a few thoughts on Haiti

This will prove I'm a lazy writer!! This began with an incoming e-mail and my reply, copied to post on my Facebook page, and now copying/pasting here!   Just things I've wanted to say for a while, and have said privately, and wish I could explain better.    

This is text of a letter I wrote to friends who sent me a news article criticizing the US government's allocation and distribution of money to Haiti since the 12 Jan earthquake.   After writing, I thought maybe I should save it.   If you're interested, read and I'd appreciate comments :)

Good morning, xxx and xxxx :)Well, I read the article. I think the situation in Haiti is, and has been, so very complicated that few people are able to give an accurate picture of today's situation. Although I can't defend our congress, I can say that the American presence is strong and always appreciated.   What isn't reported in this article is the bottomless pit in Haiti...no effective governmental body to receive and disburse funds in an effective manner. 

Haiti exists because other countries have been feeding the people, medicating the people, clothing the people.  A recent comment by someone in Haitian government said that monies that HAVE BEEN received are being held because they have to have an emergency plan for hurricanes...well that's fine, but there is NO plan...just money that probably has gone into the pockets of Haitian officials.

It's hard for anybody to go into another's home and tell them how to live or how to organize themselves or how to prioritize their lives.  But everyone wants to help, so we just keep sending stuff...and the people keep on surviving, but not thriving. I have to defend my country's efforts, and the efforts of Canada, France, Taiwan, Cuba, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, China, Japan, Jordan, Sri Lanka and many more I can't name.   I'm praying for righteous men and women in Haiti to take on leadership.  Until that day, no effort will be successful.

About the recent storm.   Like so many in undeveloped areas, folks live where they can, and usually it's where those who know better don't.   Many, many thousands of Haitians are now living in temporary shelters designed to last 6 months to a year; they are receiving free food and medical care.  They will not leave unless forced to leave.  They have no idea of their own ability to live apart from total support by others.   This is poverty.   There will be more deaths.   But this isn't because of US government's failures in any respect.  The deaths have been happening, over and over and over in Haiti, in Darfur, in Uganda...sometimes they're happening right here in our blessed country.   Shame on us if we can help and don't, but more if we can educate and offer tough love and don't.
David said he'd never seen the righteous begging for bread.  I haven't either.   This is not to condemn anyone, but to remind myself and others that the answer is Christ and full gospel teaching.   Not just believe and go to heaven... but, believe and surrender and follow.
I'm preaching.  Sorry.  I get started and can't stop :)     Having said all this, I'm on my way back to Haiti to work in construction (finishing up some of what's lacking at school in Beaujoint).   Daily, I'm reminded that the work is NOT the school, or the blocks, or the latrines, or wells.  The work is making disciples, teaching others what God has taught me...  In this particular time, the lessons revolve around taking up your daily cross and working hand in hand with someone you wish would go away to give you all the money and attention and power.   In other words, I'm working toward a discipleship breakthrough asking men to work together for the glory of God, sacrificially, because I know that in this lies richness of soul and spirit.  In this there is deliverance from one level of poverty.   Hope I'm writing clearly ??
I want to write a book...  but the book has probably already been written many times over.    Now I have to cook spaghetti, go to the bank, work on editing calendar, and revise the budget for Beaujoint School.    I'm sure your day is full, too...   I want to talk to xxx about H4H in Haiti, too, but another day :)
Blessings on you both!!
Candy

I just spent an hour and a half blogging and posting photos, and just like that !! they're gone. So frustrating.

After three weeks sleeping in a tent, set up on rocks no less, I have found my bed nearly swallows me! I came to like my little house and the sounds of the night in Haiti, and I learned to conform rather than fight those little rocks. I was grateful for them during nights of rain when I considered the alternative of mud!

I can't say it was guilt, but a sure discomfort during those nights of rain. All around me were old people, babies, whole families scrunched together under rags or sheets of cardboard or tin, some under sheets or plaited palm fronds. I knew as certainly as I was dry, they were not. We can't change the discomforts of others very often, and yet I know I would, you would, if possible. It made me think of Jesus...He cares. Very often change is not possible in the overall plan of our Father, and yet I know if we care, how much more does He. Good to remember on those nights that these times are passing away and one day will be no more. But, what can I change? What does Jesus want to do through me?

