Reciprocal Ministries International

Amy Long is making a transition

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:26:00 +0000

RMI field missionary, Amy Long, is transitioning from a 2 year term to being a full time missionary and could use your prayers as she raises additional funds to make that happen. Here is her prayer card.

Gary & Marilyn McLaughlin’s Prayer Card

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:42:00 +0000

RMI field missionaries, Gary & Marilyn McLaughlin’s prayer card is a good reminder to do exactly that…remember to pray for them and the vital ministries they do for RMI & the Haitian people!

New Rob Thompson family prayer card

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:17:00 +0000

RMI Field missionaries, Rob and Becky Thompson, have a new prayer card. Wow, have their children grown!

Volunteers and visitors from afar

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Bud and Dolly journeyed from far away Michigan to help us out here at the RMI office!

(Actually they are Kim Rose’s parents!! They left the snowy north to visit Kim and Barb in the sun.) They came in to help stuff, seal and prepare the year end receipts. Where would we be without our volunteers?!

Charlotte Zegers and Tom and Shirley Crick are local volunteers who have been immensely helpful!! They stuff, seal and prepare special mailings, label theBridge and get it ready to mail, collate and assemble RMI’s Orientation Training manuals. There is quite a bit of behind the scenes work that is essential to the running of the RMI office. Thank you all so much for your willingness to give your time and effort – what a service (and always done with a smile)!!

Friends of RMI, Jim & Ruth Hill, of Michigan, stopped by for a visit and to see the office in August of last year.

We love to have our friends stop by for a visit when they are in the area for vacation, spring break or whenever!!

If you are in the area or just passing through, give us a call and come on by. We would enjoy seeing you.

RMI’s VP of Operations, Kim Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:36:00 +0000

A key to RMI’s day to day operations is Kim Rose! Here is his prayer card.

An Immediate, yet Eternal Community Wide Investment…

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:59:00 +0000

Estero United Methodist Church has made a huge impact, not only for today, but for years to come in their Sister Church partnership community, Cherette, Haiti. The immediate and eternal return on this investment is simply immeasurable. It’s truly Hope for Haiti.

Several years ago, a team of leaders, movers and shakers arrived in Haiti for their first Sister Church visit with Reciprocal Ministries International and made some observations. Their Sister Church was making every effort possible to build and have a school. Yet, the Haitian church found that it was exceedingly difficult to do all that they dreamed with so few resources. They had made progress personally, but their dreams were still far off in the uncertain distant future. There were “rough beginnings”, but much was yet to be done. Along came their brothers and sisters at Estero United Methodist Church. Led by God, with heart, with compassion, with guts they sought out to raise the significant funding to make it all happen.

Today, here in Cherette, Haiti, there is a fully functioning school. 9 equipped school rooms. A roof. Permanent blackboards. More than 80 school benches. All the teachers have their own desks, and chairs! There are security doors as well! 100% built with local Haitian workers. The hot lunch program (every child get’s a hot nutritious lunch every school day) through Hope for Kidz is in full swing. More children are now attending the school. They have added a secondary school in the afternoon, and even an adult domestic training center in the afternoons to teach adults sewing and cooking, for both personal and business applications.

It’s a new day in Cherette, Haiti.

Pastor Bientot Salomon has written a letter of gratitude to the Estero UM Church. If you are a member of the Estero/Cherette eGroup, you can view this letter here. If you aren’t a member, send a blank email to estero-cherette-partnership-updates+subscribe@rminet.org to subscribe.

More pictures can be seen here.

Here is a video that Estero UMC put together early on in this process.

Amanda Biser’s latest prayer card

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:59:00 +0000

A new Ride for a Haitian Pastor…

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:19:00 +0000

A great option to encourage and equip a Haitian pastor is to provide a motorcycle for his church. The Haitians pastors are best able to minister to their communities when they are mobile.

