Author Archives: Stephanie J
Hope and Healing Doubled
When I first saw the “before” photos of Marco Antonio and Marco Tulio, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I’d seen many cute photos from parents celebrating their twins. This seemed like a nightmarish mirror image of that happy experience. The twin boys had similar agonized expressions, protruding bones and weak limbs. Their skin was stretched … Continue reading
An Offering of Love
A simple plastic bag filled with food. It’s something I take home from the grocery store each week without really thinking about it. While I’m by no means rich and don’t buy extravagant grocery items, I’ve never had to worry about whether I have enough money to buy the food I need. For the deathly … Continue reading
Remembering a Day We’ll Never Forget
On this day two years ago, the Haitian people cried out in unspeakable pain. It’s a day I will never forget—and I know the Haitian people will never forget it either. January 12, 2010 began like any other day in Haiti. There was nothing remarkable about it at first. Children went to school, parents went … Continue reading
Merry Christmas to Christ’s Disciples
This Christmas, many lay missionaries—and many of our ministry partners—will be spending Christmas out in the field, ministering to the poor they serve. These disciples of Christ might be serving hot meals, visiting the elderly, or doing other meaningful work on behalf of the poor on Christmas Day in addition to celebrating Christ’s birth. Here’s … Continue reading
Merry Christmas from Reencontro!
On a recent visit to one of our ministry partners in Mozambique, Reencontro, our Africa Projects Officer received a letter of thanks that seemed very fitting to share with you during this Advent season. It’s from 17-year-old Carolina, a girl caring for her siblings after their parents passed away. Carolina’s life was dramatically transformed because … Continue reading
Construction Update
“The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build…” Neh. 2:20. On a recent trip to Haiti, I was delighted to see the building projects Cross is working on, all with help from our generous Christian benefactors in the States. One such project is rebuilding a school in … Continue reading
God’s Love Shining through in Bolivia
When Alexander was brought to Hogar Remedios Assin orphanage in Bolivia two years ago, he bore the tragic marks of physical abuse. But today, be bears the smile of a boy with a good home who loves Jesus. To those who know him, including the directors of the orphanage Luis and Vivian Figueroa, it’s been … Continue reading
Life as a Restavek
One of my favorite Cross-supported projects in Haiti is a specialized education program for restavek children. Together with our ministry partner Mission Evangelique Baptiste Du Su D’Haiti (MEBSH), we support 49 literacy centers throughout southern Haiti! (Restaveks, or children working as indentured servants for a host family, are routinely denied the opportunity to attend school. … Continue reading
God’s Answer
I’ve visited Haiti three times since the January 2010 earthquake. Though I’ve interviewed more people than I can even remember off-hand, I still feel that awful pang in my heart when a child tells me they lost their parents in the earthquake. One child who said those words to me was Charna, who I visited … Continue reading
Bodies and Souls Transformed in Jesus
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4 This well-known verse reminds me of the story of a Honduran girl named Nissi and her mother, Elba. Nissi, a one-year-old girl who lived with her … Continue reading
