Update from Pastor Yvel:
Brothers and sisters in Jesus’ love, Greetings to you all!
It is a pleasure to let you know what’s going on in Haitian country troubled by gangs. More than 80 percent areas of Port au Prince, the capital city, is controlled by those men and women with weapons.
We lost two churches – Williamson church and the Mariani church. Our people in the Palma church are afraid; they are waiting for the day to run because Carrefour is surrounded by gangs. We are still there working and praying to encourage God’s people to live, even though social and economic conditions are worse.
We don’t hide anywhere.
We are doing what we can to keep Jesus Christ’s church and His people living and preparing for the kingdom of God. From February eleven to fourteen, a seminary has been done for the church’s leaders.
We traveled from Carrefour to Leogane first on feet, next on motorcycles, and finally on tap-tap (king of rustic transportation). Once there, we met together more than 60 leaders: pastors, deacons, preachers, youth presidents, musicians, and others. The training was about counseling, Christian alms ministry, spiritual leadership, and financial resources management in the family. The work has been done through your financial support to our ministry in Haiti.
Thank you!
The orphans and widows are still living under our responsibility to be fed, cared, visited, overseen. But food is very expensive to provide them now. They received something to eat from the office, but it is not enough, and we, sometimes, they go on bed with an empty stomach. It is hard for me to see and share that problem. Charcoal used to cook food is rare and expensive, too, because trucks cannot carry this essential product to Carrefour, or Port au Prince. Drivers are not able to cross Mariani. Bandits claimed money or raped the truck with passengers and merchandise. We are not far off from a humanitarian catastrophe in my country. More than ever, we need your prayers, your love, your financial support.
Many members and leaders of our churches have left Haiti by the program of humanitarian parole of the president Joe Biden. To fill the empty places, we continue to prepare new workers to replace those who moved to the United States or Dominican Republic. At this point, we are keeping in function the Bible School “Theological Institute of Ministry.” Graduation will be held as soon as peace comes back.
School activities are not so good. Some days, children go to school next they don’t because of bad news in radio stations or social media. Haitian children are living now in an environment where they are depressed. Detonations (gang warfare) make them scared.
We are approaching Easter, and we will remember the sacrifice Jesus has done for us in His body. We get saved by His blood. His resurrection is a sign showing the Christian that he won’t pass his eternity in the grave. He will rise like Jesus did the third day after his crucifixion by Jewish people, and Romans.
May God bless you and give you a heart to think about His people and support them in Haiti.
I love you all.
JEAN YVEL CALIXTE
Here is a link to an updated news report on the political situation in Haiti:
Financial Update:
Due to the ongoing gang violence in Port au Prince receiving mail through the Miami address and getting checks to the bank is impossible. Gifts sent to the Miami address is getting through, but cannot be picked up until stability returns to the nation. Please be patient!
In the meantime:
US gifts that need tax receipts should be sent to: D.M.S. Missionary Fund, P.O. Box 1578, North Wales, PA 19454 (make checks payable to D.M.S. Missionary Fund; put ICA in the memo line).
Canadian gifts should be sent to Christian Mission and Training Commission, 7180 Hwy 64, Monetville, Ontario, Canada P0M 2K0
Non-tax receipt gifts should be sent to Rev. Terry Major who deposits them to Bank of America on the mission’s behalf. Your gift amount and its designation are forwarded to the mission electronically so that they have records and access.
Pastor Yvel’s travel to U.S. has been suspended until such time as he is able to get his visa. The U.S. embassy there is closed until stability returns. Rev. Terry Major is available to travel on Pastor Yvel’s behalf and share information regarding the work in Haiti. Please consider hosting him for your missionary conference or pulpit supply.
