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Mission Trip to Haiti / March 24 - April 11, 2009
Reports from Brother Chuck (unless otherwise specified) |
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April 10
Today was supposed to be an easy day and over all it was but on the last day it seems everybody wants to talk to me. I have been here 19 days and now they want me to sit down and talk. I managed to take care of everybody after saying a little prayer asking the Lord for His help. We did inventory of everything and left Z'Orange about 9 a.m. and we stopped by Pastor Harry's church and prayed with him about the church that is supposed to be built in January of 2010. We arrived at Dottie's and as always it is like an oasis compared to where we have been. We take for granted so many things from indoor toilets to electrical sockets. Halleluiah!!!
Will, Karl, Jimmy and Pastor Harry took Gabriel (truck) out to Love A Child and when they returned we had already eaten dinner but naturally we left them plenty.
It has been an awesome trip and I truly believe that the Lord got everything done that He wanted done. I cannot even come close to explaining the joy that I have to see the Americans work so close with the Haitian pastors. The pastors enjoyed it so much they are already asking when we will come back. God is so, so good.
Tomorrow we will be leaving Port-au-Prince around 12 noon.
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Photo Gallery - April 10
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April 9
The pastor's conference wrapped up this morning. Sean and Lane were the instructors, with Pastor Harry translating. Lane completed the previous session on the Superiority of Christ to all else. In this culture, the Divinity of Christ is questioned. They were shown Hebrews 1:8 which says, "For of the Son He says, Thy throne, O God, is forever." Other issues cleared up were angel worship, and the Lord's incarnation with John 3:31, "He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all."
We completed the rest of our study in Hebrews and then discussed the ten spiritual disciplines of a spiritually mature Christian's character and behavior. That was a comparison of the spiritual disciplines listed in Titus and 1 Timothy. During this discussion the pastors were advised that yesterday they had walked out on God, because time ran out. It became a teachable moment to advise them that if God is still working you don't walk away just because man's time says the session is over. God is perfect in His time, where man is always imperfect.
The Haitian pastors were also advised that only preaching a salvation message will never equip their flock to do the work of ministry. God has called the pastors to teach the scriptures to their flock. For them to grow in the Lord and be able to do what God intends for them to do in ministry they need to teach all of scripture.
The Pastor's Conference ended with a question and answer session led by Sean. The pastors really opened up and asked good questions, for which we reminded them the ultimate and only guide for ministry is God's Holy Word. It was a fitting culmination to an outstanding conference, attended by nearly 50 Haitian pastors.
After the session ended, each pastor was given a diploma suitable for framing, and a group photo of a very proud and happy group was taken before we said our goodbyes, and they headed back to their homes - some of which were many miles away.
The afternoon included repairs on "Gabriel" the truck and Lane, Will Tiller and Tom Blizzard doing soccer ball pump repair for the kids. They love playing soccer! Later in the afternoon Kenny Phillips, Ken Loubriel, Steve Williams, Karl Leiber and Sean McMahon went to visit John Wesley, a voodoo priest who has been befriended many times in recent years. (This was the second visit of the day for Kenny.) After a spirited witness, we prayed for him and his mother, and promised to continue to pray for him, that God would save him from voodoo. Before leaving the compound we prayed over his temple, that Satan's work would be bound and defeated, and God glorified. Continue to pray for him and Daniel, another voodoo priest who has been witnessed to multiple times this trip.
The day finished with our final worship experience with Jerusalem Baptist Church, with Bro. Chuck preaching. Worship with the Haitian people is an incredible experience we will never forget. God blessed this week and it was great to be part of it.
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Photo Gallery - April 9
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April 8
Debbie Loubriel
"What in the World Am I Doing Here in Haiti?"
This is a question I have been pondering over the last few days. As each new day unfolds God gives me another answer to that question. The following are just a few things which He has shown me over the past few days.
- He has shown me that I must be obedient to the call of the Great Commission. This call is for us all. It is not just for missionaries or pastors. It is for a true servant of God. We must all roll up our sleeves and become the servant that He has called us to be.
- He has shown me that I must not allow fear to paralyze me and stop me from receiving the blessings He has for me. I must trust Him He will be with me in every step I take. All I have to do is take the first step.
- He has shown me the many, many, blessings that I have taken for granted, somehow, thinking that I deserved them. From the smallest crumbs that the children or animals fight over; to the rain God sends to sustain our lives.
- He has shown me the vanity of my flesh. How I have been missing so many of His blessings because I didn't want to be removed from my comfort zone. My pastor used to say, "You must engage, when God calls you. You can't waste time or you will miss His blessings." Each day that I am here He peels off one more layer.
- Last but not least, He has shown me what true worship is. These people love to come to church. It is a celebration for them. It should be a celebration for us as well.
Today I shared my testimony with the Haitian ladies of the church. It is a hard testimony to give. I shared with them about the loss of my younger daughter two years ago. I do not want her life or death to have been in vain. I tossed and turned with anxiety the night before; I wasn't trusting God, but I was being obedient. That morning God began to pour ideas into me to share with the ladies. I was to start the session off with a song of praise. I don't sing very well and don't forget, these people sing and speak in Creole. I had to use an interpreter. God told me to sing Hallelujah, the universal song of praise. He also gave me the idea for the end of the session. I was to have the ladies pick a prayer partner. They were to hold each others hands and look into each others eyes. They were to tell one another their greatest prayer need, next they were to pray for each other. I told them this may be a little uncomfortable at first but God would put the words in them. I wish you could have heard the prayers being sent up. These women know how to pray! I had talked about how important it was for us to be "prayer warriors," for our friends and for the people God puts in our pathways, but especially for our families. I ended my session by asking the ladies to continue to pray for their partners needs for the next two weeks or when God answers their prayers. I told them they would see how God would work through the power of prayer. My husband Ken closed the session in prayer. I truly enjoyed speaking with the women. God took the anxiety away and filled me with peace. He also honored my obedience to Him.
After the session with the women, the team, including myself, walked up to the top of the mountain. It took two and a half hours one way. At the top of this mountain is the new church called Jerusalem II. I think God wanted me to experience again what a true servant of God could do when you follow His call. The church is beautiful, it is simple, it doesn't have stained glass window or such, its beauty lies in the way it was built from the hard labor of the hands of God's servants. God rewarded us with a wonderful cool breeze in the hot Haitian sun as if it were our reward for the long walk to the top. We delivered food and a quilt for the pastor's wife. We also gave the pastor a megaphone which will allow him to be able to use at the top of this mountain to gather his flock for church, most importantly, we shared prayer and encouragement. I can't wait for God to reveal yet another reason He has for me being here in Haiti.
