Hi from Haiti,

I have received many questions from family, friends and strangers alike, wanting to know how I was doing, over the course of the past month.

To be honest, I am not sure. The first 10 days or so were pure shock and reaction to what was going on. Time was not on our side so experience and quick thinking had to get us through each day.

The next 10 days was moving more into the recovery mode and making sure all of our points of lights were covered. The past 10 days has been continued relief as well as long term planning.

I suppose the jury is still out on how we did. I told my staff the day after the earthquake that history will judge how we handled this crisis, and the main thing is to not forget why we are here, despite the tragedy. We are here to help the folks who can't help themselves, to share Jesus with people, and to teach them to do the same. For a long time we have been the hands and feet of Jesus, we just continue to do that.

What I didn't expect was the spiritual explosion we have seen, over 1000 one Sunday morning, 700 at youth group, over 200 at prayer service and nearly 100 people becoming followers of Christ, all in one month.

I am thankful to God that my health has been nearly perfect through all this. I have lost 33 pounds since the quake hit but that is like taking 1 brick off a stack of 100, still lots of bricks left.

Sleeping has been difficult, always thinking of how better to serve the people we love. Much of the time feeling inadequate for what we are doing compared to what I would like for us to be able to do. The other night we had our first big rain since the quake and I lay in bed and cried for the million or more people probably huddled under trees, the whole night.

One down side was the family side. Twenty hours per day was earthquake related, with 4-5 hours of sleep, totally neglecting my family, but not by choice. Add 10 new ones in our home who I did not bond with, and the home life struggled. The past few days I have worked hard to correct this as I have let my staff do more of the ministry stuff, by themselves.

Many times I get really discouraged and even depressed at life and struggles here but that has not happened in the past month. It has been a tough month but I have felt full of energy and life. I have seen the 17 young men in my home become men, and take on huge responsibilities for their people. I have seen my staff grow up overnight. I have added 4 new young men to our staff whom have really energized our efforts.

Obviously God is the reason I have made it this month and why our ministry has moved forward. The next greatest thing is............all of you. You do not know the weight of the burden you all have lifted, by your sacrificial giving. The money that has come in has taken that worry off my plate. We have been able to relieve so much of the pain and loss of these people because you gave. What touches me also is the trust that you have placed in us, a trust that we take very serious. Thank you for that.

Also, several THOUSAND emails in the past month have encouraged me and kept me going. Knowing that you cared, knowing that you were praying, and feeling the love you sent really did make a difference.

So many exciting things are happening in Haiti, I get really excited to be a part of it. I still can't say the earthquake was a good thing, because too many people died. I can say with confidence, GOD WILL USE THIS TRAGEDY TO BRING PEOPLE TO HIM, AND TO BUILD A NEW HAITI. I believe that with all my heart.

This weekend Haiti has stopped to pray. Haitians by the hundreds of thousands are crowded in every church, soccer field, park or open space in Haiti, praying for Haiti. These folks are doing this from 6am-12pm then from 3pm-6pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Every one of my boys has been up at 5am the past couple days, dressed up and out the gate with a chair in their hand, headed to park Charlie, a nearby soccer field. God will bless Haiti for this. I believe that. Tomorrow, Sunday, our church is meeting from 6am-6pm for prayer and fasting, like most churches in Haiti.

Again, thank you so much for what you have allowed us to do this past month. This week we move forward aggressively rebuilding folks homes, hopefully 10 per week until everyone in our points of light are again sleeping inside. We still need funding, this effort will go for the rest of the year and into next year. At some point when I get caught up, I will send you a break down on how the funds are being spent, you will be pleased I believe. Knowing your giving is allowing people to stay alive and healthy, has to bless you.

Today we had another shaker, which is over 80 aftershocks we have felt. After the house stopped moving, I looked out to the next house and saw Claudy stroll out on the porch. I said "what happened, you didn't run out of the house?" Claudy said "I am tired of running, time to start trusting."

Keep praying. God is working in a big way. Today as I ran to the store, I saw hundreds and hundreds of people walking down the street, all dressed in white dresses and white shirts, most with a Bible in their hand and I thought "wow, wouldn't it be fun to live in a country where this was the norm?" You never know, with God all things are possible. Maybe JiHM will be sending missionaries to..................................your neck of the woods, you never know. Love you guys, skinnytominhaiti




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Jesus in Haiti Ministries, Inc. Suite 155 10214 Chestnut Plaza Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46814