  I would like to streamline the communication process for those that sponsor children in our program.

A Progress Report from My Boss

I don’t know if you can fully comprehend the level of joy on their faces.   Some 40 Globalfingerprints’ leaders and children, all learning for the very first time how to read music, how to play the recorder, how to make music together.  A year ago the idea of such a MusicCamp for these children was only a dream; last week Lynn Richter orchestrated (literally) this event from start to finish.  And her/our long-term goal for this music program has just begun.  That’s why I want to ask you personally to consider giving toward Lynn’s financial support.  In the last year she’s made 3 trips to Haiti, set the groundwork for an entire music program, organized last week’s MusicCamp and even taken on the coordination of our child-sponsor communication.  Her role is expanding, her influence growing, her impact multiplying.  Any investment in her support is in reality an incredible investment in the lives of these 286 kids! 

Financial Snap Shot

A year ago, I was working to build my financial support.  It was my goal to raise just over $3,000.00 in start-up costs plus $1,609.00 per month for 24 months.  I met that goal at about 97% last September and was approved to move forward and start “working”. 

Below is a snap shot of my monthly support income.  You can see that there is some variance from month to month, but over all, each month I fall short of that $1,609.00 mark. 

I am half way through my 24-month commitment with GlobalFingerprints.  As I move forward into the next year, I will need to make a decision about working with them in the future.  If I move forward, which I think I will do, I will need to secure long-term financial support.

08/15	07/15	06/15	05/15	4/15	3/15	2/15	1/15	12/14	11/14	10/14
$1,265	$1,440	$1,410	$2,390	$1,590	$1,290	$1,240	$1,390	$1,540	$1,430	$2,010

Would you please start to prayerfully consider your part in this?  If you feel so moved to help cover the immediate difference for the next 12 months, you can donate here (you will need to designate Richter – 2047).  If not, please pray that God would provide the difference.  Also, please know that in the next 6 to 9 months, I will be asking you to join my team long term.

Prayer Requests and Praises

Praises

• For God's faithfulness and blessing in all of the changes of the last year.
• For good health for my family and me.
• For a team of faithful supporters for me during this journey.
• That we had a productive time of planning with our entire team (International GF Meetings Sept 14-17).

Requests 

• That God will provide the financial resources I need to continue in this ministry.
• For safety and protection for Andy and I on our trip in November (11th-15th) and that God would supply the financial resources he needs to fund his trip.
• For wisdom in each situation I face while serving the Lord, both in Haiti with GlobalFingerprints, and at church.  

August Newsletter

Music In Haiti!

In July my father-in-law, Jim, and I brought 100 recorders, 10 music stands, 25 music books, and a whole lot of excitement to Haiti.  We spent two days working with the Haitian staff teaching them to read music and play the recorder and then empowering them to teach some of the children in the program to do the same.

When we started on the first day, I asked the adults I was teaching how many of them could read music.  None of them raised their hands.  Some of these people are very accomplished musicians so I was surprised that they didn't know how to read music.  We started at square one and built from there.  By lunch time, they were playing and reading three pitches in various rhythmic patterns.  After lunch, about 30 of the children in the program arrived.  I split them into small groups (two or three children to one supervisor) and set the supervisors loose to teach the children.  I wondered around the room and observed some amazing things!  These people who started the day not being able to read music, were teaching children to read music, and they were doing it very well!

By the end of two days, the supervisors were confident they could continue their learning and were excited about the opportunity to teach the children more regularly.  We ended our time by talking about where this could lead.  We are all very excited to see where God takes this.

My next trip will be sometime this fall.  My hope is do be able to do a Saturday camp with whomever can come (supervisors and children) to keep the spark alive.

Special thanks to Katie, the intern, for taking such great photos. To Doug Schmitt, from Schmitt Music for donating the recorders and to Dean Sorenson for arranging some local Haitian songs for recorder.  

A video of the supervisors teaching some of the children in the program.

A video of Adelcon and I playing one of the songs Dean arranged.

A video of the talented supervisors singing.  These amazing musicians didn't read a note of music.

The Team

Team Building

After our two days of music, all of the Haitian and American GlobalFingerprints staff spent two days at a beautiful resort focusing on our team.  We spent time talking about what it means to be a cross cultural team and how to collaborate more fully.  It was an encouraging time of team building, relationship building, and bonding.  

