Hope for Haiti: August 2009

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Jean Rabel Mission Trip

Marcel and his team of 61 adults and 8 children we able to minister to many. This man had been imprisoned for a debt, God choose to set this captive free, allowing His saints to mark the debt paid in full! If you would like to see additional pictures from the trip just click on the title "Jean Rabel Mission Trip" above.

A note from Marcel:

Dear Friends,
We made it back safe and sound Tuesday afternoon, we were all indeed tired, still can't get ourselves back together. Looking back at what the Lord has enabled us to do,we are amaze and we praise Him for using even us in this great endeavor, the hospitality of the people at Jean-Rabel is awesome, we felt right at home, it was hard to separate with them. The Gospel is becoming more powerful in that place, we believe that the people start realizing the need to turn their life to the Lord,we will continue to stand in the gap to see more come to know the Lord as their personal Savior and Lord. We use the money to help the pastor there, with the pastor's advise we help some of the church members that still can't get themselves back to normal after the last hurricane, we fed 100 people a meal a day and we pay 5000,00 gourdes to release someone from jail.
Thanks for your prayers and support,
We love you!

Marcel

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Mission Trip

Marcel and a team from EMEVI Churches took a trip to the northwest of St Marc from August 20 thru the 24th, or at least that was the plan. Jean Rabel is not all that far away, only 7 hours on some terribly rough dirt roads. This mission trip included 61 adults and 8 children. More details will follow in the days ahead but for the moment a brief update. Plans were to head home Monday on a rented bus. Marcel was notified Sunday night that the bus had some mechanical problems and would be going nowhere. Parts are not available in this area of the country so arrangements were being made to have another bus drive from Port-au-Prince which is 9 hours away. Lets see, that would have put them home late Monday or very early Tuesday. By Tuesday morning other arrangements had been made and the journey back begins via a large truck carrying everyone and their meager travel bags. Ok, 7 hours of travel back to St Marc, in the back of a truck, standing up, dirt roads ---- you get the picture. As of now we have not heard if they are back yet?! Now imagine the Lord opening the door during this "extra" day and night at Jean Rabel for Marcel to preach one more time. A crowd of around 500 came to hear the "Good News" and we wonder was this an inconvience or divine appointment? No doubt in this mind. Many came to the Lord during this mission trip, but we will save the rest of the story for another post.

Monday, August 17, 2009

God Provides

A donation, a port nearby, fences. Not long ago an item was shipped to the port at St Marc. A gift that was so close but at the same time locked behind a fence. Days of discussion, filling out the right paperwork and of course the funds to "release" the gift. God gets all the praise. Donors have gone above and beyond to bless this ministry and doors have been opened that no man can open, .....only God.

We have talked about goats before and the story continues, as the Lord has been opening doors to provide families with sustainable food through the blessing of goats. Scrap metal is collected to be sold for the ability to purchase goats. Funds are donated to purchase more goats. Donors go to the market in Haiti and purchase goats and then deliver them to families. The follow-through is in motion as one of the goats has already delivered two little ones and as they grow they are to be shared with the community. Sustainable provision brings encouragement and hope, thank you.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Encouragement

Reaching out

Marcel with a few of the pastor's from EMEVI visited Gonaives a few weeks ago to share with a pastor friend there. How good it is to have someone come to share and walk with you for a season. This area of the country is still trying to recover from the storms of a year ago. This church may not look like much but is still a refuge "from the storm and storms" of life. Remember to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ and if possible spend a season with them.

Hope for Haiti the story..

Hope for Haiti was Incorporated January 25th, 1993 and is a registered 501(3)(c) non profit organization that was established on January 23rd, 1995. Jon and Diane Seitz as well as Tim Whorl founded Hope for Haiti with the intention of “Promotion of giving and contributions to provide relief for needy Haitians”. Hope for Haiti was founded in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. In 2008, most of the administrative and logistical services were moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee with Jon and Diane still providing oversight for Hope for Haiti from Pennsylvania.
In 1990 Jon and Diane Seitz planned a trip to Haiti with their daughter. Just before their departure their daughter came down with Chicken Pox and plans were changed allowing a door to be opened. Their travels went forward but with a empty seat as their daughter stayed home. On the flight into Haiti, their first, the passenger that filled that seat would forever change not only their lives but many others as well. Being their first trip into Haiti this passenger was concerned that they make the connection at the airport and the journey had begun. They swapped contact information and the rest is now history in the making. 1991 brought another trip back into Haiti for Jon then in 1992 Tim went with Jon and talk started about setting up this ministry. While visiting in 1992 the conversation was started about the possibility of child sponsorship for helping insure that children be able to attend school. After arriving back in the states the paperwork was drawn up and filed to incorporate Hope for Haiti as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation. The trips continued and after seeing the needs from year to year at Bois Neuf Church/School their contact invited them to a nearby community called Charrette. Charrette sits above St Marc in what might be called foothills with a partial view of the bay below. This had opened another door and the tent pegs were about to be expanded. Hope for Haiti's focus had been primarily with Bois Neuf and now it seemed good to reach out beyond there. 1998 there was a stirring going on and a community that was mocking the people of the church saying “where is your God?” was about to change. Charrette church would soon be meeting inside a building instead of under a tree. A trip was organized and planned and in 1999 a Youth Group from Pennsylvania brought much encouragement by working right alongside their brothers and sisters in Christ building what is now the Church/School at Charrette. This was the beginning of a new season for Hope for Haiti and how it would be challenged to continue to reach beyond anything that could have been imagined in those early days. Working alongside a Pastor and Friend that is passionate about God and helping others has and is making this a labor of love. The ministry in Haiti “Evangelical Living Water Ministry of Haiti” or EMEVI has now expanded to include 7 churches and schools with around 1200 students. Today Hope for Haiti continues with it's mission to Promote the giving and contributions to provide relief for needy Haitians. Many have come alongside and through their generosity people's lives are being touched and changed. Teams continue to go providing encouragement and hands to help. Buildings are being built, jobs are created, medical clinics and of course children are being sponsored and educated. Remember that empty seat on the plane? Well Marcel Destine continues to touch many lives and is making a difference. You never know when that divine appointment may come or where it might lead, that is still a work in process.

Hope for Haiti...

a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, located in Glen Rock, PA, with administrative and logistic functions being handled in Chattanooga, TN, works with the ministry EMEVI (Evangelical Living Water Ministry of Haiti). Marcel Destine oversees EMEVI which includes 7 churches, 5 of which are also schools, and are located in and around St Marc, Haiti. We pray this may be used to get the word out to those whose hearts are being tugged on, to come alongside some of the poorest people on earth. Hope for Haiti raises support through sponsorship of children which helps provide for schooling, meals and supplies for schooling. EMEVI info. You might want to check out the video clips for a further explanation of the ministries of EMEVI and Hope for Haiti.