Thank You Letters

Have you ever wondered about the thank you letter process? Each year, our students write a thank you letter to their sponsor. How does it work?

In August of each year, our US office prepares a tuition report for our Haiti team, itemizing each student who has been sponsored for the year, and a thank you letter is created for each student.  Once created, it is emailed to Haiti for printing.  Our Haiti staff then delivers the letters to the head of the school, usually the principal (or pastor), along with the list of students receiving sponsorships.  Student funds that arrive after August are sent on a separate report later in the year.

From there, the principal sorts the letters by classroom, and the teachers help the students fill them out.  When our Haiti staff arrives for the first school year visit, the letters are collected and brought back to the office.  Our staff then catalogs the letters to mark them received and begins the translation process.   

Each letter must be translated from Creole to English. Thanks to our partnership with Agape Flights International, once our translators complete all the letters from one school, they are sent to our US office. Upon arrival, we verify that each letter has been received by cataloging it again. We have also started scanning each letter to add a digital copy to each sponsored child's online profile.

After scanning is complete, letters are finally ready to begin making their way into the hands of our sponsors.  Some are hand-delivered by our church coordinators, while others are mailed.  It's quite a process, but anticipating a thank you letter from your sponsored child is always a worthwhile wait, regardless of how it arrives.

The information comes directly from your child!  Many people put it on their refrigerator or someplace prominent in their home to use as a reminder to pray for them.

Two Significant Milestone

Haiti recently passed two significant milestones, one of celebration and one of solemn remembrance.

January 1 was both New Year's Day and Haitian Independence Day. In 1804, Haiti won independence from France and became the first black republic to achieve this feat. Haitians fought long and hard for their freedom and celebrated by eating soup joumou (pumpkin soup). This was a dish that the French would never allow the Haitians to have. Haitians all over Haiti and the world still eat soup joumou each year to celebrate their freedom as a country. These days, many areas of the country no longer feel free and liberated; we are praying that 2025 will bring peace to all of Haiti and that the spirit of soup joumou can live again.

January 12 "marks 15 years since the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti at 4:53 PM, claiming over 250,000 lives and leaving 1.5 million homeless. On this solemn day, we remember those we lost and stand with the survivors whose lives were forever changed. Your strength and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy continue to inspire us all.

This day powerfully reminds us of our nation's immense pain and enduring hope and spirit. Haiti’s strength lies in its people, who continue to rise despite all odds.

However, even as we honor this resilience, we must acknowledge our country's ongoing challenges. We wish the situation were different and that Haiti’s road to recovery had been smoother. The current instability and struggles within the country are heartbreaking, and our hearts go out to those still suffering. We stand together, hoping for a brighter future where the pain of the past no longer weighs on our people and where Haiti’s promise is fully realized.

We honor your courage, remember the lives lost, and pledge that Haiti's spirit will never be forgotten."

[Shared from www.lunionsuite.com]

New, Clean Bathrooms

These students were so excited to see the new bathroom their Sister Church, The Bayou (Lafayette, LA), provided for their school! A few weeks ago, it was a blessing to hand over the keys, as the students in Petit Trou got to see how their Sister Church cares for them. 

Clean, good-quality bathrooms are not always easy to find. This Sister Church came together to improve the quality of life and hygiene in Petit Trou. Pastor Solvat shared that this is the nicest bathroom in the entire area!

A C3 partnership is not only about teams or building benches. This time, it was about a seemingly mundane thing like bathrooms. But when you realize that all they had before were ancient outhouses, it is understandable why they were so excited about this building of modern toilets and places to wash their hands. It will affect the health of the students, teachers, and their families at home.

Thank you, Bayou Church!

SunTech at Work

During the recent holiday season, RMI's SunTech team installed this extensive solar system for another local ministry. We are excited to offer this service to churches, schools, parsonages, homes, and other local ministries. Harnessing the power of sunshine, one of Haiti's renewable resources makes so much sense! They can have electricity to run lights, fans, computers, other household appliances, refrigerators, and even air conditioners.

SunTech solar systems are in high demand since there hasn't been electricity locally for several years. The SunTech team provides efficient, clean, and professional installations. And they work with a smile on their faces! We are very thankful that each of them feels called to serve God by serving their own people.

