Dear friends,

As we approach the year-end, it is time that we convey to you the gratitude of our hearts and invite you to sing with us a song of praise to the Lord, who has been faithful in keeping His promises to us all. He has been with me, with my family, and with my ministry; and I know that He has been with you.

Praise His name!

The year 2008 grew old with its burdens and adversities for all of us in the US, and the winds of despair blew hard against progress in Haiti after four sequential hurricanes destroyed 60% of the island's infrastructure. We have all witnessed the fragility of any man-made security systems that cannot guaranty anything beyond the horizons of man's vision. In spite of so much disturbance that filled the atmosphere of the year, your love and supportive actions have kept us focused on God's vision entrusted to us for the salvation of many in Haiti.

School Rice Distribution

Nothing, not even hurricanes, can destroy a heart full of hope. Our hope comes from the promises of the Lord and the people like you He has surrounded us with. Nature in 2008 came strong against us with much devastation, but God provided for our children to make it back to school; IDES donated big to the feeding needs of our school children and their families; sponsors stepped in to stand by our cause for education on behalf of our school children and orphans; our mobile medical clinics reached the untouched villages of Haiti ministering physically and spiritually to the forgotten ones. Many of you have donated for the repair of our damaged church structures; construction teams found their way to our damaged church and school buildings; many hands have touched the mud to repair individual homes devastated by the floods; construction teams led by Mike Mularoni and Five Oaks Community Church in Minnesota will take turns in Fedja for the whole month of January to make sure our orphans can be moved to their home by February; our Christmas shoebox team will land in Haiti on January 3rd to distribute the boxes of gifts many of you purchased and sent for the children of different villages; we are preparing for the dedication of several church buildings in 2009. And the list is infinite.

We are winning for God because you teamed up with us and Global Vision. Your prayers have sustained us with strength in many difficult moments when our souls needed to be lifted up to altar of the Lord. Some of you have sent encouraging mail when the yoke of silence and loneliness needed to be broken. Some of you called when we needed to hear the voices of angels speaking the blessings of the Lord over us. No matter the cost of a sacrifice in hard times like this, you have not wavered your commitment to refill our tanks when we were about to run dry.

Voodoo Priest Convert

You have delivered big for us in 2008 and we pray that the downturn of the economy will not be demising your support for GVCM in 2009. With so much accomplished this year and so much to look forward to in the coming year, you can agree with me that the fight against ungodliness is being won on our side. New statistics show voodoo losing big to Christianity in Haiti. Witch doctors like Mr. Paul Sekner from the church in Dondon are rejecting their old animistic practices to embrace the saving grace of the true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Many friends like Tim McLean, Jake Lenhart, Aaron Maus, Mike Mularoni, Merissa Hunter, Geneva Primer, Ami Lynch, David Davolt, Sherry and Bruce Thacker, Jack Spaulding, Art Tighe, Wayne Johnson, and many more, have volunteered to lead teams to Haiti, an experience that is worth much more than its sacrificial cost. Our common love for the Lord and GVCM is the best asset we have to invest in eternity. We also praise God for a good Board Meeting in Tulsa that resulted in the election of Van Elliott as the new President for GVCM. Our brother, Wayne Johnson, served in this role very graciously for over 3 years, and his contribution to GVCM is immeasurable. We appreciate his humility and willingness to serve now in a less stressful position as the Secretary-Treasurer for GVCM. Please pray for Global Vision Citadelle Ministries and our Board of Directors!

Please embrace now for a small family update.

Yves:
For me Santa is starting to look younger because I seem to be getting more gray hair. I see all of this as an occasion to celebrate the long walk that I have had with the Lord and the many friends that have walked with me the long path of my ministry. This year I have traveled to Haiti more and spent more time there because of many issues I had to be directly involved with. At home it has also been hard for us to face our financial challenges. The economic downturn in Florida did not spare us to a point where we might lose our home. In February I came down with a severe case of pneumonia and I am still fighting with its aftermath. My fight against blood sugar seems to get harder especially when I am in the bushes of Haiti with no means to control it. It looks like every time I come back from Haiti it takes me some time to recover from a weak body. The stress and intensity of the work does take a toll on me. In 2009, I am really looking forward to spending more time with the pastors as we kick off our Pastor Training program with a more systematic agenda. Please pray for us!

Samathe:
Samie has dealt with many instances of sickness this year, but the worst was losing her voice. She had to undergo therapy because of dysphonic spasm. But God is able and by His grace her voice was restored. We thank our friends who have contributed for us to pay for the therapy. Samie likes school and when mortgage brokerage became a waste of time in Florida, she went back to school for a nursing degree. I am so proud of her that in spite of her limitations with the English language she manages to be a "straight A student". I praise God for blessing me with an angel like Samie. When it comes to doing the Lord's work, she is always there to support me. It was sad when she lost her father in September of this year, but God has comforted her with the truth that she will see him again. Please pray for my Samie!

Steve:
Stevie turned 15 last October and has started High School in a very secular context. We debated the idea of sending him to a Christian school, but the funding was not there. We are praying that he will not cave in to the influence and pressure of others as this seems to be a trait in his character. Even though his teenage instinct kicks in from time to time, he loves the Lord and he is trying his best to reflect the Christian values we have enthused in him. Stevie has a very sensitive heart and he has gotten hurt many times in school this year by trying to stand up for the weak. He is playing basketball with a small club in Port Saint Lucie and is doing well. Please Pray for Steve!

Marc David:
Marc turned 13 last May and is enjoying his last year in Middle School. He was not happy when Steve had to depart from him and go to High School because that was the first time he had to be in a different place from his brother. Marc and Steve have always been good brothers and friends. Marc has been studying the Bible a lot and has fallen in love with the "Left Behind Series". He cannot stop reading them. Please pray for Marc!

We are so thankful for your partnership with us and we will continue to pray for you.

With love, we wish you the Merriest Christmas
and the most prosperous year of 2009.

Yves, Samathe, Steve, and Marc