My son, Pastor Jonathan, and I just returned yesterday from Haiti. We had the opportunity to go there with a team of eight others.
Jim and Debbie Hambrick, who are from RFBC, led the team. Jeff Roberts from Bland, VA; Dr. Karen McCarthy from Jacksonville Beach, FL.; Cindy Hodge and Allison Moore, both from the Jacksonville, FL area; were also on the team. We joined a team already there of about 7 nurses and workers, mostly from Georgia.
We arrived in Port Au Prince within a week of one the worst natural disasters in our lifetime. The suffering and sadness from the devastating earthquake is something I’ve never experienced before in my life. I still can’t write or talk about what I saw and experienced without tearing up.
I’ve never been so moved in all my life as I experienced firsthand the suffering, pain, fear, worry and hopelessness of the precious Haitian people. I write this today, to plead with you to both pray and continue to give to bring some relief to those we can. One of the biggest tragedies we saw were that the grounds of the airport of Port au Prince were covered with drinking water, food, tarps, tents, medical and other supplies, but was not getting out to the people.
We were able, by God’s marvelous grace and favor that He gave us with people, to tap into those resources and personally take them to needy and hungry people. We held medical clinics every day ministering to hundreds of untreated injuries even 7 to 13 days after the earthquake. We passed out thousands of pounds of food. We took severe injuries to different hospitals as far as two hours away.
But most importantly, we were able to share God’s love in Jesus Christ and watch as many responded to pray with us to receive the greatest gift and help we had to offer - eternal life though Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord!!!
We are so thankful for the support and prayers of the members of Rainbow and other believers that joined the daily prayer chain. We felt God’s protection as we walked through dangerous places, experienced the tremors every day, and hearing gunfire every night just outside Sherrie’s school where we slept each night.
We watched God supply need after need and immediately answer prayer as team members would experience sickness and other difficult situations. We were reminded time and time again that we serve an Awesome and Great God!
We slept on the roof top of the school and each night saw God’s handiwork in the heavens as the moon and stars appeared over us. Every night the big dipper would move across the sky and just before dawn would be in a position where it looked like it was pouring out over the city of Port Au Prince the love of God. We were close enough to the airport that all through the night we could hear the big cargo planes coming and going with tons of needed supplies.
It was an experience of a lifetime that I will never get over and will always remember. We are already making plans for return trips with Jim Hambrick and Christian Light Foundation. Jim’s hope is to return with a team each month.
We are also going to be asking for monthly sponsors for the orphans that live with Sherrie and school children that come from the ravine. Pastor Jonathan and I will share more about this and our trip this coming Sunday, January 31 (weather permitting). We have tons of pictures and exciting as well as sad stories to share.
We will also be sharing on Thursday, February 4th in Room ADC 202 at 6:30 PM. We will be giving a more in depth update of our trip to Haiti with pictures and video of the devastation, plus ways that you can help us as we partner with Christian Light Foundation to meet the needs of the Haitian people. There will be a special time of prayer for the Haitian people and the crisis situation they are facing. A special benefit concert featuring instrumentalists will also be held with all money going to Haiti Disaster Relief.
I beg you to continue to pray and give. As the days pass, and the media begins to move on to other things, the suffering and pain will continue in Haiti. It is a long term commitment on our part and we desperately need you prayers and support.
Thank you so much for letting Pastor Jonathan and I represent you this past week in Haiti. The Church is the body of Christ and this past week you were definitely His hands, His voice, His presence, His love to thousands of Haitians.
With Tears,
Thank You in Christ!!!!
Pastor Mike
P. S. If you would like to see more detailed information from our trip to Haiti, please visit: http://haiti-disaster-relief.blogspot.com/