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March 1, 2010 - Present

Mission Trip to Haiti / Aug 22 - Sep 10, 2010

• 
  Unless otherwise specified, all reports are from Brother Chuck
• 
  August 31
  View photos
  I haven't written much on this trip because I am pretty bored myself, driving around Port-au-Prince all day. Today it was 96 degrees and I don't know what the heat index was but it was hot. It is about 8 p.m. now and it is still around 90 degrees. I am feeling a lot better but I can tell that this heat really makes me weak. Every morning I take the guys up to Z'Orange and I come back down the mountain to order materials and pick up supplies. George's truck's front wheel drive went out and I have been going around Port-au-Prince looking for parts. I found all the parts that we needed and paid a good price for them. We actually could use one other part (the right axle) but they wanted $2,150.00 U.S. for it so we are hoping and praying the old one will work till George can order one from the States. George really needs the 4 wheel drive up in the Northwest where he and Carol Ann live.
  
  George has been able to finish welding the trusses and is now making purlings. Kenny has been floating around helping George and then helping Bill and Joe build pews. Today George taught Kenny how to weld and he said he did a great job. That doesn't surprise me; Kenny can do about anything, but that is the same way with all the guys. Each of us is a jack of all trades and master of none.
  
  Pastor Dorleon is like a little child every time we do something for him; he has the biggest smile and a twinkle in his eye when he gets excited. We are going to have kindergarten at the school now and we are separating one of the rooms. We have bought hardboard to make chalkboards for the room dividers (can't buy chalk boards already made here). He also asked if we could buy some little plastic chairs. I couldn't believe it but I asked around and found some. I bought one and took it to show Pastor Dorleon and he put his hands in the air and praised God as he danced around. The store where I bought it said they would have the others for me tomorrow; we are buying 36.
  
  The mission house is coming along much slower than I thought but I should have known. I am sure that it is right on God's schedule. God knows that we are doing our best and that is all He asks of us. I am so blessed to have Christian brothers that are willing to come over and help me. I know I can't do this by myself and I just keep praying God will continue to provide the funds and the people to do His work. I have said this many times but in my opinion, I have the best job in the world, and God surrounds me with brothers and sisters that truly want to serve.
  
  Just a reminder for the people that are planning on the November 7-13 mission team. You need to let us know that you are interested. We will need all of the funds in by November 1. The total for the trip is $1500.00, and we will need ½ no later than October 15. It will be an exciting time, as usual. We will be having a medical team, VBS and discipleship training. I will also be coming in a week early to work on the mission house, if we have anyone that would like to do some manual labor. Contact us by email or call me at 850-582-1458.
• 
  August 29
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  Today was really a great day with the Lord. I started it out at Dottie's in my little prayer garden in the corner of Dottie's yard. It would look like I would know by now but if I don't start my day with Him, I have trouble all day. Since I have been sick, I have not spent the time I need with Him. When I am sick I just can't seem to focus like I should and if there is any time I really need Him, it is when I am sick. When I don't spend time with Him I am trying to handle everything myself and make things happen and I don't have any peace. I know that if I spend time with Him each day and ask for His direction, I have the peace and joy that I need for the day and really the problems and situations are still the same but I have the peace to handle them.
  
  To say all that, today has been a day of joy. I had the wonderful opportunity to preach at Jerusalem IV. Today they celebrated three years since their church began. It was truly a day of celebration. Several groups sang praising the Lord for their church. Pastor Dorleon is checking on TEM purchasing the land so in the future they can have a church building built. I am always reminding them that they are the church and they should never change; that their love for the community is the reason they have grown. I love to watch these churches grow from a tarp ceiling to a thatch roof to the tin roof. It is hard to explain the joy they have with what they have.
  
  Afterward we came back to Port and picked up Joe Hutchison and Bill Chambless. They will be working tomorrow building desks for the kids while Kenny and George will continue to work on the trusses. I have hired a Haitian welder and his equipment for tomorrow to see if that will help us. I'm just praying he will show up and his equipment works. We will see.
• 
  August 28
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  It has been a few days since I have checked in but I have been pretty busy.
  
  The problem in Haiti is that you can be really busy and do nothing. Yesterday we had to go get the insurance papers for the van, which has taken 9 months. You ask why and that is a good question but there is no answer. We went downtown, which takes about over an hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the heat, no a/c, horns blowing and basically total chaos. When you get to the insurance office it is outside. They have closed the building because of the earthquake and there are tables set up outside (heat index 110) with hundreds of people standing around waiting to have their name called on a megaphone. They have put up a few tarps so not everyone is standing in the sun. We waited there for two hours to get the insurance. So after taking an hour to drive there, two hours to get the insurance and an hour to get back, the morning was gone. Then we had to purchase a few things for the mission house and I thought we could go to Z'Orange and get some work done but that was not the case. I pulled in to get gas and the van would not start. After working on it for about a half hour I finally decided that it was time to change the starter. Thank the Lord that He had me bring a new one in and I had it in the van so after about and hour, we were on our way again. By this time it was too late to go to Z'Orange so we actually got to eat dinner at Dottie's dinner table with everyone else instead of coming in late and eating at the kitchen table.
  
  Today we did get some work done, as you can tell by the photos. I should say George and Kenny did, as I ended up running around Port-au-Prince most of the morning for things. After I got up to Z'Orange, I went to see Jerusalem IV and was really surprised how much it has grown. They have over 150 people now. As you can see, they really need some benches. People have to stand up for church. Can you imagine anyone doing that in the States?
  
  Tomorrow I am really looking forward to preaching there. It is so wonderful to see people full of joy giving praise to the Lord as they sit on a 1"x 8" board or having to stand up in a church with no walls and maybe a tarp on part of the roof. We can learn so much from the Haitian people, like how to be thankful.
  
  Thank you for your continued prayers.
• 
  August 25
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  Praise God, I seem to be getting a little better everyday. Today we had to divide up so while George and Gilbert (George's son) went straight up to Z'Orange to start work, Simon and I had to run around in Port-au-Prince to do what I really love doing, not!! It was a typical time in Port, where we got done about half of what we needed to do so will have to finish tomorrow. We had to go to three or four places to get everything we needed. I needed to get up to Z'Orange as quickly as I could because Gilbert was having to cut ½" rebar with a hack saw and he only needed to cut about 700 pieces so I had to find metal chop saw blades that would fit our chop saw; that took three places and we still didn't get what we wanted. We had to take the safety guard off so the blade would fit; oh well, it worked. It's Haiti, no OSHA . We were really blessed to find some scaffolds here. Because of all the Haiti relief work, a lot of building equipment is hard to find. Anyway, these were the two main things that we needed to get to George around 1 p.m. so that we could get back to pick up Kenny Phillips at the airport. We did manage to pick up for Madame Dorleon a 50lb propane tank for her stove.
  
  The Haitian workers really like the new scaffolding. Some of them may have never worked on scaffolding before and these are pretty nice. The wheels lock in place and George told me they didn't know how to unlock them so they were picking them up and moving them in place. We have a great group of Christian Haitian workers. They are a pleasure to work with.
  
  Tomorrow George and Kenny will go up to Z'Orange while Simon, Pastor Harry and I take care of some business here in Port. I need to cash a check, pick up materials, buy some parts for George's truck and pick up our papers for the Land Cruiser that we ordered. We also will be arranging to pick up our Feed My Starving Children Food out at Love A Child that we distribute in Z'Orange and up in the Northwest of Haiti.
  
  For some of you that keep up with the adventures of me and the van, you may have noticed I haven't mentioned it. That is because I have been staying away from it until today. It actually cranked the first time and the a/c worked - not well, but it worked. I very rarely listen to the radio but I thought I would cut it on and it didn't work and I thought, "Well, if that is all that doesn't work, Halleluiah!" Well, that didn't last long; it overheated and only through prayer did it crank again, and now the a/c was completely gone, nothing but hot air. I told George every time I get into it there is a big chance I'm not going to make it where I'm going. This has become the most expensive free gift we have ever been given but it does get us there in it's own time so please forgive me, Lord, as I complain (it's the flesh). God willing, we will have a new Land Cruiser in January. If the Lord puts it on your heart to help us with this badly needed vehicle, please let us know. I have wasted so much time and money trying to keep this van running, it truly is ridiculous. I have spent at least 30% of my time in Haiti broken down. I know most people like to give to projects, food, medical and Christian training material but we can't do any of this without transportation.
  
  Again I want to thank all of you who pray, come and give to further His Kingdom; without you, I could not be here. Thank you from the depths of my soul that you allow me to serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
• 
  August 24
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  Today was a great day. As most of you know, I have been really sick since I got back from Haiti last month. I have been to doctors, emergency rooms and infectious disease doctors and no one seems to know why I have been so fatigued and having terrible headaches. I have had a headache for over five weeks except for maybe three or four days about two weeks ago. This afternoon and this evening I have no headache and I can't even begin to tell you how great that feels. I want to thank everyone that has been praying for me, and please continue. It is bad enough to have the headaches at home in the air conditioning and the convenience of your home but in this heat it has been pretty tough but God is faithful.
  
  Well, enough about me and my little problems. As I said at the beginning of this entry, today was a great day. I praise the Lord for the people that have prayed and given to help build God's Mission House in Z'Orange. I thank George Truelove for being here to help with welding the trusses and helping with the layout. Kenny Phillips is coming tomorrow and Joe Hutchinson and Bill Chambless are coming Sunday to help, praise the Lord. We are also working on the Z'Orange School. We have purchase lumber and will be building desks for the kids; school starts in October. Today we purchased four by eight hardboard sheets that we will make into chalk boards for the classrooms. We also have purchased ceiling fans for all the rooms and a generator, which are all being shipped over in November. Also in November, we will be surprising them with four or five laptop computers. If you know where we might get a discount on some laptops or you would like to buy one, let us know. They don't have to be the top of the line. They will be used to teach basic computer skills and will not able to connect to internet. In Z'Orange there is no power, no phone service and no running water. Again I want to thank everyone who has prayed, given and come to Haiti to help these precious children of God.
  
  As you can see by the pictures, the walls are coming up on the mission house. It is amazing to watch God's vision for Z'Orange happening before my eyes. If you haven't seen the vision, click on the mission house vision to see the plans. It truly is a God-size project. It truly was a wonderful day working side by side with our Haitian brothers for His Kingdom, not ours. We prayed this morning that we would build this house as if we were building it for the Lord because it is not the Americans' house or the Haitians' house, it is God's house to bring people to see the need in Haiti and that we would build it with absolute joy that the Lord has allowed us to serve Him. We are so blessed to work with true Christian brothers here in Haiti.
  
  Please continue to pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters as they continue to suffer trying to survive in this third world country. God has given us a wonderful opportunity; let us not ignore it.
  
  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
  Galatians 6:9
• 

End of Aug / Sep 2010 Haiti Mission Trip Report

Mission Trip to Haiti / Jul 5 - 17, 2010

• 
  July 16
  View photos
  Report from Will Tiller
  It's Friday and we are headed back to Port. We got up around 5:30 (slept in) and had breakfast at the Leach's. I think I am beginning to like that place. They feed us well. Had a great cup of coffee and loaded up to leave.
  
  We met George Truelove on the road between somewhere out in the middle of nowhere and somewhere in the middle of nowhere and went to Mole St. Nichol which is arguably in the middle of somewhere. Mole is where the grass strip runway is located. We stopped by a local store and purchased a coke or two and went to meet the plane. He was right on time and we flew back to Port without any problems and had a great flight.
  
  After returning to Port we realized how wonderful it has been to be in the countryside and how quiet and tranquil it is in the mountains. The need is great but God really allowed us to have a wonderful time of fellowship. We really enjoyed visiting with Truelove's and Leach's. God has definitely called these families to be in this country and I really respect them for there faithfulness.
  
  We spent most of the afternoon relaxing at Dottie's and slowly getting back in the "World". Dottie's house is such a blessing!
• 
  July 15
  View photos
  Report from Tricia Meadows
  Curt and I have found that with the windows open, it is just natural to awaken with the dawning of the sun. This morning was no exception . . . and the fact that our window was closest to the outhouse only meant more voices and activity at sunrise! When we came out to the living / eating area, Chuck had tracked down some coffee and was making it in a percolating coffee pot on the stove. We ate breakfast, which for some was a piece or two of the tasty pies from last night that Carol Ann insisted we keep for just this purpose. We were gathering our things together when Carol Ann showed up and surprised us with fresh made biscuits and sausage gravy. We sat down to breakfast number two. I didn't hear anyone complaining! :) She spoiled us.
  
  We said our goodbyes. Dominique and Rachel gave their Leatherman-type tool to a young man that Rachel remembered fondly from her visit there in 2004. George graciously allowed us to borrow his truck for the next leg of our trip to visit the Leach's in Bombardopolis. Chuck drove and the women joined him in the cab, while the men loaded into the bed of the truck. It's hard to describe the roads in Haiti. You learn to let your body go sort of limp so it can just move freely as the truck bumps up and down and side to side. Also, you don't gauge your trip by miles but rather by time. The actual distance from Nan Sentrain to Bombard didn't look very far on a map but it took hours.
  
  Our first stop along the way was in Mare Rouge to visit with Edna. Brother Chuck has known him since Edna was a teenager. He received his degree in agriculture and works with Heart of the Bride, Niceville, FL. He and his wife have a young boy whose middle name is Chuck; yep, Brother Chuck has a namesake in Haiti. Quite an honor. Edna has a nice home with a great view of the valley.
  
  We left there, and hadn't traveled far before we met up with Pastor Wisney. We went down the road to his home, with its small covered area outside where the church congregation packs in (standing room only) to worship together. We met his wife and cute, baby girl. Then we traveled farther down the road to the church they are in the process of building. We were impressed as we watched them work. They have a process called creping. You can't apply a smooth, finished surface directly on the block wall so they use a trowel to throw damp, coarse cement against the block. They smooth it out with a section of 2X4. The church building was coming along well. As we came to expect, children drew close at each stop to see what we were up to. Dominique and Rachel treated them to Dum-Dums and Curt entertained them with some magic tricks or juggling. It was a joy to see them respond with smiles and laughter.
  
  We were off again, and drove all the way to Bombardopolis before we stopped to see Angel, Brother Chuck's goddaughter, and her family. Angel wore a pink dress and seemed happy to see Brother Chuck; she didn't leave his side. Brother Chuck had things to discuss with his good friend (Angel's father). This time Curt entertained the kids by making animal noises, which the kids had to guess what animal it was. Angel's mom joined in and we had a fun time. Following that, Tyler and Lisa handed out some gifts that their children had put together. Children can be so thoughtful; they came up with the idea on their own and put the gifts in a plastic bag for their parents to take to Haiti. Before we left, Angel's father, via an interpreter, thanked us for coming and blessed us.
  
  We loaded into George's truck one more time to reach our final destination of the day. Steve Leach greeted us and then gave us a tour of their property, which included the widow's home and hospital. I was looking forward to see the widows. Again, I recognized several of them from photos over the years. They looked like they were being well taken care of. The hospital was impressive. It was well run, and they even had an operating room. We returned to the Leach's home where we met Betsy, a college gal, who has visited them several times over the past few years and has been with them three months this time. We also met a husband and wife, both doctors, along with their three children, who have routinely visited to help out at the hospital. As an added bonus, Grace, the Leach's daughter, was home from college for six weeks, along with her friend, Josiah, who was visiting for the first time. It was a large group and it was pizza night! Faith came home from the hospital and immediately set to making the dough and preparing the toppings. She seemed to take it all in stride as she was interrupted by people coming to the door, she had to solve some issues at the hospital via cell phone, and she tracked down some medication that was needed. Curt helped her with the dinner preparations, and made the pizza sauce. Not only did Faith make four large pizzas, she also made breadsticks with a dipping sauce and breakfast cinnamon rolls! It was delicious. Spoiled once again!
• 
  July 14
  View photos
  Report from Rachel Schwentker
  Early morning again . . . Today is a very busy day, starting off with loading up the van with all of our luggage and driving across town to Dottie's house. We left our all the large luggage at Dottie's and darted back across town in JoJo's van to the airport. We waited 45 minutes while MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) weighed us and our luggage. I was still not quite feeling well while waiting. I was dizzy and still having stomach issues. Linda Blankenship arrived at the small airport on her way to the States-it was great to see her! Finally, we were led out to our next mode of transportation . . . a Cessna six-passenger airplane . . . yikes! A few of us were frightened, but were quickly calmed by the pilot praying before departing. The take-off was a little nerve racking. Tricia and I held hands and our breath. O, but what a beautiful view though when we were airborne!
  
  We landed on a dirt airstrip in Mole St. Nicolas. George Truelove and the others (Will, Tyler and Lisa, who took the earlier flight) were waiting for us and we were on our way to Nan Sentrain. Arriving at George and Carol Ann's brought back many sweet memories of '04. Carol Ann fixed us a light (her words) lunch of pasta, salad, pickles, and homemade rolls. It was great and everyone ate a lot. After lunch, Carol Ann's daughter came in to get her to go deliver a baby-what timing!
  
  We went to the clinic, which is about 10 meters from the guest house. The woman giving birth was very clearly in agony with no pain medicine at all. This was her and her husband's first child. Carol Ann was in charge of the situation and kept having the mother breathe. While all this was going on, an anxious father was in the waiting area. The baby was born! A "gason" (boy)! When he started crying, the father leapt up like one of the healed lame men in the Bible-jumping, dancing around, rejoicing and praising the Lord. It was amazing to see and be a part of such a blessed event.
  
  This was not the end of our eventful day either. Next, we took a tour of the Truelove's property. There was the clinic, the guest house, the church, a nutrition center with added housing for malnourished children and their mother's, an activity room, and some very interesting plants and trees.
  
  Carol Ann told us she was cooking us some pies-well, when she said "some," she meant A LOT!!! Apple, peach, cherry, pecan, lemon, and 2 chocolate!!! Well, us ladies got to help with making them and it took a few hours-we had so much fun! 6 women in a kitchen! The guys watched and teased us for awhile, so we put them to work too. Dominique cut and seasoned the meat and Curt cooked the meat and fish. Everything was delicious! It was pitch dark by the time we gathered around the table, prayed, and ate.
  
