"The Good Shepherd Seeks His Sheep" . . . Bringing the Bible to the Bateyes
by Madi Shepherd, Charleston, SC, Weeks 1 & 2
The Good Shepherd will seek out His sheep, no matter how far they've traveled.
Many Haitians flee their homeland because of violence, corruption, a lack of opportunity, and the desperate need to provide safety for their families. They cross into the Dominican Republic where life often becomes centered around survival. Many are exploited, undervalued, and living day by day. For those who have been displaced from where they once called home, it can be easy to wonder if they've somehow been forgotten. But The Good Shepherd is not confined by borders or nations. His grace is not limited by geography. He is THE God who sees, who hears, and who pursues His sheep wherever they are. No one is ever lost to Him.
When every ounce of your energy is focused on survival, learning to read and owning something as precious as a personal Bible is a luxury . . . one we Americans often take for granted.
After our January 2026 DR Mission Team trip, something finally clicked for me. We can bring food, clothing, hygiene supplies, and medical care, and we absolutely SHOULD. God has entrusted us with an abundance of resources so that we can love others well. This is part of being the hands and feet of Christ.
But we cannot promise that all the hardships of this life will disappear. We cannot promise comfort, security, or material satisfaction.
What we can do is help place the Word of God into someone's hands. Every one of us is living under some form of poverty. Every one of us needs the same thing: the life-giving, soul-saving Word of God. It is through His Word that we find true hope, lasting freedom, and the joy that sustains us no matter our circumstances.
The Lord is the Comforter. The Healer. The Teacher.
We are not the source of our Haitian brothers' and sisters' peace, joy, or hope – He is.
With that conviction, I began searching for Bibles to bring with us. I immediately ran into obstacle after obstacle: the cost of printed Bibles, the difficulty of transporting them, and many of the people we serve either cannot read or struggle with visual impairments.
So, pivot.
I came across MegaVoice solar-powered Audio Bibles that a missionary I follow was using in Africa. I began reaching out to see if there might be an opportunity to partner with a distributer for the DRMT.
That search is how God introduced me to my now dear friend, Mary Phil, who serves with Emmanuel Haiti. For decades, their ministry has faithfully served the people of Jérémie, Haiti, and they share the same love for our Haitian brothers and sisters. Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, she donated 50 Haitian Creole Solar-powered Audio Bibles for us to distribute this summer (2026).
I had complete confidence that the Lord would get them exactly where He wanted them. If He had opened every door to make this possible, I knew He had already gone before us with a mighty plan for these little devices. And He did. By God's grace, I made it through customs and airport security carrying more lithium than I've ever traveled with before, without a hitch.
People who had never been able to read Scripture for themselves and had always depended on someone else to feed them spiritually were suddenly navigating the Word of God on their own. For the first time, many could receive their daily bread directly from The Source.
Thank You, Jesus.
Thank you to Mary Phil, Pastor Polo, The Powers, and the DRMT for helping place God's Word into eager hands and hearts.
I will forever be grateful that the Lord allowed me to witness His goodness and play even the smallest part in His perfect plan. It is far more than I deserve.
Gloria a Dios!
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