The Hochstetler’s – The beginning of doing something in Haiti that will last! 

Bill Hochstetler, a man from Millersburg Ohio, traveled to Haiti and said “I want to do something in Haiti that will last!” God gave Bill this vision which led him to mentor RoRo. Now, forty years later, God is STILL working through this ministry! We asked Bill’s daughter to share what she remembers about the beginning of Haitian Christian Outreach. It is through her recollection, that we invite you all to get to know Bill Hostelter’s story, and his role in planting the seeds of the mission of “doing something in Haiti that will last!”.

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“I don’t remember the year that my father went on his first short-term mission trip to Haiti. However, I do remember that it changed his life forever. Dad was a faithful Christian man who loved his family and his church. He wasn’t a person of many words, but his devotion to the Lord and Godly character spoke volumes. His quiet strength gave everyone a sense of calm and stability. When Dad came home from this trip to Haiti, he was anything but quiet! He shared with us how he truly fell in love with the Haitian people and wanted to do something more for them. He genuinely felt that this was his calling, a calling he couldn’t ignore.

As the Lord would have it, Bill was introduced to a young Haitian man who also had a great passion for his people. And, to make a long story short, Bill and RoRo’s hearts were connected, and the rest is history. Under Bill’s leadership, and with the help of many others, he was able to make a way for RoRo to come to the States and attend Bible college at Ozark Christian College and laid the foundation for a new Christian outreach to Haiti. 

Forty years later, I’m sure that my father could not have conceived all the Lord would do through Haitian Christian Outreach and realizing his dream of “doing something for Haiti that will last.” In Dad’s later years, one of his greatest joys was traveling to mission conferences across the country representing HCO, one of the highest honors of his life.

My parents’ home was RoRo’s “home away from home” when he was in Bible college and then throughout the years when in the States. He lovingly referred to my parents as“Mimi and Popo,” the name the grandchildren had given to them and seemed appropriate for him to call them as well. I don’t want to forget my mother Josephine who was the hostess with the “most-est!” She took him under her wing and treated him like her own. She was the glue that kept the household together.

My husband Larry and I were a young married couple when RoRo was adopted into our extended family. Though this was our family’s first “close up” experience with someone of a different culture, he quickly became like a brother and dear friend to my husband and I. The rest of the family also welcomed him with open arms. 

As the years passed, RoRo’s family grew, and we welcomed Eline into our lives as well. Larry and our daughter Emilie were honored to be the best man and flower girl at their wedding. Soon each of the Eustache children joined the family. As empty nesters themselves, Mimi and Popo found themselves once again with a full house!”

– Billi (Hochetetler) Hasemeyer

In honor of Haitian Christian Outreach celebrating 40 years of ministry, YOU can make a lasting impact. Prayerfully consider giving your best gift to continue the legacy of doing something in Haiti that will last!