Dear Friends,
It’s New Year’s Day, 2004! This morning Sheryl & I were talking about the six years of ministry in Haiti and are in awe of what God is doing. He has a plan to reach out to the ends of the earth with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and He is using this ministry to be a part of accomplishing His purpose in this remotest part of Haiti.
Some of the villages where we have school ministries are literally at the end of the road in Haiti. The only way to access these villages is to hike up and over the next mountain or two. And there lies another village of needy, unreached Haitians.
What has amazed us so much in this ministry is God’s perfect planning and timing. We could have never come up with these plans on our own. In this remote area of Haiti, most of the people can’t read or write. But empty bellies do not learn well. So God provides food for these children. He does this by moving people’s hearts many, many miles away. As the children are fed they can listen in school. When they hear the precious gospel message they not only accept it for themselves but go home and tell parents, grandparents and siblings. They also begin to learn to read and write. Soon they can not only hear the gospel but they are the first generation to be able to read those wonderful words of God. Whole villages become excited about the good news and churches are planted. Many are coming to know Christ as their Savior.
As we look ahead to another year, we believe God is preparing the way for us to continue to reach out into more and more villages. A few years ago, after completing the construction of a new school building in Beaudois, a pastor there shared that they had been praying for this school building for 15 years. He thanked us for being the answer to that prayer. God plans, directs, and in His time He is bringing many people to Himself. We want to be sensitive to where He is at work and respond to His leading.
The challenge for each of us is to be open to “having our hearts flooded with light so that we can see something of the future He has called us to share.” Ephesians 1:18. As we have the wonderful privilege in our country of soaking up more of His Word, how would God have us share the love of Christ this year? Let us not take for granted what God has given us. May each of you have a wonderful year, sensitive to what God has called you to do. Thank you for partnering with us
Serving the Lord together,
Bernie & Sheryl Bovenkamp
Comments are closed