Monday, March 1, 2010

Haiti

Well here I am again, I have been away frm blogspot for a while. My husband returned frm Haiti, Feb 19th, thanking God for a safe return.

Just trying to digest all the info he had to share. Not sure what to make of a lot of it.

I have been going to Haiti for many years and know how slow things move. Even simple jobs can take forever. I remember a few yrs ago, trying to purchase PVC pipe. We had dug a well and needed to put down the pump. Since my husband is a capable plumber, paying the pipe should have been relatively simple. Well, it took hours in the store and still had to come back next day to pick it up. So I have no expectations of a swift recovery frm the earthquake. However, there seems to b little to no help for the majority of the people. In a couple of weeks the rainy season starts, and it will b hurricane season in a few months. We need to pray for God's mercy, since there does not seem to b much help frm the governments.

The news tells us there is food and supplies being given out, must be in the downtown tent city by the capital. My husband was in several areas of Haiti during his visit. He saw only one distribution center set up. It was on the outskirts of PAP, past Carrefour. The line was over a mile long, people waiting for anything that would help them survive.

Leogane is virtually destroyed, the St Croix hospital is still standing, little else. No recovery teams, no food centers, Dr Without Borders have been there and gone.

From Leogane up into the mountains thru Darbonne to Laccolline destruction of most everything. No recovery teams, no food distribution, no aide workers, no medical teams.

Jacmel is at the end of the island on the coast. The devastation was not as bad, but many bldg are destroyed. However, there is some good news, the Canadian gov has set up a tent city. Good sturdy tents, orderly and a safe enviroment. At least as safe as u can expect. The Jacmel area is recieving help, from the Canadian gov. Giving credit where it is due, job well done.

No matter what Jesus Way Missions are able to do, it will be like trying to drain the ocean by dipping the water out with a spoon. I know it seems impossible, but I know God will provide and bring the Haitian people out of this destruction.

Jesus Way will have a ministry team going back into Haiti before the end of March. They will be doing a medical mission in Laccolline and purchasing more food for the children of Hope Orphanage. We will continue to dip water with a spoon, till the work is complete.

With God all things are possible.

I want to thank the hundreds of people who are supporting the missionary effort with prayers and donations.

God Bless

www.libertytab.org

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Waiting

Today God woke me up and started me on my way, for which I am thankful.

Tuesday in Haiti, Bro Chuck helped make abt 2400 sandwiches to pass out. Yes that is correct many people still are not receiving anything frm the earthquake relief effort. I can not help but wonder what is the problem. The US military can storm beaches and set up towns, move hundreds, even thousands of pieces of artillery and tanks halfway around the world in a matter of days. Yet many of the people of Haiti are stilling waiting 5 1/2 weeks later.

Believe me, I understand the obstacles and hinderances of trying to get things done in Haiti. Still I can not help my self from asking "What's the problem and how can it be fixed" The only answer that comes to mind is PRAYER.

Bro Chuck traveled to Jacmel yesterday, not as much damage there as PAP. On the way to Jacmel you pass through a town called Leogane. He reports that Leogane is demolished, very few bldg still standing. Happy to hear St Croix hospital was still intact.

I feel like I am rambling today, as I sat here anxiously WAITING for the news that Bro. Chuck is on an airplane headed home. Tommorrow flights are suppose to start flying.

Please pray for his strength, it has been a long hard journey. Both mentally and physically, but I know he would not have been able to sit here in the US WAITING to hear. He had to go see for himself, and do something to help.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength

www.libertytab.org

Monday, February 15, 2010

HAITI DAY OF PRAYER

This morning things are well with Bro. Chuck. He is feeling better and thanks everyone for their prayers. He and a group of Pastors have a meeting today with an engineer and builder, representing an American organization. They will be discussing ways to begin the process of rebuilding churches and houses. Thanking God in advance for the door to be opened to help us rebuild. We have at least one church to completely rebuild, the orphanage and other church to repair. God is a God of abundance. Not for our own comsumption, but to help others.

Revival has broken out in Haiti, many many souls are being saved. Bro. Chuck reports that a Voodoo priest from Fond Blonc area came to the church last week and gave his heart to the Lord. There are at least 15 people giving their heart to God at the daily prayer meetings.

I remarked to Bro Chuck that the news had reported the National Day of mourning on Friday, and it seemed like a lot of people were there praising the Lord. He replied, you mean the day of prayer and fasting. American news reporters referred to it one way, however the Haitian people called it a day of prayer and fasting. Not just one day, but it is reported that the whole city of PAP and surrounding areas have been on a 3 day fast. Even the President of Haiti. Instead of questioning God why have they lost so much. They r thanking God for sparing their lives and thanking him for what they have left. American christians could learn a thing or two frm the Haitians

Kind of reminds me of the story of Jonah in the bible. He warned the city of Ninevah that God was going to destroy them if they did not repent. Well the entire city went of a fast even the animals and God turned things around and spared the people and blessed them.