  It was such a blessing to come along side the Truelove's and see how the Lord has richly blessed them and manifested Himself through them to the community. Natasha (George and Carol Ann's daughter) is now 14 and quite a young lady. Harold and Jean Luke were still there. They were much taller, but it was still great to see them. Sleeping was a little difficult that night because of the animals making their nightly noises and all the things running through my mind as the day's events rolled back through my mind.
• 
  
  July 13
  View photos
  Report from Tyler Whann
  Well, today everyone woke up with a kick in their step because Will T was coming into Port later in the day (not really). In actuality, everyone knew that it would be the last day that the things they brought would be their own because Will T is notorious for packing light (one pair of underwear), and mooching the rest. After packing the van, we started the day by heading up the mountains to Z'orange from Port-au-Prince in the little van that 'could'. Although we had gotten up there successfully the day before, there were no guarantees we would make it up a second day in a row, and if we did, we likely wouldn't have air conditioning for some or all of the way...However, God provided a miracle; one akin to the parting of the Red Sea or Jesus turning water into wine. We made it to the top without a hitch and best of all, Chuck didn't have to get grease under his finger nails!
  
  Upon getting out of the van, we were quickly greeted by pastor Do and Julio. Chuck quickly announced that he wouldn't be hiking up the mountain to Jerusalem II because he had "administrative" business to take care of, and Simon (one of the interpreters) quickly followed suit saying he would stay with Chuck to interpret while Harry (the other interpreter) would love to take us 5 kilometers in the blazing Haitian sun up the mountain. By the time we hit the gates of Do's house to leave for the hike, we were all already dripping with sweat and thirsty. Shortly into the hike, it was time for a water break...and then a few minutes later, another...and then another, and then, well, another...You get the point! All the while during our countless breaks, we watched Haitian men, women, and children blow past us on the mountain without shoes and water, while carrying rocks, baskets, trunks, and jugs of water on their heads...all in a day's work to survive! This reminded Lisa and me of our kids (NOT!) who need water right when we step outside to go on a short bike ride, or complain when they have to walk from ride to ride at Disney World.
  
  Climbing up the mountain is quite an experience...each time you think you've gotten to the peak, PSYCH, there's another in the distance....and another...and another....It's kind of like that tropical oasis in the desert you always see but never get to. Fortunately, as we got higher, the air got cooler and the breeze picked up. Along the way, kids decided it would be fun to follow us all the way to the top, so they did...barefoot of course.
  
  When we reached the top, we spent some time in the church. Madame Fani's eldest son thanked us all for coming and some of the children sang a song for us. We attempted to reciprocate by singing an old Baptist hymn, which was painful to their ears, I'm sure. Nonetheless, they gave us a half hearted clap. Curt then played Harry Houdini by performing magic tricks for the kids. They loved him...it was fun to see the joy in their faces from something so small.
  
  After a short time at Jerusalem II, it was time to head back down because we had to get back to the Port to pick up Will T at the airport. It wasn't really much of a motivation to hustle down the mountain to be on time for him, as he could wait or just take a tap tap (Haitian taxi), but we decided we'd try to get back. Upon getting to the base at Z'orange, Chuck was performing his "administrative" duties with his hat over his head and the van seat reclined???
  
  After downing about 2 bottles of water each, chitty chitty bang bang raced down the mountain to the Port to get Will T. When we got to the Port, Chuck drove everyone to the hotel to check in before getting Will. On the way, we passed a hotel called The High Class Hotel, but we didn't stay there because Chuck didn't want to spoil us, so we settled for another 5 star experience in Haiti.
  
  Upon arriving, everyone got out of the van with the bags to check-in except for Chuck, Pastor Harry, Lisa and me, and we headed to the airport. Upon getting there, Chuck explained that in order to pick people up for flights, all cars have to pay to go through the parking lot, even though they aren't necessarily parking. This, of course, adds congestion and chaos to an already grossly undersized and congested parking lot, which made perfect sense in a Haitian kind of way....like everything else related to cars and roads and stoplights (or lack there of). Lisa and I waited in the van while Chuck and Pastor Harry ran into the airport. We thought we were going to melt while sitting in the van, and then a Haitian parking nazi banged on the hood, and asked me in Creole to move the van over so another car could fit in a spot my bicycle couldn't fit in. I jumped in the drivers seat and said a little prayer knowing the van wouldn't crank, but it did and I moved it over an inch or two.
  
  After waiting for about 30 minutes in the sauna, we saw Will, Chuck and Pastor Harry coming out of the airport. Will had his usual grin on his face. He, of course, had packed light, as mentioned earlier because he's able to mooch Purell, food and clothes off of everyone else...He once told me the TEM packing checklist is for all the first-time rookies.
  
  Then we drove back to the hotel to meet everyone else. Upon going up to our room, Lisa and I were casually told by Simon that the door lock in our room needed "some work". In Haitian terms, this meant that the door knob was either missing or unusable. In this instance, it was the latter of the two...you could basically just push the door open with a little shove. This was very reassuring to Lisa who was on her first trip to Haiti. We figured we could just use the latch in lieu of the functioning door handle, but the problem was that it was missing too. Chuck quickly got the office manager up to the room to let her know this wouldn't work, but she proceeded to tell him it was fine...All we had to do was twist the the door knob to tighten it. She then walked away saying they would repair it tomorrow. That was great and all, except we were checking out tomorrow. Chuck proceeded to pull out his tools to fix the door knob and replace the latch by taking one from another room. Clearly, service and customer satisfaction was important to the hotel!
  
  After that fiasco, we went to bed, prepared for another adventure in the land of Haiti.
• 
  
  July 12
  View photos
  Report from Tricia Meadows
  After spending most of yesterday in the hotel room feeling miserable, I didn't expect to be up and about today, and I definitely didn't expect to see Brother Chuck moving around. Thank you to all who prayed for us, and to Rachel for checking on us! We weren't feeling up for our original plan to spend the night in Z'Orange so we were grateful that we would be staying at Dottie's. Thank you again, Dottie!!!
  
  We still planned on going up to Z'Orange so our new teammates, Tyler and Lisa, could see the area and the completed foundation for the mission house. However, we had two stops to make on the way. The first was to Dottie's Guest House to drop off our bags / stuff and the second was to Love-a-Child to drop off the two batteries for Gabriel so a group there can use it for the project they're working on. During our journeying, we noticed the kids headed off to school in their different uniforms. They looked so clean compared to the streets they were walking on. We found them very interesting, and decided to do a little photo study of them.
  
  While we were at Love-a-Child, we had the pleasure of going to the orphanage again. We were serenaded by a trio of angels. They were too cute. Sherry Burnette, told us their names and their stories. Moses' story still sticks in my mind. The day he was born his mother dropped him into an outhouse toilet! A man heard his cry and dug out the opening in order to rescue him. He survived and is a delightful little boy. Several of us had the joy of being able to pick them up and hold them. So sweet.
  
  On the way up the mountain to Z'Orange, it started to rain. If you read Brother Chuck's blogs from the last trip, you know there are no longer windshield wipers on the van. Brother Chuck was prepared this time and brought Rain-X so we were in good shape. Of course, it may be because he didn't want to see another group of Haitian men practically fall out of their vehicle laughing at him. While in Z'Orange, we made another attempt to visit Daniel's voodoo village. Daniel was there this time but we didn't stay long because he, as well as many others in the village, were feeling ill. He was concerned that we might catch it, and we had to agree!
  
  We then decided to trek over to see Madame Philistine's newly completed home. As usual, we had plenty of kids escorting us down the trail. We knew grey clouds were moving in above us but we thought we had time. But, no, it was not meant to be. Drops began to fall, which sent adults and kids running back in the direction of the van. We got to it just in time for us to jump in and for the kids to jump under a sheltered area. Then it was a race to get down the mountain before the places were the road crosses the river started flooding. The water was racing us down the road but we made it down in time and headed back to Port-au-Prince.
  
  We had one last stop before we made it back to Dottie's; we needed sandwich makings for dinner. We came out of the supermarket eager to complete our day (it had been a long day for us recovering sickies) only to find, you guessed it, that the van wouldn't start! There was green liquid on the ground and it wouldn't crank (breakdown five or six, we've lost count). The Lord had mercy on us and after adding water to the radiator and tapping on the starter a few times, we were Dottie-bound!
• 
  July 11
  Report from Curt Meadows
  Please note that there are no pictures for this day. After reading the entry you will probably understand why.
  
  Last night four of the five team members began to feel kind of queasy. Well this morning that queasiness started to turn into the "Haitian Happiness". Chuck, Tricia, Rachel, and Dominique were all feeling intestinally challenged and were in need of some Imodium A-D. After taking some, they began to feel a little better and we thought we could go on with our plans of making it to Z'Orange to worship with our Haitian brothers and sisters. With each passing Haitian mile things started taking a turn for the worse. Tricia started to feel really ill and couldn't keep anything on her stomach. Brother Chuck wasn't fairing much better. As all of this was happening another issue was beginning to develop. The anti-lock braking system for the rear tires began locking up. With Tricia's condition and the brakes locking up, we pulled into a gas station and none too soon. As we were pulling in the brakes were smoking pretty badly. Once we stopped, that was it; the van was not going to move again. Tricia went to the bathroom while Chuck tried to work on the van and Dominique and Rachel went to get some Sprite for Tricia in hopes that it would help settle her stomach. Tricia came out and sat down and had some of the Sprite; that and the coolish breeze helped her feel a bit better. Chuck was not able to get the brakes working so he started making calls trying to get a mechanic for the van and to make arrangements for a rental car or some other sort of transportation back to the hotel. But things were just not coming together. We prayed and shortly after that Chuck tried the van again and discovered that it was driveable. We piled back in and started to make the trek back to the hotel; all the while Chuck's health was going downhill. While en route he got a call from a mechanic, Johnny. As we approached the hotel Johnny fell in behind us on a motorbike and followed us into the hotel compound. Chuck felt feverish and couldn't go any further so he surrendered the keys and went to his room. I got Tricia to her room and Johnny and I took the van to the shop. Dominique and Rachel, although both were not feeling 100%, stayed back and kept an eye on Chuck and Tricia.
  
  Johnny is an amazing Christian man and was able to determine that the problem was with the rear ABS. Although he had never worked on this problem before he was able to remove the faulty part, clean it and then reassemble it. He put it back on the van and everything seems to be working great. We took the van back to the hotel and checked on everyone. Tricia and Chuck were both still trying to recover and weren't having a whole lot of success. George and Carol Ann Truelove contacted their son, Soncoeur, who is in medical school in Port, and he came by to check on them and bring them medication.
  
  Even though Chuck was in bad shape, he insisted on getting up to drive to the airport to pick up two additions to our team, Tyler and Lisa. If you've spent even a day in Port, you will understand why only an experienced Port driver should sit behind the wheel. We didn't like the idea of Chuck being out of bed but we had no other options. Chuck and I jumped in the van and went to the airport to pick them up.
  
  To add more chaos to this situation, we had planned on checking out of the hotel the next day and driving up to Z'Orange to spend the night. Since we had some sick folks, we thought it would be better if we did not spend the next night in Z'Orange but rather try to find a place in Port..... Chuck began making phone calls. Thank you, again, to George and Carol Ann for doing their best to help us find a place to stay. Despite everyone's best efforts, there was just nothing available. Finally, in the early evening, Chuck got ahold of Dottie who, although she was not yet open for guests, graciously said we could stay there the next evening.
  
  So here is the review of the day . . . 4 members felt pretty bad, we tried to go to Z'Orange, Tricia and Chuck got really ill, van broke done, van got fixed, we arranged new accommodations, we picked up two new team members, and we all went to sleep not knowing what the next day would hold. One might wonder where God was in all this and in retrospect, we all feel that He was there throughout the whole ordeal. If we had made it all the way to Z'Orange, we could very well been stuck there with two people left stranded at the airport and two very sick people hours away from any medical help.
  
  So now you know why there are no pictures for the day.
  
  If you want to see how the team faired, check out tomorrow's entry.
• 
  
  July 10
  View photos
  Report from Rachel Schwentker
  Happy 14th Birthday Daniel! We love and miss you!
  We left early this morning for Pastor Harry's church. On the way there was a lot of water on the road to drive through and we had to stop because the van would not go into gear. It needed transmission fluid. While stopped, we picked up food to hand out at Pastor Harry's church. We also spoke with an elderly lady (Julian) who was very funny and nice. When we arrived at First Baptist of Santo 25, there were about 200 children singing and clapping. It was wonderful to listen to them singing familiar songs like "This is the Day" and "Father Abraham" in Creole. After singing, Pastor Harry spoke to the children, prayed, and began, with the help of others, to distribute packets of food for the children to take home.
  
  Spending time with the children is such a blessing! We left Savane Blonde area in Croix des Bouquets and headed east to Fond-Parisien just west of the Dominican Republic. This is where a huge ministry called Love-A-Child is located. It is amazing to see the magnitude of work these people have done and the sacrifices they have made to help the people of Haiti. It has been wonderful working with TEM and glorifying our Lord every step of the way.
  
  We had lunch at Love-A-Child: chicken, rice, and baked beans-It was very good! Brother Bobby gave us a tour of the place and we got to see some new housing being built with aluminum and insulation. We went from there to the children's home where we met Sherry and many of the children.
  
  We left and headed back to PAP and ran into heavy traffic which was a lot of time at a complete stand still. While traveling through traffic, I saw a huge spider in the van-EEEKKK!!! Don't know if I want to get back in there tomorrow.
• 
  
  July 9
  View photos
  Report from Tricia Meadows
  Our main objective for today was to drive up to Z'Orange to visit, have a real Haitian lunch and check on the completed foundation for the mission house. If we did that, and nothing else, it was going to be a good day. After only one day of experiencing the amazing adventure called "driving in Port-au-Prince," plus never knowing what will happen next with the van, I fully understand one aspect of why you can only make rough plans for the day. And you soon realize that driving should be left to the brave or fool-hearty because the Haitian rule-of-the-road is: the bigger you are, the faster you drive because you have the right of way. You truly have to put your trust in the Lord!
  
  As we headed out of town, we were amazed that for mile after mile after mile, the streets were lined with people selling everything you can imagine. Everyone looks busy. There is a constant movement of humanity as people are doing their best to provide and survive. Even when we reached the outskirts of Port and into the countryside, we saw people making their way to market with baskets and buckets on their heads or a donkey laden with sugar cane or fruit. Everyone looks busy.
  
  When you make it over the final mountain crest, you are struck by how green and fertile the valley Z'Orange is located in is. No more dry, barren land; there are crops here. A few turns down narrow lanes and we found ourselves in the complex where so many photos have been taken over the years.
  
  I have to take a quick break from this day's log to explain something. I've had the wonderful privilege to post journal entries and photos on the TEM website for 5 ½ years now. I've gotten to the point that when Brother Chuck sends new photos, I recognize people I've never met and places I've never been. As my husband, Curt, has been telling people for the last several weeks, "After all this time, we are going to see, smell, feel, hear and taste Haiti for ourselves." We've been looking forward to this.
  
  So we drove into the complex that is the church, the school and the mission house in the making, and I looked out the front of the van and exclaimed, "There's Madame Philistine!" I've been looking forward to finding out if her home is finished. (They tell us that it is, and that we'll see it on Sunday.) Then we met Pastor and Madame Do. So many familiar faces. A few of the kids start to gather around us. I recognize some of them. We are trying to converse with the few Creole words we've learned and a few of the kids speak a little English. They are fascinated and fascinating. One bright, confident boy in particular strikes up a dialogue with Curt. Dominique and Rachel start passing out candy and more kids appear. Then Curt does a little magic with some rubber bands, and more kids appear. The bright boy shows him a rubber band trick of his own. Then Curt does some more magic with some sponge balls and a scarf (thanks, Jeff, for getting him prepared for this trip). We are all laughing and having a good time. Their joy is contagious. I was taking photos of the kids gathered around and suddenly I have kids tugging at me, saying, "You, photo." Then they step back and pose so I can take their photo before they come rushing over to see what they look like and laugh and jump around. I could go on and on about the kids; they were great.
  
  Next we toured the complex and saw the nice louvered windows that were being installed in the school, walked on the completed mission house foundation and heard more about, Lord willing, what the future of Z'Orange could be. Then it was time for the meal that Brother Chuck had been promising us. It's the meal he loves, and now he has us hooked. It was delicious. And Madame Do was so gracious to cut mangoes for dessert; I love mangoes and these were some of the best I've ever had. As an added bonus, Curt convinced Mme Do to teach him how to cook some of the dishes when we return. Yeah!
  
  I know I'm exceeding my word limit for this entry but I still have a couple more things to share. We visited with Sylvest, the ex-voodoo priest, and his wife. They welcomed us with such enthusiasm. Please pray for Sylvest as he has something wrong with his foot. Brother Chuck promised him we would bring him something for it when we return.
  
  Just before we departed Z'Orange, we decided to walk up to the Daniel's voodoo village. As we walked the trail and drew closer to the village, it just felt different. A young boy followed along with us. He had a metal ring that he was rolling in front of him. His clothes were dirty and his pants had a large rip running up his backside. As we entered the village, you couldn't help but notice that there was a lot of illness, a lack of joy and an indifference to their surroundings. What a stark contrast to the complex in Z'Orange that we had just left! A difference between the Light and darkness. What a difference the Lord makes! Your heart breaks at what you see there. You want them to experience the Light. The young boy with the metal ring, followed us back down the trail to the van and waved as we left. He was a cool kid.
  
  I better stop now . . . but there is just so much to tell. We came to experience Haiti with all five senses but somehow we're on overload. How different it is from Niceville, FL! So much to take in . . .
• 
  
  July 8
  View photos
  Report from Dominique Schwentker
  My wife, Rachel, and I jumped head first into the TEM adventure this morning. After meticulously packing our trunks with every thing specified by Chuck to bring, we found ourselves confronted by an airline employee who took her job very seriously. She cited an embargo on boxes as reason to reject our trunks.
  
  Praise God, He did not allow us to become faint. Immediately, Rachel and I scrambled to find other means. And God provided. With the gift shops closed, we had no choice but to empty our trunks into some large bags Rachel had secured that airlines use to cover seats with. We tied it off, checked it in, and ran for our lives to board the plane right on time.
  
