Hope for Haiti: A thought from 2012

Monday, January 21, 2013

A thought from 2012

2012 Thoughts

If For No Other Reason!

Not knowing his name I will call him John and share this story as my failed memory keeps it. A day before the earthquake on January 12, 2010 in Léogâne, Haiti, (the epicenter), John felt compelled to move to the mountains and to do it now. He owned little, so that same day he headed out. His journey finished at Fond Baptist where there is no running water or power. News travels slowly to Fond Baptist but in time the destruction of the earthquake on the 12^th reached John. His former home, Léogâne, was hit like never seen before. John pondered this. Why was he spared? It’s a troubling thought but answers escape him. It’s a deep seed planted.

Fond Baptist is something like a county in the mountains with farming and gardening dotting the landscape. Few travel here from outside but a vibrant community exists within. Lack of education and poverty are ever present and survival is pretty much day to day. Small "communities" crisscross the mountainsides clear to the river basin below, one of which is called Bataille.

Bataille lags behind modern culture about 150 years. It’s rural, rugged and remote, even lacking access by any type of vehicle but change is coming to Bataille because it, or more accurately, its people, tug on the hearts of many. Education is slowly coming to Bataille.

So, for two years John sought a purpose or reason for being spared and for whatever reason eventually made his way down the mountain to Bataille. He wondered why he made the trek.

The day he arrived was October 12th, 2012, a day that also brought a small team to Bataille. They helped build a new school and stood alongside a Pastor who managed to bring a generator, projector and laptop computer. Also some time ago this Pastor acquired a Creole version of a 3 part Billy Graham presentation called “My Hope”.

John arrived when the team showed the third video and, towards the end, rain chased most back to their homes that provided at least some shelter from the moisture. John hung around though. He briefly shared his story and knew that the questions he had been wondering were answered that night.

Eternity changed that day as another soul, John, took a step of faith to walk with our Lord and Savior. There is much rejoicing in heaven and here on earth as we have seen a miracle!

If Hope for Haiti has been drawn to Bataille in this season to save one man’s soul, it is worth it. This would not be possible were it not the Lord's nudging and your response to make a difference.

Thanks for making a difference!

This is just one story of many from 2012. Much more is available online as it happens throughout the year. Blessings,

1 comment:

Jennifer M Zeiger said...: Thanks for sharing. This is a beautiful testimony=); January 22, 2013 at 10:32 PM

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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.

Monday, January 21, 2013

A thought from 2012

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