Our Story
Who we are
Beauty Out of Ashes is an IBSER approved long term residential foster home located in Fort Jacques, Haiti. We believe that every child has rights and one of those rights is to be loved as God first loved us. We provide safety, shelter, nutrition, healthcare, education, counseling, and spiritual guidance to children who have been domestic slaves. We are committed to helping these girls overcome their past and reach their future potential.
"...He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for captives and release from darkness for prisoners," Isaiah 61:1
Gary and Mavis
Gary Unger was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. A few miles away Mavis Kornelsen was born in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. The two were adolescent frenemies turned high school sweethearts. They were married on June 19, 1982 and have 4 children, 3 in laws and recently celebrated the birth of their 8th grandchild. They spent 25 years farming together and then from 2009 -2015 worked for a large genetic company. They left their dream jobs there in January 2016 to move to Haiti and work as co-directors of an orphanage in Port Au Prince. During their first year in Haiti they were very moved and appalled at the modern day slavery that was very evident all around them. They resigned from their positions at the orphanage in July 2017 and started Beauty Out of Ashes for restevaks (domestic slave children) and street kids. They are the acting Directors of BOA and mom and dad to the 12 girls of the BOA family.
"to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve...to bestow on them a crown of beaty instead of ashes..." Isaiah 61:2-3
Vision
That our girls would learn to feel safe and secure.
That they would find their freedom and identity in Christ.
That they would get the best possible education giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
That they would become women of integrity and empower other women.
Values
Christ centered home.
Treasure family and time spent with family.
Dependence on God’s Word.
Reliance on prayer.
Teach compassion.
Teach the importance of forgiveness, because of Christ’s forgiveness of our sins.
