One More HFH Home Completed!

Mr. Benoit Joseph Cambry has been an active member of Picot Baptist Church for a long time. He is married with 7 children. They were living in a house of tarps for a long, long time. As you can imagine, this has been incredibly difficult, and even seems impossible.

When RMI told Pastor Calixte Dorval, the pastor of Picot Church, that we have a house to build for a family through RMI's Homes for Haiti Program, he and the church committee decided together that this family should receive this home.

Mr. Benoit Joseph Camby, the father. is a farmer. They work hard to make ends meet as they live their daily lives counting on the Lord to provide for the family. 

After we built the house we handed the keys to the family. The mom said to us “Thank you very, very much for changing my life and my family. We have lived in that tent house and I must tell you that when it rains it was like we were outside. Sometimes we think the kids pee in their bed, but in reality it was just rain water! When it rains nobody can sleep because we have to stand up until the rain stops. While everybody is praying to have rain, my family and I are very worried because the rain is not good for us. Once again thank you for all you do and thank you for changing my life."

As we were building this home, the mom would walk around singing praises and thanking the Lord. She was clearly grateful! The family helped as they were able to with the build itself.

We are also grateful for the opportunity we had because someone in the United States made a donation to help make this happen. Thank you to that donor and all praise goes to the Lord!

You can see more pictures here.

The first one is their original "house", the last one is their new home.

This is a picture of the old "Tarp" Home.

Interior work is being done.

This is the HFH Build Team
with some of the Family.

Finished!

It’s Hope for Kidz Time!

A secular study recently concluded that one of the most effective ways to give third world kids a chance to better themselves is to enable them to get an education. This is what Hope for Kidz is all about - providing “Hope Today for Haiti’s Tomorrow”. Through a child sponsorship a child receives his or her tuition paid for a school year, the necessary uniforms and school supplies, annual de-worming medication and prevention education, access to an emergency major medical needs fund and where available, 1 hot, nutritious meal each school day.

HFK Director, Barbara Rose, [right] and part-time RMI Administrative Assistant, Debbie Crawford, [left] have worked hard to prepare the profiles and informational packets. This picture was taken in the garage of the RMI International Office. 

 New pictures have been taken for the 2015-2016 school year. Everything is being sent out this month. It’s the time to re-new your sponsorship or if you haven’t been sponsoring a child, it’s time to start! Sponsor several kids! Can you share the need at your place of work? Your Bible study group? How about sharing the need with your extended family? Family groups can get together and support several children. Share it with your Kiwanis or Rotary group...or your neighbors. Help us get the word out about Hope for Kidz. The more kids that are supported, the more who have Hope for Tomorrow - and the more kids we can feed! 

If you are a part of an RMI C3 Partnership, contact your church’s Hope for Kidz Coordinator to select a child and receive that child’s picture and profile. If you are not in a C3 Partnership, contact RMI directly. 

 Sponsoring a child costs $336 annually or $28 monthly for 12 months. You can go online at www.rmibridge.org and click on “Donate Now”. Create your online profile for recurring donations. Or phone RMI at 877-764 - 5439. Sending a check is always an option as well (5475 Lee St., Suite 301, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971).

Teams Come and Go. Why?

As our American teams come and go, our ultimate goal is that we can facilitate a partnership that will have a hand in their transformation into who God wants them to be. It really isn't about the logistics, planning and prep, funding, projects, vehicles, equipment, meals, etc. These are a means to an end. Our prayer is that they would go back more on fire; more on mission for Christ. We call these our measures because we can measure our success by these. We hope to have a hand in developing/creating...

• Compassionate Christians - First in their church, and to the world! 
• More Missionaries - First in their church, and to the world! 
• Generous Givers - First in their church, and to the world! 
• Everyday Evangelists - First in their church, and to the world! 
• Selfless Servants - First in their church, and to the world! 

Has this happened in your life because of your Partnership with RMI and your Sister Church?

Seeing is Believing

For the first time ever, the RMI Board traveled to Haiti during the last week in February to see and experience RMI’s many ministries first hand as well as meet and encourage our growing staff.  Despite a busy schedule, it was a rewarding, insightful experience for everyone. 