In the picture you see, Pastor Guilluame is sitting on his brand new Honda 125 motorcycle. Pastor Guillaume is the pastor in Astruc, the Sister Church to The Orchard EFC in Arlington Heights, IL. Pastor Guillaume will now be able to much more efficiently and quickly visit Cayes for his ongoing Biblical seminary training, visit his people throughout the Astruc community, and visit the multiple other M.E.B.S.H. churches he oversees throughout the Astruc district as M.E.B.S.H. District Pastor.

A motorcycle is a ministry tool that expands the ministry horizons toward more effective ministry and service to the Haitian people.

Astruc Church and School… Dewormed!

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:43:00 +0000

Recently, The Orchard EFC paid for and initiated their second annual Deworming Clinic in their partnership community, Astruc, Haiti. RMI Pharmacist Becky Thompson, Nurse Denise Joseph (Benson’s wife), RMI Translator Marie France, and RMI Administrator Benjamin Altema completed this clinic. Every child and adult in the Astruc church and school received deworming meds. The Orchard EFC team will be arriving in Haiti in less than one week to do deworming clinics (among other things), including prevention training, to deworm 2 more communities in their Sister Church Partnership District.

According to Deworm the World, “Over 600 million school-age children are infected with parasitic worms. These infections are chronic and widespread, harming children’s health and development and limiting their participation in school. School-based deworming is universally recognized as a safe, simple and cost-effective solution. The benefits of school-based deworming are both immediate and enduring. Regular treatment can reduce school absenteeism by 25% and increase adult earnings by over 20%, and at a cost of less than 50 US cents per child per year.”

You can see more pictures here.

Our new prayer card for the new year!

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:21:00 +0000

4:53 p.m., January 12, 2010 will never be forgotten

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:54:00 +0000

A point in time that changed the history, landscape and the national psyche of Haiti. Today is the 2 year anniversary of the 7.0 earthquake that hit just to the southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Every Haitian was affected in some way, if not by losing family, friends, homes or jobs, then by being injured, or having to take in homeless family and/or friends. Having their governmental buildings and office destroyed, the places they shop, go to church, or school destroyed has irrevocably changed life as they knew it.

There are still over 500,000 living in tent cities. Just think of that! That’s the size of Lee County, where the RMI office is located. All those people still, 2 years later, living in tents. It is mind boggling to think of what it means to live like that for so long.

RMI is happy to be a bright spot in that sea of hopelessness through Homes for Haiti. Last year alone RMI built and provided 59 homes. But the work is not stopping there! Here are Facebook entries from 2 of RMI’s field missionaries posted just this week:

From Gary McLaughlin:

Thursday, Jan. 7: Starting Saturday we'll be building 4 homes in 5 days. Taking Sunday off to attend church at Picot with the Loomis Team. It's going to be a great week.

Saturday, Jan. 9: First house was finished today and the new owner is the retired pastor's daughter that was trapped under the rubble in Port-au-Prince for I think 9 days. I saw her are CNN news come out of the rubble, stand on top of the pile of broken blocks, put her arms in the air and praise God for sparing her life. She lives in the Simon area, right next to Citi Lumiere, where many missionaries live. It was a great day 1. One of 4 finished. Picot tomorrow for church service with the team.

Tuesday, Jan. 10: We'll be loading #4 home on the truck this morning and taking it to the site for assembly. Weather's been great and the team is strong and working hard. Hardest part of the job is holding Wilfred [Haitian contractor in charge of building the homes] back so the team can do the work. That's a good thing though, ah? Good day all.

Last of 4 homes finished by 12pm today. This afternoon we put in 5 bio water filter systems. Another great day in Haiti for us. Praise God!

Wednesday, Jan. 11: Up at 3:30 this morning and off to Les Anglais for kids pictures and to check on the three new classrooms OSLC [Our Savior’s Lutheran Church] had us put up for them. Going to be another great day with Marilyn, Benson, Merry Raymond and Marie France.

(Explaining his photo of the 3 classrooms) Three homes purchased for classrooms. Church took a wall out and made them wider. Not finished yet but first room had room for 39 kids. I was thinking they could do 18 or 24 depending on what class was in them.

