| e-Mission Lines July 2012 |
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Touching Haiti with the love of Christ |
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A Rejuvenating Visit
by Sara Dessieux
June 25, 2012 - After being away for two years, I am finally back in Haiti for a quick visit. Oh how I love being in this place. It's been windy here this week and while I don't like how the dust is flying around, sticking to my contacts and irritating my eyes, sitting here on the guesthouse porch with the strong breeze blowing through the trees is lovely.
Every time I come here I am amazed by how much the mission has changed and grown since I stopped living here seven years ago. Back then we had maybe five teams a year some serve with us. We had to house them in hotels and eventually above the high school with just one bathroom for the whole group. In the last twelve months, we have had 45 teams stay in our nine-bedroom guesthouse. These teams treat medical problems, help save lives, share Christ through preaching, teaching and vacation Bible school, help build homes for homeless families, and love on Haitian children and adults alike. Their constant presence also keeps a number of Haitians employed as cooks, housekeepers, drivers and interpreters. And all these people together form such an awesome family.
Looking back again, I remember when Pastor Prophete (Etienne) and I would sit and talk about the future of the mission and wonder who would take over his role as executive director. Now this week I've had the blessing of observing Edwens Prophete and Wendy Zehner hard at work and doing an awesome job. Each of us and others at the mission could recount for hours all the amazing circumstances of the past few years that have brought us to where we are today. Seemingly chance meetings turned into invaluable partnerships. Perfect timing of events. God is good and He is in charge here. And every week we have people doing incredible things and showing such love in his name.
Sitting in a circle across the porch from me right now is a dozen members of the Haitian staff reciting scripture, singing and praying together. Every Monday morning they meet to pray for the schools, churches, hospital and visiting teams. I am so thankful for what they are doing. Also, I feel convicted. How much time do I spend praying for HCM? Not nearly enough. HCM needs lots and lots of prayer right now. We always do. There is just always so much going on that impacts so many people. So one thing I am going back with is a new commitment in my heart to pray daily for HCM and the people involved and to pray specifically about current happenings. I also want to more regularly share the prayer requests of the mission with our supporters so they can be praying along with us.
Tomorrow I fly back to the states. And that's okay. I miss my kids and my husband. But once there I will miss Haiti again. I'm so thankful for the trip and for all the conversations I've been able to have with people here. I have a fresh enthusiasm for HCM and its future. I believe God has great things in store. |
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A Blessed and Unforgettable Trip
by Etienne Prophete
From mid-May through the beginning of July, I had one of the most blessed and unforgettable trips ever. Invited by friends, promotional directors and supporters of the mission, I had the privilege of touring Kentucky, Alaska and Colorado to speak on behalf of the mission. God blessed the trip tremendously.
The aim was to raise funds to replenish the general fund that is depleted and a second goal was to collect donations in order to build a peanut butter factory to save the lives of children dying from malnutrition. At one time, there were nine children per week dying from malnutrition in Fonds-Parisien and the surrounding areas. The Wellspring Trust, under the name of Friends of Children then, helped with a feeding program and that stopped the avalanche of deaths in that area.
I recently made an appeal to Wellspring Trust and they responded favorably with a donation of $30,000 to build the structure for the peanut factory. Churches like Capital City Christian in Kentucky and Community Christian and Anchorage Christian in Alaska contributed generously. Palmer Christian Church in Alaska covered the trip cost. Mountain View Church in Glenwood Springs, Colorado gave a donation of $6,000 to buy the factory equipment. This is not counting how many times your servant was treated nicely by friends and churches with delicious meals and peaceful lodging away from the noise of a cock crowing at four o'clock in the morning that we often hear in Fonds-Parisien.
There still remains the need for funds to get the farmers to raise the peanuts, import the honeybees to grow, and buy the jars for the peanut butter. But we count on God to provide and show the way like the Israelites coming out of Egypt. The Lord said, "Then you will know the way to go, since you have never been this way before." (Joshua 3:4)
HCM is in need of promotional directors in every state across the US. Without them, it is impossible to connect with all the churches and to do enough promotion. If you know of someone that would be willing to serve in this capacity, the mission will gladly approach him or her. Please pray for two of our supporters. For Bill Lance, that he will recover well from surgery and for Patty Pinkston, that she will total recover. The Lord has began a good work in both of them. Pray that this peanut butter factory will accelerate the saving of children's lives.
With the KINGDON in mind, the best is yet to come. |
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Other Exciting Happenings
 A new church building is being constructed by HCM in Croix-des-Bouquets, a town just outside Port-au-Prince on the road to Fonds-Parisien. It is the first church to be built under Edwens' direction. The construction was started by Kissimmee Christian Church. They sent a work team and raised over $5,000. Another $7,000 has been raised to finish the project. A team from Story Christian Church, under the leadership of Will Sexton planned to work on the building, but unfortunately civil unrest in our area kept that group confined to the compound in Fonds-Parisien for much of their trip and Haitians were hired to continue the work. Kingsway Christian Church is helping to furnish the facility with benches and a pulpit. The building had not yet been completed when another team from Kissimmee Christian Church visited last month, but the youth were able to go inside and worship for a little while with the pastor of the church.
 | | Kissimmee team at the Croix-des-Bouquets church building site |
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 | | Samuel Simon and Robenson Louis |
Thanks to Play It Forward and IDES, we have a new full-court basketball court! Loganville Christian Academy was there for the ribbon cutting and held our first basketball camp. Robenson and Samuel, two of our interpreters, are now the new coaches for the twenty students participating in weekly practice and games. Dr. Maxene and Dr. Dieunord were even there to give speeches on health and to give praise to God for all he is doing with our youth.
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 | | Brennan, Molly, Jenna and Katherine |
We have had four interns serving with us in Haiti this summer. Brennan Fogas, Katherine Gavin, Jenna Whetstone, and Molly Vanhoy have been helping host visiting teams, working with the sponsorship program, helping in the clinic, sorting and organizing in the depot, and assisting with other tasks. |
A third midwife, Ms. Izema, has joined the HCM medical staff. We are so grateful for Cheryl Fogarty, MD and Labor of Love for their support of our three midwives. In 2011, our midwives assisted 1600 women in labor.
 | | Ms. Izema, Ms. LaPaix, Dr. Maxene, Dr. Fogarty and Ms. Michele |
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Bethel Christian recently donated $5,100 toward the water reservoir for Village of Faith. Kingsway Christian donated $12,000 for special projects including benches for our new church and desks for schools. We are so thankful for those generous congregations. |
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Ways You Can Pray
That each member of our staff who has not yet committed his or her life to the Lord would come to know and trust Him.
Safety for our staff and the visiting teams as they drive around Haiti.
Funds needed to support our existing schools and clinic.
Insight, creativity and determination for Geralbert Bossicot, our new education director, as he continues to look at the quality of education in our schools and at the Bible instruction. A second seminar for teachers is being planned for August.
Wisdom, strength and courage for Edwens Prophete, our executive director, as he navigates waters still new to him.
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