HAITI 144

BUS leaves for Jeremie, HAITI

2012-01-25T10:31:00.001-08:00

LCC President Tim Hetzner Sees Off Bus for Haiti

This past Saturday and Sunday Tim Hetzner was out at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Richton Park. Saturday Tim was there to see the loaded bus take off for Haiti. The bus is filled with supplies for Pastor Isaac in Jeremy Haiti. The bus, God willing, will be shipped this week from Miami and will arrive in Port Au Prince, Haiti where Pastor Isaac will pick it up and drive it to Jeremie. The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project of the Northern Illinois District, the Richton Park - Immanuel Community Coalition, and Lutheran Church Charities would like to thank all the volunteers and donors who made this possible! What a blessing this will be to so many people in Haiti!

LCC office at (866)455-6466

GIVING THANKS

2011-11-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011

We would like to share with you what the
Haitian Lutheran Mission Project
is giving thanks for this year.

Although we will miss one of our most faithful servants,Dave Alm, who is now with his Lord and Savior,we are grateful for the progress we witnessed on our most recent visit to Haiti..

The 30 Orphaned children in pastor Isaac's care are not only being fed, educated and receiving medical care they are growing spiritually and learning to be responsible, loving family members.

We are very thankful for the well being of these children, largely due to your support, but we cannot forget the thousands of other children who live in the mountain villages that Pastor Isaac is responsible for.

Most of the Orphans come from these villages and there are dozens of children actually WANTING to enter the orphanage. In my mind there is something wrong when children WANT to go to an orphanage but this is reality in Haiti.

The purpose of our October visit was to decide where our focus would be for the coming year in Haiti. We feel we are being lead to expand our assistance beyond Pastor Isaac's Orphanage into the villages in the Jeremie District. We zeroed in on two related areas. Enlarge our sponsorship program for the Lutheran School Teachers in Haiti and Starting Lutheran Schools in some of the villages where schools do not exsist.

We are standing on the foundation for the new school in Fond Rouge - church is in background.

Fond Rouge is one of these villages where a school is needed. We have raised enough funds to begin the work and hope to have the building finished and teachers hired so that school can start next September. We feel confident that this school can make a real difference to the people of Fond Rouge and expect we can accomplish this in the months to come.

The Children in Fond Rouge want to attend school. Their parents see education as their only hope for some kind of future. Maybe their child will be able to make a living and not face the despair they live with.

Many of our Haitian schools are now also qualifying for the Feeding Program through Trinity Hope, Nashville, TN. which provides each child 1 meal a day of rice and beans while they attend school.This means that children who normally do not eat everyday will now get a dish of rice and beans 5 days a week. Think of what this means to families that cannot afford to feed each family member every day.

Since the earthquake I have been asked repeatedly where did all that money go?
My answer is. I guess it depends on who you gave it to.
We have seen great progress in Jeremie over the last several years. The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project has an ongoing relationship with Pastor Isaac. We communicate regularly, require accountability, and evaluate the progress of the projects continually.

We understand that each donation is given to us in love and we convey that to Pastor. We respect your sacrificial giving and are committed to directing your gifts where they will do the most good.
This year we will give thanks for YOU the people who are making a difference in so many lives.

We pray that you continue to support the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project this coming year.

Thanksgiving Blessings to you and your families.

Sue Gross
suelynn144@aol.com

HELP fill the BUS!

2011-11-14T14:00:00.000-08:00

We packed the bus for Haiti on Saturday Nov.12th and it is PACKED!

We left just enough room for Pastor Isaac's last request MUSICAL INTRUMENTS. He wants to start a band with the children. So please pack up those instruments that you no longer use and make some children very happy. Can you just hear 30 children practicing in Pastor's home????

We are also in need of sewing supplies for the classes. Scissors, thread, bobbins, zippers, etc. Bolts of material (please no scrapes unless they are cut for expressly for quilts).

Teachers supplies, chalk, rulers, globes, maps.

Kitchen utensils, silverware, metal bowls (these are used in for the feeding program each child needs to bring a metal bowl and a spoon so that he/she can receive a meal of rice and beans at noon).

THANK YOU to so many of you who participated in helping to fill the bus. We are almost there. We have sewing machines, clothing, shoes, a generator, bicycles, chalk boards, bunkbeds, pillows,quilts and school supplies and much much more.

Sue
Haitian Lutheran Mission Project
suelynn144@aol.com

BUNKBEDS for HAITI

2011-09-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

I am often asked how a small congregation can be part of the Haiti Ministry without making a monthly commitment of support.
Well here it is.....................

Immanuel Lutheran Church Richton Park along with the Richton Park Community bought a used school bus which we will use as a shipping container to send large items to pastor Isaac in Haiti.

This is a rare opportunity for us to have such a large space to ship needed items to Haiti so we decided to take advantage of it by shipping the much needed BUNKBEDS that the children will use when the addition on Pastor's house is finished next year.

We found white pine bunkbeds at IKEA for $159.00 each. The mattresses are extra and they have 20 available right now if we want them. We do not have to pay tax and we will pick them up ourselves.

So if we can get 20 congregations to donate $300.00 we will have enough beds for the 30 Orphans and the guest room where mission teams will stay in the future.

We would like to thank Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Richton Park Community for the FEST they sponsored last Saturday.

All proceeds went to pay for the cost of shipping the bus to Haiti.

Please consider a donation for this cause.

These children sleep on a concrete floor in Pastor's home right now. These children have never had a bed to sleep in! Can you imagine the excitement when they get to sleep in their very own bed for the first time?

Please help make this happen NOW. If the bus leaves before we can raise the money for the beds it will be too costly for us to ship them.

Please contact Sue Gross
Haitian Lutheran Mission Project
708-389-6676
suelynn144@aol.com

Haiti Spring 2011

2011-05-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project.

Please view our mission trip via YOU-TUBE

http://youtu.be/QBGf9yXRJaU

We are pleased to report that many good things are happening in Jeremie, Haiti thanks to the support that many of you are providing.
Since our mission trip in March Pastor reports that many more improvements are in the works.

Pastor received a second shipment or Water Filters that were distributed to the neediest people on his list. Remember these filters are inexpensive and supply a family of 6 with clean water daily lasting 5 years before they need to be replaced.

We also raised $3,500.00 through Lutheran Church Charities to be sent for the building of 7 new toilets (latrines). The building of these latrines is done by the village people themselves but the supplies needed cost $500.00. Each has a septic system of some sort.

The Traveling Medical Clinic continues to function, bringing care to village people that do not have access to a doctor. Our goal this year is to be able to support this clinic by sending supplies that are needed to treat these patients’ needs.

We are happy to report to you that the Orphans are doing well. Several of us who have known the children since the Orphanage started continue to picture them as small children. To our surprise many have grown to become very polite young ladies and young men. Pastor seems to do well with a house full of teenagers. It was fun to see him dance with them and put up with their teasing.

Our goals for this coming year are:

Continue to supply the Traveling Medical Clinic with basic materials

Start a new school in the village of Fond Rouge where a building already stands but is in need of repair . Benches and teachers support are needed.

Continue to supply Water Filters to families so that they can have clean drinking water

Continue to build Latrines so that each village where Pastor has a Church will have access to a toilet which will help prevent the spread of Cholera.

Bring 2-3 Oral Surgeons to Haiti to provide a Dental Clinic for our 2012 Mission Trip.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Sue Gross

Haitian Lutheran Mission Project

suelynn144@aol.com

FISHING Orphans

2011-04-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

When I arrived at Pastors home the children were all excited to show me the fish tank. Brushing it off I took my time playing with the children until someone insisted I see their fish.

I followed them around to the back of the house where normally the cooking and cleaning is done. I climbed the steep hill at the back of the property above the chicken coop fully expecting to see a residential aquarium but was suprised to see two large concrete ponds fully stocked with 425 fish. One contains Tilapia but I forget what kind of fish is stocked in the other. What a marvelous idea. They expect them to reproduce rapidly and help feed the multiple mouths living within the HOME!

...also in this last photo - back in the distance you can see the 2nd floor addition to safely keep the children above the pastor's living quarters. Second floor has a large boys room, girls room, smaller room for care-takers, a small guest room along with a bath room.

KEN GROSS

BOUDUIN HAITI 3-17

2011-03-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

The main roads continue to be blocked by rioters so for the last three days we have had to completely change our plans. A pastor emailed me when I asked for prayers regarding safety and disappointment due election protesters. He reminded us that when doors are closed God will open others.Wow - what Beautiful Door have been opened to us these last three days. Marfranc on Tuesday, Carrefoursano on Wed., highlighted today with Bouduin. Crossing the Grand Arnese we almost lost Doris and Sue due to swift currents but several men rushed to stop them from floating down stream.

About 12 of the school children in uniform came down to the river to help carry our Meds, VBS material and tubs of seeds and gardening tools across the river and up the mountain side.

Bouduin is one of the schools we support the teachers and Trinity Hope in return provides the 70 students with a meal of beans and rice once a day. What wonderful and welcoming people - BUT the greatest joy was observing the constant flow of students and villagers using the clean water filtration system many of you purchased (300 total @ 35.00 ea)

Again today we planted gardens and provide villages with over 5000 seed packages hybrid specifically for Haiti. C ompliments of Hope Seeds.
Children and adults joined in the gardening.

Team photo

Clean Drinking Water for Haiti

2011-02-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to many of you the children in the school of Bouduin now have clean water to drink. Pastor Isaac has delivered 60 filters so far to schools and families in Haiti. For $35.00 this water filter will provide enough clean water for a family of 6 every day for 5 years.
Thank you,
Susan
Haitian Lutheran Mission Project
suelynn144@aol.com

UPDATE: Christmas TOILET

2011-02-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

Toilets are being built in Jeremie, Haiti to prevent the spread of Cholera and other diseases. The first of several was built at the Dame Marie Lutheran School. There are 34 schools in Pastor Isaac’s district and he hopes, eventually, to have a toilet built at each location. Thank you so much for the donations he has received so far.

Sue Gross

suelynn144@aol.com

The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project

ALL I want for Christmas - is a TOILET!

2010-12-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

These children are asking for a TOILET for Christmas.
Yes, that must sound strange to most of us but it is true.
Cholera is invading the country of Haiti. Clean water and toilets are needed to prevent thousands of deaths. Please read Pastor Isaac's letter below.

All I want for Christmas is a TOILET!

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus to all our brothers and sisters.

Haiti is struggling with one more dilemna, the cholera desease that already killed 2000 peope and affected 30,000 according to the officials. But, the reality isover 3000 deaths and 50,000 affected. Ms Cholera is visiting Haiti departmentafter department, city after city, village after village on a weekly basis.

Jeremie distrist has 34 churches and 30 schools. (Jérémie, Marfranc, Moron, Fond Rouge, Beaudouin, Iles Blances, Roche-à-Pierre, Durocher, Dame Marie, Grande Barrière, Layé, Irois, Ansed’Hainault, Bariadèle, Pian,Galette, Les Rois, Cicar, Mandou,Loton, Frezine, Gabriel, Lexis, Pestel, Thozia, Saint Louis, Perla, Vendrebuche, Désormaux, Glaci Dalier, Nan Jeudi, Lavalette, Daniel, Sajotte and Louimeme JeanCharles).
Almost,each church has a school. NONE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES HAVE A TOILETTE FACILITY, NO EVEN A LATRINE. Since there is no toilette facilities, the risk to get sickis very high and always imminent.

