The Days Ahead

The plans were already in motion and the needs although hard to believe are even more now than before. A new school building for Bois Neuf as the old one had been falling apart and was already partially torn down for safety reasons. A team has been formed and will go to assist with this building project in late July. Between now and then preparation has begun, clearing and leveling the area for the school.
Just above the school, land is cleared and a "Chicken House" is being built. These projects are providing jobs and much needed income and will provide continued income and food in the days to come. The school provides much hope for the future as the children are educated and they get to see first hand how a simple Chicken House helps provide for the community around them.
Relief efforts have not ceased and will continue for some time to come. These simple projects may help a broken people and land see hope for the days to come.
Hope for Haiti is reaching out through folks just like you to help with the purchase of chickens, goats and most recently a cow. Not just for consumption but to help with eggs, milk, cheese etc. If you've made it this far, click on the picture or title "The Days Ahead" for more pictures.

Still Standing

Recovery continues and will for far longer than we may want to think about. This gate is a reminder of those still standing and the continued day to day needs that were there before and are still there now.
This past Saturday Marcel performed two weddings at Colmini and almost in the same breath he shared that he used his truck for funeral transportation. Yesterday Marcel's brother was scheduled for surgery, have not heard if that actually happened yet. 7 Churches still depend upon his leadership as well as the schools. EMEVI schools are scheduled to reopen February 8th. 3 Camps for refugees have been set up in St Marc and for this time Marcel feels the need to reach out to those still in Port-au-Prince. Requests continue to come in each day for help....
Please continue to lift up Marcel and those in Haiti in prayer, a few specifics are:

1. For physical strength and wisdom
2. To help those that the Lord leads him to
3. For his brother and the surgery
4. For the new couple living with Marcel

Still standing and in need, and life goes on... A chicken house to be built, foundation work at Bois Neuf, visits to the mountain churches/schools, going to the bank (can be an all day process), and the list goes on...

Standing alone or?

When you see old growth trees in Haiti they stand out, almost to the point of seeming out of place. This handful of trees near a road of sorts, going to Fond Baptist reminds me sometimes our brothers and sisters are left standing alone. It should not be this way but many feel alone. Lets keep our brothers and sisters in Haiti knowing they are not alone

Sentinel

This fort stands as a sentinel in the mountains near Fond Baptist. Around 200 years old it has stood with little maintenance and even today old cannons lie about the fort. Any roofing has long since decayed but still the walls stand. As Haiti starts the process of rebuilding may it be built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, the one that will not be moved. Lets pray with the people that this will be a new day moving from the poverty to the abundance that comes through knowing and walking with our Lord.

For such a time as this

It may be a drop in the bucket of needs but each smile reminds you someone is being touched. Continued delivery of water and crackers is possible because of so many of you donating to this need. Clicking on the picture or title above will take you to this days photo journal. Were it not for donations this past year this might well not be possible. The truck being used was made possible as the Lord brought many alongside to replace one that was a daily "work". So many things have played into this it brought to mind "For such a time as this" as the Lord was preparing the way. Please continue to pray for Marcel and the EMEVI group as they meet the needs face to face.

Water, Crackers, etc distribution

Yesterday started early for Marcel. Number 7 in line at the bank meant getting there at 3am, a little behind his schedule. The first day the bank has been open since the quake brought 100's to the line by 10:30am when Marcel finished his transaction. Then another blessing after getting 5 gallons of diesel the day before, he was able to fill his truck which opened up the possibilities for today. Water, crackers and more were purchased to take for distribution in Port-au-Prince today. Thank you for helping to make this possible, reaching out to those in need that are not so close to other distribution points in Port-au-Prince. Please keep Marcel, his team and the Haitians in your prayers.

Transistional Day?

Damaged Bank building but still standing in Port-au-Prince.






Western Union was open today with a line of about 500, but the bank delayed opening until Thursday. Marcel plans on being in line at 2AM!

Quake this am was felt in St Marc, Marcel is ok, ask him about the "rat in the vanity" next time you get a chance : )

Marcel's brother Elyse went to Bonne Fin on January 11th and John is with him. Elyse was scheduled for surgery today but it has been postponed until the 27th at this point. So Elyse and John have been in the South West part of Haiti since the 11th away from their families. The hospital they are at is fine. Bonne Fin is just northeast of Les Cayes.

At church tonight Marcel shared:
Stand firm in difficult times
Ephesians 6:13
Allow Gods word to come alive in our lives
God uses these challenges to stretch us
Remain faithful
Fight the good fight
We are growing and maturing, live the abundant life He has for us.
All recited the 23rd Psalm to close.

Please continue to pray, they feel His presence so close and Marcel says they see God's hand moving.

Thank you from Marcel, he appreciates the messages and notes very much.

Somber

Continued water distribution, devastation, helping with moving folks to St Marc...


