It's 3 am.  I'm too excited to sleep, although my body desperately needs it.  I've been away for a week, but finally the dust is settling from my feet and we can regroup here in San Juan.  We had three American teams on the ground, plus two Dominican churches we mobilized for this past week.  There are so many awesome stories of GOD moving in people's lives.  This truly is a powerful moment in the Kingdom.

GOD is speaking clear vision to how HE would have us move, and doors continue to open in where and with whom we can carry the vision out.  There is work to do.

We are very grateful for the people who were able to come and serve, they experienced the suffering, and answered with hope.  JESUS is being praised and trusted in by those who never before knew HIS name. 

Much to come later, possibly post's from other teammates blogs, but for now thank you so much for your prayers for Haiti.  We are living in a special, unique, and urgent time, let us be faithful with what has been allotted to us.  In CHRIST – let us run hard!

-          Meet with the directors and doctors of the hospital in Fond Paisien (1/2 hour from Jimani) to discuss medical teams, and creating a safe zone for the most vulnerable to the find shelter, food, and basic needs.

-          Meet with a group of pastors from Port-au-Prince to coordinate the churches response to the disaster, especially in the area of intercession, evangelism, meeting felt needs, and providing spiritual pastoral care for the people we receive at the safe zone.

 

-    Spiritual preparation for battle.  We know our fight is a spiritual one, empowered by and led by HIS SPIRIT.  Tomorrow we need to gear up.

 

-    Safety over our trip, from the motorcycle ride over the mountains to our trip into the fray, we need spiritual, emotional, and physical covering.

 

-    Wisdom and discernment with contacts, and long term vision for teams.  Pray that we have GOD's eyes and see what HE is doing and would have us do.

 

-    That we can meet as many needs along the way as possible, ministering the love of CHRIST.

 

-    Kristen and Samantha (daughter) while I am gone, that the LORD's peace and presence would reign in or home.

 

We have not been able to get new updates up until now.  Way too busy on the ground doing the work, trying to mobilize the Dominican church and American church to save lives.  Here's what we have been doing so far:

-          Worked with the united local church in Jimani to provide 3 meals a day, water, and basic needs to victims and family members arriving there for medical attention.  The church is doing the work, we are supplying the funds.  So far thousands upon thousands of meals have been served through the servant hands of the Dominicans. 

-          Made potential key contacts inside of Haiti with Haitian doctors and ministry directors who are open to receive help from teams near the Haitian/Dominican border.

-          Mobilized the Dominican church in San Juan to begin caring for the refugees who have arrived to the hospital in our town of San Juan.  We are also trying to setup temporary safe zones for people who are released from the hospital but are not in condition to return to Haiti or have no place to go home to.  Safe zones would provide food, shelter, supplies, and security detail all administered through the local church.  This vision has been communicated to pastors of other towns around the DR who look to answer the needs in their own communities.

-          Formed long term vision of setting up permanent safe zones within Haiti under the leadership of the Haitian church.  In the process we have gained access to connections such as the governor of San Juan, a general of the Dominican military, the Director of our main hospital, the captain of the fire department, and others.  GOD has blessed us with favor and collaboration.

Yesterday was a tough day, full of hard work, and drenched in pain.  A little Haitian girl the same age as my daughter Samantha had a leg removed from the hip.  The mother is returning to Port-au-Prince to search for her other two children who have been on the streets since the earthquake.  I pleaded with her to re-consider taking her daughter in, knowing that without a miracle the little girl will die.  Many, many people are in the same situation and it is complicated to formulate ways to help them.

It is frustrating.  We weep.  But we choose to hope, to cling to the hope of our SAVIOR – HE is the great healer, may HE bring healing to this land. 

Please continue to pray with us for HIS SPIRIT to flood this nation.

During our visit to Haiti, the fact that we had to depend on hitchhiking to move around proved that the SPIRIT of GOD was leading our steps.  We made it from our town of San Juan to Port-au-Prince on free rides, not knowing when the next bus would come or where they would take us, but trusting in HIS control over our movements.  After being dropped off near the heart of the disaster, the presidential palace, we walked about 1 hour straight to a church building.  An old map helped little in knowing exactly where we were, but a man came soon to us and, greeting us in English, introduced himself as the pastor of the church.  We decided, along with Pastor Michel, to tour some of the heaviest hit neighborhoods, and see the greatest needs first hand. With little gas in his tank, and a city-wide shortage of fuel, it was an act of faith.  And it didn't take long to witness all our hearts could take.  This is how one man put it:

For such a time as this HE has called us to be HIS instruments to do HIS work.  It is time for us to rise up to the challenge.  We must cling to the hope we have in JESUS, the life that HE has promised, the light that HE shines.  Shrinking away is not an option, we will not fear, we will not stand down.  In times of great need, HIS greatness will shine bright.

Psalm 62:8 "Trust in HIM at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before HIM; GOD is a refuge for us.

HE is the ROCK which cannot be shaken, we plant our feet firmly upon HIM, and no matter what comes, we cannot be greatly shaken.  Upon this ROCK who does not change, who does not shift, we will find rest, we will find peace, we will find safety.  Upon this ROCK, we will build!

In all that is happening, in the great suffering, in the disorder, in the pain, in the insurmountable challenges that surround us on every side...no matter what happened, what is happening, and what will happen, no matter why it happened and what is too blame...GOD is seeking one thing.  That the hearts of man will draw near to HIM, that we would abandon all that incumbers a close relationship with the FATHER, and that through HIS SON JESUS, we would walk, breath, live in intimacy with HIM.  In all that is for us to do, the work, the sweat, the tears, the victories, one thing remains ahead, one thing supersedes all others.  HE wants us to draw near to HIM, HE wants you as an individual man or woman to seek HIS face, HE wants me to pursue intimacy with my loving, perfect, FATHER, each of us as people.  All of us as a people.

A new time is upon us.  Not a rebuilding, fixing of what was.  Not a modification, a change, an adjustment; but a clean slate, a fresh start, a new life.  Let us pour out our lives, the years that it will take, sacrificing what we must to see, one day, the sun rise on a new land in Haiti. A land filled with the glory of our most glorious GOD.

Thank you everyone for your prayer over Ronnie and my trip to Haiti.  We are safe and the trip was very fruitful, although indescribably intense.  The LORD saved lives, fed more than a thousand meals, led us to some key contacts to pour in Kingdom workers through, and kept us safe despite the war zone conditions.  Despite the heavy heart we carry, weight just seems to fall off being home with my beautiful wife and child(ren), what a blessing to have loving, supporting family to return to.  I'm going to spend several hours making food with my bride (including Teeka's birthday cake) and reading books to the girl. 

If the energy lasts, once the family goes to bed I hope to post more of what the situation is in Haiti, what we feel the LORD doing in the midst of it, and how we can respond.  JESUS remains KING.  This is a unique and urgent time in which HIS Kingdom is ready to expand exponentially.  Please continue to pray, to give, and to mobilize the church into action.