(In response to a comment about the 3 classrooms built from the houses.) I was thinking they would be hot too when I first saw these homes but the opposite is the case. They are cooler inside than out. You can put this house in the direct sunlight all day and it's cooler inside than out. The roof is a reflective galvanized material and the walls are white painted aluminum.

From Becky Thompson:

Tuesday, Jan. 10: Nebraska team finished 4 houses in 2.5 days for earthquake displaced people. They are WAY ahead of schedule! So the rest of today and tomorrow morning they are installing biosand filters in people's homes and helping with some small projects around the mission center.

[Bio-sand filter is shown at one of the installations.]

Rebuilding Haiti is an agonizingly slow process. But we are there for the long haul! We have a committed cross-cultural team who feel called of God to continue to serve Him there. For the missionaries, this is their home. For the national staff, they are thrilled to be a moving force in helping their own country. They feel empowered to accomplish the tasks given them and work tirelessly. We are so thankful for this on-the-ground team!

Food for Haiti continues to meet the needs of hungry Haitians. Last year over 67 tons of food (822,672 Meals) were distributed and approximately 2600 children were provided with a daily hot lunch at school through the Hope for Kidz program. Plans are already made to distribute more in the coming months.

RMI leadership, Dan Shoemaker and Kim Rose, will be going to Haiti Jan 23 to 27. It will be a time of meeting with our missionaries and staff as we plan activities, etc. for this year. They will also be meeting the new president of MEBSH and his staff to introduce him to Kim and to begin a dialogue as to how RMI and MEBSH can continue to work hand in hand into the future. In addition, they will visit several businesses that RMI is interested in working with to create jobs in southern Haiti in some of the towns where we have Sister Church Partnerships.

At the end of their trip, they will be attending a one day conference in Port-au-Prince designed to bring non-profit agencies together with Haitian businesses. The goal is to better understand each other and to encourage more partnering together in buying supplies or services from the businesses instead of going outside of the Haitian community for these things. The conference is a part of a coalition of agencies that RMI is a part of called “Rebuilding Haiti”. This coalition is striving to see 100,000 jobs created in the next 10 years as well as leadership development and pastoral training.

Like we said, The work goes on! Pray for Haiti and the rebuilding efforts. Pray for RMI’s work there. Pray for our staff and the teams that are going to minister. We cannot do all that we are doing without your prayer involvement and without your financial involvement. You can donate online HERE.

Remember Haiti with us.

Larry Smith, former RMI Board Chairman, passes away

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:03:00 +0000

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of former RMI Board Chairman, Larry Alvin Smith, of Lafayette, Louisiana on January 4, 2012. Larry was 63 and is survived by his dear wife, Kay, and 5 adult children, Ally, Jason, Becca, Jessie and Lizzie.

Larry was an entrepreneur, a businessman, a fabulous chef and host, a violinist, avid golfer and many other things. He was a charter member and elder of Trinity Bible Church for over 30 years. It was through Trinity’s involvement with RMI as a Sister Church that he first went to Haiti in the 1990’s. He fell in love with the Haitian people and he made sure that his next visit included his wife, Kay. Over the next 15 or so years they returned to visit their brothers and sisters in the Picot church numerous times. When there were school or church benches to be built, Larry joyfully grabbed the glue bottle and became the “Mighty GLUEMAN"!. The Picot people loved Larry as much as he loved them. Being a chef and from Louisiana, he wanted to share some of his homeland’s delicacies. He brought in sausage, bought local chicken and made gumbo for 75 people during one of his visits. Each year after that it grew, meaning he needed to bring in even more sausage. The team’s rallying cry each visit was “forget the luggage, but make SURE that sausage gets there!”. Every time the team arrived, the Haitians greeted Larry with cries of “GUM – BO!!!” Eventually they were feeding 700 people before they had to call it quits. To this day everyone in the area remembers Larry's Gumbo!