My first response is always HOPE. One unchanging fact in my time abroad has been the truth of Hope Comes Walking. Jesus came in flesh; Jesus still comes in flesh...yours and mine! And He is our Living Hope. Led by Him, I believe Hope is the shape of my footprint.

You maybe oversaturated with photos from Haiti, the mountains of destruction, the mind boggling statistics of death, injury, homelessness. I finally stopped takng photos, the camera was so limiting. I have memories that will never fade. A few stand out to me: a 3 or 4 storey building had collapsed to a flat-surfaced table-like pile maybe 4 to 5 feet high. Toward the back there was a bit of building still erect, though not completely. A young man who must have been about 20 years of age was standing on top of the compactly layered cement rubble. In his hand he had a sledge hammer. One man and a hammer in almost machine-like rhythm, taking down this now useless pile of cement. And I saw more like him, standing atop their un-creations...rebar jutting out, cement crust clinging here and there...concrete lace to the eye. Made in the image of God...these men and women...alive and moving toward tomorrow.

Another image was of two houses, symbolic of so many others. At one time a lovely two-storey home sat side-by-side with a small one-story home that had a pretty entryway and porch decorated with beautiful flowers. Somehow in the space of 35 seconds, one storey disappeared.

And this is the closest I can come to understanding the terror of January 12: all the destruction, and it's massive, all the loss of life and the broken families, the roads ripped apart, the coastline changed forever -- this all happened in the span of 35 seconds. I am held speechless and my imagination toward understanding is frozen.

Some children told me of how they are afraid at night when they feel the tremors. Many people at the Wesleyan clinic suffered from stress-triggered ailments and insomnia. I had a grown man ask me why I wasn't afraid of the earthquake. A lady who came to learn a little English asked me how she could answer her neighbors in the street who said "I'm afraid". I sat in a restaurant last Saturday afternoon and found myself visibly disturbed by the sound of a large door slamming. That ol' earthquake has left a footprint, too, but we have the sure promise of a God, very present with us. I found myself just stomping all over those fear-filled tracks with the Truth. Fear can call out and we may hear it's haunting voice, may feel it's tremors, but it cannot control, need not control, one whose hope is in God.

...it's late

It's almost 10 PM and I need to get over to my tent. Early rise tomorrow and drive to Port-au-Prince.

Have some photos to post next time -- Ti Guinea, Marie Claude, and maybe PaP.

Goodnight and God bless!

...how?

Sometimes when your task is to observe and report, you can become really frustrated. You see the needs everywhere -- physical wipeouts all around you, spiritually malnourished Christians, nutritionally malnourished everyone, emotional stress and lack of sleep -- and all you want to do is make some impact somewhere.

Much of Ed Lockett's ministry follows the example of Christ as He let the children come to Him. We're so strong when we know we are loved. This needs to continue unhindered. And so those who come will allow him to go on doing what God has called him to do, and also putting a hand to the plow to lift up the downtrodden here.

If you're one of the many wanting to come but not knowing how or when or where to go, be patient. God has a role for everyone. To be honest, the hardest work is done on knees bent before the King, pleading for those who've lost their voice, or maybe don't know Who to call on. This is frontline ministry.

Being down here, not really a physically strong person, not being a nurse or doctor, most of my frustration is with the question "how" -- I see much of what needs to be done, but not certain of the next dot to connect. I'm a good coordinator, a connector, so am asking God to use me in this way. Then it will be "where".

I have an idea, actually two, as of yesterday. The first is to organize a group of Haitian men in the north -- from the area unaffected by the earthquake. They want to help, too, but have no way of knowing where to go--where to put their desires into action. I want to work with a few churches in the north to bring in some Haitian teams to assist with the very demanding physical work of erecting temporary shelters and cleaning up, and the reconstruction. This will take some financing on my part in terms of transportation and food. Not a whole lot, but pray with me that funds will be there for this!

My second idea is to speak with the 3 churches who currently support me, to see if jointly we can't adopt a community. I've visited one called "Ti Ginen" and today I'm going to return to take a few pictures and write up a request. I think this would please God, for us to work in concert. The immediate needs in this community are for temporary shelters and cleanup. Yesterday a pastor there (I saw 3 collapsed churches) said in one of the tent/tin cities there are 65 families. Some are living under old sheets of tin propped together and crammed together on vacant lots. It's not pretty. There's a huge area in Port-au-Prince called Cite Soleil-- a rather well-known slum. It would be unforgivable for us to let all of Haiti become a Cite Soleil.