As the District President, I am very concerned about the eventuality of having somecases of cholera among our people momentarily because of the lack hygiene and the absence of toilette, latrines, safe water, you name it.

We plan on building 34 toilettes (latrines), one for each school and/or church. We are hoping thatsome good samaritan would commit to building 1,2, 3, 4 toilettes. Each toilette will cost $500 only with the participation of the community inproviding sand, stones, gravel, foundation. The $500 will be used to buy ciment, blocks, steal, nails, woods. We will make a photo of each toilette completed along with the beneficiaries and forward it to whom this may concern,specially the donor.

We wish we could find 34 sister churches that would be willing to join hands withus.

Please pray for Hait and don't forget Jeremie. Thanks a lot for your love, support, andeverything you have already done to prove and demonstrate your love.

Godbless!
Jean Isaac Jacquet

If you or your congregation can help please contact Sue Gross 708-389-6676 or email suelynn144@aol.com

THANKSGIVING 2010

2010-11-16T14:34:00.000-08:00

Giving THANKS this Holiday!

Although my recent newsletter talked about the need for Water Filters in Jeremi to prevent the spread of Cholera, good things are happening in Haiti too. THANKS TO YOU.

The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project is truly THANKFUL this holiday season for the many completed projects that Our Loving God has provided this past year in Jeremie, Haiti.

WE HAVE A LUTHERAN SCHOOL IN JEREMIE NOW.
This is a vision that Pastor Isaac shared with us six years ago. Never did we think that it would go this far in such a short time but The Lord moved many people to follow their hearts and help to make this happen.

Pastor Isaac’s dream began to materialize when an anonymous donor gave us the money to purchase a piece of land for the future campus site. Then came donations of all sizes from congregations, individuals and small groups to enable a foundation to be placed.
In 2008 we sent two teams to help with the construction of the building and last March we saw the LWML Grant put the roof on the building at last.

When the public schools started in Oct this year Pastor Isaac opened the doors to the first Lutheran School in Jeremie along with them. It is not quite finished.

There are no desks for the teachers, no blackboards, no plumbing but Pastor was able to borrow 40 benches for the children to sit on and 30 children came. Two weeks later he had 147 children enrolled.

This school gives the children of Jeremie an opportunity they have not had before. Children who have not been able to attend public school because they could not afford a uniform, shoes or supplies will now learn to read and write. Education gives the people of Haiti hope. Parents see education as the only way out of poverty for their children and will even give their children away to someone who promises this.

The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project has also been in partnership with Trinity Hope making possible feeding programs in eight village schools. Many of our newsletter readers are now sponsoring teachers in these schools. Without these sponsors the schools would close and Trinity Hope would no longer be able to feed school children one meal a day of beans and rice (for most children the only meals they get all week).

Another project completed this year was the Medical Clinic that Pastor was able to provide to four villages last March when our mission team arrived in Jeremie. This was a major event for the people of these small mountain villages. Many were fitted with eye glasses and given medicines that they would otherwise never be able to afford.

Yes, despite the earthquake, hurricanes and epidemics Haiti still survives and it’s people go on as best they can. BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD. The Haitian Lutheran Mission Projects is Thankful for the opportunity to be part of God’s Plan for Haiti.

Thanking Him,
Sue Gross and The Haitian Lutheran Mission Team.
Suelynn144@aol.com

UPDATE : Jeremie & Hurricane Tomas

2010-11-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

just in from Pastor Jean Isaac Jacquet

Too soon to forget the night of Nov. 4-5.
It was so tough!

1) 800 houses destroyed, and 1500 damaged.

2) The new roof of pastor Isaac's house was taken away.

3) Farms, gardens, and animals are gone. So, farmine is around the corner, for sure.

4) 10 preachers' houses are gone.

5) 37 church members' houses are gone.

7) More and more homeless people to take care of.

Yet, God was in controle. It could have been worse.
Thanks for your prayer!
The best of all, God is with us!
We are still alive!
To Him be the glory! “La vie continue.”

Please pray for us!
Pray for for Haiti as earnestly as you can.
Pray for the orphans, the widows, the homeless, the neglected!.

Thanks!
Agape-love with a grateful heart,

Jean Isaac Jacquet

Hurricane Tomas

2010-11-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of Haiti,

Pastor Isaac emailed today.

He Thanks God for saving the lives of his family and the 30 orphans that live with them.

He said the roof of his house blew away in the storm but they are safe.

The Jeremie District was hit hard. Pastor tells us that he lost several churches in the villages. The one pictured below is Mar Franc where we did our medical clinic last March.

Dame Marie is another church/school that has been damaged. This is the school that has the feeding program that many of you support.

Pastor has not been able to travel to most of the villages yet but has word that at least 8 churches have been damaged or destroyed.

Pastor also sent pictures of the trees and gardens that have been destroyed. The Haitians depend on the mango trees and the gardens for their food. He said starvation will soon follow.

Water supplies have been contaminated by the flooding which will make the cholera epidemic even more severe.

It is hard to believe all that these people continue to endure. Please pray for Pastor as his work is not just rebuilding churches and schools but comforting those that have been hurt and helping them find shelter and food.

If you have been thinking of getting involved with a mission project this is the time to do it. Don't wait. There is so much need and so much you can do to help. If you are a nurse go with us to Jeremie in March. If you can't travel, help us collect items we need to take with us. If you don't have the time, support an orphan, raise money for a new roof for Pastor.

Contact me for suggestions.
Susan
suelynn144@aol.com

The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project - supporting Jeremie, Haiti

Cholera in Haiti

2010-10-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

No reports of any out break in Jeremie at this time.
Please pray for the people of Haiti
Sue

Dear friends, I know you are watching this on the news but I thought some explanation of the most effected area and our response to date might be of interest.

The place currently most involved is St. Marc, which lies along the coast north of Port au Prince. We have nine schools in that area. There is also some involvement in Gonives to the north (17 schools) and the Central Plateau (8) to the north and east. We have no information that anyone who works for us or those in our schools are infected.

There have been a few cases reported in Port au Prince but it is felt that those people were infected elswhere and no cases have of infection have yet happened in that city. The fear is that if it gets started there the tent cities will be devastated.

After I sent the information Dr. Bunny Pozehl put together to all our contacts in Haiti, I was able to speak with our manager/supervisor. He was grateful for the information because many of the people there do not understand the cause or transmission of the disease. He, our feeding program directors and pastors will be spreading the information in any way they can by calling, visiting, announcing in our churches and schools, via signs, etc.

Four of those we work with in Haiti have already personally responded that they are and will do all they can to spread this information and that they thank us for giving them this help.

Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti.
Blessing,
John Hall
Trinity HOPE Haitian Feeding Program

Lutheran Women's Missionary League Zone President visits Haiti

2010-06-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

BARB COPELAND-BELANSKI
NID LWML Zone 25 President
shares her experience this last spring.

I have some friends from Christ, Orland Park,IL who visited Haiti a few years ago…….when I heard they were planning another trip in 2010 I could feel God nudging me to join the team. The March 2010 mission trip would be serving Pastor Isaac in Jeremie by hosting eyeglass clinics and VBS activities for the children attending Pastor Isaac’s Lutheran schools……..then the earthquake hit on January 12th.

At first, our trip was in peril……..everyone was eager to go and help. By mid February, we were told airplanes were allowed to land in Port Au Prince…….so we made haste to complete our plans by adding a medical component to our team.

On March 11, our team of fifteen including a doctor and two Pastors began our journey.

After a day and a half of traveling, we finally arrived in Jeremie into the welcome arms of Pastor Isaac. He was so happy to see us……..he presides over several Lutheran churches and schools in Jeremie as well as cares for 24 orphans in his home and knows personally the needs of his people…….the children need to learn about Jesus and scores of individuals have medical and vision concerns. Jeremie escaped earthquake damage but was the recipient of over 30,000 refugees……people were everywhere.

In all, we visited seven schools, two orphanages and held five eyeglass and medical clinics. We traveled for hours every day over bumpy and dusty roads to reach Pastor Isaac’s churches. Everywhere we went, people young and old were waiting for our team……some were waiting for hours and some had walked many miles to meet us. By the end of the week, we had fitted 300 people with eyeglasses and provided medical care for over 500 patients……..and so many children learned about God’s mercy toward Jonah!

We returned home on March 20……..a tired lot but oh so fulfilled. We had witnessed the goodness of God and saw His face shining in so many of the people. God’s church is growing in Haiti and we couldn’t help but feel that through the Holy Spirit and the efforts of our team, church membership will see even more growth.

And another trip is already being planned for March of 2011!!

Barb Copeland-Belanski
NID LWML Zone 25 President

For more information about our
organization, please contact us at...

Lutheran Women's Missionary League
P.O. Box 411993
St. Louis, MO 63141-1993
Phone: 1-800-252-5965
Fax: 1-314-268-1532
e-mail: lwml@lwml.org

June 2010 LWML Newsletter - Reprinted with permission

Isaac Orphans in WORLD MAGAZINE

2010-06-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

World Magazine - June 5, 2010 includes a photo of Charles the most recent addition to Isaac's Orhanage. Pastor has taken in several earthquake orphans including Charles, who was buried alive for 5 days with his dead "Auntie" in the rubble of a building in Port au Prince. His parents were also killed. He seemed confused when we were concerned about him, never smiled but never cried.

Three of the orphans are holding World Magazine issues dealing with the Haiti earthquake. Charles is holding up a copy of the now famous photo of another boy buried alive - but reunited with Aunt after another successful rescue.

Please keep Charles and all the Orphans in your prayers.

Sue

Happy MOTHERS DAY

2010-04-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

Haiti Newsletter May 2010
Happy Mother’s Day LADIES.

I often hear from ladies who have no children that they feel a little left out on Mother’s Day…..NO NEED!

So many of the children in Haiti have no mothers and welcome your prayers and support.

There are many stories about Haiti to be shared but the ones that stick out in my mind are about the children. Perhaps that is because there are so many that have so little. These children have untreated wounds that have become infected, they have lice that you can actually see without parting their hair, they have only a long shirt to cover their malnourished bodies and those with orange hair and swollen bellies don’t know what or when they will eat again. The story is much the same for many children, their parents are dead and their grandparents or aunties cannot afford to feed them.....they ask us.....will you take them? We then explain we cannot. They would rather give these children away then watch them starve to death.

Then there is the GOOD NEWS.
Many of the children we saw in these villages last time are now in school and getting 1 meal a day of Rice and Beans because of the Feeding Program we are sponsoring through Trinity Hope. One meal a day offered through the school encourages parents to send their child to school every day. Once they begin attending school they are not only nourished physically but mentally. They return home and educate the rest of their family by sharing what they have learned.

Dame Marie is one of those schools. There are 3 other Lutheran Schools in Pastor Isaac’s District that are now being supported by Trinity Hope through donations. We hope to be able to take on the responsibility of these schools so that Trinity Hope can use their funds to feed still more children in other villages.

The food is cooked over wood burning fires just outside the school doors. The cost of each meal is less than 3 pennies. Yes, for 3 pennies a day we can feed a child in Haiti who otherwise may die of malnutrition. We may not be able to save the entire Island Country of Haiti but we are determined, with God’s help, to save one child at a time. Right now we have only enough funds to support the school of Dame Marie through the end of this school year. Any monthly donation would be welcome to support this program.

