Count the Ripples
May 5, 2024
It has been a rainy week in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which has made things a little more challenging for our START NOW feedings.
Nevertheless, where there's a will, there's a way!
We celebrated Labor Day in Haiti this past week. It provided a wonderful opportunity not only to learn but also to celebrate the significance of agriculture in the country.
Of course, we don’t need a special occasion to have lots of fun with the preschool classes while learning!
The staff at the medical and dental clinics work diligently and cohesively as a team, benefiting our students, staff, and neighbors.
The cooks, cleaners, administration, and maintenance workers all collaborate, as do our fellow missionaries (Gama).
This past week, Lex and I have been traveling in Florida and Tennessee. It’s been wonderful to reconnect with friends and family whom we haven’t seen in some time. We're truly enjoying sharing about the many positive developments taking place at MOHI right now. Despite various challenges, the schools and clinics in Haiti are progressing well. What began as a small step into the Dominican Republic has evolved into significant projects, one-on-one ministry opportunities, and the joy of welcoming all of you joining us on Hope Encounters. It's a fantastic time for us to reflect on how good the LORD has been to us!
One step of obedience has the power to alter someone’s life trajectory – or that of many. Such is the narrative of Pastor Lex, isn't it? Hailing from Michigan, a woman sponsored him through a mission that commenced in his village, affording him his first schooling opportunity at the age of 10. Her steadfast support for that mission became the pebble cast into the pond, initiating ripples that continue to extend outward. Thousands of lives have already been positively influenced because she chose to extend care to a young boy she had never met.
We first encountered Peter and Esther in 2000. At the inception of MOHI, we dispatched letters to local pastors seeking connection, one of which reached Pastors Phil and Irene. They responded, enlisting Peter and Esther to meet us for the first time.
Excitement abounded over this young family's leap of faith in relocating to Haiti. Eager to participate, they elected to visit us in Grand-Goâve. And thus, the pebble was cast into the pond.
This visit precipitated the establishment of a cybercafé in our downtown residence, the first of its kind in Grand-Goâve. Frequented by a majority of the city's populace, it primarily served as a venue for VOIP calls to relatives and friends residing abroad. Consequently, rather than engaging with individuals through community activities, people began congregating at our home-based business. Lex devoted numerous hours to acquainting himself with our neighbors and beyond, right from our doorstep. Quickly, the city became acquainted with "Advantage Cyber Café," colloquially dubbed "Sibè Kafe Pastè Lex."
Ripple.
On a subsequent visit, while strolling along the beach, we happened upon an appealing oceanfront property – rustic, with a couple of small structures, a diminutive pavilion, and a boat garage. We marveled at the possibilities it held.
That property, known as "Cayes Mirliton," now serves as MOHI's missionary compound.
Ripple. Ripple.
Out of discussions with Peter and Esther emerged MOHI's annual Leadership Academy, which flourished with each passing year. I recall the year we decided to relocate it to the missionary compound for daily sessions and workshops, drawing over 600 pastors and church leaders each day.
Ripple. Ripple. Ripple.
In January 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, leaving approximately 75% of structures in our city severely damaged or obliterated. Collaborating with the World Food Program, we provided sustenance to our city and its environs. Partnering with Samaritan’s Purse, we erected transitional residences.
Accompanied by their friend John, Peter and Esther arrived in Haiti bearing something extraordinary – a unique water filtration system, later patented by John, and referred to as the "medical unit." Portable and capable of producing water 99% free of pollutants, bacteria, viruses, and contaminants (confirmed by US government lab results), this unit mitigated the risk of traveler’s diarrhea among our visitors. The water quality at the missionary compound now exceeds that of most US homes, filtering contaminants down to 0.5 nanometer.
We've also employed this unit in disaster relief efforts. Following the 2021 earthquake in southern Haiti, we supplied clean water to the area from a river. Presently, John is developing a system for installation in the Dominican Republic (La Grúa).
Ripple. Ripple. Ripple. Ripple.
While I couldn't possibly recount every instance in which Peter and Esther have made an impact, these are some of the most conspicuous, grand-scale effects.
This past week, we spent a few days at their home. As always, they were swift to lend their support in any way possible. There was mention of growing older and feeling inadequate compared to their past contributions. We chuckled. Do you believe Peter and Esther are no longer making an impact? Not by any means! The ripples they initiated continue to expand to this day.
One woman from Michigan altered Pastor Lex’s life, and God utilized Peter and Esther to perpetuate those ripples and amplify their reach.
Don't be disheartened by what you cannot accomplish! Recognize what you can do and trust that God will magnify the impact far beyond your individual capacity. Take time to count those ripples.
