Farmer John’s isn’t just growing animals and vegetables…

You know about our very successful Development for Sustainability outreach at the Gwo Marche Mirak (Grand Miracle Marketplace) that features Farmer John’s Abatwa (Butcher Shop), the many local Haitian vendors, the gas station, and the Agricultural Training Center. Using “business as missions” as the framework, Farmer John’s has grown from just being a clean, sanitary butcher shop, where a few local farmers bring their animals, to now being a diversified enterprise that sells a wide assortment of quality meat products, a water plant that sells clean drinking water, and a small restaurant and coffee shop that also sells fresh produce and general merchandise. But it is still growing!

Here, John and his partner, Edsel Reddn, are overseeing Anthony loading more equipment that will help Farmer John’s provide even greater employment, training, and development opportunities for many Haitian families. This equipment was being loaded at our Love A Child warehouse in Fort Myers, FL, yesterday. We are all partnering together to serve the Lord. Soon, John and Edsel will be building a canning operation to can excess product that will have a longer shelf life and doesn’t need refrigeration. They will be able to can chicken, beef, and other meats for distribution over a large area of Haiti.

The businesses at the marketplace are a very successful form of “missions” work that gives the dignity of new skills, employment, and self-sufficiency that leads to better lives for generations to come. God is surely blessing the work of John and Edsel and the sustainability programs of Love A Child.

Rad Hazelip, Assistant Executive Director