We are so grateful for Rebekah’s partnership with Rehoboth Ministries. She has a true heart for missions as she grew up as an MK – Missionary Kid! Thank you Rebekah!
God used growing up in Japan as a missionary kid to create a huge heart in me for being involved in missions. Haiti has been one nation that has intrigued me. It is infamous for being a corrupt, destitute nation. Yet I believe in the transforming power of God. I believe that God can transform lives and thereby transform a nation. Building and training leaders is one of the keys to sustaining a move of God resulting in the transformation of a nation. I love how one of Rehoboth’s focuses is on building and training local leaders. In order to train leaders, an organization needs support and finances. It has been my pleasure to partner through prayer and finances with Rehoboth Ministries in order to provide support for their ministry. I am excited to see what God does in Haiti through Rehoboth Ministries and the leaders they have and are training!
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation.
A few days ago, I wrote to one of our ”home-grown” disciples who is today a leader. My heart was so vexed for Haiti and the turmoil taking place there. I expressed to him my deep sorrow over a nation which seems to be imploding and grieved over the faithful ones with which we have worked for so many years, all the while wondering how they were surviving in the midst of it all. I ached for our schoolchildren and wondered when our schools would reopen so they could, at least, get one hot meal a day. I wondered how anyone could find any good in a place where dreams die all too quickly. As I poured out my grief and frustration to him concerning the days ahead, I received this reply.
Hi ManPast. Hope you have a great day! Ican understand all that you feel inside of your heart for this country, because I do, as a Haitian, have the same feeling too. But, we trust God can turn Haiti around. So, our job is to keep praying for the country all the time. We prayed for your family at the committee meeting last Thursday. We are working as leaders all the time to keep the church members to have their eyes on God. Because only God has the final word for the country.
He did not realize it, but he was giving me a sweet rebuke. He is the type of person would never hurt a fly, much less correct me. Where was my faith? There is hardly a day that goes by that our lead pastor fails to write me to ask how I am doing and to let me know that our people are praying earnestly for me. Hardly a service goes by without them naming my name before the Lord.
This gives me hope for Haiti because there are disciples there who have spent hours on their knees in intercession for us. These are seasoned warriors who were on their faces during our kidnapping and would not relent in their prayers for my husband when he was given up to die. Our ”home-grown” disciples have weathered many a storm and are preparing for another one. These are the ones who will change the course of Haiti, for they have the steadfast hope that the Lord will not forget them…..”and hope maketh not ashamed.” Reference: Romans 5:5-11
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation.
President Jovenel Moïse was laid to rest on July 7, 2021. He death has greatly shocked the nation of Haiti and all those who labored therein. Because of this, it has been difficult to write this post. Jovenel was buried in Cap Haitian not far from where he grew up. Cap Haitian is the old colonial capital and also the home of Rehoboth Ministries where we have been laboring for the last 33 years in missions. This President was unlike any other. He was a simple banana farmer and astute businessman. His organic bananas became highly sought after, however. Huge boatloads of home-grown bananas were shipped to Germany regularly which made him highly successful and an example for others who tilled the earth. But, with all his success, Jovenel was deeply troubled for his country and President Michel Martelly tagged him to become a candidate in the Presidential race for Haiti. Moïse was by all means an underdog in this race and dubbed, ”Neg Banann” meaning ”The Banana Man.” Yet, even as many didn’t take him seriously, he was amazingly elected in 2017. Haiti mourns today over the loss of a simple, but great man who could not be bought and refused to give funds from other nations which were delegated to specific purposes to greedy politicians who cared nothing for their people. This is one reason that Haiti has been on a slippery slope for decades. In spite of generous handouts from other countries, the money has ended up in the wrong hands. JOVENEL SIMPLY GOT IN THEIR WAY.
First Lady, Martine Moïse, gave a riveting speech at her husband’s funeral. She almost lost her life as well, perhaps left for dead. She was next to her husband when he was tortured and killed, a victim, herself, of many gunshot wounds. Martine was flown to Miami for further treatment along with her children. But, nothing could keep her from returning to Haiti to speak at her husband’s funeral. This has to be one of the most powerful speeches I have ever heard. I hope you will listen to it, for I am including the link for it and the translation is included. She boldly called out Jovenel’s enemies and lifted a lamp for the Haitian people to see that ”a battle was lost, but the war was not over.” Speaking of her husband with great affection, she said,
”He became my dear and my blood flowed in his veins. He became my hymn and I became his orchestra.”