In 2 days they:

• Visited a school to see a hot lunch program in action.  The Board members actually handed out the food.  Toured the new RMI office at Cite Lumiere in Les Cayes 
• Visited a Rastavic school where there are several Hope for Kidz sponsored kids 
• Visited a Homes for Haiti home in the Simon neighborhood, toured the home and prayed with the widow that lives there with her 2 little girls 
• Joined the RMI staff for morning devotions (given by Board chairman, Tim Osborne) after which the Board members washed the staff’s feet and prayed with them 
• Met with Pastor Emile Alneve, the president of MEBSH, the Haitian church association we partner with and prayed with him 
• Toured Cite Lumiere Christian School where our missionary kids attend 
• Toured 2 RMI facilities in the local village area where 3 RMI missionary families are living 
• Had a short visit with Jules Gedna (RMI’s former administrator) at his home (Note - his health is holding steady.  He was in Haiti for a short time and has now returned to the states to continue his cancer treatments.)

On the evening of the second day and the third day in-country the Board meeting took place.  Being at RMI’s Retreat Center on the Caribbean was an added bonus.  All in all it was an excellent trip.  You can see more pictures HERE.

Top 10 Ways 2 Ruin a Short Term Mission Trip...

10.  Assume You Understand - Instead, assume you don't understand.  Don't draw conclusions without lots of questions and listening (and then question your conclusions again). 

9.  Assume Cultural Superiority - Realize, that you dress like you dress, walk like you walk, buy the stuff you buy, talk the way you talk, sit the way you sit, dream the way you dream, think the way you think, all because of your own context, and the context of your ancestors.  Don't assume it is the better or right way.  Assume it is simply a different way.  Constantly say, "It's not weird, it's just different".

8.  Assume You Understand the Root Cause and Solution of Economic Poverty - Don't assume you understand the definitions of wealth and poverty.  Poverty is complex.  There aren't easy solutions.  Immediately upon your arrival, maybe even within 5 minutes of leaving the airport, you may start to dream of possible solutions.  It's what we do, but it's just crazy!  Don't assume the causes of laziness, corruption, or ignorance either.  Instead, respect, love and serve.

7.  Get Upset When Plans Change - Instead, put on "Gumby" like flexibility.

6.  Keep Your Distance for Security and Health Reasons - Don't be stupid, but force yourself to get out of your comfort zone so you can more effectively love and be loved. serve and be served.  Know the difference between foolishness and wisdom, and/or work with those on the ground who do.

5.  Exclusively Choose Production Over Relationship - Although Americans would like to think it is true, production, (aka doing something), isn't always the highest priority.  Think "Mary/Martha". Take the time to love.  Take time to laugh.  Take time to pray.  Take time to listen.  Just BE.  Prioritize relationship. When you go to visit someone in the hospital, it isn't about doing something.  It is about being together, encouraging one another, and sharing time.  We call it the "ministry of presence".  By the way, get something done.  Don't exclusively choose relationship over production either!

4.  Be Like Santa Claus - Your main goal is not to give out stuff...  Hand out candy... Hand out dollar bills... Yes, we've seen it, but seriously, stop it.  It makes us feel good, but it can confuse the Gospel message we carry and hurt in the end.  I know you want to be generous, and this is a good and necessary thing, but please do so in an appropriate setting, in a culturally sensitive way that will truly help those who need it, not just those who are asking.  Why do children here in Haiti put their hand out every time a white person drives by?  Because they see the likeness of Santa.  I prefer they see the likeness of Jesus.  Yes, the man asking for those flip flops may go sell them to buy a lottery ticket.  By the way, be generous ;)

3.  Don't Collaborate on Goals - Your goals and their goals are likely different because you value different things.  Listen to one another. Come up with a collaborative approach, steeled in the bed of understanding, in which both parties can do their part.  Remember, it's reciprocal.  You aren't coming to fix those on the field.  You might just be the one that needs fixing!

