October 2025

Dear Friends,
As I sit down to write this newsletter I have received a very disturbing report from Daniel in Haiti.  I will come to that after writing about what I had intended to share with you this month.
As we have written before, despite the terrible conditions in Haiti we were able to complete the 2024-2025 school year at the end of June with very little interruption.  And the results are in.  The Haiti educational system requires students to take an official examination after completing 9^th grade and then after completing 12^th grade.  From our High Schools in Tricotte and Ti-David we sent 33 ninth graders to the official exam and everyone passed.   We sent the five students that had completed high school to the exam and all five passed.  This is truly a positive reflection of our school administration and our teachers.  In a time in Haiti where many schools really struggle to stay open, and less than half of the students taking the tests Haiti-wide are successful, 100% of Starfish Ministries students passed.  We praise God for Daniel’s leadership and the positive result of our students. 
One of the five 12^th grade graduates is Esaie Gerlin and he sent this unsolicited letter.
Dear leaders and supporters of Starfish Ministries,
I greet you in the precious name of our Savior Jesus Christ and take this noble opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to you.
I have just completed my classical studies, a journey that required a lot of effort, made possible with your unwavering support. Without you, reaching the end of my academic journey would have been extremely difficult. You were always there to support me, both during my time at the orphanage and after.
My family’s financial situation would not have been enough to help me reach this important milestone in my life. But God, in His grace, placed you in my path. Words fail me today to express my gratitude. Thirteen years are not thirteen days, yet you stood by your responsibility with faithfulness.
Simple words like “thank you” does not seem enough for all you have done. If there were stronger words than “thank you” to show how deeply grateful I am, I would use them for you. A thousand thanks for your continued support and your investment in young people.
May God continue to bless your organization more and more each day!
Please accept, dear leaders, the expression of my deepest gratitude.
And now for the disturbing report.  This past Saturday, September 27, a gang of bandits came to Tricotte and went directly to Daniel’s home.  Thankfully, Daniel was not there as it appears the gang was looking for him.  The two young men who were watching Daniel’s house for him were able to escape before the bandits got past the security wall and gates.  They then proceeded to kill Daniel’s guard dogs, break into his house and garage, and steal everything of value, including his beds, furniture, electrical systems, his personal vehicle, and much more.
They then went to our Starfish Ministries guest house and shop and took everything from there as well.  The gangsters simply took everything, carried it to the street below, and had to make several trips to haul it away to their center of illegal operations.  In our Starfish Ministries shop, we had many tools and supplies, many of which were donated by Glenn, Doug, and mission team members, and they are all gone. We also had a sound system that we used for outdoor evangelistic crusades stored there and it was taken.  Two four-wheelers that our school supervisors use to travel to our schools were also taken.  As I write this letter, Daniel did not have an inventory of all that was taken.  Although these crimes were reported to the police in Gros-Morne and Gonieves, no police officer even came to Tricotte. The thieves know this and they have no fear.
As Daniel and I spoke today, we looked at the positive.  No human life was taken.  Although it is difficult to consider all that is lost, we were able to consider Joseph and his brothers in the 50^th chapter of Genesis, where in verse 20, Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
I really appreciate Daniel and his wisdom as he deals with this situation.  He approaches it with prayer and wisdom and is quick to look for what God’s purpose is for the trial. 
Please pray for Daniel and the Haitian Starfish Ministries team.  Pray for the Tricotte population as many of them have fled to hopefully safer places.  Pray that we will be able to start up our schools soon as this has disrupted the opening of the 2025-2026 school term. And pray that this too God will use to bring the lost to repentance. 
We do appreciate each of you as you partner with us in prayer during this stressful time.  And as always, thank you for your financial support.
Serving the Lord together,
Bernie, Sheryl & Philip Bovenkamp