Finish Strong Thank You

"Grateful" doesn’t even begin to express it. An incredible team of supporters gave as the Lord moved their hearts, and together, we raised $107,377! While we came in just shy of our goal, there’s no disappointment here at RMI—only overwhelming joy. These funds will position us strongly as we enter 2025, trusting God has amazing plans for us in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the U.S.

Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for helping us Finish Strong. We are truly together for the Gospel!

Welcome Times Two!

RMI missionaries, Andrew and Dawn Tlucek, gave birth to their twins on Dec. 5.  Owen Elias Tlucek arrived first, weighing in at 6 lb. 10 oz.  Everett Joel Tlucek came next, weighing in at 5 lb. 15 oz.  Owen went directly into the NICU since he needed some help breathing.  He was there for 2 weeks.  Dawn and Everett went home 3 days after the birth.

It was hard going back and forth from home to the hospital to hold Owen and feed him every 3 hours!  They were very relieved when Owen was released, and they were able to bring the whole family together.  Layton stayed with his Nana and Pop Pop (Debbie and Dan Shoemaker) until Andrew's parents and youngest sister arrived two days after the birth.  Andrew's family had an active role in caring for Layton and Everett, then Owen, too, when he arrived.  What a blessing to have their help!

Five days after giving birth, they had quite a scare when it seemed that Dawn had a stroke.  The left side of her face was drooping, her speech was slurred, and her blood pressure was sky-high.  A rushed ambulance ride to the hospital and tests revealed that it was not a stroke but Bell's palsy, most likely a result of the pre-eclampsia that she had before the birth.  The scare continued in the hospital when she had a serious anaphylactic reaction to the contrast dye they used for one of the CAT scans.  Three units of epinephrine brought it under control, and she was hospitalized overnight for observation.  She was released the next day and went straight to the other hospital where Owen was so she could feed him.  Her case of Bell's palsy is not serious, and she was told that it would clear up in a couple of months.

Wow!  They have had some hectic, exciting days and look forward to having some "boring" maternity leave days.

[Owen is the twin in the dark outfit, and Everett is in the cream-colored one.  So far, it appears that they are not identical.]

HaitiConnect

When you can’t physically visit your Sister Church, how do you stay connected with them?  HaitiConnect is RMI’s answer to this and one of our newest initiatives.  To keep C3 Partnership relationships alive, we have developed HaitiConnect, a program by which we connect our Sister Churches virtually, via the internet.  One way is by bringing church leaders to our Cayes office to speak directly (via live translation) with their counterparts in the US via Zoom.  Another way is going to a Sister Church, setting up a portable StarLink system, and enabling various groups from the Haitian Sister Church to speak directly with the US church's leadership or a group in the church.  We anticipate connecting US Hope for Kidz child sponsors with their sponsored children via a school program broadcast live. We want to connect various groups (women's and men's groups and others) in the Haitian church to those groups of the US church.  This way, they can catch each other up with their latest news, events, and prayer requests. Eventually, we hope to have some live interaction during church services.

Our hope is that these virtual meetings will help invigorate the US C3 partners and that they will realize that their Haitian C3 partners haven't forgotten them and pray regularly for them.  We also hope the Haitian C3 partners will realize they are not forgotten either.

So far, about a dozen calls between church leaders have taken place.  Each one of them was very thankful to get the chance to connect with their C3 partner church.  Rob Thompson, RMI's Director of Ministry Development, reports:

"...[there were] Warm greetings from both sides on all of these calls!  It's incredible to watch these reunions happening!  Praise the Lord! God continues to work through our partnerships.

We've heard the same thing on every call...  The Gospel continues to spread in Haiti and the US. We've heard a few common themes. First, every partner in Haiti and the US has strongly communicated that they are 'thirsty, as they say in Haiti,' to be together again as soon as God opens that door. Secondly, every Haitian Church is receiving so many people who have been displaced from PAP.  Schools are busting at the seams.  People have arrived with very few resources, so it is the church that is doing all they can to care for the families and provide education to the kids...  many have arrived from PAP with only the clothes on their backs. Schools are out of space. Homes have many extra people living in them. Resources are spread very thin. The church and community are swollen with people from PAP. The church is doing all it can do to serve those from PAP, but it can't help everyone as its resources are limited. HFK sponsorships and the HFK Hot Lunch Program are having an even bigger impact than ever. As these resources are being provided, it allows the Haitian church to serve those who have arrived from PAP.

