Mike and I moved to Haiti on August 17, 2009 to begin ReachHaiti Ministries. Since then, the Lord has grown the ministry and is allowing us to advance His Kingdom is more ways than we ever imagined! Our house is located in Carrefou Marasa off of Santo 25 in Croix de Bouquets.

Orphanage:

The first week we were in Haiti, we moved 15 children into our home. We had found out in June that these kids had lost the funding for their home and were being put into the streets. So, we rented a larger home and moved the kids in downstairs. Through a tragic accident our third week in Haiti, we lost one of our children, James, to a fall down an old well. The Lord used this time to teach us to completely rely on Him and have the faith to believe Him to provide one day at a time. He has never failed us. Since September, we have added five more children into our home. The majority of our children come from the slums and streets of City Soleil. They had never lived in a nice house, seen a toilet, used running water, or have nutritious food everyday. Several of them had minor illnesses like scabies, bacterial infections, skin conditions, anemia, and severe malnourishment. With the help of our sponsors, we were able to get all of our kids to the doctor for full physicals and blood-work. The doctor told us that a couple of them would have been dead soon if we hadn’t intervened. All of them but one were on medicine for 10 days. Now, they are all healthy and growing everyday! Our kids are also learning discipline in our home which many of them have never had. We have a daily chore list that the older kids rotate through two at a time. Our goal is not only to educate them them but to also give them a hope for a future. Our home is not full yet, and it’s our mission to take in children as God brings them to us. We never want to turn away a child who is truly in need. Jesus says that children are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18: 5 says, “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” We have proclaimed the power of God in our home and are determined to show every child the love of Jesus. His love is always enough. You can read more about the orphanage outreach by clicking here.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”

James 1:27 (NIV)

Church Plant:

We have birthed our first church which currently meets in our home still. Our first service was August 30, 2009 and we had 33 people in attendance. Since then, the church has grown and multiplied quickly! Last Sunday, October 11, 2009, we had over 100 people here! Mike has been teaching the stories of the Bible beginning with creation which has been very needed down here. Many Haitians, even those that don’t have a relationship with the Lord, can sing the hymns and recognize God’s power, but very few have ever heard the Word of God. Because of the voodoo being so involved in the Haitian culture, the people both adult and children understand the spirit realm and spiritual warfare. The problem is that they don’t understand the true power of God they have access to over the enemy! Their culture is full of fear and oppression which is why the Gospel is so needed down here. The church continues to grow each week, and we’re really excited about what God is doing in our community!

Evangelism:

The church growth has partially been due to evangelism around our home in our community. Through local evangelism, we have seen over 1,250 people repent of their sins and receive salvation in Jesus Christ since August 2009! We have ministered to several hundred people through evangelism and the Jesus Film. Through evangelism, Mike has been teaching through a story format beginning with creation and the Bible stories. Haitian culture is completely oral since 90% of Haitians can’t or don’t read. They don’t know the Word of God, and many people don’t have the opportunity to learn. By teaching the stories, people are very receptive to hearing the Gospel and are understanding the Word at a deeper level. Haitians learn differently than Americans. Their whole culture has been passed down orally and through stories. Voodoo is also passed down orally which is very ingrained in the culture here. Nothing is written though; it’s all verbal or through pictures. The Jesus Film has been another big tool for us here. The visualization of Jesus is very effective in portraying the Gospel. We are also building relationships with the people in our neighborhood and are understanding the culture more everyday. Paul said I have become like those I serve so that I may reach one.

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ISOM Bible School:

Every Monday and Thursday night, we have Bible College in our home through the International School of Ministry or ISOM. ISOM is taught through videos of many different speakers and is used all over the world. We have been averaging between 10-14 students each week. Most of our students are young men who are hungry for the Word of God. Every week, Mike also takes the students with him to do local evangelism. Our goal is to disciple them and equip them to go preach the Gospel and plant churches.

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Feeding Program:

We have partnered with the Burns Lake Community in Canada to start a feeding program on Sunday’s after church which has also largely contributed to our church growth. We started the program on September 20, 2009 and fed 29 people peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, mostly children. Since then, as the church has grown, so has the feeding program! Last Sunday, we fed all 100 people who came to our home for service rice and beans. Many of the people, especially the kids, that come to the church are very poor and go hungry a lot. We are blessed to have never experienced true hunger like they have. Feeding the poor and hungry is also part of doing God’s work. It’s great to be able to feed them physically and spiritually at the same time!

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City Soleil Outreach:

After we had been in Haiti almost two months, we started learning more and more about where most of our children come from: City Soleil. We had only heard about City Soleil, but had never actually seen it firsthand other than a quick drive through. We sent Abraham into City Soleil with our video camera to capture what the city looks like. Being a dangerous place to go, it was not safe for Mike and I to go at first and take a camera. What Abraham brought back for us to see was beyond words. We were both stunned at the extreme conditions there: piles of garbage feet high, children sick and naked, families living in trash and starving, kids playing in the dump barefoot, and so much more that can’t be put into words. Mike went back the following week to see for himself where our kids grew up. Our kids are from a small community in City Soleil and were all neighbors before they moved into our house. We have been learning so much about the horrendous conditions our kids have known their whole lives: poverty, abuse, violence, hunger, loneliness, abandonment, and so much more. Sadly, many of them still have siblings living in these conditions in City Soleil. We are wanting to get involved and bring some of the children into our home as we can. Mike brought back Lynette that day whose brother, Sadrak, already lives with us. We are trying to find sponsors so we can continue to bring these children into our home.

Partner with us today

We need your help in reaching the poor and needy of this nation. We would like you to consider supporting us monthly to help us with our daily expenses such as rent for the orphanage ($500 US per month), paying our staff ($225 US per month), outreach expenses, diesel and gasoline, and other needs. If you are unable to commit to monthly support at this time, you may also make a one-time donation to help towards these expenses.

One time Donation

Monthly Amount:

$25

$45

$65

$85

$100

$125

$150

$175

$200