spiritual Archives - Cross International

STANDING STRONG: The Heroic Educators of Divine Shelter School-Sarthe

March 12, 2025 by Cross International

In the heart of Port-au-Prince, where uncertainty looms and danger threatens daily life, a remarkable group of educators is standing strong against the tide of chaos. The teachers of Divine Shelter School in Sarthe have displayed unwavering courage and resilience, keeping their doors open to students despite relentless threats and attempts by gangs to tear their school down. Their story is one of heroism, sacrifice and an unshakable belief in the power of education.

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School Resuming at Sarthe Despite Attempted Shutdown

Located in a gang-controlled area right next to the Port-au-Prince airport, DSS Sarthe is the most urban campus in the DSS system. Perhaps because of its central location, the school has become a target—and the children have become victims. As you can see, much of the school has been demolished. But in what remains, the learning continues!

The Original Divine Shelter School

The Sarthe campus of Cross International’s Divine Shelter School network is the first and original Divine Shelter School. It was established in 1971 by Pastor Jean Edmond, head of Calvary Baptist Church in Haiti. Pastor Edmond’s vision was evangelical. In his mind, the key to spreading the word of Christ was to start with the children. He believed that if you fed and educated each child, the word of God would spread throughout the entire country of Haiti.

As the original DSS campus, Sarthe has played a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape in Haiti. Over the years, it grew to serve a vast number of students, offering them an education deeply rooted in Christian values. The school’s commitment to both academic excellence and spiritual formation remains steadfast despite the increasing dangers in the region.

At its height, Sarthe boasted the largest school population, serving children from pre-K through high school. At its height, it also boasted the most stable electrical grid with good Wi-Fi reception. DSS Sarthe is regularly among the highest-performing schools in the network in terms of academic achievement and graduation rates.

In recent months, gangs have sought to dismantle that hope, attempting to destroy the school and intimidate those who dare to keep it running. Yet, through sheer determination, despite the fact that their campus has been literally bulldozed underneath their feet, the educators have refused to be silenced or driven away!

Leadership in Crisis

Director Jean Mendez and the entire teaching staff have been a pillar of strength for the students and have remained steadfast in the face of adversity. They have ensured that children still have access to learning—at least for a few hours each day. They have also shown extraordinary bravery. Many travel through dangerous streets on their way to school, risking their safety just to be present in the classroom. Knowing the risks, they choose to stand firm, offering not only lessons in reading and arithmetic but also invaluable lessons in resilience, faith, and perseverance. Their dedication sends a powerful message to their students: no matter how dire the circumstances, knowledge and hope are worth fighting for.

The students themselves are a testament to this courage. Despite the dangers outside, they come to school eager to learn, their determination reflecting the spirit of their teachers and principal. Their presence is a victory over fear, proving that education remains one of the most powerful tools against oppression and violence.

The DSS Network: A Lifeline for Haitian Communities

Founded and staffed by Haitians, the Divine Shelter Schools (DSS) are a home-grown ministry that educates impoverished children and spreads the gospel in both urban and remote rural areas of the country. Each of the primary schools is affiliated with a Haitian Christian church body. The outreach is simple but effective. For as little as a few dollars a month, children receive a full-fledged nationally accredited education alongside weekly Bible lessons that familiarize their young minds with God’s Word. In addition to mental and spiritual nourishment, each DSS campus also meets the children’s physical need for nourishing food. Free daily lunches give the students the energy they need to learn and grow, so they don’t have to choose between eating or going to school.

DSS relies on support from Cross International and its generous donors. Through this partnership, essential resources like food, educational materials, and infrastructure improvements have been provided, ensuring students learn in safe, well-equipped environments. Despite ongoing challenges, Cross International remains steadfast in its mission to empower communities through faith-based education and outreach.

How You Can Help

As we share the story of these students and their educators, let us also stand with them in prayer, support, and advocacy. Their courage reminds us that even in the darkest moments, light can shine through the dedication of those who refuse to give up. For the children of Sarthe, that light makes all the difference.

