Another crazy hectic supply run into Port ended late Saturday afternoon! We left La Gonave on Thursday at 9:15am and arrived in Port-au-Prince about 1pm. We then spent Thursday afternoon and most of Friday going around Port shopping WITH Haley and Luke! I made the statement, “We’ll never do this again” more times than I will admit!

On Thursday we were riding through one of the notoriously violent parts of town and drove up on a tire burning in the street. Heidi and I noticed that our driver, who had been carefully slowing down and avoiding potholes and speedbumps because of the children, no longer slowed down. He never let off the gas pedal after we saw a second burning tire a short distance away. I asked him a little later what he thought when he saw the tires burning. He said, “That’s not good!” What added to the Friday adventure was the phone call that exiled former president Aristide had landed at the airport at 10am that day! The report was that Haitians were “flocking” to the airport yelling, “Aristide is King!” A couple of the Haitian workers told the guy who called us that the crowd was happy now, but would likely turn violent later. Thankfully, we heard of no violence!

The Saturday return boat trip was in the top three roughest I’ve ever had. One of the other missionaries who has made many trips across said some of the waves were 7 to 8 feet high! All our groceries and recently purchased furniture was soaked along with each of us. Haley was seasick and scared! Her head was laid in my lap and her hands were clutching my shirt. She heard me refer to the Bible story where Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat and said with a sweet, child-like honesty, “I wish Jesus was sleeping in the back of this boat!” I’m so thankful I could tell her, “He is!” God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” and He still calmly reassures of of this today! He told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” In Cite Soliel passing tires being burned in the streets, in the Breezy Sea crossing the 12 miles of churning ocean to the island of La Gonave, or in the “storm” or “rough water” you find yourself in…GOD IS WITH US! He cares for us and He loves us!

A song from a few years ago said, “Sometimes He calms the storm; at other times He calms His child!”

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I took my first trip up the coast of the island of La Gonave today.  It was a 20 mile trip that took two hours by truck…and I was in the back!  I was often bounced up in the air and slammed back against the wood seat even as I held on with both hands.  If this was “The Road Less Traveled” I can see why!  Thankfully, the abuse on my body was overshadowed by the beautiful scenery.  The color of the soil changed so many times I lost count as it went from deep red, white, brown, black, and back through again.

Fre Bonheur and I left part of our group in one village and headed for our destination of Gros Mangle.  A Haitian man had been hired to build a water distribution building on the site of a Compassion International school and I wanted to check out the finished product.  We arrived in the middle of a World Vision food distribution, but we proceeded past the crowd to the new building.  After taking several pictures of the building and talking a few minutes I looked closer at the food being distributed and noticed the bags said “USAID – From the American People.”  Pride (the good kind) began to swell up in me as I realized the hungry children, mothers, and fathers that would have food for a few days because of this gift from the USA.  I thought, “That is my tax dollars at work!”  I paused in front of the bags to take a picture, and was still feeling good until one of the Haitian workers from World Vision came up to me and said in a blunt, rude tone, “If you want to take pictures, you need to ask me first.”  I kindly (hopefully it came across that way) put my hand on his shoulder and said, “I’m here to help too!”  I wanted to say, “That food that YOU are giving out came from MY country!”  I wanted to say, “My tax dollars (I think) helped put that food here!”  I wanted to say a lot more, but I didn’t!  Before walking away with my “proud to be an American” moment ruined I asked him, “Is it okay if I take a picture?”  He said it was okay and I turned and went back to the truck.

As I bring this to a close I am reminded of standing in a little town in Nicaragua called Juigalpa in June 2009.  It would only be two months later that Heidi and I would contact Global Partners and begin the application process that eventually would lead us to Haiti.  I remember standing outside a school building where we handed out plates of rice and beans that would be the best meal these kids would get all week.  I broke down in tears and all I could say was, “Why was I born in America?  Why was it not me who was born here?”  Standing in that yard the thought came to me that I was born in America so I could do exactly what I’m doing now…reaching out and helping those less fortunate in the name of Jesus!  They don’t have to thank me.  They don’t have to let me take pictures.  It is not about how they respond to me or to the message I proclaim.  What matters is that I faithfully do what God has called me here to do in every way He says to do it for as long as He says to do it. 

Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

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We are constantly reminded of the spiritual and physical needs that exist in this country.  One minute I’m frustrated at something I see happening, but the next I am heart-broken!  I have to remind myself to look through the compassionate eyes of Christ.  Through His eyes I look deeper than the visible to the unseen need of the person’s heart.  Through his eyes I look past the crowd to the individuals in that crowd.  In the Gospels I read how Jesus walked through a crowd with people pressing all around him asking Him, begging Him to heal their child, cast out this demon, make the lame friend walk again, the blind man see again…and then He stops and says, “Who touched me?”  The disciples almost laugh and say, “What do you mean?  The crowd is pressing all around you.”  “No,” says Jesus, “I felt power go out from me.”  The woman, knowing she can hide herself no longer, approaches Jesus and tells Him her story.  Another time we see Him stop in a crowd and look up into a tree.  “Zacchaeus, come down.  I need a place to stay tonight.  Do you have room?” 

Lord, help me to see the people of Anse-a-Galets, Haiti through the eyes of Jesus.  Help me to look past the visible frustrations of Voltaire, Bernard, Michelet, Bennie, Day-Day, Wilson, and Edner to see what they can become in You!  Help me to pay attention in the crowd to the person who needs a touch from the Master, and help me to be Jesus “with skin on” to them.  I may be the only Jesus they ever see, and I want to be just like Him!

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Heidi and I have completed our first three weeks in Haiti as long-term missionaries with Global Partners.  We hit the ground running and probably will not slow down until June!  Here are some highlights of our first three weeks in Haiti…

• Haley’s school is going good and she really enjoys it.  Her reading is getting better and better each week.  Her teacher says she should be on a 2^nd Grade level when she starts 1^st Grade next year!
• On Tuesday her teacher heard a band marching up the street in front of the WISH compound and took the kids to the wall to observe.  The music was loud and pretty good.  After a few minutes she began to realize that at the end of the parade were people wailing and crying out.  It was a funeral procession, and the band stopped right in front of them when they realized they had an audience!  The casket was in the back of a pick-up truck!
• I (Greg) spent Thursday through Sunday (Jan. 6-9) in Port-au-Prince with a church rebuild team from Alaska.  They had a General Contractor and his lead man on the team, and the other 5 guys all had construction experience.  I had to leave Sunday to come back to the island, but I heard that they got all of the walls up and all the trusses set on this 40’ x 80’ building. 
• It was a great reminder of the earthquake’s devastation as we poured the concrete footings in the middle of ten-foot tall piles of rubble that used to be a Citi Soleil Wesleyan Church.  The church people broke up the destroyed building by hand and took out the rebar.  They plan to use the rubble to build up the floor a couple of feet.  About 7 or 8 men of the church showed up Saturday to help us begin constructing their new church building.  They are currently meeting under a 50’ x 100’ tent on their property!
• The best for last…Dan (our mission director) called Monday afternoon and informed me that he got approval from Global Partners to build a new guesthouse.  He said we could be ready to start moving dirt in 3 or 4 weeks.  The current guesthouse is sitting right where the new hospital is to be built, and it desperately needed replacing anyway.  We have a full schedule of teams between now and summer, but I have permission to recruit additional teams of up to 10 people to come work on the new building.  The goal is to have the new guesthouse finished in 3 to 4 months!!!
• We need 10 additional construction teams to come to La Gonave, Haiti from late February through March. 
  • Teams need to have 2 or 3 people with professional construction experience and 5 or 6 willing workers.
  • Contact Heidi at heidiedmonds@yahoo.com for more information about bringing a team.

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I (Greg) fly to Haiti Thursday morning on Missionary Flights International with all of our household things, and will spend three weeks in Haiti.  I will return home the middle of Dec. and our whole family will depart around Dec. 28 for Haiti!!!  We are so thankful for the incredible love and support we have received from churches and individuals in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and others.  God has truly amazed us with His provision for our every need, and we are “confident of this, that He who began a good work in (us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Please continue to pray for our family and the country of Haiti!!!

To all who have encouraged us, supported us financially, prayed for us, allowed us to speak at your church, hosted us in your home or for a meal, and sent us cards or gifts…WE SAY THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU GREATLY!!!  To Him be all glory, honor, and praise!!!  Amen.

