Next week, ASAPH will celebrate another year of ministry. We opened our doors officially on July 17th of 2012. This will be our 14th anniversary. 

I praise God for the lives that have been blessed at ASAPH Teaching Ministry. I wish that sponsors and supporters could sit down and talk to the many students who have benefitted from ASAPH...to the trombonist, to the guitarist, to the goalie, to the soprano. The stories are so many. 

Some young people have been involved with us only for a week or two, and then they were on their way. I remember them, and I know they were blessed in some way even though it didn't last long.

Others have been at ASAPH regularly over 14 years. When we gather our leaders each month, I look at adult faces, but I remember the children. It is a blessing to be able to see growth and development in people. 

ASAPH has ministered to many children over the years. While I am in town, I enjoy sitting down with them and sharing old stories. ASAPH created many good memories for many young people over these 14 years. I know that God can use those positive experiences to lead them closer to Him even if ASAPH is just a part of their past.

Many ASAPH students are no longer in Pas-bwa-dom. I hear good news about so many of them. Some have relocated to other parts of Haiti, and some are in Brazil, France, French Guyana, Chile, or the USA. I am proud to have been a part of their lives. I am proud that ASAPH was a source of light for them. I see them on Facebook. I follow their stories. 

ASAPH is presenting Christ in a rural Haitian community...one lesson at a time. Only God knows how far we have reached. We sow seeds. We water the plants. But, it is God who makes the plants grow!  Glory to God!



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Music is a gift from God. I believe God places talent in people as a way to bless the local church. I believe ASAPH is called and equipped to prepare musicians for service in the local church in Haiti. That is the vision behind our music lessons, our bands, and our other musical endeavors.

The children who learned music at ASAPH back in 2012 are now young adults. We can divide them into three groups: 

1) Several of our young musicians became quite good at what they do. Sadly, they grew in music but never grew in the Word of God. They play well, but they play for themselves. As children, we kept them close to us. Now as adults, they are unable to participate in certain activities because they have chosen to live outside of God's church. 

2) A few of our young musicians have been baptized and are growing into maturity as Christians. They use their talents to lead worship services and to accompany worship. They are a blessing to ASAPH and to the local church.

3) A few other young musicians have been baptized but have recently been struggling with how to use their talent. Two of these musicians grew up playing right beside me in church. I held their hands as they learned to play songs, as they learned to play different styles and in different keys. Slowly, they got better than me. That is when other churches heard them play and invited them to play elsewhere on occasion. Before long, there were many Sunday mornings when we didn't have musicians at our service. They were playing somewhere else. I was proud of them. But, at some point we learned of other motivations. Some churches would invite the musicians to play, and then bless them with a financial gift after they played several services. You may remember the money signs in the eyes of cartoon characters. That is what we have experienced with these young musicians. Money and "conditions" have become their priority. They say that "the church" has mistreated them by not giving them money when they play for worship. They feel they deserve to be "taken care of" because they play music in worship. It is an ironic thought in a society that is unable to pay its pastors. It is a complicated issue, however. Along with the leaders of our local church, I believe that God will bless those who freely offer worship to Him. I believe that waiting for a paycheck to worship God is proof that you misunderstand worship. 

This problem is deep and it is dark. We invite you to pray for our young musicians caught in this trap. We invite you to pray for the voices that are pushing them. We invite you to pray for the church in Haiti that is attacked from every direction.

I believe God will use these young men powerfully when they decide to offer their music to God as worship.


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 ASAPH is all about teaching. When we set up the ministry in 2012, I intentionally put the word teaching into the name of the ministry. I know how easy it is to drift into other areas of work when there are needs everywhere you look. We use music to teach. We use soccer to teach. It's all about teaching the next generation.

Since WEC came on board, we have been addressing agriculture. He studied agriculture in college and was able to spend 9  months in the USA working at a flower nursery. 

ASAPH has begun setting up a nursery for trees and other plants. One of Haiti's great needs is trees. Poverty sometimes leads people to destroy things that they will need down the road. For years, Haitians have been cutting down trees to make charcoal that they can sell. It is a quick solution for a pressing financial need, but long term it creates a host of new problems. Storms also destroy trees from time to time. Our soccer team planted trees years ago, and some of those trees are now a real blessing. We love planting projects, but you need baby trees in order to do a planting project. 

ASAPH has a plan to oversee a tree nursery right there in our ASAPH gardens. WEC and another agronomist with begin planting seeds in a shaded, protected space. They will raise the seedlings until they are ready for planting. While they do that, ASAPH students will be invited to follow along and learn the process. When those students are informed and experienced, they will be given the opportunity to prepare their own seedling projects at the ASAPH nursery. We'll supply the space, the materials, and the training. They will do the work and make the sale. 

