Missionary Spotlight

MFI's "Missionary Spotlight":

showing the people who are sharing the Gospel in the West Indies

July Spotlight - Alice Wise & Kathy Gouker, EBAC Orphanage

Alice Wise and Kathy Gouker (left & right in center photo) are originally from Dunbar, Pennsylvania. They began serving as missionaries in 1974 in the Charlestown, West Virginia area, supported by their home church, Dunbar Baptist. In 1977 Alice and Kathy made their first trip to Haiti, working for three months with Haitian pastor Cebien Alexis, founder of Evangelical Bible Army of Christ, or EBAC. After a missions assignment in Korea fell through, Alice and Kathy returned to Haiti in 1978, to oversee the EBAC orphanage in Cap-Haitien.

When Alice and Kathy first arrived at EBAC there were 27 children living at the orphanage. A 1-story main house, a modest dining/cooking facility, and a mud hut were located on a small piece of property. Through the Lord's provision two additional pieces of adjoining property have since been purchased. Over the years volunteer work teams, including many led by Stan Curtis, have helped build or improve several buildings. There are now 62-65 children living at the orphanage at any one time. The children attend church each Sunday in a chapel located right next to the dining area. The older children have choir practice on Saturday mornings for the Sunday service. Donations are often made through MFI for the orphanage. A recent donation of fabric resulted in many new bedspreads, lovingly sewn by Alice and others, for the children's dorm rooms.

The dining and cooking area are different from what we are used to here in the States, but, with many improvements over the years, a system is in place to meet the needs of the children and staff. Cooking takes place in a small room connected to a center serving area (middle and right). Meals are prepared on an open grill and then passed through the window to waiting children. Recent work teams painted the dining area walls, tables and benches.

Since 2001, Alice and Kathy have also operated an elementary school at the orphanage. Three of the older children assist in teaching the younger ones. Bible, English, math, and science are among the main subjects taught. Eight children are now at the sixth grade level, and there are plans to eventually offer classes through high school level. On the right is the school chapel, where morning devotions take place.

Among the volunteer work teams that come to the orphanage are several of Alice and Kathy's family members and friends from Dunbar, PA. Every other February, for 7-10 days, a work team from Dunbar tackles one or more projects. This year a group also came down in June. Alice's sister Susan blessed them with a beautiful mural depicting Bible scenes from Genesis to Revelation. The scenes cover the three walls of an open air meeting room that is in the center of the property. Children and visitors alike can walk the room and see the Good News colorfully depicted from beginning to end.

Alice's brother Bob, also part of the June work team, oversaw the upgrading of the electrical system in several of the buildings. As they worked, they taught basic wiring skills to some of the older boys. Any vocational skills that they can learn now will assist them greatly in their adult years. The children always love to have visitors come, and hate to see them leave.

Alice Wise and Kathy Gouker have spent the past 27 years serving the Lord in Haiti. Each year has brought new challenges and rewards in the work they have done. To learn more about them and their ministry, friends and supporters may write to them at the following address:

Alice Wise and Kathy Gouker
Unit 1049 - EBAC
3170 Airmans Drive
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946

There are many ways in which the Lord can use His people to share the love of Christ. MFI's "Missionary Spotlight" shows how different people and different missions organizations have answered His call, and through the ministry of MFI, have gone forth to share the Gospel in the West Indies.

June/July Spotlight - Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

January/February Spotlight - Baptist Haiti Mission

December Spotlight - Pastor Saint-Ange Monestime, His Harvest Fields

November Spotlight - Paul and Belle Romeus, Grace Missions International - Haiti

September/October Spotlight - MMS Aviation, "Preparing People and Planes for Worldwide Mission Service"

July/August Spotlight - Mike and Myriam Lawson, School of Agriculture, UCNH

June Spotlight - Jules and Laurie Casseus, North Haiti Christian University (UCNH)

April/May Spotlight - The Don and Jo Beldin Missions Aviation Complex

March Spotlight - MFI; 42 Years Of "Standing In The Gap"

January/February Spotlight - Wilbert and Meg Merzilus, Living Hope Mission

December Spotlight - David and Sarah Dirrim, Haitian Christian Foundation

November Spotlight - Bob and Barbara Ramsey