How does a farm girl from Orange City, Iowa and a Haitian boy from Caiman,
Haiti cross paths? It is only by the grace and planning of a God who has a wonderful plan and needs a lot
of help in bringing it about.
Kristie (DeBoer)
Mompremier was born in Northwest Iowa, an avid volleyball player, graduated from Northwestern College, joined ECHO as an intern
to Haiti which would lead her to the Central Plateau.
Jean
Jean Mompremier, born in Caiman, Haiti, was able to overcome many difficulties attaining a teaching degree which brought him
to a Haitian Christian high school.
The
course was set and God brought them together putting within their hearts a desire to serve Him. Little
did they know at the time that they would be returning to Jean Jean’s home to minister within the very community in
which he grew up.
Jean Jean and Kristie
married and God richly blessed them with two daughters, Rithana (Tana) and Kerlande (Kerri) who have become a true blessing
as the work continues.
UCI was born out
of faith in the fall of 2005 as Jean Jean and Kristie along with their daughters returned to Haiti to begin a work to which
God had prepared them. They both were sure that God was calling them to train pastors and one by one send
them out to spread the gospel message of Salvation.
As
the training began, another need arose and that was the lack of nutrition among the children. This lead
to opening the first feeding station, which lead to Sunday afternoon worship sessions, which opened the door to an ever growing
group seeking to know more about Christ in their lives.
From it very meager beginnings UCI continues to reach out, touching Haitian lives with the Good News of the
Gospels both in word and practice.