Photo Update from RMI...

RMI is grieved beyond measure at the recent tragic loss of one of our missionary partners within the MEBSH community in Haiti. Janella Zimmerman, David Zimmerman's wife, Orrin and Cassia's mom, passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident while on vacation with her family in the Dominican Republic. Please join us in praying for the Zimmerman family, the HarvestCall family, and the entire Haiti missionary community.

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Life Transforming

When we use the phrase “Life Transforming”, we usually think of lives in Haiti being transformed…but lives of team members  are transformed as well.  This was brought home afresh as RMI’s President, Dan Shoemaker, and his wife attended 2 funerals (in 2 different churches and cities in Florida) in April.  Each of the people had been to Haiti many times over the last 20+ years.  Their families shared that God touched their hearts as a result of their involvement with their sister church in Haiti and RMI.  In one case, it changed the entire course of one man’s life resulting in he and his wife going to Italy as missionaries.  While they visited with folks before and after each of these services, they heard that same story many times.  They met folks who had gone when they were in college.  Now, as adults they are active in their church’s mission outreaches and take their own kids on mission trips.  Dan and Debbie heard that one young lady who went to Haiti as a college student went on to become a mid-wife, ministering to Bedouin tribes in Saharan Africa.  They were amazed as people introduced themselves and reminded them what year they visited – some of them in the 1980’s!  These folks recounted events of what happened to them as if it were yesterday.  Each of them expressed how their trip was a spiritual turning point in their lives and how God had worked as a result. 

One such transformed life from one of the above mentioned churches is Bartow McDonald.  He went as a college student.  There he met the Shoemaker family.  Here are pictures from that visit. 

(Yes, that’s the same Dawn Shoemaker who is now an RMI missionary appointee, raising her funds to return to Haiti soon.) 

His trips have had a profound affect on his life.

Bartow shares  “Little did I know how a week long trip with RMI almost 30 years ago would adjust the rudder and trajectory of my life for so many years to come.

It's no secret the lives often most transformed are those who travel from the states.  I'm no different.

Seeing and experiencing Jesus in a totally different culture provides glimpses of our mighty King at work, doing what no man or government could ever accomplish.  This is thrilling.  Yes, we follow Him here in Florida and see His hand before us, but there is something powerful, something all together wonderful about seeing Jesus operating beyond our language, customs and systems.

Our Haitian brothers and sisters also testify to the deep and wonderful joy found only in the transaction of deep trust between our hearts and Jesus.   Our Haitian brothers and sisters are all together inspiring.

And somehow the Kingdom often seems to be a bigger part of our Haitian brothers and sisters deepest desires. Their level of commitment and passion for Jesus redefines what ‘all in’ looks like.  Perhaps the blessing of no such thing as a 401k or Roth IRA.

I've also seen my desires change as I spend time in Haiti.  The things I want, plan for and pursue have changed.  And hopefully those look a lot more like Jesus than Bartow.”

His involvement with RMI continues today as he serves as an RMI Board member.  He’s pictured below with his wife, Laura.

Bartow took his whole family to Haiti on a Vision Trip in 2015.

Lives transformed – in the past, in the present, and in the future.  It’s truly exciting and humbling to know that God is using RMI in such an impactful way. 

Photo Update from RMI...

Happening right now in Les Cayes, Haiti. Moving food boxes so we can begin to stack more containers. This gives us more capacity to distribute food to the needy in southern Haiti!

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Paul from Lifehouse Church, (DE) was practicing the power of prayer today in the town of Aux Coteaux. What a blessing he has been!

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Happy Birthday Daniel Nunemaker!

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Another exciting development this week...Pump test # 3 as Water Mission Haiti makes final plans for getting our desalination system up and providing good drinking water for our Zanglais Ministry Center. 😃

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Check out this new tool that God dropped off at RMI in Haiti this morning. Grateful to the donor who gave this totally rebuilt Case 590 Tractor! Praise the Lord!

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The men's meeting in Petit-Trou, Haiti is in progress!!! Pray for great fellowship between the Haitian church and The Bayou Church from Lafayette, LA.

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The Bayou Church from Lafayette, LA leading a meeting with the school kids of Petit-Trou Haiti this afternoon.

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Evangelistic service happening at a park in Petit-Trou right now. Pray that the seeds that will be sown tonight will fall on fertile soil.

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The Bayou Church ( Lafayette, Louisiana) had a great time showing God's love to some kids in Petit-Trou, Haiti this morning after church!!!

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After a rainy start to the day, The Bayou Church (LA) has arrived safely in Petit Trou to spend a few days encouraging their Haitian brothers and sisters in the love of Christ.

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It's been a great week of work. Great job Beacon EFC! Our next team arrives today from The Bayou Church (LA).

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Food distribution this week in Haiti... "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Beacon EFC Morency.

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Hard work has begun again today. The Beacon EFC team is accomplishing great things at the pastor's home in Morency.

