Saturday, January 17

Sunday, January 18

Today at church, few people show up as this is unusual for Haitians, we knew that something has changed.  Most of the people are out of their home and not able to travel because their car has been damaged.  We have heard many stories of how God miraculously spared the lives of friends, family and coworkers in spite of the disaster all around. 

We have also heard of some difficult stories.  One woman shared how her husband and three of her children were buried alive under the wreckage of her house and she stood there crying with no help around.  They all passed away and she was at church to share the story.  Another father stood with his baby girls with almost not cloth sharing how his wife and her mother died.  A young girl Regine Michel raised her only moving arm in the air to give praise to God for saving her life.  Her left arm was broken in two places and no hospital wanted to help her because her wound was not life threatening.  We praise God for one congressman that was present that took her to the DR boarder in the hope that she will find help and they will not have to amputate her arm.

Like a sister wrote in her news letter, “this event has reminded us, once again, how fragile life is. We can be called home at any time and so we should live in such a way that we will not be ashamed when we meet Him.

Nothing in my life and training prepared me for a tragedy of that magnitude.  That was the opportunity to turn to the Word of God.  We read the third chapter of Lamentations and shared some words of comfort from the 46th Psalms.  In the day a head, we will conduct symbolic funerals for the dead ones. Thank you for your prayers and support!

(Sunday evening)
This is the sixth night and again it may rain.  So far, God did hold it back, but it would be a disaster with all the dead bodies out there and so many people sleeping outside.  We pray again for the rain not to come.  As the sun goes down each day, I go to the refugee camp at the church to pray with the people before they go to sleep.  This is a time they all look forward to.  Before I get there, a tap-tap (cab) driver plays some Christian music and they are ready for me to come and pray with them.  Using the Frontier Camp speaker phone we sing and recite a psalm and pray with them.  On Saturday night, I had to pick up a team of Haitian doctors in Petion Ville and I was not able to make it back to the church.  Tonight, the people at the camp shared with me how they missed that time of prayer on Saturday night. As I pray with them each night they always clap at the end.  This is a way to express their gratitude to the Lord for just being alive.  I see a lot of strength in them and I’m glad that they get their strength from the Lord.  In Psalms 46:1, it is said that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.  More and more people are finding their strength in God. I pray that Haiti will never be the same again!

Thursday, January 21

Written by a third party.
 
We are seeing God's provision at every turn and we stand amazed and grateful. We serve a mighty God and want to thank each of you for standing in the gap, through prayer and support, during these devastating times.

PRAISES:

• Gersan and Betty arrived safely in the Dominican Republic (DR) last night, after an 18 hour trip, but were unable to connect with the California team, there to assess their needs and help them.
• While not able to meet up with the California team, the Valcins were able to make "unexpected", but God ordained, contacts in DR with several key people, including a DR congressman, with whom Gersan had divine favor with this morning, to the extent that this man wanted to help rebuild Gersan's neighborhood!  Gersan was so grateful, but expressed a greater need for the rebuilding of an entire city that is where one of his church members came from.  This DR congressman agreed to that! He also made other contacts who will now help them with food, water and other provisions.
• The California team, while waiting for Gersan, and not knowing at all how to get from DR to Port Au Prince (PAP), met a different DR Congressman who made arrangements for the team to fly to Port Au Prince!  Divine appointment.  God is in the details.
• Additionally one of Gersan's former translators,Luc, also arrived in the DR yesterday and WAS able to meet up with the California team and is now able to help them find accommodations in PAP.
  

• Gersan and Betty's van broke down, while on their way back from DR to PAP.  It is being repaired now.  Please pray for God's provisions and other divine appointments.  I have no doubt that this is another "God thing" and we will trust Him, but we do need pray for the Valcins during this time.
• Please pray for the California team, there to assess how they might help Gersan.  Without Gersan in PAP at this time, it will be a challenge for them to get started, but again, God is in the details and can be trusted in this as well.
• I'm sure many of you heard about the 6.1 Earthquake this morning in PAP.  We have no specific details from the Valcins, since they are still in the DR.  We will inform you of any issues this new quake may have brought, as we know.

Wednesday, January 27

• WE HAVE FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!   
• 7625 LBS. OF BEANS!
• 2000 LBS. OF RICE
• ABOUT 320 GALLONS OF OIL
• Gersan had an interview with someone from Christianity Today magazine today and he was really excited about it.  We hope it makes an impact for our Lord.
• The team was able to get Gersan some reading glasses that they will take to him tomorrow. That should help him until we can get his prescription filled.
• Please pray for our team leaving tomorrow....Lee, Tim and Matt.  Pray for their safety, for wisdom, for peace, and for strength, as well as divine appointments.  Keep their spouses in your prayers as well.  
• Thank you all for praying.  God is good, all the time.