Touch Ministries, Haiti

I hope today is a beginning for posting once again.  School is progressing and the children continue to be wonderful.  I say that in spite of the challenges that are faced day by day.  The children are wonderful!  God doesn’t make children to be disobedient or rude or rebellious.  Whatever they are is due to their environments.  He created them to be wonderful.  The Word says that foolishness are bound in the heart of a child and the rod of correction drives it far from them.  Well, sometimes we have to drive the foolishness out but what happens is happy kids.  Two examples:  One little first grader who speaks English decided that she wasn’t going to be able to do her work because play was more important.  After a some time of discipline (consistent and kind), she changed her mind and now she’s making 100′s, is happy and joyful.  The other example is an older boy who for three years, did very little in school.  Now, after some persistence and time in Pastor Gary’s office, he is making good grades, happy and working.  None of this happened though without a lot of prayer over these children as well as the discipline.  It was prayer, the Word, discipline and love that has changed them.  It’s so glorious what God does!!!!

We continue to be so thankful for our volunteers.  Chewie and Kendra Swick, Ashley Longardner, Al and Bev Carpenter and Cheryl Cannon are so wonderful to work with. We are exceedingly blessed!!! Kendra and Ashley have gotten together to plan our end program.  It’s going to be great.  The years that I’ve done these things alone, makes me all the more thankful for youthful, responsible volunteers.

Every Friday we started a Bible study in the Book of Hebrews for our volunteer women.  Gary said he didn’t think we’d be that long, that he expected us to be one hour and that’s it.  When women get together and their heart is toward the Lord, they can’t just look at scriptures, they have to share experiences, and then prayer.  That adds up to about four hours.  Great way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Hopefully, I can keep posting, now that Word Press recognizes my password!  Until next time, must sign off and take a nap so I’m ready to receive from Rose May Brea as she brings the word this afternoon.

Happy Weekend to all.

Carolyn

We arrived in Haiti with lots of volunteers.  It’s so wonderful to have a team of people who want to work, who love God and are jelling as a team!!!  We’ve spent several days cleaning the school and organizing, still not done but the neat thing is the “kids” are doing most of the work while Gary and I over see it.  We are going to have a great year!!!

I was asked to preach this morning and it was wonderful.  I guess there is something about the pulpit that when you know the Holy Spirit anointing is upon you………it generates all kinds of energy.  Pastor Chery was happy.  Gary was sleeping.  Oh well, he hears me all the time, why should he stay awake in church??

We welcome the Swicks, Andrew and Kendra; Bethany Painter and Ashely Longardner.  Each a blessing and personalities that are pleasant to be around.  In fact, it’s great being around their age group.  Young, adventurous….brings back memories of years ago when bodies are strong and ideals high.  Their  balance is the Word of God and how I wish it had been my standard at 20.  So, I’m enjoying these kids!!!

As we close out our first weekend in Haiti, on the day of 9/11′s 10th year, my thoughts also gravitate to the US and to those who lost loves ones on that day.  Will America withstand the onslaught of attacks from terrorists and weather?? I hope, but the only hope and I’ve said it so many times in Haiti…..is Jesus.  I pray lives are turned over to him, and just as fervently pray  the church becomes what she should be:  pure, without spot or wrinkle.  Welcome, Bernardino Tamayo, Jr. to the family of God.   One week ago he received Christ. Pray that he grows in the Lord.

Blessings to all.  One of our orphanage kids….

Carolyn

This little girl isn’t starving but she doesn’t get much protein.  We gave her one and she took another one from her father.  So there she was with a leg in each hand.  Sort of like a chicken in every pot, I suppose. She’ll be in pre-school in the fall and after several weeks of our nutritious meals her hair will turn black and she’ll fill out.

We were in Haiti two weeks ago and it was great to see everyone.  The boys, Olivier and Junior are doing well.  They’ve grown this summer.  We checked on the church construction and paid everyone their August pay which they were quite ready for.

Junior and Olivier are doing quite well and have grown this summer.  I’ve been shopping for them and realized they aren’t little boys any longer.  I took them back packs and a couple things for school, but there is more to get.  I guess I’d forgotten what it’s like to raise children when it comes to the constant buying.  They are good boys, God sent us the best actually.  Both very smart and their English continues to get better and better.