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Working side by side with their brothers in Morency (Haiti), Beacon Church (NJ) is making progress on their new wall!

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We love when we bring believers together, worlds apart in many ways, but still ONE FAMILY. Beacon and Morency together. He is Risen!

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Beacon Work Team (NJ) is off to a great start! After starting their journey with prayer, they are on their way to Morency Church (Haiti).

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Beacon EFC team is on the ground in Haiti! Looking forward to a great week!

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The work team from Beacon EFC is on their way to Haiti to work at their Partner church in Morency, Haiti.

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MISSION:Accomplished. Praise the Lord! We are excited to thank all of our donors who were pressed upon to answer the call of our Ministry Opportunity presented not even 4 weeks ago. All 2500 cases of food are spoken for and deliveries are in the works. Additional food and water aid continues to be available on our website as well.


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44 Goats

In February Bob Davis went to Haiti for the first time with his Ft. Myers, FL church.  They mixed and poured concrete for a school floor.  They put a new tin roof on the school 4-seater outhouse.  They held an open air service one evening.  They played with the kids.  They painted school benches.  They worshiped and fellowshipped with national believers.  They developed relationships.  And in the process Bob fell in love with Haiti and the people. 

When he returned home he felt burdened to continue helping Haiti in anyway he could.  That’s when he remembered hearing about RMI’s Goats 4 Haiti Program.  He had seen first hand how much having a goat meant to families in Haiti and what a difference it could make it their lives.  He felt this was something that was very “do-able” as far as raising the funds.  So with his mission pastor’s blessing, he put together a power point presentation and presented the project to not one but several Life Group classes in his large church.  Gathering the funds for 10 goats was his goal.

This week, Bob came to the RMI office with the checks and presented them to RMI President, Dan Shoemaker.  His total?  Forty-four goats.  Enough to bless families in not only the church they visited in February but several other churches.

Just one man and a burden.  Forty four goats.  Think what you could do.  What a challenge!

You can find out more about Goats 4 Haiti HERE.

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Fond Farewell

Goodbyes are never easy yet this month we have to say goodbye to Greg and Star Harvie.  They are moving on to the next phase in their lives in their home area of Nebraska.  They fly to the US on April 8.  No, farewells are not actually fond, but they have made many fond friends and fond memories during their 4 years of service with RMI in Haiti.

They have been a real asset to RMI and a key to our growth in southern Haiti.  Greg has done a great job of organizing and upgrading RMI’s garage as well as our fleet of vehicles.  He helped to acquire several needed specialty vehicles, as well as a great generator for the Zanglais Ministry Center, among many other things.  Star has helped to lead our Hope for Kidz team and all the myriad of details that this program requires.   They will be missed by both the missionaries and the RMI national staff.

Pray for them as they re-settle into life in the US.  HERE is their latest e-newsletter, which gives more details of their plans as well as their phone number.  You can always find them on Facebook as usual, too.

  

Thank you for your faithful service, Greg and Star!!

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Pastor Greg from Calvary Bible Fellowship, PA sharing the word of God this morning at Vieux Bourg Church Haiti.

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Another opportunity to see God's hand at work started yesterday with Creekside Church (FL) preparing through prayer to head out to Baradare Haiti.

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Thanks for allowing God to work through you again Pastor Troy from Hope Church IL! Another great message to a large group of Haitian students at the Maranatha School.

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The Orchard helping meet the physical needs of the people in the community of Astuc. Another way to share the love of God. THANKS!

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Fresh drinking water is on the way for Astruc Church thanks to the the gracious people of The Orchard Church (Chicago).

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Out for a stroll through the streets of Beaumont this afternoon with three great and Godly guys - the Pastor of Beaumont Church, Perguens, and Pastor Troy from Hope Church (IL).

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Photo Update from RMI...

Another opportunity for lives to be transformed on the way! The Orchard (IL) was getting prayed up for their time in Astruc this afternoon. Can't wait to hear what God does.

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Happy Birthday Star Harvie! Thank you for what you do in Haiti!

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Happening right now! New roof is going on the gazebo at our Zanglais Ministry Center! Anyone have any good memories of sitting in this space?

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Throwback Thursday...does anyone remembering riding in this? What year was it?

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Happy Birthday Benjamin Altema!

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Hope For Kidz - Spring Update

 

 

As we begin the month of March, we also begin the final trimester for our Hope for Kidz school year.  The smiles on their faces are answers to many prayers.  We are so thankful that every one of our schools has been able to resume classes after Hurricane Matthew and will all successfully complete this 2016-17 school year. 

We praise God that so many of our kids were unharmed and were able to continue with their educations and not fall behind.  Our team has also been busy with school visits and welfare checks to make sure needs are being met.

Please continue to pray for these precious children, their families, and their teachers as they prepare to complete this school year. 

Photo Update from RMI...

A great T-shirt from one of our C3 Partners. Great job First ARP Church!

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Thank you!

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