Missionary Candidate Updates

Raising support to go to the field is a challenging time for missionaries.  They must continue with their full-time jobs as well as travel, share their ministry, and work hard at cultivating contacts and supporters that will  be on their ministry team.  That in and of itself is often a full-time job.  It also involves a lot of prayer!

Jim and April Starkey are in that phase of raising their support.  They have been working hard at contacting churches, Bible studies, family, friends and acquaintances.  It has been slow-going but their enthusiasm has not waned.  The boys, Isaac, Micaiah and Ezekiel, are equally excited and anticipating the move to Haiti.  Jim has already finished one online Creole learning language study and he speaks Creole only with their youngest, Ezekiel, who is quickly picking it up. 

They are in need of additional contacts. Do you know of churches and/or Bible studies that would be open to hearing them share their ministry?  Would you be willing to become one of their ministry partners and take them on for either monthly support or by making a one-time gift to their ministry? 

They live in Ohio, but are willing to travel!  They can be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jim.starkey and www.facebook.com/aprilcstarkey) as well as their website, www.toHaitiwego.com.   You can also donate online at www.RMIbridge.org/financial-donations.
 
The recent departure of the Harvies and Suttons have left a void in our Haiti staff that the Starkeys’ skills and talents will fill.  They are urgently needed on the field as soon as possible.  Please pray with us and the Starkeys that their support will come in quickly.

God’s timing is not always our timing - but we are assured that all things work together for good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.  Thus we know that the delay in Jeff and Christina Speel’s departure for Haiti will work out for their good.  They were to leave in August but that date has been pushed back to the first week of January, 2019.

In late April, Jeff began to struggle with back issues.  He had back surgeries in 2010 and 2011 and has been good since then; however, issues began to flare up in April with two herniated discs, and worsened going into May.  In mid-May, he experienced disc fragmentation.  On top of this, he got a serious infection (cellulitis), and was hospitalized for nine days.  This was operated on June 1st.  Between surgery and antibiotics, the infection has now been resolved.  In an effort to avoid a third surgery on his back, he received two spinal epidural steroid injections that have helped tremendously to get swelling down.  He is currently under the care of a physical therapist to get his back in better shape in order to get the doctor’s clearance to go to Haiti.

God is still moving them toward Haiti.  Jeff’s physical issues are healing, his back is getting stronger, their home in New Jersey sold and they have moved in with Christina’s family in Speculator, NY. 

Jeff shared, “God is so clearly at work, and we know so many of you are praying!  Doctors are very happy with my progress, and we hope to serve in Haiti whenever I get the green light to do so.  Until then, we’re excited for all the many things RMI has us involved with stateside.  We will start language school online here in the States so that we get a good grasp on the Creole language.  We’ll also be studying from some assigned texts that will better equip us for the field.  We’ll continue to dialogue and meet various individuals/churches, sharing our hearts for Haiti and talking more about the ministry of RMI.”

Life Transforming Relationship

“On our trip in February 2016, the team from The Bayou Church visited our Sister Church in Petit-Trou, Haiti. During home visits, we split up into three groups, and one group was able to deliver a food box to a woman who had lost her home to a fire that year. We wrote down her name "Sally Ma" because that's what it sounded like to us. At that time she had been living under an A-framed tarp.

On that trip, after talking with Pastor Solvat, we assessed that the biggest needs of the church were to finish building the parsonage and to rebuild a home for Sally Ma (Salimene, Selèmen or Selìmen - we have gotten different spellings each time we go). Our church raised $30,000 that June to rebuild the parsonage (each year our church does a "Big Give" now called the "Make a Difference" fund and that year, Haiti was one of the 5 recipients of that fund). After the parsonage rebuild was under way, we started raising money for Sally Ma's home. This time we reached out to the community and friends on Facebook, set up tables in our church foyer. [The picture is a card that showed her tent house.  The card was passed out at church, to our friends, family and co-workers as well as shared on Facebook.]

On our trip in April 2017, she had moved from her property to her daughter's property and had rebuilt a makeshift house using one standing cement wall, cement slab, tarps and tree branches. Another small group from our team went to visit her and pray with her.

It took us from January to October to raise the money to rebuild her home. When our team arrived in Feb 2018, they had already cleared the land. This time our entire team went out to pray over the land where her home would be built.

When our family visited in June 2018 the house was almost complete. She was not well when we saw her in June, but I am so grateful that I was able to hold her hand and pray with her one more time. She called me "cheri" [dearest] and smiled when I introduced her to my kids who had worked so hard making videos, working the table at church, and taking pictures for me to put on Facebook, putting together their birthday and Christmas money to add to her fund - they were a huge part of the fundraising.  Three weeks after our family visited, she passed away from uterine cancer.”