Gary is having surgery on his nose (nasal polyps) tomorrow, but he needs prayer as he seems to be getting a cold or something.  Please pray we can do this surgery and move on.  He’s been so miserable with all the allergies that have produced these polyps in the beginning that he needs relief.

For us the highlight of our summer aside the short visit to Haiti has been time with children and grandchildren.  We say it every year and every year they become more precious to us. Little Miss Sarah, now six, is still little and sweet.  Actually,

gets sweeter all the time.  And then there are the birthday celebrations that we so love.  Ezra and Audrey joined us to celebrate Missy’s birthday.

I’m really running out of time to work with this right now.  Ray is trying to get our blog up to snuff and I see he’s been working on it.  Stick around our blogs are sure to get much more exciting as the days roll by and I’m working on some mini teachings that I believe the Lord would have me post. God bless you as you remember us in prayer.

Carolyn

Spending the summer trying to get a bit more healthy.  Drinking chocolate protein drinks in the morning after a vigorous walk.  It’s beginning to pay off and I have to say, I want it to become a habit so that when we are back in Haiti, it continues.  Blueberries, strawberries and banana protein drink, yum yum.  Can’t get blueberries and strawberries in Haiti, but some mango, banana and an apple if we find any (imported) make a mighty fine drink.  Crushed ice makes it cold and can really cool you off early mornings when temps are high all night.

When you sit in a service for nearly three hours without realizing the time, you know the Holy Spirit is present and using the vessel to bring God’s Word! We never come here without leaving filled.

We are experiencing the most wonderful move of God that words somehow cannot explain it.  Our kids are interested in the Word again, things are happening at church and outside of church.  Amazing GRACE is all I can really say.  It all has nothing to do with us, it’s His time and His move.  Of course, prayer becomes extremely important!!!  Whenever the Lord begins to move ones automatic response is Yes Lord!  Continue!

Last week, one Haitian American boy came and said, “Mrs. Carolyn, I want to get saved, I want my attitude to change.”  I was so surprised and at first, thought he was joking.  But, pray we did.  We watched his countenance change from a scowl to a smile.  Even one of the students came into the office, pointed to the young man and said, “He’s changed!”  Well, of course, we know he has a long way to go and we know that often when the pressures of life lift from a person because the Lord is gracious, they are happy for a while and then run off when things begin to get tough.  The seed can fall by the wayside so easily.

The Holy Spirit has exposed the works of evil over some of our kids, each revealing how they’ve been to the witch doctor because their parents have taken them.  This is such a troubling thing for us because it keeps voudou strong.  As long as we feed the devil our children he can advance.  Very troubling indeed.  I was reminded of the scripture in Matthew 18:6, that if anyone causes one of these little ones to stumble it would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea.  When the parents take them for demonic baths they are causing them to stumble for many years to come and perhaps never get out of demonic oppression.  It’s a very serious thing.

When a child says he cannot pray because there is an evil presence and you begin to question them you find out they have been baptized into the devil.  How can a society change if all the adults (not all but a large majority) are unable to really come to Christ because of demonic activity in their lives.  The problem gets worse due to pastors not able to minister to people with demonic problems. They have the authority to cast demons out, but they don’t realize their authority.  So, the need is bigger still.  Need for teaching, preaching, bringing the deliverance message to the pastors.

For many years we heard about seizures happening in the schools and wondered why so many kids would be troubled with epilepsy.  It’s not epilepsy at all it’s the devil.   We ministered to a little kindergarten child and he’s free of seizures.

Well, I’m not sure where I’m going with this post, it’s time for me to go to work but let me say this, we are in a huge battle and we are going to win.  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but might through God to the pulling down of strongholds.  (1Cor 10:9).  Perhaps I can continue this at a later date, there is so much to say about it!

Have a blessed day.  Carolyn

Monday, December 27, 2010

Here we sit, unable to have school because of possible riots in and around town.  In the book, Too Small to Ignore, Dr. Stoddard stated that it’s the children who are the first to suffer famine, disease, and war.  It’s true and as a living spectator in a country which has gone through an earthquake, still dealing with cholera and now a presidential election, 2010 will go down in history as the YEAR of struggle.  The number of deaths is overwhelming without knowing the number of children who died and is dying.  Haitian parents are quick to keep their children home from school if there is threat of any problems.  But, when children miss days and days of school, it really interrupts their education.  Two months after January 12^th, and now two days here, three days there, doesn’t make for a successful school year does it?  The problem right now is how long will it go on?

