October 2026

Dear Friends,
 
It was in January of 1995. I had traveled to Haiti a few times and realized that God was tuning my heart toward ministry in Haiti. But looking forward, I recognized that this ministry could require a fair amount of time. I needed to be sure that my wife, Sheryl, would be on board. So, Sheryl, our daughters Krishelle and Karla, and I traveled to Haiti – January 1995.
 
The first night we stayed at the Moulin Sur Mer Hotel north of Port-au-Prince. As we were sitting in the dining area, one of our daughters was startled by a rat running from outside and into the kitchen. A couple nights later while sleeping in Tricotte, we could hear a rat rustling around in springs of our bed. And then one actually ran over the blankets on top of us while we tried to sleep. That could have been a significant determent!
 
But it wasn’t – by the time we had ended that trip, Sheryl had been deeply affected by the tremendous needs in Haiti, and together we embraced God’s call. We didn’t know what that would look like. We weren’t sure we were qualified. But God’s word says, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). So we took God at his word and committed to ministry in Haiti.
 
As Philip wrote in last month’s newsletter:
My parents were partners in Starfish Ministries from the beginning, but they played very different roles. Dad traveled to Haiti multiple times a year. He ministered to orphans, visited schools, and met with pastors. He led teams from churches and universities from the United States and Canada to Haiti and introduced them to the work that God was doing there. Back home he spoke to churches and service clubs and anyone else who would have him. He was the forward reach and public face of Starfish Ministries.
 
Mom’s role was not so visible. She traveled to Haiti with Dad on occasion. The children in the orphanage loved her and called her Mom. She would often join Dad when he spoke here in the states. She stuffed envelopes, answered letters, and handled the countless small tasks necessary for any organization to function.
But Mom’s most important contribution had nothing to do with logistics or travel or any other tangible thing. It was her steadfastness. It was her support. It was her willingness to die to her own interests for the sake of the gospel of Christ and sharing Christ’s love with the needy in Haiti.
 
From the beginning, Dad marveled that God had provided him the perfect partner in this ministry. He always said he could never have done this work if she hadn’t been who she was. She steadied him and kept him true as God used them together.
 
What a tremendous wife and life ministry partner she was! I thank God for Sheryl and am rejoicing that she now has a new clear mind and no more suffering and is forever with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
We really appreciate you – we have experienced your love and friendship during these past several weeks as we journey through the grieving process. Your words of sympathy and expressions of caring through prayers, cards, emails, flowers, meals, phone calls and more have been used by God to effectively minister to us. Thank you very much!!
 
And the ministry continues – God continues to use you through your prayers and support to make a difference in the lives of the Haitians who are going through such difficult times.  So please keep on praying.
 
Serving the Lord together,
 
The Starfish Ministry Team