  We landed in Port Au Prince after a breathtaking flight viewing the grandeur of God's creative genius from above. When we entered the customs department of the Haitian airport, we were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as painful as we had imagined. Chuck was in plain sight (not to say that he stands out in crowd or anything-wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
  
  Claiming our baggage was an experience. Curt and Tricia had observed our baggage in bits and pieces being unloaded from the plane. Around the turnstile, a large crowd was gathering. I started looking for our bags just knowing that we had lost half of it. But, praise God, every last bit of it was accounted for.
  
  Chuck gave us a tour of Port Au Prince where we saw firsthand the great need of the Haitian people. Haiti is packed full of a lively and colorful people with physical and spiritual needs. Making eye contact with the people, you can see how Christians can be overwhelmed with the physical needs, but-above all things-Haitian people need the hope of eternity Christ Jesus. We hope and pray that our Father gives us opportunity and utterance to speak in His name and to His glory.
• 
  
  July 7
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  As usual, I spent time with my Lord and had my coffee, after arranging for Blanco, a Haitian friend, to meet the window installers so he could show them where the school is in Z'Orange. The installers had changed their minds and decided to install the windows today; that was great news.
  
  I left Dottie's about 8:30 a.m. and headed to my favorite place, the A/C shop. I dropped off the van and had Simon and his father-in-law meet me there. Simon's father-in-law, Morales, has a tap-tap so Simon and I jumped in the back ready to take care of the rest of the busy of the day.
  
  Our first stop was to check and make sure that we had reservations at the Palm hotel. I made them three weeks ago and had to put a $1,000.00 deposit down but that doesn't mean much here. And as usual, the reservations were wrong. They didn't have enough rooms and had some of the wrong dates. Thank the Lord, I keep my paperwork where they had booked those rooms on certain dates. After they saw this, the Lord straightened it all out.
  
  Next stop MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), where I wanted to check on our reservations for the 14th and 16th. We (Tyler, Lisa, Dominique, Rachel, Curt, Trish, Will and I) will be flying up to the Northwest of Haiti to Mole St. Nichol to visit with George and Carol Ann Truelove, who live in Nansantrain, and Steve and Faith Leach, in Bombardopolis. TEM supports a lot of people in these areas and we also help support the Widow's Home, which we partnered with Steve & Faith to build. This will be a good time seeing some friends I haven't seen since last year. All the flights were booked correctly and there was no problem, Halleluiah!!!
  
  We then needed to go to Digicel, which is the largest phone/internet company in Haiti. There are only two. Digicel also has a WIFI USB device that you can connect to the internet anywhere their towers are. You pay in advance and I have been trying to pay my bill for about three months and every time I go somewhere they either can't take it or they are closed. The only place left was the main office, which is a 10-story building a long way away. As Simon and I walked in, there were a lot of people waiting and only one person accepting payment. This is a multimillion dollar company with around 3 million people in Port-au-Prince and most of them have cell phones and they have only one person taking payments. You can't pay on the internet and you can't mail it in. You have to pay in person. What should I have expected! Anyway, after an hour or so, I was able to pay my WIFI bill up through December.
  
  Then we were headed to pick the van up because they called and said they had it ready. I have told them over a dozen times not to let the engine run with the A/C on because it will overheat the engine. Well, you guessed it, when I got there I started to crank the van and before I cranked it I looked at the temp gauge and it was hot, hot. So naturally the A/C couldn't work because the engine was so hot. The good news is I had the new radiator in the van and out of nowhere (God thing) this man comes up and says he is a mechanic. I asked him if he had tools; that is always a good sign. Sometimes they are mechanics but they have no tools and they want to use yours; beware. He said he had tools and he could change it out in 45 minutes. I kind of doubted that but it needed to be done no matter how long it took. I decided this was a good time to get something to eat so Simon, Morales and I grabbed a quick bite to eat at a service station and went and bought some antifreeze. Amazingly he had it fixed by the time we got back. I cranked it up and no A/C but after a few more cans of freon, it started to cool. It's not A/C like I'm used to in our cars at home but it is cool. So after another couple of hundred dollars, we are on our way.
  
  We returned to Dottie's and I (TEM Haiti Relief Fund) gave Simon money to purchase land for him and his wife. He is so thankful to God and everyone that gave to TEM to help him and his family. He tells me to say, "Thanks and God bless to everyone."
  
  After Simon left, Dottie arrived; she has been in the States since June 1st. It was great to see her and catch up on what she has been doing and what has been going on here while she has been gone. Naturally she went to bed early; she had to get up about 3 a.m. and was very tired. I am so blessed to have a Christian sister to let me stay at her house while she is away, and we (TEM) are greatly blessed by her hospitality when we bring teams in. This is absolutely the best quest house in Haiti.
  
  Tomorrow I will be picking up Curt, Trish, Dominique and Rachel at the airport and their adventure begins.
• 
  
  July 6
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Simon came over this morning and we had a good time talking about the Lord and our favorite scriptures. After this we went down to a window company that had told me they would have the windows installed in the school before I came back. You guessed it, they had not. I talked to the lady in the office and she told me I was supposed to pick them up and then they would install them. I asked to talk to the owner and now they are going to deliver them and install them tomorrow; pays to deal with the owners in Haiti.
  
  When we finished with this I had told Pastor Dorleon that I would meet with him. He told us that he was at the airport. I asked Simon to ask him where he was. He told us and we went there and he wasn't there. We called again and he had moved. So we went there, he had moved again. Seriously this went on for 45 minutes in a ¼ mile area. Finally I told Simon to tell him to go to this circle by the airport and don't move. Halleluiah, we found him. We had a great visit, discussing the mission house and what was going on in the four churches. We are so blessed to have such a man of God working with us here.
  
  Next stop, moneychangers. I was going to have a friend come and meet me to exchange money but he was only going to give me 7.8 gourds to one American dollar. I checked around and found someone that would give me 7.95. This makes a $200.00 difference when you exchange $10,000.00 U.S. Old saying, it pays to shop around.
  
  After this, back to the airport. Now you have to walk about a ¼ mile from your car to get to the metal building where people arrive and where your luggage comes in. They told me yesterday that my box would be there at 2:00 p.m. I arrive at 2:15 and the 1:30 flight that my radiator/beanie weenies were on had not arrived yet. So I got to spend another hour in the sauna but the good news is I got my radiator and the beanie weenies weren't confiscated.
  
  Forgot to tell you when I cranked the van this morning, yes, it did crank. I took the battery cables off this time so the battery wouldn't drain. Only problem is that the A/C didn't work. If you remember just three weeks ago I had the van in the shop 6 out of 8 days and spent around $1,000.00 to get it fixed. When we got through with all our running around, I called my A/C guy and he said come on down and he would look at it. I told him that it was out of freon and did he have freon. He said yes. When I arrive, what he didn't tell me is that the freon that he had, he really didn't have but he was going to go get it downtown. So 45 minutes later he comes back. Now they are looking at it and they realize there is a leak, no kidding. They start working on it and replace a seal with a seal that is too large so they cut it and make it fit. How this works, only God knows. So now they put the freon in it and it starts blowing cold air but then they stop because there is another leak. Now I have to tell you, we are standing in a yard that looks like Sanford and Sons and the mosquitoes are eating us up, which is bad enough, but now it starts to rain. Sometimes I think there must be something wrong with me to keep coming back here. Isn't there a mission field in Hawaii? Anyway they put all the parts back together and tell me to come back tomorrow at 9 a.m. and they will fix it. We were there over three hours. Just another day in this weird land that the Lord called me to. You know I love it; it is where I am supposed to be.
  
  By the way, my beanie weenies with crackers and coke were awesome!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Quick story: My first year coming to Haiti (1999) I came by myself on about the third trip and had to make a trip up to Northwest Haiti to check on the inventory that had been sent up to build a church before the team came in. It was rainy and muddy and I had been outside counting all the lumber, tin and other materials to make sure everything was delivered. The Haitians put me in a little mud hut with a thatch roof that was leaking pretty badly. I keep maneuvering my cot around trying to get it between the drops. My papers were all wet and my lantern was growing dim as I sat down on my cot. It was pouring down rain and about that time a huge rat came running in from the rain and ran right under my cot and down into a hole. As I looked back up there was a huge tarantula on the wall. Before I could even think these words came out of my mouth, "God, I love it here!" I have been coming here going on 11 years now; I must.
• 
  July 5
  Report from Brother Chuck
  I arrived in Haiti at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 5, and everything was running smoothly till I hit Haiti. Who would have ever thought that things would start going wrong here? I went through customs, no problem, and within minutes there was my first trunk. Now all I needed was my radiator for the van that was in a cardboard box, with a secret compartment with my beanie weenies. I had already planned out the things that I was going to do that afternoon because I got in so early. What was I thinking? I forgot where I was. It seems like after 10 years I would remember. I waited 2 hours and 15 minutes till the last piece of luggage came in and mine was not there. Now when I say wait, I don't mean in the A/C. Oh no, you are surrounded shoulder-to-shoulder with people pushing and shoving trying to get to their luggage in a metal building with some fans blowing hot air on you. You are in a sauna and everything you have on is wet. Welcome to Haiti. After waiting this long with no luggage now I have to get into a line with all the people that didn't get their luggage to fill out a lost luggage report. Four hours after I arrived I got to Dottie's. I figured they must have found my beanie weenies.
• 

End of July 2010 Haiti Mission Trip Report

• 
  June 28, 2010
  View photos
  Update from India
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Most of you know that TEM has been involved in the work in India for several years. These are the photos sent to us from Viji, our friend and contact in India. The ministry that the Lord has given him is Light of Hope Ministries. Find out more about Viji and the ministry.
  
  Will Tiller and I will be visiting India in late September 2010 to teach and preach. We have both been to India two times before accompanied by Karl Leiber.
  
  Enjoy the photos, I did.
  
  Report from Viji
  The photos are from four events:
  1. Ambassadors For Jesus, a discipleship training camp
  2. High School Ministry, we do along with Dr. John Bos each year twice or thrice at different parts of India for the benefit of thousands of students in High Schools.
  3. Children's Camp, at our Learning Centre, conducted by us for the benefit of 280 children from the surrounding villages.
  4. Mission Trip to Orissa, where we had ministry to the downtroden and the oppressed Christians, and conducted Pastors seminars and also distributed rice and offered monetary helps.
• 
  June 15, 2010
  Honoring Don Mount, founder of JADA
  Report from Brother Chuck
  I was invited to speak at a JADA (Jesus, Alcoholic & Drug Addictions) meeting in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. This is an awesome rehabilitation organization that teaches Jesus is the Way to conquer alcohol and drug addictions; by the power of His blood, you shall be saved.
  
  I have spoken at JADA since its beginning. This time was a very special time for me because we were honoring Don Mount, founder of JADA. Don died in February 2010 after fighting Lou Gehrig's Disease, and is now with our Lord. It was an honor for me to speak about a man who was pulled out of the miry pit and set upon a rock and had God establish his goings. Most people, after being pulled out of the darkness, want to help others but they seem to get over that and continue with their own lives, forgetting where they came from. Don was not like this; he knew who had delivered him from the darkness and wanted to tell the world about Him and His amazing grace to help others.
  
  He began JADA in a small garage area, and now JADA has four homes that house men as they learn the ways of our Lord. Scripture tells us you shall know them by their fruit, and Don’s fruit is still evident and will continue on. Which reminds me of God's promise, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain."
• 
  June 11, 2010
  View photos
  Haiti Mission House Vision
  Report from Brother Chuck
  I wanted to share with you photos of the vision that the Lord has given me for His mission house. This is a vision that is coming to reality.
  
  The Lord showed me this vision years ago, and last year I told the Lord that if he wanted it built, He would have to supply the money because the money that He had given TEM needed to be spent on food, medical supplies and spiritual needs. It was as if He told me that He didn't want me to get all stressed out about this mission house, and that this vision was His vision, which He was graciously showing me. My job was to just tell people what He was going to do. I liked that so I began to tell everyone of the vision. The next thing I knew, a couple supplied enough money for us to begin the project, and hopefully have enough to establish the foundation, build the walls, put on a metal roof with metal trusses and install doors and windows. From that point, we will have additional needs, such as beds, stoves, generators, toilets, etc.
  
  We have such an awesome God who is always faithful. If you would like to know more about the mission house project and how you can be a part of this project, please contact us and we will tell you how.
  
  

Mission Trip to Haiti / May 27 - June 11, 2010

• 
  Unless otherwise specified, all reports are from Brother Chuck
• 
  June 12
  I have to tell you one last story of things that can happen in Haiti. As my friend, Pastor Harry, always tells me, Haiti is a very special country. As I boarded the plane on June 11 to come home, everything was going well and on time but just before they closed the door of the plane, a bird flew in the plane. It flew into the cockpit and under the dash area of the cockpit. They had to call the maintenance crew on board and take all the panels off in the cockpit area. They saw the bird but then it disappeared. They then told us that they were going to put the panels back and go get some cardboard to tape up all the openings so the bird could not fly out. We were on the tarmac for two hour; truly only in Haiti.
  
  This really didn't matter to me because my final destination was Miami this time. I had made an appointment in Ft. Lauderdale with a Pastor that has been exiled from Pakistan. As some of you know, we have been sponsoring a ministry in Pakistan for about two years. They are very active in outreach to small villages. I had plans two years ago to visit them but I contracted malaria and dingy fever so I was unable to go. The reason I was meeting with this Pastor was to seek more information about the country and the area where I was going. Jesus told his disciples to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, and this is what I am trying to do.
  
  This is a God story. I have been feeling the Lord was talking to me about Pakistan but I always want to make sure that I am in His will and not mine. So one day I prayed, "Lord, if you want me to go, I need you to show me something, anything." Two days later I got a letter from an international organization that was having guest speakers from other countries in Ft. Lauderdale, June 11 and 12, which is the date that I was flying into Miami. One of these guest speakers was from Pakistan. I emailed him and he emailed me right back and said that he would love to meet with me. So we set up a meeting in Ft. Lauderdale. He told me that he had contacts in Pakistan that would pick me up at the airport and I could speak at a couple of his churches and his people would find out where our Pastor and ministry is in Pakistan and make sure that I got there safely and back to the airport. It never ceases to amaze me how our Lord directs our paths if we are willing.
  
  I am planning on going to India where we support a ministry and have been twice before and then flying to Pakistan for about a week to visit the ministry we support there in October 2010. I will be preaching and teaching in these areas and loving on our brothers and sisters there, letting them know we care. I have two men that are praying about going with me. Please be praying for us as we follow our Lord.
  
  29. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you , There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30. Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
  Luke 18:29
  
  19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
  Matthew 28:19
• 
  June 10
  View photos
  It must have been God's will to have the generator mechanic come today because after my coffee and time with my Lord, there was a knock at the gate and it was the generator mechanic. He really kept his promise this time. We went around to look at the generator and I asked him if he was sure he was going to fix it completely before he left today and he said yes. I then asked him how long he thought it would take because I needed to drive out to Z'Orange today because tomorrow I will be leaving to go to the States. He said two hours, no problem. Now, it is 7:45 a.m. I am hoping that I will be able to leave by 11 a.m.; that would give him three hours.
  
  I had some things to do around the house so I stayed busy till about 9:30 when Kat from MO (who flew in this morning) showed up and I thought to waste some time we would go to the supermarket to get a few things. We come back about 10:30 a.m. and the mechanic is leaving. I stop him and ask him where he is going and he said he had to go get a part but he would leave his tools and helper so I would know he would come back. So now I am getting a little pressed for time because I need to go to Z’Orange. So I don’t waste any time, Simon and I leave to go to a hardware store to buy a pump for the fuel drums. This takes over and hour so now it is about 12:30. When we come back the helper says the mechanic has been back but he had to go pick his kids up at school. Finally I told the helper that I had to go and if they wanted to be paid they would have to wait on me.
  
  Simon and I went up to Z'Orange and checked on the foundation work and it is coming along great so far. They are through with the footings and are digging out the floor areas and putting rock in.
  
  We went to visit Madame Philistine, a lady in the church that had her house first destroyed by a hurricane and now the earthquake did major damage to the one we were building her. We wanted to see the progress. It is coming right along. We purchased lumber and tin for it on this trip and it should be finished when we return.
  
  Afterwards we went to visit one of my favorite people, Slyvest. You will see why when you see his picture. He was a voodoo priest who came to the amazing grace of our Lord. He and his wife lived in a shack that was leaning over to one side and had huge holes in the roof. God allowed us to have the funds to rebuild his house. You will see the photo. He and his wife are so proud of their new home, thanks to the Lord.
  
  When we finished with our visit with Slyvest, we headed back to Port-au-Prince to Dottie's. When we got close to the house, we called the mechanic to see if he was finished. He had returned and he was almost finished. It was 4:30. When we arrived he rushed me around to the generator to show me how clean it was and cranked it for me to show me that it didn't leak oil. He did do a good job but it only took four months to get him here and I am glad I didn't have to pay him by the hour because that two hour job took nine hours. Welcome to Haiti, where there is no time.
  
  Anyway, I say Halleluiah and praise the Lord. It was a great day.
• 
  June 9
  View photos
  Thank you, Lord, for a new day; I purposely made this an easy day and I am glad I did, after yesterday afternoon. I got up, had my coffee and time with my Father and sat down to send photos and the June 8th entry. It is a lot easier to write things that happened yesterday after you have time to reflect back on them.
  
  Simon came about 9:30 and by this time I was finished with the entry so we headed down to Atlantic Windows, where we are purchasing the windows for the school in Z'Orange. Everything was going great till they gave me the bill. The owner had told me that he would give me a 15 % discount and that the installation was free. Well neither one was on my bill. The lady said she couldn’t do anything about it and I thought, "Here we go again." But luckily the owner was in and would see me. After speaking with him he sent me back with the discount and free installation; thank you, Lord.
  
  When we finished with this I had a few little things to do but I decided I wasn't going to fight traffic all day today; I needed a rest. The heat just takes it out of you.
  
  Simon and I came back to Dottie's and had some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and after lunch Simon cleaned the inside of the van while I started doing payroll for the workers up at Z'Orange that are working on the mission house. I had to figure their payroll for this week and next week. I also have to buy food for them and pay the cooks. When you work in the country you usually supply food because there is no place for them to buy it. They can't make sandwiches or things like we do to take to the job. They like their beans and rice. We have other projects going on in Z'Orange that I give funds to Pastor Do and he distributes them accordingly. We have four churches and I try to pay the Pastors something each month. We also have two houses that we are funding for widow ladies.
  
