THE LITTLEST PIONEER

In a rented house on the tiny island nation of Haiti lives a four-year-old pioneer. His name is Marvin. Like any good pioneer, Marvin has weathered hardship and trials that would challenge people ten times his age. Born with a clubfoot, poisoned, along with his younger brother and left to die, by his own mother, Marvin is a survivor. But this is not what makes him a pioneer.

On May 6th, 2003 Marvin became the very first child taken in by Philippe's Home, the first Kids Alive® International home in Haiti. Now, our little pioneer is flourishing. In fact, he has grown 2.5” since he came in early May. He fills the house with delightful chatter in his native Creole language. To make his point at times, he mixes English and Creole together – we call this “Crenglish.” His noise level has increased greatly as he plays with Nathan, Helen and Stanley, the missionaries’ children, and learns to express his wants and needs with everyone else. He doesn’t let his clubfoot slow him down as he kicks a soccer ball ‘round the yard with the boys. Marvin was sad to see the children go off to school in the fall, until he realized that he gets all of the toys to himself while they are in class!

Rescued by Kids Alive Canada missionaries Tom and Helen Froese, Marvin is living with new houseparents in a rented home ready for more to join the family. Thanks to the larger family of Kids Alive® International Marvin has, perhaps for the first time, hope for a better life. Yes, he has shelter, regular meals, new friends and a place to call his own, too. But more than anything, Marvin has the loving arms of Jesus wrapped around him thanks to the expanding mission of Kids Alive. All he needs now is others with a pioneering spirit who can see to it that his home in Haiti is permanently established, filled with the laughter of many children and ringing with praises to our Lord. Your gift to Kids Alive® International can make our littlest pioneer, Marvin, into a settler!