I was just thinking about 2004, when there were wars all over the country, particularly in St Marc.  There was a group who wanted Aristide out of office (and the turmoil he was causing was excessive, whether it was provoked or whether he was a power monger, I don’t know—however, in St Marc, the shooting up of a radio station nearly killing a pastor who was reporting news against the president—resulted in our thoughts being negative toward the president.  These two factions, one for and one against the president, had shooting battles day in and day out for almost two months.  I said, day but it happened at night as well. Gary and I would just get in bed when the gunfire would start.  One shot, my heart would begin to beat rapidly and my stomach would turn over, then another and another…when it would get quiet I would lay there waiting for the next one.  We had school in spite of the problems.  Every other school was closed but ours.  One day, after school was over, we had one child left (before we were busing kids).  We waited and finally called the father who owned a grocery store in town at the edge of a Haitian market.  He said, “I’m buried in my store, there is a war going on in front of the building.”  That was sufficient reason for not coming to get his child.  Last week, we got a call from one of our teachers who lives near the UN base here in St Marc.  He said, “I am buried in the back of my house because they are shooting and throwing rocks at the UN base.”  (Two Haitians died having been shot with rubber bullets that struck the head).

Those horrible days we went through six years ago are on the minds of all of us who lived through it.  Parents remembering it keep their children  home rather than risk coming to school and it’s our first thought as well.  I was on my way to school last week to see the team from Chicago work on the school wall.  We had cancelled school because it was the day after the election.  Traveling north on the Grande Rue (Main Street), there was a huge crowd coming toward us, filling the highway. They were carrying tree branches (which they use as their banners when manifesting) and I knew, ‘get out of here quick’.  Just as I looked left there was a place where I could pull in and turn around. I’m sure the Lord provided it….sort of like the ram in the bushes.  Then I had to find my way to school via side streets and nearly ran into a guy on a motor cycle proceeded toward me as I was turning onto a side road.  One of my choices was unfruitful and some kind men told me I couldn’t go that way and told me the way to go.   We got to the school just about the time gunfire erupted.  The team was so brave!  We closed the gate and went inside until it subsided.  There were fires all over town from what I’m told but we averted it all as we stayed to work on the wall.  When it was time to leave, we were able to get right home, but Al (Carpenter) and Joe had to carry the motor cycle across a river bed to get to where they lived.

So, we are in the midst of it again.  There is a revival going on at the church we attend.  I’m to speak tonight.  It’s great to be able to go to God’s house at times like this. The joy of worship and the refreshing of the Word gives us strength to go on.  We were in church all last week as well.  I don’t know what I’d do without that time with the Body of Christ.  It’s been a well of sweet water for me.

Haiti is in struggle.  Haiti needs prayer and at the same time, Haiti is having its greatest moment in Christ.  Perhaps that’s what it takes to build a strong church.  History seems to prove it takes struggle and turmoil outside to bring people inside.  The scripture that keeps coming to mind is this:  The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of our Christ and He shall reign forever and ever!  Today they will announce the new president.

Every year is a challenge in Haiti, but this year has certainly been the exception.

A week ago Sunday, we discussed the coming hurricane, Tomas, during a missionary meeting. Gary said, “I am going to stand against this hurricane, it will not hit Haiti.” Pretty bold statement but I was in agreement with him. Needless to say we watched the weather reports several times a day and speculated, praised the Lord that it would not come. If you happened to watch Tomas in his various wind speeds, twists and turns, you would have to agree that it was a confused storm. Thursday came, we obeyed the Presidents order to close all schools. Nothing much happened, Friday nothing much happened, intermittent rain, some gusts of wind. Gary worked making shelving that we need to get more organized, I got things done that we’d not had time to do since we moved. The sun came out for a while.

About 9PM, Friday night, we were surprised by the wind and rain. I thought about the books I’d left on the porch and imagined them being blown about and soaked, actually ruined. Saturday, we canceled Bible school because of rain. When I checked my books, they were not even wet. No explanation for that, plenty of rain came in that porch. In other parts of Haiti, there is real suffering, homes gone by flooding, and the threat of land slides. We continue to pray but we believe Haiti was spared this storm.

