Today’s mail had letters from Alice and Kathy. Usually we got one weekly but they are so busy now that a letter comes every couple of weeks. If you would be there and see how many times they have to go to the door and then provide for a need, you would understand there is little time to sit down and compose letters. They are SO appreciative of all you have done to help the needy of Haiti.Because of people here helping them, they can put food, clothing , and other necessities of life into the hands of Haitian who will take it near and far throughout Haiti. When they go, they will also carry the good news of Christ to hurting people who are ready to reject their former beliefs and turn to Christ. By former beliefs, I mean the mixture of voodoo, Satan worship and other religion that most Haitians believed in before the quake. They had their unique worship but when they see how the Christians are helping them they want what they see. Not everyone who receives a food bag will become a Christian, but many are ready to hear why people would send them food. It is an open door for the Haitian church to reach out.People are receiving the gospels we took down. So, when Paul and I return in a few weeks, we would like to take the Pauline epistles. Of course none are printed up yet, so there is a big job ahead of us here before we even go down there.Kathy wrote that the Helping Hungry Hatians has developed a branch ministry She called it a suitcase ministry. Recent teams brought things into Haiti inside suitcases. The peoiple who have lost everything they own, now would like someplace to put the few things they have had given to them. Thus, the humble old fashioned hard siided suitcase is an item to beg for. They girls take the suitcases, fill them with food in the bottom and whatever they have on top, making certain there is no void anywhere. These are taken throughout the country far and wide by whomever comes to the compound and is going to another place. A person carrying a suitcase can get into places without any problems, where a truck loaded with food supplies will be looted.Thus, Helping Hungry haitians is very effectly distributing food to the needy. Over 2,000 dry food sacks have also been delivered in a similar underground way and no one knows where it comes from keeping the complex and its people safe.So tomorrow, as you enjoy the Easter holiday, and the feast we will have think of those who have nothing. Then do as GOD directs you. We have so much . I can’t take my ham dinner to Haiti, but there are things I can do. If you have any questions feel free to call me. I will show slides of Carolyn and my trip there on Sunday evening April 11 at Calvary Baptist Church.Have a wonderful time with your family this weekend. Sue
Letters
Apr 7
UPDATE
Mar 27
As I considered reporting to all of you about what I saw in Haiti I don’t know where to begin. Some of you have been there and others have not. There are changes in the north although nost of the devistation was centered all over the south. Our news focused on Port au Prince but other towns, cities and villages are almost totally destroyer also. Pastor Cebien now has 27 church buildings, some with school attached that he knows have major damages or are down. These he says are not the ones he constructed but buildings he purchased . Some were previously damaged with the 4 hurricanes that hit Haiti within a month and the roof is gone. There is one church in Port that still has three walls standing. It is Pastor Manicus’ church. I met his wife and children They are now living in the room beside Alice and Kathy’s house that perviously was a team room and also used to store and sort things received for distribution. The wife and three teen children were in the kitchen of their house in various places when the cement roof collapsed trapping them. She had her arm trapped when rescuers arrived, They wanted to amputate it to release her but she refused and prayed. They did get her out and she has the use of her arm. Her hand was very painful and contracted when I eveluated her. She has some nerve trauma. I started her on some pain mad from the drugstore and then on stretching. I was able to progress her to some exercises before I left and would like for Paul to see her when we return in a few weeks. They also have take in some teens from their church Pastor speaks at churches in the north while he is there and returns to his flock in Port. They need him and are living in the churchyard where they have tarps up. forming a sort of tent. They live in the shelter of the tent, I think I heard about 80 people. Then, they hold regular services in the same ‘building’.Pastor commutes back and forth to the EBAC compound taking supplies and food in quanities he can carry and not look conspicuous. There is a danger to people who bring food into Port. Bands of robbers steal the food they make money selling it. Or hungry people are desperate and will take it.That is why the already existing system of getting food sacks about the size of a kitchen garbage bag is working. This is the dry food disrtibution carried out by what is now referref to as ther 5 H ’s. It is Helping Hungry Hatiens which Alice and Kathy have set up and Hearts for the Hungry another feeding program. I have photos of the inside of a dark warehouse where there bags are secretly being filled.during the daytime. After dark vehicles will go out in different directions to reliable people. They will then get the foods into the hands of others. It will then be given to needyu families who are helping others.Haitians are very family oriented They also are extremely generous and will sacrificially give what they have praying for GOD to provide the next meal.There have been hundreds of thousands of refugees come to the homes of Christians in the north. Pastors are expected to help meet the needs of their church members yet they themselves have nothing left and are also homeless.It is only through you and other generous people that EBAC will be able to continue to help.Food is available in the country. They can get rice and beans, the main food of Haitians. So, cash is a good way to help now. We also will take particular items we know they can