This has been an interesting week. On Christmas Eve, two of our musicians dropped by the house. I asked them if they were thirsty to which they replied, “Yes, and we’re hungry too!” So much for your typical Southern manners. I fixed them each a peanut butter sandwich and gave them a glass of iced tea. They were genuinely hungry, so I didn’t berate them. They were so happy to receive the simplest of meals. It may as well have been a steak dinner. I watched as our two friends left the house. They laughing and talking as they went on their merry way.

It’s Christmas break for our schools. As I watched our two friends eat, I was reminded of the many schoolchildren (over 800), plus teachers and cooks who are not getting that daily meal that’s full of vitamins and protein. They have a Christmas break, but not a break from hunger. Our students will be eager to come back after the holidays are over so that they can eat! Meanwhile, hunger doesn’t take a holiday.

Sunday morning in church, one of our young men remarked to the congregation, “We’re all so blessed to be here today. Even if there were times when there was no food in the house, we’re just blessed to be alive.”

I am always amazed at the resilience of the Haitian people. We’ve been told that times are harder in Haiti now than they were during the three year UN-imposed embargo (1991-1994.) We were here during that whole season and never left. We remember the stories we heard of folks in the countryside who ate the bark off of trees just to put something in their stomachs. Others assuaged the hunger by eating the hide of goats and cows. Yet, with the escalating prices, we are told it’s far worse now. Haitians never ate horse meat, yet one of our pastors told us the other day that some have resigned themselves to this as well. Prices of many items  in the marché have tripled. To help you understand the strength of a Haitian dollar, $10 H = $1 US.

Would you please commit yourself to pray for the Haitian people? As of 10 January, we will have spent 33 years in Haiti. Because we have laid down our lives to serve as missionaries, we are not ashamed to ask you to partner with us in this great endeavor of feeding the hungry. This is only one of the many things Rehoboth Ministries is doing to make this a better Haiti. But, we can’t do it alone. We’re asking you to become regular supporters of this ministry so we can make 2016 the best year yet!

Thank you for coming alongside of us and strengthening our hands. Donations may be sent to:

The Lord’s Table Church
PO Box 11049
Goldsboro NC 27532

Earmark: Haiti

*marché – the large open-air market