~ Casey Hilty, The Bayou Church, Lafayette, Louisiana

The Hilty family was able to visit the home when they were there in June.  Casey shared that raising these funds for this widow and her family had a tremendous impact on their church’s lives and on their family’s lives.  Their kids were very involved in contributing to the raising of those funds.  “Sally Ma’s” family also were impacted as they experienced the love and care of The Bayou Church for them and their mother. 

It was truly a life transforming relationship.

A Season for Goodbyes

Joel and Laura Sutton arrived on the field in September of 2014.  Joel was an invaluable help in many areas.  He pretty much did any maintenance that needed done, not only on RMI facilities, but often on missionary homes as needed as well. He spent a lot of time at Zanglais with projects such as the desalinization unit.  He also was a driver for many of our teams and was either the missionary host or additional RMI staff on teams.  He even used his experience in tree removal after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.  He worked tirelessly opening the roads around their village and on the mission center as well as taking trees off homes in many areas.  His willingness to help in any way has been so appreciated. 

Laura’s role of facilitating all the teams and their details was an integral part of RMI’s ministry.  She helped them in coordinating their flights, their projects and ministries, and a million details to make the 40 teams we had last year run smoothly.  With her extensive nursing background, she taught several health seminars.  She helped host many a team out in the country.  She also helped nurse the various illnesses or injuries of staff or team members.  Her smile and help in keeping things organized is already being sorely missed. 

Their 4 year term has come to a close and they are returning to their home area of Gainesville, FL.  Joel plans on working with International Friendship again, a ministry for international students/families at UF.  He also may do some work at the elementary school with disabled children.  Laura hopes to be involved in women’s and children’s ministries at their home church and with individuals and community agencies needing help with nursing care.  They plan on spending time with their kids and grandkids, too.  We are sorry to see them go but wish them the best in their new endeavors.

Janae Stork taught at the missionary children’s school on the mission center.  She taught Bible, social studies, grammar, writing, and literature. She was there for 3 school years but only 1 with RMI.

She returned to her home area in Illinois, but won’t be there long since she will be marrying a gentleman that she met on an RMI workteam from New Jersey.  We’ll miss her but wish her the best in the future. 

Courtney Westcott also taught at the missionary children’s school on the mission center.  She taught 3 years, 1 year each in first, third and fourth grades and every subject except French and P.E.

She met most of the teams and had lunch with them. She also volunteered for the missionary body by sorting mail for the past two school years.  Courtney will be missed and we wish her the best in the future.

From Voodoo to Christ: A Life Transformed

Even though her family protested, Madame Emil took off her voodoo amulet and trusted Christ as her savior.  She was 8 months pregnant at the time and her family insisted that this decision and the taking off of her amulet would result in harm to her unborn baby.  But she was firm in her decision.  It was a moving time for the team from Nebraska who had come to her home with their Haitian C3 pastor and an RMI translator to share the Gospel with the family.  The angels rejoiced when she joined the family of God.  The pastor made a point to follow up with her to support her in this life transforming decision.  The local Haitian church did the same thing as they took her in.

Recently the RMI staff heard that the baby had been born, so they made a visit and brought a box of food aid as a gift to help the family. 

They were able to meet the 3 day old baby girl.  Madame Emil shared that it was the smoothest labor she has had yet (she has 3 other young children). She said she really felt the Lord’s protection and faithfulness through it all.  What a beautiful testimony! 

The local pastor went with the RMI staff and shared the Gospel again with her father.  He wasn’t ready to make that decision, but the seed has been planted.  And the pastor and church will make sure it is watered!

This is the kind of vital, life transformative ministry that RMI has been involved in for the last 30 years. 

What a privilege it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this family’s lives.  Pray with us for the father’s salvation.

Touching Lives for Generations to Come

Longtime C3 church, Creekside Community Church (Gainesville, FL) has felt burdened to build up basic educational opportunities in their C3 church, Baraderes, and its district churches for quite awhile.  Many of the district churches are very remote, from small gatherings on nearby islands to the mountains above Baraderes.  In order to do that they needed to strengthen and resource those churches.  Before a school building could be built, they had to build proper church buildings.  So this is what they have done.  Over the past several years they’ve built 3 church buildings and have committed to building a 4th one.  They’ve also built 1 school, committed to building another one and added one room onto a school to store the food for the Hot Lunch Program.   All of this has been done using local labor and under the supervision of RMI’s construction crew.  Way to go Creekside!

These efforts will reverberate not only throughout the region but down through generations to come.

Baraderes Church...the school is on the first floor and the sanctuary is on the second floor.

Riviere Salee Church, funded by the youth of Creekside.

Pederin Church praying with the Creekside team.

Grand Boucan Church’s current meeting place.  This will be the next church to be built.

HFK Child Sponsorship Spotlight: Nedchaida

Meet Nedchaida, a sweet, 7-year-old girl who lives in the Anse a Veau area.  She is in the second grade and receives a school sponsorship through our Hope for Kidz Child Sponsorship Program.