Larry joined the RMI Board in 1998 and became the Chairman in 2001. He served in that capacity until 2007 when, according to Board policy, he cycled off of the Board. His leadership and input for those 9 years were priceless. We appreciated his involvement with RMI over the years. His care and concern for RMI in general was amazing. We enjoyed Kay’s involvement with RMI as well. They were both a breath of fresh air. At one meeting Kay was unable to come with Larry. She missed it so much she made it known in no uncertain terms that she was to come with Larry each and every time, no matter what. Since he owned Acadiana Bottling Co., the Lafayette area’s Pepsi distributors, it became the unofficial drink of the RMI Board. Larry took his loyalty to Pepsi very seriously and wouldn’t tolerate a Coke product anywhere near him. We quickly learned that it was nothing to joke about. :)

For several years, Larry organized and hosted a golf tournament to benefit Hope for Kidz.

Larry and Kay were great friends with RMI President, Dan Shoemaker, his wife, Debbie, and their 2 children, Devon and Dawn, for almost 20 years. When they came home from Haiti and went through the Lafayette area during the summers, Larry and Kay hosted them in their home. He cooked and hosted gatherings with a flair, let the kids ride horses, fish in their pond, swim in the pool and generally made them feel like royalty. On one memorable occasion, Larry made arrangements for his family, the Shoemakers and several Trinity church friends to celebrate Devon’s birthday in his presidential suite in the Cajundome during a Charlie Daniels / Dave Mathews Band concert. He treated everyone to a fabulous catered meal and a gourmet birthday cake. Another year he treated them to an Elton John concert in the suite. He is the reason that Dan, Debbie, Devon and Dawn all love hot, spicy Cajun food. It was delightful when a foal was born during one of our visits, and Larry named it Dandee, after Dan. After one of his first visits to Haiti, he fell in love with Debbie’s Mango jelly. He took it home and had his lab formulate a mango drink from it.

Kay and Larry were a part of RMI’s DNA for many years and made an indelible impression on all of us. His care, compassion, smile, generosity, energy, zest for life and endless ideas of how to help RMI and his Haitian brothers and sisters will be greatly missed.

Dan Shoemaker and RMI founder, Herb Shoemaker, traveled to Lafayette for the funeral which took place at Trinity Bible Church on January 7, 2012. Larry’s obituary can be found HERE.

They make it look so easy…

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Long) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:44:00 +0000

Gary out on a trip with the Hope for Kidz team on their way to the Grand’Anse.

But months of hard work go into making the Hope for Kids program ready for a new school year. In fact, in October of every year, not too long after the current school year has gotten underway, the Hope for Kidz team starts gearing up for the next year. Marilyn McLaughlin, Merry Raymond, and Benson Joseph, the Hope for Kidz team, head out into the country side to get photos of each of the students. This year the team was also joined by Marie France Cherival and Perguens Hyppolite and an occasional visit by Gary McLaughlin as well.

The Paperwork:
Before photos are taken, each Haitian pastor receives a packet of applications for students to be selected for the following year. The number of applications is based on participation from the previous year, expected graduations at the end of the current year, a few additional applications as decided by the RMI field staff and any requests that the Sister church has made for additional students are also considered. Once these applications are completed by the pastors and turned into the Haiti Field office, the hard work begins.

The Pictures:
The Hope for Kidz staff makes appointments with all the churches to take the kids pictures; and then they hit the road. To locations within just a few hours of the mission center, day trips are made but for locations which are farther away, such as out in the Grand'Anse, a schedule is created which allows them to spend a few days out in the area, making visits at a different church each day. They pack their overnight bags, load up their camera equipment and head out. At the church, they set up an area that will be suitable to taking the photos. They hang the back drop (each year a new backdrop is chosen), set up the area and work with the pastor to get the children called in an orderly fashion. The RMI staffs have a list of all the kids that are to have their photos taken that day.

The team hard at work taking the students pictures.

