Author Archives: Stephanie J
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
True Discipleship
On every trip I take to the impoverished countries Cross International works in, I always meet inspirational Christian servants working tirelessly on behalf of the poor at the projects we support. Their selfless dedication is proof of true discipleship and a willingness to put their neighbors’ needs before their own. On a recent trip to … Continue reading
The Right Thing to Do
Remember Gotitas de Amor, the Cross-supported daycare/kindergarten in Bolivia that I talked about on Tuesday? There’s one more story I just have to share with you about the center’s Christian leaders who are “doing the right thing” for a family in need—and sharing the message of Christ in the process. The story begins with Claudia, … Continue reading
A Day at Gotitas de Amor
The children at Gotitas de Amor, a Cross-supported Christian daycare and kindergarten in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, broke into smiles and laughter when we walked in the door on a recent visit. These two- to five-year-olds were eager to share hugs, songs, and even a special little dance! I could tell immediately that these children receive … Continue reading
Praise Report from Mozambique
Yesterday morning, Cross staff listened as International Projects Officer Tara McKinney shared photos and stories from her recent trip to Mozambique. She visited one of my favorite projects for orphaned and vulnerable children that Cross supports with help from our generous friends, a ministry called Reencontro. Tara shared a story that really touched my heart … Continue reading
Much Has Been Done But There’s Still Work to Do!
Traveling in and around Port-au-Prince recently, I was struck by two contradictory impressions. First, it appears quite a bit of rubble has been cleaned up compared to what I saw during my last trip to Haiti six months after the quake. Of course, there are still places where houses and buildings are waiting to be … Continue reading
