Our story began in 2012 when I, Melissa, went on my first medical clinic trip to Charrier, Haiti. I returned several times each year and, with every visit, learned more of the Haitian Creole language. As my ability to communicate grew, so did my connection with the people of Charrier. I began to form deep friendships and a genuine love for the community.

Mario is the son of a local pastor in Charrier. During my visits, I attended his church, where he taught Sunday School and led worship. Many evenings were spent at the mission house, where we would gather to play games, share meals, and learn from each other’s cultures. That’s where Mario and I truly got to know each other — him speaking broken English, and me trying my best in broken Creole.

Over time, I realized that Mario was one of the reasons I looked forward to returning to Haiti. As my Creole improved, our conversations became deeper. When I was back in the United States, we stayed in touch daily, and through years of long-distance communication, we learned so much about one another. Though we came from different countries and cultures, we discovered that we shared the same faith, morals, and priorities. It reminded us that the Gospel transcends language and culture — God’s Word remains the same everywhere.

A few years later, during one of my visits to Haiti, Mario proposed. In 2018, he was approved for his visa and, for the first time, left his home country to come to the United States. Twelve days after his arrival, we were married surrounded by close family and friends on my family’s farm. Since then, God has blessed us with four wonderful children, and we now live in Manheim, Pennsylvania. Mario works in construction, and I’m a nurse at a local hospital.

We continue to pray for the day when we can safely take our family back to Haiti — to reunite with our church family and for our children to meet their relatives and experience the place that shaped so much of our faith journey.

Our Mission

Jehovah Jireh means “The Lord will provide.” We believe God’s purpose for this mission is to reflect the example of the early church in Acts — where believers shared what they had so that no one was in need (Acts 4:32).

Through Jehovah Jireh Ministries Haiti, we seek to care for the poor, the elderly, and orphans — as we are called to do in Scripture (James 1:27; Mark 10:21). Our goal is to meet both physical and spiritual needs by sharing the love of Jesus through our Jehovah Jireh School, elder care program, and community outreach, in partnership with the local church.

We humbly ask for your prayers and support as we continue to serve and share the hope of Christ with our brothers and sisters in Charrier, Haiti. Please consider joining us in any way you can — through prayer, giving, or going — to help expand God’s kingdom in Haiti.

With love and gratitude,
Melissa & Mario Ermilus