use when we return. I will be buying the bullion cubes I found at Ollies A pot of rice and beans takes about 12 oif those. From the photo you can see the size of one of those. The photo was taken of the ladies preparing food to be taken to the hospital at Milot. This is done twice a week but involves 4 days of work for the women. They shop and prepare the marinade for the food the day before and then get up to begin the cooking over hot charcoal fires by3 in the morning so they can take the food an hour and a half drive by tap tap to the hospital They also go alsong and visit the pts one on one and try to meet their needs spiritually as well as physically. This hospital was a 73 bed private general hospital but had about 440 beds mostly filled with quake victims. There are many orthopedic injuries and amputations of all kinds and age people. The children were the hardest for me to see but most of them were laughing and playing . Some who had lost family were depreddes and I wish I could speak to them in Creole. So when I came back from my first visit there and at the Rehab hospital for spinal cord injuries, I asked some of the EBAC young people who miraculously escaped from the quake if they could visit. Those who could then went each time the meals were taken in. Pray for them as they speak to hurting people. May they see the need for ministry and do it until their own lives get back together and they can return to Universities and other schools they were attending.I plan to write about the EBAC miracles for although each and every one of the people in Port could have been killed or seriously injured, GOD helped each to escape the destrucion all around them. It is a book in the making and shows how GOD protected His own.I know this is long but wanted you all to know what happened to your contributions and prayers. We took in nearly a ton of relief aid, distributing it to people and hospitals. Carolyn and I have another shipment to get in when Paul and I go back to Hait in April. Paul will be teaching a Rehab seminar, and one day will be open to family members caring for victims at home.We purchased supplies for the patients families at the hospitals so they could wash their clothes. No one does that in a Haitian hospital. We also gave money and supplies for the hospital food program which continues on a month to month committment as funds are available.We bought much needed clothing for patients and took the personal care items to them.These were also sent in the suitcases going into Port with peanut butter and oatmeal. The most important thing we distributed was gospels of John in Creole and John and Romans in French as well as tracts. People are looking for comfort and we know where it is to be found.There were over 1550 of these distributed while we were there.I also sent out the rest of the discipleship books in the hands of my disciples to teach Christians.Thank you all for all you did to be a part of this last trip. Continue praying and Alice and Kathy keep answering their door and hand out whatever supplies and money they get to the needy seeking help. Also pray for us as we prepare to return in a matter of weeks.
May GOD richly bless you,
Sue
I just got a letter from the girls. It has answers to many of our questions. So here goes. They can get ice and water. It is rainy season in Cap now . There was a school in the area colollapse There was a mudslide.Gas is getting back to normal in price but they are conserving They need it for running the generator for water and there could be a shortage at any time when there is a crisis.Their buildings all seem to be structurally intact.The EBAC churches are damaged or destroyed. The pastors and their families for the most part are okayPastor Cebien returned but is gone again into the Dominican Republic. ( He was supposed to reture by now but ???)They need mens and boys clothing especially pants and underwareTheir yard has at least 25 extra people but lots of people are in nearby housing and are the girls responsibility.They provide cooked meals for about 110 in the yare and are sending dry food out by other means to the EBAC families feeding other refugees.There are 400 plates of cooked food going to the hospital for the patients.The clinic is open It is very busy They need help there.Alice says she needs help in her class at school. I will help her after I get Carolyn situated doing the medical stufrf.They baked cake for all the people on the compound for Valentine’s Day They had some chocolate and were able to give everyone some. In Haiti Chocolate means I love you. They wanted the kids and people who have been working so hard and living sacrificially to know that they were loved and appreciated.As of the mailing of this letter threy are still having to pay customs. PRAY WE GET EVERYTHING IN WITHOUT DUTY NEXT TUESDAYShipping will be in the thousands of dollars and we do not need to pay duty on top of that We could use the money to buy foodinstead.Betina came to visit. She seems very changed. She now lives in Port and talked about the Lord. She took John and Romans back to the people where she is along with food and clothing, etc.Pray for Daniel their orphan who is a policeman and all around handy man. He is working to get their solar power up and going and a light for the study pavillion.Remy and a few men went back to Port to see what they could do to help out there. Buildings are still fallin and the aftershocks continue. It is interesting that the major damage was in the seat of government and the government buildings. People sleep in makeshift shelters, tents and some are in the open.If you want to know what I sent as the last attachment, go to the Missionary Flights International site. On the left click on Missionary spotlight. Go down the list to Don and Karen Davis. At the end of their page is their blogspot and the most recent info is first They live across the street from the girls and get out and about as they help missionaries and house teams coming in. It is interesting to read how GOD is working in the midst of all the destruction.Well gotta go and assemble a couple hundred gospels of John. and make another list of things to doThanks for your concern Sue.