So, now you know how I'm thinking... I still can't answer "how", but these are my first steps in the search. I would love any responses and ideas.

Be blessed "y'all" :)

...a surprise in the night

Yesterday was Sunday and like so many, we went to church service. We were meeting outside in L'Acul, with some tarps to provide shade since the building usually used has some damage. Following the service, there was a church member meeting where Manno (the pastor) distributed to each person a bag of rice and then, until they ran out, a plastic tarp to be used for temporary shelters. I've seen lots things given away in Haiti, and unfortunately, the usual response has been without much display of gratitude...not because they aren't grateful, but I think because they've just become so used to life depending on the gifts, there's a numbness that sets in. Yesterday, however, was different. So many of the folks stopped on their way toward the back to hug and kiss and say "thank you, thank you." One young man made a point of asking me to tell the people of the United States how much Haiti appreciates them. It was very humbling.

Our afternoon was rather eventless until a couple of men arrived from the Dominican Republic -- an engineer from the States, a doctor from the DR, and a young Dominican man who's arms had been whacked with a machete as his motorcycle was being stolen from him. Life isn't always pretty. Shortly after the first car arrived, another group of doctors and surgeons arrived (from Hearts of Fire). This latter group will be working in this area for about a week. Augustin (the young Dominican) was operated on today, and although he'll lose some dexterity, he will have his arms!

We learned today that the hospital in Petit Goave is not seismologically sound. In other words, the physicians must work with acknowledged risk, and the patients receive service with the same knowledge. I saw some very committed and devoted doctors this evening...to a man heading into harm's way tomorrow. Pray for good safety and a strong witness.

Something interesting: the patients and medical emergencies that are being treated are NOT earthquake related. The earthquake medical needs, for the most part, have ceased...that part of the crisis has ended. These emergency medical teams are seeing the "normal" Haitian medical needs. It's quite a surprise for many!

I was looking forward to star-gazing again last night, and I settled in quite comfortably. I awoke with the pitter patter of rain drops. It's a neat sound and I was quickly falling back into deep sleep, until I turned over. Oh yuk ... my sleeping bag was soaked with water on one corner and I found a puddle had formed near the tent flap. Well...the puddle continued to grow and my sleeping bag continued to soak it up. Squish squish until dawn and a welcome sunrise! Hopefully tonight will be different :)

There are thousands of folks sleeping under patchwork tents, sheets of cardboard, scrap tin, or under nothing at all. Many are staring at the flattened, distorted mound of cement and rebar or wood and straw that once was home. Many looking to see the face of a loved one who is no longer there. So many are going to bed tonight in foreign cities, without a leg that supported them a few weeks ago and wondering where they can ever find another place to call "home". And the most grievous thing: many are facing the night without hope, without any security, with no source of comfort -- these things cannot be bought. They're only found in our Living Hope, our Good Shepherd, the God of all Comfort. If you know Him tonight, ask that many more will enter into rest along with you.

Lots of love in my heart for all of you.

...tearing down vs building up

Last summer, while preparing to talk at a church in the States, I was struck by the reality that God is not always building up, not always planting. He also must tear down and pull up in order to right the wrongs, fix the broken, bring in a crop of righteousness.

Haiti is broken...the whole world knows that now. The hard core truth is Haiti was broken long ago, and maybe because all the efforts over so many years never seemed to "fix" it, the world in general just sort of forgot about Haiti. Everyone seems to have had an image of Haiti as the dark place that would always be dark so don't bother sending any more light bulbs.

While I've learned God has to uproot and tear down, I've also learned it's NEVER without a plan to build and to prosper His people. God has many people, many children in Haiti, so I don't doubt for a minute that He has a plan to prosper and bless, to give hope and a future to them.

I'm writing this because I don't want people to forget Haiti after this "crisis" is over. I want us to hang in there for the long haul, see it through beyond cleaning up the rubble. All the news coverage will end, and our adrenalin surge will end, but the need for planting and nurturing will still be there...long time. Haitians are people broken-down.