Marcel: I am doing good,tired some,trying to take it easy a little bit
Art: Good, many are asking how you are doing.
Marcel: I was able to help with some stuff today at the hospital in Saint-Marc ,I gave them some pain medication,Surgical dressings,Gloves,they are in need of a lot of other stuff like surgeon's caps,boots,stitches,braces for neck,sterilize gloves all sizes
Art: I will send out the info regarding medical supplies, some that have contacted us are working with Terry on sending supplies. Suspect that will take some time to arrive though?
Marcel: we are very thankful for what we can do here for God with your help,we are so blessed.
Art: Amen, we are blessed.
Marcel: We are going to buy a lot of food to distribute to the people because I talk to the Mayor in town today ,he said the most important things that we could do now is to provide those folks with some food,there are three places in town for refugees ,some are over at the hospital,YWAM compound and maguana motel,those people were asked to evacuate Port au Prince,and most of them do not have a place to go to and it is the same for almost every other city so, we have many fish to fry here.
Art: Ok, I will send out that word. Will EMEVI schools continue, we have heard that the National Schools are closing for the rest of the year?
Marcel: We are yet to find out what the governement want us to do,I think they might end up taking two months to build enough tent to accomodate the condition of the students in PAP and start from there all the way through August,so no summer this year,that is what I think they need to do. I meant no summer break. In the meanwhile we will have the kids come with no unifrom next week to talk with them and their parents to really know how to aproach this.
Art: Ok, we will pray with you regarding this. Any specific prayer requests we can send on?
Marcel: Pray for order,and comprehension from the victims as the US soldiers distribute the food and that God gives us wisdom to make good decision everyday

Monday update and photo's

Click on the title "Monday update and photo's" above if you would like to see additional photo's. The most graphic one's have been removed. Last night Marcel shared a few comments that are shown just below:
1/17/2010 late PM -
Marcel: People are in need of food,medications and shelters

Art: Is food still available in St Marc or the surrounding areas?

Marcel: Yes,we can find food to buy in our area

Art: OK, so funds are the best way for us to help at this time.

Marcel: It is really up to you guys because more money we have, more help we can provide.

Marcel: We have 100 bags of water of 50 units each
Marcel: in the truck ready to go in the morning

Art: Wonderful, and you are headed back into PAP?

Marcel: Yes,I plan to leave at 5:00 AM to get back early enough to participate in a funeral of one of my cousin's daughter that was victim of the earthquake in PAP

Marcel: Let us believe together that God takes complete control of the situation in Haiti, to where the government become what it is suppose to be.

Sunday News

Marcel says he cannot grasp what is before him, from what he sees about 75% of Port-au-Prince is destroyed, private homes, government buildings, ministries and churches. There is no telling how many are buried under these piles of rubble. The Social Affairs Government Building is the only one he sees still standing. Bodies are everywhere and the smell is now overwhelming. At least three of the senators are dead, numbers of others missing. As of last night no rain has fallen which is good for the recovery efforts.

Watching the International Organizations there is little to no organization to what they are doing and of course there is no help from the Haitian Government. Their (Marcel and his team) main focus has been on trying to keep as many alive as possible in and around Port-au-Prince and this week they will focus more on St Marc as people have been encouraged to leave Port-au-Prince and many are coming to St Marc.

Marcel took Saturday and visited a local radio station in St Marc where he was able to send out his last e-mail but more importantly he was given time on the air to share some hope and encouragement for the people of Haiti. The scripture he used is from Isaiah 1:1-5 - He told them it is time to come back to God! Marcel asked for prayer coming from thoughts out of Leviticus 26 which shows the contrast between Obedience and Disobedience.

Wednesday through Friday Marcel and a team made 1 trip each day to Port-au-Prince taking water and what they could to distribute. He says they have funds enough to purchase water for one more day. He plans to work with the Mayor in St Marc as so many will be seeking food and shelter. Tuesday night right after the earthquake many people came to the church at Bois Neuf and slept outside of the building on the ground. One large Hotel that is being built in St Marc did sustain damage but did not fall as of yet. There is talk of building small homes to help house people and also setting up camps in St Marc.

All of the churches he oversees are fine. In Fond Baptist there were homes destroyed.

Fuel is still available but is being rationed in St Marc, distribution is the problem at the moment. The bank at St Marc has been closed since the quake. From what Marcel understands it is because of security and they hope to have enough security back in place Monday or Tuesday and the bank will be open again. (With that in mind we are looking at sending a wire transfer Tuesday as soon as we get the word.)

Another dear friend sent a note this morning, Illioney St Fleur, he and his family had just moved to Port-au-Prince. It took three days of digging but he has confirmed that his wife Evodie was buried in the rubble and is with Jesus now...His daughter is fine.

January 16th update from Marcel

Hello Brother,

I have been so busy lately helping with this chaos that happen here in Port au Prince,We think God that we were able to provide three truck loads of water and crackers to some of the victim's ,what we have done so far is just a drop of water in this ocean of distress and suffering,hundred of thousand of people are left homeless sleeping on the street,we thank God for nor letting it rain during those days, dead bodies are all over the place,as of this morning they believe they have buried over 50.000 peoples and yesterday I could see so many more on the street decomposing and the smell is terrible,not counting so many others that are still under the rubble and the debris.People are ask to return to their home town.like here in Saint;Marc we start seeing a massive return of our folks,I came back with a truck load of people yesterday and the day before last.Our hospital here in Saint- Marc is over loaded with patients,we have used so far all of our financial resources in providing help for the people.we thank you for making it possible ,I must go now,Please pray for my internet system to get back in service soon and pray that the people that are still alive understand that God is trying to get their attention and that they would make the right decision to turn to their Master.

As soon as i can I will e-mail you some pics

Sincerely!

Marcel!

Quake news via St Marc, Haiti

Marcel has been able to send out one note since the quake. All is well in St Marc at least from initial reports. His internet and phone services are all out so for this time he is dependent on finding others that do have service. We will keep updating this as we have news.