OFCB
For nearly two centuries, subsistence farming has characterized the livelihood of 80,000 people in rural Bayonnais, Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. This is not uncommon. Following colonial independence in 1804, former slaves exercised newfound freedom by cultivating their own land in the countryside. Today, OFCB (Organization of the Christian Force of Bayonnais), a ministry founded in 1993 through the vision of five inspired individuals, provides this generation with a new opportunity: education. Subjects such as history, biology, language arts, social science, philosophy, and visual art are now available to this community for the first time. Adults and children comprise a student body that has grown from 103 to 1460, and for many, the rice and beans served at lunch may be the only substantial meal they eat all day. Not only have national exam scores been some of the highest in the region, OFCB has sent 20 students to Haitian colleges! In an effort to stimulate long-term development, the college scholarship program stipulates that each student return to OFCB upon graduation to serve the community for 10 to 15 years, depending upon the field of study. One college graduate has become a doctor, currently in residency, and will return to start Bayonnais’ first health clinic! Deep in the heart of a country plagued by extreme poverty, political violence and corruption, the people of Bayonnais are finding new hope.
Coming Home
It's Monday evening . . . We are officially back in the USA. Thank you to everyone for your interest in, and your prayers for, our journey. It has been an amazing time with our good friends Actionnel, Amilor, and all the wonderful people at OFCB. We had a good relaxing night (except for an intense game of spoons) at the Walls guest house in Port Au Prince . . . a good breakfast this morning (see picture) . . . and a long day of travel.
We are already have some new ideas and are excited about the next trip out. If you have been keeping up with the BLOG, then you may want to consider joining us next time Actionnel sends his love. Thank you to everyone at FBC-H and all of the other individuals and churches who have been, and continue to be, praying for Haiti.
God Bless You!
We are already have some new ideas and are excited about the next trip out. If you have been keeping up with the BLOG, then you may want to consider joining us next time Actionnel sends his love. Thank you to everyone at FBC-H and all of the other individuals and churches who have been, and continue to be, praying for Haiti.
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