2.  Work "Directly" with Nationals - Say what? Don't misunderstand me, I am playing with words a little. We only want to work alongside an indigenous movement, organization, ministry, leadership, etc.  We work with a team of nationals under the authority and direction of an autonomous and indigenously led church association.  We are One Team with One Mission.  Yet, SO. MANY. TIMES. we have heard SO. MANY. STORIES. of American churches that wanted to bypass a "middle-man/org" and work "directly" with a national church and they got burned. T.S. Eliot said, "“Most of the evil in this world is done by people with good intentions.” Why does this good intention fail so often? There are many reasons, but here are 2... First, and sadly, there are many nationals (Americans too!) who are looking for opportunity who may not have the greatest God honoring motives. They are looking for you, so these are often the ones you will come in contact with and start working with.  Second, you need a cross-cultural team on the ground that can be your bridge to partnership... Cross-Cultural collaboration is just really hard. It takes LOTS of patience, understanding, trust, respect and relationship that has developed over long periods of time. I know you may think you are different, but it is next to impossible to effectively jump in and out of your context, while asking someone on the field to do the same.  Developing trust and respect over the phone/email is often a minefield.  Working with fellow Americans on American soil is hard enough, but when you throw in international cross-cultural complexities, the road gets tougher (quite literally).  We have found that working with a cross-cultural team who is firmly planted on the ground, that exists of mutually minded Americans AND Nationals, who are walking and working through life together, is the only way to go.  As an American here in Haiti who is investing lots of time building relationship and trust, together with my team, we can more effectively navigate the minefield and bring true cross-cultural partnership.  It's not easy, but it's worth it.

1.  Don't Plan and Prepare - So many short term teams hit the ground with no preparation.  Here in our organization, we have taken the time to produce a training manual that we require all of our teams to go through in pre-trip sessions.  Why?  We want our teams to be prepared physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, geographically, linguistically, culturally, etc. We work hard to give a schedule to each of our team members upon their arrival with a clearly defined plan for the week.  We feel it is a non-negotiable as we endeavor to have the greatest impact on both Americans and Nationals alike.

If you want to develop a 1:1 church partnership like this in Haiti, please contact us at partnerships.haiti@rmibridge.org.  

RMI's Field Missionaries

We have begun calling our entire staff "missionaries", both foreign and domestic.   Why? We want to emphasize that we are all here as ONE TEAM, with ONE CALLING, for ONE MISSION, no matter the color of our skin or the location of our original zip code.

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV

"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24 ESV

All of RMI's Field Missionaries

Ask Yourself This Question...

Will you eat today?  That's a real question that many people ask every day in the majority world.  America is the minority, it's not even close.

Here in Haiti, TODAY, 5075 children will eat because they are in our Hope for Kidz Hot Lunch program.  "For more than half it will be their ONLY meal."  We are privileged to be able to be the hands who are able to get this food to them.

It takes a lot of work... many partners working together, believing in one another, and a great deal of logistics, trust and team work to make it all happen.  Not just happen, but happen with excellence.  We are grateful for Feed My Starving Children who donates the food itself to us and the many volunteers who we don't even know who pack this food.  We are grateful for Food for the Poor - Haiti who provides reduced shipping costs and provides expert expedited shipping logistics.  We are grateful for our donors who make this all possible, including covering our shipping, distribution, management and oversight costs.  We are grateful for the RMI national staff who are doing the work of getting this food into the hands of so many.  We are grateful for our school cooks who take great care in cooking and distributing this food everyday.

We invest a lot of time in seeking to do things right.  We unload and load, store and deliver the food, provide accountability, track stock, produce reports, procure and manage funding, oversee food storage depots in 20+ locations, plus much more.  All in the name of, and to lift up the name of Christ.

Last year, we provided a total of 865,296 meals just in our Hope for Kidz Hot Lunch program alone.  Through our total Food for Health program, the number jumps to 1,206,576 meals!  Frankly, these numbers are hard to even comprehend.  Just think... there were 1,206,576 times people put nutritious food into their mouths in the last year.  That's just awesome!

Help us Help more...  there are 2 ways to financially help provide more meals.  For every $25 donation to RMI's "Food for Health" program, a family of 6 will eat one nutritious meal a day for a month.  For $10/month, you can feed 2 children a day for an entire school year through our "Feeding Two" initiative. Please DONATE here.

February 2015 Ministry Highlights...

Each month we have a feature that appears on the back of each paper receipt and now appears in text on the e-receipts. Some of the items also appear here in our blog. We didn’t want you to miss out on any news, so we’re going to be posting them here.

This month's Ministry Highlights featured:

13,000 Kids De-Wormed...

In December, the 3rd Annual Hope for Kidz (HFK) Deworming seminar was held. All the school administrators attended to review the program protocols and the meds were distributed for the clinics at their schools.

