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Hi friends and family,

It’s so good to be able to contact you again. We have felt a little disconnected with the world this past week. We moved into the base team house on Monday, the 15th. An hour later a team of 6  mission team leaders arrived from the US.  The house was dirty and unorganized, so you can imagine how chaotic it was. They all pitched in famously , and along with the help of a sweet Haitian lady from the church, the house is taking shape. They experienced with us the heat and almost no electricity all week. To say the least we all bonded:) One night we had no electricity. If you’ve ever been camping, you know how dark it is . The team brought flashlights that wrapped around their  heads like coal miners. It was hilarious, but sooo hot. When the fans worked, we were all so thankful. It’s always interesting how these kinds of situations make you so deeply grateful for the small things we take for granted.

I guess some of you have heard that it was a miracle that we got this house. The owner was definite about not renting it without a signed agreement to buy it. In prayer, the Lord told John to be patient, and we prayed for the Lord to work in the man and affirmed to the Lord that we knew He would provide. The next day we came to speak with the man, but he was not home, so a group of us prayed outside the gate. Several hours later, the owner  called Pastor Guy  and said that he had changed his mind. He now would rent it to us with no strings attached. Praise God ! The Lord knew we needed that to remind us not to be thinking we could do any of this in our own strength.

The team from the US had their eyes opened this week, their faith renewed and their commitment  to help Haiti solidified.

On Tuesday,  they went out for the day in a rented van with a driver” to “see the sights”, and did they ever? They had an agenda to accomplish several stops, but basically all they did was drive around in traffic all day . They realized how difficult it is  to move around here, breathing in diesel fumes and pollution . One team member likened what she saw to the slums of Nairobi, made worse by the devastation caused by the earthquake. Wednesday , we went to an orphanage run by Sister Inez Joseph, a wonderful woman of God who is a close friend of Pastor Guy Tomas and the Foursquare Church of Haiti. It was very heart wrenching to see the conditions the children and care givers live in. Several of us broke down and wept. Their septic tank has not been emptied in 2 years. We were given $500 by a sweet couple at The Rock in Anaheim and asked to use it for someone in Haiti. When we asked Pastor Inez how much it would cost to have the septic emptied, she said $500. We will give her the money tomorrow when we see her.  Praise God for His provision and for speaking to His people. Thursday was filled with other activities, praying with Pastor Guy and Pastor Inez and some government officials.  It was so good to see Haitian officials calling on the Lord and worshiping together. Our Team Leaders were very blessed by what God arranged for them while they were here.  They will now go home and give their churches and districts a report of what they’ve seen and heard and mobilize teams into action.

We are working to make this home a working, functioning and Spirit led Base Camp. Everyday a little more is accomplished to that end.

The greatest part of all this is working with God’s family in Haiti. Pastor Guy is the national leader and pastor of the church here in Port au Prince. The national church building sustained significant damage. It is unsafe to meet in, so we meet outside under tarps. Last Sunday, we sat on cement blocks , not even under the tarps, because there wasn’t enough room. This man is a joy to work with. He never complains, he is always faith filled , he has much God- given influence  and he is strongly anointed. We feel so honored to be serving with someone like this.

Please pray for:

1. Pastor Guy and his family: strength, peace wisdom and endurance

2. Health for John and me, especially for our lungs and digestive health

3. A vehicle for the base camp . This will enable us to drive with windows up, pick up teams at airport, haul supplies and to meet  the  needs of delivering food supplies to the church for distribution. Right now, the church distributes food to 700-800 people a week with Foursquare Relief money given by the loving people of the US churches.

4. Chad Isenhart , a great young man  on our base camp team. Healing from headaches. He has worked so hard this past week, and we’re asking and believing God to use Him greatly .

5. The family of God in Haiti need so much. Homes, food, schools to begin again, and endurance to run the race that they are in.

6. The nation of Haiti: that God will turn despair into hope. Pour out Your Spirit on Haiti, Lord.

“and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross”.  Heb 12:1-2

Love and Blessings to you all,

Pastor John and Debbie

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