In August 2007, I went to my home town, Grande Saline, in Haiti. Some parents came to me and were concerned about the future of their children. In that town of about 2500 people there is only one public elementary school for kindergarten to 6th grade. After the 6th grade if a parent cannot afford to send his or her child to a city close by, the child will spend the rest of his or her life without a middle or a secondary education.

After a meeting with some parents and some leaders of a church in Grande Saline, I decided to open by faith a school, not knowing where the money would come from for the functioning of the school. In September 2007 the school opened. The school was so needed that the staff of the public elementary school allowed Mahanaim Institut to use their facility in the evening. Right after the school year ended in June, a disastrous storm ripped off the roof of the public school and in September 2008 there is no chance that the school will re-open.

During my last visit to Haiti July 2008, I met with the principal of the Mahanaim Institut and the Pastor of the Evangelical Church in Grande Saline. We decided to restore an old house that belonged to the Church and to add some classes to allow the school to continue its ministries. Again this was done by faith.

During the same time in Grande Saline they had an outdoor revival where I was asked to preach the last sermon of that week. On that night, during the altar call a Voodoo priest with his paramour, and his children came to the Lord.

Those children and many others need a solid Christian and academic education and the Mahanaim Institut will offer these kinds of educations to those youngsters. Due to the advanced age of some of the students, I plan to add a professional section (Sewing, Cooking and Computer) in the school to allow the youngsters to be able to help themselves after graduating from secondary school.

Presently I am working to build the classrooms and all the help I can find will be welcomed.