Hope at Work in Hidden Places

Renée Edmé
12 hours ago
7 min read

Sunday, November 23, 2025 - [click here to support the continuing work at MOHI]

Today's update is from Renée and Jonathan

Stories of Steadfast Hope

Some weeks remind me of how beautifully the Lord threads together perseverance, compassion, and hope in ways we could never orchestrate on our own. As I look back at all that unfolded across Haiti and the Dominican Republic this past week, my heart keeps returning to this theme: God is present in every detail. He sustains, He strengthens, and He guides us into places where His love can take root and grow. Scripture speaks into this truth so clearly: “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

This week, I am especially thankful that I’m not writing alone. Jonathan is with us in Luperón and is co-authoring today’s post. His perspective adds a richness I know you’ll appreciate.

A Word from Jonathan

When I first arrived here in Luperón, the plan was that I would spend a few days here getting to know the local Mission of Hope Team, learn a bit more about the work that’s happening here, and then travel with Gama over to Haiti, where I’d spend some time working with the administrative staff on a new database/software program that I’ve spent a few weeks building, to help MOHI staff centralize information on students, their academic performance, their attendance at school, and any sponsor information that might be directly connected to any given student.

That plan would be thwarted, however, by immigration officials on the D.R. side of the border with Haiti, who refused to allow me to exit the D.R. to cross over into Haiti by land - stating that the land border is closed to anyone not “born in Haiti”, and while I’ve lived and worked in Haiti for the better part of 12 years or so, and hold a Haitian driver’s license and residence permit, those documents were expired, and no amount of persistence and begging on my part would get me the exit stamp I needed to cross over into Haiti.

Someday, I’ll have to tell you about the offers I received from smugglers, ranging from hiding me in the trunk of their cars, and even sneaking me through a field of plantain trees under the cover of night.

But, I digress. What this means now is that I’ve had the pleasure of spending some extra time here in the DR with MOHI’s team!

I’ve known the Edme’s and MOHI for a long time, but I have to say, I’ve never been “on the inside” before - and I am blown away at the sheer number of programs and initiatives they have going on between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It’s been truly inspiring to see the extent of their work here, and to be in meetings where Pastor Lex shares his vision for MOHI going into 2026 and beyond.

I’ve spent a bit of time going out to the surrounding rural villages, where groups of Haitians are living in situations where they are effectively in hiding - from immigration officials here in the D.R. who conduct random raids, often hauling adults over to the border and then freed only if they are able to pay a small “fee” (to put it diplomatically). This has forced Haitians living in the D.R. to live in some pretty rough areas, areas where there are no proper facilities for toilets, bathing, or even the removal of trash.

The result is that many of these people experience recurring illness, are malnourished, and unable to participate in everyday activities like work, or school - with any degree of normalcy or routine. Indeed, the children in these villages live in a constant state of crisis and unpredictability, which has implications reaching far beyond what we can see and nurture externally.

MOHI’s Team in the D.R. conduct daily outreach work to these hidden communities. They bring meals for the children who might be too afraid to shop in a local market; they bring medicines to those who fear going to local clinics. They operate in the reality of those whom they serve, and they do so with a level of dignity and humanity that is so intentional in everything MOHI does.

The work they are doing here is complicated, simply due to the political reality of the landscape for Haitians in the D.R. There are days we show up to a community where we might normally find 20 or 30 individuals waiting for us, only to find everyone has dispersed - if only temporarily - due to local immigration activities or other threats. Because of this reality, it can be challenging to maintain regular, consistent contact with the individuals being served here. MOHI staff do an incredible job at finding out where they are, meeting them where they are at, and bringing the needed assistance to them just the same.

It’s inspiring to witness and I’m even more excited that I’ve begun to learn names, and recognize faces in the village surrounding Luperon. If I can’t be in Haiti, I’m quite happy to serve alongside the incredible people at MOHI until I’m able to do so.

Dominican Republic: Growth, Perseverance, and God-Given Creativity

While Jonathan was immersed in village outreach, our Bless Back Business Academy continued shaping entrepreneurs with both practical tools and biblical wisdom. Aquilina shared how their first-level course focused on digital tools that small business owners can begin using right away. Students jumped in with enthusiasm, applying what they learned on the spot. It brought to mind Proverbs 24:3: “By wisdom a house is built.” Each skill strengthens the foundation of their families and their future.

In the second-level group, health challenges and personal matters forced a virtual session, yet the students showed determination and warmth. “Persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12) resonated deeply as the class upheld each other and kept moving forward. Aquilina also visited entrepreneurs in their communities—praying over businesses, encouraging owners, and witnessing how faith and practical training combine to bring real change.

Meanwhile, Marlouse and Mèt Ben shared joyful moments from Luperón’s food programs. The children lovingly call the meals “beautiful food”—their bowls filled with bananas, eggs, avocado, and bread with peanut butter.

In the gardens, Willy and Damnias planted cabbage, peppers, carrots, and tomatoes, hopeful for a strong harvest.

The team also traveled to Cambiaso to check on local patients and replenish medications. Many were delighted to see Jonathan helping in the pharmacy.

Haiti: Encouragement, Care, and a Vision for What’s Ahead

Back in Haiti, our school administration gathered parents for a meeting of encouragement and focus for their children’s education. With so many uncertainties swirling around their lives, these times of connection breathe hope into weary hearts.

Lex also made his way through Haiti this week. His travel routes always remind me of a movie (Trains, Planes, and Automobiles), but in this real-life situation, it would be called Planes, Boats, and Automobiles. This time, he journeyed along the Caribbean coast just as the sun was setting.

The glow across the water, coupled with the smiles of the children he visited, captured the heart of why we continue pressing forward.

He spent time feeding youngsters, laughing with students in the classrooms, and reminding them of how deeply loved they are.

At the medical and dental clinics, so many lives are touched. Patients receive services like wound care, breathing treatments, blood pressure monitoring, lab work, education in the pharmacy, and dental examinations. Each person who walks through those doors encounters not only compassionate care but also dignity and hope.

Our partnership with Bless Back Worldwide continues to be one of the greatest gifts to these communities. Their steady support strengthens our clinic operations, supplies, and staff training—allowing us to offer comprehensive care in places where going without medical help has become far too normal. Together, we are witnessing healing that goes beyond physical needs, restoring confidence and opening doors for families who have endured so much.

A Foundation of Stability for the Youngest

Our START NOW sponsors continue to be a lifeline to babies and young children in the most turbulent environments. Whether in Haiti or the Dominican Republic, your support creates pockets of stability where little ones can be nourished, cared for, and known. These are not small things—they are seeds of a future many of these children would otherwise never have a chance to imagine.

Overflowing Gratitude

Every story this week—the classes, the gardens, the medical visits, the hidden villages, the children’s laughter, the long roads traveled—points back to the generosity and faithfulness of our partners. Truly, “every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17), and the Lord has used each one of you to sustain this mission in ways that humble us daily.

Lex and I are deeply grateful. We see your impact in every community, every classroom, every clinic, and every village path our teams walk. We can only do these things because you have chosen to stand with us, pray for us, invest in lives, and believe in this work as much as we do.

Thank you for being part of God’s steady, hope-filled story across Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We love partnering with you more than words can express.

As we look ahead to Thanksgiving this coming week, all of us here at MOHI want to wish you and your loved ones a holiday filled with peace, joy, and the sweet reminder of God’s goodness. We pray your home is full of meaningful conversations, grateful hearts, and moments that refresh your spirit. Please know how deeply grateful we are for you—not just at Thanksgiving, but every single day.