Students waiting in the school yard to get their pictures taken and on-lookers curious as to what's going on.

One by one they are called. Two pictures of each student are taken; one with their ID number and Church location (for ID purposes) and one without the ID info for the student profiles. The staff work really hard and sometimes even do silly things to try and get the kids to smile for their profile pictures!

Marie France working with some of the students on their thank you letters.

After completing the pictures for the day, they enjoy a meal cooked by some of the ladies of the church. They then settle in for a good night’s sleep. Early the next morning they pack up, say their good-byes and head to the next location. This process begins in October and ends in January, once all the students’ pictures have been obtained.

The Process:
Once the team has gotten the students pictures, they begin the next step in the process. Information and updates on students are entered into the computer in order to begin creating the profiles for next year. The pictures are processed and matched to their sponsor profiles. Upon completion, profiles are sent out to their respective US church and then they wait for the magic to happen! (This is where all you amazing sponsors come in!) Though the profiles are completed the work is never done. Marilyn and Merry continue to process incoming payments, send payments to the schools, work on thank you letters, respond to emails and continuously update their records with information sent to them by the Pastors. Marie France and Perguens are also busy translating thank you letters that the kids have written to their sponsors. Benson stays busy maintaining contact with each of the schools and holding them accountable to the things they have been asked to do as part of the process as well as delivering food to the schools which participate in the Hot Meals Program. It’s a process that never ends.

So next time you walk past the table in your church lobby and see the picture of a student from Haiti (which may or may not be smiling- but trust us, we TRIED!) perhaps you’ll take a moment to remember that that child isn’t there by accident. He was chosen. And a team of individuals are working hard to make sure that he gets a chance to be known.

And maybe, just maybe, he was sent there just for you!

Good food, even better fellowship

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:49:00 +0000

Dec. 30 RMI’s US staff enjoyed their annual Christmas/New Year’s dinner on the Shoemaker’s lanai in Lehigh Acres, FL.

It was fun to relax together and just enjoy each other’s company! We had a gourmet meal of portobello mushroom stuffed, herb crusted Cornish hens prepared by our resident chef/president, Dan Shoemaker.

We won’t say who ate more than 1 whole hen!!

We were sorry that several folks were ill and unable to join us!

The rest of the pics can be seen HERE.

Introducing RMI’s new Women’s Ministry Coordinator!

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:16:00 +0000

RMI is thrilled to announce that after prayerful consideration, Mrs. Mary Langford has agreed to volunteer with RMI as the part-time Women’s Ministry Coordinator.

Mary was born and raised as the second of five children in a Catholic family in Lafayette, Louisiana. Following many painful experiences during her childhood, Mary made the conscious decision to turn her back on God immediately following her graduation from high school. While earning a BS in nursing from the local university, Mary met a young serviceman by the name of Bill Langford. Three and a half years later, after his return from Vietnam, Bill and Mary were married. Four years into their marriage, each of them turned their lives over to Jesus Christ. Together they raised a son and two daughters and have since been blessed with eight delightful grandchildren (the ninth is due in April, 2012).

After her children were grown, Mary returned to school and earned a master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. She then worked for a Christian counseling agency for several years before going into private practice. Mary was certified as a caregiver in formational prayer and inner healing by Ashland Theological Seminary. Mary and Bill are also both certified in equine-assisted counseling and learning through EAGALA (Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association). They currently practice both on their 170 acre horse farm (learn more by visiting their website at www.astablejourney.com). They are particularly interested in providing help and healing to survivors of all types of trauma.

Mary and Bill have attended Trinity Bible Church, one of RMI’s Sister Churches, for over 30 years. Mary has served in various positions during her time there including those of Bible teacher (she is trained as a Precept leader), ladies’ ministry and small group leader, Young Life volunteer leader and local board member, lay counselor, volunteer with local homeless ministry, inner city summer tutoring program, and college ministry volunteer.