It seems all of our partnership schools in Haiti have increased by probably 25% or so. Probably even higher. That's just my guess on a number, but it seems to match with what I'm hearing from all of these pastors."

HaitiConnect has already shown positive results in the US and in Haiti.  Both have been encouraged and delighted to spend some time together.  It has also shown the new challenges that our churches are facing.  Dealing with displaced people is very difficult in a place where life is being stretched almost to the breaking point.  But they are doing their best.  Pray for our C3 churches that they will find the resources they need and that they won't become weary in their well-doing.

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed

Looking back over the 2024 calendar year, our Hope for Kidz team can truly say that we are Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed!  We are Grateful for the opportunity to bring Hope to the children of Haiti with a biblically based education.  We are Thankful that our donors and sponsors understand the importance of education and providing a hot meal each school day.  And we are Blessed each time we hear of how the Lord has touched another life in His great plan.  

We continue forward into this new year with humble hearts and the desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Please join us as we pray for peace and safety within Haiti, as we pray for strong leadership that will restore order, and as we pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of men, because through Him all things are possible.

RMI's First Dominican Republic Team

RMI's first team to the Dominican Republic (DR) came from southern New Jersey. They were ready to be Jesus' hands and feet.

Our ministry in the DR will be different from that in Haiti. We have the opportunity to work with Dominicans and Haitians, and their needs are also different.  This first team's goal was to visit both kinds of churches to experience their needs.

On the first day, Saturday, the team visited a Haitian church and found they had a medical clinic in progress. They met Dr. Milton, a Dominican doctor who holds a free medical clinic every Saturday. He gives so much of himself and his time. He keeps track of all the patients and all the medicines for the people; all they need to do is show up.

He does this for communities struggling and unable to find affordable medical care. His own family works so that he can provide this clinic to the people who need it most. He is a fantastic man with a big heart. The team learned quite a bit from the pastor about the challenges facing the Haitian community.  His heart for Jesus and his people could be clearly seen. They are facing desperate times, constantly facing prejudice and the threat of deportation.

That same day, the team visited another Haitian church located in the middle of what used to be a sugarcane plantation. Many Haitians lived in that area because they used to work in the sugarcane fields. A lot of these people were extremely poor and did not have much.

When the Haitians came over to work for the sugarcane company, the company said that they would provide housing, but what they provided was one single bedroom in a house with 3 to 4 bedrooms. And so, in essence, 3 to 4 families lived in one house. The pastor shared about some of his congregation's hardships, which included immigration rounding people up, people not being able to find jobs, and kids not being able to attend school. 

The third church the team visited was another Haitian church that has a school accredited by the Dominican government, which is exceedingly rare. The school only teaches in French and Creole. This is mainly because of all the mass deportations; people are concerned their children will be taken back to Haiti and not know the language, as they speak only Spanish from living in the DR. The biggest problem the school has is trying to find licensed teachers so that the school can remain accredited. 

On Sunday, they attended First Baptist Church in Puerto Plata. Rob Thompson preached, and they had a good time of fellowship. In the evening, the team went to Oasis Baptist Church, one of the outreach plant churches from First Baptist Church. Team member Mike gave the new pastor and the people an encouraging message about how God knows our names. 

On Monday, the team visited two churches, both Haitian. Seeing these churches being planted and generously supported by the church association RMI partners with was incredibly encouraging. It is thrilling to see healthy churches actively, generously, and selflessly plant other churches. In this context, to see Dominican churches planting Haitian churches… wow!

This is huge when you know even a tiny amount of the tension between the Dominicans and Haitians now and historically. Our Dominican partner, the Baptist Convention of the Dominican, is working on planting 15 “mission” churches.  Each of these is a fledgling church deeply in need of support.  Ten are Haitian, and five are Dominican. This is a beautiful thing, and RMI is excited to hopefully help support them as more teams come down. 

The team saw and experienced firsthand the threat that Haitians face. Haitians living here are under direct threat of being rounded up and immediately deported due to their paperwork issues. The issue is complex, to say the least. The team saw a truck with a cage in the back and about 15 Haitian men locked into the back like animals. It was exceedingly difficult for team members to see and process. Something you cannot easily forget. 