When driving from the bordertown of Ouanaminthe down to Petit Goave on Thursday, I was once again awed by the beauty of Haiti-- a broken beauty, but beauty nonetheless. And I saw a dogged perseverance of the people to survive, to make it through to see another day. If there's a quality I appreciate and admire in the Haitian people, this is it. I also found a sweetness and consideration in the least likely of places -- a latrine! On the road down I found this old run-down gas station that had no gasoliine anymore, but folks used the building to store things. I saw a soldier standing inside and asked him if there was any toilet nearby I could use. He started saying something that sounded to me like he was asking for money, and I said I didn't have any money to give him. He laughed and said, "No, I'm saying the latrine isn't nice enough for you." I quickly convinced him it would be FINE for me... he led me into a dark stone building and we went up some old worn stairs to a wooden door which he pried open with the butt of his rifle. This was maybe a 100-year-old pit... He walked aways away and I began to do what I needed to do to keep from falling in! As I was leaving, I tried to shut the old door and I heard a sound behind me. It scared me at first because I thought I was alone in this place. Then I saw the soldier...he'd gone to get a cup of water and a little bar of soap and he poured the water so I could wash my hands before leaving. Haitians are beautiful and gracious people.

Eleven or so hours down the road, after an amazing adventure in Port-au-Prince traffic, we arrived in Petit Goave. [the adventure was to have a ruptured water hose at sundown in a traffic jam in the middle of the city...directly in front of a UN headquarters compound manned by Sri Lankan soldiers who spent about 2 hours working together to fix my car and give us juice to drink while we waited...sending us on our way with prayers and many handshakes. Only God.] As we drove through Port-au-Prince before the breakdown, I was amazed at how much cleanup has taken place...the road was broken in places, but traffic able to pass. Every house and building had a pile of rubble in front of it, but it was not disorderly. The produce market was open and there was a lot of routine activity. However, while my car was broken down, the sun set and darkness enveloped the city. Here it was more evident that the people are living in a state of desperation. Everyone (including me) wants to sleep outside because standing structures are not safe, especially with continuing tremors. Problem is these people have no covering, no beds. It was an amazing sight to see the improvisation of the people. Haitians are resilliant people.

Ed and his "clan" waited up for us and then helped us ("us" is Jaklin Valmyre and me) set up 2 tents and get situated for a rather sleepless night! Then yesterday, as we were getting "warmed up" for the day, a group of 3 pastors arrived. Their churches were either totally collapsed or heavily damaged and not habitable/usable. It was such a blessing to be able to give them a plastic tarp... Not a long-lasting solution, but it will provide a shelter from rain and sun so they can meet and worship. We drove over to L'Acul (smaller town on coast near Petit Goave) to see Manno's church and visit some of the families there. They live right at the beach (it's SO BEAUTIFUL THERE) and during the earthquake, not only were houses collapsing and falling apart, but the earth opened up and then continued, like a knife cut, to open up for quite a distance. It was humbling to see how fragile our little planet is, how easily it can be injured. Manno has been helping families, one-by-one, to clear up rubble, and now with the plastic tarps, they're beginning to erect some structures(like the pastors with their churches). Temporary... And so now, we're looking down the road a bit to see how our teams of volunteers can help in reconstruction.

Jaklin Valmyre is from Milot, a town in northern Haiti where the Citadel and Sans Souci Palace are located. He came with me to help in any way possible and also for me to not be on the road alone. He's a wonderful brother in Christ who loves God with all his heart. Last week (I think it was last week!) I made a one-day trip into northern Haiti and together we visited Milot, where hundreds of earthquake victims have been taken for orthopoedic surgeries and amputations. While there I met the on-site director and we exchanged telephone numbers just in case we needed to communicate in the future. Well.... yesterday a young man who is translating in another clinic here in Petit Goave came to talk to Ed...it seems he was trying to find a boy who had been injured and the mother didn't know where he was. Long story short, they thought maybe he'd been sent to Milot because it looked like they'd have to amputate his leg. I was able to call the hospital in Milot and they knew exactly what boy I was talking about! AND, the surgeon who had operated already on this young Haitian boy (Jean) had made contact with Shriner's Hospital in Springfield, Mass. to see if they couldn't receive him for long-term care! But they needed a parent's consent. Praise God we were able to put the mother in touch with the hospital in Milot!! I pray it all works out for his care, but at least we know one mom who was scared she'd lost her son, sobbed with joy to hear he was being cared for and they would be reunited! Thank you, CRUDEM, for your work in Milot and for the wonderful way you have ministered to the Haitian people, not just in this crisis, but over many years.

