Castillo Family

My name is Jody Castillo and my husband and I are the Campus Managers for the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. My parents, Larry and Diana Owen, founded the mission in 1979 and my brother, Janeil Owen, is currently the Executive Director.

In Haiti there is a saying we often hear – “After God – there is only you”. It’s an overwhelming feeling to know that after they ask their Father in Heaven, we’re that next step for so many people. What happens when there is only one spot left in the orphanage for the baby whose mother died during childbirth? What happens when we know that once they leave those gates that baby is going to die?  What happens when they asked God, then come to us and we can’t help them?

Daily we find ourselves in the position of making life and death choices. After God, the Haitians place their hope in us. My request to your mission board or to you personally is that you send donations to be used as our benevolent ministry. As of now, we do not have a fund to pull from for emergency needs at the mission.

For example, the mission’s monthly newsletter will include an article about a child who died just 3 weeks ago. Jose and I made all the arrangements and struggled to come up with the funds that we simply don’t have. His name was Guepson and this is a picture of him with his dad. 

I was asked often this past January – how do you do this every day – make these decisions that could change the path, the life – of so many Haitians? It’s very humbling to be in this position and some days – like this past January when a little disabled child was left outside the gate – it’s overpowering.  So many Americans came to me crying – asking for me to take this little baby in. I told them if we take this one, tomorrow there will be 10 more left at the gate.

How heart-wrenching to watch this little child crying, flies covering her little face.  I patiently waited for one of the Haitians to step up. Sometimes we take away the chance for Haitians to be a blessing to their own people by acting too quickly. I watched as little school children tried to feed her cheetos and swat the flies away. What a story they will have to tell their mom – about how they helped this little girl. I watched as crowds surrounded her and watched her lay there so lifeless. I also watched as a young married Christian man took home this little girl late that evening to raise as his own. I felt like that was God’s wisdom for me – to act slowly. I pray for His wisdom every day. I think her mom must have felt – After God – there is only you and she left her baby there.   

Would you condsider designating your funds to the “Castillo Benevolence fund”? Your checks would continue to go Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, all you would need to do is write “Castillo Benevolence” on the memo line. This fund will allow us to manage the ministry as the needs of the people become The Call. I can assure you this will not go directly to our family but be used to help the hundreds who come to us weekly. We can send newsletters out every few months and let you know of the hundreds you’ve allowed us to help. If for any reason, we are not able to continue distributing the funds in the manner we have described, we would be in contact with you for the best possible way to have your money work for the Kingdom.

Jose and I would be more than happy to speak with you on the phone, correspond through email, or even meet with you and discuss our excitement in person.

After God, there’s you. While the burden is great, the blessings from being the next in line behind the Father are even more overwhelming. God is good. We appreciate your faithfulness to His calling.