The rest of the morning was spent praying with pastors and the people of their congregation, encouraging them, hearing their stories, assessing their needs, and discussing how RMI and future teams can help. 

In the afternoon, the team was privileged to visit a remote Haitian church currently under construction. The church is transitioning from a rented space to its new, owned location, and the team helped with the building project.

While they recognized their contributions were small, it was rewarding to roll up their sleeves and join them in the hard work.

The team was genuinely inspired by Pastor Mirater’s dedication. Despite facing significant challenges—immigration issues, separation from his immediate family, and health struggles—he continues to lead with remarkable energy and determination.

On Tuesday, “It is the end of the world.  It’s hell on earth”.  The team heard this from a Haitian man today speaking of the lives of Haitians, whether in Haiti or the DR - and they've seen this daily.  It’s beyond comprehension.

This day started with touring a health clinic run by Dr. Milton, whom we first met on Saturday. He is a Christian Dominican doctor with more than audacious goals.  He provides care for various things (diabetes, hypertension, physical therapy, ob/gyn, dentistry, psychology) at his clinic.  He is also doing clinics, providing free care in a number of the churches we’ve visited.  If you meet this guy and hear about his accomplishments, you begin to think his goals are possible. It's exciting to consider how RMI can help his medical clinics in the Haitian and Dominican communities in the future. 

They visited one more Haitian church and found Pastor James was overwhelmed.  Everyone comes to him with their problems; clearly, all he has to give is Jesus.  He is separated from his own family, under constant fear of deportation, even though he has his paperwork in order. 

Due to their limited space, the church has significant people standing outside on Sunday mornings.  The room should hold around 20-25 people, but they have over 100 members, and they cram 60 into the building on Sundays, and the rest stand outside, including all the children. Of the 15 mission churches, this is the only one that doesn’t own their land yet.  They’ve had to move 7 times in recent years.  They are desperate for land and a building to set down roots to serve their people. 

RMI missionary April Starkey shared, "The team saw so many needs here, which was overwhelming. But seeing this through the teams' eyes helps change our perspectives and shift our eyes to what the Lord wants us to focus on. There is a lot of work to do, but we are ready. We are excited that the second team has now been booked. We hope to get a few more teams down to help us get started with all these needs between January and May of 2025!"

If you are interested in booking a team to go to the DR, contact Jim Starkey at jim.starkey@rmibridge.org.

Ezra Institute's Admission Process Has Started

The admissions process has begun for the inaugural class of the Ezra Institute. 

One of RMI’s Impact Points is education.  For years we have had the Hope for Kidz Program to address that point.  And for years we have wanted to expand our educational footprint to include those Hope for Kids (HFKz) graduates who have gone on in their studies, finished high school, and are showing leadership potential in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.  We want to sow into these young people’s lives to enable them to have even greater capacities in their communities.  This is what and who the Ezra Institute School of Leadership is for.

The current candidates came from the areas of Les Cayes, Ducis, Ti Biwon, Beaumont, Cance, and Les Angles. They were chosen by RMI HFKz staff, RMI Haiti staff, and their pastors. They came to the RMI Haiti Headquarters in Cayes for three days to be interviewed and take a competency exam. The goal of the exams was to ensure, to the best of our knowledge, that we find qualified, passionate, and character-filled students.

The entrance exam was a part of the admissions process to ensure students carried the academic and mental aptitude to succeed if they were admitted into the program.  

We want to be good stewards of students’ time and ours in the future. The exam covered 6 areas: mathematics, reading comprehension, writing competency, Bible knowledge, critical thinking, and language skills. The questions went from an elementary level to a sophomore level of high school. 

We will be sure to share this with those who are not academically capable and hopefully give them a road map to growth so they can apply it in the future.

A committee of RMI Haitian and American staff members interviewed every student. They were asked 28 questions that pertained to ascertaining a person’s walk of faith, drive, personal goals, character, and view of leadership. 

Food was also provided during those 3 days. We at RMI are firm believers in helping people succeed. By ensuring students are nourished during their time with us, they will have fueled brains and bodies.