The last two years we’ve taught these school leaders how to administer and keep good records of deworming meds distributed at their schools as well as gave them educational materials and training on how to teach worm prevention to each of their classes. This year we distributed deworming medication and cups to 51 schools for 12,576 students and 508 teachers. That’s right, we handed out over 13,000 doses of deworming meds!

If you sponsor a child through Hope for Kidz, don’t miss the impact you are making in this small area of the program! A portion of each sponsorship goes toward deworming as a whole and has a big impact on not only a sponsored child, but that child’s school and community. Not only sponsored children receive the medication and education, but every child in that school. The more people in one school and/or community who receive deworming treatment each year, the less worm infections in that school and in the community. Add to that the prevention teaching they receive at school through the deworming program (which includes important education on hygiene and cleaning of food). The leaders shared that the impact this treatment has had on their students has been dramatic and obvious. 

Leadership Training...

Leadership training is a very important ministry of RMI. This kind of training is hard to come by for the typical pastor. Bayou Church (Lafayette, LA) sent several of their leaders to teach a 3 day leadership training seminar to the pastor of their Sister Church as well as pastors and leaders from a number of surrounding churches. Taking place at the Zanglais Retreat Center, they worshipped, studied the scriptures, sang, played and ate together. The “trust fall” was especially interesting since the pastors had never participated in anything like this before. It was a refreshing and encouraging time and will be well used in their leadership of their churches.

Goats Receive Vaccines...

In 2014 RMI was able to deliver 108 goats for our partner churches. But the story doesn’t end there. Several of our national staff are trained veterinarian technicians. Recently they made trips to visit the goats to do checkups and give vaccines. These visits are a valuable tool to give these goats a greater chance to grow and reproduce, giving the new owners a better chance to provide for their families.

Providing goats is an excellent tool gives these families a hand up, enabling them to become more independent. It also gives them dignity and an increased sense of worth. Quite a return on your money, wouldn’t you say?

Matching Grant Give for Homes

 

It's hard to believe that January 12 will be 5 years since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. In just a few seconds millions of Haitians' lives changed forever.  Now, 5 years later RMI's Homes for Haiti Program has been able to build 110 homes.  It's amazing for them to have the security of a solid roof over their heads, solid walls around them and doors that they can lock.  They are able to really start rebuilding their lives.  Unfortunately there are over 250,000 people still living in tent cities and struggling to survive.  But we can help!
The Lord has provided us with a matching grant of $47,500 for 10 homes. This means that we only need $4750 per home to match the grant.  We need your help to match this grant!  You can be a part of providing a home to a needy Haitian family.

What a difference these houses can make!

Don’t delay.  You can donate here for a whole house or a part of one.  Or send your check to:

RMI, 5475 Lee St. Suite 301, Lehigh Acres, FL  33971

Yearly Checkup

It’s that time of year.  RMI regularly checks it’s systems, policies, and the results so it is the time that we take a step back and look at the whole picture.  In essence it is Report Card time.  How did we do in 2014?  Here is the year’s summary...here is what YOU have been a part of:

Ministry
Sister Church Team Visits - 16
Special non Sister Church Visiting Teams - 6
RMI Trips - 2 (includes one Staff visit and 1 Vision Trip)
Total Trips as listed above - 24
Total US Team Members who visited Haiti - 202
Open Air Services - 25
Salvations - 97 - Directly Related to and During our Team Visits (Officially Recorded)
Re-dedications - 4 - Directly Related to and During our Team Visits (Officially Recorded)
Trips to Port au Prince - 54
Outside Group Retreats Facilitated at RMI Retreat Center - 5
Large Leadership Training Events - 6 (Includes 1 Sister Church Leadership Retreat, 2 Awana   Training Events not related to our partnerships, 1 GLS Follow Up, 1 GLS, 1 TTT)
Hope for Kidz Sponsored - 1859
Hot Lunch Meals Distributed - 865,296
General Relief Meals Distributed - 341,280
Total Meals Distributed - 1,206,576
Food Containers Received and Processed - 7
Tons of Food Received and Processed - 144.9
Equipment Containers - 1 - Suttons with RMI equipment
People Dewormed - 13,084
Benches Built  - 80 (58 Church Benches, 22 School Benches)
Water Filters Distributed - 73
Homes Built - 4
Bibles and Songbooks Distributed - 664 (429 Bibles plus 235 Song Books)
Motorcycles Distributed - 3
Goats Distributed - 108

