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There are many ways to bring in the New Year. Each country has their traditions and within each country, each family has their own way of celebrating. For Americans, the New Year frequently involves a party or gathering and fireworks…lots and lots of fireworks. For Haitians, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day has an entirely different meaning. Jan. 1 is their Independence Day. Their preparations would have begun yesterday by going to the market to gather the ingredients, the meat (usually chicken, beef or goat), the many veggies (Haitian pumpkin-more like a squash than an American pumpkin, carrots, onions, garlic, cabbage, leeks, potatoes, root veggies like yanm and patat, parsley, celery, parsnip, turnips and others), spices (salt, pepper, scotch bonnet peppers, nutmeg to name a few) and the noodles. The meat will be marinated for several hours and the cooking will begin tonight. Preparing it will be a family

Only 1 1/2 days left in this year. It’s hard to imagine but this year is almost over. Would you prayerfully consider making a year-end tax-deductible donation to RMI’s ministry? Help us end the year with a boost that enables us to continue to transform lives through partnerships, food aid, child sponsorships, water filters, homes, goats, and so much more! Give a boost to one of RMI’s missionaries and appointees! Or perhaps give a boost to RMI operations. Your donation can make a difference. You can give online HERE.

Only 1 1/2 days left in this year. It’s hard to imagine but this year is almost over. Would you prayerfully consider making a year-end tax-deductible donation to RMI’s ministry? Help us end the year with a boost that enables us to continue to transform lives through partnerships, food aid, child sponsorships, water filters, homes, goats, and so much more! Give a boost to one of RMI’s missionaries and appointees! Or perhaps give a boost to RMI operations. Your donation can make a difference. You can give online HERE.

A Haitian Christmas tradition are the “fanals”. Fanals are miniature, lantern-like homes that are part of Haiti’s Christmas tradition. A candle placed inside illuminates the fragile craft and creates a stained-glass effect. The size of either a shoe box or as small as a camera, fanals are often placed in windows to light the way. Many fanals emulate Haiti’s yesteryear — chiefly, the gingerbread homes, an architectural style prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Creole word “fanal” meaning a ‘beacon’ such as a lighthouse beacon or a ‘lantern’ like an old railroad lantern has been applied to the cardboard and colored tissue paper luminaries made by Haitian artists at Christmas. These creations are so striking and memorable that they have more or less taken over the word “fanal”. These are most often seen and sold in Port-au-Prince. Some fanals are simple small houses, while others are

A Haitian Christmas tradition are the “fanals”. Fanals are miniature, lantern-like homes that are part of Haiti’s Christmas tradition. A candle placed inside illuminates the fragile craft and creates a stained-glass effect. The size of either a shoe box or as small as a camera, fanals are often placed in windows to light the way. Many fanals emulate Haiti’s yesteryear — chiefly, the gingerbread homes, an architectural style prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Creole word “fanal” meaning a ‘beacon’ such as a lighthouse beacon or a ‘lantern’ like an old railroad lantern has been applied to the cardboard and colored tissue paper luminaries made by Haitian artists at Christmas. These creations are so striking and memorable that they have more or less taken over the word “fanal”. These are most often seen and sold in Port-au-Prince. Some fanals are simple small houses, while others are

The angels are rejoicing and singing.  Why?  Because 57 people recently gave their lives to Christ in an open air service in Dame Marie, Haiti.  Because 57 people’s lives were transformed that night.  Pastor Guy Glass of Myakka City, FL was in Dame Marie with his church, Bethany Baptist Church, visiting their C3 partner church.  Each time they visit they hold an open air service in the town square for the people of the community, but this time the deacons took them to an entirely new area.  The service drew quite a crowd.  Pastor Guy shared his sermon through an RMI staff translator, sharing the plan of salvation at the end.  As he prepared to give the invitation, he turned to the visiting team and asked them to pray.  At first it seemed like no one was going to respond.  Then one man came forward.  Then another.  A couple more