By contributing to Cross International, you can play a role in sustaining this vital ministry. Your support helps provide meals, educational resources, and the assurance that these students will continue to have a safe place to learn and grow. Together, we can uphold the legacy of Sarthe and ensure that its mission continues for generations to come.

Community Transformation in Guatemala

March 7, 2025 by Cross International

Extreme poverty remains especially high in Latin American countries like Guatemala, where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. In fact, with a chronic malnutrition rate of nearly 50%, Guatemala is the most undernourished country in Latin America and the fourth highest in the world.

To address these issues, Cross International is in a long-term partnership with the Guatemalan ministry Hope of Life to improve the lives of vulnerable communities.

One of these communities is El Milagro — a village in eastern Guatemala composed of the Mayan Ch’orti’ ethnic group, who have a longstanding history of coffee farming. Unfortunately, decades of soil overuse and erosion have led to declining coffee production. The poor soil, adverse weather, and a countrywide economic downturn have resulted in severe food insecurity and malnutrition. Tragically, approximately 54,000 people in this region go hungry daily.

We’re now in the fourth year of a 5-year partnership with El Milagro to improve the lives of the villagers there. One of these villagers is Blanca Morales, a struggling coffee farmer.

Practical hope for Blanca’s pesky problem

As a coffee farmer, Blanca has a lot to fear — declining prices, coffee leaf rust, droughts and low yields, to name just a few. But her newest foe is the coffee borer beetle, known in Spanish as “la broca.” This resilient little pest bores into coffee cherries to lay its eggs and can decimate an entire coffee field in a matter of weeks!

Cross International recently worked with Hope of Life on a unique agricultural invention to trap these pesky beetles. Made of a large plastic bottle painted bright red like a ripe coffee cherry, these traps catch thousands of broca beetles each year.

The trap itself is made by taking a large red plastic bottle and cutting a rectangular hole in the side. Suspended inside the bottle is a little dropper full of alcohol along with used coffee grounds. The bottom of the trap is then filled with water. Tricked by the trap’s scent and bright-red color, the beetles believe it to be a big, delicious coffee cherry. They crawl inside and drown.

Innovations like these broca traps (shown in the photo below) have already made a world of difference for Blanca and her children.

Cross International currently has community transformation projects in 11 rural villages throughout Latin America, serving more than 6,000 children and family members. Although we currently cluster our community transformation efforts in Guatemala and Nicaragua, we expect our efforts to grow exponentially over the next five years to serve more than 60,0000 people. And we anticipate this growth to occur not only in Nicaragua and Guatemala, but also in other countries where Cross International works, such as Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia.

Christian Education Paving Pathways in Haiti

February 28, 2025 by Cross International

Energy fills the classroom as the teacher patiently instructs her exuberant young students. The kids are learning, laughing, and growing. They’re acquiring knowledge and skills that will be foundational to their success later in life. A variety of classroom settings around the world would fit this description, but there’s something special about this particular classroom and the school it’s a part of.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Haitian people have endured a myriad of hardships that have further weakened an already fragile economy, from natural disasters to cholera outbreaks to the rampant gang violence and political instability plaguing the nation today. Yet amid the adversity, there is resilience and hope.

In Haiti and elsewhere, a quality education is typically inaccessible to impoverished children. Nearly half of all Haitian children never get to attend school. But at Cross International partner Divine Shelter Schools (DSS), a network of twelve Christian schools across Haiti, kids are welcomed in, regardless of their family’s income level. Thanks to the generous giving of Cross International friends, fees for tuition, uniforms, and supplies are waived or steeply reduced for families of DSS students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to send their kids to school.

Seven-year-old Christ-Naïda is one of those kids. Like most of her fellow first-graders, she comes from a family stuck in destitute circumstances. Her father is not around, and her mother struggles to provide, to the point where Christ-Naïda was sent to live with her godmother. Christ-Naida still dreams that one day she and her parents will be together as a family. In the meantime, school is a refuge, a place of belonging.