The plans now are to have 14 men and women in the first class. Hopefully, this inaugural class will begin in October 2025, when Haiti’s academic year starts. Initially, it will be in Haitian Creole and French. After students have gone through intense English learning, all courses will be in English.

The projected cost per student will be around $12,000.  We will be looking for 4 sponsors per student.  Of course, the support options will be more flexible in the future. 

Once the final selection process is over, we will present the students’ portfolios and seek sponsors.

RMI’s goal is not to train professional ministers, but our goal is to train ministering professionals.

What Do You Want For Christmas?!

Your opportunities to give a gift to your Sister Church pastor or your supported Hope for Kidz child are here.  You could mark the gift (s) unspecified, and the gift would go to a needy Haitian family.

There are gifts for individuals or for families.  There are gifts for adults and kids.  You can't go wrong with any of these gifts.  They will meet the needs of hurting families.  

Remember Haiti as you do your holiday shopping!

Scan the QR code or donate HERE.

A Visit from Feed My Starving Children Leaders

Last week, we were very thankful to have representatives from Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) visit us in our Haiti office. FMSC is the organization that we partner with for our Hot Lunch Program and other food case gifts. Benjamin, Perguens, and Patrick had the pleasure of sitting with the Vice President, Junior Obrand, the Regional Director, Isaac Exalus, and Haiti agent, Maillard. They were here to touch base and check on long-term partners. While here, they visited our depot to see where we store the food and a local school where we provide food. Benjamin shares that it was a very successful visit. We have a positive relationship with FMSC and are grateful that we are partners.

Feed My Starving Children Vice President Junior Obrand

RMI Field Leader, Benjamin Altema and Perguens Hyppolite, an RMI senior Partnership Facilitator and Assistant Administrator.

Inspecting the cases of food and the required secure room where it is kept.

Greeting the school staff before visiting the classrooms.

The end goal...feeding hungry children, meeting their nutritional needs.

Fall Food Fundraiser - We Have Food Available!

We do have food available! Despite the gangs’ stranglehold on Port-au-Prince, we have found a way to get our containers of food to our depot in Cayes. This involves shipping them on a barge to a closer port and trucking them the rest of the way. It increases our costs quite a bit, but it gets the food to us. We’ve supplied the Hot Lunch Program with the food it needs and have food available for our fall food fundraiser.

Haiti’s food crisis is worse than it has ever been.  Your brothers and sisters need your help!  Please consider how you, your family, and your church can be involved.

Here are the price breakdowns:

• Each case is $45 and comes with one bottle of cooking oil.

• Buy 25 cases,  get 1 case free.

• Buy 110 cases, get 10 free.

Scan the QR code to be taken right to the donation page or 

go to www.RMIbridge.org/donate

Be a part of what God is doing in Haiti!

Three C3 partner churches from the Gainesville, FL, area visited Haiti last month.  The trip enabled 2 churches to check on major projects they are involved in.  The third church attended the dedication of their new church building and school, which was just finished - and the dedication of the new cistern under the sanctuary!  We shared about this in the August 2023 issue of the Ministry Highlights.  They built the church on top of a 13,000-gallon cistern.  The water would be accessed by a solar pump.

RMI President, Dan Shoemaker, joined the team.  They met the RMI Haiti staff, several pastors from the district, and the president of MEBSH at the new sanctuary to cut the ribbon and for a service of dedication.  

What a celebration! Many dignitaries delivered special messages and prayers, and different choirs sang special songs. After the service, they shared a meal together. The church really rolled out the red carpet.

The church, school, and especially the cistern will minister to the entire community for many years!

Team leader Tom and Dan Shoemaker

Field Updates

 Dominican Republic Update:

The Starkey family has been in Santiago, Dominican Republic, for a month. They are officially all moved into their home except for one last shipment from their house in Haiti, which will arrive shortly. They have been working hard on moving in, getting all their accounts set up, phone numbers, and such there in the DR and starting to learn the area. They found a car and will be able to purchase it this week. 

Now that they have moved into their home and are settled, Jim and April spend a few hours each day working on their language lessons. April has also started homeschooling the three oldest boys. Zeke’s school situation is still uncertain and a cause for much prayer.

Please also pray for them as they focus on this part of the ministry now, learning the language to be more effective in ministry there. 

In the coming days, they will have their first meeting with the national church committee that RMI is partnering with and will head out into the country to specific areas to assess the needs and determine how RMI can help.

