Haitian Culture

A Morning Drive

I went with Poyis one morning to pick up a van which had been donated to Connect 2 Ministries. The dealership is located a short car ride from the compound, and it was a fascinating experience to travel through the suburbs of Port-au-Prince. If you have ever taken a car ride in a third-world country, you know there are really no traffic laws—no traffic lights, stop signs, speed limits, or right of way. The rule of the road is to drive offensively and watch out for other cars. Fortunately, because of all the cars on the [...]

2023-04-06T20:01:49-07:00February 4th, 2022|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , |
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God’s Work in His People

As an American, I often have questions about Haitian culture, and Poyis is always a great help when they come up. For example, he recently explained that in Haiti, people see pastors as having a role of authority. Many pastors are drawn to the role because they want to be in charge, and you see it when visiting some of the churches. The pastor sits up front, and there is a physical fence that separates the pulpit from the people. The pastor doesn’t go out and see the people, but if the people want something, then [...]

2023-04-07T08:28:55-07:00January 28th, 2022|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , , , |
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Protests & Peace

One morning in Haiti, Poyis texted and asked if I wanted to come with him to pick up a new van. I said yes, and he arrived at the compound about half an hour later. When he arrived, he told me there was protesting going on in various parts of the country, a demonstration was happening near where the car was, and he wasn’t sure if we would go. Maybe tomorrow. As the day progressed, I discovered that one of the protests in a different area had turned violent. I receive updates from the US [...]

2023-04-07T08:28:33-07:00January 21st, 2022|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , , |
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Pastor Testimony—Marc Jean Louis Maitre

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” —1 Corinthians 1:10 Pastor Marc Jean Louis Maitre Pastor Marc Jean Louis Maitre was raised in a Catholic family. Until recently, Catholicism didn’t permit people to read Scripture for themselves—so the family went to church regularly, but they didn’t have a Bible. In 1991, Pastor Louis Maitre’s family moved from Port-au-Prince to the countryside, because it [...]

2023-04-07T08:26:22-07:00January 14th, 2022|Categories: Testimonies|Tags: , , , |
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United by the Gospel

I’ve traveled to Haiti many times, but Haitian culture still makes an impression on me. On a typical Sunday, the church service starts at 6:30 AM with praying and singing, but people continue to arrive until after 7:00—some travel a long way and take public transportation (motorcycle or tap tap) to get here. Haiti is an extremely poor country, but everyone who attends church dresses up for the occasion. The ladies wear dresses and the men wear nice, collared shirts; some even wear ties. According to Poyis, Sunday is a big day for Haitian Christians; [...]

2023-04-07T08:27:04-07:00January 7th, 2022|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , , |
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Christmas in Haiti

Christmas in Haiti It’s December 17, and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Although December 25 looks a little different in Haiti. There aren’t enough resources to support a large cultural celebration, and Christmas isn’t a primary event for unbelievers because of it. But the church celebrates, and the theme of all our Christmas activities is the fellowship we share with one another because Jesus came to earth as a baby so many years ago. At the Children’s Homes, we buy a bunch of presents, wrap them up in Christmas paper, and bring all [...]

2024-11-11T08:23:58-08:00December 17th, 2021|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , , |
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Giving Tuesday 2021

Giving Tuesday Brad Newbold has served with Connect 2 Ministries for more than three years, and his company, Regency Lighting, has funded many of our projects in Haiti. As we recognize Giving Tuesday, we asked Brad to share his thoughts on living life for others. I have had the privilege of visiting Haiti on five different occasions, and as I visited with the children and worked alongside my co-workers, I paid special attention to what Greg was sharing with us each evening—about living a life in service to others and about sharing the [...]

2023-11-14T07:47:08-08:00November 30th, 2021|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , , , , |
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Pastor Testimony—Louis Jean Lenes

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” —Psalm 1:1–3 Pastor Louis Jean Lenes Pastor Louis Jean Lenes grew up in a Christian home, and he was [...]

2023-04-07T08:31:23-07:00November 19th, 2021|Categories: Testimonies|Tags: , , |
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Finding Ways to Communicate

Finding Ways to Communicate Every time I travel to Haiti, I think about how helpful it would be to know some Creole. Most of our Haitian pastors, staff, and children speak Creole, and as a language, it’s similar to French. On a recent trip, I spent a good amount of time looking into online language courses. I’ve been able to pick up some basic phrases, but I know I’d be able to learn more (and faster!) with some concentrated training. Usually, I’d be in Haiti with about four or five other people from the US, but [...]

2023-04-07T08:32:17-07:00November 12th, 2021|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , |
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Rescued & Loved

Rescued & Loved On a sunny morning in Haiti, we arrived at the Children’s Home ready for a day working with the kids. As I made my way to the office, I passed classrooms filled with kids. Resources have been limited due to the coronavirus, but Pastor Poyis had improvised and brought in a couple of adult teachers to facilitate classes as usual. A few of the older children were also helping out by teaching the younger ones. I was amazed to see how well-behaved the children were, despite their classes looking a little [...]

2023-04-07T08:32:35-07:00November 5th, 2021|Categories: Ministry Outreach|Tags: , , |
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