  The rest of the afternoon was spent counting money and putting it in envelopes and putting all the information in spreadsheets. I have one spreadsheet for all monies spent on this trip, one for the mission house, one for the school at Z'Orange and one for Haiti relief.
  
  This is what I do each night as I send photos and entries for the website. I have a full day everyday.
  
  I almost forgot, this morning the man that was supposed to fix the seals on the generator came by and promised me again that he would fix the generator and that he will be here in the morning himself and within two hours fix the generator. I told him that if he comes he is not leaving till it is completely fixed and running. He really promised me this time. The other time he really didn't mean it but this time he is for real. I don't know how you tell the difference but he assured me this time he is really telling the truth. There is a Haitian saying, Si dieu vle, if God wills. That is where I am with this generator, if God wills it will be fixed, if not it won't.
  
  Jesus is still coming either way, Halleluiah!!!!!
• 
  June 8
  View photos
  June 8 was an interesting day. It shows me how quickly things can change and how we need to be on guard for satan's attacks every minute. he sneaks up on you when you are least expecting him.
  
  The day started out great. I spent my time with the Lord, and I always ask Him for protection from the evil one for me, my family and His ministry (TEM). When I finished Simon arrived and we went by Batimet, a hardware store, to order some rebar, cement and small wire they use to tie the rebar together. Batimet didn't have any of these items and said they might be in this week. They have so much back ordered because of the Relief teams that are coming in. This is a good thing for the economy of Haiti. We had to go up to Z’Orange to meet a man that was going to measure the windows for the school so I called Pastor Harry to go to another hardware store for me to see if they had what I needed. We had called earlier to the man that was supposed to meet us for the window measurements and he said that he would meet us at 11 a.m., no problem. Yeah, right! Anyway, we arrived and we waited about 15 minutes but no one arrived, so we called him. He said he was busy and we needed to wait a little over an hour and he would come. You have to understand we are out in the middle of nowhere in the heat of the day and there is nothing else I can do, so being the American that I am I can't stand wasting time so I have Simon call him back and see if $30.00 U.S. might change his mind; it did. So he said he would be right there. He did arrive about 30 minutes later; what did I expect? After he arrived we went up to Z'Orange and he quickly did the measurements and left, and I spent some time with Pastor Do and the Boss Wilner talking about the foundation and other things. So far, Boss Wilner and his crew are doing a great job. They really need no supervision; I just need to tell them want I want and go get the materials.
  
  When we finished here we had to wait till we got to the top of the mountain to make a phone call and we called Pastor Harry; he was on the job. He had already found me a truck driver to deliver the material and had found all the materials I needed. All I had to do was drive by the hardware store and pay the bill. This was amazing. Things were working smooth, too smooth.
  
  When we arrived back at Dotties I had two men with a tap tap (Simon’s father-in-law) meet us so I could buy a drum of diesel and a drum of gasoline for Dottie's house. We still don’t have city power all the time and we need a backup here. You also never know when there will be a shortage. I counted out 5200 gourds ($135.00 U.S.) for diesel and 7000 gourds for gasoline ($181.00 U.S.) This would give us approximately 40 gallons in each drum. I wrote this on a piece of paper and gave it to Simon to make sure they understood. Simon explained it to them again and they said they understood. When they left I had a man that was supposed to come and fix the seals on the generator (the one that promised to be here). Well, he sent two other men to fix it. He got busy. I let them in and Simon and I walked around to the generator and I asked Simon to ask them how long it would take to finish the job. They said about one and half hours. I thought that will be great because it looks like it might rain. Now while they begin to work on the generator I get a call from the men that went to get the fuel. They said they had filled the first drum up with gasoline and didn’t have enough money to fill the other drum up with diesel. I give the phone to Simon because I think I am misunderstanding this; I'm not. Now they have to come back and I have to give them more money to go back to buy more diesel.
  
  After we get this taken care of, it starts to sprinkle so I wonder what their plan (men working on generator) is if it starts to rain. I go back where they are working and have Simon ask them what will they do if it rains. They said they wouldn't be finishing today anyway, that they would be coming back tomorrow. Again as Simon tells me this I think I must be misunderstanding something because we just asked them how long it would take and they said one and half hours. We have no electricity and we have to have the generator. Simon told me that is what they said, so I had Simon ask them again, "Did you not say that you would be through in one and half hours." They said, "Yes." Then I had Simon ask them, "Now didn't you just say that you would have to come back tomorrow to finish." They said, "Yes." Now I feel like I'm in that skit with Abbot and Costello, Who's on First? So now I tell Simon to tell them to put everything back the way it was, that I have to have the generator. They look at me like I'm a crazy Blanc (white man), which at this moment I probably looked like one. They began to put it back together for me, looking puzzled.
  
  Now there is a knock at the gate and it is Edy, who takes care of my paperwork, and needs to talk to me about my Haitian ID card, TEM Ministry Card, Haitian Driver's License, and the TEM NGO ( Non-Profit Government Organization). Naturally he needs money for each of these, and he is trying to explain all of this while the men arrive back with the fuel and the drums. The drums are so heavy they don’t know how to get them out of the truck. A minor detail they forgot. Simon is helping them and I am running back and forth to make sure the men are putting the generator cover and tin roof back on. As if this isn't crazy enough, as I go to get money for Edy, I cannot find about $2,000.00 U.S. that was supposed to be in my backpack.
  
  Okay Lord, where is the camera while Bro. Chuck loses it? When satan sneaks up on you, he hits hard and fast. To make a long story short, we got the fuel off the truck and around back, we got the generator back to where it was before it rained, I got all the paperwork payments to Edy and I found the money.
  
  Now it is about 7:30 pm. and I am worn out, physically and mentally (Dottie knows what I am talking about). I decided all I was going to do is take a shower, eat, pray and go to bed. And that was my day in Haiti. Just another day.
  
  I thank God His mercies are renewed each day. I need them.
• 
  June 7
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  It was really quiet last night with just me in the house, until it started raining and lighting. I had just emailed Dottie telling her that we have had city electricity on and off enough to charge the batteries so I haven't had to use the generator. It wasn't very long after that I heard a huge boom and all the electricity went out. Lighting hit the transformer that had been damaged in January when the earthquake hit and it took almost two months to get a new one installed. Needless to say, I have the generator on now and I feel right at home. I'll run it till about 10 p.m. and hope it charges the batteries enough till in the morning. It should since all I will have on is a ceiling fan and a floor fan.
  
  This morning was an easy morning. It is so quite here without anyone; it is really peaceful. About 8:30 a.m. I left to pick up Simon to go order windows for the school. Afterwards we went up to Z'Orange to check on the progress of the foundation and for the lunch that Madame Dorleon wanted to cook me on her new stove. She cooked Simon and me goat, brown beans and rice with onions and a red sauce, banan pize (fried plantain) with pickles (hot slaw) that you put on the banan pize; all this with a cold coke. I don't eat very much but I have to say I ate way too much. I love Madame Dorleon's cooking.
  
  When we finished I talked with Pastor Do about some church issues and then met with Boss Wilner to find out what he is going to need next and what he will need while I'm gone so I can leave funds with Pastor Do. Afterwards I called all the workers together and told them how much I appreciated their hard work and told them they truly work as if they are building this for the Lord. We then had prayer and I prayed for all of them and their families. It is such a wonderful feeling to have brothers in Christ around the world. We are all the same. We love the Lord, we love our families and we are just trying to provide the best we can for them, and trying to please God to the best of our ability. God doesn't see us as Americans, Haitians, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Black, White, Rich or Poor; we have one thing in common, we are all created by Him.
  
  After our prayer we headed into Port-au-Prince to buy some supplies. The workers needed a wheelbarrow so I found a really good one for $150.00 U.S. The same one costs about $225.00 at another hardware store. Everything is really expensive now, if you can find it.
  
  When we finished with this I had to go cash a check. I have several places that will let me cash checks here. The place I like to go to is really far away and the traffic would have been horrible so I thought I would try another place that usually doesn't give me as good a rate. I called the place that I wanted to go to, to see what the rate would be for a check today, and they told me 7.7 Haitian dollars to 1 U.S. dollar. When I went into this place that was closer they told me they would give me 7.4. I had my check out and I told them that I could get 7.7 somewhere else but they didn't seem to want to give that. So I folded up my check, put it in my wallet and got up to leave and one of them said, "Wait a minute Bro. Chuck. We want your business. We’ll give that to you today." The difference was $281.25. He didn't know my dad was a horse trader.
  
  Simon and I got back home about 4 p.m. and after our recap of the day and a plan for in the morning, Simon left to go home to his family. We are so blessed to have people like Simon, Pastor Harry, Pastor Wisney, Ginette, Pastor Do and many, many others to come alongside us to further God's Kingdom in Haiti.
  
  Thank you for your prayers.
• 
  June 6
  View photos
  This morning was a lazy morning because Will's flight wasn’t until 1:30. We were having our coffee and talking as Will checked his email and realized that his flight was at 8:50 a.m. and it was 8 a.m. then. There was no way we could get him there in time so he gets on the phone and, as you would know it, our Father took care of it for him. He got an agent that got him a flight at 4 p.m. and all it cost for the change was $50.00. What was so great about this is that Will didn't get all upset or get into a panic. He was ready to accept whatever our Father had planned for him. I can't tell you how much I appreciate my brother coming and helping during the digging of the foundation. I thank God for Karl working so hard on the plans, David Taylor working on the graphics and George and Will coming. And naturally I thank everyone who has made this possible, starting with my Lord.
  
  I would say that I am home alone but I am never alone; my Lord is always with me, He was with me in my mother's womb, He goes before me and helps me along the way and He will never, never leave me. What a comfort that is. I truly can walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit fearing no man or even death as He takes me on this adventure.
  
  We left Dottie's about 11 a.m. and went to Pastor Harry's church. He wanted me to say a few words before he gave the food out that the Lord had provided us with your donations. I told them that as God has blessed us we were able to bless them and if possible they could bless others with the food they were receiving. When I finished Pastor Harry and the men of the church made sure everyone had food before they left. I just want to thank everyone who donated to TEM so that we could buy this food. You will see one picture with Pastor Harry in the middle of a group of people raising up some food packages with everyone praising and thanking God for this little package of food. It made me think, "When is the last time we truly thanked God with joy in our heart, singing and praising him for something as small as a package of food or anything else. Do we really have joy that can be seen or do we just say thank you and go on about our day." I pray the Lord will help us all be truly thankful for everything He blesses us with.
  
  We have been so blessed to help so many people here since we arrived. We have been able to supply food for Pastor Harry's church and surrounding neighborhood, Pastor Alex's orphanage, Jerusalem Baptist Church, Jerusalem I, II and III churches, five voodoo villages, Simon's family and neighbors, Jojo's family and neighbors and Edy's family and neighbors. These families are large families. They take care of their aunts, uncles, etc. We have also been able to purchase land for a house, help rebuild houses that were damaged and help Haitians with medical problems; all of this because you have been obedient in your giving. This is showing the Haitian people that God does answer prayers, He is the Provider. Sometimes we need to understand this. We like to think we are in control and we provide for ourselves but He has given us the physical, mental and the opportunities to have what we have so we can help others. We are so blessed. May you have a blessed day of rest. You have let the light shine in the darkness today in the country of Haiti.
• 
  June 5
  View photos
  This was an unusual day; we didn't to go to the mechanic shop today. I felt like I forgot something all day. I wish I could say everything is okay with the van after all this work but I can't. It still has its problems. The praise is that it gets us where we need to go in its on time. It's kind of like you have to know your vehicle. You can’t use the A/C when you're in traffic or it will overheat, and when it starts spurting, you have to pull over and cut it off for a few minutes and then it will run okay. If it doesn't crank, it is either corrosion on the terminals or the starter is locked up so you crawl underneath and tap on the starter; just a few things you need to know if you drive it.
  
  After our coffee and time with our Lord, we went to pick up the propane stove for Madame Dorleon. I love Haiti because you never know what to expect. You would think that the person would have our stove ready and have tested it and have everything ready to go; you would think. Yesterday I had asked him to make sure it works because I had to drive a long way and did not want to return it. When we arrived, the stove was not ready; they still had to wire a few things together and they had not tested it. Now we had called before coming to pick it up and he said he was waiting on us and it was ready. Now they had to go find a propane tank to hook it up. So you really get the idea, this is all outside and it is about 95 degrees. Praise the Lord, the stove worked! So now we go inside to pay for the two tanks of propane and the stove. This is when he tells me, "Oh yeah, the propane tanks do not have propane in them and we don't sell it here." So I ask, "Okay, (thinking that makes no sense and why didn’t you tell me that yesterday?), where can I buy it?" He tells me he will have to send someone with me to find the place. "You can’t find it." After driving around for a while on these little one lane dirt roads filled with pot holes, pulling over every couple of minutes so other cars and trucks could pass, we arrive and, of course, we have to pay to have them filled. Will and I are laughing all the way about how things are so difficult here. In the U.S. all of this would have been ready for us to pick up and we would have been on our way. Just picking the stove up and getting propane took almost two hours.
  
  Now we are on our way to Z'Orange and as usual, we have to stop a few times before we get there because the van starts to sputter. Will and I have this down now; when it starts to sputter, I pull over, Will cuts the air off, we roll down the windows and I cut the engine off. After about two minutes I crank the van, we roll the windows up and cut the air back on, that's if we are not in traffic, and we are on our way.
  
  When we arrive in Z'Orange we pulled the stove out and Madame Dorleon saw it. She starts dancing and praising the Lord. What a blessing it is to be able to bless others as God has blessed us! Thank you all for making this possible. She will not have to start cooking now early in the morning, getting charcoal started, squatting down around a hot fire with smoke in her eyes and lungs. Naturally this made Pastor Dorleon happy because we know if mama is happy, everybody is happy, in any culture. You will see in the photos what Madame Dorleon used to cook on and what she will be cooking on now. You will also see inside the little shack she used to cook in and how she has put the new stove in another much nicer room.
  
  We then went and checked on the foundation, and the men are doing a great job. They have started filling in the trenches with rock and concrete. You will also see this in the photos. What a blessing this mission house is going to be. We thank our Lord for how he blesses His ministry (TEM) as the Holy Spirit touches people's heart to give. We give Him all the glory.
  
  After this we returned back to Port, which takes about an hour and a half, with no traffic and had lunch/dinner. Will made something that looked like tuna fish stuff for sandwiches. Whatever it was, we ate it.
  
  Tomorrow Will will be leaving so it will just be me and the Lord at Dottie's. What a blessing he has been for me. I can't tell you how great it is to have brothers and sisters be part of this ministry, to pray, give and come with me to see God's work.
• 
  June 4
  View photos
  This morning we got up at our regular time of 5:30 a.m., had our coffee, spent time with our Father and then we took the van to the mechanic shop; just another normal day. This time we were going to have them replace the thermostat, flush the radiator and change out the water pump, hoping this would stop the van from overheating. We had Jojo pick us up at the mechanic shop because we had running around to do in Port.
  
  Our first stop was a hardware store, where we bought a couple of hack saws and about 30 blades for the men up in Z'Orange cutting rebar. After this we went to a place that sells propane, hoping to find an attachment that would fit on the top (stove eye) of the propane that is big enough for large pots. This is what Madame Dorleon needs for cooking for over 300 children. Well, the first place had the tanks but no eyes; however they told us of another place that we went to but they didn't have what we needed either. Will asked a man there if he knew anywhere we could find this and he told us of a gas company we could go to. Praise the Lord, when we got there they had something better than we had even thought of (imagine that, God having something better than we can think of). The Haitians make a stove with three eyes that is an iron frame welded together, which is big enough to hold two big pots and a small one in the middle. We talked the man down to $750.00 U.S. The one hundred lb. propane tanks cost $85.00 U.S. We are going to purchase two of these. So the total cost will be $920.00 U.S. We are supposed to pick them up tomorrow at 10:00. I can't wait to see Madame Dorleon when she sees this. She is in her sixties and she has cooked all her life squatting down, inhaling the smoke from the charcoal, which also burns her eyes, and tomorrow the Lord will bless her hard work. Seems simple to us but it is a huge blessing for her.
  
  By this time it was time for some lunch. Everyday we have either not eaten lunch (which is the way I am all the time) or we have eaten Vienna sausages with some crackers. Today I thought I would treat Will, Simon, Pastor Harry and JoJo with lunch in a restaurant. This is a real experience. You don't want to be in a hurry if you are eating out in Haiti. We sat down and ordered our drinks first. We had to order them twice. Then we ordered our meal. Thirty minutes later we had to order our drinks again and we got them. Now all we ordered were club sandwiches, so this should be fairly quick and easy, not! Twenty minutes after we got our drinks, we got our sandwiches. So a total of fifty minutes later we got to eat. I guess she was in the weeds; she did have four other customers. You really have to laugh about the different cultures, or have a heart attack, so I chose to laugh.
  
  When we finished our dining experience, I wanted to go to an orphanage that we have been helping. Pastor Alex is head of this orphanage (we used him last March/April as an interpreter). This orphanage was started by an American man years ago and he has died. His wife is in her seventies and cannot support them anymore. She sends a little money every two months or so but not near enough. We stopped by to take some pictures so you could see the conditions. The children can't afford to go to school so Pastor Alex teaches them the Bible and tries to teach them other subjects also. He had to send the girls back to their relatives in the mountains for now because his walls have collapsed and he doesn’t think it is safe for them. His first need is food and we gave him money for this. That should last a couple of weeks. You will see the pictures of the sleeping conditions and the toilets and shower areas. The toilets smell so bad you can't go in them and the toilets are clogged up so they all use the bathroom outside around the building. It is a very bad situation and we are trying to help the best we can. If you would like to help with this situation, just let us know.
  
  After visiting with Pastor Alex we went to pick up the van. And guess what, it wasn’t ready, image that. We all sat around Sanford and Son's junkyard (check out the photos) while they finished up about an hour later. As we sat around, I saw a man working on a TV. He had the back off and as we watched him, he got a major shock but kept right on working. I asked him what all they worked on and he said, "TV's, radios, freezers, refrigerators, watches. Whatever you need, you can get it worked on here." I didn't say you could get it fixed here, just worked on. When we finished here we drove back to Dottie's house and arrived about 4 p.m.
  
