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| Art atop what was one of the oldest churches in PAP |
This is our first attempt at a "Blog"...
In case you hadn't heard, Art has taken a one year assignment with the DRC (Disaster and Relief Committee) of the Church of God. He started the beginning of August. Initially I went with him as we took two godsons with us for a week--then I returned to the US with them and Art stayed on in Haiti. Due to the lack of places to stay and if you do find a place, the exorbitant prices, it was decided it would be best for me to stay state-side and Art would try to find a room somewhere and “commute” to the sites all over Haiti where they are building houses.
Below is what Art wrote regarding his time thus far in Haiti...
My first three weeks in Haiti have been an emotional roller coaster. Having served here before as a missionary and having been down on three work teams since the earthquake I thought I was prepared and knew what to expect. Haiti has always been known as a third world country and the poorest country in our hemisphere so things couldn’t get worse. Right? Actually, things are much worse then they ever have been. The people are desperate. They want to move forward and are doing their best to try and get things back to normal. Who would have ever thought that being a third world country could be viewed as "getting back to normal"?
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(L)-Fritzner, Construction Boss (C)-Steve, Translator/Manager (R)- Art |
I am blessed to be here. It is hot, the mosquitoes won’t leave me alone and I am living in a 10' by 10' room with a private bath at the Rainbow Training Center (Christian Veterinary Medicine Training Center). But I am working with some of the best of God’s people. People who not only look to me for help, but people who look out for me during these difficult times. Quite honestly, this is the toughest thing I have ever done. The desperation of my Haitian Brothers and Sisters is overwhelming. I go from the joy of dedicating houses with families to the tragedy of telling someone else who is pleading with me for a house that we cannot provide. Tears of joy followed by tears of anguish. As I walk among my Brothers and Sisters I realize that we may not be able to help everyone but we can love and respect them.
Two teams from churches just left. One from Sullivan, Illinois and one from Germantown, Ohio. The love of God radiated through these teams as they worked, sweat, played and embraced the villagers of Prospere. The first night in the village I asked people to share where or how they saw God at work today. Pastor Steve Carney said he noticed that a lot of people were calling out by saying “hey you” in English. As he heard this it dawned on him that God was calling out through the “hey you’s” to get his attention. As you pray for Haiti, listen for God to say “hey you” as he speaks to you about how to get involved in Haiti.
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| Workteams from Sullivan, IL, Germantown, OH and Callebasse, Haiti |
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| Pre-fab house being built for this family |
The Church of God is doing a good work in Haiti. We are blessed that Phil and Lonnie Murphy had established the House of Blessing Orphanage (20 + years ago) that served as the base for Phil and the teams during the first 7 months. Phil, the orphanage staff and children, and the Haitian team Phil has put together have laid a strong foundation that will continue to serve the people of Haiti even after the Disaster Relief funds have been fully used.
Pray specifically for the needs of our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti. They are desperate and we can provide hope. In Mark 14:1-10, Jesus says that the poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. He also told those scolding the woman who anointed Him to leave her alone because she did all that she could. The poor will always be here and we are to do all that we can to help. “Hey you”, come join the work God is doing.
Ruben Schwieger just finished a two-week stay in Haiti, leading a different work-team each week. Both Ruben and Art were there to welcome the first team with persons from Cape Girardeau, Missouri and New Jersey. This team worked in the village of Dumay, completing 6 more homes, bringing the total to twelve families that are now off the ground and in a good home there. Art then left Ruben and came to the states for a week. The second week Ruben hosted a team from Wooster and Alliance, Ohio. This team worked in St. Ard, helping to lay block on a school building. Their work was cut short by a cholera outbreak just to the north of them. Ruben returned to Croix des Bouquets with the group and they visited the village of Prospere and helped build a house at the “Rainbow Training Center” for Christian Veterinary Mission (where Art lives). While things went a bit differently than originally planned, flexibility is the key--especially in an earthquake disaster zone. Things can change on a daily basis and sometimes even moment to moment! THANK YOU Ruben and everyone for being “flexible”.