They are still short on monthly support. RMI sent them down on faith! Pray that God will supply the last bit that they lack. You can give at www.rmibridge/donate.

Haiti Update:

Tessa Andrews took a quick furlough trip to visit family and supporting churches this past summer.  It was a whirlwind trip but refreshing and well worth the time.  She is home now and enjoying being back with her Haitian co-workers and family.  Pray for Tessa as she works in the Hope for Kidz Department.

Andrew, Dawn, and Layton Tlucek are staying in the Ft. Myers, FL area while Dawn grows their twins.  While her pregnancy is high-risk, Dawn and the babies are doing well.  They are fundraising for the Ezra Institute, visiting their supporters, and working remotely while they await the twins’ arrival sometime in December.  Pray for Andrew and Dawn as they work to establish the Ezra Institute.

Continue to pray for Haiti.  The gangs are firmly entrenched, and the Kenyan forces have been ineffective thus far.  We need God to move mountains and break Satan's hold on the country!

A New Team Member for RMI!

It is our pleasure to announce that we have a new RMI Team Member.

We want to welcome Rob Thompson! It's great to welcome a new team member who already means so much to each of us and to RMI. As a bonus, he won't need a lot of training.

Rob is joining RMI as the Director of Ministry Development.  He will be working with our existing C3 partners to encourage them to stay engaged even with the issues in Haiti and will be encouraging them to continue with projects and even to begin planning team trips.  He'll also be working on growing our C3 partnerships in Haiti and our new field, the Dominican Republic.  He will also be working on fundraising and possibly using his field knowledge to assist with development in both Haiti and the DR. He has his work cut out for him, but we know he is up for the task.

In his words…"Although I'm incredibly sad to be stepping away from pastoral ministry at Beacon Church, I'm also ecstatic about my return to RMI. These last 5 years at Beacon Church have been wonderful. As I reflect upon this move, I'm reminded of my love for the church; it is God's chosen instrument to bring glory to himself. I've been serving the church in a variety of ways for the last 28 years. My return to RMI is simply a continuation of my work for the church. I truly believe that God has incredible things in store for us as we partner together for the gospel and for the building and strengthening of the church. Together, the church, His hands, and feet, we are witnesses here in Galloway, NJ, and throughout the United States, and to the ends of the earth."

You can contact Rob through his email at rob.thompson@rmibridge.org.

Introducing the Ezra Institute

The Ezra Institute School of Leadership is RMI’s newest initiative.  We have been committed to child education for years through our Hope for Kidz Child Sponsorship Program.  The Ezra Institute is aimed at high school graduates who have demonstrated leadership potential and been vetted by their spiritual leadership.  The goal is to equip and empower students to lead in their church, workplace, and community through a Biblical worldview.

The Ezra Institute desires for students to Learn It, Live It, and Lead It (Ezra 7:10). First (Learn It), they will get a relevant and quality education that elevates their walk with Christ, leadership skills, and vocational skills. Secondly (Live It), students will be mentored by mature local leaders. This will provide the opportunity to practice what they are learning as they engage with their local communities.  Finally (Lead It), after completing the program, students will be equipped to be godly disciple-makers, trained leaders, and skilled employees. The Ezra Institute’s foundational curriculum emphasizes multiplying and empowering others through Christ to bring transformative change.

Ezra will be located at RMI’s headquarters in Cayes, Haiti.  During the 2-year course, students will participate in courses such as The Person of Christ, early church history, New Testament Survey, and Old Testament Survey to help them develop Biblical Christ-centered living. 

Students will also take courses such as Biblical Leadership, Leading like Christ, Biblical Ethics, and Modern Leadership from a Christian Worldview to help them become impactful leaders of integrity. 

Lastly, students will learn vocational skills from courses such as Administration, Management, Business, Ethics, English, Computing, and many others.

We are very excited about the opening of the Ezra Institute.  RMI’s Director of Adult Education, Dr. Andrew Tlucek, will be the chief “driver” of the Institute.  God has been preparing him for many years for this and he’s eagerly anticipating the start of the school year.

