Women's Empowerment | Purpose in the Heartbreak
| One of my favorite things to do is spend time with people in remote areas and in communities hearing their stories and developing relationships with them. Especially sitting with moms and women and encouraging them and praying for them. Having the opportunity to spend time in the Dominican Republic during such a chaotic time in Haiti has been difficult but life-giving for me! -we-1920w.jpg) In the middle of this community, on top of everything else I was trying to process, I walked into this yard… There is a large building with a row of rooms. One family per room with no running water or electricity. The day I visited there was a woman who looked beaten down with a 8-month-old baby asleep face down on her lap. Another baby, barely a year old, sitting in the dirt with a sopping wet diaper on his bottom, probably from the night before, all by himself maybe six feet away, screaming and crying. His nose had not been wiped, his eyes had not been dried, and it looked like he had been rolling around in the dirt. He looked like he just woke up from a nightmare, but no one had taken the time to console him. He was shaking with every breath. At first glance, it looks like an overwhelmed mother with two littles—but like in most cases, there is more to the story.Just hours before visiting this community, immigration descended and wreaked havoc for this family. At 5:00 am, before the sun came up, while they were all in bed, immigration officers barged into each home and took six people who lived there. My mind goes to so many places of what this must have felt like in that moment—shock, urgency, fear, and helplessness! And in the middle of it all was this 12-month-old child screaming in utter confusion as his mother was one of the six that they drug away! Where is she now? What is going through this little one's mind? When will they see each other again? Did she leave screaming for her baby, or did she act as if he was not hers so that he could remain in the DR and not have to return to Haiti?
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He was only thirteen when an accident changed everything. In the Dominican Republic, a young boy, Binsley, was left paralyzed with no access to medical care and no one to turn to. His only family—his two brothers—loved him but had no resources to help. Without treatment, food, or proper care, his condition worsened, and painful wounds began to form as he lay waiting for help that never seemed to come. That changed when Pastor Carlos, a local pastor traveling with a Mission of Hope team, met him and immediately recognized the urgency of his situation. Through his leadership and connection with our Community Engagement team, care began—consistent, compassionate, and life-giving. Because of faithful support, Binsley now receives regular medic al care, nutritious food, clean clothing, wound treatment, and physical therapy in La Joya. While he remains paralyzed, his health has stabilized, his pain has lessened, and he is no longer facing his journey alone. For the first time in months, there is hope. Your generosity made this possible. Because you chose to give, a young boy was seen, cared for, and reminded that his life matters. And he is not the only one. There are many others praying for help—and through your continued partnership, hope is reaching them too.
*Jean, a 15-year-old Haitian boy, had been living in an unsafe and abusive home, a situation that kept him from attending school and experiencing the stability every child deserves. Despite this, he continued to show up at the children’s ministry in La Joya, where caring adults began to notice that something was wrong. When Pastor Kilyvs learned about *Jean’s situation, he stepped in before more harm could be done. He brought *Jean went to a rehabilitation center where he could begin to heal and ensured he received school supplies, something he had never had before because his home environment made school impossible. Now, *Jean is safe. He will be enrolled in school, have transportation to attend classes, and be able to study, go to church, and grow in a supportive, loving environment. What was once a life marked by fear is now opening into a future filled with safety and hope. *name changed for privacy
In January, Klèb Manman continued to grow in Cap-Haïtien, with three active groups and the joyful beginning of a new one. These groups are more than meetings; they are safe spaces where mothers find encouragement, skills, and hope for a better future. In December, one young mother joined Klèb Manman. She is navigating motherhood at a very young age, carrying both the deep love for her child and the heavy responsibility of providing for her baby. After one Klèb Manman session, she approached our Women Empowerment director, Madame Rosealure, quietly and said, “Mrs., please, can I talk with you?” When Madame Roselaure said yes, she shared her dream: she wanted to start a small business so she could care for her child with dignity. Madame Roselaure shared that she did not have the financial ability to help right away, but she promised to pray with her and to trust God to make a way. The following month, moved by her courage and determination as a young mother, Madame Roselaure decided to use her own money to purchase materials so she could learn how to make liquid soap. This brave mother took that opportunity and turned it into action. She made the soap, sold it, and reinvested part of the income by buying more supplies so she could continue her business. Step by step, she began building a path toward independence and stability for herself and her baby. This story reflects the heart of Klèb Manman. Through manual activities and practical support, mothers, many of whom are navigating motherhood at an extremely young age, are gaining skills that empower them economically and emotionally. This kind of support restores hope, strengthens confidence, and helps mothers provide for their families while believing in a brighter future.