Nedchaida lives out in the country, not in Anse a Veau town proper.  It takes her 45 minutes to walk to school each day (one way).  She usually meets up with other school-mates on the way.  There are 45 children in her 2nd grade class.  Her coursework includes Haitian history and geography, math,  Bible, reading/writing/spelling in Creole,  and French.  Except for her Creole reading books, the books for most subjects are in French (the official educational language of Haiti)  but the students are taught by the teacher in Creole so that they understand.  She is learning to read in Creole from a book called "Reading with a Happy Heart."  Her class is currently learning addition.  She is very involved in the children's group at her church, where they learn Bible verses and sing songs. When I asked her her favorite song to sing, she sang "Father Abraham" for me!  She was very shy during most of our conversation, but when we were done I watched her skipping down the stairs and down the street next to her mother. That made me smile!

Nedchaida is the youngest of 5 children.  Her mother has a very kind smile and expressed how grateful she is for the sponsorship her daughter receives.  When I asked her mother what she did for work, she said she has a garden and  has a "little business" which is pretty typical.  Likely just selling whatever produce grows in their garden or little snacks.  Nedchaida's dad is currently living in the capital, Port au Prince.  It sounds like he has skills as a mason and works when there is a job available.  She helps her mom washing dishes each day.  She loves to play hide and seek and jump rope and she especially loves to play hopscotch!  When I asked her what her favorite meal is her eyes lit up and said "mayi moulen ak sòs pwa!" which is polenta (a cooked corn meal dish) and bean sauce.  Her enthusiastic reply gave her mother a laugh!

I really enjoyed getting to know this little girl and her mother and to see the difference a sponsorship makes in her life.   If you sponsor a child through our Hope for Kidz Program, thank you!  You are making a difference in that child's life and in the life of her family!

Our C3 Partner churches are working hard to secure school sponsorships for children for the 2018-19 school year.  If you would like more information on how to sponsor a child, contact your church's HFK Coordinator or go here.

RMI Turns 30 Years Old

Yep, that’s right.  RMI is 30 years old.  God has done amazing things in and through RMI and our C3 Partnership Program these past 30 years.  Our foundational program, C3 Partnerships, was a vision that started as a seed in the hearts of Herb and Shirley Shoemaker and Dan and Debbie Shoemaker and finally became Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI) in April 1988.  Herb and Shirley ran the stateside administration and Dan and Debbie, along with a handful of Haitian staff, ran the Haiti side.  From that simple beginning of desiring to see the US Church and Haitian Church experience the unity of the Holy Spirit and minister to one another reciprocally, God has raised up RMI as one of the largest missions working in South Haiti with 35 ongoing partnerships, some that are 30 plus years old.  What an amazing tribute to our Lord as we see His faithfulness demonstrated in so many ways over these past 30 years.

RMI’s vision of a church to church partnership has been way ahead of its time.  Today, it is one of the catch phrases that many missions toss around, but RMI leads the way as we continue to develop our C3 Partnership program.  We now have 35 partnerships (with a goal of 100) that are engaged in many different ministries and projects with their partner church and community.  Our emphasis on engaging these partnerships through our 5 point Impact Strategy is enabling our churches to minister through evangelism, discipleship, social compassion, and community development.  This model has provided them with a holistic ministry strategy through which RMI is constantly developing new ways through which our partners can minister into one another’s lives.

Over these past 30 years, God has blessed RMI with incredible staff.  From our staff at our Zanglais Ministry Center that have been with us from the beginning to our latest hires this year, God has proven faithful to provide just who we needed at that time.  We continue to see God’s blessing as we have seen our staff almost triple in the last 10 years to over 45 full-time national staff.  We are excited to see our Haitian staff leading many of our ministries and programs.  RMI has been a role model since its inception in the way it has treated its staff and pushed them into leadership roles.  Rob Thompson, our Haiti Field Director, Benjamin Altema, our Director of Field Operations, and Benson Joseph, our Hope For Kidz Haiti Field Supervisor, continue that tradition as they train and raise up leaders.

And what can we say about the way the Lord has provided the right missionaries right when they were needed?  Today as we look at the 2 families, 1 couple, and 4 single gals on the field, with 2 more families raising funds, we can only thank the Lord for His wonderful provision from where we started with just one couple on the field.

RMI’s second major program, the Hope for Kidz Child Sponsorship Program (HFKz) began in 1996 with a handful of kids and has been growing ever since.  HFKz Director, Barbara Rose, oversees the sponsorship of 2400 kids, a de-worming program impacting 17,000 kids, guiding our “Schools of Excellence” program for our Haitian partner schools, a hot meal program that feeds 8500 kids a day in 21 schools, and a large staff overseeing these programs both in Haiti and the US.