Haiti is an agricultural society. Every part of life is closely tied to the production of local food and other benefits that come from plants. Plants are life. ASAPH is excited to be opening the door to more plants in our local community. 


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K.B. began playing trombone a few years ago. He was timid. His older siblings played in the ASAPH Brass Band. I had high hopes for K.B. because of the music that runs in his family. 

K.B. did improve, and he began playing with the brass band, but we could hardly hear him. He was accurate, but the sound was small. Beginning in February, I began hearing sounds come from K.B.'s trombone that were brand new. He would hang around after a rehearsal and play from his heart. He got good at the higher notes, and they sounded quite nice!  

K.B. is the only tenor we have right now in the band. I am so glad that he has found his voice on the trombone. He also plays guitar. Here at ASAPH, we have had young men show promise before, but somewhere along the way many of them have drifted away from the church, away from ASAPH, and away from God.

I see K.B. at church on Sundays. I see him at prayer services and at Bible study. His mother is a faithful member of the church. His older sisters are as well. As a high school student, I am sure the world is tugging at him. 

Pray for K.B. and so many other young people as they negotiate life in a difficult environment. God is God, no matter where you are!!!




 

If life in Haiti is hard for people, it is almost impossible for dogs. I have almost always had a dog at my place over the years. There have been many, since they don't live very long. Dogs survive on leftovers, and there aren't many leftovers anywhere in Haiti these days. That sends dogs out to survive on their own, and they often kill chickens or goats in order to survive. Then, they are killed for killing. 

Zoe was a popular dog. She is still living, but not with me. She adopted a new family not far away. Zoe's daughter, Souza, was our dog for several years. She gave birth to nine puppies this Fall. It was exciting, but things did not go well in the weeks after that. One of the puppies died the day after it was born. As hurricane Melissa arrived, I accidentally stepped on a puppy as I lunged to prevent a plank from falling on a few other puppies. The one I stepped on lived only one week after that. As the remaining puppies began to fill our yard with activity, Souza, the mother, didn't show up one night. She didn't show up the next day either. We learned through the grapevine that she participated with other dogs in devouring a dead animal. As often happens, people put poison in the carcass of a dead animal. Souza was apparently a victim of that kind of poisoning. Her puppies didn't do well without her.  We managed to give a few away. As I understand it, one of her puppies is still at my house.   

Life is like that, especially in Haiti. The phrase "easy come, easy go" is not far from the reality...for animals and for people. People in developed countries are protected from loss. We have ways to avoid it and prevent it. But, loss is inevitable. 

We are grateful for each day we had with our dogs. We know that they are a blessing. We also know that people are created in the image of God, and dogs are not.   

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The AAF soccer team exists to orient young men on their path to being good citizens and children of God. In 2024, despite good results in local 2 tournaments, the team was not attending the regular Tuesday meetings that we planned for teaching and for teambuilding. 

After I travelled home in November, WEC (Erntz Courtois) invited several community leaders to join a regular Tuesday meeting with the young soccer team. It was a brilliant idea. The team members do not realize the value of the program while they are in it. We have heard the same from many former players. The meeting with pastors, teachers, and principals was a victory for ASAPH as we attempt to do ministry in the lives of young men.  The adults reinforced what ASAPH leaders have been saying, and offered reasons for the players to dedicate themselves to the team.

ASAPH is proud to have the support of community leaders in the things we do. I am grateful to WEC for making that important connection.   

We've had trouble keeping kids interested in attending rehearsals for the ASAPH Brass Band and for the "B" band. However, a large group of young players are very motivated. They made enough progress to form a 'beginner' band. Trumpet players and trombone players show up together and spend time learning songs and techniques. Many of the them are friends, and most come from one church in our town. It reminds me of the group that founded the original ASAPH Brass Band in 2013. 

We will do our best to help these beginners make progress together. They performed a few songs at ASAPH's Bible Celebration program in November, and they did quite well. 

Pray for Andy. Pray for the young directors who lead the "C" band of beginners. Together, we can make a joyful noise to the Lord!




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As the ASAPH "B" band prepared to play at a soccer championship, we scheduled two long, hot rehearsals.  We learned parts and memorized the songs we needed. Percussionists got good at playing together. Horn players learned to get the right notes at the right time. It became more and more fun as we got good at the songs.

KD and ML were both playing snare drum. They were best friends a couple of years ago. In the final rehearsal, it became apparent they were now enemies. The rift was so intense that they couldn't play together. I had to ask them to stay after practice to sort it out. 

As I sat down with the two of them, they dug in their heals against each other. They were not willing to budge an inch. It was obvious that they could not accompany the group...and end up in a fistfight in front of everybody...ASAPH band uniforms on their backs.