I know going to Haiti has become very popular since the earthquake. Many emergency workers and mission teams as well as big name relief organizations have made their appearances. They did a great job and the Haitian people are very thankful. Three months later, many have left for home and others will be moving to other projects in the months to come but please remember, we have been partnering with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti for 9 years. We have been with Pastor Isaac through severe starving times, the sinking of a ferry boat off the coast of Jeremie that resulted in the beginning of the Orphanage and several hurricanes and mud slides. The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project organization will be there long after these other groups have left.... with your help.

Please consider honoring your Mother with a donation to The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project this Mother's Day.

We will send a Mother's Day Card to your Mom recognizing your donation. Feeding a starving child is the perfect gift for any Mom.

For more information contact:

Sue Gross suelynn144@aol.com or 708-389-6676
or mail your donation to:

Make checks payable to....
Haitian Lutheran Mission Project
Christ Lutheran Church
c/o Haitian Lutheran Mission Project
14700 s. 94th Ave.
Orland Park, IL 60462

If this is for Mother's Day please indicate on check and include name and address of person you wish Mother's Day Card to go to.

SUE

JESUS is ALIVE in HAITI - I saw His Face

2010-04-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Dear partner in Christ,
Once again thank you for your prayers and support for my mission trip to Haiti. Many things have changed in Haiti as you know since the horrible earthquake that happened there on January 12. Many people are still homeless and are living in tents. I know of one particular Christian man and his family who is currently living in a tent. He says, “I worry about the gangs and the hurricanes that may harm me and my family.” All I could do is to give this fellow Christian a hug and cry over him.

However, God is doing some great things. A three day prayer, fasting and repentance service took place at the Haitian palace at Port au Prince on February 12. Over one million Haitians came to these services, three thousand Haitians professed faith in Christ along with 101 Voodoo priests. The president of Haiti also placed his trust in Christ, too. Praise the Lord!

God has given me the privilege to go to Haiti and help the least amongst us in the world. I can’t solve their problems but I can give them encouragement by being Jesus to them.

I once again felt God’s presence and hand on me. I was able to preach at two of Pastor Isaac’s church services. I led the music for many the VBS programs at the various Lutheran Schools. I passed out: John 3:16 tracts and prayed over many Haitian patients who came to our eye glass and medical clinics. Our mission team saw over 500 Haitians at these clinics. Praise God for the three doctors and two nurses who were with us!

Pastor Isaac continues to minister to 28 orphans that live in his home. One little boy (a survivor of the earthquake) is Pastor’s newest orphan. The school is almost completed thanks to the nice donation given by Lutheran Women’s Missionary League in Northern Illinois. Hopefully, by the end of this year the orphans will move into their new school. Moreover, monies are still being raised for a new orphanage for the children.

May God be glorified in what our team has accomplished!

My Jesus is Alive in Haiti.

I saw His face.
Pastor Paul

HAITIAN LUTHERAN MISSION PROJECT NEWSLETTER

2010-03-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

We bring you greetings from Pastor Isaac and his children.

15 people returned to the States Early Sunday morning with stories, memories and hope for Haiti.

It is estimated that 30,000 refugees have poured into Jeremie either by boat, bus or on foot since the earthquake.

We found that news travels fast in Jeremie when a doctor from the Jeremie hospital came to our church service Sunday morning and asked us to come with him to see the hospital.

Dr Susan Busse and I left church and went with him to find the facility to be terribly understaffed and undersupplied.

Doctor Marks told us that there had been 18 doctors from Colorado there the month before helping to do surgeries and treating the earthquake refugees but now they had all gone home and left him alone to do the follow up care.

There were amputees and burn victims that had no pain medications.

The ER was being staffed by a dental student and the mother of a child being sutured. Patients depend on family to bring them food because no meals are served. Doctor Marks is the only doctor on staff and I saw only one nurse when I was there.

The rest of the week was spent traveling into the mountain villages surrounding Jeremie. Each day we loaded our supplies into a vehicle and caravanned up into the mountains either in the back of a pick up truck or in the back of Pastors car over bumpy, dusty roads until we heard the singing of the people that were waiting to greet us in each village.

Hundreds lined up for medical care, eye glasses and VBS.

We visited 6 villages in all, one of which was Dame Marie, where we are sponsoring the School and Feeding Program. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the schools that we are sponsoring.

When the bowls of food were passed to each child they sat patiently waiting until everyone had food in front of them and the teacher said a prayer before they ate. These are starving children!

I even saw one child that did not attend school peeking into the classroom from around the corner at all the children that had food in front of them. One boy saw him and fed him out of his own bowl. I cried.

For those of you that are sponsoring the Orphans I would like to let you know that they are all well and happy. Although we did not spend as much time with them as we had in the past we did see that they are being well taken care of.

There are a few new children that Pastor has taken in, the latest is a 6 year old boy, Charles, who was buried for 5 days with his dead “Auntie” in the rubble of a building in Port au Prince. His parents were also killed. He seemed confused when we were concerned about him, never smiled but never cried. I know we will see a different Charles when we return in the future.

Thank you to all who have been supporting Pastor Isaac and the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project over the last several years. We have seen the big difference your prayers and donations have made.

The school section of the construction we started should be done by September.

Pastor Isaac’s Church is overflowing with people on Sunday and during the week for worship. Overflowing out the door and into the street. God is blessing this ministry!

In closing I would like to say that we all mourn the passing of Pastor Louis who was the Father of Lutheranism in Haiti.

His murder was a tragic event that touched all of the Pastors last week. Our team left Part au Prince the day of his funeral and on the anniversary of Pastor Israel’s death. God took both of these brave and loving men home to be with Him just before Easter but their Ministries will continue for years to come.

Blessings,
Susan

Jerusalem Je L'Alime

2010-03-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Homeward bound - my friend.

NEW LIFE in CHRIST - ISRAEL IZADOR 1950-2005

2010-03-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

Rev. Israel Izidor, president of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti, died of meningitis March 20, 2005 in Les Cayes, Haiti.

Israel Izidor studied theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, from 1985-1987 and He was ordained in 1992. Izidor also served as the founding president of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti. President Rev. Israel Izidor addressed the Lutheran Church Missouri Synods' national convention in 2001 resulting in the delegates voting unanimously to formalize alter and pulpit fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti.

Israel was great leader and guiding light to all who knew him. He was known for his enthusiasm and dedication to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His legacy has touched millions both in his native Haiti and around the world. The Holy Spirit used Israel to inspire thousands of short and long term missionaries who have since spread out around the world sharing the good news.

Izidor dream continues though his wife, Leonie; children Yelline (Genet) Gelin, Ketura, Ezechias, and Israelson.

Today let us not Morn but Celebrate the life and legacy of a true Servant Leader. Rest in the arms of our risen Savior - Israel Izidor.

ARE these TREASURES of GOD Lost ?

2010-03-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

“One of the great harms of poverty isn’t physical - it’s eternal,
for it teaches souls who have never known Christ’s love – that they don’t matter. Without the truth of Christ, a child’s belief that he’s a spectacular creation, that he matters to God and to this world, can be crushed by poverty. And when those in poverty believe this lie and give up – these treasures of God are lost.

What an honor that God has enabled us, in our small ways, to show these people that they matter. That God has good for them. That they are loved.” Amber Van Schooneveld

* Pray that God’s Love and Compassion will be seen through the actions of the American Christians.

* Pray that all honors will be given to God not individual messengers or visiting American workers.

To See JESUS in Their EYES... Thats what keeps us going

2010-03-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 17th - Anse D'Hainaut
Today we got up early again to leave by truck to go to Anse D'Hainaut to do a VBS, medical and eyeglass clinic.

En route we stopped at one of our Lutheran churches and schools in De Sar Meaie.

Not much of a building - simple walls and roof, but a school of 120 children! It is wonderful to see the children get an education, something that many in Haiti are not receiving.

The dedication of the staff, who work for less than $50 a month, is inspiring!

Our next stop en route to Anse D'Hainaut was Dame Marie - another of our Lutheran church and schools.

Again, the same situation as above.

When we arrived at Anse D'Hainaut and our Lutheran churches and schools there, we immediately did a VBS while we set up for the medical and eyeglass clinic. As was the case in the last two days, there were people who had stood in line hours before we came. Today we took all of our medical supplies with the prayer that the five tubs of medical supplies would get to us tomorrow. We were able to serve everyone who needed medical attention. The eyeglass clinic served over 100 people. Again, to see the joy on someone who has not been able to see well to receive a pair of glasses - well it is simply a testimony of the Mercy and Compassion of Christ.

Everyone who comes through also has someone pray with and over them!

Leaving Anse D'Hainaut we saw many of the people walking home - many walking miles. One elderly man riding a donkey with his new glasses!

The two and a half hour ride home on gravel bumpy road leaves a lot to be desired!

Tonight after devotions, I met with a ministry college from Haiti who has worked with us in the past mission trips. He shared with me how he lost his home in Port au Prince in the earthquake and that he and his family are now living in a tent. Since all the schools are closed indefinitely in the Port au Prince area, and his son would normally be in school (four years old), and his wife is a teacher, they are in desperate financial situation. They lost many of the items in his home plus his vehicle. Yet he continues to service the church-at -large in the Feeding Program - of which he is the director. What dedication! What a faith. Pray for his family as this is very difficult for them as they live in a tent with no immediate solution in sight. He is also gone most days with the Feeding Program for the children in our schools.
God is Good! Pray that the other medical supplies get to us tomorrow from American Airlines!

To see Jesus in their eyes …. That is what keeps us going.
TIM

Valley ALIVE with the sound of MUSIC

2010-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

March 16 - MORON, HAITI

Today we got up early and drove for over 2-1/2 hours up and out into the country again to a town called Moron.

Our small Lutheran Church there also has a school that is supported by LCMS congregations as well as the teachers. NID individuals provide food daily for the children through a program called Feed My Children.

Had VBS this morning. If only I had a recorder to hear the sound of the songs the children were singing as it echoed through the valley where the church is located. Not a large church and the buildings need much repair - but it is a thriving, active church! This church building is also used as the school!

Moron - what a blessing
JAN

DON'T FORGET TO LOOK UP

2010-03-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

March,15 - MARFRANC, HAITI

Read the following communique' from Jeremie team
and tell me that every dollar, every hour, every frustration, wasn't worth it!

________________________________________

Arrived in Marc Franc - half of the town came out and greeted us and followed us to church. We had an overwhelming attendance for the medical and eyeglass clinics. Over 150 children showed up for VBS. So all we did was tell the story and sing songs. We did not have enough items with us. Very tired. The weather is hot in the 90's.

Tomorrow Moron (Tuesday) we will be able to see the school and teachers we support.

Blessings,
Jan
_______________________________________

And then this one from TIM :

Today I got up at 3:30AM to leave for Port au Prince Airport to fly into Jeremie. We flew out of a small airport (should say smaller airport than Port-au-Prince which is also small) to fly a small twin engine plane for the hour ride up to Jeremie. We were greeted by Pastor Isaac at the airport who took us to meet up with the rest of the group doing eye clinics, medical clinics, and VBS and spiritual care. We all (15 of us and several pastors and three interpreters) piled into two vehicles with all the supplies we could fit and still get everyone in. Nothing like driving for an hour on a gravel bumpy road on the back of a Toyota pickup truck to get to the remote country village where we set up the clinics in our Lutheran Church there.

