When tragedy strikes, Christians respond. Read the inspiring story of some disciples that acted in the face of hardship.
The story of the Christian School of Bodarie started in the summer of 2004. In April 2004, a heavy two day rain hit the Western and Southeastern parts of Haiti, resulting in floods that severly ravaged two small towns of Haiti: Fonds-Verrettes and Bodarie-Mapou. Over 2,000 people were killed, leaving behind a large number of children as orphans.
When news of the tragedy reached us in Port au Prince, a small group of 5 people decided to go, see, and possibly help. We were very saddened by the news but were also very anxious to go because one of the members of our church had relatives in the town of Bodarie. Gaby, Jordany, Loulou, Fifie, and myself left Port au Prince early in the morning and headed for Bodarie. We were understandably concerned about Fifie’s mother who lived in Bodarie. She had not been heard from since the rain. The roads were washed out. There was no internet communication. We had no other option but to drive as close to Bodarie as possible and then walk. As we were walking, it became intensely dark because we were in “deep country” with no electricity or running water. We arrived in a small village and asked for directions. After nearly two hours of walking, we were told we were still six hours from Bodarie. So we decided to spend the night in that village. A tailor, who invited us to spend the night on his patio under a beautiful summer moon, took us in.
As soon as the morning breeze came, we were on our way again. After eight hours of painful sometimes agonizing walking, and after seeing countless devastated plains and an entire village under water, we finally made it to Bodarie. Thank God! Fifie’s mom and family were fine, but everything else had the feel of desolation, hopelessness and death.
After seeing some of the children, we felt compelled to act. No matter how small our efforts, we sensed a need to bring hope to these people. Loulou and Fifie, who was born in Bodarie, decided to relocate to Bodarie and help rebuild her devastated town. The five of us returned to Port au Prince with one goal in mind: Give hope to the next generation.We wasted no time in coming up with a plan and brought it before the church.
Loulou and Fifie along with their 3-year-old daughter left Port au Prince in September of 2004 and headed for Bodarie with two purposes in mind: to start a church and a school.
Loulou and Fifie were the sole missionaries in Bodarie in September of 2004. The school opened just a year later with 112 students.
Today there are over 500 students in attendance and 40 faithful Christians. With the help of generous people like our friend Jeffrey, who worked temporarily in Haiti, Max, Fred, Stanley and countless others, there is hope today in the eyes of the young. They have started to believe that tomorrow might be different. A notable member of the community has donated land because he believes in what Loulou and Fifie are doing. We started as a little group in a small room, but have grown. Hope has begun to take root in the hearts and minds not only in the orphans but also elderly and the surviving villagers.
Changing Bodarie one child at a time!!!