RMI Haiti
RMI US Missionaries - 7 Adults
RMI National Missionaries - 28
Total Staff in Haiti - 35
Office Renovation - $35,000 with labor
Simon Home Renovation
RMI Trucks in Service and Maintained - 11
RMI Motocycles in Service and Maintained - 13
Facilities Maintained - 5 (Simon Home, Office, Sutton Home, Storage Depot, Zanglais)
New Missionaries Received and Oriented - 3 (Suttons, Westcott)
Church Visits for Accountability and Oversight - 168

We are truly grateful to the Lord for the many aspects that God has given to us in which to minister.  We are also deeply grateful for all those who support RMI financially as well as with prayer.  2015 should be an exciting year as we anticipate growth in ministry and partnerships.

3rd Annual Hope for Kidz Deworming

Don’t be fooled: we may not have any teams in Haiti this December, but we have been very busy moving ahead with other programs and preparing for the busiest time of the team calendar that starts in January.

On December 2nd, we held our 3rd Annual Hope for Kidz (HFK) Deworming seminar.  This is the 3rd year we’ve included deworming in all of our HFKz schools.  We called all the school administrators in for a meeting to review the program protocols and distribute the meds for clinics at their schools.  We actually had a few administrators calling us earlier in the school year asking us to do the program again this year!

The last two years we’ve taught these school leaders how to administer and keep good records of deworming meds distributed at their schools as well as gave them educational materials and training on how to teach worm prevention to each of their classes.  RMI has provided the follow-up to keep them accountable to following through. 

This year, in addition to reviewing these things, I asked them for testimonies of how these treatments have had a positive impact on their students.  I received  overwhelming responses of gratitude!  I also heard quite a few stories that are a little too graphic to write here!  I can say that it was obvious to these school directors the impact this treatment has had on their students.

At the meeting, we distributed to 51 schools  deworming medication and cups for 12576 students and 508 teachers.  That’s right, we handed out over 13,000 doses of deworming meds. 

If you sponsor a child’s education through Hope for Kidz, don’t miss the impact you are making in this small area of the program!  A portion of your sponsorship goes toward deworming as a whole and has a big impact on not only your sponsored child, but that child’s school and community!  Remember, it’s not only your sponsored child receiving the medication and education, but every child in that school.  The more people in one school and/or community who receive deworming treatment each year, the  less worm infections in that school and in the community.  Add to that the prevention teaching they receive at school through the deworming program (which includes important education on hygiene and cleaning of food)  and that leads to healthier kids all around.  It’s a win-win! 

Thanks for making it possible!

Another Container of Food Has Arrived!

We are grateful for another container of food that has arrived today.  Or, to put it another way, this represents another 270,864 meals.  Thank you to our donors.  Thank you to Feed My Starving Children. #fmsc #haiti #hunger #reciprocalministries #rmihaiti

Giving Tuesday: Make Christmas Special

Make Christmas

Special for a Haitian family

 

 

There’s a day to give Thanks.  Then 3 days of shopping starting with Black Friday.  Cyber Monday is another day of shopping.  Last but most definitely not the least is Giving Tuesday.  That’s TODAY!  A day dedicated to giving back.  Here is your opportunity to give back – to make Christmas special for a Haitian family!

Christmas is a special family time beginning with Christ being born into His earthly family.  For US families Christmas is a busy time with concerts and parties to attend, special church services, and of course giving gifts to our friends and loved ones.  Most Haitian families love the Christmas story and season but do not have the capacity to give gifts as most of us here in the US do.  You can make a difference for a Haitian family this year by giving very practical gifts. 

Choose any one or more of these vital tools for a Haitian farmer.  The vast majority of Haitians depend on farming small plots of land for some or all of their livelihood.   These fields are farmed by hand and these are the only tools a farmer will have.  It is out of the yield of his fields that he will feed his family and any surplus will go toward other living expenses that the family has.  New reliable tools are important to a Haitian farmer’s livelihood.

 

 

This kit includes all three tools that a Haitian farmer needs to work his fields. 

A farmer’s kit will be a great way to help transform the life of a farmer by providing these tools to help him provide for his family.

