Truth Evangelistic Ministry, Inc.

Unless otherwise specified, all reports are from Brother Chuck

Today was almost identical to yesterday, except that after breakfast and devotion, Bryan joined George, Simon and me to go into Port. I wanted Bryan to see where we purchase our supplies, also to see a little more of Port. The rest of the crew stayed behind and continued their work. The serving line is coming along great–we bought cabinet hinges and trim for it today. While we were gone, Ken engineered a table saw with a circular saw–you will have to see this in the photos. These guys can figure out how to do anything! I am assuming again, because I was not here, that Chuck and Joe helped Ken on the serving line, and Karl and Bill worked on the bathrooms and other projects. We now have all five bathrooms working with water and lights. We just need to hang the mirrors, finish some tile and finish painting one of them. We will eventually build some shelving for towels and sheets.

Bryan, George and I went to three different hardware stores to do our shopping for the guys, and made one stop at the grocery for Ginette. When we arrived back at the mission house about 4:00, we unloaded everything, and by this time it was time for dinner. Ginette outdid herself, with fried chicken and homemade banana bread. She is such a joy, and she loves taking care of us.

After dinner, I drove Chuck, Pastor Do and a truckload of Haitian brothers and sisters down to a little church in Tapio. We have only gone to this church twice with our medical and VBS teams. It is a new one for us to visit in our area. We have added three small churches in the last three months. We are continually going a little farther out from the mission house. Tonight we had over 130 people come to watch the ‘Jesus film.’  I always speak at the end of the film to see if anyone wants to accept Christ, and so far no one has; but I truly believe that there is just so much to take in at once that they have to think about what they have seen and heard. It is like when Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, the Bible said that the people were astonished at His doctrine. These people had been taught one thing their entire lives by their fathers and grandfathers, and now this man was telling them something else–not only telling them something else, but telling them with authority. I believe they had to go home and ponder over these things, as the Haitians do with the ‘Jesus film.’ There is one thing we know, and that is His Word never comes back void!

Unless otherwise specified, all reports are from Brother Chuck

The day of rest (Sunday) was over, and it was time to put the hand on the plow. This morning after breakfast and devotion, Karl led off with the projects that were before us. Ken from WI and a friend, John, who was here in Nov. 2011, designed a serving table for us and Ken, with the help of some of the other guys, got started on it. Ken had already done so many things around here–I can’t even begin to tell you everything. He is a planner. He plans everything before he begins, and I don’t think there is anything he can’t do. As you will see on one of the photos, Chuck G. is inspecting his work. I’m not sure, but I think Joe helped them, and Bryan, Karl and Bill worked on the bathrooms. They set a commode, hooked up the washing machine and put lights in two of the bathrooms.

I don’t know who did what exactly because George, Simon and I had to go to Port to pick up supplies, and George and I had some paperwork that we needed to take to Edy. I would rather take a good swift kick in the pants than go to Port. It always seems to be an all-day trip. The traffic is horrible, and you can never find everything you need at one place. We left the mission house at 8 a.m. and got back at 5 p.m. When we came in, I was amazed at everything these men had done. Ginette had dinner ready for us, and after eating Chuck and I immediately left to go to Palto, a little church made of sticks covered with tarps. We drove about 15 minutes and then had to walk about another 10 minutes to get to this little church. It was pitch black, but the stars were beautiful. The people anxiously awaited us. Most of these people had never seen a video before–it was exciting for them.

I really appreciate my brother, Chuck. He takes such joy in showing the Jesus film–it was a blessing for me. I was so tired after fighting traffic and looking for parts all day, that when we got back I really didn’t want to go with Chuck, but I didn’t want him to have to go by himself. All the other guys were really tired from working all day. I even told myself, ‘I can’t go; I need to put the entry in the website.’ I thank the Lord that I drove Chuck down there and walked the dark paths to help shine the light of our Lord to the people that live in darkness–it brought me back to the place I need to be. The reason we’re here–the only reason we’re here–is to share the Good News. I get so involved in the construction part that sometimes I lose the joy–and sometimes after a day in port, like today–but my Lord reminded me tonight why I’m here. What absolute joy and peace I had tonight. Chuck and I talked about it on the way back to the mission house, how all our life we searched for this happiness, never knowing about joy, and who would have thought that we would find it on an old dark dirt road in Haiti. It can’t be bought, it’s a free gift from our Lord!

Unless otherwise specified, all reports are from Brother Chuck

This Sunday morning we had a nice breakfast which Ginette prepared for us, and afterward Karl gave the devotion. As always, it was very good, and actually lasted about two hours–though it didn’t seem like it. It was just a great time of Christian brothers discussing God’s Word. Afterward we went to church, and I had the opportunity to preach God’s Word. The Lord gave me the subject last night of fear, and how we fear so many things but we don’t fear God. We continually do things that are not pleasing to God and we aren’t even the least bit afraid of the consequences; yet we fear tomorrow, we fear being alone, we fear not having enough money to pay our bills, we fear death.  As scripture says, we need to fear the one who, though he was killed, has power to cast us into hell. I have to say, it was very quiet in the church. After the sermon three people came forward; one wanted us to pray for her sickness, the other wanted us to pray that she would be a better servant, and a young girl gave her life to Christ. Hallelujah!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!!!! 