Mary went on her first trip to Haiti in 2002 to visit her Sister Church in Picot. It was then that the Lord captured her heart for the country and for its people. As their team drove up to Picot church and were greeted by their joyous, exuberant Haitian brothers and sisters she simply fell in love! She thought to herself at the time, “This is a taste of heaven!” She has since returned to Picot about a dozen times, and each time feels like she is going home.

As the years went by, God began to strengthen Mary’s desire to do something to help her Haitian family. She says, “As my friendship has grown over the years with my sisters and brothers in Haiti, I have been richly and deeply blessed by their steadfast faith in our Lord. I treasure being a part of God’s family with them. For years I’ve seen the numerous sacrifices the Haitian women make without complaint in service to God and their families, and I admit I’ve been frustrated that I couldn’t more effectively come alongside them to share their burdens.”

When RMI asked Mary to serve as their coordinator for a new U.S. and Haitian women’s ministry which would provide their long-dreamed of vision within the Sister Churches of intentionally engaging women across both cultures in mutual transformation, she was intrigued…and terrified! “Who me? Certainly the Lord had someone else more qualified for the job.” Still, she agreed to pray about her decision. As she did, God reminded her of something she had asked Him the year before in response to a pastor’s challenge. It was, “Lord, whatever You are doing in this season, don’t do it without me!”

Here is what it comes down to for Mary. She loves Haiti….and especially her sisters there! So now here is a way that we, U. S. sisters, can come alongside our Haitian sisters and minister to one another as God leads us. Therefore, it is an honor to be a part of serving Christ together on one another’s behalf.

RMI will be unveiling more about this new Women’s Ministry and how it will impact each Sister Church Partnership in the weeks and months to come! In the meantime, help us welcome Mary by sending her an email of welcome or encouragement to mary.langford@rminet.org.

RMI Founders Honored for 50 years of Faithful Service

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:09:00 +0000

RMI founders, Herb and Shirley Shoemaker, were honored during the recent RMI Board Meetings for their 50 years of faithful and sacrificial service in ministry. Dec. 6, 1961 they went to Haiti with their 4 year old son, Dan. That son, now RMI’s President and RMI’s Chairman of the Board, Billy Byrd, presented them with a framed certificate of honor and an engraved gift at the Semi-annual Board meeting dinner on Dec. 8.

What a legacy! We are grateful to them for their steadfastness, their enduring love for Haiti and their continued involvement with RMI. It is because of them that RMI exists and is where it is today.

RMI’s national Haiti Administrator, Benjamin Altema, was also able to be present at the RMI dinner. He was in Ft. Myers at the annual ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) conference. Being a trained agronomist, it is a part of his continuing education and networking opportunities that RMI provides. Besides his being connected to RMI by being an employee, he has a personal connection to Herb and Shirley since he was a little child. His mother worked for Herb and Shirley in their home in Haiti since she was 18. Her husband asked Herb for her hand in marriage. When Dan returned to Haiti, as a single missionary, she worked for him until he left to get married. When he returned, she worked in Dan and Debbie’s household for many years until the day they left. Benjamin started working for RMI on a part time basis in the last few years before Dan and Debbie moved to the US. The Shoemaker and Altema families are intricately connected.

He was happy to share a few words at the dinner.

Even though the restaurant noise was considerable, his sharing was very meaningful!

Thank you, Herb and Shirley, for your outstanding example, selfless servanthood and dedication to the Lord for these past 50 years!

Successful Board Meetings!

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:04:00 +0000

The 2 day RMI Board meetings recently went well. It’s hard to explain every single thing that happens at a board meeting, but here’s a short summary: budgets and finances are discussed, department, field, projects and staff reports are given, future ministry opportunities are considered, policies are made, and new applicants are reviewed. Board members are not afraid to ask the hard questions; they consider all the angles of an issue. Sometimes there are lengthy discussions because the members know there are long reaching, if not long lasting effects to their decisions. We are thankful for their deep interest and commitment to RMI.

