Monday, December 31, 2012
GOD BLESS YOU IN 2013!
Throughout the country of Haiti many churches will be open tonite and thanking God for HIS grace in 2012
and praying for more grace in 2013! In fact, the evening of 31st of December is an even greater celebrated holiday
than 24 or 25 of December. Churches will have singing, praising, Bible reading, preaching, witnessing as well as skits
and even gift exchanges where possible.
The first of January was usually welcomed by drinking the strong, sweet
Haitian coffee, fresh bread and a big kettle of pumpkin soup to share with family and neighbors. Sadly, this and many
other traditions have fallen by the wayside as Haitians sink deeper into poverty and need.
Family members living
in foreign countries have long supported their relations in Haiti, but as economic problems spread through out the world,
this essential lifeline is failing.
Please pray for these people that 2013 will somehow be a better one for the!
10:54 am est
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Happy New Year?
I was reading a recent article about Haiti and how the U.S. State Dept. has issued a travelers warning to all
those thinking of visiting that Caribbean island. The author listed some serious issues that might cause people to avoid
Haiti and to regard it as the "vacation from Hell".
Haiti has certainly had a number of set backs in
their attempt to recover from hurricane hits and the Great Earthquake of 2010. Kidnapping, violence, robbery, inadequate
medical facilities and epidemics (most recently cholera) are not much of an encouragement for the faint of heart.
But, really, once one is away from Port au Prince there are fewer safety issues....the problem is that PAP is
virtually the only port of entry by air. Cap Haitian has an airport and things there are better than in the capital.
Some people come into Haiti by way of the Domican Republic and driving across the border.
All in all, Haiti is
still a very needy nation with a severe lack of infrastructure- roads, electricity, potable water, good hygiene,
adequate medical and dental facilities, and the list goes on.
All I know is that I was there living and working
for 30 years and the Lord provided for and protected me during that time. I was able to disciple a group of young
people who are now able to head up and run the different ministries that Gospel Growers is still able to do inspite of economic
problems and cutbacks. I thank and praise our Lord for allowing me to work with likeminded Haitian Christians to evangelize
and attempt to help those poor people.
As I start this new year as one of the stateside Gospel Growers personel,
it is with a bit of sadness. Economic considerations have caused us to strategize and use an indigenous missionary
staff as a cost efficient way to continue the greatly needed ministries that bless so many people.
I will continue
as a liason between our Haitian missionaries and our office. I will supervise the sending and dispersment of funds as
they are needed by the 7 schools, 1 clinic and 2 radio stations that we assist there. There will always be
need for benevolent intervention from time to time. My truck will continue on as an ambulance, hearse and emergency
transportation when needed.
This also provides a great service to the community where there is little public transportation.
We hope that those of you who have supported Gospel Growers in the past will continue to pray for us and send
help whenever you are able. Thank you for making it possible for us to serve these people in Jesus' name.
7:20 pm est
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Merry Christmas...Jesus' Birthday!
This year will find Haitians celebrating Christmas mainly in their hearts as things are pretty bleak materially
speaking. But that has never stopped them from praising the Lord and celebrating His birthday in difficult times!
Due to the poor economy in the USA, Haitians living abroad don't have as much to send back to their families as in
earlier years. A lot of Haitians live in areas impacted by hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York. This means there
will be little that finds it's way to needy relations back home.
We also don't have as much as in previous years,
but we were able to scrape some funds together to send to 3 of the churches we help to have some means to purchase some candy
for the kids and to buy gas for their generators so as to hold their evening services for Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Many thanks to you all who are willing and able to help Gospel Growers to continue to evangelize and encourage Christians
in this very poor country of Haiti.
We are still waiting on delivery of our transmitter for the Radio Station.
Looks like we are going to need some help to purchase to get a new inverter as well as the current one was damaged during
Sandy's passage. If you can help at all, we shall need $1100 for a new one. Satan tries so hard to slow us
up and discourage us, but we will continue to press forward as the Lord enables us!
5:45 am est
Saturday, December 8, 2012
A prayer is needed...
As you prepare for the holidays, please remember to say a prayer for the people of Haiti. So many are
facing these same holidays with a lack of the common necessities.
Hurricane Sandy wiped out the Fall crop for so
many. As Haiti is largely an agricultural nation it has suffered greatly from this last storm. Spring's crops
were very few due to the drought experienced in many areas of Haiti, so hunger is a big problem.
There is very
little employment and no government assistance as there is in the U.S.A. There are no food stamps, no subsidies,
and no social security. There isn't any medicaid or health insurance. Can there be a "merry" Christmas
for the mass of the people on the planet who are experiencing the same situation as Haiti?
At least there is no
persecution from Islamic fanatics in Haiti as many Christians are experiencing all over the world. That is certainly
something to be thankful for!
Before you start complaining about all the Christmas festivities you have to attend,
or fret about your clothes getting too tight from eating all those holiday goodies, or get mad because you didn't get the
newest I phone from Santa....stop and take a moment to consider all that you do have and thank the LORD because He has
blessed you with so much that you take for granted.
We thank all of you who have continued to support Gospel Growers'
ministries and for sharing some of your blessings with others who have so little. We hope and pray that the Lord will
continue to bless you and your families now and in the coming new year! Have a wonderful time as you reflect on the
real reason for Christmas and give glory to God for sending JESUS to save us all from our sins!
8:17 am est