September 2025

Dear Friends,
Last month we wrote about our Elderly Ministry in remote areas of Haiti.  Part of the reason for the desperate need of the elderly and handicapped is that many younger individuals and families have moved away to safer places and therefore are no longer able to care for their parents, friends, and neighbors as they did before. 
Tricotte and the other villages in the area have been targeted by the gangs because of their positive economic conditions due to Starfish Ministries involvement.  So what has been a tremendous blessing in Tricotte, now has become a magnet for the bandits.
We are so very grateful for you, our partners, who have responded generously and prayerfully.  Many of you have given above what you regularly give and designated the donation for the Elderly Ministry.  Others have given toward “the greatest need” which now is the Elderly Ministry and Food Relief.  As a result of your giving, we have doubled our budget in those two ministries for the next few months.  We have the opportunity to serve more of the neediest in the Tricotte area and beyond. 
It is now a year ago that we had to close down the orphanage in Tricotte due to the security issues and threats of kidnapping.  Lizette and Fresnel, our orphanage directors, have been monitoring the children as they are now placed in the homes of family or extended family.  Out of all the children who left the orphanage during the shutdown, only one child did not receive support for school and care, because we could not find her parent or guardian.  We actively searched and were able to find an aunt who relentlessly tried to put us in contact with her father.  And finally we were able to locate Blondjina. Now her aunt, Madame Nape, has opened her arms and house to care for her niece.
10-year-old Blondjina was not in good health when she arrived.  She has missed an entire year of school.  But now, since her aunt came to her rescue, Blondjina is getting the nourishment that she needs and is excited about going back to school. Blondjina will be in the third grade in our elementary school in Tricotte this fall.
Please pray for the children who came from the orphanage.  Lizette reports that most of them have made good choices and are following the Lord.  But a few have used their freedom away from a structured environment to participate in activities that alter their lives.  One of the older girls became pregnant and an older boy was caught stealing.  Blondjina is back in a good environment, and we praise God for where she is at today, but others may be vulnerable to the devil’s schemes.  So please pray.
 
Thank you for your partnership with us.  God has given us the privilege to serve the people of the Tricotte area of Haiti from birth to the very oldest of the population.  38 children, ages four through 17, including Blondjina, are cared for outside the orphanage setting.  Many more children from preschool all the way through trade school and university are educated and fed through the school ministry with the help of FMSC.  Over 1300 children and adults are fed through the cafeteria ministry at the churches each Sunday morning.  Many of the poorest families in the region have received help through Food Relief, also with the help of FMSC. The elderly and handicapped ministry meets needs of over 100 previously-forgotten people.  We are able to hold up our Haitian brothers and sisters in prayer as they go through the very difficult trials of insecurity in Haiti.  And through every means possible, we present the gospel of Jesus Christ, trusting in Him to meet their greatest need.
We really appreciate your prayers and financial support!
Serving together,
Bernie, Sheryl & Philip Bovenkamp
 
We apologize if you have tried to contact us on our land line phone (360) 354-2789.  We have decided to eliminate that number and at least for the time being, use my personal mobile phone. (360) 319-5903 for Starfish Ministries communications.  I welcome your calls on this line.
Also, in anticipation of even better communication, we would like to have your email address and phone number.  We have many of them already but would like to update our database.
Thanks,
Bernie