  It doesn’t sound like it but it was a very productive day. If you can get three to four things done in one day in Port, you have had a good day. I am assured that we got everything the Lord wanted us to get done.
• 
  June 3
  View photos
  We both went to bed last night about 9 p.m. so we had a good night's sleep. We got up about 5:30 a.m., ready for whatever the Lord had for us. We had our two to three cups of Haitian coffee (that will get you going) and we both spent some time with the Lord. I go out on the front porch with Brown (Dottie's big puppy) and study the Word while Will sits at the dining room table. This is the only way to get your day started. Seek Him early and let Him give you peace and joy for the rest of the day.
  
  After our study we had to check the front deferential oil in Gabriel because there was a huge puddle of oil underneath the right front tire. We had to add oil, and then we always check the brake fluid every time we go anywhere and as normal, it was low. Then we had to check the van for all its fluids and it was okay so by 8 a.m. we are ready to leave. We were supposed to be at the A/C shop at 8 a.m. but we decided we would get there on Haitian time. Haitian time is anywhere within the hour of 8 a.m. (ex. 8:15, 8:30 or even 8:59, all of these are acceptable). We did make it by 8:30 so actually we were kind of early. This makes five days I have taken the van to the shop out of seven. The good news is I think that they might have fixed the A/C but when the engine is hot the A/C can't cool so tomorrow they are going to put in a new thermostat and take out the radiator and clean and flush it. I bought a new water pump so I am going to have them install that while they have the radiator out. This will make six out of eight days the van has been in the shop.
  
  The Lord always provides for our needs and I know that He has a reliable vehicle in mind for us to continue His work. We have been blessed by a $15,000.00 donation, which is a confirmation that God is going to provide. If you remember from yesterday's entry, new vehicles cost around $40,000.00 and you can't even find used ones with all the relief help here now. At this time we don’t know if the Lord is going to supply one for us here or if He will have us ship one in. I don't know when, how or what vehicle He has for us but I know it will be exactly what we need. He has never, never failed us.
  
  When we left the A/C place Will drove us over, in Gabriel, to Pastor Harry's Church. We had food to drop off at his church for his congregation and for the people that live in that area. The children were waving and running alongside the truck, happy to see us and the food. It is such a blessing to be able to be part of God’s work helping others in His name.
  
  After unloading the food we took the truck out to Love A Child to leave it till I return. We are so blessed to have Bobby and Sherri to allow us to leave Gabriel there. We had Jojo pick us up and bring us back to Port. We arrived back around 12:30 and went and picked up the van. From here we went to Z’Orange to take more food for the school and see how the foundation work was coming. They are doing a great job.
  
  We had a most wonderful visit with Pastor Dorleon, his wife and son, Julio, as we talked about the vision the Lord has shown us for this little village. They are as excited as we are, if not more. Madame Dorleon is really excited about us building her a kitchen. She cooks everyday for 320 children over a charcoal fire all morning. We want to build her a kitchen with gas stove, running water and tables she can prepare food on. She and two other ladies cook in this little shack, that stays filled with smoke, squatting as they cook the children's food over the charcoal. She understands that we just have to wait upon the Lord for the funding but we are assured that He will provide for His visions that He allows us to see. This building will be beside the school. Tomorrow I will try to find some propane tanks that you can connect stove eyes directly on top of the tank so we can alleviate the charcoal. This will cost us each month for the propane but it will be much healthier for the ladies and a lot easier.
  
  After our visit we headed back to Port-au-Prince and arrived about 4 p.m. We were amazed it didn’t rain today, which reminds me, I have a Haitian man trying to rebuild my windshield wiper motor. What a blessing that will be if the van will continue to run. You really learn to appreciate little things here.
  
  It truly was a wonderful day with our Lord. As I have said many times, I am the most blessed man I know. I want to thank all of you who allow me to be here. We are the Body of Christ. God bless.
• 
  June 2
  View photos
  Will and I got up at 5 a.m. this morning because we had to go back to Love A Child to get some more food. I was busy yesterday talking to Mark, the President of Feed My Starving Children, and I forgot to tell the guys to count the boxes of food. When we got to Z'Orange yesterday we were 29 boxes short (3,132 children meals). Fortunately Bob, out at Love A Child, said we could come this morning early and pick them up. After we picked them up, we headed back to Port and picked up Simon. We then went to Batimet, which is a large hardware store like Home Depot. We ordered material for the foundation for the mission house from Philip, who is one of the owners and a great friend. He not only ordered all our material (rebar, cement, wire, nail, etc.) but he got us a truck to take it to Z'Orange today.
  
  As we were talking, we asked him if he knew any car dealers and he knew the owner of Hyundai. We stopped by and spoke with him and found out that a new Hyundai cost around $40,000 and there are no good used vehicles in Haiti. With all the Haiti relief, the dealerships are selling a lot of new cars and have sold all their used ones. We are now trying to figure out if it is best to buy one in the States and ship it over. We had canceled this idea out before but now we are rethinking it. We have emailed and called a couple of people here in Haiti to see if they can help use figure out the cost of shipping, customs and taxes. We know it is going to be expensive but we have a Father that has cattle on a thousand hills and all He tells us to do is ask. I am assured He will take care of all our needs.
  
  When we left there we went to a Ford dealership and they had nothing and when they do get anything in they are in the same price range.
  
  I got a call from my A/C man today and he said that if I bring my van in tomorrow he will fix it. That will make five days that I have been told each day that he will have it fixed. I am beginning to see a pattern here.
  
  Will and I spent 9 hours driving around Port today in bumper to bumper traffic. It was hot, dusty and extremely muggy and as usual we had to stop the van every so often so it wouldn’t overheat. By the time we got back home, we were exhausted.
  
  Tomorrow we will drop the van off to get the A/C fixed (you know it) and go by Pastor Harry’s church to drop of some food for his congregation and people in his area. We will then take Gabriel back out to Love A Child where we keep it. This takes about an hour and a half out there and a hour and a half back. We will have a friend of ours (JoJo) pick us up and bring us back to Port, where I hope the van will be ready. We will then take the 29 boxes of food to Z’Orange and see how the foundation is coming along.
  
  We had a very productive day, thanks to our Lord, and are looking forward to the adventure we will have with Him tomorrow.
• 
  June 1
  View photos
  Report from Mr. Will Tiller, Extraordinaire
  Seeing that I am part of this ministry and its name is "Truth" I will tell the rest of the story later.
  
  I had a wonderful night's sleep at Dottie’s House. We woke around 5:45, read the Word and got started in the lovely Port-au-Prince around 7:30. (I'll talk about the "all you could eat buffet and water excursions" in the next entry).
  
  As a daily exercise we hire a driver and have them meet us at the mechanic's for the van’s daily check up. He needed the van for the day to continue working through issues?? I think the mechanic is using it as a taxi service around town, but I have not mentioned that to Chuck.
  
  After dropping the van we went to Love a Child to pick up Gabriel and receive food distribution for a few ministries and many families. The food was provided by Feed My Starving My Children (FMSC). We talked to the Mark Crea (President of FMSC) and discussed how Truth Ministry plays a significant role in this food distribution. It was a great experience to hear testimony from this ministry of its growth when they allowed Christ to be the center and focus!
  
  After loading Gabriel we went to Z'Orangers and passed out the food for that village. We also checked on the construction team for the mission house. How awesome, to be on the ground working for the Lord. It seems very purposeful and direct when you deliver food to the people and work through construction challenges for one of God's buildings, etc . . .
  
  I had a chance to call my family, and my wife is doing well and beautiful as ever!! It is also a Blessing to have a Godly wife at home supporting me in all that I do! I love you, Babe.
  
  After leaving Z'Orangers we went back to town, got the van and went to Dottie's. Sounds simple but took about 2.5 to 3 hours. These missionaries need our prayers and support. This life in Haiti is not for the faint of heart. And if I were not a well oiled machine I probably would not survive. God truly Blessed us with a wonderful day and I am happy to be on the ground in Haiti with my buddy Chuck (Safari Boy).
  
  P.S. This message is not approved by T.E.M.
• 
  May 31
  View photos
  We all had a good night's sleep and were refreshed for a new day with the Lord. Scripture says His mercy is renewed each day, and I need all the mercy I can get. After a few cups of coffee and my time with my Father, we were ready to go to Z'Orange. On our way, we picked up Simon and Pastor Harry and got up to Z'Orange about 10 a.m. We talked with the boss and showed him the plans for the mission house so he would know where the walls were going and how the house would be laid out. They had already started the digging for the footing and had moved the gate because the house came out into the old gate.
  
  After getting the men started on the footing, George, Will and I started working on the van. The windshield wipers don't work, as you may remember, so we tackled getting the motor out. That was over an hour long job. Then the back door would not open and I had ordered the cuts for it so we installed them. It sure is nice now not to have to go in the side door and crawl over the seats to open the back door.
  
  The van actually did well today. I only had to stop six times to let it cool down so we could continue on our way and crawl under it this morning and beat on the starter for it to start and of course, the A/C still doesn’t work and I need a new starter, windshield motor and a new radiator. But besides all of that, it runs great. We have several people looking for a new SUV for us. This really is getting ridiculous.
  
  On the way back from Z'Orange it started raining really hard and it was a lot of fun driving with no windshield wipers, trying to dodge the pot holes in the road. The streets were flooded and water was flowing down the mountain filling all the drains. Traffic was bumper to bumper. As we were getting closer to Dottie's, there was a real bad traffic jam and a truck had gone off into a big ditch and was sideways in the road so no one could pass. We sat in traffic for about twenty minutes and I noticed that people in front and back of me were stuck. The water had washed away the rock and sand under their wheels. As I tried to back up I realized I was stuck also. It was pouring down rain so I asked Will to reach in the back to get a hammer so I could us the claws to dig out from under the back tires. I get the first one dug out and the other one has water flowing around it over a foot deep. So know I am well over my boots getting soaked as I try to dig us out.
  
  When I get back in the van and see my brothers high and dry the thought ran through my mind, "Where were you guys?" Will said that he really wanted to help me but he was afraid he might get swept away and he was thinking about how much his family needs him so he wanted to help but he couldn't because he had to think about his family first. George just sat there and smiled. I cranked it up and rocked it back and forth and the Lord must have sent his angels because we got right out. The other vehicles around us were still stuck. We found a short cut and finally arrived at Dotties. Just another adventure with my Lord.
  
  Tomorrow we will be going out to Love A Child where we keep Gabriel (military truck) and pick up boxes of food from Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) organization. Mark, the President of FMSC, will be there. I haven't seen him in years and it will be great to see him again and thank him for all the food FMSC has given us. TEM is so blessed to have Christian brothers and sisters in organizations like FMSC and Love A Child (Bobby and Sherry) to work with for His glory. These two organizations allow us to feed over 320 students a month, two clinics, churches and families from Port-au-Prince to the Northwest of Haiti.
  
  Thank you for your prayers. God bless.
• 
  May 30
  View photos
  Today was a day of rest and planning. George and I did take the van down to have the A/C worked on again, for the third day in a row. Afterwards, we printed out some layouts of the mission house and started looking at the water and electrical lines. We will meet with the Boss of the foundation tomorrow and discuss with him how we are going to run these.
  
  Around 3 p.m. George and I went to pick up Will Tiller at the airport. Will will be helping me till June 6. George has to go home Tuesday. I am so blessed to have Christian brothers come and help. After we picked him up, we went to pick up the van because they said it would be ready. They were ready to have me pick it up but it is still not fixed. Now they say come back on Tuesday and they will really fix it this time. These other times were just trial runs, I guess. This isn’t any different than getting the papers for the van that I was told would take one month and now it has been seven months. When I asked about this, I was asked to be patient. Welcome to Haiti, land of procrastination. Why do anything today when you can do it whenever you want? If you don’t turn everything over to the Lord and put it on His schedule, you will not make it here. This reminds me of 1 Peter 4:12, "think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy." He always brings this verse to my remembrance when my flesh gets frustrated and I truly do thank God that he chose me to be here and I can rejoice and have exceeding joy. It will be a most wonderful day when I can leave this flesh behind and be able to love as my Lord does but until then, I must keep the faith and fight the good fight.
  
  Thank you all for your prayers and support. The Good News is I read The Book and we win. That is a promise.
  
  Oh yeah, I didn't back into anyone today; it was a good day.
• 
  May 29
  View photos
  After spending time with my Father this morning, I grabbed a piece of bread, a slice of ham and a glass of milk and I was on my way. Five minutes later I backed into one of Dottie's SUV's. Now I'm asking the Lord, "What is it? I read your scriptures this morning, I spent time with you, I asked for forgiveness of sins, I quoted scripture and prayed. Did I miss something?" I know my Father has a sense of humor; he made me so I can talk to Him this way. Anyway it wasn't that bad and Dottie was gracious enough to tell me not to worry about it.
  
  After this, I am on my way to pick up Gilbert (one of George's sons) and I am rebuking satan, telling him what a loser he is and reminding him of his future. I drop the van off and George picks us up and we have to stop by a hotel because I have a team coming in July. It is almost impossible to find rooms now in Haiti because of all the relief teams here. I was so blessed that I was able to find this hotel in April. They just happen to have four rooms the days I needed them, imagine that. God is so, so, so good.
  
  After this we headed up to Z'Orange. Along the way we saw many tent areas, as you will see in the photos. They are growing and getting worse. There is a growing problem with garbage and human waste. The potential for diseases is increasing everyday. There are many cases of malaria and other diseases. As most people know, this is the rainy season, with hurricane season on its way. There really has been no solution to this problem. Most people are getting food and water now but they can’t stay on this land that is owned by other people or the government forever. The food will run out eventually. Unfortunately, there as so many people who are just taking advantage of this situation.
  
  When we arrived at Z'Orange, about 1 p.m., Madame Dorleon had a wonderful Haitian lunch prepared for us. We had Kabrit (goat), banan pize (fried pressed banana), pickles (hot slaw), beans, rice and a delicious red sauce. Oh yes, and a cold Coke with ice.
  
  After lunch we started laying out the foundation for the mission house. It truly is a vision coming to life. The Lord showed me this vision a couple of years ago and now He has provided the funds to get it started. It is His vision that He shared with me so I could share it with others and now it is beginning to be a reality. We have two Haitian bosses and five workers that started the digging. We will continue the work on Monday.
  
  When we came back into port, we stopped by to get the van and now the front part of the van cools but the back A/C doesn’t so I have to take it back tomorrow.
  
  Before coming back to Dottie's, we had to stop by the hotel and get my receipt for the deposit so George and I took a little break and got a coke in this little restaurant. Afterwards, as I was leaving in the van (I hate to tell this story but oh well), I backed into George's truck; two accidents in one day, that's a record. Again, praise the Lord, it was no big deal; it was just the principal of the thing. Thank goodness I have great brothers and sisters that have forgiving hearts, even though they had to laugh and rub it in a little. I’m sure I will hear about this for a long time.
  
  It was absolutely another great, great day with the Lord; His love endureth forever and ever.
  
  After we get the foundation started, we will be buying and distributing food to a list of people that we helped when I was here in Jan/Feb. and Mar/April. Pastor Harry and Simon keep me informed of the needs.
• 
  May 28
  View photos
  After having a nice breakfast with George and Dottie this morning, I received a big welcome back to Haiti by satan, letting me know that this is his turf (or so he claims). I went to crank the van this morning and it would not crank, no real surprise. After jumping it off thirty minutes later, we were on our way. As I drove off, I notice the A/C wasn't working so I drove it down to where I have some Haitian friends work on it. After two hours of trying to find the leak, and $70.00 U.S. later, I had to leave with a little cool air. They told me I need to come back tomorrow so they can work on it some more. They promised me tomorrow I will be very happy with cold air.
  
  The main task I wanted George and me to do today was go to Z'Orange and lay out the foundation for the mission house. By now it was already 11:00 a.m. and we hadn't gotten anything done.
  
  I had to exchange some U.S. money for Haitian and George needed to cash a check so we had to drive to the other side of Port-au-Prince to do this. Along the way it started raining so I cut my windshield wipers on. You guessed it, they didn't work. Now it is pouring down and we have no windshield wipers. Well, I'm thinking, "What else could happen?" Bad thought because now the engine is sputtering and I have to pull over and cut the engine off. It has over heated. I get out in the rain and release the pressure on the radiator cap and let it cool off. About twenty minutes later, we are on our way. We get to our destination and exchange our money and checks and get ready to leave but the van won’t start. So now I clean the terminals and it finally starts. We take a look at the motor on the windshield wipers and it is totally corroded. The rain is coming down and I can hardly see to drive. We took the windshield wipers off so we could look at the motor so now we have them in the van. I’m driving down the road with my window rolled down and a windshield wiper in my left hand wiping my windshield while my right hand is on the steering wheel. I am getting soaked and all I can think is, "Only in Haiti." A truck full of Haitian men saw me and they laughed so hard I thought they were going to fall out of the truck.
  
  After some time, we made it out to pick up Pastor Harry, who was going with us to Z'Orange. It is now 1:30 p.m and still raining hard. When I picked up Pastor Harry I just pulled over and told him and George I saw no need to drive all the way to Z'Orange in the rain and try to lay out the foundation and we would do it in the morning. We had to send a motorcycle rider up to Z'Orange to tell them we would not be coming.
  
  By this time we were getting hungry so we stopped and had some lunch, and bought some groceries for us at Dottie's. We then decided to go to a hardware store and buy a few things. Afterwards I went to crank the van and, you guessed it, it would not crank. You could tell it was not the battery because it sounded like the solenoid. Will I beat on it and George went in to buy some wire so maybe we could jump it. While he was in the store, I crawled underneath and saw a loose wire on the starter so I tightened it up and, being a guy, I had to beat on the starter a little while I was under there. To my amazement, it cranked.
  
  All I am wanting to do by now is just get back to Dottie's but oh no, we have to have the engine stop one more time. This time I made it to a parking lot where George and I got out and went into a restaurant and had a coke. I told him, "We may just sleep in the van if this keeps up." After our coke, we asked the Lord to get us home and He was faithful. We got home about 5:45 p.m., with zero accomplishments.
  