Celebrating What God’s Done Through RMI in Haiti in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Long) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:41:00 +0000

Kim Rose, Vice President of RMI, made a visit to Haiti last week. He spent much of his time in meetings with different organizations in both Port au Prince and Cayes discussing ideas and future opportunities. While in Cayes, he took the opportunity to meet with all the RMI staff, both Missionary and National, to celebrate all the of accomplishments of the past year.

Kim sharing his excitement with the staff.
Benjamin, Serge, and Jean Claude with Gary and Marilyn in the background.

All staff members were present for this meeting and as we’re often so busy and in so many places, it was exciting to see the whole team together!

Did you know that in 2011 RMI:

Hosted 19 Missionary Short Term Teams
Rejoiced in more than 175 Salvations
Delivered 1340ft Shipping Containers of Supplies
Distributed over 67 Tons of Food (822,672 Meals)
Built 59 Homes for Earthquake Displaced Families
Enabled 1723 Children to Get a Christ Centered Education through Hope for Kidz
Provided approximately 2600 Children a Daily Hot Lunch at School through Hope for Kidz
Facilitated near constant oversight and accountability through church and school visits
Hosted more than 20 Open Air Evangelistic Services
Employed over 35 Haitian People
Facilitated in excess of $104,000 of Projects (Bibles, Songbooks, Schools Buildings, Church Buildings) and
The RMI Haiti team is better organized, more efficient, more accountable, working with a higher capacity and therefore more effective in all the work that has been accomplished.

We thank God that He has enabled us to accomplish what He has called us to do! To God be the glory!

A New Porch!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Long) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

We’d been waiting for months for the opportunity to resurface and reroof the back patio at the Guest House. The thatches leaked and needed replacing and the way the poles were situated it was always a struggle to find a way to set up the tables so that they weren’t in the sun. And any time it rained it, eating outside wasn’t an option. But thanks to God, our wishes have been granted! Wilfrid and a team of workers worked hard tearing up the original concrete pad and removing the old straw thatches and all the poles. They then poured the concrete to create one level surface, relocated the poles to create a more logistically friendly layout and covered it with one solid roof. They added lights and wired it for fans. Now we are able to use the outside patio rain or shine and while it was long awaited, the wait was worth it!

We are so thankful that the project was completed and we’re looking forward to many great team meals out under its cover!

Feeding Haiti… One Hot Meal at a Time

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:16:00 +0000

“But when you give a feast, invite the poor” – Luke 14:13a

It’s no great secret that Jesus has a heart for feeding and caring for the poor. He both talked about it and demonstrated it on more than one occasion. He instructed a rich young ruler to go and sell all he had and give his money to those less fortunate. He equated feeding the least of His brothers and sisters with the same importance as feeding Him, the King of the Universe. With that in mind, we at RMI would like to thank you, our supporters, for helping us to feed Jesus’ beloved in Haiti…one hot meal at a time.

In 2010 RMI asked each Hope for Kidz sponsor to increase their donation by $50 each year in order to help us feed children in Haiti through the creation of a Hot Lunch Program. Through these additional funds, it is our privilege to report that within just one short year, 431,856 hot meals have been distributed! This school year, children in 12 schools will be receiving one of these meals each and every day. For many of them, this will be the only meal they will eat.

Following the massive crop destruction in November of last year, RMI founded the Food for Haiti program. We asked for donations in $25 increments to help feed families that were in desperate need of food. Less than one year later, 390,816 meals have been distributed.

Yes, you read that right. In approximately one year, RMI has distributed 822,672 hot meals. And…we aren’t finished yet. Another container of food is already on its way to Haiti!

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and the giant feast that has become synonymous with that term, remember…there are several thousand formerly hungry people in Haiti who would list you among their list of blessings.

Charity Softball Tournament raises money for RMI

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:03:00 +0000

Special thanks to Angie Becker and the team from Turtle Shirts for raising $300 in their Charity Softball Tournament to benefit RMI.

The tournament took place in Ft. Myers, FL on Saturday, November 19.