The angels are rejoicing and singing.  Why?  Because 57 people recently gave their lives to Christ in an open air service in Dame Marie, Haiti.  Because 57 people’s lives were transformed that night.  Pastor Guy Glass of Myakka City, FL was in Dame Marie with his church, Bethany Baptist Church, visiting their C3 partner church.  Each time they visit they hold an open air service in the town square for the people of the community, but this time the deacons took them to an entirely new area.  The service drew quite a crowd.  Pastor Guy shared his sermon through an RMI staff translator, sharing the plan of salvation at the end.  As he prepared to give the invitation, he turned to the visiting team and asked them to pray.  At first it seemed like no one was going to respond.  Then one man came forward.  Then another.  A couple more

The Hope for Kidz (HFKz) Deworming Initiative is one of my favorite times of the year!  It’s may be just a small part of our HFKz child sponsorship program, but it has a huge impact. A small portion of the sponsorship funds covers this program. The exciting part is that it doesn’t just effect the individual sponsored child, but we are able to treat every child in every HFKz school. We hope and pray that this enables all the students at each school to have improved health and therefore be better equipped to learn! This year, we’ve been able to include 15,365 people in this program! Intestinal worms is always an ongoing health issue here in Haiti, yet prevention training and treatment is not complicated! Kids who have intestinal worms generally have poor nutrition (as the worms rob them of any vitamins they ingest), malaise and weakness, chronic cough, lack

The Hope for Kidz (HFKz) Deworming Initiative is one of my favorite times of the year!  It’s may be just a small part of our HFKz child sponsorship program, but it has a huge impact. A small portion of the sponsorship funds covers this program. The exciting part is that it doesn’t just effect the individual sponsored child, but we are able to treat every child in every HFKz school. We hope and pray that this enables all the students at each school to have improved health and therefore be better equipped to learn! This year, we’ve been able to include 15,365 people in this program! Intestinal worms is always an ongoing health issue here in Haiti, yet prevention training and treatment is not complicated! Kids who have intestinal worms generally have poor nutrition (as the worms rob them of any vitamins they ingest), malaise and weakness, chronic cough, lack

A little something different for this Monday.  Instead of a Haitian proverb, here is a Christmas greeting to share with your friends. “M swete ou yon jwaye Nowèl!” = I wish you a Merry Christmas! Pronunciation help: “M swe-tay oo yoh ZHWA-ye no-WEL”

A little something different for this Monday.  Instead of a Haitian proverb, here is a Christmas greeting to share with your friends. “M swete ou yon jwaye Nowèl!” = I wish you a Merry Christmas! Pronunciation help: “M swe-tay oo yoh ZHWA-ye no-WEL”

Jim and April Starkey joined the RMI family this month as our newest missionary appointees.  They are from Ohio and have been serving at their local church, Community Bible, for 8+ years. Jim is involved in a men’s leadership group, helps with the sound ministry and children’s ministry. He is also very involved as a leader in their church’s youth group. He has a special handshake he does with each kid in the youth group and doesn’t mind at all making a fool out of himself to connect with the kids and make them laugh. He’s a big Ohio State Buckeye football fan and loves to read. April helps lead worship at their church and is one of the Bible teachers for the children’s program. Her passion is music and singing. She is currently learning how to play guitar. She loves the mountains, nature, reading, blogging and board games. Jim

Jim and April Starkey joined the RMI family this month as our newest missionary appointees.  They are from Ohio and have been serving at their local church, Community Bible, for 8+ years. Jim is involved in a men’s leadership group, helps with the sound ministry and children’s ministry. He is also very involved as a leader in their church’s youth group. He has a special handshake he does with each kid in the youth group and doesn’t mind at all making a fool out of himself to connect with the kids and make them laugh. He’s a big Ohio State Buckeye football fan and loves to read. April helps lead worship at their church and is one of the Bible teachers for the children’s program. Her passion is music and singing. She is currently learning how to play guitar. She loves the mountains, nature, reading, blogging and board games. Jim