Fleeing to Grand-Goâve

Sunday, September 10, 2023

I was reading Psalm 57 this week, thinking of our friends in Haiti and their faith in God..

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, because I come to you for safety. In the shadow of your wings I find protection until the raging storms are over.

2 I call to God, the Most High, to God, who supplies my every need.

3 He will answer from heaven and save me; he will defeat my oppressors. God will show me his constant love and faithfulness.

4 I am surrounded by enemies, who are like lions hungry for human flesh. Their teeth are like spears and arrows; their tongues are like sharp swords.

5 Show your greatness in the sky, O God, and your glory over all the earth.

6 My enemies have spread a net to catch me; I am overcome with distress. They dug a pit in my path, but fell into it themselves.

7 I have complete confidence, O God; I will sing and praise you!

8 Wake up, my soul! Wake up, my harp and lyre! I will wake up the sun.

9 I will thank you, O Lord, among the nations. I will praise you among the peoples.

10 Your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness touches the skies.

11 Show your greatness in the sky, O God, and your glory over all the earth.

While my heart breaks, especially for the children of Haiti, my trust in the LORD remains steadfast. What hope is there in this life? Wealth? Popularity? Friends? Only the LORD is immovable. HE is the ROCK and HE never changes!

Eglise Evangélique Mission of Hope has an on-fire women's ministry. They are tenacious and do not let go of the hope they find in Jesus! (FYI, I miss them terribly!) Not one is timid, but they are as bold as lions in declaring their faith, mentoring the children and young women at MOHI, and lifting the name of JESUS high.

Madona, MOHI's country director's wife, assists Jephte in overseeing several areas of the mission in Haiti, including the Baby Feeding Program, health ministries, and coordinating the Haïti side of MOHI's Child Sponsorship Program.

Madona was in MOHI's very first graduating class. She has displayed determination and worked very hard over the years, becoming a committed follower of Christ, a loving wife and mother, and a very capable leader. Pastor Lex and I are very proud of her accomplishments and desire to serve the LORD.

Madona was talking to me this week about the current exodus from Port-au-Prince. The oppression of the population has increased in severity and is expanding outward from the capital. Families are fleeing, without looking back, in an effort to preserve their lives.

Here's one story Madona shared this week:

Today I received three children at the mission in Thozin: Vania(12), Michelove(8), and Kervens (6). They told me of their difficult journey from the capital of Haiti to Grand Goave, due to insecurity and their desire to attend the Mission Of Hope school.

Their family lost everything (house, clothes, money...) Because of the hostile gangs and insecurity, they left everything and came stay in Grand-Goave with just the clothes on their backs.

The Mission of Hope School provides hope and educational opportunities for children like Vania, Michelove, and Kervens. These children are now seeking sponsors to support their education and dreams for a brighter future, while their parents determine how to make ends meet.

The children are really happy they are in a place where they can go back to school. They know that education is key to their success. I am hoping we will find sponsors. I promise to provide regular updates on the children’s progress and how the sponsors are making a difference in their lives.

Would you like to be the answer to prayer for these beautiful children? For $41/month, you can ensure these children eat daily, receive a quality Christ-centered education, and have access to medical and dental care. Please reach out to us today at childservices@mohintl.org with the name of the child(ren) you would like to sponsor. Thank you for making a difference in the midst of this difficult moment in their lives.

Hunger continues to increase throughout the country of Haïti as food prices skyrocket and access to food diminishes. Our feeding programs are more critical to the health of our community than ever before.

The medical and dental clinics are a safety net for the students and the community at large. Thanks to our partnership with Bless Back Worldwide, and the support of child sponsors, our students receive free care at both clinics. The community pays a very small fee (less than $1) to visit the medical clinic and a reduced rate for dental procedures.

Learning can be loads of fun - especially when you're in preschool! Birthdays and English classes are two of our favorites!

Friday chapel services are an opportunity for the students to come together to worship with music, pray together, and be encouraged by one another.

Most students are very grateful for the opportunity to go to school to learn. We appreciate the teachers and staff who make the effort to be there and work hard with the students.

The walls are up for the first building in La Grua. When completed, this building will house 12 of the 29 families that lost their homes when fire swept through their neighborhood.

We need your help once again in order to build the roof.

We estimate it will cost between $23,000 and $25,000 to complete the roof. We are so close to having a shelter for these families. Please consider making a donation right now, as you are reading this. If you've already given, can you give one more time? Thank you for your care and generosity.

Nurse Marlouse's weekly presence in La Grua is more important than ever, as the population is more susceptible to sickness because of their poor living conditions. We are grateful that she can be there to answer questions and provide education about topics of particular importance.