  I have always said if you don't want to be stressed out, put yourself on God’s schedule because He will get what He wants done when He wants it done. If we put ourselves on our schedule, we will stress ourselves out. Well, all I have to say is that God didn't want anything done today and that is exactly what got done, nothing.
  
  But it was a great day in the Lord; He went before me, He did not fail me nor forsake me, He did everything He promised me, and He gave me peace.
  
  I can't wait till tomorrow to see what adventure He has in store for us.
• 

End of May/June 2010 Haiti Mission Trip Report

• Posted April 11, 2010
  View photos
  Children's Camp
  Light of Hope Mission
  Tamilnadu, India
  TEM received photos from Viji (SJP Vijayakumar), of Light of Hope Mission, about the Children's Camp they held last month. Because of your gracious donations, TEM is able to send monthly support to this ministry in India. We have made two trips to India, and are praying about going back in September 2010.
  
  

Mission Trip to Haiti / March 16 - April 8, 2010

• 
  Haiti Mission Trip Video Overview
  View the video (Combined Haiti Mission Trip - March/April 2010)
• 
  Mission Team Photos on Flickr
  The mission team members have begun sharing their photos on Flickr (thanks, Tom, for setting it up), and Brother Chuck wanted you to enjoy them, too. It's a work in progress as team members find time to sort through their photos and pick out favorites to add to the photostream, so please keep checking it.
  View team photos at Truthem11's Photostream on Flickr (Haiti March-April 2010 photo set)
• 
  April 7
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
  Heb 13:1-2 (KJV)
  
  I don't know if it was an Angel or a young woman completely filled with the Holy Spirit, but there was something very unusual about this young woman, who was standing in the middle of the street, by the airport, in the middle of total chaos, holding up an open bible. She had this look of absolute peace and joy, beyond what is humanly possible, as far as I am concerned. It was like she didn't belong in this picture. Cold chills ran all over me as I looked at her face filled with joy; her eyes sparkled and she had such a beautiful smile. I don’t know what this meant but what a blessing it was for me.
  
  After this it was hard for me to remember exactly where I was going and then I remembered that I was going to pick up Simon and Pastor Harry to go to Z'Orange. It was a nice trip with very little traffic and when we arrived, Pastor Dorleon was waiting on us. We discussed finishing some work on Madame Philistine's house and clearing the land for the mission house. This is really exciting to see the vision begin with the mission house. Karl and Will helped lay out the foundation when they were here so we knew which trees we had to cut. I hate to cut any of them but even Pastor Do said that one of them needed to be cut because it was too close to a building that is already there and the others are pretty small. I then told Pastor Do that the windows, doors, frames, door knobs and hinges should be ready in a couple of weeks. They said the windows will be ready on the 12th but this is Haiti. He is so excited. Pastor Harry is going to take one of the bosses up at the school to the window company so the window manufacturer's representative can show him how to install them. The school is really looking good. Pastor John Renel has begun painting it. All the walls and floors are finished now. It is really going to be nice. When I come back with a small team in about five weeks, I would like to have some men make the desks for the children while we work on the foundation. Pastor Do wants a very simple desk, a 1x6 for the seat and another one for the desk top. I told him we would make him better ones but this is what he wants so that is what he will get. I believe everything we do in Z’Orange has to have Pastor Dorleon's complete approval. I do not want to be that American that comes in and takes over. Pastor Do and I both agree there is only one boss and that is God. I tell him, also, that there is only one Shepard in Z'Orange, and that is him; I am just his helper. God gives us both visions that compliment each other. I am so blessed to be able to work with such a passionate man of God.
  
  When we finished, we headed back to Port, where Pastor Harry wanted me to go by his church to take some pictures to send to First Baptist Church of St. Charles. He has done a great work there. People have no idea how hard he works in his neighborhood. He has planted all kinds of trees around where the church is going to be built and he also has a large garden that he and the others in the church planted. You will see the garden of potatoes that he will have to feed his church and people in the community. After this, he will plant other things, like peas and beans. He has some tomatoes now.
  
  After taking photos and talking with the people at the church, I had to go to a couple of hardware places to place some orders for Pastor Harry to pick up after I am gone. When we finished this, it was time to say good bye to them. It seemed just like yesterday when I said good bye to them about seven weeks ago. It is hard to believe but I have been in Haiti for two months since January 22nd. Time flies when you are having joy serving the Lord. I have said this many times but I am the most blessed man in the world with the best job in the world. Thank all of you for listening to our Lord and being obedient to make all of this possible. We are the body of Christ.
• 
  April 6
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  My day started out as usual here at Dottie's, in what I call my prayer garden. It is in a corner of her lot that is the only place I can get away from everybody and everything. Every morning about 6 a.m., I look forward to spending some time with my Father. I don't think I could get through a day here without this time with Him. He tenderly helps me to understand His ways more each day. I want so much to be like our Lord Jesus but I fall so short, but my Father loves me anyway.
  
  After spending this wonderful time in my prayer garden, I thought that I would run and cash a check before I was supposed to meet a mechanic that was to work on the generator at ten o'clock. I left about eight thirty thinking that would give me enough time but there is where my problem began, thinking. As many times as I have been here, I should know that whenever you leave, you have no idea when you will be back. I got stuck in traffic and there was no way to get out of it. It took me two hours and fifteen minutes to get back. I was rushing as fast as I could and when I got there at ten forty-five, the mechanic hadn't even shown up; really no surprise. I called him and he said, "Oh yeah, I can’t make it. How about Saturday?" That almost sounds like in America. Needless to say, the generator didn't get its new seals.
  
  Pastor Harry and Simon came over to Dottie’s and we went to get something to eat and talked about the projects that we will be working on when I get back. Tomorrow we will be going to Z'Orange to talk to Pastor Dorleon about finishing one of the houses that we started and clearing the land where the Lord is going to build His mission house. This is a huge project for us but it is nothing for our Lord. I can't wait to see how He is going build it. We have had some plans but He keeps changing them. Well, it's His house; I guess we need to build it the way He wants.
  
  The rest of the day we spent looking for a battery for Dottie's car. It is so hard to find a good battery here. We went to three places, which wasn’t bad; it is just that they are so far from each other. We found a Delco battery from a store that has a good reputation so I think we did well.
  
  As we were coming back, Simon and Pastor Harry had heard that the United States was going to give more than a billion dollars to Haiti, and they asked me, "Do you think they will stay and make sure the Haitian government will use it to help the people?" It saddened me to say, "Has our government ever stayed to make sure that the money was spent properly?" The earthquake happened over three months ago and we heard about all the millions of dollars that celebrities and other organizations gave to Haiti. Where is it? There has not been one building that I am aware of that has had any heavy equipment move one stone. I am not saying I have been everywhere but I have been here for two months since the quake and I, nor anyone else, have seen any heavy equipment doing any clean up. The buildings still lie in ruins, with bodies beneath the rubble. The Haitians are taking their sledge hammers, picks, shovels and wheel barrows to clean up the debris the best they can. Where is all of this international help? The world thinks Haiti is okay now. They're not on the news so they are all taken care of. It is not any different than the day after the earthquake, except now they have over 200,000 people living in tents, depending on organizations to feed them. A large percentage has places to live but they can live in a tent and pay no rent and have food and water brought to them. Then there is another percentage that has never had it so good. They were used to living in the ravines in cardboard boxes; now they lie around waiting to be fed in their tents. We have now made them like so many Americans living on welfare. There is no solution so far from the government. People are living on other peoples property with no intention of moving. Organizations, under the disguise of trying to help, are selling what they call temporary buildings, but are more permanent than temporary, to large organizations by the thousands, lining their pockets. When these Haitians build their house on this land, good luck trying to make them move. Try to move 200,000 people. There is plenty of land outside of Port-au-Prince that the government could give the people so they could build these structures but again, there is no plan of any kind to do anything. When the food and water run out in these tent areas, Haiti is going to have a real problem.
  
  We need to do some serious praying for Haiti that this government will turn to the Lord and let Him direct them. I know the Lord is listening to their cries. More and more people here are coming to the Lord and realize there has to be a change, and it can only come from God.
• 
  April 5
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  I had a great night's sleep, even though I stayed up a little late. I think I am just now catching up on my rest. I have plenty to do but there is nothing that is pressing. Today after breakfast, I called Simon to come over and ride with me out to Love A Child to take Gabriel (military truck) there to leave. Love A Child is most gracious to allow us to keep our truck there while I am in the States. Before Simon came, I took the van to have it washed near the airport. The men there have pressure washers and barrels of water that they use to wash your vehicles. The only problem is that your car is sitting in a mud hole so don't expect your tires to be clean. This is also right next to one of the tent areas. As I looked around, I saw the sewage right next to the tent area and it was full of trash and everything else. You will see the photos. This will not get better. These areas are just a pit of disease waiting to happen. There are maybe eight outdoor toilets for around a thousand people. Most people just use the bathroom wherever they are. This is typical of Haiti, but now the people are confined to an area.
  
  After getting the van washed, I returned to Dottie's to meet Simon. I had been trying to call a few people to see if I could find someone to follow us to Love A Child to give us a ride back but could not find anyone. I thought of a friend of mine called Fast Edy; he takes care of all the paperwork I need in Haiti. He just happened to have a friend who could help us. We waited on him for about thirty Haitian minutes (you can imagine) and then we left for Love A Child. The traffic was horrible. When you are sitting still in Gabriel feeling the heat of the engine and the heat from the sun, you start baking. We made it out there in a couple of hours, and the trip back wasn't near as bad.
  
  When we got back, Simon and Pastor Harry and I talked about how well the Pastor's Conference went and how all of the pastors really enjoyed the conference. They said they will be back next year and bring others. I can’t wait to see how the Lord is going to handle all these Saints, as I know He will. They also talked about how the whole group (mission team) loved on the Haitian people and how much the Haitian people loved them being there, spending time with them, just playing and talking with them. For me, this was one of the best parts of this team, that they were content without having something to do all the time. They just loved on our Haitian brothers and sisters.
  
  After Simon and Pastor Harry left, I started feeling really bad and I remembered I had not drunk any water all day. All I had was juice this morning. I won't do that again, I hope. I had to lay down for a couple of hours and drink several glasses of water before I began to feel normal. I know there are some of you that are thinking Bro. Chuck is anything but normal.
  
  Tomorrow I have many things to do but one main thing is to meet a mechanic here at Dottie’s so he can put new seals on the generator. It has been leaking for a long time and is actually killing her little trees around the generator. Our prayer is that he can change the seals and get the generator back together before the afternoon so we can have electricity. If he doesn't, I have a backup generator, through a friend of mine, but I pray I won't have to ask him for that favor.
  
  Thanks again for all your prayers, God bless.
• 
  April 4
  Report from Brother Chuck
  I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday. This was truly a day of rest for me. I spent some nice quiet time with my Father this morning, thinking about what He has done with His ministry (TEM) and what He is going to do. He has blessed me, my family and His ministry greatly, and He continues to do so. It humbles me to think of where I came from and only by His mercy and grace, am I here in Haiti today. I am excited to see what He is going to do next in my life and His ministry. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for praying and supporting TEM. I pray that the Lord will bless you and your family abundantly, more than you can think or ask for.
  
  I'm resting in the Lord today, so there will be no photos, but there will be plenty tomorrow as the adventure with the Lord continues.
• 
  April 3
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
  John 15:16 (KJV)
  
  There is no doubt that God chose each person on this team to do His work, and that their fruit will not only remain but will multiply. It never ceases to amaze me how He takes ordinary people and puts His desires in their hearts to push them further than they ever thought they would go, to go places they never in their wildest dreams would think they would go, and to speak to people they never thought they would.
  
  satan’s greatest tool is fear. After about three days, I always ask everyone that comes to Haiti for the first time if they have any fear being here and I have never had anyone say yes. satan wants you to have fear so you will be immobilized but there is never anything to fear. The only fear we should ever have is the fear of our Lord God, and that is a respectful fear, as you would have for your Father. Scripture tells us that we are to fear no man; what can man do to us? It also says that we are not to fear death, for Christ died to take away the fear of death that satan always uses to keep us in bondage. Well, we are set free; He who the Son sets free is free indeed. Halleluiah!!!!! We don’t have to fear man or death. What is there left? Nothing. We can live a life of freedom in Christ with the assurance of everlasting life. It doesn’t get any better than that. That deserves another Halleluiah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (using Haitian accent)
  
  Everyone that came on this trip is returning home filled with the Holy Spirit so be careful if you get around them cause it is very, very contagious.
  
  We got up this morning about 5 a.m., had our coffee and left Dottie’s about 5:45 to pick up the rest of the team at a small hotel. They were standing outside the gate waving their arms and sticking out their thumbs for a ride; they were real easy to recognize as crazy Americans. I told Will, who was riding with me, that it amazes me that God uses a bunch of jokesters like us to be His Ambassadors. There is such joy among this team. I dropped them off at the airport, all but Karl because his flight left at 12:20. Karl and I went and had breakfast at Dottie’s and then I took him to the airport about 9:30. It really seemed quite strange after having twenty-three people around you for a week to now be alone. I love each and every one that came to Haiti on this trip and it was my honor to serve our King with them.
  
  After dropping Karl off, I came back to Dottie’s and worked on the van a little, getting it ready for a group of ladies that Dottie wanted to take shopping. They left about 11 a.m. I had told George Truelove, if he wasn’t busy, to come by and maybe we could go have lunch today. He has to stay in Port till Wednesday to gather supplies to take home in the Northwest. He called and we went and had lunch about 1 p.m. After lunch, I came back and lay down and passed out for two hours. I didn’t realize I was so tired. I woke up and took a cold shower and I’m ready to do it again.
  
  As you read in yesterday’s journal, I will be here till Thursday so I will keep you updated till I leave. May God bless you and your families and may you have a most blessed Easter.
• 
  April 2
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  We had an easy morning, taking our time, as we packed up to come back to Port. We had our devotion and breakfast, and afterwards, we broke down all the cots and began putting all our equipment into trunks to store for the next team. This is always a busy time for me because a lot of people wait till the last minute to talk to me about their needs. I had already made out the envelopes for payment to the interpreters and pastors and all the helpers, and I thought we should ask Pastor Dorleon how we could help the family of Pastor Fritznell, the young pastor who died yesterday. Come to find out, the family did not have enough money for a casket or for transportation for the body back up the mountain. There was really no decision to make but to take care of the expenses for the funeral. I believe we must take care of our pastors and their families to show our Haitian brothers and sisters that we are in this relationship for the long haul.
  
  After taking care of a lot of business, we were ready to go. Several of the ladies rode with me and the rest of the team rode with Will on Gabriel. We arrive at Dottie’s about 11:45 so we dropped our trunks off and went to a restaurant called Epidor on Delmas in Port-au-Prince. They have hamburgers, fries, etc. I think the team really enjoyed the A/C and the food.
  
  When we finished, I took eight men down to a hotel called Palm Hotel, which is not bad at all. We could not all stay at Dottie's because she already had some guests so we could only have 15 people stay at Dottie's. When I brought them back, I took Pastor Lonnie and Gary to a sidewalk art area, where they bought some real Haitian art.
  
  When we got back, I had time to check my email and found out that my Delta reservations had changed from Sunday, April 4, to Saturday, April 3, and that I would have to spend two nights and a complete day in New York. I called Sarah and asked her to check it out for me and Delta said they were sorry but there was nothing they could do. I cannot leave tomorrow because after I drop the team off tomorrow, I have to take Gabriel out to Love A Child and I have to go by and pay for materials that I have ordered for the school in Z'Orange. To make a long story short, I can't leave till Thursday but that is okay because I have plenty to do and I believe the Lord wants me to be here for some reason more than I know. This is the adventurous part that I love about the Lord; just be obedient and see what He has in store for you.
  
  This has been one of our largest teams and I have really enjoyed every person. We have had 23 team members, of all ages, and five interpreters, and never once did I hear a complaint about anything. Everybody was always willing to do whatever was asked of them. If only our churches were like this, where we are not concerned what we want or how we want it done; we’re only concerned about what our Lord wants.
• 
  April 1
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Today is our last day, and we are still going strong, praise be to our Lord, Jesus Christ. After breakfast, Will, Tammy, Philip Hallman, Kyle, Janet, Gary and Eric hiked up to Jerusalem IV, while Clint, Adam, Lisa, Brittany, Jessica, Debbie, Betty, Karl and Bro. Chuck went to Daniel's voodoo village for a medical clinic and VBS. Bro. Chuck dropped them off and went up to the top of the mountain to send the photos to Tricia & Curt for the website. Then he ran back to Z’Orange, where Lane, Pastor Lonnie, Pastor Ken, and Pastor Sean were teaching the last day of the Pastor's Conference. After checking to see when they would finish, Bro. Chuck went back to Daniel's to see how the team was doing and everything was running smoothly. The medical team saw over 60 people and the VBS had many kids learn about Christ. What Daniel doesn't understand is that the children in his village have been learning about Jesus for over 5 years. One day that village will be Christian. He has allowed the Light to penetrate into the darkness.
  
  When we returned from the voodoo village, the Pastor's Conference was still going on. To show the pastors of the servant hood they have chosen, after they finished the sessions, the pastors washed all the pastor's feet and then they had the Lord's Supper. The Haitian pastors had a great time learning from the American pastors and have already committed to come next year and bring more people. I don't know what we will do with all of them but I know the Lord will make a way.
  
  Pastor Ken preached tonight and, as always, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He truly loves the Haitian people with all his heart.
  