In Christ's Love
Steve Williams
Today was a very enjoyable day for me. On my previous two trips to Haiti I was with a group that had a building project as the focus of the trip… so time was always pressed. Here in Z'Orange with Truth Ministries though, I am able to do as Chuck has said many times: "Cease striving and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). This has been, and is, wonderful!
After most of the morning activity with the Pastor's conference was concluded, a group of us headed off for a hike up the mountain to Jerusalem 2. It was a beautiful day for a hike. There was some cloud cover and a slight breeze. Me and Pastor Sean stopped at the top of the first big mountain, enjoyed the fantastic view, and came back down. The rest of the group went all the way to Jerusalem 2. Pastor Sean and I had a great time together and some good conversation.
The most meaningful aspect of today for me was the two visits I was able to make to Daniel's voodoo village with Kenny, Pastor Chuck, Lane and Simon. On the first visit, Daniel appeared to be very "out of it". I would guess that he was still drunk from the night before. He told us that he was in the middle of working with a woman that was very sick, but he still took the time to sit down on his front porch with us. Shortly after we sat down, he let us know that we needed to be going so he could get back to work. Lane asked if we could first pray for him before we left, but Daniel did not want us to do that, so we said our good-byes and he walked us out. We did tell him though that we would like to come back later. He said that would be fine.
When we came back later in the afternoon, we woke Daniel up and it was obvious that he was hurting. He said that he had a head-ache (he looked like death warmed over!)… but he still graciously invited us into his home, set up chairs for all of us to sit and talk. Kenny told Daniel that Lane had some things on his heart that he wanted to share with Daniel. Lane got out his notebook and started sharing with Daniel about the Deity of Christ and some Scripture about witchcraft, the anti-Christ and the beast. At this point I felt a very clear leading to step outside and pray for Lane and for Daniel. After a few minutes I could hear Kenny wrapping things up, so I stepped back in the room. Daniel was very gracious and thanked us for coming.
Later that evening Daniel came by the church property to visit with Chuck. I was glad to see him there. It is very obvious to me that Chuck has built a lot of trust with Daniel. I am so impressed to see a man that most people would shun because of his lifestyle, yet he is obviously aware that Chuck (and those Chuck brings with him) care about him and love him.
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Photo Gallery - April 8
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April 7
In Christ Love,
Pastor Ken
Tuesday we are having a wonderful morning in Haiti. The people here are so loving and gracious. This morning I had a cup of genuine Haitian coffee and we rejoiced sitting in the fellowship hall, in the open air, drinking coffee, and hearing the sounds of Haiti. P.T.L. I just saw a hummingbird. The morning is cool as the rooster crows. Today, I realized that it is my 56 birthday. I am hearing all kinds of sounds including a pig grunting in the background and children playing.
Lord, what is the task for today? A daily devotion from Brother Karl was awesome. After the devotion the group sang happy birthday to me to my surprise. What a wonderful way to start the morning. The Lord has been moving among the team. We are all headed out to serve the Lord in different ways. Brother Chuck had asked Debbie if she would speak to the Haitian women. She plans to give her testimony. I have spent the morning praying and preparing to teach. My lesson for the pastors will be about leading like Jesus and using His heart, head, hands, and habits to minister to their people. Debbie accompanied me to the teaching. Today you could feel the presence of the Lord in the sanctuary. We did an exercise with the pastors teaming up two by two. They were to whisper in the ear of one another the name of the person and words of encouragement followed by their favorite encouraging Scripture. It was a precious moment and it even got better because of the transformed the spirit of the group.
The next session of my teaching I opened the floor for questions. One Haitian pastor asked me a question about evil spirit and demon possession. Immediately I guided them to Luke 10:19. The Lord impressed my heart to ask my wife to give her testimony. She had been preparing to speak to the women, but I knew that she was also to speak to the pastors. Our Lord touched the hearts of the Haitian pastors and I believe it was truly a divine appointment. We closed the meeting holding hands in prayer and in one accord. Pastor Do Leone embraced us with many words of encouragement. All the Haitian pastors sang happy birthday to me in English, it meant a lot to me.
I want to thank everybody at home for their prayers. Debbie and I send our love to Green Acres Baptist Church, Wright Baptist Church, The Korean Church and Beulah Baptist Church our home church. We also would like to thank everyone who has helped in any way to support this team.
Kenny Phillips
Give Me Shelter Ministries
Today is Pastor Ken's birthday. What a blessing to spend your birthday in Haiti with your wife. God is so awesome and blesses us in so many ways. As the pastor's conference got underway Chuck asked me if I would take a group to do some hut to hut and to go and visit Daniel. Daniel is a voodoo priest that Chuck has begun a long relationship with and ministers to him not only in physical ways but in spiritual ways also. Much like my relationship is with John Wesley. Lane a fellow brother from Wright Baptist Church has been praying for Daniel and felt God had given him a word to speak to him. As we approached Daniels village he met us with open arms and was glad to see us. I have been around Daniel enough that he knows I always come in love and I feel he is comfortable with me. That is a by-product of Chuck building a relationship with someone and sticking to it... I believe that it is so important to build these relationships and to take time to really get on a personal level with someone. Build trust and confidence with folks. This should be applied in our everyday walk with Christ. As we sat with Daniel and talked we asked if Lane could pray with him. He said not now because he was working, which means he was doing his voodoo mo-jo for someone. You could see that he was definitely preoccupied, especially spiritually. Prayer would only disrupt what he had going on, so he asked if we would come back later. As we should we honored that request. It did not stop us from praying for him though. So we did go back and visit. We talked, we prayed and Lane said what the Lord laid on his heart to Daniel. Sometimes we do not follow through with what we tell folks we are going to do. But later that afternoon during the most wonderful Haitian meal that I have ever had (which was prepared by Jeanette a wonderful Haitian servant); Daniel came to church and wanted to talk to Chuck. Later Chuck told Lane and me how happy he was that we came back. That just confirms that it is so important that when we promise to pray for someone, that we do not say that for just for lip service but that we truly and earnestly keep our word. The world constantly looks at us and waits to see how we react and handle each situation that life throws at us. We must always be consistent in our walk with Christ Jesus, no matter how small of a task it is.
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Photo Gallery - April 7
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April 6
Chuck Poplin
After the last week of waking each morning about 5:30 a.m. to the sound of the dogs and chickens and the light of the rising sun, we were awakened abruptly before 5:00 a.m. today when the generator was started and the lights in the room came on. Already, Pastor Doleon and others were getting started with preparations for the pastors' breakfast and the first session of the pastors' conference beginning at 8:00 a.m.
