Hi everyone,
This month we not only celebrate Christmas but also Haitian Island Ministries’ 25th anniversary.
It doesn’t seem that long ago we were making plans for my first trip. Winter had already set in, and it being very cold, the first thing that went wrong was our furnace went out the day before I was to leave. Fortunately, we had friends who talked me into going on with the trip and they also had a kerosene heater for Terry to use until the furnace could be replaced, which was done in just three days.
Obviously, back then, there were no cell phones (remember that?) so it was several days before I knew about the furnace and if everything was okay at home. That call wasn’t with a direct phone call, but by short wave radio to a man in Port Au Prince, who relayed the call via his telephone. Now I am never out of contact, I even have Wi-Fi most of the time, and can always text.
We don’t think anyone could have imagined that 25 years later, rather than “just” providing medical care, we would also be sending kids to school – 4 schools with 600 attending. Planting churches – 3 with approximately 400 members. Nutrition programs serving thousands of meals a year for children and older adults who have no family.
Just as with that first trip, which could not have been made without help, we could not have started any of these programs or have kept them running, year after year without help from you. And, there are some of you who have been with us from the very start.
To all of you, Terry and I truly hope the knowledge of what you helped us start and now all these years later continue, are blessed this Christmas by knowing how much difference you have been and are making daily, in the lives of so many.
Merry Christmas. We love you.