The 2010 earthquake prompted RMI to expand its vision.  In response to the great needs that resulted from that disaster and following hurricanes and floods, programs such as Homes for Haiti where we have provided 123 transitional homes, Water for Health where we have provided over a thousand water filters for families, and Food for Health where we have provided close to 4 million meals last year alone, came into being to help address those needs.  As a result of Hurricane Matthew (2016), Goats 4 Haiti was started and has provided 1500+ goats to date.

We are very grateful to God for the many, many ways He is using RMI to transform lives.  And we are very grateful for all the many supporters and friends of RMI.  Without everyone’s support we would not be where we are today.  We have much to share about where RMI has been and where we are going for the years ahead.  Thank you.  We can’t wait to see what God does and how He’ll grow RMI in the next 30 years.  Celebrate with us!

One Life Story–A Result of Child Sponsorship

Nadège Lavaud grew up in a coastal town as far west as you can get in Haiti’s southern peninsula.  Opportunities were limited and her family’s resources were few.  As poor subsistence fishermen, they could not send Nadège  to school.  The church they attended had a C3 Partnership with a church in New Jersey and the national pastor, knowing Nadège’s family’s limited capabilities, put her name on the Hope for Kidz list of children in need of support.  Someone from that church in the US faithfully supported her and the education she received changed her life.

After graduating from school, Nadège moved away from her small, remote town to attend teacher training school.  After finishing that program, she returned to her hometown and taught kindergarten there for 4 years.  Then she moved to Haiti’s capital to attend nursing school.  Last year, the director of the school called her.  The kindergarten program was in disarray.  Would she consider returning?  She accepted the challenge, returned to her hometown and proceeded to organize the program.

Today, under her direction, the kindergarten is well organized and Nadège is thriving in her role as a teacher.  She is happy to be making a difference in the same school and program that offered her so much hope as a young girl.

This is just one of many life transforming effects of the Hope for Kidz child sponsorship program.  The Hope for Kidz program is providing HOPE today for many kids like Nadège.  Through sponsorship, they can have a future.

** Don’t Miss Out on the Blessing! **

It’s truly a blessing to be a Hope for Kidz sponsor!  Don’t miss out on that blessing.  If you are already a sponsor, now is the time to renew your sponsorship.  If you are not a sponsor, there are kids on a waiting list needing that hope that sponsorship provides.  The cost is $384 a year or $32 a month for 12 months.  Go to RMI’s website, www.RMIbridge.org to learn more and to set up your sponsorship online.

** Don’t Miss Out on the Blessings! **

It’s truly a blessing to be a Hope for Kidz sponsor!  Don’t miss out on that blessing.  If you are already a sponsor, now is the time renew your sponsorship.  If you are not a sponsor, there are kids on a waiting list needing that hope that sponsorship provides.  The cost is $384 a year or $32 a month for 12 months.  Go to RMI’s website, www.RMIbridge.org to learn more and to set up your sponsorship online.

One of the beauties of the Hope for Kidz Program is that if a sponsors goes with their church to visit their Haitian C3 partner church, they are able to  meet their sponsored child (ren).  These meetings are special to both the sponsor and the child.  Sponsors can see firsthand what and who their money is going for and the kind of help it is.  Here are a few recent such meetings.

World Water Day, March 22

The statistics related to the worldwide lack of clean water is both staggering and sobering.

• 100 million families are stuck in a cycle of poverty and disease because they don’t have access to safe water.
• More people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war.
• Water-borne diseases kill more children under the age of five than malaria, measles, and HIV/AIDS – combined.
• In developing countries, as much as 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions.
• Women and girls spend up to 6 hours every day walking to get water for their families.
• 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases.
• Time spent gathering water around the world translates to $24 billion in lost economic benefits each year, furthering the cycle of poverty.

What can YOU do? 

Even though you are “one” person, you can indeed make a difference.  RMI has immediate access to 100 filters that are available for sponsorship at $75 per filter. This specific filter is a ready to use filter that can provide up to 540 gallons of clean water a day!  We have “boots on the ground”, ready to install these filters. 

YOU can make a difference in one family’s lives with just one filter.  That’s less time spent walking to and from a water source to retrieve water.  That’s less illness, both minor and major, in the family and increased good health for everyone.  It means less school missed for the kids and more productivity for the adults.

Join us in showing the love of Christ in this practical and hands-on way.  RMI has set up a special water filter fundraising effort to get these 100 filters into the homes of needy families.  You will find it HERE.

Our Haitian Staff Needs YOUR Help!

Would you please consider a monthly gift to directly help our Haitian Staff?

Our desire is to give our staff a raise, as well as add a few more team members.  We can't do this without help. Can you help!

We need to raise an additional $4500/monthly.  We're just getting started, but so far, we've raised just over 8%.  We have a ways to go.

Maybe you've been here and have appreciated our Haitian staff?  They are the backbone of our ministry.

Can you help?  Click below to donate monthly, or with a special gift.  Choose "Haitian Staff".

Benjamin Altema: A Promotion to be Celebrated!