It was a thrill to see over 40 pastors gathered in the church and even more so to find out these were attending for the first time. Interacting with them through the interpreters was great. To hear the heart of these pastors and their questions simply echoed those of pastors in other places, only spoken in a different language. They love the Lord, His Word, and His church. Being able to invest in their lives and ministries is such a blessing, one that I'll never forget.
Kenny Phillips - Give Me Shelter Ministries
Today started incredibly slowly for me. I must admit I am very used to having some sort of an agenda while in the mission field. But as the day unfolded I realized that maybe God was just allowing me to rest, reflect and to listen to what He has laid before me. It is nice to be still even though it is difficult to do at times. Tonight before the revival service, Jimmy(one of the interpreters), Fred and John, two other Haitian brothers, took me up to a mountain to make a call to my wife and family. Which at this time is a luxury in the Z'Orange area no matter how far you have to walk or climb. As I sat up on that mountain and looked at the beautiful creation God has made He made me realize and understand the constant need and struggles of the Haitian people. Not only are people starving physically but also spiritually. As I looked out across the valleys and mountain ranges and heard the voodoo drums we prayed that God would allow us to continue to minister to Haiti in ways that would please Him and not man. I thank God that I am not so busy that those things are being overlooked. The very reasons why we are here are not to just serve others but also to let God continue to mold and to shape us. The great commission is not an option for a Christian; it is a mandate from God. We must take this mandate seriously. I consider it a privilege and a joy to be part of what Truth Ministries is doing. Hebrews 6:10 tells us that God will not forget the love we have shown His people.
Will Tiller
Sunday and Monday, Karl Leiber and I spent time at Global Outreach Ministries. Karl had been there in January and felt the Lord leading him to help with a Security Camera system. So he went on the "nudge" and brought the system down and we installed it with the help of the missionaries. We were able to install a 6 camera system and they can now record and view the camera system on their computers. We were able to accomplish this task through the Lord and get to Z'Orangers by Monday Night. We feel Truth Ministries has a unique opportunity to assist other ministries and encourage them to be better servants of Christ. These ministries in action are living the scriptures out in their daily lives. Proverbs 11:25 reads, "A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will he himself be refreshed" We at Truth Ministries want to refresh others. It was a blessing to be a part of this and get to know the missionaries that live here in Haiti.
We were also able to spend time with the Haiti Baptist Mission staff that was spending time at the mission house we were staying. It was nice being able to talk about our different ministries and how God is using all of us to complete His task in this country.
Isaiah 30:21 The Lord reminds us that he is behind us whispering to us directions for life. We must be quiet and still, to listen to his prompting. Here in Haiti the Lord speaks to me in a special way. There are not the distractions of my life and I hear His whispers and nudges. Sometimes in the States I am consumed with life and it is more difficult to hear the Lord's direction because of the distractions I have placed in my life.
God continues to work through our lives in a special way here on the mission field. We are sensitive to His guidance and look forward to His plan in the near future. God is truly working through Truth Ministries and we all feel God is planning great and mighty things through us in Haiti.
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Photo Gallery - April 6
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April 5
Sean McMahon
It's been 3+ years since I was last in Haiti and so much has changed. Cell phone towers dot the highway. The road from Highway 1 up to Z'Orangers, which was a single-lane, hard rock "path" is now a wide, compacted gravel highway! The church has a finished school building. But one thing has not changed: the people. These wonderful people welcomed us with warm embraces, and it was so good to see my brother, Pastor Dorleon once again.
Our arrival at Jerusalem Baptist Church Sunday afternoon included a very special lunch provided by Madame Dorleon, and an opportunity none of us had ever had - to lead in the ordination of a new minister. Jean Renel serves alongside Pastor Dorleon and today was the day of his ordination to the ministry - and as the pastor of their "Mother Church" I was asked to lead in that service. What a blessing! Now, Jerusalem Baptist Church has a new Associate Pastor - a "Timothy" (Pastor Renel) to serve alongside "Paul" (Pastor Dorleon).
I didn't know how I would feel after being away from Haiti, and Z'Orangers, so long, but the moment I stepped off the plane I felt that all was right. And coming to Z'Orangers has felt like coming home. It has already been an awesome experience - making some new friends, renewing old friendships, and witnessing God do what only He can do - and this is only Sunday! Praise God, we have five more days to see Him working! Tomorrow begins the Pastor's Conference and I have no doubt it's going to be an incredible experience.
Debbie
Today is a blessed day. We made it in safely last night. It was a glorious sight to see the rest of our team standing by "Gabriel," waiting to take us to Miss Dotties place. I must admit the airport was a little overwhelming. The men were fighting over who would carry our luggage. My heart went out to all of them realizing that they were just trying to earn a living. When we arrived at Dot's we had such a warm welcome. Ken and I were given the "bridal suite," that was a real treat. Dot prepared a fantastic meal for us. After a good night's sleep several alarm clocks went off, I never knew that roosters crowed all through the night. After a wonderful breakfast, Pastor Sean led a devotion out of 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. We all partook of the Lord's Supper and then it was time to load up Gabriel and head up the mountain to Jerusalem 1. I don't know how to describe all of the sights, the sounds and the smells of Haiti; but what I can tell you is about all of the love of these people. They are full of the Spirit of God. They are so loving and kind and I am falling in love with all of the children. These loving people have given us the best of what they have. It may not be much, but it was given with all their hearts and love. They have opened their arms and welcomed us into their home. I never thought that I would come to Haiti, but I know God called me to come on this trip. I would like to thank all of the people who were obedient to God and made it possible for both Ken and I to be able to serve the Lord in Haiti. Our love and prayers to all who are back home. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray.
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Photo Gallery - April 5
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April 4
Today we said good bye to our youth at about 8:30 a.m. and hello to our Pastor's Conference Group at about 4 p.m. In between we had to purchase block ice for our ice chests and food for the week. We also had to buy propane, gas for the generator and fill the truck up.
After the Pastor's Conference Group came in we made our way up to Dottie's where we had dinner and had a meeting just to discuss what had happened with the youth group and to make our plans for Sunday. We will leave about 10 a.m. for Z'Orangé and get settled in and then we have an ordination for John Renel, and Pastor Sean will be preaching tomorrow night.
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Photo Gallery - April 4
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Note: New photos have been added (courtesy of Wes Ratliff) of the Youth Team traveling home from Haiti to Florida.
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April 3
We got up as usual with our pop tarts and oatmeal breakfast and began to pack for our trip to Dottie's. On our way down we stopped off at a grocery and picked up peanut butter, jelly and bread for our lunch at Dottie's. Dottie's serve breakfast and dinner but we supply the lunch. We arrived at Dottie's about 12:30 and began to take showers and refresh ourselves from the dusty ride. Dottie's is like the Hilton Hotel after living in a Haitian village. After lunch we had time just to relax and some people took naps.
