The October Trip to Haiti

Since the FAA banned American pilots and American planes from traveling into Port-au-Prince after gangs attacked commercial aircraft in November 2024, my visits to Haiti Awake have been limited. In fact, this is the least amount of time I’ve spent in Haiti in a single year since the founding of Haiti Awake. By God’s grace and with the help of good friends, I have, however, had the joy of traveling to Port-au-Prince four times in 2025. This October trip was, by far, the best of the four.

Our Haiti Awake staff has grown in both size and capacity this year, and I am incredibly proud of our leadership team and the way they are directing activities day-to-day on the ground. It was my great joy to join them for a few days to see what God is doing and how our organization has moved from surviving to thriving this year.

Thursday

I arrived in Cap-Haitien, then traveled on to Port-au-Prince. It was the 1st night of the family conference at EEGC.

Friday

We had a staff meeting in the morning, followed by a visit to CERMICOL in the afternoon. It was the 2nd night of the family conference at EEGC.

Saturday

I had the pleasure of visiting multiple English classes full of students from CCS in the morning, followed by day 3 of the family conference at EEGC.

Sunday

Sunday was full of joy and tears as we gathered for the last day of the family conference and said goodbye to Phebe who is now in Camp Perrin. I also had the joy of visiting the Charles family in their home. Given the government’s continued efforts around the north wall of the airport, I do not take for granted the ability to visit like this.

Monday

It was back to school for Handy and Davensky, and we had another staff planning time in the morning. This was followed by shopping for monthly CCS groceries, a trip across town to pick up Caleb and Widecherline from school, and a quiet evening with the boys while they did homework.

Tuesday

Tuesday morning came much too soon. After dropping the boys off at school, it was time to shower, change, and get to the airport. I was sad to say goodbye to everyone, but I’m hopeful I’ll be back in Port-au-Prince in early 2026.

It continues to be my great joy and privilege to know and love Haiti. A byento!

Propane gas for CERMICOL

We often struggle to explain life in Haiti to our American friends.

How do we explain this first photo - that this is how the CERMICOL prison has been attempting to feed 85 boys day-by-day for the last week? Do you see the wood they chopped from trees in the yard? Do you know why they had to do this? They had no more propane in their tanks.

Today, by God's grace, we were able to provide them with some propane.

This outreach ministry means so much to us, and we're thankful for those of you who support our ability to share Hope with our friends there.

10 Years after The Earthquake by Steeve Derard

"It is not the dead who praise the Lord, nor any of those descending into the silence of death. But we will praise the Lord, both now and forever." Psalms 115: 17-18

January 12, 2010.

10 years since a terrible earthquake had shaken our dear Haiti and affected all the Haitian people.

10 years where we can not forget good friends, siblings or someone we knew and neighbors we have lost on that day.

But 10 years also where God has never stopped pouring abundantly His blessing on the life of the Haitian people despite it all.

We bless the name of our Lord.

He is faithful yesterday, today and forever.

I truly believe, that God has used this difficult moment for our good.

Not all houses have been repaired yet, neither the National Palace, the Haitian cathedral, some schools, some hospitals. But I can testify how God used this earthquake as a tool to call several members of my family and my friends to God's family. Now it is amazing to see how they are growing in the Lord.

"We know that God works all things together for our good." Romans 8:28

God is our hope, when there seems to be no hope.

He is our light in the darkest moments.

He is faithful and good.

January 12, we will never forget you.