Benjamin Altema
Director of Field Operations

We are proud to share with RMI's followers and supporters that Benjamin Altema has been promoted from Field Administrator in Haiti, to the position of Director of Field Operations. Benjamin will directly report to Rob Thompson, Field Director, and the rest of the team (missionaries and Haitian staff) will now report directly to Benjamin.

Benjamin came to work with RMI as an administrative assistant in 2006 and his gifts of leadership and administration were evident in a very short time. Anyone who knows Benjamin and has worked with him over the years, knows that he is a Godly man of integrity and leadership. He has been a blessing to our American missionaries, Haitian staff, and our team members who have had opportunity to work with him over the last twelve years.

Benjamin has been married to his beautiful wife, Lucette, for seven years and they have four handsome sons; Jason and Jaden are six years old, Alan is five years old, and Ezechias is two years old.

Benjamin is thankful to be working in the environment of a great team here at RMI. He says, "My team makes me look good." He has stated that his position with RMI gives him "opportunity to influence the people I'm working with, and to transform more lives and build God's Kingdom through them."

We would ask you to keep Benjamin and his family in prayer as he transitions to this new position of leadership on the RMI team.  

Two Stories of God at Work in Haiti

RMI’s ministry is labor intensive.  Quite a bit goes into working in the field for the Lord.  The seed is planted.  It is faithfully watered.  And then comes the harvest.  [See the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.]  This principle was clearly seen and experienced by 2 different teams and one C3 partner church as God used each one of them in a different part of the process.  Early last year a team from Walloon Lake, MI went to visit their C3 partner church but were unable to reach the church due to political issues in the area.  So the RMI team took them to the Cote de Fer area.  While there, they delivered food to needy families, sharing the gospel at each home. 

On one particular visit they shared the food aid and the message of salvation with a young man who had just lost his leg as a result of being shot by the police.  [First picture]  This young gangster and his family listened as the seed was planted.  Afterwards, he and his friends were quick to say that they weren’t interested in accepting Christ.  After the team left, the pastor and the congregation ministered to him, and faithfully watered the seed.  In October, the Cote de Fer church received the first visit from their new official US C3 partner church from Ft. Myers, FL.  This Florida team spent time in yard to yard evangelism. The national pastor took them to see this same young man and his family.   [Second picture]  After sharing the gospel, he made the decision to accept the Lord!  Pray for Markenson as he cuts ties with the gang and grows in his faith in the Lord.  There’s no question that it is worth the effort!

---

In January 2017, a team from Lifehouse Church (Delaware) wanted to come to Haiti and simply serve God in whatever way they could.  RMI missionary, Lee Nunemaker was with them during their week in-country.  He shared that they visited the home of a young man, who was faithful in his service to God, and his family.  They gave them a box of food.  After talking with him for a while they realized that his father, Saint Clair (nicknamed “Ti Mayi” - little corn), in the green shirt,  was not a believer.  In fact, he was very involved in practicing voodoo.  He told them that he feels it is his responsibility to pay back his debts to the evil spirits on behalf of his family.  They shared the Truth with him, prayed for him, and left.  It broke his son’s heart that he knew his father would not spend eternity with him, if something would happen to his dad. 

Then in May or June of 2017, Lee had some vegetable seeds donated in his name that he needed to distribute. Perguens and Lee felt the need to take the seeds to this family.  They showed up, unannounced with a bag of seeds in hand.  Once again, they shared the message of the Gospel with him.  Then they went to see his fields where the seeds would be planted.  This is where God comes in. . . They noticed the field was already plowed.  When they inquired as to why, they said they plowed the fields, but didn’t have money to plant them.  When asked how much of the field the seeds would plant, they opened the bag, and after consideration, they said it would be perfect to do the entire field.  The other amazing thing is that when the guys were loading the seeds, they felt they should give him all the same seed instead of mixing it up.  And they felt like they should add an extra scoop.  God was working. . . .   They reminded them that this is the God that his son serves.  He knows your needs and provides for those needs in advance!  Again, they prayed for him.  But this time, he said he felt God tugging at his heart. 

This January, the team that came down to serve God in 2017, Lifehouse Church, who had become an official C3 Partner church was at their Sister Church for their first official team visit.  While they were there Perguens informed them that Ti Mayi, in the orange shirt,  willingly went to the special services the church had over the Christmas season.   As of today. . . we are told that he has been attending the church regularly for the last month or so!  Still not a believer, still has not accepted Christ, but God is at work!!  Please pray with us for his salvation.

Cross-Cultural Friendships

When you look at this picture, what do you see?  We see the joy of friendship.  It’s the pure delight and joy of 2 friends who haven’t seen each other for a year.  They do not speak the same language; they live over 2,100 miles, as the crow flies, apart – in fact, they don’t even live on the same continent and aren’t from the same culture.  Yet they have been friends for 4 years.