We had dinner about 5:30 and as always it was delicious. After dinner we had a team meeting and it was wonderful to hear how God touched the hearts of different team members.
It is such a joy for Truth Evangelistic Ministry to be a part of the young Christian's growth. When you spend some time with these young people you see hope for this world. It was our pleasure and honor to bring them to Haiti.
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Photo Gallery - April 3
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April 2
Clint Downing
Today we traveled over the mountain to Jerusalem II. It was a welcome reunion with Pastor Fani and his family after spending several days with them back in November. They are such humble servants of the Lord.
It was great to see the progress on Jerusalem II Church. In March 2008 I sat on a rock foundation wall. In November 2008 most of the walls were complete. While still incomplete, the church has a roof with most of the concrete floor poured and is being used for services. Praise the Lord!
The youth held a VBS for the kids at Jerusalem II inside the Church building. The harmonica craft was a hit with the kids and adults. We spent some time just fellowshipping at Pastor Fani's home. Madam Fani prepared an awesome meal of rice and beans with smoked Herring. Please understand the tremendous sacrifice they made in feeding such a large group. They are very giving people.
We had another great evening service tonight. Brother Bill had a very good message on attitude and selfishness. It certainly applies to Americans as well as Haitians. I love to worship with the Haitian people. They pour their heart into their worship.
It is hard to believe we have been here almost a week. The youth have done a great job with the kids. The hut to hut ministry went well and many people heard the Word this week. Several came to know the Lord. I am appreciative and humbled that the Lord allowed me to serve this week and receive such a blessing. Praise Him!
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Photo Gallery - April 2
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April 1
Ben Pearson
Today I gave the morning devotion which was based on the sin of pride and arrogance. Later I was helping with VBS with all the kids 12 years and younger. The adults helping were Wes and Steve, and pretty much every teen was helping with it. The message for the Jerusalem church was about a rich ruler who had to give everything away to be with God, as in all of his earthly treasures. I was the rich ruler, Logan was Jesus, and Rebecca was narrating. For the crafts we made visor hats which were a major hit with all the kids. Also after the VBS I apparently was married to a Haitian girl who had a squinty eye. Besides the crying goat that would not stop baa-ing, it was a pretty good day, and Haiti really isn't as bad as everyone who has gone previously said. But hearing about Dotti's house is making me stoked for Thursday because I am really looking forward to a warm house and a real bed. Also in Haiti there is a drink that is called fruit champagne which is 10 times better than any drink in America. Also goat is very good. The end.
Logan Hancock
Today we did VBS in the morning like we always do. Then, we went to two more Voodoo villages. At the villages we did the skit about Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Then we did the visor craft which was a big hit with all of the kids. We got to watch them kill and skin a goat yesterday that we ate today. Ben and I named him Fredward. There was another goat that was wailing the entire time and still hasn't shut up. We've had a lot of fun and I hope it's not long before we can come back. Fredward tasted good. Fin!
Betty Summer
Today was our last day in our older girls Bible Study. We talked about the virtuous woman and they should plan their life around Proverbs 31. We talked about the difficulties of their lives here and they struggles they will have as an adult woman in this culture. Some of the girls opened up and talked and asked for prayer for their families. They thanked us for coming and speaking to them because they rarely have this opportunity. They also told us the appreciate us coming because we treat them as sisters in Christ and give them good advice. What a blessing it has been to work with these girls.
Bill Turner
Today we had the last class for the older guys. To say that the subject matter was all over the map would be an understatement. We began with a discussion on the Trinity. A student asked if Jesus and the Father were one or separate? My first answer was yes. We then took quite a bit of time explaining the oneness of the trinity and the separateness of the trinity as well. We then began to tackle such questions like,
Who was Cain's wife?
Did Jesus resurrect physically or spiritually?
When a young man is called a non-Christian by an older man in the church, what is he to do?
What about contradictions in the Bible, or preachers who contradict one another?
We then wrapped up the class with a look through Ephesians 5, and what it means for a husband to love his wife like Christ loved the church. We went through a fairly graphic explanation of the crucifixion and challenged one another to keep that image in our minds when it was difficult for us to live with our wives in an understanding way. Again, I cannot emphasize enough the ministry opportunity that exists here to men. If you want to take a group of hungry men through an adventure in God's word, you need to come to Haiti.
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Photo Gallery - April 1
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March 31
Wes Ratliff
Tuesday afternoon we had the opportunity to visit two Voodoo witchdoctor's homes and temples. The students were able to share an abbreviated Vacation Bible School event at each. The second of the two was with Oseyan. He was in the middle of constructing a new temple. The roof was up, but the concrete and stone walls had just begun to be constructed. In addition to the group of children that had followed us into the area, about 25 children gathered in the temple where Pastor Larry and Jeanette led a rousing time of singing and worship. It is truly amazing when you see an area that has been intended for evil become a place anointed by the holy presence of the one true God. As the students shared a Bible story and then the creation of a harmonica for each child, I couldn't help but pray and ask God to continue to impact this voodoo witchdoctor's life with the life changing examples of Godly people such as Chuck and Will as they continue to minister to this man in the future. What a wonderful thing it would be if by the time his new temple was completed, this man's life would be transformed by the light of Jesus, and its purpose would be altered to a place to worship and honor the Lord Jesus Christ instead of evil through voodoo.
Steve Williams
Today (Tuesday) we went to visit another witch doctor. His house was not far from the church property. After we finished our VBS craft preparation, we all gathered in the courtyard to pray before we hiked to his house. Will reminded everyone to be mindful of where we were going. After yesterday's visit to Daniel's house, it did seem like everyone was pretty relaxed and casual about everything.
As we left the property, we had our usual crowd of children tagging along. Today we were actually going to see two different witch doctors. The first one's house was only about a five minute walk away. When we arrived, he welcomed us all and led us to his temple area. Will talked to him with Pastor Harry translating. Will asked if the witch doctor remembered the previous times he and Will talked. He remembered. I was not able to listen into the rest of the conversation as me, Ben and Logan started blowing up the balloons for the skit.
The witch doctor gathered all of the children and then Pastor Harry and Ginette led them in a few songs. There were about thirty kids there. They were pretty energetic and enjoyed the singing and clapping. After the singing, we performed the Elisha and prophets of Baal skit again. Pastor Harry translated as Amanda narrated.
After the skit, we distributed the craft materials and helped them make harmonicas again. As we were leaving, the witch doctor was smiling ear-to-ear thanking us and telling us good-bye.
