Help Haiti

Pastor Jean Paulite, the founder of the first Haitian evangelical church here in Santiago, sat on my sofa cradling his head in his hands after the 6.0 aftershock hit his already rampaged Port-au-Prince. “First a 7.1 earthquake, now this,” he moaned as he tried his best to ‘be strong’.

Thankfully, he has communicated with his family in Haiti. His parents and siblings survived, but their homes are severely damaged. “Many of my cousins, aunts and uncles are buried amongst the dead of my city,” he lamented. “Those who have survived need help. They have no food, nor water! They medical assistance now.”

In light of Haiti’s disaster, we should all take an inward look at ourselves. I Samuel 15:23 tells us that rebellion is witchcraft. We can so easily point our fingers at Haiti and look at their ungodliness as a reason for this disaster.

It is true that at least 50% of Haitians practice Haitian Vodou, while most of the others use Roman Catholicism to cover their witchcraft. We recently learned that one of their ex-presidents even sacrificed an infant at their nations capital in order to please his god.

Many have gazed into their culture and have pointed their fingers at their blatant rebellion to God as a reason for this catastrophe. I personally don’t know why this has happened to Haiti, all I know is that each one of us should point a finger at our own hearts!

How many times have we dabbled in the occult by living in secret sin? How many times have we disobeyed God without any remorse? Look at your own life right now. I sure am these days!

Let us all take this wakeup call seriously. Let’s walk away from rebellion. Disaster may strike anyone, anywhere at anytime. Christ can return at any given moment. Are you ready?

Are you truly living for Him or are you just talking about Him or simply doing for Him? This is our opportunity to get right with our living God. Seek Him NOW while He may be found!

Please join us as we help Haiti:

Ruben and Jonathan will be going to Haiti the 2cd week of February to bring necessary goods to Pastor Jean’s family and to the churches under his supervision. They are also assisting other missionaries with a tent hospital at the border.

We so desperately need your help in order to accomplish this. Will you please make a financial donation today?

Rubén sitting in between Pastor Jean and his brother Moises.

An excerpt from my mom's blog

"God is... a present help in trouble, even when the earth moves and the mountains fall into the sea." Psalm 46

Traveling to the Dominican Republic took on a new sense of God as I awaited for the last flight of my trip to board. Looking at the TV in the waiting area, we learned that a 7.0 earthquake had hit Haiti! An earthquake of this magnitiude hasn't hit this land for 200 years. The number of people dead and/or missing is in the 100 thousands; totally incomprehensible! The after shocks continue. While I awaited the news regarding my now delayed flight, I learned that my daughter and son in law's house not only moved but throughout the Domincan Repiblic, which shares an island with Haiti, the land and buildings were shaking and moving, literally. As they each give their account of the earth moving, it seems like a movie. But, the Truth that God had already spoken to them early that morning when no one knew of the earthqauke coming, is that He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble... no matter what is happenning, God is a Present to Help. He serves as a Refuge. He is the Strength that we need in order to make it. Many Haitians, as I write are disoriented, confused, grieving, in shock because they have lost family, friends, homes, communities, etc. The Domincan missionaries and others in the Christian community here are meeting and planning their strategy to go the 5-6 hour drive to Haiti to help, to provide food, water or whatever is God's purpose for them at the time they are released to go. Our prayer and intercession is of utmost importance for this country who had been for many years ravaged by all kinds of demonic influence. Now is the time to take back the land for God who created it and take back the souls of the people who God made in His image and likeness! Through prayer we can do powerful work! Let's send our money, send supplies, send the relief workers who are willing to go. maybe you will eventally go, because it will take years for the healing and restoration of this nation. But prayer and intercession is what will allow all of these acts to have anointed success. Let's not take our lives and our times lightly. God has given us Himself, His Word, and the ability to pray as tools to bring His will and ways to earth. Though the earth quake, we shall not be moved to fear, but to prayer! In the name of Jesus, who did the work which has enabled us to do even greater works...

PRAY FOR HAITI!

**OUR FAMILY IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP HAITI. PLEASE KEEP US AND THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS!

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Is it Worth It?

I watched my boys walk our trash to the corner for trash pickup a few weeks ago with a heavy weight on my shoulders. Battling my little girls as they cry during their cold showers on these chilly mornings or evenings can be a bit cumbersome at times. Late nights, early mornings and busy days are the ingredients for cranky people.

I must admit that I spent the month of December asking God if all of this is worth it. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New year; all without the ones that helped to make those events special throughout the years!

I am not complaining. All of this goes with the territory. We knew that we would have black outs while working on an important projects or water outages in the midst of a shower. We knew that we would terribly miss those who are reading this update and long to see you again. Yet, living it each day sure does take its toll on us.

So I ask, “Is it worth it?”

Let’s ponder that question. We came here on a mission. We came here to change this place. Right? We came here to bring H.O.P.E to the hopeless. Right? Even in light of that, is it worth it?

As I look at those I came here to serve through the eyes of my Father God, I must admit that it is worth it. You see, we thought that we came here to make a difference in the lives of others, yet this experience is making a difference in ours.

Those trash trips to the corner are keeping my boys humble. Those cold showers are making us strong! The busy schedule sure forces us to live orderly and causes us to choose to love one another.

Special days without those special people caused us to lean heavier on God and trust Him more. Missing you brings us closer together as a family and impels us to work out whatever issues that may come up.

Yes, it is worth it! It is so worth the change that is occurring in each of us. It is so worth the H.O.P.E that God brings to us each day. That same H.O.P.E that we came here to give is permeating throughout our home on a daily basis. Helping Others Pursue Eternity in our own home is worth more than we had ever realized!

Ministry Update:

1. The Children’s Conference was great! The pastor of the church where we hosted the conference tells us that he sees a dramatic change in the children and the teachers!

2. We received our non-profit status and name registration approval for the Dominican Republic!

3. Our children (H.O.P.E C.R.E.W) have several invitations to churches and ministries to share the gospel through pantomime, drama and worship.

4. God continually brings convicting messages to our church, Iglesia Vida en Cristo. Some have made major adjustments in their lives in order to uphold His standard.

5. The children who attend Kid’s Club are seriously learning God’s word. They are excited throughout the week about coming on Sundays and still wait at our gate an hour before we open.

6. Our pastor Brad and his son Adam were here with us for a few days in December. We were very blessed! Thank you City Church and Angela and Anna for letting us borrow them!

Family Update:

1. School has started again. We’re all trying to adjust to our new schedule.

2. We had a fun family day at the river where the boys jumped off a 50 ft. cliff into the river! Exciting for them…terrifying for mom!

3. God is dealing with each us individually as we seek Him early each morning to read through the Bible in a year. We are also growing closer to Him as a family as we go through Experiencing God together in the evenings.

4. We had a wonderful month long visit with Vicki’s grandmother in December! Her mom will be here in a few days for a 2 week visit!

Please pray:

1. Land in Monte Plata: Owner to finalize paper work for sale-Complete provision for purchase
2. Iglesia Vida en Cristo: True life changing transformations
3. Orphanage: Favor with government as we meet this week for permits
4. Our family: Continue to acclimate and see the Dominican Republic as home, Hedge of protection around each of us
5. H.O.P.E C.R.E.W: God’s anointing as the kids go out to evangelize through dramas, pantomimes and worship
6. Provision for our Judgment Day presentation
7. Complete healing for Vicki, Jonathan and Starr!