And Angie isn't stopping there! She's already working to get another one on the books for 2012! Way to go Angie!

For more information about Turtle Shirts or their charity softball tournaments, visit www.myturtleshirts.com.

2 Haiti missionary kids–years later

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:33:00 +0000

What are these 2 Haiti missionary kids doing together after all these years later?

RMI President, Dan Shoemaker (on the right) and David Uttley (Luminescent Images) on the left, grew up together in Cayes, Haiti in the 1960’s as missionary kids. We can’t resist….here is a “blast from the past” picture.

David is the one in the middle on the left hand motorcycle and Dan is the one in the middle on the right hand motorcycle. The photo is from the late ‘60’s. His family actually lived in the house that would eventually become our home during our 25 years there!

Flash forward to 2011…David is a freelance photographer who shoots photography & video for missions and ministries. He has been working with RMI for the past couple of years. You’ve seen his work on our website, in our publications, on this blog and it is his pictures that are on the RMI notecards “The Faces of Haiti”. His work has been top notch and we are so excited to have his expertise, talent and knowledge available to us!

David came by the RMI office for a day this week while he was in Southwest Florida visiting his mom for Thanksgiving. It was fun having him in the area, and helpful to talk through some of the projects he has in the pipeline for RMI. We appreciate you, David!

The fall issue of theBridge is out!

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:19:00 +0000

What’s up with Jules? What’s the latest on RMI’s projects, ministries and missionaries? Which US church was spotlighted in this issue? How can RMI use you? What is the Starfish Strategy and how does it affect Sister Church Partnerships? And what on earth does “Sot pa touye ou, men li va fe ou swe” mean?!

You can find out the answers to these questions and much more information in the newest issue of theBridge.

Check it out HERE. It is double the size this time and bursting with all kinds of exciting things!

If you did not receive one and would like to be on RMI’s mailing list, you can sign up HERE. Email Debbie Shoemaker at debbie.shoemaker@rminet.org if you’d like a copy of this current issue, or would like multiple copies to share RMI’s ministries. We have plenty to share!

Welcome to the World Litte Guys!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Long) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Congrats to Benjamin and Lucette Altema on the birth of two beautiful, HEALTHY twin boys, Jaden Benjamin Altema and Jason Benjamin Altema! The boys were born early Saturday morning at 1:35am(Jaden) and 1:40am (Jason). Jaden was born weighing 4 lbs and Jason weighed in at 5lbs. Both mom and babies are healthy and doing well! And daddy couldn’t be happier!!

A few more pictures of the happy family and babies can be viewed here.

The RMI Family Continues to Grow!

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Long) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Many of you have gotten to know and love Perguens Hyppolite as he has traveled with many of our teams as a translator. He has always done a great job translating and everyone loves him!

While he was often hired as one of our translators he was not on staff with RMI full time. However, we are now excited to welcome him to the RMI family as a full time staff member. He will continue to travel out with teams as a translator but he will also have additional administrative responsibilities in the office and will work closely along side Benjamin.

Here’s a little bit abut Perguens: He writes:

I grew up in the Simon area in Cayes. I have one brother and one sister and I am the youngest of the three. I participated in a three year program of study which included agriculture, veterinary studies, and theology and I just graduated in January. In my free time I enjoy playing basketball and I love to study the word of God. I love Jesus and I love to sing.

Now I am working with RMI and I love my job very much. I love the job because it a way to serve my brothers and sisters. In my work, I am learning what the word ‘team’ truly means because I see that in RMI we work together side by side as a team and I am excited to see how this is happening. When I go out with a Sister Church team I always try to seize the opportunity to share the gospel with those I meet. It’s such a blessing for me to do what I am doing with RMI. God has commanded us to love one another and I am thankful that He has given me the chance to do that through the work RMI has given me to do. I would like to leave with you my favorite scripture, James 1:12, Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

We are thankful that God has sent Perguens to us and we are happy to have him as part of the team!