July 2024 Newsletter

Update from Pastor Yvel

Greetings to all our supporters of ICA Ministry!

Death is written in everybody schedule around the world. The way it arrived on people in Haiti is terrible. Armed gangs entered into houses of the peaceful citizens, killed them, burnt their bodies with mattress + gas in front of their children and their wives.

You build your house with your own money then someday bandits ask you to leave it, and they are living in it. I built my house in Mariani close by the church from 1990 to 2003 block by block, room by room until I finished it. It was not fenced; animals that came in the yard at night sit on the roof and troubled my sleep. I was there in the basement with my family. My children were born and raised there.  I left the house in December 2020 because of bandit menaces who demanded money that I did not have. They promised to shoot me and my family. Armed bandits broke padlocks and entered my house in Mariani. I am doing the ministry work there among bandits. I met them. I saw them on the streets. I am still alive to serve God’s people in Haiti.

Last June, Kenya promised to come with the first troops. Now more than 300 are there waiting for two thousand from other countries.  Nothing is done yet. Even though the Kenyan force is in Port au Prince bandits are still free in their actions. They’re doing procession with weapons in the streets without fear. They made feasts on their birthday, they shot their guns, burnt houses, killed people, and destroyed police stations in Carrefour and Gressier with tractors. Many churches have closed their doors. Families are running because of armed gang pressure and attacks.  You can imagine what happened to a poor family running from gangs and being charged twice or more for a place to stay. Some families returned to the backcountry to be rescued by parents or friends. The 3 police stations in Carrefour have been empty since May 2024.  Police men and women are hunted by gangs who established their own laws in the streets. Population and my people in the church are waiting for their day to run. I am praying, comforting them by the Word of God until peace comes back.

Schools were closed in Port au Prince, Croix des Bouquets, Martissant, Fontamara… They reopened in May. Many children moved to other places with their parents. But schools did not close at Carrefour and Leogane. Our schools did the last exams and gave report cards to students last week.

The next year of school will be harder for parents; no jobs, no money. To have in your mind to support more students at school by your money will be a great source of blessing.  So, pray with us in order to help more children in the backcountry by a free scholarship and some food occasionally. 

In spite of the bad condition in which we are living, I don’t stop working. The ministry stands up to be useful for people. 

  1. Last June 5 deacons received ordination in the Bassin church, Leogane. 
  2. Last week from 20th to 24th June, I traveled to Anse A Pitre with two brothers close to the border. People received training for teaching Sunday school and leading a service at church. Two servants of God got married and received baptism on Sunday after the service. We got on a public truck and returned on a flyboat. 
  3. A revival has been done in Palma church from June 23rd to 30th on this topic: “Poverty doesn’t keep people giving money to the work of God.” Luke 21:1-4.  We started early and terminated our meeting before night, where everybody was feared.
  4. Our next activity is the ordination of 6 pastors for some of our churches. 
  5. Bible School gave the formations online this year because to travel into Carrefour from any place is not easy. Many young Christians from La Gonave, the island, studied with us. Private cars from Carrefour don’t go to Leogane or Port au Prince.  The public ones do it with difficulties. Banks are opened and paid with restrictions about the quantity of money you want. We have been able to get some mail and do some banking again. Materially, we are so poor and troubled in Haiti, but we share love and prayer with you in the love of Jesus Christ. 

Sincerely yours, 

JEAN YVEL CALIXTE.

Notes for Pastor Terry Major:

Many of you have sponsored students in the schools and are presently sponsoring them.  Pastor Yvel is happy to try to share information with you about the child you are supporting if you desire to know.  More than ever sponsorships are essential for students to get their education.  You can give generally to students or ask for special students if you wish.  You can also give to the feeding programs at the schools to support the students’ learning and flourishing.

Also, support for widows and orphans is an ongoing expense for the Mission.

I am still happy to deposit gifts to Bank of America on behalf of each of you so you can be assured they are getting to the Mission in a timely fashion.  I send deposits once a month and then email the Mission all the information regarding specific designations and amounts.

(Any special gifts for Ghislaine Louis can be sent through the Mission, or if you like, can be sent directly to her at: 1261 NW 56th Avenue, Lauderhill, FL 33313.)