| Dear Friends, In November 1992, when I returned from my first trip to Haiti, I came back overwhelmed by the terrible conditions and tremendous need. My first thoughts were wondering if there was any hope for the people of Haiti for any meaningful future. And then I read the Starfish Story. A man was walking on the beach and saw a boy throwing something into the water. As the man got closer, he saw thousands of starfish dying on the beach. They had been stranded by a particularly high tide. Now the boy was throwing starfish back into the water. As the man approached, he asked the little boy what he was doing. “I’m saving the starfish,” he replied. “How can you possibly make a difference with so many starfish dying on the beach?” the man asked. As the boy picked up another starfish and threw it into the water, he said, “I made a difference for that one.” God used that story to help shape my perspective on the overall needs of Haiti. It wasn’t my responsibility to fix all of Haiti but to do what we could to make a difference in a few lives. Sheryl and I began by sponsoring two children in the orphanage we had just helped build. Five years later was the beginning of Starfish Ministries, and a pathway to meeting the needs of hundreds of orphans, thousands of school children, providing tens of thousands of meals to hungry people. Many sick and injured cared for at the medical clinic, and countless lives have been changed forever as they responded to the gospel. Now today conditions in Haiti are much worse than we saw in 1992. Sometimes it becomes quite discouraging, and I begin to wonder again if there is any hope for Haiti. And then I am reminded of how God has worked in so many lives and has used Starfish Ministries to truly make a difference in those lives. I think of children like Benchy Joseph. I remember the day that a mom came walking into Tricotte with one small child in her arms and four children following behind. Madam Joseph’s husband had just passed away, and because she had no income, she was evicted from the rental house owned by her husband’s brother. She had heard about our orphanage in Tricotte, so she walked several miles hoping that she would have a place for some of her eight children. Benchy, Bethno, Belinda and Belucia came to the orphanage that day. They were sponsored by some of you and have worked hard and been really good students in school. Benchy was often Number One in his class and has continued on in his higher education. Benchy is currently in his second year of university, studying to be a laboratory technician. Daniel received this note from Benchy a couple of days ago. Good evening Director Daniel, How are you, your family, your activities? Everything is fine with me, thank God. It is a great pleasure for me this afternoon to write you these few words, just to thank you for your help. Despite the situation in the country, you are always there for us, you never give up on us. A special thank you to you, a special thank you to the sponsors who are always there to help us despite everything. I ask God to always give you courage, health, wisdom, and to always bless you in all that you do. Thank you, thank you, thank you once again. Benchy Joseph We were also able to help Madam Joseph purchase a small property and help her build a house. She had the opportunity to take her four children back to live with her, but she saw the care and positive future available to her children, so she chose to have them continue in the orphanage. Unfortunately, Daniel has not been able to get out of Haiti as planned as we shared last month. He made it to his first short layover, and the immigration officials questioned his Canadian Visa and turned him back to Haiti. Currently he is working with officials to still be able to travel to his family in Canada soon. Please pray for Daniel and the visa issues. In past years we have offered a list of options for your consideration for your year-end giving. However, due to the current conditions in Haiti it has become very difficult to distribute the gifts to children and their families. So, like last year, we will simply give you a couple of possibilities for your consideration: Education Scholarship Fund – As we successfully graduate students from our high schools, we would like to encourage them to go on to higher education. Students like Bendjina, studying to be a doctor and Benchy, a lab technician. Without support this is not possible. Elderly Ministry – this continues to be a vital support for otherwise often forgotten elderly and handicapped Haitians. In many cases this is their only means of meeting their most basic needs. The coffee and food ministry in our churches has met a very real need. Many of the church members in our nine churches benefit from this weekly offering. We have received a great outpouring of generous giving during November.Thank you so much for your partnership with us.With God’s help, we are able to continue serving in Haiti.Your prayers and financial support are truly appreciated. Serving the Lord together, Bernie, Sheryl & Philip Bovenkamp |
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