Deuteronomy 10:18. "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing."
Life in Haiti has been unbearably difficult for more than a decade, marked by political instability, economic collapse, and natural disasters that have left countless families struggling to survive. One is Andrice, the youngest of six children; hardship was all he knew. His mother died of breast cancer, and soon after, his father abandoned the family, leaving for the Dominican Republic and never returning. With no home, no support, and no sense of stability, Andrice was left to fend for himself.
One day, the pastor of OEBB church in Haiti*, Pastor Jovin, saw Andrice by the river, throwing rocks—alone, homeless, and without hope. It was a heartbreaking reflection of a broken system where children were left to disappear into the streets. That moment ignited a mission in Pastor Jovin’s heart. He opened a boys' home in Jacmel, where abandoned children could find refuge, structure, and love.
In the face of relentless hardship, Andrice found solace in faith. Within the OEBB church, he discovered a community and a passion for music. Despite never having formal lessons, he taught himself to play the keyboard and eventually became the youth choir director. Today, he continues to play an instrument at the Bethesda Delmas church, using his gift to inspire others.
By God’s grace, Andrice also excelled in school. In a country where education is often an unattainable dream, he fought against the odds. His journey—one that began in an orphanage, surrounded by despair—has now led him to the halls of medicine. Today, he is a fourth-year medical student, proving that even in the darkest of times, light can still shine through.
*The OEBB is a partner church of Emmanuel International.
Listen to Andrice, in 2010 as a young boy, singing, "I Am Blessed"...he is the child with the white t-shirt in the front: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fUKWUM9TOg&t=4s&ab_channel=EICanada