It was an incredible day. People were lined up outside the church and sitting in the church in small hot rooms waiting. We had to set up outside and behind the church because of the number of people. Many more than we expected. Some of the people still had untreated injuries from the earthquake on January 11th.

We witnessed miracles of God working and bringing healing. One small boy was brought and he was unresponsive. Mother carried him there and we first thought that he was dead. Dr. Busse looked into his eyes and they were not responsive. I was there witnessing this and took pictures. She said we must get this boy to a hospital if he is going to live. Dr. Busse proceeded to try and hook up an IV to the boy who was still unresponsive. Someone prayed over the boy (we still do not know who - we just know it happened but do not know who) and when Dr. Busse hooked up the IV the boy started crying and shedding tears - which was a good thing considering the shape the boy was in when he came.

You do with this what your theology allows - all I know is the boy and mother left happy and healed!

The Eye Clinic - To see someone who has never had glasses and has had bad eye sight all their adult life (and they are in the 80's) and now are fitted with a pair of glasses and they can see - well, I cannot describe the excitement they have. Pastor Paul prayed with each of the people receiving glasses as well as others. Pastor Ray also worked with the others and prayed with them.

The sad part of the day was that we were not physically able to help everyone there. There were so MANY needy people needing medical attention. I kept thinking to myself, what if this was my child, my mother or father …. They were all so brave considering the pain and condition many were in. Most were children and elderly.

At one point, in my frustration of not being able to treat everyone that needed treatment, the hot humid weather and being surrounded by people all pleading for help, I looked up in desperation. We were in a small village in the country side with large hills around us. I could not help but remember Psalm 121. I will never see this Psalm in the same way again! I will leave you with those words as I go to sleep for another day tomorrow in another location.

Psalm 121:

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

HAITI LUTHERAN MISSION PROJECT

*tell me that Haiti isn't worth our time and money?

KEN

Three Days of Prayers and Fasting

2010-03-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

Thousands Gather - many couldn't attend because it was almost impossible to get to the National Palace through the halted traffic jam.

VBS at neighboring Digicel Orphanage

2010-03-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Sunday Afternoon - March 14

Team just finished a VBS at a neighboring orphanage. We are unaffiliated with this facility but share a common property line. Two years ago we did a VBS and the orphans and staff were so appreciative that before leaving the states we planned to spend an afternoon with them. As a result of the earthquake their numbers of children has increased. Currently 30 children. One child was left on the doorstep very malnutrition and small in size. They also took in 3 babies found on the street after the earthquake. Just unbelievable. JAN

Pastor Isaac and Madam Jacquet also took in 4 new children. It is estimate that as a result of the January earthquake an additional half million children are parentless. Israelson has mentioned several times that when driving into PaP there are children just wondering homelessly.

Thanking GOD for Christians with a Heart.

At least these children have someone willing to take them in.

In Death There Comes LIFE

2010-03-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 14th - Team Update

Tim, Mike and Randy attended church this morning with Pastor Marky Keesa in Jacmel.

Tim reports:

Place was packed inside AND outside. Standing room only. I spoke briefly to the congregation and then Pastor Kessa preached. What an atmosphere and emotional service. He had to tell the congregation about Pastor Louis and his being murdered. But he spoke on New Life coming from death.

Twenty-plus people, by the Holy Spirit, died to self and allowed God to fill them as they confessed faith in Jesus Christ for the first time!

Attendance in ALL of our Lutheran Churches has increased since January 11th. The Church was growing before that - but now it is exploding.

What a great feeling to be in a place where some people walked two hours to be there and they had to stand outside in the sun for three hours! They didn't leave. All seats inside and outside (church has no walls) were filled! Definitely God is working in the midst of tragedy and death!

This afternoon we spent time walking and talking with the people of Jacmel who are living in a tent city. Around 4,000 people in this tent city alone! They lost homes and everything else and it is only their family (those who were not killed) and a tent and a few items they were able to save.

Very hopeless situation. Pastor Marky and us talked about ways in which outreach could be done in the tent cities and what would be needed.

One place for all 4000 people to get water - so they line up.

Received word tonight that a container has come in so may be heading out late tonight to help unload. We have to leave tomorrow at 4:30AM to get to Port au Prince for our flight to Jeremie. All in all it was a tiring, emotional, fulfilling day.

I am amazed at the positive attitude of the people - especially the Christians, we have met! Despite the worst of situations - their faith is intact!!

They have the Solid Rock!!!

http://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/

TIM HETZNER

TEAM Update

2010-03-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 14th - 125 children shoed up for VBS at the church we were expecting 40.

It was quite an ordeal getting there. Did a lot of prep work for medical and eyeglass clinic. Jeremie is filled with a lot of people. Pastor Isaac has a boy living with him that was 5 days buried in rubbled. Doctors did not want to treat him becuase he smelled of death. Parents deceased. He will live with them. Back was all scared but healed and well. JAN

Saturday, March 13th - Pastors arrived this morning safe, but very tired. We are separting getting ready for the week. VBS this afternoon with the orphans. Quite overwhelming. Still missing 4 medical tubs and 1 VBS tub. Lophane is checking airport today. JAN

Friday, March 12th - Got up around 4:30AM to get a quick breakfast and head to the airport to get our medical luggage and try and find the additional missing five tubs. They were not there but were told by American Airlines that they may have gone through to Port-au-Prince. Upon flight delays we arrived in Port-au-Prince around 12:30PM. What confusion at the airport as the main building is closed down. Our entire luggage made it EXCEPT the five tubs. American Airlines said they would get them to Jeremie where the medical clinics will be. The plan was to have a truck take the medical supplies by truck to Jeremie and the group would fly with their carry-ones. Well - that didn't work, not enough room on the small plane, so three of the guys are on a bus with ALL the luggage and medical supplies. They will be driving through the night and arriving in Jeremie sometime Saturday - God willing! TIM

Thursday, March 11th - After gathering at O'Hare Airport to leave, and loading the 38 medical containers, we went to the boarding area to fly to Miami. One group was to fly out at 2:30PM and the other at 3:30PM. We found out that the 2:30PM flight had mechanical problems so at the last minute American Airlines arranged for them to get on to another plane. Both groups arrived shortly after each other. American Airlines said that we were not able to check our luggage through to Port-au-Prince so we had to gather all of our baggage and arrange temporary storage. We noticed that five of our medical containers were missing - they did not get on to the new flight. After spending about three hours at the airport in Miami on this we decided to go to the hotel around 10PM and try to locate them early in the morning. TIM

What $ 200.00 can buy...

2010-03-11T16:10:00.000-08:00

Sue Steege reflects on her experience in Haiti last January after the earthquake. Thought you might enjoy her insight into the event and reaction immediately after.

I continue to be amazed or should I say embarrassed by the sense of sharing by people who have so little. I have been privileged to hear similar stories thoughout Haiti. Unfortunately the media choose to portral the ungly side of food riots in Port-au-Prince. Ken

Each year when we go to Les Cayes, Haiti on our mission trip, we go out to eat one night at Nami, a Chinese restaurant. I know—it sounds funny, doesn't it? We have to order our food ahead and pay for it, so the restaurant can go and buy the groceries to make the meal. The food always tastes great and they have cold beverages which are also special.

We also use it as a time to treat our hosts…the Izidor family, Pastor Paul Touloute and his family, Nora and Leon, and sometimes our bus driver. These are people who are day-by-day, in very difficult circumstances, living out the Gospel. It is nice to give them a night out.

This year, we were scheduled to go to Nami on Thursday night (the quake was Tuesday). On Wednesday, we talked about it and, knowing that supplies would soon be running short, we decided to give the Izidors the $200+ that we would have spent at Nami. “Please use it however you can…”

I didn’t think about it much after that. Wednesday was filled with keeping the orphans occupied since school was closed and the Izidor family was making decisions about next steps. Thursday morning was the hospital visit (for another post) and Thursday afternoon we did VBS (that felt so good—to be sharing the Word with the children). Dan and the guys worked on handyman projects around the orphanage. Thursday night we slept outside again because there were warnings from the UN about being inside.

As we awoke on Friday morning (you wake up early when you sleep outside), we noticed Israelson’s jeep making repeated trips out of the compound and back in. Yelline went with him. The first trip back he had 400 pounds of rice. The next trip back was other food. And so it went. About the third trip in, Nora leaned over to me and said, “Well, Sue, there’s your restaurant money. We think we can feed the kids for 2 months on these supplies.”

I wept when she said that and I am weeping again as I write it. I don’t really know why. I guess I was just so incredibly grateful that we were able to do one little thing to help in that horrible tragedy. And I am so incredibly humbled to compare the money that I spend on food to what $200 can buy in Haiti.

As Israelson and some of our guys were unloading the supplies, I asked Israelson about the whole thing. He said, “We try to buy as much as we can now, because we know that people will soon be coming to us because they are hungry.” I asked, “Will you give them food?” “Yes,” he said, “we will try to give them just enough to get them by. It will be hard because eventually we will have to turn some away. It is very hard.”

And so, humbled and teary again, I tried to take into my heart the amazing example of the Izidor family, who over and over again, do not think only about how they will take care of their own (including 28 orphans), but how God might also use them to help others. And I ask God to give me that heart as well.

SUE STEEGE
First Trinity DCE
ssteege@firsttrinity.com

Haiti Medical Mission 3-11 to Jeremie, Haiti

2010-03-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

Haiti Mission Team Praying with
Congressman Peter J. Roskam

Tim Hetzner and members of the Haiti Medical Mission team met with Congressman Peter J. Roskam of Illinois to thank him for his support for our Relief Efforts for the people of Haiti.

Among those pictured are Sue Gross, Illinois Haiti Mission Director, Dr. Susan Busse - head of the Malaria Initiative, Tim Hetzner, President of Lutheran Church Charities, and Congressman Peter Roskam.

LCC

Haitian TOYS

2010-03-04T11:20:00.001-08:00

A tireless bicycle rim and stick turned into a rolling push ring.

What imagination and ingenuity.

Endless hours of play and NO big $'s spent!

KEN

Haitian KITES flying for HOPE

2010-03-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

When in Haiti you can watch children entertaining themselves for hours with homemade kites. Back in 2001 I had a chance to observe closeup one that was simply made of discarded plastic from a bag with wooden stays stripped from a palm tree. The tail was from dirty rags and the string was a mixture or reused thread or string tied together. Nothing goes to waste as I notice exclusively home made toys. A plastic water bottle turned into a pull toy. A tireless bicycle rim and stick turned into a rolling push ring. Makes one wonder at their imagination and ingenuity.

Nora Leon from Children of Israel Orphanage is staying with us this week after spending the last 5 weeks in a refugee camp. During our conversation about the affect of the earthquake on the children of Les Cayes she mentioned she knew HOPE was returning to Haiti when she saw the children FLYING KITES again.

Then today I happened to see the following promo video from the Newsboys "Born Again", the title track off the newsboys new record which releases June 8th, 2010.

Enjoy the video clip:

Keep praying the God will keep the kites flying over Haiti

KEN

RONEST seeks Assistance

2010-02-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

$2,500 Needed for Haitian Boy's Medical Treatment in Chicago.