Sometimes it's hard to know how to close out a blog.... don't want to say goodbye :) But, goodbye til tomorrow (I hope!).

SHALOM!!!

on the road, a LOT!

Whew.
Seems like each time I sit down to check messages and update blog, I'm being squished for time!! Probably the same for all of us.
Backing up a bit ~ on Wednesday, I drove across border (in north) and met up with Jaklin, a brother in Christ whom I've known for maybe 6 years now. I had just the one day to check things out because I'm still living out of boxes in Monte Cristi and there's no one to take care of things and my dog.
I found the border activity to be the usual chaotic jumble, with pushing and yelling, and a pervasive "me first" attitude... c'est la vie ici ! First stop in Ouanaminthe (bordertown), I was not able to visit, but was told the hospital was full with earthquake victims. Longterm need is for housing after discharge.
On to Milot, where CRUDEM (they have website) operates a very good hospital/clinic and has for many years. 70+ doctors were serving voluntarily...wonderfully organized and orderly. I was amazed! They've set up five operating rooms; Phillips has donated top-of-the-line monitors for the critical and for icu. The town has converted all the schools into hospital wards..each classroom holding 15-20 patients. Helicopters arrive daily with those in critical need of surgeries. Most victims here were in serious to critical condition. Big need now: nurses, as the immediate surgical crisis is waning. Shortage of nursing care. Also a need for physical therapists--so many amputees. Greatest looming need: housing after discharge from hospital. On Wed, Dr. Kelly (director), said he had 80-100 patients ready for discharge, but there's no place for them. They still need some care and rehab, but where to send them??? Please PRAY FOR THIS... it will take a large organization such as Red Cross, or UN, to meet this need.
I can only envision this is happening all over Haiti, and also in the Dominican Republic. Tent cities are going to be everywhere, but who will manage them? Who will administer and supply the food/water/sanitation needs? PRAY.
While in Haiti, I kept hearing a rhum rhum rhum sound in my car -- it got worse yesterday as I drove to San Francisco to take care of change in banking needs. Panic and a few tears passed with prayer, and I headed straight to my old mechanic's shop. Diagnosis: shot wheel bearings. He (Amado) was so kind...stopped everything to take care of my car! While he was doing this, another old friend, Willian, who drives a taxi, came and took me shopping where I was able to purchase 80+ tarps, heavy cord, and as many tents as possible (maybe a dozen)! Chased the sun to get back to Monte Cristi before dark -- sun won!
Today I'm headed to Dajabon to have brakes checked, finalize new banking, see if I can't get better phone access for Haiti, look for a generator for Ed, etc.
Tomorrow morning, I PRAY MY MOVE INTO NEW HOUSE WILL TAKE PLACE!!!! Then I'll have a few days to set up house and get ready for Simon, who's coming in on Monday morning. He will watch new place and care for my doggie while I head back to Haiti on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Next week: if all goes well (here they say, Si Dios Quiere; in Haiti they say, Si Dye Vle -- if God wants) I'll rendezvous with Jaklin in Haiti in the north, then drive to Petit Goave to work with Ed for a few days. I hope to be able to encourage him and get a better perspective on what MVI can do, and how to do it!
Am keyboarding as fast as my fingers allow ... hope all this makes sense.

Last news report I heard, the officials handling emergency in Port-au-Prince are asking 800,000 people to evacuate the city. This is more than just rebuilding a capital; we are speaking of the breaking down of everything in Haiti and the building up again. It will take more than the international effort we're seeing. It will take the absolute GRACE and MERCY of God. I do believe, this is His doing, and it is marvelous in His sight. Only God can see the amazing thing He is causing to take place through all of this.

Every one of us who knows God is being called, I believe, to place real FAITH in the goodness of God. He will not fail us.

Please pray for President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic. He's done and is doing a wonderful job, but he needs much understanding and cooperation and Godly counsel. Lift him up. May he have the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining IN him.

I have to close.
Don't want to, but must.
Will try to post again tomorrow.
Thank you so much for prayers, and good wishes, and loving support.
Blessings!!!

back to strength and soaring!

