On January 10th, we set out for what we thought would be a two week trip into Haiti to work with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. The book of Ephesians kept coming to mind as we prepared for the trip and as we found ourselves in a first time mission experience. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." So although we were not able to complete most of the projects we had planned, God had still prepared this time for us. Here is a highlight of our four days on campus.
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Tuesday: We were able to spend time on campus getting to see all of the new program developments, building projects and how God was growing the mission. While the families waited for their nutrition meals we loved up on the babies and gave the mom's a good laugh as we taught the kids how to play Jezi renmen mwen (version of "duck-duck-goose"). We also had time to package Vitamins for the pharmacy. We made a trip downtown for the prison ministry but no prisoners were in the jail. They say the rains keep everyone in their homes and out of the streets. We visited the home of Ceremone and Sonje where we finalized plans to complete the roof on their home. We also delivered "meals on feet" to the elderly shut-in's down town. Rhonda led us in prayer for one woman who had just learned that her family member had died. It was as we returned to the mission that the earthquake occurred.
Wednesday: As the mission staff prepared their response to the earthquake, we finished packaging Vitamins for the pharmacy and began working on Ibruprofen. We also sorted through supplies donated in advance from FAME and loaded them on the truck that would soon be leaving for Port-au-Prince along with mission medical staff. The Vitamin C that we had packaged the day before was going as well. The biggest blessing was that today, Jocelyn and Fordieu made it safely out of Port-au-Prince and up to the Northwest.
Thursday: We continued on the ministries of the mission ministering to the gran moun (elderly) and praying with some of the Haitian staff who had not heard from loved ones in PAP. John put all of his handy man skills to work repairing equipment for the mission. Jody's organizational skills were a blessing putting the food pantry together and Rhonda's loving heart ministered to the gran moun without words. Due to this being the fourth day of rains, we were not able to make it up the hills for home visits and "hut-to-huts".
Friday: John continued what he does best, some tackled more Ibruprofen and some of us helped get the Christmas package deliveries ready for the sponsorship programs and the orphanage. We were able to see the progress made on Ceremone and Sonje's roof and visited a couple more Haitian friends. Just as we were preparing for "hut-to-huts" the rains came. And at 3:00 we received word that we would be leaving in 1 hour. After super we began our 2-day trek home. God Bless Missionary Flights International for the ministry they do. They delivered much needed supplies and brought us home safely. They truly are "God's airforce".
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We had adopted Eph 2:10 and we all believed God had prepared us for this trip. What God opened my eyes to is how He had been preparing so many other items in advance for a moment like this as well. The mission had just sent home a group of 120 Americans on the 10th leaving only 32 Americans on short-term trips to NWHCM. Travel arrangements were available for all of us with the last group leaving Monday. FAME had donated medical supplies months before that were stored on campus and ready for immediate mobilization. The mission had one Haitian doctor, two American medical staff and three Haitian nurses who were immediately available to respond. We had packaged Vitamin C the day before the earthquake which was needed on the response truck. We were on campus when both Fordieu and Jocelyn arrived safely to immediately minister to them. The Mission Flights International plane that we traveled home on was bringing in Kids Against Hunger meals. Who is to know if maybe these meals were the ones FCC members packaged months before. One little act of service God will use for His glory in big ways. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
Today, I heard the song "Your Hands" by JJ Heller and wept as I thought of the Haitian people and our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in the middle of the pain there. "Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand." Psalm 20:6 "If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24
Your Hands
I have unanswered prayers I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways that you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away
I am trying to understand how to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking I never leave your hands
When you walked upon the earth You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry one day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking I never leave your hands
Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still
Missionary Flights International is the wonderful ministry that flew us from Cap Haitian, Haiti to Fort Pierce, FL. Here is a link to a documentary of the actual flight we were on. God Bless their ministry!
Friday we received the below message from Mike and Teresa Grant who are missionaries with NWHCM located in Beauchamp near LaPlaine.
To the Norfolk group -- I know that you have adopted LaPlaine and were not able to make it out this trip because of the earthquake and conditions but I wanted to pass this on so you can pray intently. Pastor Irenel was on my doorstep this morning -- his brother is still missing, his cousin and wife and 4 children were killed. He was asked help to go to PAP to try to find his brother as well as bring back the homeless family members that are there. Many people in LaPlaine have family members there who have suffered the same fate. I was able to give him money to go to PAP and assured him that I would let you know so you could lift up the LaPlaine community in your prayers. I also assured him that you have not forgotten or forsaken them and that you plan to be back in June.
In His Service,
Mike
UPDATE: I just received word from Teresa Grant that Pastor Irenel returned safely from Port au Prince with 10 family members who had survived. Resources are limited for these families in LaPlain and even more so now that they are taking in additional families members. Pray also for healing for these broken families and tender hearts. May the church of Haiti rise up and be God's hands, feet and face.
