Update from partners in Haiti

Pictures: Kerri Mompremier turns 9 and celebrates with her cousin, Wenderline.

Kids at school enjoy new seesaw and playground equipment.

Men are making cassava bread.

"I thank my god in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now," Philippians 1:3-5

I am writing this on a special day. Nine years ago, God gave us Kerlande Francia Mompremier, or Kerri, as most people know her. We love our daughters so much. God truly blesses us through our children.

As many of you know, Haiti has a new president. Michel Joseph Martelly will be taking power on May 14. He is a former pop star named ‘Sweet Mickey,’ with no previous political experience. He has already told the Haitian population that he wants to have 2 seasons of Carnival instead of one. Please pray that God will turn his heart around to lead Haiti in a right way. We want to see Haiti completely for Christ. He is the only hope of the nations.

Praise the Lord for all the progress at UCI. The Lord gives His grace to us every day. The cassava mill is making a lot of cassava bread for the school kids and for the community. Cassava bread and peanut butter is a good way to start the day. Everyone that tastes our cassava says that Caiman Cassava is the best—and I agree! We will be pulling 50 farmers together to plant manioc (cassava). UCI will help with a loan to help get them started. When they harvest it they will bring the cassava to our mill and we will grind it and make it into bread. In that way, the farmers will be able to pay back their loan and more farmers will be able to enter into the program. The community has been very excited about having more cassava available.

Please continue your prayers for the Bible school. A lot people in the community are anxious to attend. The more we pray about the school, the more we believe that God is leading us to use this tool to equip and train Haitian leaders. We want other communities to experience how God’s Word can change people’s hearts and that leads to sustainable community development. The key is godly leadership that will follow God’s direction and timing. JeanJean has already started developing a practicum for putting biblical principles into action. We have found several well-qualified teachers. We are so thankful to see God’s hand at work.

Some other prayer requests for UCI:

· Our church at Caiman will be having its first community Easter service. We have invited all the churches in the community to come. We asked each church to send a singing group to praise the resurrection of our Savior. Our youth group will be leading the service, playing the bells, doing a liturgical dance, and a wordless skit. Pray that this will be a great way to unite the Christians in our area.

· UCC’s school administrator and teachers tell us that the kids did well on their exams. The first year is always tough, but the staff and the kids are doing excellent. We have our first kindergarten graduation on July 1.

· We have the new tree nursery built and the shade cloth is in place. Just in time, too, as Saul had had to turn away several people and organizations that wanted to buy trees. All of UCI’s trees are sold! We need to get planting and grafting more.

· The second week of May will be our 4th pastors’ conference. Later in May will be our 3rd agricultural conference. May God’s will be accomplished.

Thank you in advance for all your faithful prayers. As it says above, you are our partners in the gospel in Haiti,

JeanJean, Kristie, Tana and Kerri Mompremier