Dear Friends,
During these past weeks and months, the turmoil in Haiti has been severe. Many times we have thought that it couldn’t get worse, but sure enough it does. During the recent election process, the city of Port-au-Prince was again a city of extreme chaos and destruction. Burning tires, stolen cars lit afire, boulders pushed in the middle of streets, and roadblocks of cut down trees brought the city to a standstill.
When I talked to Pastor Diogene one day by telephone, he said he had just experienced the worst day of his life in Haiti. I was in the Dominican Republic for a couple of days waiting to meet him there, but he was not able to get out of Port-au-Prince. After spending several hours waiting at the bus station, then being told the buses would not be able to navigate the streets, he spent the next several hours needing to drive the streets himself in order to get home. His wife, Leonette, was with him and prayed them back home. They saw God at work as He brought the right people to them at the right time to help them get around all the barricades.
Rene Preval has now been elected president of Haiti and it seems that those causing much of the unrest were his supporters and are now happy. They have laid down their weapons and are celebrating in the streets with much expectation for renewed life in Haiti. It is doubtful to us that this president will be the answer to Haiti’s problems. However, it does appear that travel in Haiti will soon become possible again.
Pastor Diogene has seen a tremendous harvest of souls over the past few months in Haiti. Since most of them come from a voodoo background there comes a big responsibility to minister to these new believers. This weekend is the Mardi Gras celebration in Haiti. Many are unaware that this “Carnival” time is another extension of the voodoo celebration and includes invoking of spirits. So Pastor Diogene and his ministry team want to be sure the new young believers at Bethel have another way to celebrate this week end. They have invited about 150 young people to a campground retreat where they can worship Jesus Christ and celebrate what He is doing in their lives. Some will come from our orphanage, some from the churches of Tricotte and some from the Port-au-Prince church to join those from Bethel.
This will be a time for the new Christians to mix with those more mature in their faith. Singing, eating, sharing, worshipping, and listening to the Word of God will fill this weekend retreat. What an opportunity! A celebration of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ rather than a life of hopelessness and darkness!
So please keep praying!!
We certainly appreciate your partnership with us. God continues to provide the needs through you.
Serving the Lord together,
Bernie & Sheryl Bovenkamp
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