After the funeral, the First Lady sat by President Jovenel’s coffin for an hour before allowing the guards to seal his coffin inside the tomb. Would you please remember this special woman and her family in your prayers? Would you please pray for the Haitian people as they mourn the loss of a great leader and wonder what is to become of their nation? Would you pray for us at Rehoboth Ministries as we continue to encourage our people who are going through a very dark time in their nation?
People in high positions have managed to arm their own gangs with high-powered weapons. They terrorize the countryside and the kidnappings have increased. We used to talk about how bad things were in the south of Haiti around the capital, but now there are incidents happening in our part of the country as well. Kidnappings are rampant and young men are being coerced to join them in order to eat and stay alive. This is the reason the missionaries I wrote of in an earlier post lost their lives. Jacmel is not that far from Port-au-Prince and the drive could have been made in a vehicle. But, due to the threat of being stopped by a gang on the route, these missionaries chose to fly instead. One of the planes crashed. Today, many widows and children, both Haitian and American are crying out for justice and praying their loved ones didn’t die in vain. (Click on the link below to watch the First Lady’s speech.)
Our dear friends and longtime partners with Rehoboth Ministries have agreed to share their hearts on this video. Jerry and Judy Porter have been praying for and giving to Rehoboth Ministries for years. Jerry came and spent a week with us in Cap-Haitian a few years ago and was such a blessing to us all. Thank you for your commitment to this work, guys, and for your encouragement towards us! Would you like to become partners with Rehoboth? Write to Dana at danaptl@gmail.com and I’ll tell you how!
Jerry & Judy Norris
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation
Due to problems with this site, I have not been able to update for a while. There is so much news to catch up on, but I will have to do so little by little. Our hearts have been greatly saddened and troubled by news coming out of Haiti in the last few weeks. There has been so much tragedy and many people are in need of your prayers.
Tragedy in Flight
Missionaries who worked for the ministry called Gospel to Haiti were traveling back to Jacmel (in the south) of Haiti after a brief reprieve stateside. Since there was not enough room on the airplane for the women and children, they were sent ahead on another flight. When the second plane didn’t arrive, their fears were soon confirmed. The second plane had crashed into the mountain and all the passengers died. You can read more here. We ask for your prayers for the survivors.
Assassination of the President of Haiti
President Jovenel Moïse
On July 7, 2021, the home of the President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse, was broken into by Columbian mercenaries. He and his wife were brutally tortured and the President was murdered. Martine Moïse sustained critical gunshot wounds and was probably believed to be dead. The First Lady Elect was flown to Miami where she has been receiving treatment. The people of the nation of Haiti are in shock and trying to sort through this horrible affair. We grieve over the tremendous loss of this President who received so much opposition for the good that he did and we long to see the perpetrators brought to justice. Haiti is at an ”all-time low” due to the power and automatic weapons which have been supplied to notorious gangs terrorizing the nation. There are 70+ gangs in Haiti. Some of them have already taken up residence on the compounds of missionaries. The evil has even spread to the ”once peaceful” north of Haiti where Rehoboth Ministries resides.
Other News
Mike and Hope Sonnenschein
A missionary to Cap-Haitian and his wife were returning to their compound when they were chased down by a couple of men on a motorcycle. When they stopped, one of the men pulled a gun on the husband and fired. The bullet lodged next to his spine and he lost the feeling in his legs. His wife immediately straddled the gears and put her foot on the accelerator. They managed to make it inside their compound to safety. However, the missionary (Mike) had to be airlifted to the States that night and has been in rehab ever since. Mike and Hope Sonnenschein need your prayers. You can read more here.
