MFI's "Missionary Spotlight":

showing the people who are sharing the Gospel in the West Indies

September Spotlight - Tom and Helen Froese, Kids Alive Haiti

Tom and Helen Froese are from Wheatley, Ontario, Canada.  The Froeses have three natural adult children: Sarah, Melanie and Daniel.  For many years Tom had his own business as a roofing and siding contractor.  After he and Helen became Christians, they took foster children into their home for the next 15 years, and also worked for a Christian organization called Nairn Family Homes.  Tom and Helen first attempted to adopt a child, from China in 1995, but were told that Tom was too old at 45 to adopt.  After learning their were no such age restrictions on adopting children from Haiti, they adopted twins Hannah and Nathan (center and right in family photo above) in 1997, and returned in 2001 to adopt Stanley (left in photo).  They joined Kids Alive International in 2002 and began serving in Haiti.  Kids Alive opened its first children's home in Cap Haitien, Haiti, in February of 2004, and the Froeses were assigned as Field Directors.  A second home was opened in November of 2004.  The mission of Kids Alive is to place children in 'family units', under the care of Haitian house parents.  These house parents are carefully selected based on their Christian character and ability to be strong role models for the children.  The goal is to raise the children to know Christ, and to know the love and support of a family.

With the extreme poverty and low life expectancy in Haiti, there are orphaned children throughout the country, and their needs are great.  When Tom and Helen first arrived in Haiti, the home they lived in was very sparse, and rats commonly climbed the walls and crossed the ceiling.  Only 2 orphan children lived there with the Froese family.  The second home they rented was larger and more comfortable, and Kids Alive opened its first children's home there.  Philip and Fifi Morency are the Haitian house parents for this home.  They have twelve children under their care, two of which are their own.  The accommodations are very comfortable by Haitian standards, with a large kitchen/dining room, separate boys and girls rooms with bunk beds, and a beautiful outdoor patio with gardens.  A woman next door takes care of the laundry for the family. 

A few miles away, Kids Alive opened a second children's home, which also is used for school instruction for the children from both homes.  Tom drives them to school each day in the back of his truck.  Schooling takes place both outdoors and inside.  Long-term missionaries Jarod Ebenhack (lower right photo) and his wife Jennifer assist Tom and Helen in the daily tasks at the two homes. 

The second children's home is under the care of Cellondieu and Nanni Georges.  In addition to the six children they are responsible for, they have a new baby boy, Samuel, of their own.  The home includes the classrooms and living space for the children and the Georges on the main floor, and more bedrooms on the second floor for Tom and Helen and their family, and Jarod and Jennifer and family, also.

Tom and Helen Froese have spent the past three years ministering to needy children in Haiti.  To learn more about them and their ministry, you can go to the Kids Alive Haiti website.  Friends and supporters may also write to Tom and Helen at the following mail address:

Tom & Helen Froese
Unit 1025 - ALIVE
3170 Airmans Drive
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946