Melanie is from Loomis, Nebraska and Madame Maxell is from Policard, Haiti.  They when Melanie’s church went to visit her Sister Church for the first time and put on a skit for the women’s group.  Each team member from the US church danced with one lady from the Haitian church and she happened to be paired up with Madame Maxell.  They’ve been friends ever since. 

Melanie shared, “I have been down to Haiti four times, three times to my Sister Church. I met her the first time we were down. Then her husband’s last name was Berendt. And last year when we were there she told me that he had passed away. This time when we went I found out she has been remarried.”  Upholding each other and praying for each other throughout these kinds of life’s ups and downs is a part of the types of relationships that are developed as a result of being in a C3 Partnership.

They are experiencing the oneness of the body of Christ.  The expression “brothers and sisters in Christ” really comes alive in the C3 Partnership Program.  This is what it is all about.  Developing relationships that endure through the years, relationships that weather storms, that bears one another’s burdens and prays faithfully for one another truly helps us exhibit Christlikeness.

If you are interested in life-changing relationships, consider an ongoing cross-cultural partnership with a church in Haiti.  Please contact us at info@rmibridge.org. 

If you are already a part of a C3 Partnership, could you share the program and your experiences with your friends and family?  There are so many churches who are desirous of hands-on ministry that will effect real change, but they don’t know where to go for it.  We need your help in getting the word out about RMI’s unique ministry.  We can equip you with materials and information to do that.  Contact us at info@rmibridge.org or call RMI at 239-368-8390.

Our staff are also happy to come talk to your church leaders or your contact from another church!

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of one of our C3 Partner church pastors.  Yesterday, Jan. 17, 2018, Corail pastor Jean Claude Audoul was riding his motorcycle in Les Cayes, near the mission center, when a a bicyclist turned into his path.  He was able to swerve to miss him, however, he was thrown from his motorcycle into the path of an oncoming vehicle, and was struck and killed.  He leaves behind his wife and five children.  [The family picture was taken in 2012.]

He had served in the Corail church for approximately 6 years.  He had a dynamic ministry and was well liked by his congregation as well as respected in the community.  This comes as a terrible shock to his family and the congregation.

The RMI staff will be making a visit to the Corail church and Pastor Audoul’s wife and children this week.

Pray for his wife and family as they grieve and begin to live life without him.  Pray for the church as they grieve and seek to fill the void he has left in the leadership of the church. 

Pictured at left with Pastor Audoul is Daniel Whiteman, the C3 Coordinator for Corail’s US C3 church partner, Hollywood Community Church, Hollywood, FL.

Dan shared, “We have lost a good friend, but know that he was greeted in heaven with the words, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant!’”

Record Breaking Ministry Impact Report

It has been a record breaking year for RMI.  Through your support and financial partnership with us we have been able to have a significant and life transforming impact in Southern Haiti.

The following is just a sample of what has been going on this past year.

C3 Partnerships
RMI Haitian Staff facilitated 40 team trips - the highest number of teams in one year ever
Our Haitian Partner churches and RMI teams registered over 520 salvations
Many hurricane damaged roofs were either repaired or replaced.  This includes churches, schools, parsonages and homes.

163 water filters were distributed improving the health of  those families and their neighbors
963 goats were distributed to provide sources of income for those families
3 new C3 partnerships and 2 new associate partnerships were begun

Hope for Kidz & School Education
2,366 children are now sponsored through Hope for Kidz
5,700 children received a daily hot lunch
16,796 children’s health were improved through the Hope for Kidz de-worming program

Haiti Operations Team
Processed 15 food containers - - that is 310 tons of food (which is 18,260 boxes of food - each one of which were handled at least 3 times - or 3,944,160 meals)
6 new Haitian employees were hired covering areas such as partnership facilitator, Hope for Kidz, mechanics and guard duty
Maintained 12 vehicles and 7 motorcycles to keep the ministry up and running
Acquired 4 “new-to-us” vehicles to augment our aging fleet

RMI USA
5 new missionaries: Joslynn Stakes and Janae Stork are teachers at the missionary children’s school and have been there since late August; Dawn Shoemaker will be going in March; Jeff and Christina Speel are on target to go in September; and Jim and April Starkey are just starting to raise their support, hoping to go in 2019.

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Who are RMI’s “boots on the ground”?  Who is on the front lines, carrying out all these ministries?  These folks.  They are leaders, translators, guards, cooks, do cleaning and laundry, mechanics, chauffeurs, data entry, teachers, “go-fers”, IT specialists, gardners, agronomists, veterinarian techs, menu planners, purchasers, and photographers.  They are multi-taskers and multi-talented servants of God.

In December, RMI held an appreciation fun day for the entire staff.  It was full of festivities and included a great dinner – that they didn’t have to cook or serve themselves.  RMI president, Dan Shoemaker, RMI Board member, John Peterson, and RMI US employee, John Miner were able to be there to share with the staff and affirm each of them in their service to our Lord and to RMI.  They are the ones actually making ministry happen for their own people.  The day included a giant game of Jenga and multiple drawings for gifts that the US staff brought with them.  You can see all of the pictures from that day HERE.