  Now some bad news, as we see things from this world, but as from the Kingdom world, it is a wonderful thing. Pastor Fritznell, the young Haitian pastor from Jerusalem IV, died today. This young man was a young pastor that was a man of God. He was always filled with the Spirit, with a smile on his face. This is the pastor I took to Love A Child last night. We will greatly miss his smile and energy, as he will be missed by his congregation and family. Please be praying for his family.
• 
  March 31
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  When we arrived at Jerusalem 4, we were welcomed with a big smile from Pastor Fritznell. He is the young Pastor there and he is full of joy. He loved the teaching he heard last year from Pastor Ken and Karl so he remembered them well. We began by giving them an encouraging word and then we set up the medical clinic and VBS. It wasn't long after this that someone came to me and told me Pastor Fritznell went home and was very sick. When we left for lunch, Betty and I stopped by to see how he was. He was in extreme pain from a hernia that he has had since childhood. It was huge. Betty listened with her stethoscope and said that she did not hear enough movement in the stomach area and was afraid too much of the intestine may have seeped out of the lining. She tried to put it back, and he had tried also, but they could not. We came back to our village and Betty got some pain pills and antibiotics, which I took back to him. I no more got back to our village to eat a quick can of beanie weenies than here his brother comes and said he was getting worse. I tried to explain to him that it takes time for the pills to work but he wanted quick relief for his brother. I took the medical team back up to Jerusalem 4 and stopped by and he was not any better. He kept throwing up all the pills. I did not know where to take him and I just didn't want to load him up and bounce him around on these bumpy roads for no reason. There are many clinics here in Haiti but few have surgeons. I had to drive up to the top of a mountain to make several calls to organizations and no one really could tell me where to take him. I finally got a hold of Bob and Carol out at Love A Child and Carol told me to bring him on. I went back to his house and had several men help carry him from his house to the van. Again he was in extreme pain and he was showing it as the men carried him over the rocky path. We took his mother, future mother-in-law and brother with us. It was about a two and half hour drive to Love A Child. When we arrived, I went to the registration office and Carol had already told them I was coming. A doctor met us and told us to drive him around to the triage area. They examined him and gave him a shot for pain, which really gave him relief immediately. The doctor told us that he definitely needed surgery as soon as possible because the hernia was too large and the doctor could not put it back. They made arrangements to take him to a hospital in Port-au-Prince. They said the brother could ride with him but the ladies had to get a ride to the hospital. We went ahead and left and took the ladies to an area in Port where they could catch a ride on a tap tap (taxi) to the hospital. I gave them money for the tap tap and for food for a week, if they needed to stay in Port that long. They have a place to stay in Port with some relatives.
  
  After dropping them off, I drove back to Z'Orange and arrived about 8:30. It was truly a great day in Lord. I thank Him for the opportunity that He gave us to show His love to our Haitian brother. Please be praying for Pastor Fritznell and his family.
  
  Report from Lisa Downing
  After a night with little sleep due to adventures with spiders, rats and a goat, we had an incredible day in Haiti. We traveled to Jerusalem IV to conduct a medical clinic and VBS for the children. We watched this church express joy to the Lord in song and met the exuberant young pastor. The medical clinic began during this service and many needs were met. It is overwhelming to see the needs of the Haitians. A young mother of premature twins came to the clinic seeking help. I cannot imagine caring for twins with little resources available.
  
  The VBS went well with approximately 50 children present. It is impressive to see the patience and kindness of the children. Our team performed the Resurrection Drama and shared that Christ is risen indeed! We were able to have the children make a craft and receive a lollipop much to their delight! We spent the remainder of the time enjoying the Haitian healing service. The people truly trust in God for healing and they know he is the Great Physician. Near the end of medical clinic, a woman came and said we needed to come to the pastor's house because he was very sick. This was confusing to us because the pastor had been at church. We did not know that he had gone home ill. On the way out we stopped at his home. Betty tended to the pastor and discovered he has a very serious hernia. She let the family know he needs medical attention immediately. We prayed for the pastor as we returned to Jerusalem I. This was an incredible moment in prayer for this young man. We pray for God to bring healing to this servant.
  
  The afternoon was a blessing beyond measure! Janet and I spent time with teenagers just getting to know each other with the help of Pastor Doe’s sons who speak English. The girls had a lot of questions for us and it was fun to talk, take pictures and show love to them. Later Tammy joined us and we used the Kreyole/English book to communicate to each other without a translator. A highlight of the day for me was practicing math on a tablet with Gethro, a 12 year old here in the village. At least numbers are universal!
  
  Our evening was a blessing as well with a great church service. Adam brought our message and Brittney sang a duet with a Haitian friend. Chuck reported that the young pastor was taken to Love a Child and will be receiving surgery! Praise God! No one can know the joy and blessings received here in Haiti until you experience it firsthand.
• 
  March 30
  View photos
  Report from Janet Spicer
  Today is day three here in Haiti and I have been blessed more than I can express. It has been an amazing experience spending time with the Haitian people. Our team taught VBS today. The children smiled from ear to ear as we performed a skit about the resurrection of Christ. The children are so loving and full of laughter. I never expected such joy from those who have so little. It has reminded me that happiness does not come from what we possess. These people have very few, if any, material possessions but they continue to be full of joy.
  
  The most incredible part of the day occurred late in the afternoon when a young boy, who was around four or five, came to see Betty for medical attention. She asked Clint and Lisa Downing to walk the boy back to his hut so an interpreter could explain the dosage to his grandmother. As we made our way to the boy's hut, I was astonished to see the boy’s living conditions first hand. The boy and his family were completely impoverished. After Clint explained the prescription instructions to his grandmother, he shared the gospel and prayed with the family. It was an amazing experience to feel God's presence as we prayed for this destitute family.
  
  The final crowning moment of the day was this evening's worship service. Pastor Lonnie delivered the sermon tonight and the congregation was engrossed with the message he gave from God’s word. At the end of the sermon, I was overcome with emotion as the congregation sang the last stanza of "Because He Lives" – (Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone . . .). It was a wonderful blessing to see the Haitians worship the Lord in spite of the hardships they have experienced and I am in awe of God who is working here in the midst of this situation.
  
  There are not words to describe how being here has affected me this week. I was briefed about the conditions here but I did not fully comprehend the way the Haitian people live until I saw it with my own eyes. I thought I was coming here to help them but they have blessed me in so many ways. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us tomorrow!
• 
  March 29
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  We all got up about 6 a.m., and I would say with the roosters but they start crowing about midnight. Ginette had our coffee ready, Praise the Lord. Lane gave the devotion and afterwards, we had a breakfast consisting of hot oatmeal, pop tarts, cereal with cold milk and juice.
  
  After breakfast, we began planning our day. Tammy, Kyle, Adam, Eric, Janet, Lisa, Jessica, and Brittany headed up the VBS. It started about 9 a.m. with about twenty kids but then they started coming out of the woodwork. They would have about twenty at a time come into the room. It makes a much more controlled environment. Ginette helped them with the singing and they had a great time. They will all return tomorrow. Clint was running crowd control for the VBS.
  
  Karl, Philip McNeal, Gary, Pastor Lonnie and Pastor Sean went to Daniel's voodoo village to teach. When they arrived, there were about twenty people and Daniel had them a place under a tin roof that had no walls so there was good ventilation. They started about 9 a.m. and taught till about 11:30. They took a break in between and shared bread and some juice. They really enjoyed that.
  
  Bro. Chuck opened up the Pastor's Conference and introduced Pastor Ken and Pastor Lonnie. Pastor Ken began the teaching and taught all morning and Pastor Lonnie taught in the afternoon. They started at 8 a.m. and finished around 3:30 p.m.
  
  Joe and George began building a table/desk for my room while Bill Chambliss began working on the 1985 4-wheeler that was given to us. It hasn’t been cranked in over two years; that’s why they gave it to us. The Lord will definitely have to do one of his miraculous miracles for this to run but that is what He does.
  
  Will, well I don’t know what he was doing but every time I took a picture of someone working he was in it like he was helping them.
  
  Lane was helping here and there and going over his study notes for his sessions of teaching.
  
  Betty, Debbie and Philip Hallman ran the medical team. We are only having it open for half days because we really didn't plan to have one. They are only seeing the really sick ones. They saw about thirty-three people.
  
  Bro. Chuck and George left about 10 a.m. to go back to Port-au-Prince to get the rest of the luggage. Halleluiah. We finally go it all. While we were in Port, I ordered all the doors, hinges, door knobs, lumber for all the door and window frames and paint for the school. Bro. Chuck will be going home the month of April and this way they can have a lot done when he comes back in May.
  
  As you can tell, we all were very busy. What is so wonderful is to watch everyone work in harmony working for our Lord. What a joy it is to be here serving Him.
• 
  March 28
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Most people went to bed early last night but there were a few that couldn't sleep because of the different sounds, like the generator, roosters, snoring, and dogs barking. I always suggest that all team members bring earplugs but I think some forgot or they were packed away somewhere.
  
  We all got up around 6 a.m. and Dottie fed us a breakfast of fresh fruit with toast, bagels and cereal. Most people headed for the coffee first. Afterwards, we packed up to be ready to leave at 9 a.m. but to my surprise, the Haitian truck, that was to come at 9 to pick up our luggage, came at 8 a.m. That is a first in 10 years.
  
  Karl gave a powerful devotion, as he always does. He has such a passion for our Lord. I am so blessed to have so many people around me that truly love the Lord. After devotion, we loaded up the Haitian truck and Gabriel. I had the Haitian truck go ahead, with Karl riding with them. Will Tiller drove Gabriel up with the team, while Philip McNeal, Philip Hallman, Eric and I went to the airport to pick up the luggage that didn't come yesterday. There were 18 pieces that didn't show up. We got 16 so we were missing two; one of Pastor Ken's and one of Betty's. We went in at 11 am and came out a couple of hours later. There was an Air France flight and an American flight. It was total chaos, as usual.
  
  After getting the luggage, we headed up to Z'Orange to find that everyone had picked out a room and put up their cots and were getting acquainted with the Haitian people in Z'Orange.
  
  Madame Do and the ladies here cooked us a Haitian meal: goat, rice, red sauce for rice, fried plantain, boiled banana and a wonderful hot slaw called pickles. It was delicious, as usual.
  
  When we finished eating, everyone began to take showers. We only have two outhouses and both of them have a shower. We have 55 gal. drums that we fill with water and have a shower head screwed into it.
  
  As you can imagine, the water is a little cold but it really feels good on a hot day like we had today.
  
  Singing, from the people in the church, started about 7 pm, which is the public address system for the valley that church is starting. They usually sing for over an hour or more. Then Pastor Sean preached a powerful message about how we accept Jesus as our Savoir but do we accept him as our Lord. The church was about 90% full.
  Afterwards is one of my favorite parts. The team comes down to the eating area and each night I have people share their testimony. This really brings a team closer when they understand where we each came from and we begin to see the things we have in common. I love to hear how God has miraculously changed us all for His glory and has blessed us and our families through hard times and good times. What is amazing is that He has called all of us here to Haiti at this time for His purpose. We are all so blessed.
• 
  March 27
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  After some time with my Father this morning and a lot of prayer, we started the day. Our first problem was the seal on Gabriel. We had to pick up the team at 2:35 p.m. but Gabriel wasn't going anywhere with that busted seal. I called the mechanic at 7 a.m. and he said that he was on his way. Two of his workers showed up about 7:30 and had no idea what to do so I called the mechanic again to ask when he was coming. He said he was on his way. The two workers took the tire off and got to the seal but didn’t know how to fix it. I ended up calling every half hour and got the same story each time, "I'm on my way." Will, Clint and I had to go buy turkey, ham, cheese, hot dogs, buns and bread for the team. I called back about 12 noon to see if the mechanic had shown up but he was still not there. I told them if he didn't show up by 1 p.m. to just put it back together and we would just keep pouring oil in the differential to get to the airport. We would then fill it back up to come back to Dotties'. But our Lord is so awesome; He provides for His children. We had to go buy ice after we went grocery shopping and when we got back, the seal was fixed and the tire was back on Gabriel. We only had time to wash our hands before leaving for the airport. His timing is perfect. I have said this many times but He has never, never failed me. He promised me he wouldn't.
  
  We got to the airport a little after three and the flight had come in on time at about 2:30. It is nothing but total chaos inside the airport and outside. It took three hours to get everybody out of the airport and 6 team members did not get their luggage. We will have to go back tomorrow to pick it up.
  
  We arrived at Dottie's about 6:15 pm and unloaded. Dottie had a wonderful meal prepared for us. Most of the team has stayed here before, and we all feel at home here. As far as I am concerned, this is the best guest house in Haiti by far.
  
  Tomorrow will be an exciting day traveling up to Z'Orange. I know that God has a wonderful adventure for us all.
  
  Webcam Video
  Here is the team having dinner at Dottie's Guest House (the voice you hear is Tom Blizzard speaking to them from Florida on Skype):
  
  
• 
  March 26
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  We picked up Mr. Will Tiller today, so our world will not be the same anymore. Clint and I went down to the airport and had to wait a while because his flight was late. While we waited, I called Frank, a money changer, to come to the van to exchange some money. As we were doing this, Will showed up with one of our Haitian friends showing him the way. We then drove out to CAM (Christian Aid Ministries), a Mennonite ministry that helps us out so much. Every year they give us medications for our medical teams. We then drove back to Dottie's and dropped off all the medications there, except what we planned to take to Pastor Lenny's. We stopped at the market and bought 20 bags of rice, 8 cases of oil and 4 sacks of beans for Pastor Lenny's church. Pastor Earl Hammons, of Pine Summit Baptist Church in Pensacola, is bringing in a medical team to work with Pastor Lenny this coming week. This gave us so much joy to help our brothers and sisters in Christ.
  
  When we finished there, we went back to Dottie’s and were able to give her a lot of the meds that we got from CAM. She also has a neighbor, who takes care of infants and little children, that could use the meds. Again it is great to be a part the Body of Christ and see how Christ takes care of his children.
  
  Again, satan is still trying his best but it is not good enough to stop us. After thinking the seal was fixed on Gabriel, it started leaking again. We are hoping that the mechanic will come back tomorrow, before the team arrives, to fix it. If not, we will see what God will have us do. That's the adventure of walking with the Lord. Just show up and see what he will have you do. He will always make a way, always.
  
  Tomorrow will be an exciting day. The team will be arriving in the afternoon.
• 
  March 25
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Today was an awesome day in the Lord. After rebuking satan in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ and calling him a loser, I guess he decided to go somewhere else today. Clint and I got up early, and after talking with my Father, giving thanks for everything He does, we started work on Gabriel about 6:30 a.m. We had two mechanic helpers come over to break down the tire and hub. They were doing great till they tried to remove the seal which requires a special tool which they didn’t have. They tried everything trying to get it out from 10 a.m. till about 6 p.m. I finally got the real mechanic to come. He works at a dealership here. Within 15 minutes he had it out. He then started reassembling it. It got dark about 6:30 so we were out on the street shining flashlights while he worked, as big trucks and cars passing by stirring up the dust. We got through about 8:30. So it only took 13½ hours. Thank goodness we didn't have to pay by the hour. It is always interesting to see who God will use, and how, to take care of things if we will just turn it over to Him, having faith that He will provide what we need.
  
  We left the mechanics about 10 a.m. to take some food to a ministry that is not too far from us. Pastor Lenny and his wife, Marjorie, have a church on Delmas 19. I got an email yesterday from a pastor in Pensacola by the name Pastor Earl Hammons, who will be coming to Haiti March 27 with a team of 15 people to work with Pastor Lenny. He asked me if we could help with some rice for them to hand out when they do their medical work. I love it when God gives us opportunities to help our brothers and sisters. I called Pastor Lenny yesterday and told him we would come by today to bring some food. We had already bought food that we are distributing so we took some salmon, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, cooking oil and bouillon packages to him. Now that the truck is fixed we are going to bring him some beans and rice tomorrow. I thank Pastor Hammons and Pastor Lenny for giving us this opportunity.
  
  After taking care of this, we went to pick up some medicine for the medical team that Betty Summer, from South Carolina, will be heading up. We got worm medicine and medicine for scabies. We then bought another propane tank. We have needed another one for a long time. I would hate to run out of propane up in the mountains with a team. After this, I know the team will be happy, I bought new toilet seats for the freshly painted toilets. Yea, cheap thrills!!!!
  
  Early tomorrow morning, we will be picking up Will Tiller, and we will see what God’s plan is for us. I have got one but it very rarely works.
  
  God bless you all for your prayers and gifts, as I know He does.
• 
  March 24
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  You know what is great about being a Christian is now you know who the enemy is and he (satan) is willing to do whatever to discourage you so you will quit. Well, I've got news for that bad boy: I will not give up, I will not back up and I will not shut up, for I have Christ who strengthens me.
  
  I always have problems in Haiti but I usually get a little breather now and then but this has been crazy. I got up this morning to take Kenny & Dale to the airport and stopped by the mechanic shop to see if we could take the thermostat out. The bolts were so tight we were afraid we would break them off but we did get to where we could see the thermostat and it had rusted out. That's why all the rust was in the radiator. Also, yesterday, some sacks of beans fell against the back door and now the back door will not open so we worked on that and now you can open it but you have to crawl to the back of the van to open it from the inside. All the cables are worn out. So after two hours, we accomplished nothing.
  
  After this, I picked up Clint Downing at the airport and when we came back to Dottie's to pick up Gabriel (military truck), there was a big puddle of differential oil under the right front tire. You will see this in the photos. A seal busted and all the oil ran out. So now Gabriel has problems.
  
  You see, what satan doesn't know is that I have a huge God that always, always takes care of everything. I have had so many things like this happen in Haiti and God has always gotten us where we need to go to do His work. He will not fail us now. In Deuteronomy 31:8 it says, "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." What an awesome God we serve!
  
  I told Clint today, when I saw the busted seal, that it was going to be interesting to see how God was going to fix this one. By the end of the day, I found a Haitian mechanic that will be here in the morning to fix it.
  
  I truly believe that satan does not want this team here. he knows that pastors are going to be taught how to be more powerful and that they will go empower their flocks. he knows that the children will hear about Jesus from the people teaching VBS. he knows that people will be treated in the medical clinic and shown the love of Christ. he knows that the Word of God will be taught in the darkness of the voodoo villages and he can do nothing to stop it. Halleluiah!!!!! Come on, satan, give it all you got. You're a loser. We have read the book, and we win.
  
  It was a great day in Haiti.
• 
  
  Reports from Kenny Phillips, Give Me Shelter Ministries (GMSM)
  Read Kenny's reports on his GMSM blog.
• 
  March 23
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Anytime the Lord wants to bless us with a 4x4 SUV, I'm ready. It was really hot today and the van overheated three times. We have flushed the radiator, put on new hoses and installed a new fan clutch. I have a new water pump but the water pump is working fine. Tomorrow we're going to take the thermostat out. I have to say it gets a little frustrating when you have to work on vehicles just about everyday just so you can do your other work.
  