Our guest, Charlie Young and his son Kenny tried to get out of Haiti on Thursday evening, only to get stranded when the flight was canceled. We arranged for them to stay at a guest house of a missionary friend of ours. They finally flew out on Saturday. I’m sure they were very happy to get back to Tampa, but we missed them when they left. Charlie taught how to plant seeds in tires to the school and to Haitian farmers.The children will enjoy watching the seeds grow.

The Cholera reports more numbers dying and it’s popping up everywhere. I received a World Health Organization report today which says: But the really big story here is that it then broke out in Nepal, around 2003-04. It now appears, though we’re awaiting more confirmation at the laboratory level, that this pandemic in Haiti started with Nepalese peacekeepers who were the carriers. We have similar outbreak-carrier situations now in several places in the world. In fact, the largest cholera outbreak at the moment is Nigeria, with far more cases than are being seen in Haiti….. Actually, if aid workers and peacekeepers were taught proper hygiene and provided with toilet paper and proper soap and so on, they would not be transmitters. The problem with cholera is that it really is a classic hygienic issue. The spread of cholera is about water, it’s about dirty hands, touching water supplies and food supplies, and about the inability to limit what’s going into the water because either there are improper sewage systems; or people are drinking from, washing in, and defecating in the same water supply. It’s inexcusable that we cannot control cholera today. We fully understand the disease. It is generally treatable with a combination of appropriate antibiotics. But most important is heavy-duty hydration with consistently safe water. The other issue is part of the reason cholera is always a crisis in the Bay of Bengal region–because the microbes, especially this 01 form, can live inside of other microorganisms that float around in such things as red tides and algal blooms. Wherever you have very warm surface temperatures, relatively still waters, lots of sun, you’re creating a kind of stew that’s ideal for the growth of the microorganisms that the vibrio cholerae [the organism that causes cholera] can live inside of. You get this constant feedback-replenishment thing going on where problems on the land mainly associated with humans–waste and water runoff–feed into breeding colonies in the sea, and vice-versa. We had a classic outbreak of cholera that hit Latin America in the 1990s, and it turned out to have reached Latin America because of ships loading bilge in the Bay of Bengal, going across the world, and offloading the bilge water into coastal waters where they were absorbed into clams, shell fish, oysters, and so on. Then you had an epidemic that spread across Latin America. If you don’t have very good public health tracking systems, general population hygiene, and water safe systems, it spreads extremely rapidly.

Based on the previous information, the Haitians were correct in blaming UN people from Nepal. There was a big manifestation against the UN in one town. We encouraged the church to continue taking precautions and to pray.

Good News!!! First you need to get the picture of what the church is like. It’s being built. We sit under tarps because there is no roof and we walk in mud after any kind of rain. So, there the people are, mud caked to their Sunday shoes. The children climb a ladder to get to the adjacent building’s second floor, they too are under tarps.

• We have a medical team coming in on the 14th. They’ll plant themselves at the hospital and be a viable force there.

• Testimonies shared today at church. The testimonies were given by two women, both of whom had been sick with vomiting and diarrhea, (cholera symptoms) they rebuked it until they were better. It was definitely time to shout HALLELUIA!

As I sat there looking around at the faces, their love and dedication to the Lord, I thought about the excuses each one of them could have given for not attending church today. I thought about excuses that I’ve made in the past. For a moment my emotions wanted to spill over because the realization of how God looks at their dedication was overwhelming. I whispered to Gary, “God doesn’t take this lightly…..and in North America we argue over the color of carpeting”… or miss church because it’s raining and walking to the church from the car will get their Sunday clothes wet. If you could see this church………….and it’s crowded! One teenager stood up to tell about how he’s given his heart to the Lord and sharing Jesus with classmates. Five of them accepted Christ and were with him in church today.

(Because of the rain, the tarps had filled with water. It was breezy today. The tarps blew up and dumped water at our feet. Pastor Chery was so embarrassed when it hit Pastor Gary, he apologized over and over again while calling someone to get a barrel to catch the water).

While Haitians meet the struggle getting through 2010, God is building His church. Jesus said it so clearly: Mat 16:18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. We see it over and over again, in every church, every Sunday, people are coming to the Lord and they are hungry to learn of Him. Hurricanes, cholera, poverty, muddy churches with no roof, mud-caked shoes, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38.

I’m not having success in getting pictures on to this blog.  If you are on FB you can see a little of what this church is like.  If not, use your imagination and don’t squelch it in the least!

Until next time.  Carolyn