Amanda Poplin
Today I was in the 12 & older girl's class with Mrs. Betty and Mrs. Lisa and Harry was translating. About 35 girls came, and though it's great to have a lot of people, it was a more personal setting with a smaller group. The girls opened up more than yesterday and looked more comfortable as they got to know us better. We talked about purity, modesty, and humbling yourself before God. It was amazing how attentive they were; more than most American teenagers would be. Mrs. Lisa and I noticed that so many of the girls were taking care of their younger sisters or other kids in the community. They pretty much become adults at around the age of ten. It's so humbling to see how little they have and how happy they are; it takes so little to make them happy while it takes so much more to make Americans happy. I have become close with some of the children, and I can tell that it's going to be sad to say goodbye. I love it here and look forward to coming back.
Bill Turner
I held a class for the young men (age range 12 - 29). The first class on Monday had 35 - 45 men in attendance. The class was dealing with issue of being a true man according to the Bible, biblical sexuality, biblical purity, and any issue they wished to discuss through questions. It was a real privilege for me to bring the word of God to them to show them what a true definition of manhood was all about. I believe a nation is changed when its families are changed. And I believe families change, primarily, when men change. You could tell that at least half the men in the class were really hungry for direction on this subject. I have noticed that the men in this community needed to know how being a Godly man changes the way they behave towards women (either their wives or their girlfriends). There are many homes here in Haiti where the men have simply checked out. In many ways, many men have shucked their responsibility leaving behind dozens of single mothers, living in poverty. It was an honor to challenge the men to step across the line and be a real man according to God's definition of manhood. My prayer (and your prayer) should be that classes like these will somehow lodge into the heart of a generation of men that will set off a chain reaction of change in the men of Haiti. Haiti needs many things to be a thriving nation but money, food, and solid infrastructure are not necessarily the first things on the list. Haiti needs Godly men who honor their women, love their families, and live for their God. Several of the questions and much of the discussion were much to intimate to discuss on this website. Needless to say, I believe the Lord is using this class in a great way. Please continue to pray. If you have a heart for men, then you need to come to Haiti to teach them how to live righteously in a very unrighteous nation. Thanks and God bless.
Marcy Hancock
Our team was more prepared for our morning VBS this morning although we had about half the amount of children. Our message was that Jesus wins over Satan and our verse was John 1:29b "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Our students did a drama skit and portrayed Satan (Logan) making a woman ill (Rhyanna) and bringing along a Voodoo Witchdoctor to heal her with a necklace. The necklace has significance in this culture, as they often use them as a healing trinket. The students made the voodoo necklace from a banana tree blossom. The woman has become much worse since wearing the necklace and prays to God. Jesus (Ben) removes the voodoo necklace and gives her the witness bead necklace and she becomes well. The children understood the skit and we explained the witness bead necklace and that was our craft for today. Our students have been truly stretched since they've been here and I pray that they continue allowing God to use them so mightily.
Bro. Chuck
Simon and I went to Port-au-Prince today to purchase a few things and I stopped by Dottie's to send the photos and information for our web site. On the way back we stopped and bought 27 bags of cement for Jerusalem II. One bag of cement cost $7.50. The cost of materials here is always at least double of what it is in the U.S.
Tonight was an exciting night for us and especially Adam Downing. He is 15 years old and he preached tonight. This young man truly is on fire for the Lord.
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Photo Gallery - March 31
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March 30
We got up around 6 a.m. and had our coffee and then around 7, we had breakfast. Afterwards Wes led us in worship and then Matt played the guitar and led us in another song of worship. Lisa then led us in devotion and then Bill discussed the plans for VBS with everyone. VBS started at 9 a.m. and the church was packed.
Here is Marcy's report:
The children of the village arrived very early and were filled with much anticipation as they entered the church. Our team incorporated songs, drama and a craft in four consecutive rounds. The children were so intrigued they continued to come in the doors and through the windows before and after their turn.
Becca, Amanda and I all noticed how well-behaved, attentive and exuberantly whey worshipped God.
During one session, I noticed a young girl (approx. 7-9 yrs. old) carrying an infant. I asked to hold her and I rocked the precious baby girl to sleep and enabled her sister to be a child herself for just a brief moment. WOW! What an overwhelming responsibility; a mere child caring for an infant. The old saying is true in Haiti that it takes a village to raise a child.
Lord, let the joy of Haitian children manifest itself permanently in me.
Here is Lisa's report about the young girl's class on purity (Lisa, Betty, Brittany and Ginette taught the class):
Today I was part of the group that led the teenage girls in Bible Study. What an amazing day. We anticipated about 15 girls to come yet 65 young ladies attended!
We began to worship in song first and it was amazing to watch these girls sing with such great joy. Our lesson was based on purity. It is just as important in Haiti as it is the U.S. We found out that most of these girls do come from a Christian home with a mother and father present. That was refreshing to hear! The girls were receptive to the subject on purity and were all ears when Brittany shared the importance of remaining pure until marriage. We had hoped the girls would ask many questions yet they did not. Hopefully, over the next few days they will open up more and more as we continue to discuss purity.
Logan's report on the young men's study:
In the guys class today we talked about purity. We also talked about how to be a real man and to not be boastful or prideful. There was a lot of interest from the guys in what Bill had been talking about. They came back later that day and Bill kept teaching them until lunch. There were several of them asking some pretty serious questions. We are expounding on this subject tomorrow. We started out with a song then closed in prayer. I though they were very open and honest with us and I felt that it was received well.
Back to Brother Chuck:
After all the sessions we had lunch and rested for about an hour and headed for the voodoo village of Daniel. The Lord has blessed us over the last five years to be able to go into the darkness of a voodoo village and shine the light of Christ. The youth team shared the Word of the Lord, performed a drama skit and made crafts with the children. It is such a delight to watch the Haitian children have so much fun learning about Jesus.
We talked with Daniel for a while about his relationship with Christ and he says he is still not ready. I continue to tell him one day when I come to his village instead of seeing all his huts decorated with demonic art they will all have white crosses on them. He laughs but then he ends his laugh with, "Amen." Please continue to pray for him. His father and one of his sons have already accepted Christ.
When we left Daniels we had a wonderful chicken and noodle dinner with vegetables and began to get ready for church. Bill Turner delivered a powerful message about having a burden for the lost.
Each night we have had the interpreters give a short testimony and Pastor Harry and Ginette gave theirs tonight. By doing this the team gets to know them in a more personal way.
Tomorrow we will have VBS and classes on purity again and we will go to two voodoo priests' villages to do VBS. We have never had VBS in these villages. The voodoo priests are Pelicier and Osenyu. Please be praying for them and the children in the villages.
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Photo Gallery - March 30
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Church and Making Inroads
March 29
We got up this morning about 6 a.m. and Ginette had our coffee ready for us. She had heated our water on charcoal. After my coffee I tried our propane stove and, praise the Lord, the JB weld worked.
