The Old Testament repeatedly speaks of the Lord’s care for those on the margins—how He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.

 …The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
–Psalm 146:7-9

And yet, how many times in recent years have we found ourselves asking in disbelief, “Where are You, Lord?” How many times has it felt as though our prayers fall flat, as the news from Haiti brings more senseless violence? As displacement from our village is now measured in years rather than months?

It isn’t hard to find evidence of how difficult life has become:

• About one in four students at Grace Emmanuel School has now grieved the loss of either their mom or dad. Over a dozen students have lost a parent in the past year alone. Three siblings lost both their father and then their mother in separate incidents last year.
• A handful of students have become caregivers for mothers suffering debilitating strokes.
• A school cook suffered the devastating loss of both her granddaughters this fall from a still-unknown source of poisoning.
• Multiple students have witnessed the murder of their neighbors while fleeing yet another gang attack.

It can feel very much like the way of the wicked is winning the day.

And yet—that’s not the way this story ends. Even on the darkest days, we know God is ALWAYS at work and His victory is certain. And so we lift up our eyes and praise Him for the glimpses of His victory we have seen in 2025.

By the grace of God, Grace Emmanuel School continues to open its doors. We see a team of persevering staff who keep showing up. We’ve run out of adjectives for what they’ve endured, and yet they keep cooking, teaching, driving, leading, and singing—carried by their faith in God. Their courage means 340 students are still being loved, taught, and shown the way of peace.

We see the young adults who grew up at the Lighthouse Children’s Home bravely stepping into adulthood, launching small businesses, and working hard to earn coveted jobs despite minimal opportunities.

And we see Pastor Derson and his team bringing the joy of Jesus to a little village in northern Haiti.

Darkness to light in Village Demier

At this time last year, the very first meeting to explore launching ministry in Village Demier was just taking place. No one knew what to expect.

Twelve months later—after soccer tournaments, door-to-door evangelism, Friday youth events, Wednesday discipleship classes, and countless hours simply sitting with villagers and doing life together—the ministry team is seeing beautiful fruit.

Pastor Derson has had a front-row seat to God’s work in Village Demier, bringing beauty from ashes.

This week, Derson wrote a story about how the gospel is transforming a family in the village. Psalm 145 is coming alive in Village Demier as God sets prisoners free from voodoo practices, opens the eyes of those who never knew Him, and lifts up those who have been long bowed down.

Raise God’s banner of victory in Haiti

In this year’s Christmas catalog, you’ll find specific ways you can be part of what God is doing in Village Demier—buying a chair, helping send the pastors to the village each day, and more.

You’ll also see opportunities to keep the light shining at Grace Emmanuel School. While Village Demier is removed from gang violence, the school remains in its shadow every day—and yet kids keep coming, because school is their lifeline. Funding is tight right now, and we are praying for new sponsors.

This Christmas season, we invite you to slow down and remember our dear friends in Haiti who have lost everything but Jesus. And He is enough.

May you quiet the noise—the voices telling you all that must be done this holiday season—and remember that He is enough for you, too.

We are beyond thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!