December, 2024
Heart of God International Ministries, Inc.
~ Heart of God Haiti ~
“And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation.” Romans 15:20
In Memory of Eric Jason Ream
May 29, 1974 – September 28, 2024
While we are saddened by Eric’s passing, our hearts are filled with the joyful hope of knowing we will see him again when we join him in Heaven. Eric was passionate about sharing the message of the Gospel with all those he met, especially unreached people groups throughout the world. (Romans 15:20) We covet your prayers for our ministry as we move forward without our dear friend and fellow servant, Eric. With your help, we will strive to carry on Eric’s work of sharing the Gospel with all people while continuing our humanitarian aid programs in Haiti.
Elisabeth continues to be fully involved with the ministry. She oversees the School Scholarship program as well as the Kofael Microloan program. She communicates with Haitian members of our team on an almost daily basis, keeping up to date with the St Marc and Kofael programs, providing direction, and offering guidance as needed. Earlier this fall, she traveled to Rochester, NY to meet with the Board of Directors to discuss future plans for the ministry.
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The violence in Haiti persists, especially in the Port Au Prince area. Below is an update of our on-going programs. Due to the security situation, we are not able to share any photographs or specific details about the Haitian staff who assist us in keeping these programs operating.
Widows’ Program
Our Widows’ Program is on-going, providing supplemental food each month to 19 widows in the Port Au Prince area. Each month, the women are given rice, beans, pasta and oil. The women are no longer able to gather together each month to pick up their foodas they did in the past. According to our Haitian program director, there is a gang basecamp in the area where the women live so he needs to be careful with delivering the food, in order to protect the women. The women are very grateful for the food they receive.
School Scholarship Program
We have over 45 students receiving scholarships again this year, mainly in the St Marc area. In addition to providing tuition, uniform and materials assistance, the School Scholarship Program funds the St Marc Tutoring Center. This is a safe place where the children can come to receive help with their schoolwork along with an afternoon snack, helping with the food insecurity experienced by most of the children. The Tutoring Center also provides paid work for the Program Director and his assistant.
Godet Children
Our support of the Godet children and young adults continues. We provide education and medical support to the children who have been living with their families for over 6 years now. We also provide supplemental food each month for many of the families. This year we have 7 children still in school. These kids will all complete their studies in the next 3-4 years.
As the kids finish school, we are providing them with the opportunity to start their own business so they can earn a living. We have four young adults, three of whom are brothers, that just received the initial funding for their businesses. They presented business plans to the ministry’s board for review, showing how they would use the funding. The initial funding will give them the money needed to start the business, with an additional cash infusion two months later to help them grow the business. Please pray for the success of these businesses so they can become self-sufficient and help support their families for the long term.
Kofael Microloan Program
Many of the women in the Kofael Microloan Program are located in Port Au Prince and have been severely impacted by the violence. Given how long the violence has continued, and with no end in sight, a decision was made to assist the women with relocating to another area of Haiti that is safer. We recently provided 16 women from the program with funds they can use to relocate their families out of the Port Au Prince area. The Kofael directors will continue to keep in touch with the women as they are able. We are saddened that the businesses these women have worked so hard to grow have become yet another casualty of the gang violence that continues to plague Port Au Prince.
Home Building Project
One of our St Marc Haitian staff is in the process of building a new home for his family. The home will also be used for ministry programs. The ministry is providing funding to assist in this construction project. Not only does the project create permanent housing and a place to hold ministry-related events, but the project will also create several jobs for others in the local St Marc area. We have directed that the funds be used to hire local St Marc laborers in order to provide them with much needed work and income to support their families.
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We are so very grateful for your continued support of this ministry. Your generosity enables us to impact many lives in Haiti, giving them opportunities they otherwise would not have. We thank you and all those whom we serve in Haiti thank you!
Heart of God ~ Haiti
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