March 2025
Dear Friends.
Yoldine Joseph is a 16-year-old student in the 8th grade at our Tricotte High School. Yoldine lives with her parents in Savanette, a village near Tricotte. Due to the terrible conditions in Haiti, her parents were not able to pay the school fees for this term. When I told Daniel that we had funds available for Education Scholarships, he chose Yoldine as one of the recipients of a scholarship. Yoldine and her parents were overjoyed. She greatly thanks the people who thought of her desire to continue with her education. In her own words she said, “I promise to work hard to bring joy in everyone’s heart who will contribute in my success.”
Rodny Lebrun is a 28-year-old Starfish Ministries worker. Rodny was born in Tricotte and completed his elementary schooling in the Tricotte School. He then went on to complete high school which is quite an accomplishment since only about 1% of Haitians have the opportunity to finish that level of education. Rodny shares:
Childhood challenges and my turn-back moment: Growing up, I always went to church with my parents, but I never understood how to walk with Jesus. In fact, I was a difficult child for my parents. I was often disobedient which really made them uncomfortable. Some people even said that I would never amount to anything. I don’t remember when I got saved. However, I had a turn-back moment when I got baptized on the 13th of December 2015. The Lord changed me. The change was so noticeable that I was voted president of the youth ministry in the church. I have been faithfully walking with Jesus ever since.
Rodny’s dad was blinded with glaucoma a few years ago. He could no longer provide for his family, so Rodny supports them with the salary he earns by working for Starfish Ministries. Daniel hired Rodny in October 2023, and he has become a very trustworthy member of Daniel’s staff. He is in charge of maintenance but is willing to do whatever Daniel asks of him. When asked what motivates him to continue in spite of the insecurity, Rodny’s response, “I would like to help Starfish Ministries continue to serve our people in those difficult times. Many people depend on Starfish for survival. This is a great opportunity for me to be a faithful servant of the Living God.”
The stories of Yoldine and Rodny are a great encouragement for us. During these most difficult times in the history of Haiti, we are seeing God at work in young lives. When Rodny was a young boy attending our Tricotte Elementary School, we didn’t know what the future would be for him. But God grew him up to be the young man he is today, as he says, “a servant of the Living God.” And what about Yoldine? She is one of hundreds of students in our schools today. And we trust that God will continue to work in their lives and use them in His Kingdom ministries.
Last month we reported that God had provided for 138 boxes of FMSC MannaPac Rice to be delivered from our rented warehouse in Gonieves to Tricotte. During the month of February, 550 more boxes have been delivered to Tricotte. What a blessing this is!!! Thank you for your prayers. The delivery man has a small pickup with a tall canopy and evidently has a “pass” to navigate through the roadblocks set up by the gangs. We currently have over 3000 boxes of rice in Gonieves so that’s another 22 trips. They plan to take one or two loads per week so at that rate it will still take a couple months to move it all to Tricotte.
We are rejoicing and so grateful for your prayers. Please keep praying that God will continue to allow safe passage to Tricotte and on to our schools and remote Elderly Ministry locations.
Thank you for your partnership with us to help make this possible as we navigate so many aspects of life as we serve God in Haiti. 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. Babies have been born safely in the medical clinic, and healthcare has been provided for people of all ages. Hopefully that will continue soon. 40 children, ages four through 17, are now 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. Children and adults alike are fed through the coffee and food program 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 for 86 previously-forgotten people. We are able to hold up our Haitian brothers and sisters in prayer as they go through various trials. 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
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