Each day, Christ-Naïda and her classmates receive a hot, nutritious lunch, which in many cases is their only substantial meal of the day. The nutrients are vital to their overall health and also give them the energy they need to focus on their studies.

In the classroom, Christ-Naïda is eager to learn. She wants to be a nurse when she’s older, so she can care for those in her community who are sick. Christ-Naïda has taken to heart Jesus’s instruction to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which she’s heard during regular Bible lessons at school. She finds the account of Jesus’s life “fascinating” and enjoys memorizing Bible verses. Every DSS location is connected to a local church, and along with providing a nationally-accredited education, communicating the message of the Gospel is a primary objective.

While there are no simple solutions to the challenges facing Haiti, progress is being made. Christian education is helping break the cycle of poverty, and opening doors for the next generation of Haitians, for kids like Christ-Naïda. Cross International remains committed to fueling lasting change in Haiti. Will you join us?

Bryan’s Story: A pathway to flourishing in Ecuador

February 20, 2025 by Cross International

Bryan’s family situation is complicated. His six-year-old mind is incapable of analyzing the complexities. He just knows he misses spending time with his dad. Bryan loves his mom, who has always been there to care for him. But he doesn’t get along with his stepfather. Plus, Bryan is tired of his baby half-brother getting so much attention.

It’s been two years since Bryan’s parents separated. They were only teenagers when he was born. Bryan still remembers when his dad was a constant presence, and longs to regain that closeness. Visits are now rare, leaving an aching void in the boy’s life. Such relational loss can be brutal for a young child. Meanwhile, Bryan and his family, who live in the Ecuadorian capital Quito, feel the harsh daily effects of poverty. While his mom works hard to provide and Bryan’s stepfather also contributes, it’s a stretch to afford even the bare essentials.

For those in extreme poverty, sacrifices must be made in order to survive. Education is often one of those sacrifices. Though free public education is available in Ecuador, impoverished families generally cannot afford the required school supplies and uniforms for their children. Even when these kids do attend school, they frequently fall behind academically due largely to instability and lack of support at home. The cruel irony is that education is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Despite his family’s circumstances, Bryan not only gets to be in the classroom, he receives regular academic tutoring and spiritual guidance at an after-school program run by Cross International’s local ministry partner, The Moses Project. Through the program, Bryan’s school-related fees are covered, and he enjoys a hot, nutritious meal each time he attends. The extra academic assistance is pivotal in ensuring Bryan is able to keep pace in his studies. Beyond that, he now has positive adult role models teaching him Bible lessons and sharing about the love of his Heavenly Father, who has promised to never leave.

The Moses Project has made such an impression on Bryan that he wants his whole family, including his stepfather and half-brother, to know Jesus. And when he grows up, Bryan says he hopes to help others the way people have helped him.

Thank you for joining with Cross International to create brighter futures for children like Bryan!

Advancing through Agriculture in Nicaragua

February 14, 2025 by Cross International

Ulises is undeterred by adversity. A farmer in an impoverished region of rural Nicaragua, he’s always been determined to do whatever he can to improve his family’s circumstances. Although Ulises and his wife Daysi have never been surrounded by material abundance, their faith in God runs deep. After all, they’ve witnessed a miracle. Their daughter Deymerin was only two when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. The shocking news left Ulises and Daysi fearing their precious little girl would soon be gone. But instead, God restored Deymerin to full health! She’s now a healthy and active 8-year-old.

For day laborers like Ulises, exhausting work in the fields brings in desperately needed income, but perpetuates the cycle of poverty because the wages are scarcely enough to survive on. Ulises pressed on and searched for ways to earn more on the side. He tried renting land where he could grow his own crops and also invested in a small neighborhood store along with Daysi. Even with all of those efforts, the returns were minimal and his family struggled to get by.