 

 

Goats mean Sustainable Income - $100

It is a gift that keeps on giving.  Providing a family with a goat will enable them to begin to care for themselves.  As the goat grows and produces offspring, it can be the source of a small herd.  These are then sold and can help cover school expenses, food, clothing, etc. for the family.   It only costs $100 to provide this opportunity for dignity and sustainability.

 

Clean Drinking Water - $105

A simple and yet profound way to impact a third world family’s health costs only $105.   Half of all Haitians have little to no access to clean drinking water and are susceptible to many water borne diseases.  Providing a Water For Health water filter provides a family with clean drinking water. These filters are designed to be simple to operate and maintain, and last for years without having to change parts.  A  water filter would literally transform their health and quality of life.

 

Don’t delay!  Use the enclosed envelope and designation slip or donate HERE.  All gifts are tax-deductible.  Thank you for your interest in RMI and its ministries as well as for your desire to minister to hurting Haitian families.

Want to Receive Updates From and About Your Sister Church?

Reciprocal Learning...

How much do you think this man
could teach you? You might be surprised.

I wrote last week about the concepts that our American Church teams should be teaching while they are here in Haiti.  We need to be thinking about Discipleship, not only doing physical projects.  The physical projects are a big part of what I think God wants us to be doing, but let's not allow those projects to displace the Gospel work of making disciples.

Today, I want to emphasize that it goes both ways.  Not only do Americans need to be investing in Haitians, but we want to facilitate a learning process where Americans are learning from Haitians too.  We have found that this happens naturally by simply being present with one another, but now we want to double down on our efforts to accelerate reciprocal learning.

Listen up Americans, we need help!  I believe the American Church has just as many problems as the Haitian Church, if not more, and we are ignorant of the fact that some of these problems even exist.  We need to invest in one another so we can grow up into who God wants us to be (like Christ).  We want to facilitate partnerships that change lives and reconcile souls that will undoubtedly transform churches, marriages, families, communities, institutions... no matter your zip code.

What are some of the things that I think Haitians need to teach us Americans?

Respect for One Another

Respect for God

Honor

Worship

Prayer

Sacrifice

Patience

Perseverance and Endurance

Hospitality

Sanctity of Worship/Scripture/God

Relationship

Authority of Scripture

Evangelism

Faith

Supernatural vs Natural World

Hope

Joy

I have so much to learn.  So do you.  Let's learn together... in partnership.

It's Worth It: Beacon EFC Goes to Morency.

I had the great privilege of hosting a first time team from the church where I grew up, Beacon Evangelical Free Church, from Galloway, NJ. Not only was it the church where I grew up, but my Aunt and Uncle were on the team! We had 17 people respond to the Gospel wanting to follow Jesus, we built school benches, we handed out food for the hungry, we played lots of soccer, we encouraged the men/women/youth/kids in special gatherings for each, we worshiped, we received way more than we gave, we even danced! The week could not have been better.

The following comments represent a great reminder of why we do what we do... all the administration.... all the sweat and long hours... all the sacrifice, tears and hardship... all the traveling... all the prep and logistics... It's because we are having an impact...

To give you an idea of how things went, here is some feedback we received from Beacon EFC upon their arrival back home...

"Our team came back in awe of the experience that they had. God was at work! I just keep hearing story after story of how amazing and faithful our God was."

"Last night (team member) shared with the 30 women at my house for Bible Study . We had all been praying for her and the team. She shared, with tears in her eyes and holding back sobs, of the experience that she had. I knew that this was a totally-out of her comfort zone trip. Her life was changed by people who had nothing and gave so much. She witnessed to the fact that God is working on her about relationships being more important than the daily routines of life. The girls prayed for the church at Morency and for the 17 lives that were given to Jesus."

"Love you guys and believe in what you are doing for the Kingdom remembering that "time is short and Hell is hot". Keep up the good work."

"Thank you for your leadership with RMI. I see how you are delegating responsibilities and how your RMI team is taking the reins of leadership. Our team has a deeper connection with your family and a greater understanding of the ministry you are serving in. You are doing a great job!"

"Thank you to your team and the great job that they did. Our team felt safe and cared for the entire trip!"

"I have accepted the challenge to incorporate Jesus into my story of the trip."