I forgot to explain my post title last time -- God had me focused on the promise in Isaiah for those who "wait on the Lord". Strength and soaring is our promise. Waiting, like patience (and how can we separate them?) is a fruit that matures s l o w l y... but we sense a need for it quickly, even NOW. It seemed like 10 days of "waiting" was enough for me to find a house... I wasn't really waiting "on the Lord", and He wanted to bring discernment and acceptance and real "waiting" to me. Thank You, Father. It's always, all, about YOU. This morning, God allowed me to see where He's planting me for the next season with Him. It will be in Dajabon, AT the border, not just near it. There will be another week of waiting...but it is sweet with knowledge it's on Him, for Him, I wait. I knew that. Hmmm.

I have no new news regarding Haiti. Am able to make e-mail contact now with a friend in Milot, but still no phone communication. I'm anxious to know how God will fit me into Missionary Ventures' plans for teams and assistance. More waiting involved, but it's okay :) There are many teams going in now from here in the DR.

My prayers for CALM in Haiti continue. I pray for hearts to be calmed, I pray for a calm assurance of the Living Hope who will not forsake or abandon, I pray for the earth to be calm. With the calm, I pray for many to see God, to have a revelation of the Spirit of God revealing the glory of Christ. I pray many will taste of the goodness of God right there in the midst of the rubble. A Haiti reborn, a people no longer living in darkness, but sending Light out over all the earth. May it be.

promise of strength and soaring!

Today is a "dia de fiesta" here in the Dominican Republic, Dia de La Altagracia. No real celebration that I've seen, but banks and big stores are closed until tomorrow.

Seeing I was nearly out of clean clothes, I was able to rig a clothesline across the carport and another across the little front porch and wash things at kitchen sink. Took some maneuvering, but am now waiting on God's sunshine and wind to finish the job!

Raisa invited me to lunch with her family. It was so nice to be with them. Their house is over 150 years old! Very, very Dominican--everything. We sat outside under their palm-covered terrace, surrounded by Birds of Paradise and all kinds of vines and tropical plants. Can't remember the name of the concoction we ate, but it was rice and tomato and shrimp all cooked together, with wedges of fresh avocado and icewater to drink. Then we had some yummy Dominican coffee and laughter over my attempts at speaking Spanish. So I could use the computer, Raisa gave me keys to her office and sent me on my way ... and so here I am, amazed at how God has provided this luxury! My dog has finally stopped crying and is waiting out in the car for his romp on the beach here. I'm just surrounded by comfort and promise of a house and new friends, and then I remember Haiti and long to be working there to alleviate their suffering.

Yesterday I passed a huge flatbed 18-wheeler being loaded with hundreds of boxes and sacks of rice. It headed out early this morning for the capital, and then on into Haiti. It will take a good 24 hours or more to get there, and I pray for the safety of the drivers and those responsible for distribution. Still unrest at the border crossing.

The Dominican navy is sending in boatloads of food and medicine to the port of Jacmel, and I just read that Venezuela has sent(or is sending) millions of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel which the Dominican Republic will then truck into Haiti. PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE TRUCK DRIVERS -- this is an extremely dangerous route, even in good times.

Pastor Alexis from Ouanaminthe (at northern border crossing where I usually enter Haiti) called this morning, and I was able to get an e-mail response from Guy, a brother living in Milot (where the Citadel is). As I thought, there's no damage to structures or people from the earthquake. They both said, however, that nearly everyone they know, including themselves, has family in Port-au-Prince or in southern part of country. A few have learned that families are safe but have lost homes, and several also have learned of deaths of family members. What struck me was their inability to understand the gravity of what's happened. They know it's a bad crisis, but you can tell from their comments, they are really clueless as to the severity. And, as I thought, gasoline and food have become scarce... But this is not unusual for northern Haiti, and so this contributes to their lack of understanding. So far they haven't felt the stabbing reality of what's happened.

As I asked in an earlier e-mail, or post, or blog ?? I pray for CALM CALM CALM, for the people, the workers, the earth itself. I ask Father God to put his loving hands on this earth and cause it to be calm.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring the return of my deposit on the first house, and a new contract and move into the second house...another day closer to getting into Haiti. I'm looking forward to fixing up my new home to welcome friends who want to come and work with me here! This has been a long-time desire of mine, and it seems to be happening !!

Thinking of all my family and friends as I close... God watching over you.