The Haitian Lutheran Mission Project has been asked to assist an 18 yr-old Haitian boy named Ronest from Les Cayes, Haiti. He has been diagnosed with a condition called neurofibromatosis. These are small tumors that grow all over his body. They may return after being removed but we are considering bringing him to the States to have them removed because two of the largest tumors (one on his upper left arm and one on his upper left chest) have become very painful. He has a number of other lumps on his lip, torso, arms and legs.

He has contacted Nora (a full time missionary at our Lutheran Church in Les Cayes) for help and she contacted us. Nora has been a friend of ours for years and we often network to help the Lutheran Pastors in Haiti. Nora has already arranged for a hospital and surgeon (here in Illinois) to pick up the cost of his surgery and hospital stay. He also has a Host Family ready to care for him but other expenses (air fare, passport etc.) totaling $2,500 need to be met.

Ronest lives with his grandmother and 4-year-old sister. His father is a mechanic, his mother died in 2007. He lives in a 3 room house with rock walls, an iron roof and cement floor. There are two beds in the home and it does have electricity at times but no running water. He does NOT have food to eat every day.

Prayerfully consider helping us bring Ronest to Chicago for treatment.

Click here to donate

Question can be directed to Susan
at suelynn144@aol.com

Trinity-HOPE overview and schools impacted by recent earthquakes

2010-02-15T08:30:00.001-08:00

Trinity - Hope is responsible for the feeding program through the schools.
For many families this is the source of food for their children.

Click on the following Slideshow to get an overview of this excellent program:

Click on the forward arrow to progress :

Trinity/HOPE overview and schools impacted by recent earthquakes

View more presentations from Trinity/HOPE.

Please consider supporting this program.

KEN

“No Haitian is ever hungry.”

2010-02-10T14:26:00.000-08:00

There is a Haitian saying that says, “No Haitian is ever hungry.” We know that is not true! A large majority of the Haitian people are hungry! But, they are also unselfish and have a gift of hospitality.

When a Haitian person only has a loaf of bread, he will break it in half to share with those nearby. Thus, the meaning of the saying! I saw this very thing in action last night. French fried potatoes had been prepared for me. I could not eat all of them, so I offered them to one of the neighborhood children who I knew was hungry. Soon she was offering some of it to her sister and then the Camp children started gathering around. As one little girl bit into a fry, she took the second half of the fry and put it into the mouth of another child. They all took turns sharing the spoon to scoop up the sauce that was at the bottom of the pan. All the children went away happy having had at least one bite of food. These actions continue to remind me what a selfish person I am!

NORA

read more of Nora's refugee camp experience here :

Click here: Causes

just know that your gifts and donations will be shared by many in need.
KEN

An AWESOME God, An Awesome Experience

2010-02-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

Dianna Bonfield, Director of Volunteers & Disaster Response for LCC, reflects on how God works through volunteers and donors

It was an awesome experience to see God at work these past few weeks, working in and through His people to provide His church in Haiti with the resources to touch people's lives with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, amidst the darkness of a nation where the majority of people practice voodoo. Recently, on one of the Christian radio stations, I heard a report from some missionaries in Haiti saying that before the earthquake of January 13, at sunset every evening, you would begin to hear the sounds of the voodoo drums that would play throughout the night. Since the earthquake, what you hear now are Christians in the parks and the streets where they now live, getting together to sing praises to God and praying.

On Thursday, January 14, the day after the earthquake, LCC posted an appeal for cash donations for Haiti. Those donations continue to come in. The next day (January 15) LCC published the LCMS World Relief and Human Care list of items that were needed immediately. The response of God's people was amazing.

http://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/
DIANNA BONFIELD
LCC Diaster Response

Jesus, save me!

2010-02-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

I would like to tell you how God is good.
In the first book of Samuel 2:6, and Deut. 32: 39,

it is said: "The Lord killeth and maketh alive; He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with me: I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”

Almost Died

That’s why I feel I must share with you my testimony, how God saved me on January 12, 2010 in Port au Prince, Haiti from the deadly hearthquake that devastated the country killing people by the hundreds of thousands, living millions of victims.

That Tuesday, I was attending a workshop on how to care for the orphans. Sponsored by a nonprofit organization called RACINE, this workshop was supposed to take place from 3:00 to 5:30 PM. Then, At 6:30 PM , I had a preaching appointment at Evangelical Christian Church led by Pastor Benissoit Pierre in Martissant. The revival service at that church started at 4:00 PM and had to last till 8:00 PM. As the guest preacher, I was supposed to arrive at around 6:30 PM.

While still attending the workshop at the University of Hautes Etudes, by 4:30 PM it just came to my mind to leave the place immediately. I asked my colleagues to allow me to leave, but they didn’t want me to. Yet, I left anyway, took a taptap (taxi) and headed downtown as fast as possible. When I arrived at Rue Pavee, just half a block to the Telecommunication building (very tall building indeed),

I stopped by a tyre inflater pump open shop, and all of a sudden, I heard a voice urging me to buy a tyre inflater. I didn’t buy the tyre inflater. I wasn’t interested in buying one because I didn’t have enough cash in my wallet. But, for a third time, the same voice commanded me to buy the inflater anyway by saying: “I command you to buy the inflater immediately!” Well, I had no choice this time. I obeyed and bought the inflater. It was about 4:45 PM. The seller took 7 long minutes to give me the change, enough time set up by the Almighty God to prevent me from getting killed when the Teleco building crumbled.

As soon as I left the open shop and arrived just in front of the Teleco building, I heard another voice saying to me: STOP!

And all of sudden I started turning around like a drunk person with the earth vibrating under my feet, and I could see the Teleco building and the Nova Scotia hotel shaking and dancing like crazy, and me right in the middle, between both tall buildings that are about to collapse on me. People in the street ran like crazy taking refuge under the Teleco. I also thought of taking refuge under the huge building and didn’t have much time to decide when all of a sudden a taptap just stopped in front of me with no passenger on board, and I grabbed the back of the taptap with all my strength so I can stand somehow on the earth trembling under me. While crying: “Jesus, save me! Jesus, save me! Jesus, save me!” unexpectedly I saw a young man dressed in blue pants and white long sleeve shirt who came and grabbed my arm and dragged me in the taptap, sat on the floor and put me between his legs to make sure I am safe.

Then, in less than a second, the Teleco building collapsed and killed instantly all those that took refuge under it. Please remember it is a huge building! That building fell also on the back of the taptap and pushed it under the Nova Scotia Hotel (another skyscraper). A powerline pole fell as well on the back of the taptap making the situation worse for me as the seconds passed by, blood all over my face and my shirt, because a piece of something hit me hard, but not hard enough to kill me (My God said no!) During all this time I was bleeding in the taptap, everything was upside down, from bad to worse. I kept praying: “Jesus, please keep the hotel from crumbling! Jesus, please keep the hotel from crumbling! Jesus, please keep the hotel from crumbling!” Meanwhile, the whole Port au Prince was covered with dust, debris and dead bodies all over the place. I couldn’t see anything. 10 minutes later, when I could start seeing somehow, I looked around to thank that guy who put me between his legs, and I never saw him till now. It was unquestionably God’s angel that came to rescue me. All those who took refuge under Teleco building perished instantly. And it was God who sent me to buy the tyre inflater and make the seller take a long time to give me change so I could avoid being killed that day, January 12, 2010. It was also the Almighty God that urged me to leave the workshop on time, because the building collapsed and killed all my colleagues who were attending. Also, when I arrived in Martissant where I was supposed to be the guest preacher, I saw the church building flat down killing all those who showed up at 4:00 PM. Only three people and Pastor Benissoit escaped. Over 100 people arrived early. They all perished. Too bad so sad!

But thank God who saved me 1) from the worshop, 2) from the Teleco building, 3) from the church building that all collapsed and where I almost had a rendez-vous with death.
Yes, God rescued me! God saved me so I can keep taking care of 24 needy kids that I house, feed, clothe and send to school by faith.

Most of those needy kids are fatherless and motherless. They all sleep in my living room, sleeping on the floor. The facility I started building as the orphanage is not completed yet. Now it’s a must to complete it ASAP. I still have a lot to do for the Lord. That’s why I almost died, but I didn’t. Thanks be to God! He saved me for a purpose! To Him be glory, honor and praise!

If you feel like helping me help the needy, the wounded and the victims of the deadly earthquake, please feel free to do so. Welcome to Haiti! Welcome to Jeremie! We need you! The Lord God needs you for the betterment of Haiti. Please don’t block His blessings!

I would like to finish the buildings that have three comportments: School, Orphanage and Medical Clinic. So, if you want to help us to finish it or sponsor one or more children, Please contact Susan Gross in Chicago at her E-mail: suelynn144@aol.com

Please send this testimony to your friends.

With a grateful heart,

Pastor Jean Isaac Jacquet
District President of Jeremie, Haiti

PRAYERS for SOPHIA

2010-01-31T10:38:00.000-08:00

Today,

I ask you for prayers for my new friend.
Her name is Sophia.

She is thirteen years old and is in the 3rd grade. When she was just a toddler, her poor parents gave her as a restavek* to a family in Port-au-Prince. She tried to attend school, but her chores were too many for her to attend regularly. Eventually, the headmaster sent her home because the family she was working for had not paid her tuition.

The day of the earthquake, she was sent out to buy popcorn for her “mama.” The quake began and when she returned to the house where she lived, she discovered all the people inside had died, except for a little baby who was quickly removed by someone she did not know. And thus, she boarded a bus heading to LesCayes. This is how she came to live in the Refugee Camp in the tent right next to mine. The people living in the tent have allowed her to stay with them. She does not where she will go from here. When I asked Sophia if I could take her photo she said “Yes!” accompanied by a beautiful smile. When I commented about her beautiful smile, she was visibly embarrassed by the compliment! My heart goes out to her!

If this were an isolated story of one young lady, it would be bad enough, but each and every day we are hearing more and more stories from the survivors. It is heartbreaking!

NORA

* A restavec may be considered a type of slave.

Click here: Restavec - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

to read more of Nora posting from a refugee camp in Les Cayes:

Click here: Causes

Our Prayer is that God would Bless Sophia's future and may she to see God's Love reflected in the Christians she is now surrounded by Ken

'How Great Thou Art'

2010-01-26T20:44:00.000-08:00

“The group of refugees spontaneously sang
'How Great Thou Art' in French, and we were filled
with emotion and a sense of one people embraced by God,”
said Rev. Glenn F. Merritt.

Watch – and listen – to this moving slideshow:

Images seen by the LCMS assessment team in Haiti.
The images are from Port-au-Prince and Jacmel.
Members of the assessment team included: Rev. Dr. Jorge Groh, regional director of Latin America with LCMS World Mission; Rev. Glenn Merritt, director of disaster response for LCMS World Relief and Human Care; Chaplain Steve Lee, a critical incident stress specialist; Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt, former LCMS World Mission area secretary for Latin America; Dr. John Lautenschlager, a medical and health relief consultant; and James Neuendorf, LCMS World Mission communications specialist missionary for Latin America

TIM HETZNER
Lutheran Church Charities

Sunday Services Out Doors

2010-01-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

Rev. Thomas Bernard, Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, along with his family are safe. Rev. Markey Kessa, President of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti, has confirmed that all the pastors of the confessional Lutheran pastors of the ELCH and families have survived, but at this point Pastor Markey has no idea of how many congregational members or school children are dead or injured. The Haitian pastors have been, day and night, trying to keep the injured alive and comforted until medical care arrives.