Prayer Requests and Praises

Praises

• For a highly successful first instrumental music trip to Haiti.
• For all of the Haitian staff and their commitment to the program, to these children, and to God.
• For the GlobalFingerprints staff and the exciting adventure God has called us to.
• For God's protection of my family while I was away. 
• For a husband who is such a huge support to me and an amazing dad to our children!

Requests

• Please pray for our team.  Both the Haitian and American teams.  
• Pray for the Haitian staff to feel supported, and heard by the leadership in Haiti.  
• Pray for wisdom for the American staff on how best we can come along side our Haitian friends in this kingdom building work.  Also, that God would provide more team members in the areas that we are still currently lacking.
• Pray specifically for Adelcon (Add el son).  He has a very difficult and a very important role for our Haitian team.  That God would grant him the wisdom, patience and peace to do his job each day.
• Pray for my family as we head into the back to school season.  Especially for Andy as marching band starts, and for Michael as he starts middle school!

June Newsletter

Gearing Up...

After a slow spring season, things are gearing up for the summer.  I’m about 6 weeks away from the first “music trip” to Haiti.  On July 20^th I will head down with my father-in-law, Jim.  We will have 100 recorders donated by Doug Schmitt at Schmitt Music Co., some newly transcribed Haitian folk songs arranged by Dean Sorenson, music stands and lesson plans.

With GlobalFingerprints, our goal is always to make whatever we do sustainable for the Haitians; every program we help them set up, every system we help them develop. This music program will be no different.  Jim and I will spend time working with the Haitian teachers and supervisors, teaching them how to teach the recorder.  Then, we will have an opportunity to watch them do it.  We’re hopeful that by doing things this way, they will be able to successfully teach the children recorder without depending on us. 

The goal is that after we leave, there will be one or two classes worth of students learning to read music and play the recorder.   When I go again in October, I’m hoping to take more instruments (trumpets, trombones, clarinets) so that the students who have been successful on recorder can upgrade to a more substantial instrument. 

Other Updates

Summer for the Richter family means Buffalo Marching Band and a really messy house!  Our children finished school on May 29^th this year.  I had a realization on about May 27^th, that this is the first summer that I’m working two part time jobs, and not working with Buffalo High School.  This realization quickly led to, “I’m going to be one busy Mama!”. 

In addition to my regular weekly routine, I’ve been jockeying kids to baseball, softball, t-ball, summer band and daycare.   While it’s busy, and sometimes overwhelming, I have to say that this is honestly my favorite “season” with our family so far.  I love watching my kids learning to love playing sports, learning to love music, reading and playing independently.  I love watching them use their imaginations and run around outside.  I love that they still need me, but in a less dependent way.   I am one happy Mama, who is thoroughly enjoying the bounty of God’s blessings in my life.

This is Andy’s 8^th season with the Buffalo Marching Band.  I am sad to not be as involved this year but thankful for the opportunity Andy has to work with them and the fulfillment he gets from doing so.   We will both, however, get the opportunity to go to Boston, MA with the band over the Fourth of July.  A good friend (and wife of a band director) once said, “Marry a band director, see the world.”

We’ve now been in our new house for one year.  It feels like home.  The basement is mostly finished.  It still needs trim and some other small details, but it’s livable and we are all enjoying our new space.  Most of our boxes are unpacked and we’re almost able to park our cars in the garage (that’s where we’ve been storing all of our stuff for the last year).  There are a lot of other kids in the neighborhood and it’s been fun to watch them become friends.  We’re so thankful to be here and are overwhelmed by God’s blessings!

Prayer Requests and Praises

Praises

• For one year in our home.
• For a successful completion of the school year.
• For the donations of the recorders and the transcribed music and for the people that donated    them.
• For God’s blessings on our family.

Requests

• That God would go before us on this trip in July.
• That all of the equipment we’re taking to Haiti with us would make it through customs with no problems.
• Peace during this very busy but joyful season of life.
• Safety for all of our family travels this summer. 
• For my team at ReachGlobal, for God’s protection as we work to serve Him in Haiti.
• For the children in the program.  That they would come to know how much God loves them.