Wow, 2 days in a row...
Still no progress with a house, although it looks like there's a promise of one. Couldn't get in today because they never finished cleaning it inside. But, I'm thinking this is the one. Tomorrow, tomorrow ... it's only a day away. Hmmm.

News that I'm getting through my Dominican friends (no tv or radio for me yet), is that the count of dead is 200,000. I can't believe this, but yet at same time, I can. Meanwhile, I hear praise reports of the unity among Christians and their reaching out to help others. God is at work. He IS faithful. He IS merciful. His love endures forever. Again, His love endures forever.

I had a call from one of my Haitian brothers in Christ this morning...actually it was from his wife. She called to tell me that he is willing to come here to help me so that I can go into Haiti. This is God working in him. He'll be sacrificing work and income to do this, but he sees it as his way of helping (and I see it that way too!)

We had news yesterday that the border with the DR in the south was being shut down due to rioting on the part of the Haitians. This makes it really difficult for those injured and in NEED of coming across to do so. Pray for CALM CALM CALM And pray for the soldiers who must deal with angry, hurt, frustrated Haitians and remain calm themselves. They were having to fire shots over heads to get attention and response from the crowds yesterday. President Fernandez has extended the border closing.

I'm so anxious to hear from "my" folks from Bojwenn. We have a friend who comes every other weekend and he should be passing through Monte Cristi this Friday. I hope to "catch" him and then be able to send things back with him when he returns. I don't know if the little school in Bojwenn will be having classes or not. Officially, school is over in Haiti for the rest of the year.

Sun is setting here and I need to sign off for another night. If you read this, let me know :) I love hearing from folks!
Psalm 91 -- hunkered down, under the shadow of the Almighty!

from Monte Cristi ~

I'm sitting in a little apartment, borrowing i'net signal from a new friend, Raisa. It's lovely here. And I'm grateful for this place and provision.
On Tuesday, Haiti shook apart. I learned of this by being shaken a little bit myself and running outside thinking a big quake was coming (we had a 6.5 about 4 years ago). Rather, I was experiencing a tremor from the biggie over in Haiti. Maybe you didn't realize it, but I"m Haitian on the inside!
On Thursday, at daybreak, I moved all my belongings here to Monte Cristi, excited to be on a new adventure in a new town, much closer to Haiti! On arrival, I found a house not prepared for occupation--dirt, broken plumbing, etc. Until today, I've been out of communication with everyone except for a call I made to Jill in our office, begging for prayer! My things remain in boxes and I'm camping out, waiting for God's place for me to live. What has been so hard for me is to not hear any news from Haiti, no TV, i'net, nothing. And I'm not able to go in until I have my belongings secured and a safe place for my little friend, Happy.
Today, we seem to have a little bit of hope ~ Raisa has found a house that I can rent for the same price as the original one. It's very nice inside, but outside needs some work. It's big, bigger than I need, but God can fill it up, right?? :) We're returning tomorrow afternoon to look at it again and make a decision. If you read this, please pray with me for wisdom in renting or not. Tomorrow should be day of decision!
HAITI ~~ As I said, I cannot get in until things are squared away here. Then, hopefully early next week, Luciano will come from San Francisco de Macoris, to stay in my new house and care for Happy, while I go over to see how everyone is in Bojwenn and Tova and Gaudin, etc. Telephone calls cannot go in our out yet, and this may be the case for a long time.
What is a catastophre in the south will quickly, if not already, spread northward in terms of lack of food, water, and gasoline/diesel. Everything in Haiti was channeled through the capital which is now, as you know, a capital in name only. The government is non-functioning, the roads are impassable, the port is not 100%, etc. Everything is focused on rescue, as it should be.
Hunger won't wait, however. Please pray for leadership to be wise in thinking logistically and able to plan ahead, cooperatively. Please also pray for a spirit of hope to descend on Haiti, and a spirit of calm-- that help IS on the way.
God is at work. His thoughts and ways not our ways, but He makes us to understand, and He directs our steps as we delight in Him. Delighting in Him is not always easy ~~ I've struggled in the last few days, even though I 'know' all this in my mind. Emotions are strong and often overwhelm us.
I'm soundly convicted of my need to blog regularly. Thank you for reading, and praying and loving and serving, and especially now for giving to help the helpless.
Candy