Praise Report on Haiti... From Samuel & Kendra Luna
March 14, 2010 

March 14, 2010                        
It was great to be back together with the boys.  This is our family on a rainy trip to the beach only days before the earthquake changed our lives. 
Luna Family w Palms
         

 

We wanted to give you a update on the issues we requested prayer for.  GOD RESPONDS TO PRAYER! 

 

We have been reflecting on the past weeks, and looking toward the future.  We see how God's hand places us in a tapestry of healing and renewal he is weaving together to form a "New Haiti".  Bringing beauty out of disaster! 

 You may remember the following account from our report 4 days after the earthquake.  At that time, Sami was making  an initial trip to Port au Prince.  While he was gone, I made the 8 hour trip to the Dominican side of the Haitian border to pick up several missionaries that the US Embassy was not able to air evacuate.  I was not able to locate them so I spent the night near the border.  At 3:30 in the morning, I received word that they had been able to drive their vehicle across the border and were now in Santo Domingo (the Dominican Capitol).  I returned to the Capitol.  They needed assistance in gathering the 6 members of their team who were now located in 3 different hotels with no communication between them. Some of the group had been air evacuated by the US embassy from Port-au-Prince to the Dominican Republic's capitol city of Santo Domingo.  Some had no passports!! They needed passport replacement paperwork and flights out of the overcrowded Santo Domingo airport to their homes in 3 locations across the United States - that day!  What a relief to watch the reunion of Russ and Sherrie Cole, a couple who had been separated after the quake. We were able to get documents for them to travel without passports and see all six of these missionaries board flights by 3:00 that afternoon!  That was a miracle - we know you were praying!    

 

You may wonder - why is she recounting all of this?  I want to share with you the way God weaves the lives of His people together.  It  is amazing!  Let me tell you about our reconnections with 5 of those 6 individuals I assisted in Santo Domingo.   

 
Supermarket where Russ & Sherrie were headed when the quake struck
caribbean supermarket
1.)  Russ and Sherrie Cole (Quincy Washington)- At the time of the quake, they were headed to the Caribbean supermarket (right) that collapsed completely.  Thank goodness they didn't make it there!  They returned to the collapsed Free Methodist mission location where they, along with Dr Dan and Dee Snyder, spent the night digging to rescue Katie Zook and Jack Munoz who were trapped under the rubble.  (Unfortunately, 4 others perished in that building.)  After they took a couple weeks to recuperate at home in Washington, we reconnected with Russ and Sherrie back in Haiti.  We have worked together locating and distributing food, filters and relief items for Port au Prince.  Several weeks after the quake, Russ, Kendra and Rueben made a 4 hour trip to take a truck load of desperately needed supplies, to Dr Dan Snyder (another one of the 6 I assisted in Santo Domingo following
Russ at the Mission House where he helped rescue 2 missionaries with a flashlight after the quake.
Russ at Foho
the quake) and the medical crew who were working over-time at the Dessalines hospital.  Since we are currently on the Dominican side of the island, Russ and Sherrie continue to help us in Haiti coordinating aid to our Delmas 6 camp. 
Russ & Sherrie Coordinating with Kendra & Samuel and the Haitian Leadership Team of the Delmas #6 Camp
Russ & Sherrie at Delmas 6
 

 2.)   A  WELL  FOR  DELMAS   #6 

 

Two of the other people in the group I assisted in Santo Domingo, after the earthquake, were well drillers Kelly Perkins and Pastor Aaron  Swenson.  At the time of the quake, these men were out in an open field drilling a well.  They said the ground turned into what looked like 4 foot waves on the ocean.  Upon returning to the mission location, and finding the building collapsed, these became a vital part of the group rescuing Katie Zook and Jack Munoz.  They had tools that were vital in digging the victims out.

 

 I never would have dreamed when I assisted this group with their  flights out of Santo Domingo that the Lord would weave our paths together once again as we all work to bring health and healing to the Haitian people!  Click on this link so you can see an interview with Kelly Perkins about Katie Zook's rescue. 

 Click here to view that visual interview 
 

Pastor Aaron Swenson just finished drilling a well in our Delmas 6 camp!!

 

The rig has the words "Drill Baby Drill" inscribed on its side!
Well Drill Baby Drill
Well with kids
Not only was the well drilling rig released from customs without paying a penny but, they have put down 8 wells in the last 12 days.  They are drilling in refugee camps where water is a life and death issue!!  We feel overjoyed to tears by the news that Pastor Aaron Swenson, Kelly Perkins and his crew have drilled a well and installed a hand pump at our Delmas 6 Camp!!!  Thanks for praying!!  Pastor Aaron writes....

 
hey there!
Well the tent camp down on Delmas 6 now has a well.  We will have to do a couple finishing touches on it tomorrow and then it will be off to the next one.  This was a difficult well, clay that plugged up two bits till we got the right one on.  Then the rig quit running good because of a plugged fuel filter.  We worked for every inch of that 60'.  It is humbling to have people who lost everything and live in tents bring you cold cokes to thank you for your work!
GPS coordinates for today's well on Delmas 6 are:    N 18* 33.472'  
                                                                                         W 072* 19.792'   
 
3.)  Tents - The same day our friends Aaron and Kelly were drilling the well, Youth With A Mission helped install 39 tents that measure 14' X 16' at our Delmas 6 camp.  The people wanted to put four together for a place to hold church meetings! (God's Spirit is moving mightily in Haiti!)  These are very nice tents and we are so thankful for the Lord's provision!!
 
Continue to pray with us for the 410 Shelterbox tents we have requested.  There have been many delays in getting these tents.  I spoke to a Shelterbox representative on the phone yesterday and he told me that sometime between Monday and Thursday we should get at least a partial shipment of the Shelterbox tents we ordered.  The rainy season has started and these tents are so necessary!
 
***Please continue to pray with us for the needs in the area of sanitation.  Several weeks ago, we dug a large 10 foot hole for a latrine and hit what we think is the water table.  We had already brought in the building materials from the Dominican Republic to build traditional latrines.  This means that a traditional filtration latrine will not work.  Pray for us to have the right contacts as we investigate other options for dry latrines.  Imagine what a hazard body-waste from 1500 people living in a small area poses!    
    
If you have access to an extra laptop computer you would like to donate to Haiti, there are needs for relatively modern, working laptop computers with Internet capability.  I have one pastor in particular that needs Internet communication capabilities ASAP.  For transport to Haiti please contact Cheryl Trepus at 810-287-0324.   
 
Thanks for being part of our prayer support team. So many of you have sent us notes letting us know that you are praying.  We will keep you updated as to how God is answering your prayers!  We can be contacted by e-mail at kendra.luna5@gmail.com or by phone at 809-280-3109.
 
Thank you from Kendra & Samuel 
                                Landon, Nathan & Andersen
 
Your tax-deductible donation can be sent to "Davison Free Methodist Church, 502 Church St. Davison MI 48423"  Please attach a note designating Luna family or Luna Haiti relief.