Happy 213th Birthday, Haiti!

There are many ways to bring in the New Year. Each country has their traditions and within each country, each family has their own way of celebrating. For Americans, the New Year frequently involves a party or gathering and fireworks...lots and lots of fireworks.

For Haitians, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day has an entirely different meaning. Jan. 1 is their Independence Day. Their preparations would have begun yesterday by going to the market to gather the ingredients, the meat (usually chicken, beef or goat), the many veggies (Haitian pumpkin-more like a squash than an American pumpkin, carrots, onions, garlic, cabbage, leeks, potatoes, root veggies like yanm and patat, parsley, celery, parsnip, turnips and others), spices (salt, pepper, scotch bonnet peppers, nutmeg to name a few) and the noodles.

The meat will be marinated for several hours and the cooking will begin tonight. Preparing it will be a family affair with everyone pitching in. Families will gather and spend a fun evening and night together as the giant pot of soup cooks.

When it is done, about 3, 4 or 5 a.m., they will all sit down and "drink" their soup. {In Creole you don't EAT soup, you DRINK it.} There is great symbolism in being able drink this pumpkin soup. [We actually call it "Independence Stew".]

As slaves in the 1700's, they prepared this delicacy for their French masters but they were not allowed to have any themselves. After they revolted and declared their independence on Jan. 1, 1804,, they made the soup and relished being able to drink it. Thus, drinking pumpkin soup, or soup joumou (pronounced joo-moo), symbolizes their freedom.

A Miami Herald article expresses it well. "For Haitians, this aromatic meal steeped both in tradition and vegetables is as much about celebrating the future as it is about paying homage to the past. New Year’s Day also happens to be Haiti’s Independence Day, which took place 213 years ago on Jan. 1, 1804."  You can read the rest of the article HERE.

One Last Word

Only 1 1/2 days left in this year. It's hard to imagine but this year is almost over. Would you prayerfully consider making a year-end tax-deductible donation to RMI's ministry? Help us end the year with a boost that enables us to continue to transform lives through partnerships, food aid, child sponsorships, water filters, homes, goats, and so much more! Give a boost to one of RMI's missionaries and appointees! Or perhaps give a boost to RMI operations. Your donation can make a difference. You can give online HERE.

A Haitian Christmas Tradition

A Haitian Christmas tradition are the "fanals". Fanals are miniature, lantern-like homes that are part of Haiti's Christmas tradition. A candle placed inside illuminates the fragile craft and creates a stained-glass effect. The size of either a shoe box or as small as a camera, fanals are often placed in windows to light the way. Many fanals emulate Haiti's yesteryear -- chiefly, the gingerbread homes, an architectural style prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Creole word “fanal” meaning a ‘beacon’ such as a lighthouse beacon or a ‘lantern’ like an old railroad lantern has been applied to the cardboard and colored tissue paper luminaries made by Haitian artists at Christmas. These creations are so striking and memorable that they have more or less taken over the word "fanal". These are most often seen and sold in Port-au-Prince.

Some fanals are simple small houses, while others are larger and more elaborate houses like the one in the picture above.

Some are replicas of specific Haitian monuments like this one.  This monument is located in downtown Port-au-Prince not far from the National Palace.

This fanal is an elborate replica of the National Palace (before the 2010 earthquake).

This is a fanal artist selling his creations.  He’s created some in the form of houses and some in the form of churches.

Fanals are a fun, festive part of a Haitian Christmas.

The Angels are singing

The angels are rejoicing and singing.  Why?  Because 57 people recently gave their lives to Christ in an open air service in Dame Marie, Haiti.  Because 57 people’s lives were transformed that night. 

Pastor Guy Glass of Myakka City, FL was in Dame Marie with his church, Bethany Baptist Church, visiting their C3 partner church.  Each time they visit they hold an open air service in the town square for the people of the community, but this time the deacons took them to an entirely new area.  The service drew quite a crowd.  Pastor Guy shared his sermon through an RMI staff translator, sharing the plan of salvation at the end.  As he prepared to give the invitation, he turned to the visiting team and asked them to pray.  At first it seemed like no one was going to respond.  Then one man came forward.  Then another.  A couple more people came forward, then several more and by the end of time, 57 people had come forward to give their lives to Christ. 

Pastor Guy and the team shared that it was an amazing time – and how overwhelmed they were at the response!  God answered their prayers in a big way.

It was especially encouraging that the next day 54 of those 57 people who came forward showed up at the church to begin their follow-up and discipleship classes.  These folks were serious about their commitments!  And the deacons of the church got right to work.

We at RMI are humbled and excited to be a part of the big picture of transforming lives in Haiti…. lives in Haiti and lives of people on teams. 

