Life on the ground in Haiti has not changed much in the past couple weeks. LHM has gotten occasional food and supplies through various sources, but no more large shipments from the military have arrived. Some of the more recent developments are:
1. Checks can now be cashed, which allows LHM to purchase some supplies and pay the staff 2. LHM has just finished 5 days of prayer for Haiti, with specific prayers for God to realign the earth under Haiti so the tremors will cease 3. The tremors have finally been decreasing in frequency and severity this week (per a discussion I just had with Mary Jane today) 4. Everyone is still living outside -- they have been advised not to go into buildings yet 5. We have shipped some supplies in from the US and are waiting to see how well that process works 6. Pastor Bob Carpenter is now scheduled to arrive in Haiti on Tuesday for a reconnaisance mission. Pleas pray for safety and success for this mission -- it has been delayed twice so far. 7. It is still unclear when school will resume. The government first said schools should open March 1, then said schools cannot open until they have been inspected. In any case, Andris does not believe they will be ready by March first since building repairs are necessary -- and the repairs cannot begin until the earth is stable.
Paul's instructions to the Colossians are applicable to us today, both in the US and Haiti. "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too,that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.." Through this earthquake and the aftermath, God has opened a door for His gospel to be spead further in Haiti and elsewhere.
Thank you all for your prayers and support over the past few weeks. The February newsletter recaps the recent events in Haiti and provides a current status of LHM. http://livinghopehaiti.org/doc/2010-02.pdf
I would just like to say Thank you to all who are praying for LHM. They need it. All the people of Haiti also need it. Please keep not only LHM in prayer, but Haiti also. Their was a news report that food was getting in, but UN officials were making people pay if they wanted to get it out to the Haitians. We need to pray that this will change---soon. We need to remember that all of this is in the Lord's hands. He will take care of us.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee. Psalm 55:22a ~Sveta~
LHM would like to thank everyone for your continued prayers and support. Food and supplies are still an issue for LHM and the village. Since the large food delivery 9 days ago and a small delivery last Saturday, there have been no further deliveries of aid. Andris and Mary Jane were able to go into Port-au-Prince yesterday and speak with the US Army. They were promised a delivery of food and medical supplies within 2 days for the whole village. We also have a commitment from Food for the Poor to deliver food for 500 families. Please pray with us that these aid deliveries will arrive soon.
Our reconnaisance team led by Pastor Bob Carpenter was scheduled to leave yesterday, but their flights have been delayed until Feb. 9. They will be carrying in tents and some very specific medical supplies that are urgently needed.
We would like to extend a special thanks to all our supporters who have been so faithful in prayers and so generous with financial support. Through you, God has raised over $50,000 for earthquake relief and there are many fundraisers still underway. When Pastor Bob returns from Haiti, we will put together a detailed plan on how to address the needs over the coming months. We know that we must repair buildings on the LHM campus and we expect to have a special focus on housing for the members of the Zion Church Haiti congregation and LHM staff who have lost their homes.
We are thankful for many of you who are involved in collecting items to send to Haiti. We will be providing guidance soon on how those goods will be transported to Haiti throughout 2010. The food,clothing, hygiene kits, medical supplies and other items will meet critical needs as the aid from governments and international aid agencies inevitably begins to decrease.
Thank you all for continuing to answer God's call us to help our brothers and sisters in need. "If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you." Lev. 25:35
p.s. Please pray also for the American missionaries who are being tried in Haiti on child abduction charges
God is using LHM to minister to the surrounding area. Since LHM has gotten food aid, they have distributed food to 1600 families. The distribution has been very orderly. They received more food Saturday from a Christian aid group based in the Dominican Republic and have heard that they may get another large distribution from the military today (Monday). In the midst of this crisis, LHM has continued to hold church services and Bible studies - all outdoors. School has not resumed since they are still not able to go into the buildings.
Pastor Bob Carpenter is taking a small reconnaisance team to Haiti later this week. They will take in much needed medical supplies and tents and will help us to make plans for the next several months regarding mission teams and shipment of goods. Please pray that their travel will go smoothly and safely.
Let us all put our hope in the Lord: "...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
This morning, 5 trucks arrived at LHM and unloaded 510 boxes of food. The convoy included the US Navy, the Sri Lankan Army and the Mexican Army. The food came in packets with rice, soy powder and spices – a ready to cook meal. They determined that there are actually 7,000 families that will be serviced from the LHM distribution point. The delivery this morning is not enough to feed that many, so LHM is making arrangements to purchase more large bags of rice so that everyone in the village will have food. They have developed a distribution system, letting a limited number of people into the campus at a time to get food. Continuing prayer requests are: 1. Tents - there are still no tents available 2. Water - the delivery this morning did not include water. LHM is trying to distribute as much as they are safely able to from the well on campus 3. Ongoing food deliveries – today’s food won’t last very long so please pray that LHM will now be considered an official distribution point and receive supplies every couple days. 4. Aftershocks – they had a large tremor this morning. After two weeks they are still not able to go into the buildings Thanks be to God whose timing is always perfect. Ps. 75:1 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near, men tell of your wonderful deeds.