UPDATE
Feb 18
It’s been a while since we’ve had news from Haiti. They are soooo very busy doing all the things that need to be done now . Our missionaries were busy before but now they have additional responsibilities and communication from the north is still a problem.It is encouraging to read of what has happened down there. Mind you I can just tell you about Cap area and the north today but hope to have an update on Port later in the week. For now, I can tell you the people in Port are having church services in the open air and under tarps. ‘Houses’ are shelter under sheets. They keep the sun out but aren’t very good in the rains. Port has received some rain but Cap is getting much more.Mardi Gras was cancelled. Instead of the typical revilty and voodoo, there was a march from the airport in Cap to the Vautien freedom monument. Aprox 3000 Christians were singing and praising GOD, celebrating freedom from Satan’s rule. The Americans saw no Mardi Gras attire, no signs of voodoo, and none of the routine celebration in the Cap Hatien area.They know there will be hard times as Haiti recovers if she ever can. There has been and always is in catastropic events like tyhis, some looting. Thievery is common in Haiti on any day. The people are needy and hungry and steal to survive.There is a rumor that President Preval has accepted the Lord as his Savior. We don’t know if it is true or not but if not pray it happens. If so, pray that he changes radically and the people see it and want what he has.It is encouraging to learn that even when Satan does these awful things in his domain, we can see GOD using it for good. Keep praying for Haiti. Pray our missionaries and their support systems have deeper sleep and much needed rest, encouragment in the midst of sorrow for they too have lost many friends . Pray living ‘missing’ people are reunited with their families and the unaccounted for are laid to rest. Pray for provision for the displaced refugees. Pray for the volunteers going into the country.Pray for Carolyn and I as we make final preparations to leave in a little over a week. If any of you have things ready for us to take in, we need everything Today if possible! There’s lots of packing to do. Thank you all for whatever you have done to help Haiti Sue
UPDATE
Feb 16
Our people in Haiti seem to be too busy to spend much time writing. They continue getting food and other supplies that come in boxes to the people who are housing refugees.MFI pilots and staff are still doing flights 6 days a week.They ferry supplies into the country and take relief teams in and out. They alos have some pilots with smaller planes and have partnered with MAF in Port to check on remote areas that are cut off. They have taken much needed food and water treatment packs to them. Continue to pray for the pilots and others who are working so hard that they get the rest they need and the planes remain in good shape.Also, this is the time that Haiti seems to be given to evil as they normally would have at least two weeks of partying for Mardi Gras. This yrear, some brave pastors went to the president and asked instead of the ‘official’ three days off for Mardi Gras, that the country have three days of prayer and fasting. He said No. He made it 5 days! The churches are full. They are trying to add seating in the Cap area for the crowds. This time of carousing and mischief has been made a time to honor GOD.Keep praying as Carolyn and I prepare to go down. We are packing and will not know how much weight we can take in with us. We asked for 1000 lb extra but some of that will come later. We also need to contact someone who will be bringing a container for extra things we get that weigh a lot. Mar 2 is coming quickly and we have much to do to get ready. If you plan on sending anything, get it to me this week. It needs to be packed. Sue
UPDATE:Snail Mail
Feb 9
It looks like Haiti news must come snail mail now. Alice always tries to send a family letter and this info is from that letter.They are thankful for so many things as they hear the extent of the quake throughout Haiti. It seems that no one remains untouched. If they weren’t in the quake they have family and friends who were. As of the writing of her letter, she tells of places further south than Port where almost everyone is homeless. People lay out in the open to sleep at night. The gardens have been destroyed all over the country. The north still has some. There are still areas where no food or other supplies have reached the people yet.Officially 150,000 people are recorded as haveing come to Cap Hatien. More are not listed officially. Alice says ‘Church was packed Sunday.’ In Jr Church they had over 150 kids from 9-12 They really sang well, but it was hard to keep the kids attention for that long.” A few days ago, some of the kids came to our house very early in the morning to tell us someone had stolen all their plates! What a way to start the day. Alice said Then she went on to say ” Later that day our commode broke, we ran out of water, and the solor power wasn’t working so we had no lights, or current to use the computer.What a day! We had company too who wanted to use our bathroom. They still used it but they learned things don’t work the same way as they do in the States.Pray about the boxes for Christmas that customs wants so much money for . They were sent prior to the quake. Pastor Cebien is back and may be able to help then with this.For they would like to use the money for more important needs.A box came from Pastor Micah In it was the Dawn dishliquid they were praying for. It seems Dawn is the best for washing their dishes in cold water. He also sent some peanutbutter so the orphans were thrilled.For those of you who have e mailed them you have been an encouragment when they do get the letters. Thanks to the folks at Dunbar Baptist Church who have put $2000 in their account. The banks are now functioning and they can cash checks. For a while they operated on a cash only basis in all of Haiti. Thanks to Leonard and all of you from CBC that they had the cash in hand the day of the quake.They also think they have all the rats who took posession of the house while they were gone. The one who chased Alice into the living room to sleep is now history so she is back in her room again. With all that has gone on that may seem trivial but I know I would find it hard to sleep even if I were exhausted with rats playing in the room.Carolyn and I are letting the Lord plan our trip down in less than two weeks now. So many decisions are not made yet we know they all will fit together perfectly so we just stand aside and watch as the details are all worked out.Keep praying Sue
Letter: From Alice
Feb 2
Hi Nancy,We have email again today and have been trying to get mail out to people, so I wanted to write you a note to say we’re fine and busy trying to get things done right here. We had email last night for a few hours. That was the first time since we came back that we had it that long. We ran the generator At 9:30 we got an email from Guerda, saying her dad, Pastor Cebien, was coming back to Haiti TODAY. The plane is to come around 2:30 this afternoon. We didn’t tell the people in the yard. He always has so many wanting him right away, that we thought we’d just let him get here and then the people could know! There are two Americans also coming so we straightened up the apartment for them. Kathy is making Banana nut bread right now so the house will smell good.We got the RAT finally. We put poison out where Buddy couldn’t get it and the next day Kathy saw it in the bathroom. Five of our guys all crowded into the bathroom and finally killed it. Hopefully there is only one. Read the rest of this entry »
Two things to reportAlice sent word that any boxes from now on going to EBAC should have Humanitarian Aid written on them This should eleminate them having to pay duty for now which is a terrible expense for them The UN is involved in this decision.So, from now on, if you send a box remember to send MFI $1.50 per pound to ship it from FL and write Humanitarian aid on it. ThanksKaren Davis had MFI airport duty yesterday which makes for a busy day. They were called to go to inspect container #2 That really made for confusion but is the last step before it can be released. So, your prayers have been answered. They got some of the bigger boxes off that container yesterday and took them home,Then after dark a truck that was supposed to arrive today brought the first contaner. So sorting and unloading and preparation to get the contents out was done. They should receive the second trailer container today. MFI also brought in emergency food supplies on their flight. GOD supplies the need just when it gets to that point. That one container was in Haiti BEFORE Christmas!!!! Saved for now when the people can’t get anything. Pray they all see how marvelous God is and come to know Christ as Savior and Lord. Pray for GOD’s joy and encouragement for the people working in Haiti. MFI has flown in over 60 planes taking in things and bringing out people and orphans. That has to be very taxing on them physically. Keep praying for all the physical and financial expenses they and all the missionaries have at this time. Haitian national Christians are joining them all in standing in the gap. When I see the chaos outsiders have made in Port and I hear how well things are proceeding in Cap, I see how GOD is working and thank Him. As long as things proceed as they are our ‘family’ is safe. Pray it continues to be so.
UPDATE: What we’ve heard
Jan 27
Donate Online!
Jan 20
We have finally got our online giving setup and ready to go. You can donate to Alice & Cathy by clicking the link to the Right. Once you create a login then you can select “Haiti Relief” from the Designations drop down box next to the dollar amount. Thank you for you kindness, and may God bless you as you give.