Perseverance and Celebration
Sunday, March 16, 2025 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]
Today's update is from Renée
I have been reflecting a lot on perseverance this week at Mission of Hope International (MOHI). In both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, we've experienced moments of great joy and some serious challenges. Through it all, God has been faithful. Indeed, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:3).
Celebrating 25 Years in Haiti
We are in the midst of celebrating MOHI’s 25-year anniversary in Haiti and Pastor Lex is there to join in the fun! He loved working with Eli, Dikens, Fanel, and Gerbenson. Each one started at MOHI in preschool. Yesterday, Lex said to me, "Hon, they are brilliant!!!" He loves that they work together and know how to do all the electronic things that he doesn't know how to do!
All week long, our campus at Thozin has been filled with joy, laughter, and gratitude as the community gathers to remember God's faithfulness over the past quarter-century. The celebration culminates today in a grand event at the church in Thozin, and our team has been hard at work making sure everything is just right. On Saturday, volunteers were busy preparing for the big finale – double-checking all the audio/visual connections so that friends around the world could join via online greetings and video testimonies. They even included me from the Dominican Republic in the testing!
The church received a deep cleaning from top to bottom, and plenty of food and drinks were prepared for everyone attending.
It warms my heart to see the dedication and perseverance of our staff and volunteers. They truly want this milestone to be special for everyone. This 25-year journey has had its share of trials, but reaching this anniversary reminds me that “...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).
We praise God for sustaining us through every season.
Check back next Sunday for highlights from today's celebration!
Healing and Hope at the Medical Clinic
Our medical clinic has been bustling this week. We treated all kinds of injuries and illnesses, but one thing that stood out was the number of ear infections – so many people came in with ear pain. One patient, a young man named Celien, had been suffering from terrible ear pain for months. Can you imagine hurting for months without relief? Thankfully, our medical staff was able to help him. Dr. Evens examined Celien, treated the infection, and sent him home with medicine and a much-needed sense of relief.
Celien was so full of gratitude as the pain that had plagued him for so long finally began to ease. Moments like this capture why we do what we do. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). Our clinic team really embodies this verse – they work long hours and see so many cases each day. Yet, they press on because every person they treat is precious.
Confronting Food Insecurity with Faith
The reality in Haiti right now is tough: according to the UN, nearly half of Haiti’s population is "facing acute food insecurity, and over 2 million people are at emergency levels of hunger." Those statistics can be overwhelming, but they drive us to persevere even more in our mission to feed the hungry. Every day, Pastor Lex and our kitchen staff work tirelessly to ensure about 1,200 people receive a nutritious meal through MOHI’s food program. For many, it’s the only substantial meal they might have that day. It takes a lot of faith and hard work to cook for so many, day in and day out, but we know God is multiplying our efforts – much like the loaves and fishes – to meet the needs.
We are deeply grateful to Full Gospel Interdenominational Church in Manchester, CT, for their ongoing support in this fight against hunger. This church has faithfully sent us shipments of food and supplies, which often require extreme effort (and a lot of money!) to transport from gang-controlled Port-au-Prince to Grand-Goâve. We are grateful that the supplies make it to our mission by God’s grace (and a lot of perseverance). When I see the joy and relief on the faces of those receiving a hot meal, I am convinced that none of this labor is in vain. Thank you to every single partner for not giving up on Haiti – you are truly saving lives and giving hope every single day.
Serving with Joy in the Dominican Republic
This week we also had the pleasure of hosting a mission team in the Dominican Republic. A wonderful group from Fellowship West church in Knoxville, TN spent the week serving alongside us, and their enthusiasm was contagious! They held mobile medical clinics in four communities – Baraguana, La Grúa, Estrecho, and Luperón – bringing much-needed healthcare to families who might not otherwise have access. Each day the team traveled over bumpy roads to reach a village, and each evening they returned tired but full of joy.
It touched my heart to see how these team members poured out love on the children. When they weren't assisting patients, you could find them feeding babies, giving weary young mothers a little break, or playing soccer and games with the local kids. Laughter and squeals of delight echoed in each community!
Because of their visit, three precious girls now have brighter futures – each of them received a new sponsor through our child sponsorship program. These girls will be able to attend school, receive regular meals, and know that someone far away cares for them personally.
Nicole and Angie also had the opportunity to FaceTime with their sponsored children in Haiti!
Moments like this reflect the very heart of perseverance in ministry: we keep showing up and loving people, and God produces beautiful fruit in His timing. We celebrate what God did through the Fellowship West team – their perseverance and love in action were truly inspiring to all of us.
Mission House Fund: Pressing Toward the Goal
As many of you know, we are working toward purchasing the Mission House in the Dominican Republic that we have been using to host teams and expand our outreach. Our goal is to raise $80,000 by March 31. Through God’s provision and your generosity, here’s where we stand so far:
Funds on hand: $16,250
Pledges: $30,000
Total committed: $46,250
Still needed to reach $80,000: $33,750
We’re over halfway there! This Mission House has already been a blessing, allowing us to host teams, train leaders, and reach communities. Now, we are trusting God to provide the means to make it our permanent home. Every contribution helps bring us closer to that reality.
One way the mission house helps make an impact is by housing our Bless Back Business Academy classes.
How You Can Get Involved
Perseverance is a team effort. You are a vital part of our mission’s story, and there are a couple of practical ways you can join us in making a difference:
Sponsor a Child: If you’ve ever thought about sponsoring a child, now is a great time to start. Your monthly support can truly change the trajectory of a child's life by providing education, nutritious meals, medical care, and hope for the future. Thanks to sponsorship, children like those three girls in Haiti can now dream bigger and work toward a brighter future. You can be the reason a child smiles brighter and feels loved.
Contribute to the Mission House Fund: We have just a couple of weeks left to reach our goal. Whether you can give $20 or $2,000, every contribution brings us closer to a home base that will help us serve more effectively. Please consider donating toward the Mission House if you haven't already, or even sharing this need with friends who might feel led to help. Together, we can make this vision a reality.
Above all, we deeply cherish your prayers. Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts. Your prayers keep us strong and hopeful, and we are encouraged. We know that God hears, and we trust that He will provide in His perfect timing.
A Heartfelt Thank You
In this season of celebrating 25 years, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you for standing with us through thick and thin. Whether you support MOHI through prayer, financial gifts, volunteering your time, or encouraging us with kind words, you are part of this mission of hope. “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4). I see that hope blossoming here because of friends like you who never give up.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being partners in this work. Your love and commitment fuel our perseverance. We truly couldn’t do this without your support, and we thank God for you every day. With God’s grace, we will continue to press on – loving, serving, and bringing hope to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, no matter what challenges come our way.