When church was over I spoke to Pastor Fani’s daughter. She is from the Dominican Republic. She came over at the first of this month and helped with a festival at Jerusalem II’s new location. (They have moved to a little plot of land.) We purchased tarps and 2×4’s for them for shelter. She said there are over 200 people there now. I am so proud of these brothers and sisters, who left a nice building to take their church under a tarp. They realize they, not the building, are the church.

After we had lunch we took a little hike around the area. We stopped in to see a converted voodoo priest, Slyvest, and his family and neighbors. They were so happy to see us–they love it when we come and visit. We visited people along the way, inviting them to the ‘Jesus film’ that we will be showing tonight. We went to Daniel’s to visit, and then to see another ex-voodoo priest, Ocenya. It was a beautiful day for a walkabout.

When we returned Jerry and Pastor Beau left to go pick up a team from St. Louis, Global Compassion Ministry. They will be staying in another facility and leaving tomorrow for the northwest. After they left, Karl got us all together to go over all the projects that we’re trying to finish this week. We would like to have all five bathrooms working, the washing machine working, and an outside light, among other things. Then Ginette had our supper ready for us and it was delicious, homemade chicken and dumplings. The dumplings were great.

Tonight Chuck G. will be showing the Jesus film, and we are expecting well over 100 people.        

Unless otherwise specified, all reports are from Brother Chuck

Last night we thought we would let the kids have some fun, so Simon and I found some Tom & Jerry cartoons on DVD in Port. Chuck played over an hour of them outside on the side of Gabriel–we now have a portable cinema! The kids and adults laughed and laughed. It was a fun time.

This morning we had pancakes and ham–a really nice break from the cereal we usually have; Ginette is spoiling us. After breakfast we unloaded cases of baby food (2,448 jars) and baby formula (144 large cans) that Jerry gave us. This food came from Open Arms Ministry in Sedalia, MO; the shipping was paid for by Global Compassion.

When we finished, we lined out some jobs trying to prioritize all the projects. Ken started on the tile in one of the bathrooms, and we got some Haitian boys to start digging a trench for the drain for our washer. Karl and Jerry had to go deliver some more food and pick up supplies for Global Compassion’s team that is coming in tomorrow, and Simon and I had to go to Port au Prince to meet with Edy, who handles all our paperwork for vehicles.  After meeting with Edy we picked up Karl and headed for the old Dottie’s Guest House (now Our Father’s House) to meet with the new owner, Don. He has been teaching a Pastors’ Conference using ‘Experiencing God’ in French. We are looking into purchasing the books, but they are very expensive–about $14 each, and we will need about 150.

After our visit with Don we had lunch at a place called Epidor. It has hamburgers, lasagna, chicken, ice cream, cakes and all kinds of good food, but it is like a fast food place. It is on Delmas, which is the main street in Port au Prince. When we finished it was time to pick up Bill, Bryan and Joe at the airport. We picked them up about 4:30 and got up to the mission house at about 6:30. (We took the scenic route home so Bryan could see a little more of Haiti–this is his first trip.) When we arrived Ginette had some homemade spaghetti with asparagus ready for us, and a homemade dessert.

It will be an early night for us all tonight. Tomorrow I have the opportunity to preach, which I love to do–I’m excited!

Unless otherwise specified, all reports are from Brother Chuck

Today Simon and I went into Port au Prince to pick up Ginette and buy food for the team. First we went to Petionville to buy paint for the mission house, then we met Ginette at One Stop Market. She already had half of the groceries in the cart. She is as much a part of this ministry as I am–without her and Simon it would be very difficult to accomplish the things we do. After shopping we went to a hardware store and bought a few things, then went to pick up ice. We got back about 3:00, and about a half hour later Karl, Jerry and Pastor Beau arrived. They had just spent a week in the northwest passing out food that had been shipped down, and doing some evangelising along the way.

They left January 7 from the mission house in Z’Orange. The first place they stopped was Baie de Henne, where Karl preached on Sunday morning with the help of Pastor Beau as interpreter. Sunday night they had an open-air service in Petit Paradis. Karl preached again, then they handed out food there. On Monday they went to a village in Petite Anse, where they worked on some water lines and handed out more food. On Tuesday they left for Premier Passe, and arrived late that afternoon. There they had a service, Karl preached again, and they passed out food, which was much needed. Ten people came forward and accepted Christ that evening–Hallelujah! As they were returning to Petit Paradis, the lights on the truck went out. They used a light bulb powered by a generator in the back of the truck to find their way. About halfway, the people who owned the generator got out of the truck and took the generator with them, so the rest of the way they only had moonlight. It was about a 3-hour trip.

On Wednesday they worked on the water lines again and worked in the garden. CAM (Christian Aid Ministries), north of Anse Rouge, came down and picked up some food. Thursday was their day to get a little rest and talk about some ideas for this area–solar panels, drip irrigation, etc. Altogether, they handed out 20,000 jars of baby food and 2000 cans of Similac baby formula among 12 different churches and mission groups.

Tomorrow we will pick up Bryan Grimes, Bill Chambless and Joe Hutchison, all from Fort Walton Beach. Thank you for your continued prayers.