October 2007 Newsletter

As I sit typing this newsletter, Tropical Storm Noel is passing by. While we in Port-au-Prince are experiencing light but continuous showers, news from what's happening throughout the rest of the country has not yet filtered down. Haiti has been plagued with unusual rainfall for this time of the year and many people have already lost crops, livestock, homes and even their lives due to flooding and mudslides. One evening, just behind our apartment in Dessalines, a rockslide, due to heavy rain, crushed two homes and took the life of a child. We pray that this tropical storm will veer more north and move out quickly despite what weather forecasters are predicting.

The month of October marks our one-year anniversary of returning to Haiti after our evacuation. It just doesn't seem possible. While much has been accomplished during this time, there is still so much more to be done. We look to the Lord each day for His wisdom, strength and grace to keep persevering.

About three weeks ago, thieves broke into our house in Port-au-Prince while we were in Dessalines. They stole mostly electronics but also items such as soap, toothpaste, sheets, towels and even milk and bananas! Thankfully they didn't ramsack the house or kill the dogs or break in during the day when our maid was there. They were obviously on foot and were limited to what they could carry out. We suspect that the thieves are workers somewhere in the neighborhood that know when Gregg comes and goes.

Then last Tuesday morning, Gregg was going to Dessalines to pick up our friend who was leaving Haiti and an oncoming pick-up truck lost its back wheel and it came flying at Gregg. There were people on the side of the road and other on-coming vehicles, so Gregg had no choice than to let the tire hit him. It hit the car so hard that it damaged the steering and rendered the car inoperable. But Praise God, Gregg wasn't injured nor was anyone else. His angels were all around.

Each day presents new challenges and we depend daily on your prayers and the Lord's protection.

DESSALINES RURAL HEALTH PROGRAM

The DRHP is pleased to introduce to you its new medical director. Dr. Johny Fequiere is a general practitioner who worked several years at the LaProvidence Hospital in Gonaives. He comes with many talents but more importantly, he confesses to being a Christian. We look forward to working with him as we endeavor to provide holistic healthcare to the community of Dessalines.

After ten months of cleaning hospital files and organizing patient records, the project is finally finished thanks to our dear friend, Jane Wynn, who has spent 13 weeks since the first of the year just on this project. Thank you, Jane, for your commitment to this project and for your willingness to be used of the Lord in this way. You have left an indelible impression on many lives and we cannot thank you enough for the sacrifices you made to help make the hospital a better place.

During the month of October we celebrate the death of General Jean Jacques Dessalines. The celebration of this national holiday draws people from all over Haiti and is a big community event. Grandstands were built to seat dignitaries while decorations graced the streets. Everywhere you looked there were national police and UN soldiers standing guard and offering protection. Excitement filled the air while curious onlookers sat along the streets awaiting the arrival of the President. Unfortunately, at the last minute, the President could not make it so the Prime Minister came in his place. Jean Jacques Dessalines even made a surprise appearance!

Also during the month of October, we had a small evangelism, team come to make preparations for an evangelistic crusade that will be held in Dessalines the first week of December. While here, they had a "March for Jesus" where Christians took to the streets as a public testimony to their faith in Christ. Afterwards they assembled in the city square for a special service.

HAITI CHILD CARE

Haiti Child Care continues to depend on your contributions to the Haiti Food Fund to support the program's feeding ministry in our schools. Food prices continue to stay elevated and many of our schools cannot continue to feed the children every day. Please pray for this new school year and the many challenges we face as we faithfully care for "the least of these brothers." We love and appreciate the many people who sponsor children and give sacrificially on their behalf.

PARC CHRETIEN FMC

As many of you know, the Parc Chretien FMC has been under construction for several years now. The project is getting closer to being finished and is at the point where the windows need to be installed. When the window installer came out to measure the window openings, he accepted Christ as his Savior and has been faithfully attending church ever since.

A woman's group from the Parc Chretien Church went out on a evangelistic mission in the community of Coq Mole which is in the Lower Artibonite Valley about 3 hours from Port-au-Prince. Several people accepted Christ and three couples, who had been living together but weren't married, decided to get married. So, the three couples went together and planned the wedding and Pastor Desvariste married them in a joint ceremony. It was a joyous occasion for everyone!

Gail and I continue to thank the Lord for each of you and for the many words of encouragement that followed our last newsletter. Your financial committments towards our support and our ministry in Haiti can only be rewarded by the grace and goodness of our Sovereign Lord.

We heard a pastor say the other weekend, "You can't take it with you but you can sure send it ahead." The love you continue to demonstrate to us is "sending ahead" treasures in heaven for each of you. Your love is a love that not only helps us but is a love that seeks to help the needy around us. It is honoring to God and brings value to others.

I John 3:18-19, 22: "Let us love. . . in deed and in truth. And hereby we. . . shall assure our hearts before him. . . And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."