To his surprise, Ulises was presented with an incredible opportunity. Cross International’s local ministry partner, Agros, makes land available to poor Nicaraguan farmers and provides training on modern agricultural techniques. Ulises jumped at the invitation. “I thought: ‘It’s an opportunity, let’s give it a try!’ I’ve always liked challenges, taking the initiative and not leaving the work halfway finished.” In just a few short months since joining the program, Ulises has observed steady growth of his crops. This form of sustainable farming will generate long-term income while also creating a regular food source for Ulises and his family.

As Ulises gazes across the rows and rows of green plants climbing upward, he sees limitless potential. He pictures Daysi’s smile and envisions Deymerin thriving like never before. His heart is filled with gratitude to the Lord, who once again made a way when it seemed hopeless. Ulises has been recruiting others to join the agricultural program and enjoys sharing his knowledge with those who are just starting out. Meanwhile, he and Daisy are both actively involved in their church, where Ulises leads the construction team.

Increasing access to key resources plays a pivotal role in ending extreme poverty. Thank you for sharing the love of Jesus with families like Ulises’ through your generosity. Your partnership with Cross International is opening countless doors!

Hidden Villages: Ending Generational Poverty in Dominican Bateyes

February 7, 2025 by Cross International

Tucked away in pockets of the Dominican Republic, a country known in part for its lush landscape and magnificent coastline with endless white sand beaches, are impoverished villages called bateyes. Poverty is a serious issue throughout the country, but these communities are unique. They began to form in the 1930s, when large numbers of poor Haitians migrated to their neighboring country for seasonal work cutting sugarcane. Though the workers were victims of exploitation and prejudice, many ended up staying permanently for lack of better options.

As the influx from Haiti continued, the government sought to isolate Haitian immigrants away from Dominican society while still slashing production costs for this important crop. Bateyes were the solution. Flimsy shanties to house workers were constructed adjacent to sugarcane fields while armed guards and fences were put in place to prevent people from leaving, essentially creating company-owned villages cutoff from surrounding Dominican towns and cities. Living conditions were awful, lacking running water, electricity, bathrooms, and other basic amenities.

Over the decades, the bateyes became home to hundreds of thousands of first, second, and third-generation Haitians, who despite spending their lives in the Dominican Republic, had no legal claim to citizenship. That made it extraordinarily difficult to access medical care, education, and a wide range of other resources.

When economic demand for sugar in world markets sharply declined in the 21st century, some operations ceased and guards departed, but hundreds of bateyes remain to this day. Thirteen-year-old Dalianiza lives with her family in one of them. Because her parents are both undocumented, their job options are nearly non-existent. Her father is confined to guiding an ox cart in the cane fields, and his wages are barely enough to afford a single meal per day for the family. The sugar company owns their small house, and the only bathrooms are outside the home, shared with the community. Education is typically out of the question for kids like Dalianiza.

While children and families in bateyes may be largely invisible to the outside world, God sees them. In these challenging places, Cross International is committed to bringing lasting change in the name of Jesus. Because of the selfless giving of Cross International friends, Dalianiza and her family regularly receive food through CI’s local partner, Buen Samaritano. Along with other kids in the program, Dalianiza’s BMI (Body Mass Index) is tracked over time to ensure healthy growth. Parents and caregivers even participate in cooking classes in which they learn how to prepare nutritious meals using a variety of foods.

The program has also increased access to healthcare and paved the way for Dalianiza to attend school by covering fees and providing her with necessary items like a uniform, socks, shoes, a backpack, notebooks, and pencils. And crucially, she hears the message of the Gospel from compassionate Christians who point to Jesus as the true source of provision and hope.

There are no quick fixes or easy solutions to address the immense needs in batey communities. Instead, sustainable progress requires patience and dedication. Thank you for joining with Cross International to give Dalianiza and so many others opportunities that were once far out of reach. What a blessing it is to witness transformation unfolding.

Our work ranges from self-help groups that offer low-interest microloans, job training and community support to residential programs that offer career counseling, tutoring and Bible training.

Click here to help more families like Dalianiza thrive.

