Blog
An Olive Press Destined for Mexico Makes Dreams Come True in Haiti
God has a plan. All in God’s time. God doesn’t waste anything. In my heart, I know these things are true. Yet, sometimes, I struggle to believe them. Sometimes it seems like what must be God’s plan stalls, and I begin to wonder whether it’s really His plan at all. That’s why I love stories that illustrate the above truths…like the story below. Read on to see how a disappointment in Mexico seven years ago will contribute to forever changing the lives of thousands of children in Haiti. Following their...
read moreHaitian Novelists Reveal the Nuances of Haitian Culture and History
Since I’m always trying to learn more about the Haitian people and their culture (so as to better understand the community in which we do ministry), I often search out new sources of information. Recently, I came across a blog post written by James Ellsmoor, a contributor to Forbes. In it, he recommended 8 Haitian novels which shed light on Haitian culture, as understood by Haiti’s own native authors. Fortunately for me (and you!), these novels have been translated from their original language into English for all English-speakers...
read moreThere Are Crops Again in the Mountains
Back in January 2018, a group of men from Mariners Church went to Haiti to talk sustainability with Pastor Sam. Because the team was small, they had the opportunity to travel up into the mountains into several communities accessible only by moto or four-wheel drives. In such areas, our bus can’t travel, since most of these mountain “roads” are little more than donkey and foot trails, often deeply pitted by rivulets created by rain. The mountain communities the men visited had been absolutely devastated by Hurricane Matthew...
read more2018 Haiti School Progress Report
As 2018 comes to a close, we’re excited to report on the Haiti School project and the fundraising and construction progress that has occurred this year. FUNDRAISING PROGRESS TO DATE The Haiti School Project (Collège Lumiere – School of Lights) is currently 37% funded with the bulk of these funds having been deployed to purchase a 7.5 acre parcel of land and to construct a ten foot high perimeter wall around the entire parcel. After funds were deployed for the land purchase and perimeter wall, the project account has a balance of...
read moreCongratulations ISOM Class of 2018
Congratulations are in order for the first graduating class of the Ecole Internationale de Ministère et de Leadership Chrétien, Torbeck! Several years ago, pastors Samuel (far left) and Aunald (Ronald, far right) approached the Haiti Ministry about financing the launch of a bible school that could educate Christian pastors in Torbeck and surrounding areas. Pastor Aunald and his wife, Naomi, had matriculated at ISOM (International School of Ministry), Port-au-Prince, and they wanted to bring the same formal education to the Church of God by...
read moreThrough the Eyes of a Poet
In February 2018, Emily VanDegrift visited Haiti with a team from Mariners Church. Though she was the youngest on the team by quite a few years, she displayed wisdom and understanding beyond her age. Here, she shares the two favorite poems she wrote while she was there. This first poem was written about the “red church” in Rosier. We refer to it as the “red church” because it’s the third church to have stood on the exact same spot on a beautiful grassy hill looking out towards the ocean. When we first visited...
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