The Ezra Institute will be funded by generous donations from individuals and churches alike! If you would like to be a part of this incredible opportunity to develop Biblical leaders who will impact Haitian society, please join us in this endeavor. There are several ways to do so through

Student sponsorship

School projects

General fund

​​We need your prayerful support! 

If you feel God is leading you to help with funding the preparation of Haiti’s next generation of leaders and the Ezra Institute, you can do so at www.RMIbridge.org/donate.  Feel free to share the Ezra Institute’s new video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdtvwmlZPZY.

Important Information and Field Updates

*Important Information*

RMI is NOT leaving Haiti; however, we are expanding into the Dominican Republic (DR).  This means that RMI will be in both countries, covering the island of Hispaniola.  We’ve received word of some confusion on this, so we wanted to ensure everyone understands what is happening.  The Starkeys were ministering in Haiti, but RMI has asked them to move to the DR to pioneer RMI’s work there.  They have embraced this move and are very excited about this new opportunity.  Ministry in the DR will be unique.  Over 1 million Haitians live there, providing opportunities to minister to Haitians and Dominican Christians.

Dominican Republic Update

Last month’s Ministry Highlights shared many of the steps the Starkeys are going through to move from Haiti and the US to the DR.  God has gone before them, and things are coming together in a timely manner.

Pioneering a new work is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. The Starkeys have intimate knowledge of how RMI operates in Haiti, giving them a framework from which to work. However, we know that only some things will work exactly as they do in Haiti. The DR is a very different culture with a different standard of living.  

RMI already has top-notch partners in Nelson Paulino of Casa Misionera Mission House and the Baptist Convention of the Dominican (BCD).  Both will give us invaluable insights into the culture and what will work and what won’t.  They can point us in the right direction regarding congregations with which to start C3 partnerships.  They will be able to help with some of the nitty-gritty details of establishing RMI in the country, such as renting an office, providing translation help, setting up the office (furniture and equipment), helping RMI understand any legal issues that we need to know about, finding staff and translators, figuring out which guesthouses to use for housing teams -- and so many other issues.

The Starkeys have been working hard to raise the additional support they need.  As of the beginning of June, they have  47% of their monthly support needs and 63% of their one-time needs. They urgently need to raise the rest of those funds. Would you please consider helping them with a monthly gift and/or a gift toward their moving expenses?  You can give to their ministry here: www.rmibridge.org/donate.  They are praying that they’ll be able to get to Santiago in August so they can get settled by the beginning of school around the first of September.

Please pray with us for their support so they can get to the DR in a timely manner!

Haiti Update

This month, Tessa Andrews is on furlough in her home area of northern Florida.  Pray that she’ll be able to relax and recharge as she is with her family.  Also, pray that she’ll have good visits with her supporters and supporting churches.

Andrew and Dawn Tlucek are on furlough and plan on visiting supporters in Washington state, Idaho, Chicago, New Jersey, and Florida.  They celebrated Layton’s first birthday.  Their travel schedule isn’t set yet because they just discovered they are pregnant with TWINS!  Morning sickness is getting better, however, multiple births are now regarded high risk.  Thus, their plans are being adjusted.  We also want to congratulate Andrew for finishing his PhD!  He’s now Dr. Andrew Tlucek.

Jim Starkey had a successful trip to their home in Haiti and was able to pack and close up their house there. When the Starkeys arrive in Santiago, they will be able to fly the things they need in the DR via Agape Flights directly to Santiago.

Airlines, both international and domestic, are flying again.  Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief about this positive development.  The new government is in place, but the gang activity has not changed. The police are out-gunned and out-manned. A lot of hope and expectations are being put on the Peacekeeping Force that has just begun to arrive.   Pray that their presence will make a difference.  Haiti needs desperately needs peace.  The country needs to be opened back up.

Several months ago, we had 6 containers of food delivered to the port in the capital.  This food was to be used for our Hot Lunch Program and food aid for needy families.  They were unable to leave the wharf due to the roads being blocked by not one but several gangs.  Unfortunately, at one point, gangs overran the wharf, and one container was looted.  A few weeks later, arrangements were made to put 2 containers on a barge, take them around to a port closer to Cayes, and then truck them to our facilities.  The final 3 also came by barge several weeks after that.  We are very thankful for God’s protection for those 5 containers.  It increased the cost significantly, but enough food is available to provide those hot lunches and finish the school year.