Marking Milestones

Sunday, August 25, 2024 - click here to support the continuing work at MOHI.

It's been two years since MOHI established a base in the Dominican Republic. It's been such a wonderful time of making friends and supporting communities.

As we began outreaches in January, our Bless Back Worldwide friends immediately joined us with mobile medical clinics in Cambiaso, Playa Cambiaso, and La Grúa. This gave birth to the Community Health Promoter position Nurse Marlouse has been running. It's incredible to see the relationships that have formed through this program. People who once were overwhelmed with health concerns now have an advocate that comes every week. What peace of mind this brings them!

We began the START NOW Early Childhood Development program, focusing on the well-being of moms and their babies. We added another village, Baraguana, and recently started another branch in Luperón. Realizing the school-aged children in La Grúa were hungry during school vacation, we started a summer feeding program for them, too.

We embarked on some major construction projects. We came alongside the Haitian Baptist Church of Luperón to construct a building for them to gather in. The church members have worked hard, and many of you have generously contributed to this project. The next phase of the project will be to pour the concrete roof.

Sadly, about 1/3 of the village of La Grúa burnt to the ground from a cooking accident. Incredible partners and friends of MOHI stepped up to build homes for the victims. One building with 12 individual units is complete and filled with residents. The walls are halfway up on a second building.

We are also doing a clean water project, which is very close to completion. This involved leasing land, drilling a well, Installing pipes and posts to bring the water across the river, and constructing a "water house" where a state-of-the-art filtration system will be secured. The water house had to be fenced to keep the cows (and their droppings) away from the building.

Many hard-working visitors have put long hours into these significant projects. We are so grateful.

This year, we opened a new branch of the Bless Back Business Academy in Luperón. Aquilina was trained to be the coach, and she has been doing a great job, working with about 24 business owners. She teaches a weekly class and then visits the businesses to coach the owners in applying the principles learned in class. These business owners are always happy to see Aquilina come by.

Our permanent staff in the DR, Ben, Marlouse, Lucy, and Mayo, are doing a great job representing MOHI to the people of the Dominican Republic. Hats off to each of you!

Looking back over these two years, I'm just amazed at what the LORD has done at MOHI in the DR! Thank you so much to each of you who gave your time, energy, and resources to impact our new friends. May the LORD richly bless your generosity!!!

Lex returned to Haiti last week. It took him several days to arrive in Grand-Goâve. He flew into Les Cayes and spent a few days at his cousin's place. Soeur Enose was so kind back in 2021 after the earthquake in southern Haiti to open her home/yard to us (most people are nervous about sleeping indoors after an earthquake - with good reason! Many of the team slept in tents). We set up a base of operation there and went out daily to care for the injured and distribute needed water, food, and supplies.

This was his first time checking in on her in person. It was a joyous reunion.

In the mountains of Camp Perrin, water was challenging for people to find after the earthquake. Lex visited one of the water cisterns we built after the earthquake.

Thozin and St. Etienne schools are scheduled to open on September 2nd. We are all eagerly awaiting the return of our teaching staff and students. It is awesome to see the teamwork as the staff prepares every detail.

Summers tend to be much quieter on our campuses but not in the clinics. It is wonderful for our neighbors to have a place to go when pain or sickness comes knocking.

The babies had a good week of nutritious meals and vitamins.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the incredible work happening in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Your continued support and partnership empower lives and strengthen communities, and we are deeply grateful for all you do to make this impact possible.