  Even with this, the Lord blessed us by going to Love A Child to get our monthly food (Feed My Starving Children food) for Z'Orange and Northwest Haiti. Again, I can not thank Dale and Kenny enough for being here. They took part of the food up to Z'Orange and picked up another 19 bags of rice and some cooking oil. We will send some by truck to the Northwest and some will go to Pastor Harry's Church. Then we picked up Dottie's food, which we will take to the school.
  
  While they went their way, I took care of things that I needed to do. The school needs nine doors, hinges and frames so I went to several places to see where I could buy them. I also ordered the windows to be made for the school. I found some mats for the showers and found a place where I can buy another propane tank for cooking in Z'Orange. I got back to Dottie's about three o'clock, had my beanie weenies, crackers and coke and was ready to go again. I worked on the van a little and then I remembered I needed to check out a small electrical problem in one of the bathrooms. There is always something to do here. You can just sit and watch things break. It is really amazing. I always have to remember Galatians 6:9, "Let us not be weary of well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
  
  Tomorrow Kenny and Dale will be leaving but Clint Downing will be coming in to help. Will Tiller was supposed to come but he is sick and had to cancel but now he is trying to come on Friday. Please be praying that the Lord will heal him. Haiti is hard enough when you feel good.
• 
  March 22
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  We had a very busy day, from the time we got up till we got back to Dottie's. We started sacking food for the people in the tent areas early. We had Pastor Harry bring five of his church members and another friend of mine to help us. We packed over 200 sacks of rice, beans, salmon, cooking oil, bouillon, spaghetti, spaghetti paste and cooking oil. After we got started, I got a call and had to go meet a girl that a friend of mine in MO sponsors to give her some money. While I was out, I needed to buy more beans, sacks, spaghetti, sauce, salmon and oil at the market. I also had to buy some electrical wire for Z'Orange. We have to wire up another room because the team is so large. We use a generator at night for lights. I am really getting excited about this team to see what God is going to do with us.
  
  When I returned, I dropped off all the food and had to go to a hotel here in Port-au-Prince that I heard of to see if I could get two rooms for the team when we come back from the mountains on April 2. Dottie already has six people staying here then. She can only hold twenty and we have twenty two. The hotel was tough to find but I finally found it and it is a really a pretty nice place, for Haiti. I have two rooms for eight people. They are bringing in two extra beds for each room. One is like an efficiency. I put down a deposit so now we are set for our return.
  
  When I got back, we went to distribute food to the tent areas. The first one was a huge one and it started out pretty calm but after distributing over a hundred sacks, there was tension building up so we left before it got out of hand. There were so many older people, pregnant ladies and children that really needed the food but our spirit gave us the discernment to leave. Then we went to a smaller tent area and it went really quite well. Nobody said it would be easy but it always amazes me how much fun we have. I know the disciples had the same kind of fun where most people would be afraid or tell you that it is too dangerous or that it is stupid. We are just doing what Christ tells us to do, to feed the poor spiritually and physically. I am so blessed to have so many brothers and sisters that aren't afraid to follow Christ.
  
  Tomorrow will be another exciting day. We are going out to Love A Child to pick up food for the Z'Orange area and for the Northwest Haiti area that we send food to. Feed My Starving Children's CEOs will be there. I have met them a couple of times over the years and look forward to seeing them again. Bobby, at Love A Child, told me to come out early so we could all get together. This is a great opportunity for Kenny. I introduced Kenny to Feed My Starving Children for food in Mexico and he has been receiving food from them. This way they will be able to put a face to Give Me Shelter Ministries, and that face is unforgettable. Read anything into that that you want. He's my brother.
  Thank all of you again for the love of the Haitian people and for your prayers. I am assured that God protects us everyday because of your prayers.
• 
  March 21
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Today was the most restful day I have had in a long time. We got up about 6 a.m., I spent my time with my Father and then we were off to Z'Orange. Kenny and Dale took Gabriel, loaded with supplies, and Seth and I took the van.
  
  Before we got to the church in Z'Orange, we stopped by Daniel’s (voodoo priest) village. He was happy to see us, as usual. I asked him if we could come and share the Gospel in his village on Monday (March 29) and Tuesday (March 30). He said yes and that he would invite some more voodoo priests and mambos (voodoo priestesses). We will also go to his village for VBS while we are there.
  
  When we arrived at the church in Z'Orange, Kenny, Dale and Seth headed up the mountain to Jerusalem II while I stayed behind and unloaded the truck, with a lot of help. Afterwards I got the paint and began to paint the outhouses. Before I knew it, I had two young Haitian men helping me and then six little boys trying to help. I keep them all busy doing something. They always want to help so I threw my painting perfection ideas out the window and we just had fun.
  
  When we finished and cleaned up everything, I measured the windows and doors for the school. We need nine doors, lumber for frame work and hinges and eight windows. I can buy the doors, lumber and hinges but I have to order the windows. The windows are made here in Port, of metal, and are louvered. The school is going to be really nice when the Lord finishes it.
  
  After getting all the measurements, I saw Seth coming my way. He had taken a motorcycle down the mountain. We waited for Kenny and Dale a while but they never showed so I left a note with Pastor Do telling them where we were going. I figured they were late because Madame Fani wanted to fix them lunch. I was right.
  
  I took Seth up to Jerusalem IV, where they were having a Bible class. The pastor is a young man and he was so glad to see us and told us how excited he was about the Pastor’s Conference. We only stayed a short while before leaving to go back to Port-au-Prince to Dottie's. We made it safely back, and Kenny and Dale came in about 45 minutes later.
  
  We all had a great day with the Lord and look forward to what He has in store for us tomorrow.
• 
  March 20
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
  Heb 12:27-28 (KJV)
  
  I was reading this morning and this verse stood out to me. Look at the world as our Lord is shaking it trying to get our attention. Trying to help us understand how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away. Trying to make us think about what is important: family, friends and our relationship with Him. All these things of the world can be taken away but our relationship with Him can never be taken away. We are to receive a Kingdom (His Kingdom) which cannot be moved. How awesome is that!
  
  
  We had a great day today. It was one of those days that we got everything done that we were intending to do. That doesn’t happen very often. I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have Kenny and Dale here. They can go one place in Gabriel and I can go somewhere else in the van. This morning I went ahead of them and ordered the plywood we needed for some tables, and had it ready by the time they got there. This would normally take about 45 minutes of ordering and waiting but it was quickly done and we were off to another hardware store to pick up more materials. We are so blessed to be working with Give Me Shelter Ministries. I know the Lord has to smile when He sees us working together for His glory, not ours. I think it is an embarrassment for our churches, of even the same denomination, that refuse to work together. We are so blessed that TEM works with well over a dozen different ministries and churches of all denominations. At our next hardware store, we picked up paint for Jerusalem II Church, paint for outhouses in Z’Orange, brushes, rollers and other materials. We will be going there tomorrow.
  
  When we finished with this, it was about 1:30 and we had our beanie weenie, cracker and coke break. After eating, we figured out how much food we needed to buy to make up sacks for the tent areas. We had to go to several places to get everything we needed but we now have 20 bags of rice, 8 bags of beans, 5 cases of tomato paste, 5 cases of bouillon, 10 cases of spaghetti, 5 cases of salmon and 10 cases of cooking oil. Just to give you a quick idea of how much food costs:
  (1) 100 lb. bag of beans = $78.00 US
  (1) 50 lb. bag of rice = $33.00 US
  (1) ½” finished piece of plywood = $38.00 US
  (1) 2”x4”x8’ = $7.98 US
  You can see where $100.00 will not even buy you a bag of beans and a small bag of rice.
  
  We will be putting the sacks together Monday morning and distributing them that afternoon and Tuesday, hopefully.
  
  Tomorrow we are going up to Z’Orange. Kenny, Dale and a new friend by the name of Seth Christ are going to hike up to Jerusalem II and I am going to stay in Z’Orange to do a little work that has been long overdue. I am really looking forward to doing something that I don’t really have to think about. It will be a great day to rest in the Lord.
  
  I have to tell you about how God takes junk and turns it into something good. No, I’m not talking about me, but it does apply. The Seniors and others at Wright Baptist Church had a Bargain Sale today (one of many for TEM over the years) and sold stuff that people gave them and the Lord blessed us with $ 4,135.00. TEM is so blessed to have a church family that never, never gets tired of serving the Lord. Thank you, church family; I truly do love you.
• 
  March 19
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  It amazes me that, after two months, I have not seen one bulldozer or one dump truck on any site cleaning up anything. Where have all those millions of dollars for aid gone? You will see the pictures we took today of the earthquake damage that is still unmoved. The only clean up I see is from the USAid Organization that has hired Haitians to clean up these areas. The Haitians use picks, shovels and small wheelbarrows to clean up the debris, and they are doing a great job. The only problem is that there is just not enough of them.
  
  There are organizations now giving out food but there are still thousands without proper food or water. The sanitary conditions are horrible. Unfortunately there are now some Haitians who have houses that they could live in but have gotten a tent from some organization so they live in the tents so they can receive food and water; they’re living off the organizations. Reminds me of home, where people are living off the government.
  
  You will see in some of the photos of the side of the mountains that the houses fell like dominoes. There are still thousands of people that will never be found in all this rubble and debris.
  
  Today we purchased water and food for the March 27th team and ordered paint and lumber for some work in Z’Orange. Jerusalem II has not been painted yet so we are getting the paint for them. We also have some tables and benches that need to be built in Z’Orange for the team.
  
  The traffic was terrible today. We were stuck in traffic for at least two hours just trying to purchase all the things we need. You have to go to several different stores to get all your supplies.
  
  Tomorrow we will be purchasing food and supplies for the people in the tent areas. It will take us a full day just to make the sacks and then we can start to distribute them.
• 
  March 18
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Praise the Lord! Because of our brother and sisters in the United States, we were able to buy over $4,000.00 worth of food today to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Not only did we help people in need but we stimulated the economy. The people in the markets love us when we take the time to go in and talk with them and purchase their goods. They are so grateful. Then when we give the goods away in the name of Jesus, those people are happy and grateful. I have said it before, "It is a win, win situation."
  
  We got started fairly early this morning. I left in the van and Kenny and Dale followed me in Gabriel. Our first stop was a store that I have bought food from for years. We were able to buy rice, beans, flour, sugar, butter, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, herring and some other things, just at this one store. Kenny and I also exchanged U.S. money with a friend of ours that comes wherever we are. It's kind of crazy counting thousands of dollars in the van on the side of the street in Haiti. The exchange rate is 7.85 to 1 U.S. dollar. So you can image the roll of money we have to walk around with.
  
  When we finished, Kenny and Dale went to a market and bought carpet for the pastors to sleep on during the Pastor's Conference (March 27- April 3) while I went to get the A/C fixed on the van. These pastors are willing to sleep on the hard ground for 5 nights to hear the Word of God taught. It is such a wonderful sight to see men come together hungry to learn about our Lord. This is one of the most important events we do in Haiti. What better Haiti Relief than to stimulate the Spirit of men to go stimulate others?
  
  I met up with Kenny and Dale in Z'Orange and they already had all the supplies unloaded. We met with Pastor Do to go over the things that will be happening when the team comes in. Don't tell anybody but only God knows what we will be doing. He just gives me a little glimpse of it. That's the exciting part.
  
  When we got ready to go, I knew we were going to be late for dinner at Dottie's so I was in a real rush. Then Madame Do told us she had prepared food for us. So I had a choice, I could have Madame Do upset with me and Dottie or just have Dottie upset with me. I choose Dottie to be upset with me. She's used to it. I have been late for dinner more than once with Dottie but I always call her. Anyway, we ate in about 5 minutes, said thank you and were on our way. We were about an hour late for Dottie but she saved us food and it was still on the table. Dottie always takes care of us.
• 
  March 17
  View photos
  Report from Brother Chuck
  I don't know what it is about Haiti but anything you leave here will self-destruct. We got up this morning and I had to fix the battery connection on the van. It had corroded so badly since I left just three weeks ago that the clamp feel apart. So after putting a new clamp on, adding brake fluid and putting water in the radiator, we were off to the mechanic shop to get the brakes worked on, oil changed, rear seals put in and a new clutch fan installed. While we were at the shop, we talked to the owners of the casket company, which allows Curt, the mechanic, to have his shop on their property. They are building temporary houses for about $2,000.00 for the Haitian people. They are prefab homes. They have 4 different types. We are looking into them for some of the Haitian brothers and sisters we know who have a real need. Kenny Phillips is investigating the cost of what we could build a home for versus what their homes cost.
  
  After checking out the homes, we had Edy, our driver, take us out to Love A Child to pick up Gabriel (military truck). We could not help but notice how the tent areas have grown. When we arrived, Gabriel would not start; imagine that. I checked the batteries and found another corrosion problem but this time, the terminal had somehow broken lose so when you tried to take the clamp off, the whole terminal would turn. Now you tell me how this happens when the batteries are under lock and key. We had our friend Bobby pull us with a backhoe to get it started. We have a new battery back at Dottie's, praise the Lord. They cost about $130.00. Kenny and Dale drove Gabriel back and then we had our beanie weenies, crackers and coke on ice that we were all so looking forward to, except Dale. We haven’t converted him yet.
  
  After lunch, I went down to pick up the van about 4 p.m. and got back about 7 p.m. We now have great brakes, the van clutch works great and we put on new side mirrors that are awesome. But now we have no A/C. Somehow the coolant just vanished. So tomorrow I will be taking the van to the A/C mechanic.
  
  What is really crazy is that none of this even bothers me. It is just another day in Haiti. Just think when the last time was you raised your hood of your car in the United States. It is as common as brushing your teeth here. I keep praying that the Lord will bless us with a 4x4 SUV, which I know He will in His time. He has always, always provided everything we need. He truly is an awesome God.
  
  Tomorrow we will be buying food and supplies for the Pastor's Conference and VBS and taking them up to Z'Orange. We will then discuss with Pastor Do the upcoming events and needs.
  
  May God bless you all that have prayed and donated to the Lord through TEM.
• 
  March 16
  Report from Brother Chuck
  Chaos is the only word to describe entering into Haiti now. It has reverted back to the way it was back in the early 2000. There is absolutely no order. After deplaning, you take a little shuttle to a hot box of a metal building where the luggage is being brought in through garage doors that open up and let more heat in. They just dump the luggage in a small area and everybody is pushing and shoving to get to their bags. When they do get their luggage, they run over people's feet with it trying to get out of the crowd. After we got out of customs, it took us over an hour to get our luggage, in a building that felt like a sauna. Then you get to go outside, where there is more chaos due to everyone wanting to help you with your luggage so they can make a little money. The traffic is bumper to bumper, the pot holes make it almost impossible to roll your luggage and then there are large water puddles from the rain to soak your luggage.
  
  It's great to be home!!!!
• 

End of March/April 2010 Haiti Mission Trip Report

• 
  March 20, 2010
  View photos
  TEM Bargain Sale
  Wright Baptist Church
  Fort Walton Beach, FL
  God has blessed TEM with a group of seniors who love the Lord and support what God is doing through the ministry of TEM. There were 45 men & women, who worked for 3 days to prepare and carry out another TEM Bargain Sale on March 20th. A BIG thank you to Lewis Miller, who always heads up this effort. He works tirelessly collecting and storing items for the sale. He has a way of enrolling many talented volunteers to help with the Haiti Bargain Sale. Gene Holmes bakes for 2 or 3 months before the sale and fills up freezers with delicious baked goods to sell. This year she made almost $400 just on her baked goods. That's a lot of sugar!
  
  Thank you to all of the people who helped in any way. God blessed us with over $4,000 in sales and donations for TEM. May God continue to bless this ministry.
• 
  March 7-9, 2010
  View photos
  Airway Baptist Church, Dayton, OH
  Arrowbrook Baptist Church, Xenia, OH
  Greater Dayton Association of Baptist
  Report from Brother Chuck
  March 7
  I was invited by Pastor Jeff Davenport to visit Airway Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. Pastor Jeff had called me right after the earthquake in Haiti to share with me how their church was interested in teaming up with TEM in the Haiti Relief effort, and when I got back from Haiti, he called me again to ask me if I would come to Dayton, Ohio. I instantly replied, “yes,” and two weeks later, here I am, and I am so glad I came. I think the only word I can use to describe Airway Baptist Church is Love (with a capital L). I always feel at home, no matter where I am, because I have brothers and sisters all over the world through Christ, but there is something special about the people here at Airway. I truly felt like I had been going to this church for years.
  
  On this Sunday I introduced myself, gave my testimony and told my family in Dayton about the miracles that Christ has done in my life, in the ministry and in Haiti. We had a wonderful time of fellowship!
  
  Sunday night Pastor Jeff had invited me to visit Arrowbrook Baptist Church in Xenia, Ohio. Pastor Dan Williams was gracious enough to allow me to share with the congregation there, and afterwards, I really enjoyed getting to know him, as we had a light dinner with his two daughters. Arrowbrook Baptist Church supports a missionary couple in India. I truly believe by supporting missionaries personally, the church is more involved and aware of missions around the world and the church cannot help but to grow. This common goal of being a doer of the Word brings the family closer.
  
  March 8
  Pastor Jeff gave me another opportunity to share with my family at Airway Baptist Church. I showed some video of Haiti and we talked about how we are blessed to be called by our Lord Jesus and what that means; what our purpose is. Afterwards, there were tables full of cakes, pies, cookies, etc. and we had a great time of fellowship. There is no doubt I will be back to visit.
  
  March 9
  Pastor Jeff invited me to the Greater Dayton Association of Baptist monthly meeting on Tuesday morning, before I left to go home. The meeting was from 10 to 12, and we heard what the pastors and their congregations are doing in their local areas and in missions. They graciously allowed me to speak and share what the Lord is doing in Haiti. Afterwards, several of the pastors, Pastor Jeff and I had a quick lunch, where I got a chance to really meet them. Several showed real interest in going to Haiti and invited me to come to their churches. I told them I will be coming back sometime in the summer. It is so great to know wherever you go in the world, you have family. I am excited about coming back.
• 
  March 4, 2010
  Always Ready to Help
  Fort Walton Beach, FL
  TEM is so blessed to have Lenna Mauldin's Sunday School class and others fold the Tem newsletters. This helps us out tremendously.
  
  The Seniors of Wright Baptist Church are always ready to help when it comes to TEM projects.
  
  They will be having a Bargain Sale on Saturday, March 20, to raise funds to help those in need in Haiti . Be sure to be there.
• 
  
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