MFI's "Missionary Spotlight":

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

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

Paul Romeus is a native of Haiti and moved to Limbe in 1964, where initially he worked in a hospital doing maintenance work.  Belle is from North Dakota.  She became a nurse and served first with American Baptist Missions in a hospital in Cordova, Alaska.  Through the ABM board, she heard of a need in Haiti and began working with a doctor in Limbe in 1965.  After Paul's first wife died in 1972, Belle, who played the piano in the church choir, and Paul, who directed the group, got married in 1974.  In 1981, Paul, as part of The King's Messengers (a 90 man choir group) traveled in Southern California.  Seeing the abundance in California, Paul began to ask, "What can I do for the people of Haiti who have so little?"  In October, 1981, he started a school in Limbe, hoping to help the children achieve a better quality of life through education.  The first class of 20 children (center photo below) met in a one room schoolhouse next to the Romeus' house.  In the second year of the school, Paul was able to rent a home across the street (right photo below), allowing more children to attend.   An addition was later added to the one room schoolhouse, providing dorm facilities (left photo below).

As the school grew, people in Limbe began to tell Paul what a great work he was doing.  Paul's response was that it was a work of the Lord, and that it was just a small drop in a big ocean, because the needs in Haiti are so great.  From this came the name of the school, the "Institut Drop of Love".  In 1982, Grace Missions, first operating in Mexico, heard of Paul's work and came to visit.  They decided to partner with Paul by expanding their mission work of education and economic assistance to the country of Haiti.  With the help of Grace Missions, Paul was able to purchase land in Limbe that allowed for the construction of a larger permanent school facility.  The school has grown from its first class of 20 students to its current enrollment of 2,400 students, ranging from pre-k to college.  When the high school level was added in 1994 (lower left photo below), property had to be purchased across the street from the main campus.  This meant that a connecting bridge had to be built (lower right photo below) to connect the two campuses. 

Paul and the 125 teachers and staff members have been blessed by their partnership with Grace Missions.  The school now has a Christian radio station (left photo below) and an extensive computer lab (right photo below).

The school also has a large open-air church on campus.  It is not only used by the school and the local community, but also hosting pastors' conferences and other church related programs. 

The needs of the children in Haiti often seem overwhelming.  The number of orphan and homeless children is staggering.  Paul and Belle are working to address this need by incorporating an orphanage at the school.  The photos below show some of the work in progress in the bedrooms.  They hope to be open by the next school year with space for about 50 children. 

From the small beginnings in 1981, Institut Drop of Love has now celebrated 25 years of service to the community of Limbe. This anniversary was celebrated with a large parade of children through the main street of town, with dignitaries coming in from all over Haiti to attend.  Paul and Belle still live modestly in their home (above right photo) adjacent to the original one room schoolhouse.  Thousands of Haitian children have been able to receive an education through their ministry, and Paul knows each child by name.  

Paul and Belle Romeus have spent over 40 years serving the Lord in Haiti.  To learn more about their ministry, friends and supporters are encouraged to write to them at the following mail and e-mail addresses:

Paul and Belle Romeus
Unit 1024 - GMIH
3170 Airmans Drive
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946
E-mail: romeus@skymessage.com

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

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