I wonder what it would take to turn America back to God. Not the nation, what would it take to turn God's people in America back to him. Where has the love of God and compassion for others.

Below is a link to a short video clip u might find interesting, this is the people worshipping God.

http://www.miamiherald.com/video/index.html?media_id=10414774

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Haiti Survival

Good Morning,

Around my house this morning the ground, trees and just abt everything is covered in snow. Very quiet and peaceful.

However, this morning Bro Chuck (still in Haiti) woke to the sounds of Haiti. Every morning it is the same. As soon as the sun even thinks abt coming up, somewhere around 4:00-5:00 am. Haiti begins to wake up, first it is the roosters that are roaming around, then you can hear the horns from the tap-tap (taxi) and soon u hear the voices and the sound of people hurriedly walking up and down the streets. Some are going to work, or to the market to try to sell just enough to buy food for one day. Now it is probably only one meal, considering that food prices have skyrocketed.

So many people ask me, with all the food and supplies that have been shipped to Haiti, why does anyone have to buy food. As I try to explain, many, many Haitian have not seen any help frm the relief effort, they look at me as though what I am saying can not be true. Before the earthquake, the Haitian people struggled and worked everyday just to survive. The struggle has now intensified for them.

When I talk abt the Haitian people, they may seem like an anonymous group somewhere far removed from your life. Let me put a face on it for you.

There is a beautiful young lady in Haiti, her name is Bebe. She is a beautiful person inside and out. When we are in Haiti it seems she is always at the mission house, I thought she lived there. She is there to help the missionaries in any way that she can, interpeting, carry bags and in the dental clinics. She is a devout christian and is involved in the church she attends. Well, today she is living in the streets, her family has lost everything. Is she bitter or disappointed in God? NO, when she has conversations with friends here in the states, she is grateful for her blessings. Blessings? Yes blessings, she talks abt how the church members are trying to stay together, and especially thankful for Food that Bro. Chuck bought for her family and the others.

Giving God Praise in the mist of all the disaster and devastation. People like Bebe can not look to the gov, or some World Charity Org to bring help. Their trust is in God only, that he will send someone directly to them to bring food.

Bro. Chuck has bought food to feed 200+ families, including Bebe's, but it will not last forever. More food will need to be bought, Bebe needs ur help.

www.libertytab.org/haiti

Friday, February 12, 2010

Loving God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind

This blog site is not intended to be a pulpit, but a information source for the earthquake relief effort. However this morning I feel this is important.

Mark 12:30 (King James Version)

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

As a pastor I hear christians in America talk abt how much they love God; proclaiming He is first in their lives.

Well this morning I want to tell u abt some people that live this verse. The little village of Laccolline, Haiti in the mountains near Leogone, almost all structures are on the ground. Just large piles of rumble, the houses in this area were small and most would not even qualify as a good garden shed in US. However it was where they loved their spouses, raised their children, laughed and cried together with their families. When the earthquake hit, they were left without anything, just a pile of rumble.

There is a church in Laccolline, which like everything else is gone. But the point of my rambling this morning. I waited anxiously yesterday for Bro Chuck to report in on the condition of church,pastor and members of the congregation. As I began to hear of the devastation and destruction, my heart began to be heavy. There have been NO aid workers, or food, or assistance of any kind. Then my heart leaped within me, when he began to tell me abt the makeshift church they had already built.

The members of this little church with no where to lay their own heads, had taken palm leaves, salvaged what tin the could from the rumble and built a place for them to come and worship God. That is truly putting God first. It also made me weep for American christians. We could learn abt loving God frm these people. They have nothing, but give what they have to God. Next time we say we love God, we need to think abt how much are we willing to put him first.

We must rebuild a proper bldg for these CHRISTIANS and I do not use that term lightly.

Apologize for the long post.

Pastor D

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Haiti Missions/ Jesus Way Ministries

I feel compeled to write this concerning Haiti. It has been almost a month since the devestating earthquake hit the small island of Haiti. The whole world for a few days stopped to listen and take notice of the poverty, destruction and chaos. Millions of people begin to donate and try to help in their own way. Some large and some small. I am very thankful for their heartfelt sympathy for the Haitian people.

However, many people have given their donation and went on with their lives, feeling good that everything is better. This is not a momentary thing that a few dollars can fix.

As someone that has been going to Haiti for many yrs, these people have struggled all their lives, even generations. They are a very resilent and strong people, but they need help. Not just today or tomorrow, but as long as it takes.

My husband is in Haiti, and as of today many of the people have not received food or relief from any of the organizations that are there. Therefore we as individuals must do what we can to help them. The large organizations are doing a great work, however many are falling in the cracks.

Pastor Deborah Blythe
Liberty Tabernacle