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!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, January 18, 2010
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
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
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