Haiti is once again suffering from natural disaster. On Saturday, August 14th, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit southern Haiti, affecting both the Glory Glory Center and Collège Lumière. Thanks be to God, Pastor Samuel and his 50+ children are all safe. However, the situation in Torbek and neighboring Les Cayes is dire, with many having lost everything. For the latest information we have on the situation, please read on.
Read MoreIt’s been an embarrassingly long time since we’ve posted, and it has nothing to do with a lack of happenings! In fact, quite the contrary. Despite the setbacks that Covid has brought to the world this year, the Collège Lumière school project in Haiti has taken giant steps forward, thanks in large part to the determination and perseverance of Pastor Samuel and his team, our ministry volunteers stateside, and the generosity of Mariners Church and others! For ease of reading, this recap is broken into bite-size sections in a “toggle” format. Just click on a section to read it. The post concludes with three images that detail the school’s construction, from then to now to what’s to come. Enjoy the recap!
Read MoreThe church in Rosier was days away from being dedicated when it was completely destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. But that didn’t dampen the spirit of Pastor Daniel’s congregation. They continued to gather weekly by the 100s in a tiny building constructed from the debris they salvaged from the old church site. When Pastor Eric Geiger visited Daniel’s church in September 2019, he was amazed by the people’s perseverance and generosity, and their commitment to the Lord. Then and there, he committed to helping them rebuild once again. Check out the progress that has been made!
Read MoreIt’s been way too long since we’ve taken a group to Haiti. Our last faith adventure was in September 2019. Though we expected to go back before now, Haiti faced some challenges which prevent us from going, including a fuel shortage and some political unrest. And then Covid brought travel to a stop. But the memories from that last trip will keep us going until we’re able to visit our Haitian friends once more. Read on for a summary of that remarkable trip and a photo gallery that will make you want to join us next time!
Read MorePoto mitan. It means “pillars of society” and is a term often used to describe Haitian women. Many of these women are their family’s sole breadwinner, frequently selling goods in the markets to keep their children fed. In an effort to foster family stability, Pastor Samuel and his team launched a microfinance program in 2016 designed to help women grow their businesses.
Read MoreRecent headlines have once again shed light on corruption and violence in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. Rather than take our media’s interpretation of current events at face value, we asked a native Haitian—our partner Pastor Samuel Metelus—to explain it to us.
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