January 30, 2010 - Earthquake Update 11

I apologize for taking so long to update you as to our activities in Haiti, but since our adopted daughter, Darline, arrived from Haiti on the 18th my responsibilities as a new mother to a child dealing with extremely trauma and adjusting to a totally different new culture has taken precedence over everything else in my life.

Speaking of Darline, she has been interviewed by numerous local journalists since she arrived and is pleased to be able to share her thoughts and feelings about what is happening in her former country with others.  I think it is therapeutic for her personally and she feels as if she is helping those she left behind under such horrendous circumstances by telling their story.

Even though she and I communicate well, our ability to clearly articulate the finer nuances of thoughts, feelings and experiences is extremely limited.  This Tuesday she was interviewed by radio personality Dick Gordon for his show "The Story".  They had hired a translator to interpret all of Darline's story and I found it very enlightening to hear it with a depth and clarity that she and I had not achieved alone.

If you are interested in hearing Darline tell of her experience in and after the quake, you can listen or download her interview at http://thestory.org/ any time after tomorrow when it is due to air for the first time.  It will also be airing on radio stations around the U.S. (visit http://thestory.org/Stations for a list of stations in your area).

Our Pastor Wayne (member of our board) traveled to Haiti last Saturday in order to take insulin to Pastor Joseph and to help pastor and Roody minister to the needs of the people of Bethesda Ministry and those we serve in an around the city of Leogane.  He returned to the states today, so we should be hearing from him soon as he provides insights into his trip and informs us of the specific ways in which we can best reach out to our brothers and sisters who are suffering so much loss, devastation and pain.

Knowing we had to focus on one specific need in order to be effective, we asked Roody what he saw as being the most pressing need.  His one-word response chilled us: BABIES.  With anguish in his voice, he said that there are infants everywhere - abandoned in fields and by the side of the road or in the make-shift community camps with mothers who are so malnourished and dehydrated that they are unable to nurse.  The orphanages are also clamoring for ways in which to feed the little ones.

When he traveled to Santo Domingo to meet Pastor Wayne at the airport, he was able to purchase some formula to take back to Leogane but was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the large aid organizations in order to secure enough to truly make a difference.  His hopes were dashed when such aid began to arrive in the city because after checking with the Red Cross, Food for the Poor, Samaritan's Purse, Operation Blessing, and the the U.S. Marines/Navy, he discovered that PROMISED PROVISION IS THE ONLY AGENCY SUPPLYING BABY FORMULA to these infants (ages 0-6 months) in and around Leogane.  The Marines even told him that they are looking at an approximate 3 months time frame for being able to deliver such food.

When I asked him what he felt would alleviate the precarious situation for these babies, he replied that with about $5000-$7000 he could secure a vehicle and gas to travel to Santo Domingo, the nearest place to purchase formula, and buy a large enough quantity of formula to (1) obtain a meaningful price discount and (2) to supply food for 500 babies in seven community camps for approximately six months.

He explained that for now, being good stewards of our limited resources, he has organized a "distribution list" documenting where each of the 73 infants that he along with two orphanage directors have identified as being most at-risk are located.  He has recorded personal information about the mothers and babies (names, baby's date of birth etc.), taken photos of the mothers and babies, and documented the locations of their camps.  He plans ensure that formula is delivered to each of these children every week for as long as our funding will provide for purchasing the formula.

As for the abandoned infants, Roody has partnered with an organization named Danita's Children which houses orphans in the Hope for Haiti Childrens' Center in the city of Ouanaminthe to evaluate children to ensure that they are, indeed, orphans and to evacuate them via Danita's buses to safe haven in the Dominican Republic.  Together they sucessfully relocated 14 babies on Tuesday and plan to rescue 36 more this coming Monday.

He asked me to request our friends and supporters to prayerfully consider reaching out to these little ones whose needs have apparently been overlooked.  The only way to do that, at present, is through financial gifts.  As things calm down in Haiti and it is once again possible to ship items from the U.S. donations of formula, diapers, Pedialite, etc. will be equally appreciated, but for now, money is the only way to get anything done.

As if his activities with the infants is not enough, Roody also traveled mid-way up the mountain of Leogane last week to meet our friend, Pastor Anetole, to deliver medical supplies he had obtained on their behalf from the relief organizations making their way into Leogane.  Along with expressing his extreme gratitude to Promised Provision, Brother Anetole reported miraculous conversions on the mountain including a concubine who received Jesus into her heart and the man with whom she lived who asked Anetole to perform a wedding ceremony because he did not want he and his new wife to go to hell for living together out of wedlock.

Roody says that the sound of people praying and singing hymns is all around and that he feels the rumblings of a true revival of the Holy Spirit.  His insights in the midst of this tragedy reflect our core values -- the best way to help with the rebuilding of Haiti is to provide its people with the spiritual food they so desperately need.  He claims we need to send Bibles and groups of people to visit Haiti to minister to spiritual needs.  When it comes to the physical rebuilding, we need to send supervisors to instruct and guide as the Haitian people, themselves, supply the labor to rebuild their lives.  In doing so we allow them their dignity, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of investment in their own lives, and a sense of accountability many of them have never known.  To do for them, to hand them everything without investment on their part will be to treat them like children and hinder their abilities to thrive on their own.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• for a powerful revival of the Holy Spirit
• for the infants clinging to life in the face of such adversity
• for Pastor Joseph and Roody (health, stamina, persistence, rest, patience, and peace of mind and spirit)
• for the elderly, infirm, and handicapped who are viewed as second- and third-class citizens even on a good day
• for Haiti's leadership and the leadership of the countries of the world who are assisting in this time of need.  That they will act in the best behalf of the people and be able/willing to direct Haiti to a place of stability and restoration.
• for Bethesda Ministry and those its serves
• for Promised Provision Ministries (God's discernment and wisdom in the use of resources, stamina to run the long race, faithful supporters, God's continued blessing on all that we do in His name and for His glory).

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