News – Page 38 – Haitian Island Ministries

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.

In the almost 25 years working in Haiti, we have not seen things this bad. Bad yes, but not to the extent the entire country has been shut down. There isn’t a day there aren’t protests and some days, violent protests. Even the church is involved and the protesters say they aren’t stopping until the current president steps down. Fair or not, they aren’t stopping.

Obviously, this isn’t helping the existing problems of being so poor as a country, and with prices as high as they are, even those with money can hardly afford it even if they can find food to buy. Those with jobs can’t afford to pay transportation costs to get where they need to go and those who drive the tap-taps (taxis) can’t afford to buy gas.

Schools, which should have started the first of September haven’t started and there are no plans to reopen until everything is settled. No one would actually bother them if they did open, and no one would harm the school kids coming or going. But no parent wants their children on the streets with all this going on.

Without a doubt Haiti needs our prayers and those who work with us need our support. We aren’t the only ministry affected – every ministry in the country is affected, as are all the programs, especially the schools and nutrition programs. We appreciate those who have given some extra in the past few months to help offset the increases we have to deal with.

After saying all that, it almost seems we shouldn’t even think of a happy Thanksgiving, but we as a country sure have a lot to be thankful for. Even with all the problems going on around us each day, we are very blessed.

Terry had surgery to place the port in her upper right chest and has completed three days of chemo. The first “dose” took 15 hours – 8 the first day and 7 the second. It is done slowly because they don’t know how you will respond to the medication and of all of the side effects that could happen. She is having only two side effects: headaches during treatment and fatigue. She does this every Thursday, starting at 8:30 am if you want a good time to pray for her. We were told they want to do the second transplant by the end of January. And, who knows, maybe we won’t have to do it at all.

Thank you for all you do; the cards you send and the help you provide our friends in Haiti. One of the things we are so thankful for is the friendships we have built over the years, and we are so thankful for each of you.