Lophane Laurent Mgr of Trinity Hope feeding program
http://www.trinityhope.org based out of Lebanon, TN forwarded these pictures of services last Sunday.

KEN

Fleeing Disaster by Boat

2010-01-22T18:16:00.000-08:00

GOD's DELIVERY System

2010-01-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

THOMAS COEX / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

...thousands turned to boats, buses, cars and trucks in their uncertain quest for shelter, fresh water and stability.

Jeremie residence reach out to victims while fearful of how to handle influx of refugees. Citizens of far western community have pulled their meager resources to send supplies to the capital and then to bring back displaced and wounded Haitians.

Earlier this week a ship loaded with food and locally grown fruit was sent to Port-au-Prince and then returned with an estimated 2000 refugees. Buses have been hired to head to capital and have returned with masses of people crammed in or riding on top but lack of adequate fuel has prevented additional rescue attempts. Returning with the bus loads are stories of long lines of people on foot exiting the destruction zones and hoping to reconnect with family stilling living in the mountain villages. Already lean resources are being shared with the hope and prayers that Christian aid will re-supply their needs.

We are their hope and can be an answer to their prayers.

We have an opportunity to be part of "God's Delivery System"

Pray for guidance on how you fit into Gods Plan to be a “good Samaritan”.

cut and paste following link to scene at port:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Oa91TThM4

KEN

Mass Exodus from Port au Prince

2010-01-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

Port-au-Prince harbor. Photo: AFP/GETTY

Port-au-Prince harbor destroyed by last weeks earthquake is the scene of people scrambling to leave the city by any means possible. Shipping containers thrown into water make boat docking difficult. As this vessel enter port people desperate to escape take to tiny rowing boats to reach it a mile off shore. Thousands are leaving areas of destruction and headed toward rural areas like Jeremie. Reports are coming in from that residence are helping as best they can but expect their already limited supplies to run out soon. Relief effort needs to start flowing into other parts of the Haitian island.

KEN

Life in a Haitian Earthquake Refugee Camp

2010-01-21T13:35:00.000-08:00

...unashamed voices rendering thanks to God for the blessings of life and health and shelter.

It always strikes me that in a land permeated with voodoo, the Christian people express their beliefs unchallenged and unashamed. Why don’t we claim that freedom in the United States more than we do???

Nora reporting from Les Cayes, Haiti informed us yesterday that the Children of Israel orphanage was declared unsafe for occupancy.

Interested in reading NORA's full blog :
http://norainhaiti.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=amonth%3d1%26ayear%3d2010

KEN

Power of our Prayers !

2010-01-16T06:28:00.000-08:00

Saturday 8:15 AM cst

This just in:

We heard from the team.
They are at the airport in Port-au-Prince. Pray for swift connections with Barb, the adoption facilitator and for the visas to arrive quickly for Lovelie and Wisken.

We aren't sure when they'll be able to fly out at this time.

Jason Christ
Director of Student Ministries
First Trinity Lutheran Church

from this mornings Buffalo News article :
...for more than two years, Whited and his wife, Susan, have been trying to adopt two children from the orphanage, Lovelie, an 11-year-old girl, and Whisken, a 7-year-old boy. The Whiteds have had an agonizing time working through Haiti’s complex adoption regulations.

Whited said he was hoping to arrange to bring the children home with him this year, but the earthquake has made the situation much more difficult. The pastor said all the paperwork he and his wife filled out may have been destroyed in the earthquake. He has been unable to reach any of the necessary Haitian officials to complete the adoptions.

Whited said. “My understanding is that the earthquake is going to push the whole process back even further.”

With our God nothing is impossible.
See God's hand is moving mightily in HAITI today.

Keep those prayers going...
KEN

completer article can be read at: Click here: Tonawanda church group grateful to escape Haiti unscathed : Home: The Buffalo News

NEWS from "Children of Israel Orphanage" - Les Cayes, Haiti

2010-01-16T04:05:00.000-08:00

Rev. Charles Whited of First Trinity Lutheran Church was on the second floor of the orphanage in Les Cayes, Haiti, when the earthquake hit.

Tonawanda church group grateful to escape Haiti unscathed

Also thankful it can aid recovery

By Dan Herbeck
News Staff Reporter
Updated: January 15, 2010, 7:38 PM

At first, the Rev. Charles “Chuck” Whited wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him when a massive earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday. “I heard a wall crack. Then, I saw people running. Everything around me was shaking,” said Whited, a Town of Tonawanda pastor who is in Les Cayes, Haiti, with a missionary group this week. “I got outside with my son, and everyone was running toward a soccer field. I felt wobbly, almost dizzy. Everything was waving back and forth. I thought maybe I was overheated because I didn’t drink enough water that day.” It was a bizarre and scary experience, but Whited is thankful that he and 13 other members of the missionary group from First Trinity Lutheran Church walked away unscathed.

They arrived in Haiti on Monday — one day before the quake — for their annual visit to help out at the Children of Israel orphanage, which was adopted by the Town of Tonawanda church six years ago.

Because of fears that an aftershock might cause the orphanage to collapse, the group slept outside Tuesday night, laying blankets on the stony ground. Since then, they have slept indoors. “The Haitians were really cold that night, but we weren’t cold. We’re from Buffalo,” Whited said with a laugh.

... saying nobody in the group wants to come home early.

“Our feeling is that God has put us in this place at just this time,” Whited said.

“We’re here to help and comfort the people of Haiti in every way that we can.”

to read complete article: Tonawanda church group grateful to escape Haiti unscathed

Friday update 1-15-10

2010-01-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

It is 4:05am PST.

President Marky Kessa just called me on my cell phone.

Digicell phone company has given him a free phone call.

We conferenced with Ketura Isidor in Indianapolis at Butler University.

Report by points:
-Port au Prince and Jacmel are in ruins
-over 100,0000 dead
-3/4 of the people are sleeping on the streets
-No power, no water
-No idea how many members are dead
-All Lutheran pastors are alive as far as he knows
-He is going to each church and holding prayer and funeral services
-Focusing on the hurt to keep them alive
-PAP/Pastor Doris Jean Louis okay/church and school possibly destroyed
-PAP/Pastor Thomas Bernard okay/church and school damaged
-PAP/Lay Minister Lophane Laurent-alive and helping others in PAP
-LeCaye/Isidor and Touloute family okay
-Central Platue/Pastor Jean Claude Marin okay
-Cap Haitian/Pastor Pastor Eliona Bernard: area shaken, but limited damage
-Fort Liberty/Pastor Daniel Paul okay no problems
-Gonaives/President Revenel Benoit okay/mission team in PAP waiting for flight to US/Canada
-Welcomes any mission team as soon as possible with: cash, medical supplies, water, food, clothing. Medical supplies can get into the country free!
-The need are overwhelming: pray and bring assistance immediately please
-He will be the one to meet people at the airport if anyone can get into Haiti. He will try to keep using Digitcell phone to contact me or others as available.
-He will call me back at 3:00pm CST today for a more reports and updates. I explained to him that the LCMS was meeting today at 1:00CST via conference call.

As brothers and sisters in Christ we pray for wisdom and the grace and mercy of God to prevail as we respond in faith and Christian love. Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. Amen.

Pastor S T Williams, Jr
Senior Pastor
St. Paul Evang. Lutheran Church
Los Angeles, CA 90018

Word from Lophane

2010-01-14T22:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Brothers and sisters,

How are you doing? Hope you are well. for my family and I, we can say for now, we are not so bad, we don't know for this afternoon or tomorrow. I can tell you since three days I never sleep, and you know there is many people who need help, but you know I do my best to help them, but you know thing is not too big for me, I give them water and something else, because I have some friends who come to join with me to bring help to some people. I talked to John what now and he will call some of you to let you know that my family and I, are well with. Roro's house house is destryed and his car too, but his family is safe too. Please forgive me if you see I didn't call you or e-mail it's because I couldn't found internet, my international phone couldn't work cause signal. Please continue to prayers for us and we need help, and whatever the things you can do for us we will be happy. I cannot stay anymore because another person want to use it. Say hello to your families for me.
Jason say hello to Jack for me because I know he is afraid of me.
John How is Carol?
My friends if i have a chance to e-mail you I will do my best to do it.

http://www.trinityhope.org/

Blessings

Laurent Lophane,

Supervisor/Manager

Trinity / Hope

2010-01-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

LCMS - World Relief
Rev. Matthew Harrison
1-13-10 video

This video clip is a day old but provides some additional information on some of our Pastors we are praying for.

Click here: The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - 01-13: Rev. Matthew Harrison on Haiti Earthquake

Information is still somewhat sketchy, and should be considered preliminary only.

Ken

ELCH Earthquake update

2010-01-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

Haiti's National Palace - before and after

Pastor Marky Kessa is safe.

Pastor Marky, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In Haiti has been located and is safe. There has been serious damage in his District of Jacmel.

Although I still have not heard from Pastor Isaac, I did get an update this morning from The Haitian Health Foundation near Pastor Isaac's home in Jeremie.

Apparently there was more damage than first reported in Jeremie and the surrounding village communities. Mar Franc and Moron have both suffered the loss of homes and lives. Both of these villages are in Pastor Isaac's district and were visited by our teams on the last mission trip.

The Haitian Health Foundation (which is a big organization out of CT) said they had a container arrive in Port Au Prince just before the earthquake hit so their fear is that they will never get the food and medical supplies that were sent.

They are searching for ways to receive supplies into Jeremie and asked that any donations be held until they find a way to receive them safely.

Please send your donations through your local church,the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project or Lutheran Church Charities http://www.luteranchurchcharities.org/
NOT the government or unknown charities.

Sue Gross - Haitian Lutheran Mission Project

2009-11-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

11-01-09
Thanksgiving Greetings from the Haitian Lutheran Mission Project

WOW, things are getting rough for many here in the States but we still have much to be Thankful for this season. Don’t believe me?

Here is a summary of what happened to the people from the MAYFLOWER who settled Plymouth Colony. Their first winter was brutal and they suffered many deaths but the following summer of 1621 was beautiful. After a bountiful harvest and saving enough supplies to feed the colony for the coming winter the settlers gave thanks to God for his Blessings. Gov. Bradford declared a public day of thanksgiving and a 3 day celebration took place. A few weeks later with winter approaching a ship load of new settlers arrived with NO supplies to get them through the winter. YIKES!

I don’t know what debates took place over this matter but the settlers did take these people into their homes giving them shelter and food until almost all was depleted. From that point on food was rationed. They entered their own starving time that winter of 1621-1622. Each settler was allowed 5 kernels of corn a day. It‘s true. 5 kernels of corn a day! They trusted God because they knew they were doing HIS will. God’s reward? Not one person died that winter for lack of food.

God does bless us. The more we sacrifice the greater the blessing.

Although in this economy we may feel we are having to do without some of the things we consider necessities, Thanksgiving might be a good time for us to re evaluate what is really important and what we might be able to give up permanently to give glory to GOD.

I am not asking any of you to starve your families so that you can support Pastor Isaac’s Ministry but there might be a little luxury in your life you can do without so that someone else can feed his child more than 5 kernels of corn a day.

Does your family go out for dinner occasionally? Instead of taking them out for pizza once a month have pizza at home and sponsor an orphan for $25.00 a month with the money you save by eating at home. Let the children know that they are feeding a child that has nothing by giving up their night out.