Sewing a Better Future

December 13, 2024 by Cross International

Within the Eastern Province of Zambia, many single, divorced and widowed women find it exceedingly difficult to provide for their households’ basic needs. Their meager incomes often don’t cover the cost of food, clothing, adequate shelter, education and health care for themselves or their children. As a result, female-headed households are desperate for an alternative means to increase income and provide for their families.

Along with our partner in Zambia, the Kachere Development Program, Cross works to empower women to build sustainable small businesses. Currently, 436 training and business groups, each comprising 15 to 20 women, meet weekly across many Zambian villages.

One of these groups is the Women’s Sewing Project, based in a central location in the Chipangali District. Currently, 20 women run the business, working on manual sewing machines, as there is no electric grid in the area. They sew uniforms or clothes for families or small businesses and have a full-time trainer to help them develop their sewing and business skills. Each woman has her own clients, but they also work as a collective and share resources.

In addition to the work sessions, the women hold self-help group meetings, where they share ideas and resources to help each other improve their livelihoods. Group members borrow money from the group’s savings and abide by the agreed repayment and interest terms. With the help of the Kachere Development Program, we aim to raise the income of the participants by helping them build sustainable sewing businesses.

Is the venture successful? Just ask Dorika Mwale. Before she became involved with the Women’s Sewing Project, her family faced many hardships. They struggled to meet their daily needs. Most days, they only ate one meal.

Dorika’s husband, Aaron, is a seasonal farmer and earns about $30 for the entire harvest, not nearly enough to support their family of six. But self-help groups such as the Women’s Sewing Project ensure that hardworking women like Dorika don’t have to rely on charity or borrow from predatory moneylenders. Instead, she has established a thriving business where she sews clothes, school uniforms and other garments for clients all across the Chipangali District. The training she receives from the Women’s Sewing Project is wide-ranging, and includes business planning, assertiveness training, psychological counseling and spiritual development.

“The Women’s Sewing Project has changed everything!” says Dorika. “For the first time in my life, I have money left over each month to use at my discretion!”

Cross International currently has microenterprise programs in three countries — Zambia, Malawi and Uganda — improving the lives of more than 3,400 men and women, and indirectly providing a better future for more than 7,400 children.

Our work ranges from self-help groups that offer low-interest microloans, job training and community support to residential programs that offer career counseling, tutoring and Bible training.

The Power of Knowledge

January 30, 2023 by Cross International

Removing Educational Barriers in the Dominican Republic

Elil felt ashamed because she couldn’t read or write. Various factors had prevented her from attending school and obtaining these fundamental skills while growing up in the southeast Dominican Republic. Such circumstances are common in areas where poverty is prevalent. Nearly one in five people in Elil’s home province of Barahona has never received any type of schooling.

The situation was especially challenging for Elil, a teenage mother trying to provide for her little girl. Elil was determined to do whatever she could to ensure her daughter would not face similar limitations, but how? An unexpected answer came in the form of a literacy program run by one of Cross International’s partner ministries, Alfalit.

Elil jumped at the opportunity to take courses without needing to cover the cost.

Through Alfalit she was finally given the chance to be a student, receiving the education she had desired for so long. As she studied, Elil was keenly aware that the valuable lessons she was absorbing could open doors for both her and her child.

With the help of Cross International friends like you, Alfalit offers courses including basic literacy, basic education, accelerated conversational English, and job skills training. More than 1,200 young adults and adults in the Dominican Republic are currently participating, and the overall impact extends far beyond. Alfalit seeks to reflect God’s love and compassion and operates under the motto, “Literacy for All,” emphasizing an “Each One Teaches One” approach in which all students are encouraged to share what they learn with someone else.

Local churches, schools, and community centers are used as literacy centers, and former Alfalit students are often among the teachers.

Seventeen-year-old Elil is excited to pass along her knowledge to her family and dreams of starting her own business someday. She puts it this way: “My life is so much better than before; an extraordinary change has happened…Thank you, Cross International, for giving me this opportunity.” As a supporter of Cross International, you’re expanding access to education, allowing Elil and so many others to take key steps toward reaching their God-given potential.