Prayers
As you can see, there is much turmoil going on and these are not all the stories.Our family is stateside at the moment because, I, Dana, have been recuperating from cancer treatment. I also ask your prayers for relief from fatigue. I am much better, but still need another layer of healing. Many thanks for your continued love and support towards our family and for those who are laboring for this work in Haiti. We ask for divine protection over those who are representing us abroad.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Romans 12: 15
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation
Dorvil Jean is a student in our main school in Petite-Anse. Dorvil’s parents could not pay his tuition this year. After allowing him to come to school for several weeks and hoping that his parents could pay his bill, he was finally sent home. But, there was no food at home and the gnawing hunger in Dorvil’s stomach forced him to return to the one place where he knew a hot meal would be served. Dorvil banged on our school gate and pleaded with one of our teachers to give him something to eat. The teacher brought him in and fed him, then brought this to our attention. Our hearts were greatly burdened for Dorvil. We learned that two other students had also been sent home for the same reason. Thanks to our very generous donors, Rehoboth made sure these students’ tuition was covered. Thanks to Orphans Promise, they are getting a meal packed with nutrients five days a week. As food prices continue to escalate and jobs are scarce, things become more difficult in Haiti. Won’t you consider partnering with us to help more children like Dorvil? No gift is too small!
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation
“I first learned of Dana and Prit from my mom, who was childhood friends with Dana, growing up in Clinton, NC. My mom only had kind things to say about Dana. Through Dana and Prit, I learned about Rehoboth Ministries in Haiti, and their mission work there over the past 35 years. One of the reasons I’ve chosen to support their ministry is that I’ve been astounded at how adept they are, managing the financial resources they receive in a way that best serves the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the people of Haiti. I truly hope to be able to visit their “home base” in Cap Haitian, Haiti, within the next couple of years. I long to see firsthand the many, many adults and children they get to serve.”
We want to do more! Will you consider partnering with Rehoboth Ministries? We can do great things together.
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation
Today was Mother’s Day. No, I’m not mistaken and I didn’t get the date wrong. Today was Haitian Mother’s Day. Given the bleakness and hardship of life in Haiti, I salute the Haitian mothers. They’re ALL heroes. Life in Haiti gets more and more difficult and just having one’s basic needs met requires much stamina and determination. But any mother knows… you’ll do whatever it takes to provide for your children.
I found out quickly, while raising children on the mission field, that the Haitian mothers were full of all kinds of advice. Whether you wanted the advice or not, they freely gave it. “You better close that baby’s mouth. He might swallow a fly!” “Where is your umbrella? The sun’s too hot for the baby. He needs shade!” (This was in the day when we didn’t own a vehicle and walked everywhere.) I used to think they were overbearing and opinionated. As the years passed, I realized they were forced to take charge, as many of them were single parents trying to give their children a decent life. Their advice was meant to help, not hurt.
Doing the impossible and having so few resources, the word “difficult” sounds trite. It’s not easy to complain around women who have endured so much. I salute these women who have become sisters. They are strong and resilient – even in their weakness and hunger. They call me the mother of the church. While they mean to honor me, I find it very humbling, since I have never suffered to the degree they have. Yet, they cherish me and I am proud of the title they have bestowed upon me.
I salute them – my sisters, my mothers, who have taught me much over these last 38+ years.
Bonne Fête, Maman! –Happy Mother’s Day!
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation
We are Ervin and Joslyn Eatmon and we have been married for 31 years! We met Prit and Dana when they came to our church and made a presentation about their Haiti ministry. We fell in love immediately with the ministry and with them! They are such loving and spiritual people. We see their work as being at the forefront of what God is doing. We wanted to be a part and have been ever since. Thank God for Prit and Dana and for all the work, love, and sharing they do in the name of Jesus!
We want to do more! Will you consider partnering with Rehoboth Ministries? We can do great things together.
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation
We have reached our $25,000 Bible Institute fundraiser! Thanks so much for your generosity to this cause. Because you gave…, our Bible School professors will be able to take better care of their families. Because you gave…, our students will not have to spend hours ceaselessly worrying about how to about to pay for their schooling. Instead they can concentrate on their studies.Because you gave…, they all will have the joy of knowing someone cares.
Did you not have an opportunity to give? There are always needs to be met and your donation can be used in so many other places. Due to the ever-increasing exchange rate which wreaks havoc on the strength of the Haitian dollar, poverty serves as a noose around the average Haitian’s neck. Add this to the lack of job opportunity in Haiti as it is, life is unbearable for those living there. Rehoboth is always working to lift heavy burdens off the people it serves, but we can’t do it without you. This goal is met….because you gave!
Rehoboth Ministries is… Changing Lives and Impacting a Nation
Rehoboth Ministries 