Faith That Shows Up

Sunday, December 22, 2024 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]

Your Faith in Action

Haiti and the Dominican Republic are filled with people longing for hope, stability, and opportunities to thrive. Through your faith, prayers, financial gifts, and volunteer efforts, you are a lifeline to communities in need.

Your support feeds hungry children, empowers women through business training, and provides lifesaving care to the sick. You are clothing the vulnerable, comforting the broken, and bringing God’s light to those in the shadows. These changes—children laughing with full bellies, mothers building brighter futures for their families, and communities finding strength—directly result from your faith in action. Thank you!

A Tragic Loss for Haiti's Healthcare System

This past week brought devastating news: one of Port-au-Prince's premier private hospitals has been destroyed by gang violence. Bernard Mevs Hospital, which provided critical trauma care to all Haitians, is but a charred shell now.

The loss hits close to home for us. I remember when our friend and fellow missionary, Travis, suffered a terrible accident. After receiving basic emergency care at our local hospital, Lex managed to get him transferred to Bernard Mevs. Their skilled team stabilized Travis and cared for him until he could be med-evacuated to Miami the following day.

The attack itself is heartbreaking in its senselessness. Gang members threw explosives over the hospital walls, looted what they could, and set fire to the building. Ironically, this was the same hospital that provided lifesaving trauma care to everyone in Port-au-Prince – including gang members and their families. Now it can no longer serve anyone.

This destruction represents more than the loss of a building; it's the loss of crucial services for countless humans in their moments of greatest need.

The Many Roads to Haiti

Pastor Lex’s travels to Haiti are always an adventure, and this trip was no exception. From bus, to taptap to motorcycle to plane, to bus, he made his way to our Grand-Goâve campus. It's not easy, but liked many of you, he is committed to impacting the lives of our friends in Haiti.

Reunited in Haiti

Lex had a special encounter at the airport with our dear friend Andrew, who, along with his family, was a key part of the MOHI church in Thozin for ten years. Though their meeting was brief, it was a beautiful moment of reconnection and a reminder of the enduring bonds formed through this ministry. Andrew now works with Mission Aviation Fellowship and was on his way to Idaho to return one of their planes to Haiti.

Lex in Action

This past week, Pastor Lex brought his characteristic energy and warmth to our campuses in Haiti. He spent time with our preschool students, joyfully dancing and singing alongside them. It was a precious moment of connection and delight. Later, he visited with older students as they diligently worked on their exams, encouraging them with his words and presence.

Finishing Strong for Christmas

This past week marked the end of trimester exams for our students in Haiti. Staff and students alike poured their hearts into finishing well, demonstrating perseverance and dedication in their studies. The anticipation of Christmas break brought an air of excitement, as everyone looked forward to a well-deserved time of rest and celebration. These students inspire us with their hard work, and we celebrate their accomplishments as they continue striving for a brighter future.

Hope for the Smallest

In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the START NOW Early Childhood Development program continues transforming lives. Thanks to our dedicated sponsors, these precious babies receive the nutrition and care they need for a healthy start in life. A picture collage this week features these little ones enjoying their meals—a tangible reminder of the impact of generosity.

Feeding With Love

Behind every meal served to the children in our programs is a team of dedicated cooks, like Paul, who was captured this week stirring a massive pot of food on the stove. Their hard work and devotion ensure that hundreds of children receive daily nourishment, and we are so grateful for their contribution.

By the way, Paul has been working with MOHI for almost 25 years!!! He is super dependable and always willing to do what needs to be done. Besides working for MOHI, he is also a farmer, growing crops and raising animals. What a blessing he has been to the MOHI community this last quarter of a century!

Aprann pou Avanse Launches

Pastor Lex also met with twelve women who will be part of our first Bless Back Business Academy in Haiti. This first program will be known locally as Aprann pou Avanse (Learn2Advance). This groundbreaking program will provide business education, discipleship training, and micro-loans to these women, empowering them to launch or grow their small businesses.

The women will meet three times a week to study business principles through a Biblical lens. As part of the program, they will repay their micro-loans weekly, plus a 5% contribution toward their own savings. Micro-loans have proven to be a powerful tool for alleviating poverty, enabling individuals to start small enterprises, gain financial independence, and improve their families’ quality of life. This initiative holds incredible potential, and we’re excited to share updates as it progresses.

Caring Hands at Work

Our medical and dental clinics in Haiti are bustling hubs of activity, offering care to students, staff, babies, neighbors, and even refugees from Port-au-Prince. We are so thankful for our dedicated medical teams who tirelessly serve the community.

Growing in the DR

In Luperón, Louis has been working hard in the garden, growing fruits and vegetables for our feeding programs, as well as for all the guests we will be welcoming in January, February, and March.

A video captured him thinning out some young plants.

Did you know new manioc plants (also known as tapioca) come from the branches of mature ones? By chopping them into short sticks and planting them, we can grow an entirely new crop. It’s a wonderful example of sustainable agriculture.

When devastation strikes, your generosity, and prayerful support bring beauty from ashes. By joining this mission, you are helping to rebuild hope in forgotten places. Every meal served, every baby cared for, every seed planted, and every word of encouragement shared comes from your willingness to say “yes” to being God’s hands and feet. You are making an eternal impact, one life at a time. Thank you for being part of this incredible story of restoration and renewal. Together, we are spreading hope and transforming lives!

This week, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, our Savior who came to take away the sin of the world, my heart is filled with awe and gratitude. His love is the greatest gift, transforming lives and bringing hope to all.

I am also grateful to God for you—your prayers, generosity, and faith in action are a reflection of His light in this world. Thank you for partnering with us to share His love. May your Christmas be filled with peace, joy, and the wonder of His presence. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!