We had a breakfast of pop tarts, cereal with cold milk, hot oatmeal and juice, and afterwards Pastor Wes led us in worship with several songs praising the Lord. Adam Downing taught us the Sunday School lesson and we finished around 9 a.m.
Church started around 9:30 and as always, we had many people singing. The Haitian people love to sing and praise the Lord. They wanted the Americans to sing so the team accommodated them and then Pastor Chuck gave a powerful but easy to understand sermon. Sometimes we tend to make the Gospel complicated and that just doesn't work here.
Afterwards we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Pringles, chocolate chip cookies and juice. Then we had about an hour to rest. Following that, we divided up into three teams, led by Will, Bill and Clint, to go hut-to-hut to pray and invite people to church tonight and this week. They also told them about the VBS each morning. I took Pastor Wisney with me and we visited five voodoo priests and made arrangements to go to each of their villages this week after the morning VBS at the church. We will take the VBS to them. We have never taken any kind of teams into four of these villages. The Lord just opens doors for us. It will be very interesting to see how this goes but I know when the Lord opens a door you need to go in.
After all the teams got back they had many stories that I hope I can get them to share on the webpage. We had a supper of ravioli, green beans, juice and cookies around 5:30 and then we prepared to go to church where Bro. Will Tiller will be preaching.
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Photo Gallery - March 29
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The Youth Team Arrives
March 28
Today was the day Tom and I have been waiting for, picking up the Youth Team from Wright Baptist Church and Shalimar Baptist Church. They had a long bus ride from Ft. Walton Beach, FL, to Fort Lauderdale yesterday, and had to get up early to catch the morning flight to Port-au-Prince today. Before they came, Tom, Steve and I had to go buy ice at the ice house, fill up the truck with diesel and buy gas for the generator. We met a Haitian truck at the airport that will carry our luggage, and unfortunately we had to bribe the guards to park in the parking lot. Then we had to do the same thing to get into the airport so Tom could take the video of the team arriving and going through customs. He got some great video even through some guards told him not to video and some said he could.
After we got all the luggage we loaded up both trucks and headed for a restaurant called Epidor, which is above a grocery store called Delimart. While Will Tiller ordered the meals, with the help of Pastor Wisney, I went downstairs to buy the rest of the groceries. I always wait till the last day to buy bread and meats. Everyone, I think, enjoyed their lunch even though it took about an hour to get it, but that is normal for Haiti.
When we finished we headed up for Z'Orange and arrived about 1 p.m. The entire village was glad to see us and after all the hugs, we started unloading and setting up our cots. We have 7 women in one room and 10 men in two rooms, not counting the 4 interpreters and Ginette, our cook.
We got settled in and around 5:30 we had dinner: ham, turkey and cheese sandwiches, Pringles, Coke or Pepsi, and chocolate pudding for dessert. We would have had a hot dinner but our propane stove has a broken fitting. We are praying that some JB weld will fix it overnight because there are a lot of us that would love to have coffee in the morning.
After dinner Pastor Wes Ratliff lead us in worship with his guitar and we must have praised the Lord for about an hour. It was absolutely wonderful. Then Pastor Bill Turner, the Youth Pastor, talked a little about what they would be doing with VBS and then I explained to everyone about the time schedule for church tomorrow. Pastor Chuck Popel from Shalimar Baptist Church will be preaching tomorrow and Will Tiller will be preaching tomorrow night.
Tom and Wes mounted some lights in the church so Tom could get some good quality video. Tom and Linda Blizzard will be making a TEM documentary, hopefully, that will be aired on TV to help people understand the need in Haiti.
Everyone was very tired and retired early to get a good night's rest.
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Photo Gallery - March 28
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We Turned It Over to God
March 27
by Tom Blizzard
Bro. Chuck is resting a bit and he has given me , Tom Blizzard, the honor of posting the today’s activities. First, our day began , as usual, with a wonderful breakfast at Dottie’s Rest House. This beautiful home is like a beautiful oasis here in Port-au-Prince and Dottie is a most gracious hostess making us feel right at home.
After breakfast, Bro. Chuck went outside to do a little necessary work on Gabriel and I decided to take some pictures of the area around the Guest House and the ladies from Ohio who are helping Dottie over at the TLC Barefoot School. The school has about 95 students with grades K-8. It didn’t take long for Brother Chuck to realize that there was a major problem with the starting system on the truck. There have been hints of a minor problem off and on for over a year now, but it seemed to get worse during the past month. It was now a major problem because the truck would not even start at all. Since TEM is taking a group of 25 up the mountain tomorrow, Bro. Chuck’s first concern was that this issue be corrected the right way once and for all, but we had no time since the students would arrive at the airport in the morning. So what were we to do? Well, you know Bro. Chuck ,so you know that we prayed! It was beyond us. We turned it over to God.
The amazing thing to me is that wherever we go in Port-au-Prince, Chuck seems to know many of the locals. So Bro. chuck got on the phone and called an old friend by the name of Curt Golden, who just happens to be an American auto mechanic living here in Port-au-Prince.
To my surprise and amazement, Curt was here in about an hour and found the problem. When was the last time you got a response like that from any service person? Took him about an hour to rebuild a solenoid and everything was fixed.
Because of Curt’s quick repairs, Chuck and I were able to keep our plans and eat lunch with all the interpreters and our local cook for this mission trip up the mountain. I thought it was kind of funny that we had fried chicken with brown rice at a Chinese restaurant in Haiti. It was very good too.
We then had to leave the restaurant a bit early in order to pick up an additional member of the team at the airport. Steve is from Saint Louis and he has been to Haiti in the past. He is staying with us tonight at Dottie's.
By the time we got home, it was time for dinner. What a dinner. We had a great Taco Salad with all the trimmings, including sour cream. Dottie’s desserts are the best. Tonight she had a double filled chocolate brownie with ice cream. Yum….
Finally, take a look at the pictures included for today and you will better understand our day.
God bless, Tom B. for Bro. Chuck
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Photo Gallery - March 27
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Linda Blizzard took the photos of the Youth Team leaving Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Tom Blizzard took the photos in Haiti. Thank you, Tom & Linda!
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Gathering and Delivering Food & Supplies
March 26
Tom and I got up to a wonderful breakfast, as usual, at Dottie's and began our day by going downtown to purchase bibles. We left the house before 8 a.m. and it took us over two hours through the traffic to purchase the bibles; this is just a perfect example of how long things take in Haiti. After this we had to stop at another market called Caribbean Market to get the things that we could not find yesterday. When we finished this, we went back to Dottie's and picked up Gabriel to go to Batimet to pick up our lumber. Then we had to get our propane tank filled, air up a tire, stop and buy oil and coolant, stop at another market and exchange (16) 5 gallon water bottles for full ones, stop by CAM (ministry in Haiti) to pick up a case of chicken, then stop by Global Outreach Ministry to pick up our generator and other materials and then around 3 p.m. we headed up to Z'Orangé. We were about 3 hours behind on my schedule but we were right on time with God's. We delivered lumber, propane, water, food for the youth team and food for the Pastor's Conference to Z'Orangé.