The Navy did reach LHM yesterday, but they did not deliver any food. When I talked to Mary Jane, everything was arranged and they had just phoned her to say they were 30 minutes away. Unfortunately, they only sent 2 jeeps for reconnaiance first, then decided the road up to LHM was not suitable for their supply vehicles. And they do not want to unload and distribute from the main road. In addition, there is a concern that a helicopter landing might be risky because the some of the walls with cracks might collapse. This leaves us back where we have been - trying to work both ends - from the US and Haiti - to get emergency supplies delivered. My apologies for the overoptimistic message sent out yesterday.
In the end, regardless of which individuals and organizations we work through, it will be God who moves through people and situations to provide for His people: Ps. 9:18 "But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish."
I just spoke to Mary Jane and found out that the Navy is arriving now with food and supplies for 5,000 people. LHM will become a distribution point for the village. The Navy has asked Andris and Mary Jane to help with other mission contacts in the area to distribute supplies to more areas in need.
Thanks to the many people who have contacted government agencies, the US military and aid organizations on behalf of LHM. There will still be a great need for food, water and supplies over the weeks and months, so all aid deliveries that are eventually made will be welcomed and well used.
On a sad note, the one student who lost his life in the earthquake was a 4 year old pre-school student. He was not a sponsored student. I know that all of you who sponsor a student have been concerned about the child you sponsor. The rest of the students are ok, although most have lost their homes.
Waiting for God's timing is sometimes difficult, but we have a God who works on our behalf. Isaiah 64:4 "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him."
We had another update this evening from Haiti.This was our longest call so far - so I am posting an update even though one was sent out just this morning. We know that many of you are praying for LHM and eagerly awaiting updates. For those who are concerned about the students they sponsor or Haitian friends met during mission trips, we still do not have details on specific individuals.Here is some additional information. 1.Pastor Andris’ sister by the airport is ok, but lost her home – so all of Andris’ family survived – Praise God! 2.They do have food on the campus for now, but food is very limited in the village 3.They have been fixing meals for about 30 people per day on the campus (cooking outside) 4.They found out that yesterday there were 3-4 food drops in another village near them 5.The most urgent need in the area is water – the community well is damaged and will need repair (this is the well installed by LHM) 6.16 families from the church have lost their homes and all their possessions 7.Tents are still urgently needed. They built a wooden structure yesterday to sleep under and protect from rain.It has also been cold at night. 8.The banks are beginning to open. We continue to investigate ways to get food and supplies directly to LHM and we have some promising options – please pray that at least one of these channels will be able to deliver to LHM in the next 24 hours. In addition, we hope to use some of these channels to continue to deliver items to LHM over time. In the midst of this crisis, it is wonderful to see God’s people come together in prayer and in community to help those in need. As we step forward in support of our brothers and sisters in Haiti, remember the words of Jesus who said “...I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”Matthew 25: 40
As you may have seen by now, Haiti experienced a 6.1 earthquake early this morning with the epicenter about 20 miles west of LHM. Shortly after that, Mary Jane Jolibois was able to get through to her mother, although it was a very short call. We learned that: - The wall around the campus is intact - it has 2 cracks that need repair but overall this is very good news. It means they have protection. - Both the church and school buildings have sustained some damage - They are still staying outside - about 20 people permanently staying on the campus since the initial quake - They are trying to find a tent due to the rain Psalm 20:1-2 "May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion."
Mark Breading (vice-president) visit www.livinghopehaiti.org to learn more about Living Hope Ministries in Haiti
Mary Jane and Andris - The directors at Living Hope Ministries
Living Hope Ministries in Haiti is a Christian mission organization near Carrefour, Haiti that operates a primary school, trade school, entrepreneurship program, and a church. living Hope (LHM) is about 2 miles from the epicenter of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Hiti January 12th, 2010. God has providentially proctected LHM in the midst of the devastation so the mission will have a large roll in the coming months in sharing God's word in love and action.
There are 3 primary ways you can help the people of Haiti - prayer, financial contributions, and donation of material goods. One Hundred percent of the contributions will go to Haiti. The money contributed will provide jobs and income to local Haitian Staff (40 people) and Haitian construction workerswho will be hired for repare and constructions of buildings on the LHM campus.
To make a donation send a check payable to: Christ community Church-- earmarked for Haiti Relief.
Send checks to: Christ Community Church 1382 Halon Young Rd. Liberty, KY 42539
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