Building Hope Together

Sunday, July 20, 2025 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]  

Today's update is from Renée

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Throughout Scripture, we see God’s people rolling up their sleeves side by side to repair walls, extend mercy, and kindle faith. “They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.” — Nehemiah 2:18. That same spirit of collaborative construction is alive this week in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and I can’t wait to share the highlights with you!

Dominican Republic – Foundations of Fellowship

Saturday evening, we welcomed our friends from Bless Back Worldwide and a vibrant team of young adults from Moments of Hope Church in Charlotte, NC.

Three logos, one heartbeat—what a beautiful picture of kingdom partnership!

We kicked things off by surprising ten-year-old Hutch with a birthday cake, then worshiped Sunday morning with the Haitian Baptist Church of Luperón before visiting the nearby village of La Grúa. Over lunch, our Bless Back Business Academy (BBBA) leadership team got acquainted with the visiting team and prepared together for the projects that will begin in the morning. Please join me in praying for this team. They have a lot to do this week. They are full of energy and I am eager to see how the LORD will work in and through them this week.

Later this week, we’ll celebrate our second BBBA graduation. The smiles on the students’ faces when they tried on their robes said it all! Their determination reminds me that “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

Our summer intern, Jake, embodied that verse all week. He assembled a vibrant presentation board that outlines who we are and what we do at MOHI, prepped supplies for our nutrition programs, and even took on hosting duties for the incoming team. Partnering with Marlouse in the villages, Jake practiced patient check-ins and soaked up every bit of nursing insight he could—future scrub sleeves already poised for service!

Meanwhile, Pastor Lex transformed the mission house: painting, varnishing doors and stairs, upgrading our bulk-cooking area, and completing an outdoor bathhouse. Our newer staff members jumped in too, preparing delicious meals, tending chickens, planting flowers, and keeping the grounds spotless. Watching them master the countless daily details of hospitality has filled us with joy and confidence for the future.

Haiti – Strengthening What Stands

Across the border, our Haitian campus hums with the same “let us rise and build” energy. Painting an entire school is no small feat, yet high school students and our maintenance crew continue to tackle it with pride, ensuring the yard looks as inviting as the freshly coated classrooms.

At the same time, the administrative team is hard at work meeting with students, entering final grades, and assigning students to fall classes—quiet labor that shapes young destinies.

In the clinic, our medical and dental staff continue to treat each person with the dignity they deserve.

Excitement is building for the Learn2Advance launch: 24 more women are set to begin Bless Back Business Academy classes under the guidance of MOHI alumnus Remy, with Nadège and Martine providing accounting and management support. Each participant will receive a micro-loan, make weekly payments, and build a savings habit. The first cohort flourished; many are eager for a second round!

Why It Matters

Whether feeding children in Grand-Goâve, sanding doors in Luperón, or equipping entrepreneurs for the marketplace, every brushstroke and lesson proclaims hope. Paul reminded the believers in Corinth, “We are co-workers in God’s service.” — 1 Corinthians 3:9. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity make you an indispensable part of this crew.

Thank You for Building with Us

As we see fresh paint dry, graduation gowns sway, and village programs buzz, our hearts overflow with gratitude. “I thank my God every time I remember you… because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” — Philippians 1:3-5.

Thank you for lifting us in prayer, cheering us on with kind words, and investing financially so that together we can keep Building Hope Together in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. We couldn’t do it without you—and we wouldn’t want to try!