Do you spend $50.00 a month going out for lunch instead of brown bagging it to work? $50.00 a month pays a Lutheran Teachers salary enabling him/her to feed his/her own children.
Do you spend a lot of money on junk food? Give it up and send any monthly donation to the FEEDING PROGRAM that will help feed 500 children a bowl of rice and beans every day so that they do not starve.

Our family tradition on Thanksgiving has been to have 5 kernels of corn on every plate as we sit down to give thanks to God for the wonderful meal that is to come. As we put the 5 kernels in a dish that is passed around the table we each tell of something we are especially thankful for .

Make Thanksgiving meaningful this year. Teach your children the TRUE meaning of GIVING THANKS. Let them know we are Thanking GOD not the Indians, not mother earth, not the people who settled this country, God from whom all blessing flow.

Special Thanks to all who have supported Pastor Isaac's Ministry this past year.
We have 2 openings yet for our mission trip to Haiti March 11-20. If interested in joining us email suelynn144@aol.com

In the right place at the right time!

2009-05-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

God's Blessings to those who love Haiti,

I would like to start by thanking all the Congregations, schools, Bible Study Groups and individuals who made our Haitian Pastors feel so welcomed last month as they visited our country.

Pastors Isaac and Pastor Marky Kessa (President of Evangelical Church or Haiti) spent a very full week visiting MANY Chicago area Lutheran Organizations. They shared information about their Ministries, how some of the orphaned children came to them, school construction progress and the Faith that gets them through daily life in Haiti.

One of the most moving stories Pastor Isaac told while here was about the newest orphan, Saintilove, who he has taken into his home (number 23). Pastor Isaac was visiting one of his village congregations (he rides his motorcycle as far as he can and then walks over rough terrain to get to the village). He and one of his Lay Pastors were walking through a wooded area toward the village when they heard a strange sound in the distance. Pastor stopped to listen, heard it once more and then started to walk in that direction. There, lying in a pile of trash was a 4 year old girl near death,(this is where Pastor began to sob) a wild pig had begun eating her leg. Pastor chased it away and picked up the unconscious little girl and held her until he felt her breathing. He then fed her some wine he had carried in his travel bag and sent the Lay Pastor back for his motorcycle so that they could get her to the hospital in Jeremie. Pastor then went on to explain that this little girl's parent were both dead and she was being raised by her grandmother. Her Grandmother had no food for the little girl and knew that she would die soon. Because she did not want to watch the child die she put her in a trash heap in the woods. We all cried.

How desperate people in Haiti must be to abandon their children so as not to watch them suffer. How good our loving God was to put Pastor Isaac in that place just in time to help one of HIS children. He could have kept walking when he heard the sound and he never would have found her. We can keep walking and also not help those needing us because we think someone else will do it. How good God is that he is letting you read this message.

Pastor Isaac did tell another story that stuck out in my mind. The day before Easter one of his lay pastors came to him and said he could not attend Church on Easter Sunday because he had no shoes to wear (The Haitians dress very respectfully for Church). Pastor Isaac told him he had 2 pair of shoes so he could have the other pair which made the man very grateful because he could now attend church on Easter. The next morning as Pastor was dressed in his suit ready to preach at the Easter morning service he told his wife he could not find his shoes and she said that the day before a member of their congregation had come to the house and told her he could not go to church on Easter because he did not have any shoes so she gave him Pastor's extra pair. We laughed.

Those that have so little are so much more willing to share. We have so much compared to those living in Haiti yet we are so reluctant to share what we have even though God tells us to do just that. Please Lord make me less selfish!

Many of you expressed your thanks for the Pastors visit as it made your support more personal and meaningful. I hope that feeling will stay fresh in our hearts and remind us of our blessings.

Although this was not meant to be a fund raising visit many new hearts were moved and through Lutheran Church Charities we were introduced to a wonderful business that donated the money Pastor Isaac needed to purchase a car. Just when I think, this is too much of a project to handle, The Lord comes through with an answer. When will I ever learn?

Again, thanks to all who shared this experience.

It was truly a team effort and we appreciate all of you.
Susan Gross

Haitian Lutheran Mission Project

Christ Lutheran Church, Orland Park, IL

Spring 2009

2009-03-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Easter Greetings from Pastor Isaac's Orphans,

It has been some time since I updated you on Pastor Isaac and his ministry so I will attempt to fill you in briefly on the last several months.
It certanly has been a year of ups and downs for Haiti and Pastor Isaac but, as always,

GOD IS GOOD.

1. We started out 2008 by sending a bus packed with much needed supplies for the children and for the construction that was to begin on the School/Orphanage building.

2. Construction started and the foundation was poured for the building before our team arrived in June.

3. 2 Mission teams arrived in Jeremie starting the end of June until mid July. These teams helped with the construction of the School/Orphanage building and hosted VBS for over 500 children in Jeremie. They also got to know the Orphaned children that live with Pastor and his family and gave them 17 days of love and attention they will never forget.

4. A few days after our last team left in July hurricane season hit Haiti and devastation resulted. Not just 1 hurricane but several hit the tiny island and people everywhere suffered from it. Food prices skyrocketed, homes were destroyed, disease killed many from contaminated water supplies. Haiti has still not recovered from these storms.

5. Relief from many of our Lutheran Church Ministries helped Pastors in Haiti get food and medicines to those who needed it most. They did not keep these supplies for their own congregation members but distributed aid to anyone in need.

6. The School/Orphanage building project stopped due to lack of funds but the children continued to be well cared for and were able to attend school thanks to the donations from LCC and those who support the children monthly.

7. Recently Pastor Isaac resumed construction on the School/Orphanage with the promise of a grant from LWML for this purpose. He hopes to have the building completed buy Sept of 2009 in time for school to start.

8. We now are now able to support enough teachers to keep 4 of the Lutheran Schools open for the coming year. 6 of the teachers are pictured below from the school in Beaudouin.

9. Pastors Isaac and Marky are planning a trip to Chicago after Easter to thank the Congregations,individuals and Lutheran Church Charities that have been supporting their ministry. If you would like one of the Pastors to visit your congregation contact suelynn144@gmail.com.

10.A mission Trip to Haiti is being planned for the week of July 4, 2009 if anyone is interested contact Sue at the above.

Please pray for our Haitian Brothers and Sisters as they continue their ministry

Hurricane GUSTAV hits Jacmel, Haiti

2008-09-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

Missionary video captures devastating effect of
rain water as it runs through Jacmel, Haiti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC4yZCcCrhE

KEN

USAID to Haiti

2008-09-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

US Navy Delivers Aid to remote communities

(Media-Newswire.com) - Washington

The United States is sending $19.5 million in humanitarian aid to Haiti to help victims of four tropical storms that struck the small Caribbean nation in less than 30 days.Tropical storms Fay and Hanna and hurricanes Gustav and Ike have affected an estimated 600,000 people in nine of Haiti's 10 departments ( regions ), according to the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ).

The storms killed an estimated 328 people in the country and left 114,000 people displaced from their homes. Many of the homes were destroyed or damaged, according to a USAID fact sheet.So far, the Navy vessel USS Kearsarge has delivered an estimated 466 metric tons of emergency food and other supplies and some 5,867 liters of water to Haiti, according to a September 13 Navy press release.

More Photos

2008-09-16T13:36:00.001-07:00

Hurricane Hanna's aftermath ...

2008-09-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

It's hard to look at, but it also impresses you on the gravity of the situation there.

Please take the time to watch and keep your fellow Christians in your Prayers!

http://www.miamiherald.com/multimedia/slideshows/090808_haiti_floods/

We have been blessed - - to be a BLESSING to others in need,

KEN

Pleading for Help

2008-09-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

A flooded Gonaives, Haiti, is shown after Tropical Storm Hanna stalled over the county for four days.
PATRICK FARRELL / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

People wade through flooded streets after Tropical Storm Hanna hit the area in Gonaives, Haiti
ARIANA CUBILLOS/AP
______________________________________
Pastor Marky sent us the following letter this morning

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace and mercy from our Lord and Savior be with you

Our Situation in Haiti its very bad and sad, all over Haiti people are dying, kids and adults in water, for now many of them are going to die because they don't find food and clean water to drink , in a place or area they call Cabaret very near to Port -au-Prince where pastor Thomas Bernard is working as district president, more than 40 people are died in water, 13 kids and adults, they are asking for food and water and medicine. the mormon church provide Helicopter going to provide food and water to a few places because the need are great, and at Gonaives people are dying because no food and water, people in Jacmel, they move away from their house for many days, no food for them, no good water. we don't have to wait, we have to do what we can to provide some help to these who are in need. I am in Jacmel, it raining every day, and big storms, Les Cayes it is the same, big rain and storms , North East, North, Central Plateau, and West (Port-au-Prince), Tigaoves, Riviere de nippe, some areas in Jeremie, and Port de Paix, we are in needs.

My brothers and sisters, you have to be here in Haiti to see and understand what we are telling you right now. Please if you could do something please do it as faster you could do it. I try to call pastor Revenel I can' I know he is in trouble. Please try call him to see how you can help him, it is almost impossible to drive gonaives right now and to many other places in Haiti. We have to go to cabaret to help those people where more than 40 people were killed.

As people of God and Lutheran we have to show our Love them. I know you love us don't wait..... something has to be done Anyone who want to do something, individual, church, churches, organizations, World Relief, Board for Mission....

May God bless all of you pastor Marky Kessa
President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti

__________________________________

From left, Navy service personnel Vincent Bradley, 21, of Pensacola, Fla.,
Charles Berry, 27, of Crestview, Fla., and Benjamin Okongo, 22, of Detroit, Mich.,
wait with food and relief supplies at the Port Au Prince Airport in Haiti after recent storms/hurricanes have battered the country. PATRICK FARRELL/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

For several days we have been trying to make contact with anyone in Jeremie without success.
Our last communique was Sept. 4th
Yesterday's Miami Herald said Jeremie was cut off from the rest of the Island. Then today AP (link below) reports the US Navy is dropping food into Jeremie.

Click here: The Associated Press: US Navy reaches Haiti as floodwaters recede

_______________________________________

Just heard from Nora in Les Cayes - without power but Orphanage in Les Cayes is OK.

_______________________________________

Haiti's President René Préval told The Miami Herald on Sunday ''This is Katrina in the entire country but without the means that Louisiana had,''
Click here: Hurricane Ike kills dozens in Haiti - 09/08/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

KEN
"We have been Blessed to be a Blessing to others"

Hurricane IKE

2008-09-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

Photos from the front page of today's Miami Herald.

Haiti's President René Préval is quoted saying ''This is Katrina in the entire country but without the means that Louisiana had,''

PATRICK FARRELL / MIAMI HERALD

A woman weeps as the lifeless bodies of twelve children that died in flooding caused by Hurricane Ike are loaded onto a truck and carried away to the morgue.

PATRICK FARRELL / MIAMI HERALD

Frantz Samedi grieves with his lifeless 5-year-old daughter Tamasha Jean in his arms. Tamasha died as she was swept away by floods from Hurricane Ike.

Haiti pounded with Storms !

2008-09-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Thursday 9/4/08

Today – Chicago is receiving what is left of Hurricane Gustav in the form of wind and rain. This is nothing compared to what is happening in Haiti.

"The situation is as bad as it can be," said Vadre Louis, a U.N. official in Gonaives. "The wind is ripping up trees. Houses are flooded with water. Cars can't drive on the street. You can't rescue anyone, wherever they may be."