WEC's wife Shelterline knew both of these boys from a time she spent with one in the hospital. She remembered how ML came out of anesthesia asking for his buddy KD. Now, they were in a dual. The two tuba players in the band spoke to me and asked if ML and KD would be playing with the band at the final game. I explained that they could not travel with us. They said, "Let us help you. We are Haitians. We can help them fix their feud." I agreed.

An hour later, the two feuding boys were sitting in the ASAPH Teaching Center with the two tuba players, myself, and Shelterline. We began to make progress. Shelterline was able to pull ML out of his prideful hardheadedness. It was a dance of patience and strength to get both boys ready to make peace. The two tuba players spoke and insisted on a handshake as proof of repentance. They even choreographed the details of the handshake!

It was a beautiful moment. Young ASAPH leaders came together to resolve a problem. I was delighted to just sit and watch much of the work being done...and so proud. 

At the soccer final during a down time, ML saw something funny on a smartphone, and he smiled. I saw him run to KD and shared the images with him. They laughed together. 

It's a big deal when a hatchet can be buried. 

This all happened late in the morning and into the afternoon of September 10th. While news networks were updating Americans on an assassination, two boys in rural Haiti patched up a feud with the help of some people who loved them both.

I trust the God who works when you see Him and also when you don't.



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The AAF Jr. soccer team was invited to participate in a four-on-four tournament up in the mountain community of Labaleine. Since I was in the USA, our Assistant Administrator (WEC) and Coach Wilbens oriented the two teams that ASAPH sent to the tournament.

They rode motorcycles up into the mountains on Thursday afternoons to play in the game. One ASAPH team was eliminated after a loss and a tie. The second team managed to make it into the playoff round and advance to the final.

I arrived in the country in time for the championship game. We prepare the ASAPH "B" band to play at the big game. They played the AAF team song. They played the national anthem. They also played during the game to inspire our soccer players.

In the final match, the AGAPE CLUB team scored first. It was a remarkable goal. Then, before halftime, they scored on a penalty shot as well. In the second half, AAF players were awarded a penalty shot, and Emerson scored.  There were desperate attempts to equalize the score, but time expired before that could happen. Final score : 2 - 1.  

The tournament was organized by AGAPE CLUB. They did a great job organizing the event and making it all the way through to a fun final with medals and a trophy. It was a pleasure for our kids to participate. 

I am proud of the second-place medals our team received. They did much of the work on their own. They were a competent team inches away from a championship. 

I just spoke with Coach Wilbens, and he gave me a wise and thoughtful reaction to the whole event. He is a good influence for our kids. (He was a player just a few years ago!) 

This is ASAPH : A young man grows up with someone orienting him and mentoring him. He helps another generation the same way.  

Thank you for being a friend of ASAPH Teaching Ministry.  You made our participation in this event possible. 

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It was 2012.  I was putting the cap on twenty years of ministry with Water For Life. It was so easy to serve under their big, established, rooted ministry. Now, I was preparing to "go it alone" in the town where I had lived for 20 years. I was launching ASAPH Teaching Ministry, but it is really not accurate to use the word "I".  WE were launching the ministry together. 

Some things stand out as I reflect on the events of 2012...

1. The people of Pasbwadom have been so positive and helpful to ASAPH. WEC was really there at the very beginning. I had forgotten about that until I saw photos of him wearing an ASAPH T-shirt in 2011, before we even launched the ministry. Wilphar had suggested I start "my own" ministry about 10 years earlier. I laughed at the idea. It was too early.  By 2011, I was finally ready. From pastors to teachers to political leaders, so many leaders encouraged ASAPH. 

We never lacked for students!  Kids came around. Parents sent their kids. Ministry took off.

2. The people of York County have been so positive and helpful to ASAPH. ASAPH's original board of directors made the dream into something real. How amazing it was to me!  Why would people use their time and talents to set up a ministry for people they did not know?  Then, the contributions from friends here in PA have been humbling. The ASAPH brass band is using over 50 brass instruments! They almost all came from PA! 

We never lacked for supplies! When we needed a piece of equipment, it was there!

3. A real joy of being a long-term missionary is the chance to see the growth in people. WEC was a boy in 2012. He was a school student concerned with science tests and soccer games. Now, he is a husband, father, church leader and ASAPH assistant administrator. He is only one story. Pre-schoolers who would hold my hand to walk around in the school yard are now finished with school. Fellow missionary Sam Rice talks about how important growth is. "Whether or not you have this or that going on in your life, the question is are YOU growing?"

ASAPH has seen growth! We changed our logo to express that. 

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GLORY TO GOD for thirteen years of ministry. The scratchings in the cement at the ASAPH Teaching Center were put there in 2012. They remain relevant today. 

"TGBTG"   

To  God Be The Glory!!!!