We are all back in the states with mixed feelings of being home. Thanks for all your prayers
On Friday afternoon at 3:00 we heard word that a Missionary Flights International plane was available for 16 of us and it would be best to take this flight as we were uncertain what next flight would be available. So although we were in no danger we decided to take the opportunity to leave and let the mission focus on what they do best for the Haitians instead of travel arrangements for us. We immediately packed up and around 5:30 headed for the bus. (When leaving we heard word that American Airlines had cancelled our original flight - God knew!!) We traveled from Saint Louis du Nord to Gonaives to Cap Haitian. This trip took about 7 hours and is a very difficult bus ride. I'd compare it to riding a trotting horse bare back for 7 hours. We arrived in Cap Haitian around 2:00am and were fortunate to have hotel rooms to shower and sleep for a couple of hours. We then headed to the Cap Haitian airport to wait for the Missionary Flights International plane. It was coming into Haiti to drop medical and other supplies for Port au Prince. Around 2:00pm we left Cap Haitian on a DC-3. We made one stop in the Bahamas to refuel and arrived in Fort Pierce around 6:00pm. This was one of the best flights we had every experienced. Of course, you can't go wrong when it starts out with the pilots praying over you and the flight. We agreed that it felt like God just carried us home in his hand. Missionary Flights International is a wonderful organization and if you aren't aware of what they do - google their organization. Once in Fort Pierce we had a few wonderful Christian families feed us, love on us, and drive us to West Palm Beach to catch our flights this morning. God bless them!! We even got fresh picked tangerines. After a short nights sleep we headed for the airport and I was able to make my flight to Chicago and barely (running to gate) catch my connection to Omaha. John, Rhonda, and Jody on the other hand were delayed due to overselling of their tickets to Fort Worth, then shuttled to Fort Lauderdale and then missed that flight. Finally have solid tickets in hand and should be in Omaha around 11. They have had a hard day of travel. If you read this before 1am please pray over their travel.
Please also pray tonight for Cameron and Jennifer Mayhill and their two girls. Cameron works for the mission and it was his wife and children's first trip into Haiti. They came out with us and as of 6:40 had not yet been able to get on a working flight out of Florida. This has been an exhausting experience for their children and stressful as parents going through this with kids in toe. Through it all they have been troopers. Please lift their family up for safety in travel and extended strength as they continue to make an effort to get home.
Thank you for all your prayers! They is no doubt that God has had his hand on all aspects of this trip.
We hope to post more details on the trip and next steps over the next few days - so keep checking the blog.
In advance, I apologize for the vagueness of this blog as the last two days have been filled with emotions and events that are hard to process in writing. But through all; God has been sovereign. Last night we received a special blessing as our dear boys (Fordieu & Jocelyn) who live in Port-au-Prince arrived safely at the mission in Saint Louis. Please pray for these boys as their eyes have seen so much grief, sadness, death, and fear. No words can explain emotions experience over the last few days. We continue to be safe and well and are definitely blessed.
Yesterday we spent the day sorting pills and collecting medical supplies that were packed in the mission truck that headed to Port-au-Prince (PAP) along with the mission medical staff. We will not be accompanying the team to PAP as we do not want to add to the chaos since the infastructure has not been put into place and there are many travel factors at play at this point.
Today, as the mission prepared for next steps we continued the ministry on campus. Time was spent in the gran moun (elderly home) and traveling/visiting throughout Saint Louis. John’s handy man skills have been put to good use fixing broken appliances and equipment. They all love having him around. Plans to travel to LaPlaine have been cancelled as fuel supplies are soon to be at a shortage. When the paths dry (have had rain every day) we will try to do hut visitations and pray for families still waiting to hear the status of loved ones in PAP. Phone towers in PAP are down and we are 80 miles from PAP. Our role now is ministry to the families. Psalms 90:17 "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish teh work of our hands for us - yes, establish the work of our hands."
Tonight, we sent Fordieu and Jocelyn off in prayer as they answered a call to head back to Port-au-Prince to gather children who have now become orphans. Please pray for them as no words can describe what they are about to experience and the toll it will take on them physically, mentally and spiritually.
Pray also for the entire situation in Port-au-Prince
Pray for the Haitian staff here at the mission who have not heard from family and friends in PAP. Phone service continues to be down.
Pray for discernment as we plan ministry options for the days ahead
Pray for travel accommodations as the mission works to reschedule flights and travel options for the group set to leave tomorrow.
We've heard that some of our pictures from the mission website have made it on the news. Please know, that we are safe and that some of what may be reported is exagerated in regards to us and our plans/safety.
I first heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti via a message on our answering machine at home.“This is... I heard about the earthquake in Haiti and wonder if you have heard from our team there.”Immediately my thoughts raced to the timeline for the team.Sunday: fly to Chicago, then to Miami, sleep a few hours.Monday: fly to Port au Prince, travel by road all day to the main campus of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.
Calls to my cell phone quickly followed.I read about the disaster online.I had good reason to be confident that Kristi, Jon and Rhonda were okay, still, not knowing is uncomfortable at best.I returned calls as soon as I knew anything, some even before.
This morning when I came into the office, I was greeted with questions, phone messages, and more information.First priority, the safety of our team in Haiti.Good news – Kristi had blogged that everyone was safe!
“For such a time as this,” from Rich Milliken’s message on Sunday echoed through my head.God knew what was to come, even before it happened.With an expectant tone, and almost prophetic feel, Sunday evening at 7:04 p.m. Kristi had blogged:
What God has planned for these next two weeks will far exceed any of our expectations and imaginations. God is so good! We can't wait. "For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10.
No one could have expected what God has prepared for Kristi, John, and Rhonda to do in Haiti over thedays to come.What I do know is that God is able to do exceedingly more than we ask or imagine.May God work through His people in this time, in this place, to spread the Good News of Jesus.Through the hands and voice of God’s people, may Haiti and the world know the heart of God.
Shortly before 5:00 today Haiti experienced an Earthquake south of Port au Prince. We did feel the first quake and aftershock St. Loius but did not experience any destruction here. We aresafe here. Reports are still coming from Port au Prince. Please be in prayer for the people near the capitol. We do not have word on the extent of the damage there. The mission will report updates on their website We are : www.nwhcm.org.
We will not be able to blog any further this evening as internet is limited. But continue to watch the mission websites for updates this evening.
