We recently discovered a major need for the Forde Christian Academy in Thomassique – the students don’t have their own personal Bibles! Having a personal copy is important not only for the children to have whenever they need it at school, but it is also important for them to take their Bibles home to their families at the end of the school day, where the Word is spread even further outside the school, and the mission field expands.

SEEK, Haiti has created new short-term and long-term goals to reconcile this issue: while we want Bibles in the hands of every student eventually, we will start with the eldest grades and work our way down through the classes.

Finding Bibles in the local language has been an adventure in itself–while there are plenty of Bibles in French, Haitian Creole has been another story. Thankfully we have located a supplier – Shepherd’s Books out of New York – who is able to sell Bibles wholesale at a reduced cost if we buy in bulk! SEEK, Haiti is also researching catechisms, hymnals, and other Christian education materials in Creole for future fundraising projects, but Bibles remain the paramount goal at this time.

Each Bible will most likely cost about $30 to purchase and ship.

The goal is to give a Bible to each person who enrolls as a high school student at the Forde Christian Academy–small steps are better than no Bibles at all. There are currently nearly 800 students enrolled in total in Thomassique; the Academy is a K-12 school. The younger grades tend to have a higher enrollment, while the final four grades (high school equivalent) encompass only a quarter of student enrollment. As we raise more funds, we would like to send Bibles to younger and younger grades until each student in the entire school has their own personal Bible. Then each year following, we can give Bibles to new students as an enrollment gift out of a supply we will ship far in advance of the school year.

Getting supplies into Haiti is a momentous task as well. Currently we are able to partner with Orphan Grain Train and add our supplies to any extra space they have in their shipping containers. Unfortunately, however, Haitian immigration & customs tends to be a difficult process for supplies shipped internationally. Shipping containers often get stranded in customs in Cap-Haitien sometimes for months at a time, waiting for taxes and fees (…and then additional taxes and fees).

We ask you to join us in this feat as we aim to spread the Word of God, both verbally and physically, in the form of Creole Bibles in Thomassique. Your prayers are always appreciated, and single donations can be made on the website at seehaiti.org – remember that every $30 (approx.) donated is the equivalent of one more Bible to a child studying at the Forde Christian Academy. A donation of any amount can be marked ‘Bibles’ to ensure it will go directly to this effort.

We aim to have 200 copies by the middle of summer to send as a single package, as well as to save by buying in bulk – but we also recognize the urgency of getting Bibles to the kids in time for the incoming class of students in the fall. We ask for your assistance in this goal in any way you are able.

Keep an eye on seekhaiti.org and the SEEK, Haiti Instagram page to check our progress on raising money for Creole Bibles!