While we were unloading and I was putting out rat poison where we will be sleeping, I realized I didn't know where Tom was. I asked Pastor Wisney if he had seen him and he did not know where he was. This is Tom's first trip and he speaks no Creole so I began to look for him, and it didn't take long to find him. He was in a room with a bunch of kids taking photos. He was speaking English and they were speaking Creole but somehow they were communicating and he and the kids were having some kind of fun. We finished unloading and headed back down the mountain and actually made it back in time for dinner which I know Tom was glad to see because anyone who ever has been with me to Haiti knows I do not stop to eat.
It was an absolutely great day in the Lord. Thank you for all your prayers. Check out the websites of the ministries that help us. Maybe the Lord wants you to help them.
Christian Aid Ministries (CAM)
Global Outreach Ministry
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Photo Gallery - March 26
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Preparing for the Teams
March 25
We got up around 6 a.m., had coffee with the Heart of the Bride team, and prayed with them as they left to fly up to the Northwest. Afterwards, Tom and I began our day. We started off by going by and ordering all the food for the Pastor's Conference at a little market so we can pick it up tomorrow. Then we went and ordered lumber at Batimet for some benches and table that we need to build in Z'Orange. Then we headed for Love A Child, where we picked up Gabriel (truck) and talked to Bobby and Sherri, who were very busy with the Joyce Myers Ministry, which is partnering with Love A Child in opening a hospital. They sent several doctors and nurses to help at the hospital. To learn more about this wonderful ministry, go to their website at www.loveachild.com. We then drove back into Port, where we bought groceries at a market called Delimart for the youth team that will be coming in on Saturday. By the time we fueled up Gabriel and made a few more stops the day was gone. As usual for me, we had no lunch but Tom made it fine with Linda's homemade granola. Tom was pretty busy taking photo after photo and by the time we got back to Dottie's, we were both pretty tired.
We had a great dinner around 5:30 and spent most of the evening sending the photo's to the website. We had a few problems but we figured them out.
Tomorrow we will be picking up more supplies and going up to Z'Orangé. Please continue to pray for us and the team coming in. God bless.
Bondye bon tou tan !!!! translates God is good all the time
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Photo Gallery - March 24 & 25
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A Wonderful Surprise
March 24
Tom Blizzard and I left Ft. Walton Bch, FL, about 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning and arrived in Port-au-Prince around 4 p.m. We were picked up by Pastor Harry and taken to Dottie's Guest House - and to my surprise my brother in Christ Tony Gibson of Heart of the Bride was there with a team that was leaving the next day to go up and work on a project where George and Carol Ann Truelove live. I haven't seen Tony in over a year and we had a great time praising the Lord in everything He has done in the ministries that He gave us. The Lord has truly blessed Heart of the Bride and it is an honor for me to have friends that work in that ministry. Heart of the Bride does God's work around the world. To learn more about them be sure and go to their website at www.heartofthebride.org.
Tom and I retired early.
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| End of March 24 - April 11 Haiti Mission Trip Report |
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March 2, 2009
TEM would like to thank the ladies who fold our newsletters each time we send them out. TEM is so blessed to have so many people help in all areas of the ministry. Of the six ladies who helped this day, two used strollers and one had her arm in a sling. These ladies use no excuses when it comes to serving our Lord.
Thanks you:
Chrystie Remerowski
Dorothy White
Gladys Matuzek
Anna Marie Ireland
Rachel Clifford
Bette Clanton
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Mission Trip to Haiti / February 23 - 27, 2009
Reports from Brother Chuck |
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Video
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Young boy pulls his handmade toy
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Photo Gallery
February 23-27, 2009
All of the photos from this trip are in this one gallery. Remember, we have a new setup. Just click on any one of the thumbnail images to view a larger image and slideshow.
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February 26
Wrapping Up Loose Ends
This morning we took Gabriel out to Love A Child where my wonderful friends, Bobby and Sherri, are and parked him till I return in three weeks. I had a long talk with Bobby and he is trying to help me figure out a way to get a container in country with food from Feed My Starving Children. I know God will make this happen. Everyone needs food here now because of the hurricanes destroying their crops.
After this I stopped by a grocery to get some prices on food to give me somewhat of an estimate on how much food will cost for the teams coming in. Then we stopped at Batimet (a large hardware store) and talked with Patrick, one of the owners, about prices of lumber, block etc.
I had Pastor Harry drop me off at Dottie's Guest house, where I had time to do spreadsheets and send things to our server for Trish to put on the website.
It has been a very good trip. God got everything done He wanted to. It is so easy when I put myself on His schedule.
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February 25
Delivered Cement
I was told that Jerusalem II needed 50 bags of cement to finish the floor for their church so I called Pastor Harry and we went by and picked up the cement and took it up to them in Z'Orangé. They are always so appreciative. This was a good opportunity to check Gabriel out and he did great. I was able to talk with Pastor Dorleon and figure out what we needed for the Pastor's Conference in April. It is amazing how much things cost. We should have about 80 Pastors coming which is double of last year. This will cost about $ 4,000.00 to $ 5,000.00 but what a great opportunity we have to equip our saints. If you would like to help us with this conference, please contact us; I know you will be blessed.
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February 24
Gabriel Gets Readied
We got up early and after a couple of cups of coffee, George and I were off to work on Gabriel. It was a long day but with God's help we were able to change out the springs, check all fluids and get Gabriel ready for the Youth Team and Pastor's conference in late March and early April.
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February 23
Hit The Ground Running
I arrived in Port-au-Prince around 11 a.m. and finally got my luggage and truck parts by about 12 noon; typical for Haiti. My good brother in Christ, George Truelove, picked me up and we headed for Global Outreach where Gabriel, the truck, was located. David and Judy Heady are in charge of Global, and they met us when we arrived. David will be digging a well for Pastor Harry's church. I drove Gabriel to the work sight while David followed me, and David said he will be able to start this week. We take so much for granted. It is hard to believe that people don't have access to running water as we do right in our houses. They dug a hole 70 feet deep and have been dropping a bucket down in it for water. This well will be such a blessing.
After this George followed me over to Curt Golden, who is an American mechanic here with a shop. He allows me to work on the truck there when I need to and pick his brain about what to do since I am not a mechanic.