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“The drumming and chanting goes on hour after hour.  A goat and a small black pig have their throats cut, and the blood is sprinkled over the worshippers.  The animals are thrown into a pool of brown, bubbling mud.  Many of the blue and red-robed believers jump into the pond as well.  This is the climax of the voodoo ceremony…”

Follow the link for the rest of Nick Caistor’s article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3122303.stm

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Community Health Education Update

 (This post is copied from Lowell Adam’s update on http://gpcaribeatlantic.com.  We will be ministering alongside Lowell and Robin Adams when we arrive in Haiti!!  I hope you enjoy the read and are challenged to come to Haiti to be the hands and feet of Christ to the Haitian people on a short-term mission team.  God bless you all.  Greg Edmonds)

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What is “FAITH-PROMISE GIVING?”

The believer looks to the Lord “in faith” asking how much he would have the believer give; then promises to give as the Lord directs.

What is the motivating power in FAITH-PROMISE GIVING?

The power of the Lord working through the willing partner is the key to FAITH-PROMISE GIVING. One’s faith in God’s ability to provide the full amount and the faithfulness to make the promise are the key. This type of giving is limited only by God’s purpose.

A Personal Testimony of FAITH PROMISE

Heidi and I shared Sunday about God’s call on our lives to be long term missionaries in Haiti with Global Partners.  At the end we always give people a chance to partner with us in three ways…Pray, Give, Go!  The way we are financially able to go is through Faith Promise Commitments by churches and individuals who God leads to support the Lord’s work through us.  One person in the church felt led of God to commit $500 on his Faith Promise card.  He was not sure where the funds would come from but he made the commitment. 

The very next day he received a letter in the mail from the government saying they owed him $418 dollars!  Was this a coincidence?  Absolutely not!  THE LORD STILL PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE! 

FAITH-PROMISE looks directly to God, asking in effect: “How much can I trust God to give through me?” This offers God a channel through which He can pour limitless amounts into His work through His children. 

What is God leading you to do to support missions work around the world?  Trust Him to provide!!!

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My last visit to Haiti coincided with a mission team from Scotland called Lemon Aid.  They have an incredible heart for God and a deep compassion for the people of Haiti.  The lunch conversation of two of their doctors caught my curiosity one day.  They were talking about their plans to remove a needle from inside a Haitian ladies arm after lunch.  The woman said she did not know how the needle got in her arm, but she had been in pain from a sharp prick inside her arm for a long time. 

I later walked over to the hospital and found the doctors in the smaller operating room.  The lady had her arm laid up on the table and the doctors had just finished removing the needle.  They held up an x-ray taken in Port-au-Prince that clearly showed a large needle inside the bicep of her arm.  The information the doctors now knew was that this was a needle from a Voodoo doctor who had tried to “heal” the woman of something two or three years before.

The saddest part of this story was found online when I searched for the official religion(s) of Haiti.  My search revealed three answers…Catholic, Protestant, and Voodoo.  What saddens me even more is the statistic from Wikipedia that says Roman Catholicism is professed by 80% of Haitians, Protestants make up 16% of the population, but Haitian Voodoo is practiced by up to two-thirds of the population.  Christians and Catholics make up 96% of the population and somewhere around 66% of the population practice Voodoo!  That means there is a lot of overlap if these statistics are anywhere near accurate. 

Please pray for the Haitian people that their eyes would be opened to the truth of God’s Word, that they would “set apart Christ as Lord” in their hearts, and turn from this ancient, African spritist religion.  Pray for us too that when we are confronted with this issue in Haiti we may have the words to explain the truth.

For more information on Haitian Voodoo go to…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Vodou.

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Abraham said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 

The apostle Paul wrote, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

God Himself said, “I the LORD do not change.”

The writer of Hebrews recorded, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

I say PRAISE THE LORD that He still provides for His children!  He has not changed, and He never will.  He is FAITHFUL.

Heidi and I are rejoicing that we have now received commitments from churches and individuals for over 50% of our annual Faith Promise amount.  We are often amazed and overwhelmed by how God is providing.  Ordinary people are responding in obedience to God’s call for them to give financially so that we might respond in obedience to God’s call for us to go to Haiti.  We still need many prayer and financial partners.  We need individuals and churches who will commit to give $100, $50, $25, or $10 monthly for our first four year term in Haiti.  Please prayerfully consider at what level you will partner with us to be the hands and feet of Christ in Haiti.

To become a PRAYER partner and receive our monthly newsletter…go to the PRAY tab and submit the completed form.

To become a PRAYER AND FINANCIAL partner…click on the GIVE tab and sign up online!!

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