One team member recently shared…

“Throughout the trip, teams members and others often asked me if I would come back to Haiti. My answer was always the same: "Ask me when the trip is over." During our time there, I was fairly certain that I would never, and I mean NEVER, do this again. But in retrospect, I realize that God, through moments of great joy and great heartbreak that we all witnessed, changed my heart and my head while in Haiti. I cannot deny the blessings that God has poured out on me since coming home, and I KNOW it is because I did what He wanted me to do. In short, I will definitely be back.”

It’s very special to be a part of God’s work.

Deworming through Hope for Kidz!

The Hope for Kidz (HFKz) Deworming Initiative is one of my favorite times of the year!  It's may be just a small part of our HFKz child sponsorship program, but it has a huge impact. A small portion of the sponsorship funds covers this program. The exciting part is that it doesn't just effect the individual sponsored child, but we are able to treat every child in every HFKz school. We hope and pray that this enables all the students at each school to have improved health and therefore be better equipped to learn! This year, we've been able to include 15,365 people in this program!

Intestinal worms is always an ongoing health issue here in Haiti, yet prevention training and treatment is not complicated! Kids who have intestinal worms generally have poor nutrition (as the worms rob them of any vitamins they ingest), malaise and weakness, chronic cough, lack of focus and concentration and overall poor health. You can imagine how this affects a child's ability to learn and thrive in a school setting!

This past week, we hosted all the HFKz school directors at our office for a general HFKz meeting as well as the annual training and medication distribution for the deworming program. We give them educational materials that teach worm prevention (through good hygiene) and ask that each class receive this training each year. In addition, each student and teacher receives a yearly pill that eradicates any infection they may have. We teach each school director how to run a distribution clinic and they are all required to keep a record of each student who receives medication each year. Each school director is sent home with the medication and supplies necessary to ensure each child at each school is treated.

Worm prevention education and one pill a year doesn't sound like much, but it has a huge impact in a child's life and overall health, leading to a child who has an increased ability to learn. If you sponsor a child through the Hope for Kidz program, thank you for your part in this program that not only affects your sponsored child's health, but the health of all kids in his/her school.

To us, that's a win-win!

Becky
Hope For Kidz Liaison

Merry Christmas

A little something different for this Monday.  Instead of a Haitian proverb, here is a Christmas greeting to share with your friends.

"M swete ou yon jwaye Nowèl!" = I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Pronunciation help: "M swe-tay oo yoh ZHWA-ye no-WEL"

Meet RMI’s Newest Missionary Appointees

Jim and April Starkey joined the RMI family this month as our newest missionary appointees.  They are from Ohio and have been serving at their local church, Community Bible, for 8+ years. Jim is involved in a men’s leadership group, helps with the sound ministry and children’s ministry. He is also very involved as a leader in their church’s youth group. He has a special handshake he does with each kid in the youth group and doesn’t mind at all making a fool out of himself to connect with the kids and make them laugh. He’s a big Ohio State Buckeye football fan and loves to read. April helps lead worship at their church and is one of the Bible teachers for the children’s program. Her passion is music and singing. She is currently learning how to play guitar. She loves the mountains, nature, reading, blogging and board games. Jim and April are high school sweethearts and have been married for 12 years. They have 3 boys: Isaac, 7, Micaiah, 4 and Ezekiel, 1.  April is currently homeschooling Isaac and Micaiah.  They have both been to Haiti for short-term trips and are eager to return and serve full-time, making Him known and serving in whatever way is needed.

They are currently raising support to go to Haiti full-time. Their arrival date depends on when they are able to get all of their monthly support needs (besides salary, this includes health and medi-vac insurance, taxes, social security, a Board mandated 401k and a modest business account) as well as their one-time needs (household set-up costs, shipping their goods, their flights, visa costs, transportation needs, and many other expenses). Pray for them as they begin their support raising. They are needed in Haiti as soon as possible. If you would like to be a part of their ministry, you can do this online HERE. You can contact them at jim.starkey@rmibridge.org or april.starkey@rmibridge.org to arrange for them to speak at your church or small group.  They can be found on Facebook and you can read their blog and much more on their website HERE.

Provide a Thanksgiving Meal

Provide a Thanksgiving meal to a needy Haitian family

during this limited-time holiday special.

Provide a case of specially formulated, nutritious food packets to a needy family at a discount.  Each case contains 216 meals – so you’re actually giving much more than 1 meal!  The more cases you donate, the better the deal! 

1 case of food                 $25.00
2 - 10 cases of food        $23.00 each case
11-25 cases of food        $21.00 each case
26-100 cases of food      $20.00 each case
100+ cases of food         $18.00 each case

You can donate online HERE.

Or send a check to:

RMI

5475 Lee St., Suite 301

Lehigh Acres, FL  33971

Don’t miss this opportunity to bless a Haitian family with food that can literally save their lives.