"To see the joy that the Haitian people of the Morency Baptist Church have and to be so deeply moved by them giving up their beds and sleeping on floors for us, cooking for us, preparing songs for us, welcoming us in a parade of singing and waving of palm branches and leading us to their church with signs of "Welcome" and "We love you" while dancing and shouting greetings of "bonswa" it was so love filled that there wasn't a dry eye in our group."

RMI, Beacon EFC, and Morency building school
benches together.  We were able to provide an
additional 75 places for kids to learn.

Beacon EFC having fun with the kids.  There
was ALWAYS a ball being kicked around.

Beacon EFC out giving food to the hungry.  They
provided 5400 meals for the people of Morency.

Are We Doing the Work of the Gospel?

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching..."
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Yes.  I answer an emphatic YES!  But, I think there is more...  Please read on...

Together we focus on 5 Impact Points... Evangelism, Discipleship, Education, Social Compassion and Community Development.  The Gospel requires this.  This is why we exist.

I have had some unique experiences recently that have really caused me to deeply reflect upon the needs of the church here in Haiti.  Out of respect for the Haitian church and people, I won't share the details.  Please understand, I fully understand that there are grave and troubling problems in the US church as well.  In fact, RMI considers both lands when we consider what we hope to accomplish in our push to "transform lives in Christ".

Let me be clear, our teams come and do a lot.  As an example... together we feed the hungry, we give clean water, we share the gospel in open air meetings and yard2yard conversations, we provide schools for education, we enable kids to have hope through education, we hug each other and are simply present with one another, we provide generators so people have power, we train leaders, we build school and church benches, we pray for one another, we provide medical care, we encourage the faithful, and the list goes on and on...  and all of these are REALLY important Gospel activities and we have no desire for these to slow down.  In fact, we want to do more.  But, today I want to encourage RMI and our partners to increase our efforts in the area of discipleship.

What do I mean by discipleship?  Biblical teaching on what it means to follow Christ more and more in every aspect of our lives.

I recently sat in my office talking to one of our national RMI leaders, sharing my experiences mentioned above and asking them to give me insight.  Their response was "Director, it's a problem of discipleship.  They simply don't know any different.  No one has told them what the Bible says about that."

Go and MAKE DISCIPLES, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded.  America is an educated society with LOTS to share.  We are blessed, so let's not be stingy.

Why not set aside some time while you are here with your team to bring together the church people, maybe specifically the various leaders of the church, and do some teaching.   This can be a special gathering, and/or you can do this in our normal gatherings... youth, kids, men, women, deacons, etc.  Consider the following...

What is Biblical Holiness?
As fellow members of the Church, what is our responsibility to one another?
What does the Bible say about stewardship?
What does the Bible say about jealousy?
What does the Bible say about marriage?
What does the Bible say about purity?
How can we use our bodies to honor the Lord?
What does the Bible say about pre-marital and extra-marital sex?
What does it mean to be "Christlike"?
What is truth and why is it important?
What is grace?
What is Love?
What is the role of men in the church and family?
What does the Bible say about the exploitation of women?
What does it mean to "not conform the the pattern of this world"?
What are the Fruits of the Spirit?

Remember, don't teach what the American culture says.  Teach what the Bible says.  If you would find it helpful, our field team would love to talk with you about your content ahead of time to help you contextualize with Haitian culture.

Why not encourage the AWANA discipleship program more in your Haitian church?  Ask us how.

BTW, some other day, I will share what I think the Haitian church can uniquely teach the American Church.  American Church, we have problems too!

We've Moved into the New RMI Haiti Office!

We have MOVED IN to the NEW RMI Haiti Office!

As we have previously written, the providence of our new office location was a miracle, a gift directly from God that we didn't expect.  It's awesome when God steps in and makes something happen completely outside of our plans.  I honestly tried, but I couldn't manufacture a plan that was good, or that was feasible.  Yet, here we are.  We are grateful to God.  We are grateful to the donors who have made this a reality.  We are grateful to our staff and contract workers who have worked tirelessly to get it ready.

As you may remember, our new office, at first look, was not pretty (it had barely been used for 10 years).  But, with a lot of work, it is looking great.  We are ecstatic with our progress.  We have officially moved in, but we still have some work to do...

Projects in process right now...