By the time we did all of this it was time to go to the Baptist Mission, where I will be staying with George and Carol Ann. We also had a little preemie baby with us named Timothy. He weighs 4 lbs now. When he was born he weighed a little over two lbs. We have a basket at our church that says Change For A Child and all the money goes to these preemie babies for food, diapers and whatever they need, and it was great to see one of these little guys. Carol Ann told me to tell everyone that little Timothy really appreciates you.
After a long day Carol Ann cooked us a great dinner and it was time to go to bed.
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| End of February 23 - 27 Haiti Mission Trip Report |
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Bargain Sale at Wright Baptist Church
January 31, 2009
I cannot praise our Seniors Saints enough and that is what they are, Saints. They worked for three days for the youth of Wright Baptist Church so that they could have the opportunity to go to Haiti and experience what God is doing in a third world country where food is scarce. They work tireless hours with no complaints only giving glory to our Lord. You can tell by the smiles on their faces. These warriors remind me of Isaiah 40:29-31,
Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young shall utterly fall.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.
These are seasoned warriors that understand there is no such thing as retirement. I praise God for them and they are an inspiration to everyone in our church.
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Mission Trip to Haiti / January 15 - 21, 2009
Reports from Brother Chuck |
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Photo Gallery
January 15-21, 2009
All of the photos from this trip are in this gallery. Please note that we have a new gallery setup. The thumbnails are very small but just click on any one of the images to view a larger image and slideshow.
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January 21
A People in Real Need
This trip made 48 trips for me and each time I leave with sadness because there is so much that needs to be done. People here are really hungry, not just saying they are hungry. They are really sick and they need medical attention. They need Jesus Christ. We are the ones who can help if we will stop thinking about ourselves and think of others, if we would just show the love of Christ.
I ask you to please, please pray for TEM in its upcoming projects in March (Youth Team) and in April (Pastor's Conference). May God bless you and your family.
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January 20
More Preparations Before Returning to Port
Got up and had a great breakfast and a wonderful devotion with the guys before everyone started working again. I met with David of Global Outreach about digging a well that will work off a generator in the church that First Baptist Church of St. Charles is building and he said he has dug many wells in the area. The cost is about $3500.00 (US).
By lunchtime it was time for me to say goodbye and head for Port-au-Prince. Part of the Missouri team headed for the Northwest and some stayed to help around the compound.
I made it to Dottie's for another good night's sleep and packed for the trip home.
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January 19
Gabriel Gets New Power Steering
I drove out to Global Outreach Ministries and met with the Global Compassion Team from Missouri. I am so blessed to have so many Christian brothers and sisters. It was great to see them; they were very busy unloading a container that they had shipped in. They also brought in a new generator for TEM, which I will take up to Z'Orangé in March. It will be a big surprise for them. Lane Konneman, Karl Leiber and I started work on Gabriel putting on power steering which will be such a blessing.
Around 3 p.m. we finished mounting the power steering and it worked great, Praise the Lord. I stayed here at Global this night with plans of leaving tomorrow.
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January 18
Sunday - Preaching and Resting in the Lord
Pastor Harry asked me to preach on Sunday, and I don't guess I have ever turned down an opportunity to preach, so I preached today at the little church with no walls, no windows and no doors. I preached about how we are the church and the building is just a building and how they need to continue to go out into the villages and bring people to the church so they can learn about Christ.
Afterward I truly rested on the seventh day. For some of you that don't know, I was infected with Malaria in November and I am still having headaches and this was a day of a headache but it was great because I could rest.
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January 17
Z'Orangé
I got up early and picked up the food, which consisted of rice, beans, cooking oil, spaghetti, tomato sauce and other items. I also had to go by a store here in Port to purchase some beds and mattresses for Global Compassion Ministries for their teams. I also went downtown and purchased Bibles for them.
Around 11 a.m. I was ready to go to Z'Orangé but I needed to stop at another ministry called Global Outreach, that has been in Haiti many years, to drop off the beds and bibles. Global Outreach is working with Global Compassion, which is working with Living Waters and TEM. Is that a wonderful thing! I know that it makes God smile when we all work together. After dropping off the materials I drove on up to Z'Orangé to deliver the food and meet with Pastor Dorleon about the youth group that TEM will be bringing in March and also about the Pastor's Conference in April.
We had a good visit but Pastor Dorleon told me how bad things are now that the hurricanes destroyed their crops. The whole valley is in desperate need of food; if you can help, please contact us.
After the food needs, we do have some needs to finish the outside of a small church up in the mountains and finish the school in Z'Orangé. They need 5 windows and 9 doors. Doors cost about $100.00 (US) and windows $65.00. It is hard for us to imagine but they are teaching school and going to church with no windows and doors. When it rains you just get wet. Again if you would like to help your bothers and sisters in Haiti, please contact us.
After returning from the mountains late in the evening, I was looking forward to Dottie's Guest House.
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January 16
Meeting with Pastor Harry and Making Preparations
I arrived in Haiti yesterday with many things to do. TEM is working with Global Compassion Ministries in Missouri. A small team from Missouri will come in on the 18th to go to the Northwest to build a storehouse to store their supplies as they work in that area.
We are also working with First Baptist Church of St. Charles, MO, to build a church just outside of Port-au-Prince. The pastor of this Haitian church is Pastor Harry. I met with Pastor Harry on my first day in Port, and we went out to the property. It is partly fenced in and they have a church that consists of a metal roof, no walls, a concrete floor and benches that are made with 1" by 8" boards. They break very often because of the weight. They have hand dug a well 70 feet and have to drop a bucket down in a hole to get their water. This is a typical church in Haiti.
It is so difficult sometimes to see the poverty here in Haiti knowing there is no way to convey what I actually see. If I could, we would receive more help to help our Haitian brothers and sisters. It truly saddens my heart beyond explanation. There is no way people in America would walk miles to go to church and then sit outside on a 8 inch board that sags when you sit on it. To go to the bathroom you have to go behind a tree; there is no electricity, no running water and it surely is too hot for most Americans. We sit in our comfortable pews in our churches and complain that it is too cold. We never think about the luxuries that we have: bathrooms, A/C, running water. I guess the problem I have is that we can help others if we would just start thinking about our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering while we live in luxury. When are we going to say I have enough and I want to help others?
After going out to this church property and gathering some information for the church building in June, I had Pastor Harry take me out to Love A Child where we picked up Gabriel, our truck. We then went and ordered some food to pick up tomorrow to take to Z'Orangé. Love A Child gave us some cute little dresses and sandals to give to the Haitian people there.
After fueling up I went back to Dottie's Guest house for a good night's sleep in Port-au-Prince and to prepare for the next day.
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| End of January 15 - 21 Haiti Mission Trip Report |
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