This hurricane season has already claimed many Haitian lives – 50 with Fay and 76 with Gustav. Tropical Storm Hanna drenched flood-plagued land increasing the death-toll by another 25. In the port city of Gonaives, 6.5 foot of water forced residents to climb on their rooftops and pray for relief. Haiti’s lack of infrastructure, as well as the deforestation of hillsides for production of cooking charcoal, leaves the island especially vulnerable to flash flooding and disastrous mudslides.

Dr Catherine Wolf, missionary physician from Milwaukee, writes that after 48 hours of continuous rain <> that “ the Grand Anse River… has reached the height of the bridge passing over it. …this bridge is the only structure connecting Jeremie with the rest of the country. Everyone and everything coming into Jeremie crosses this bridge and without it, we can’t go anywhere out of town. It’s a big suspension bridge that normally is about 50 feet above the water. So, to have the river reach the bridge is a notable event!”
Click here: Friends for Health in Haiti News

Nora Léon, director of “Children of Israel” orphanage in Les Cayes, reports that the boys had to be moved from the dormitory to the church compound which is on higher ground. She and her husband where stuck in PAP while attempting to return a young girl to here mountain village when the airports were closed and the roads became non navigable. This 7 year old has been receiving medical assistance here in Illinois this summer and is anxious to see her family again.
Received word today that the three are attempting to travel by road as the weather reports indicate that more rain is coming in the form of Ike and Josepine. The family lives in Torbeck a low lying area that floods easily. They have not been able to contact the family and praying that they are safe.

Click here: NEWS FROM NORA

Donations for Disaster Relief are being collected at:
Click here: Lutheran Church Charities

KEN

Newsletter September 2008

2008-08-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

Back to School - September 2008

Greetings to you in the name of our Compassionate Lord.

Now that it has been a month since our return from Haiti we are ready to put some new projects together.
September has always meant BACK TO SCHOOL time for me,so that is what our focus will be for now.

Schools in Haiti will be starting soon and most children will NOT have the opportunity to attend because public schools are NOT free in Haiti. If you cannot afford to feed your family every day how can you afford to send your children to school?

If we were to tell most of our children here in the U S that we could not afford to send them to school this year they would most likely accept this decision cheerfully (for a while anyway) but not Haitian children. They are told that getting an education is the only way out of the extream poverty that they live in. This is their only chance and if they cannot attend school they face a life of hunger and despair. Education is so important that parents will give their children to strangers living in the cities, as servants, if they will send them to school. For those people living outside of the cities, schools are not even available.

This is why the 22 Lutheran Schools that Pastor Isaac started in the villages surrounding Jeremie are so important. The problem is that these schools can not afford to pay their teachers regularly. Although they are promised a salary most of the teachers work for what ever is given them until another opportunity comes their way which they accept in order to feed their families. Some schools do not stay open for the entire school year because the teachers have left to take other positions.

Pastor Isaac asked me to work on a support system for the teachers in 4 of the village schools that he feels are in most need. They are villages that our teams visited while in Haiti last July. They are:
Mar Franc - 67 children - 2 teachers
Moron - 72 children - 3 teachers
Beaudouin - 97 children - 4 teachers
Anse d' Hainault - 182 children - 6 teachers

We have the opportunity not only to educate 418 children by supporting 15 teachers but to expose them to Christian Values through Bible study that is taught in these Lutheran Schools. These children will go home and teach their parents that Voudou is not their salvation but Jesus Christ is. The Haitian people have a great respect for education so they will listen to what their children bring home form school.

After meeting with Pastor Isaac and Pastor Marky (president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti) we have decided that a fair salary for the teachers would be $50.00 a month. This would be enough for an educated person to support his family in the country. We are looking for churches and schools to make a long term commitment to support 1 or more of these teachers. Please prayerfully consider this commitment. $600.00 a year by our standards is not a great amount of money but think what it means to a Haitian child desperately wanting to attend school. Many of us spend this amount every year on our cable service or cell phone service or a cup of coffee on our way to work everyday instead of drinking it at home. Why not remind yourself of these suffering children by giving something up in order to send that $50.00 a month. I guarantee you will not regret it.

SUSAN

Southtown News

2008-08-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

On July 3 the first of 2 teams made up mainly of people from Suburban Lutheran Churches left for the tiny island country of Haiti. Haiti is only 90 minutes from our U S border and now considered the poorest country in the WORLD. 8 million people live in Haiti with an average income of about $400.00 per year. The island has been stripped of most of its natural resources and has suffered through dozens of corrupt dictatorships. Public education is not free in Haiti so most children do not attend school for very long nor do they eat every day but generally 3-4 times a week. It is estimated that there are as many as 300,000 children in Haiti that have been abandoned or sold into slavery. These children are as young as 3 and 4 years of age. Pastor Isaac of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti has made a commitment to get 50 of these children off the streets and into a safe loving home.

The 8 men on Team 1, from Christ Lutheran Church, Orland Park, spent their days building a school/orphanage for the Pastor they have been supporting for the last 3 years. Pastor Isaac of Jeremie, Haiti has 22 orphaned/abandoned children living in his home with his wife and his own 4 children. The 2 women from team 1 spent their days helping with the children, visiting other orphanages, medical clinics and neighboring villages to see where the need for future assistance is the greatest.

As Team 1 left on July 12 Team 2 from Fellowship Of Faith Lutheran Church, McHenry and Living Christ Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights arrived to take over where team 1 left off. The construction continued while a soccer clinic and art classes were added to the daily routine of the orphaned children. Vacation Bible School was also opened to the community which drew an unexpected 500 curious children. At the end of the VBS we passed out granola bars to each child and watched them carry them home to share with hungry siblings.

As we left Haiti on July 19 the walls were up and the roof and doors were yet to be finished on the first building which will eventually be a school but will serve as a home for the 22 children and their caretakers for now. After enough funds have been raised we will build a second building that will be the orphanage and the first building will serve as a school with a feeding program for those that cannot afford public school.

This project has definitely been a group effort.

We have had small and large donations from small businesses and churches of other denominations. Sunday school collections and school aluminum can collections have all contributed to this project and we are grateful for every penny that has been contributed.

Sue Gross

Why we go...

2008-08-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Since returning last month from Haiti, we have had many questions regarding experiences. To be sure every time we go to Haiti (now listed as the poorest Country in the world) we witness the "Good - the Bad and the Ugly". Short conversations always leave me wondering what impression have I left the person. Poverty-lack of health-inability to feed your family is never pleasent to witness. Family members have openly said we are nuts to go or that they are just taking advantage of our generosity and money. Or we get questions about our safety, our health, or the value of traveling rather than just supporting with our dollars. In every case I will let the person know that for me - there is no doubt that the time spent with the Haitian Christians is always worth any discomfort or expense on our part.

But our travel has never been about us - it is all about showing compassion, about bringing hope to the hopeless, interacting with the orphans and showing the local church members that they are not forgotten.

The following links will help you understand WHY supporting Pastor Isaac's Orphanage is so important ! As you watch look into those eyes and then tell us it is not worth it.

This one is in English / 4:59 min / well done Still photos:
Click here: YouTube - Haiti's Child Slaves

If you want to dig deeper this one is in Creole with English subtitles / 6:56 min but faster moving
Click here: YouTube - In Focus: Restaveks, Child Slaves of Haiti

This Third one is also a video with subtitles taken from the child's perspective / 3:36
Click here: YouTube - Strange Things

Ken

7-25-08 Jeremie Trip Recap

2008-08-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Pastor Isaac and his family in Haiti.

He wishes to thank all of you who helped to make his dream of building the orphanage/school come true.

Yes, it has begun. The foundation was poured and the walls for the orphanage/school were almost finished when we left Jeremie on Saturday July 19.

Team #1 made up of 9 men and 2 women from Christ Lutheran Church, Orland Park, IL, Pastor ST Williams from St Paul Lutheran Church, L.A.,CA, Pastor Marky Kessa, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti and Laurent Lophane, Coordinator for Trinity Hope Feeding Program arrived on Friday July 4 and worked construction each morning until the heat became too much and they broke for lunch and relaxation. The women used most of their days working with Pastor Isaac’s children (teaching crafts, Bible stories and songs) and visiting another nearby orphanage where they were welcomed with much enthusiasm.

Our afternoons were spent visiting a medical clinic where we were able to supply vitamins and over the counter meds to those who could not afford them. We also visited and toured the facilities of The Haitian Health Foundation where women with high risk pregnancies can get care. Pastor Isaac was told that he can send women to them for a very small fee if he feels they qualify.

We were also fortunate enough to visit other Lutheran Churches that Pastor Isaac is responsible for in 2 of the more remote areas surrounding Jeremie. Mar Franc and Marone both are what he calls “Preaching Stations” run by lay pastors. Both Churches support a Lutheran School which is very important because there are no other schools available in these areas. These Churches are very poor but they struggle to support a teacher who does NOT get paid regularly. Many of the teachers do not stay long at these Church Schools because they must feed their families so they take other jobs when they have not been paid for a long period of time.
What a great opportunity for a congregation or school here in the States to support a Teacher in Haiti!!! (about $50.00 a month).

Team #2 made up of 8 men and 8 women from Fellowship Of Faith Lutheran Church, McHenry, IL, Living Christ Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, IL (including Pastor Paul Klopke), Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY and Tim Hetzner (president of Lutheran Church Charities) arrived on July 12 as Team #1 left. We did more construction each morning and lots of VBS in the afternoons. We also held a Soccer Clinic and Art Classes for the children and found the adults had just as much fun when they joined in. Our free day was spent walking through the street market, walking along the warf, and visiting some very beautiful spots that Pastor wanted to show us.

Team #2 also had the opportunity to visit a “Preaching Station”. The village of Bouduin was one that I visited 3 years ago with Pastor and it was as beautiful as I remembered it. To get there we drove over a very rugged road while standing in the back of a pick up for about 35 minutes until we got to the river. We then took off our shoes and waded across the river and walked into a very jungle like area up the side of a mountain. A couple of us fell along the way but it was worth the hike when we heard the people singing their welcome song to us at church. What a celebration! The singing and dancing rocked the church and we witnessed 12 baptisms that afternoon. What a glorious day. Even the ride home made us smile.

The two weeks ended very quickly for me but I know the teams went home feeling that they really did accomplish something and we were all very happy to see how well cared for Pastor Isaac’s Orphans are. They are truly HAPPY and healthy looking. They do not have the blank stares that so many of the other Haitian children have. They are smart, well behaved and very loving children. They have their daily jobs like collecting water from the well, washing dishes and helping with the care of the younger children. I never heard a complaint form any one of them and their smiles told me that they are glad to be with Pastor and his family.

The facility that Pastor plans to build is comprised of a building for a school, orphanage, medical clinic, chapel and guest house. We worked on the very first portion of the complex which is the school. The children will move into this building until enough money is raised for the orphanage section and then the school will be opened to the children in the community. The income from the school should help pay for the teachers and then Pastor will no longer have to pay for his children to attend public school. The Guest House also will provide income property for Pastor.

There is still much work to be done but we got a good start. God was truly with us as so many things coulda/shoulda gone wrong.

Thanks to so many of you who sent gifts from your heart directly to us for the trip and those who donated through Lutheran Church Charities You all made this building possible.