• Kitchen Installation (New Cabinets and Counter-tops being installed)
• Bathroom Installation (Hot water, Toilets and tile being installed)
• Meeting and Training Center Installation (Large Meeting area under trusses and metal roof)
• Decorating (We have a LOT of blank white walls)

Here are a few pictures now that we have moved in (more pictures here)...

Front View of the New Office

New Fans and Lights Donated

Some of our Staff at Work

Benjamin and Benson at Work

An answer to prayer from south Jersey

Back in April RMI missionary Becky Thompson mentioned to her mom that Cite Lumiere Christian School didn’t have a 1st grade teacher for the coming school year.  Her youngest son, Braden, would be going into 1st grade and Becky would likely have to homeschool him due to the lack of a teacher.

Cite Lumiere Christian School (CLCS) is the English speaking K-12 school on Cite Lumiere, the mission center where the Thompsons, the Harvies, and many other missionary families live.  RMI’s Haiti headquarters is also located there.  The school has been in existence since the 1940’s.  RMI’s president, Dan Shoemaker, who grew up there as a missionary kid, attended the school in the 1960’s and while he was a missionary there both of his kids attended CLCS.  Becky is the CLCS Board Chairman.

Becky’s mom asked, “What about Courtney?”  Courtney Westcott had pet sat for Becky’s mom and she knew that she was a certified teacher and had been teaching for a number of years as a substitute and long-term sub as well as working with an after school program.  Courtney had been on 2 mission trips to Panama with her church.  She really enjoyed Panama and after the trips she felt really open to missions but she didn’t see God open doors for her there.

Becky told her mom that if Courtney was interested to contact her.  Within a month she was approved by the CLCS Board and 6 weeks later approved as an RMI short term missionary.  Her funds came in quickly and she flew into Haiti with Becky and her family when they returned to Haiti last week.

School starts Sept. 1 and she’ll be teaching 1st grade.  There is also a 3rd grade classroom, a combined 4th/6th grade classroom and a 7-12th grade classroom this year.  So far there are 24 students – school hasn’t started yet so that number is a bit in flux.

Becky shared, “It's been such an answer to prayer, for me especially as I was going to have to stop my RMI responsibilities to homeschool.  And the last minute timing can only point to how God worked in this situation.” 

Courtney will be teaching at CLCS for this 2014-2015 school year.  Pray for her as she adjusts to life in Haiti and teaches in a new situation.  We are grateful that God knows about and cares for the “little” details in our lives.  He has provided a teacher for Braden…and most likely several other 1st graders.  This in turn allows Becky to continue on with her responsibilities as Haiti Hospitality Coordinator and Bookkeeper – both of which are essential to the smooth running of RMI’s Haiti operations.

Meanwhile at the RMI Office…

To say that summer in Southwest Florida is hot, humid, steamy and rainy is an understatement.  Imagine loading a 40 ft. sea container (i.e. a giant metal box that absorbs and magnifies that heat and humidity) in that kind of weather.  This is exactly what Dan Shoemaker, Kim Rose, Joel Sutton and 2 volunteers from a local church did all in one day last week.  (They sweated their hearts out and did a great job of getting everything in it!) Joel and Laura Sutton drove their belongings down from their home in Gainesville, FL in a U Haul and those items were loaded first. 

The Suttons will spend the next couple of months raising the last portion of their support (pray with them about this!!) before they go to Haiti in September.  The goal is for them to arrive about the time the container clears customs and arrives in Cayes.

The last half of the container included much needed supplies for the new RMI Haiti office (cabinets, counter tops, toilets, fencing) and other supplies for the ministry such as tires for the vehicles, wood, towels for the Retreat Center…and everything imaginable including the proverbial kitchen sink. 

Folks from St. Petersburg Baptist Church, one of our newest C3 Partners, drove down from St. Petersburg, FL with several boxes of wedding dresses and men’s suits for their Sister Church.  And after a final delivery or two, it was finished! 

This morning, July 16, the rig came to pick it up.  The seal was put on and off it went to the Port of Miami.  The next destination is Port-au-Prince then Cayes.
 

Pray for…

1.  The funds to cover a number of items for the ministry that were bought on faith,

2.  Smooth seas (remember it’s hurricane season!) and smooth transition through the port and customs,

3.  The Sutton’s funds to reach 100% so they can leave at the appointed time in September.

The rest of the pics of the loading can be seen HERE.