Answered Prayers!

Hallelujah!!! Rebecca just phoned to tell me that God has answered our prayers for personal transportation for me and the youth who work with me. I know I speak for all of us at Promised Provision when I send a giant THANK YOU out to our generous friends who donated funds for us to purchase a motorcycle for me to use here. I add to that my extra personal gratitude for enabling me to accomplish so much more each day by not having to secure a ride everywhere I need to go.

While we still desperately need a truck to transport supplies, this remarkable gift will make it possible for us to do so much more of the work God has us doing here!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Rebecca told me that God also provided a cell phone!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU to those who responded to my need for a smartphone. I will now be able to make and take calls, send text messages, monitor and send e-mails, and blog to our website without having to seek out an operable internet store.

I am so honored to be part of our PPM family. I could not ask for a better support system. Knowing that you are all unwaveringly behind me, I am truly lifted on wings like eagles.

In His Service and Thankful for Faithful Supporters,
Roody

What God is Up to Today

A week or so ago, God supplied us with a “talking Bible” (looks like a little radio and can be recharged manually with a crank or by solar power). This is a great tool to provide the gospel to those who cannot read or see. In addition, the talking bibles can also be used to reach young children who are not accomplished readers but are good listeners.

Just a few weeks ago I met a Pastor named Ronel Mesidor. He invited me to come and visit his church. As I spoke of our hearts at PPM and our approaches to reaching young children and teens in Haiti for Christ, he told me that he has an outreach program at his church meeting the needs of 435 children daily.

After my prayer time this morning, God placed on my heart to visit Pastor Mesidor’s child development center. It is amazing what Jesus is doing in the midst of this church! In fact, I would like to see PPM present this facility with a few more of the talking Bibles. I know they will put them to very good use to reach the children they serve.

The center is a very well organized operation. I had the pleasure to learn about their programs from Willy C. Vertus, linguistics teacher, Evans Gabriel, Program & Recreation Director, Jean Yves Valcourt, Social Worker, and Ford Deralien the Director in charge. They minister to the spiritual, social, physical and psychological need of the children it serves each day.

My greatest impression of the program is the Jesus-focused approach for the whole development of a functional human being. I would like to bring our kids here to this program to learn and volunteer their time and, hopefully, take their experiences back to the camps or communities where they are living.

Please pray that we soon get either a vehicle or the use of a vehicle when we need it -- I need a vehicle, Jesus, soon. This is exciting!!

In His Service,
Roody

Water, Glorious Water!

This morning marked another milestone for PPM in Leogane. Through our partnerships with Bethesda Ministry and the Living Waters for the World organization, we prayed and broke ground on a water treatment plant in the Chatuley section of Leogane.

The water plant will be the only source of clean water within a 3-mile radius of seven tent camps housing thousands of people in temporary shelters. We will be able to satisfy the safe water needs of more than 600 families per day.

This new partnership helps further our mission in Haiti. Not only will the community benefit from clean purified water, but also from our delivery of the Living Word and prayer. Living Waters is training our young people to operate and maintain the system. Our young Christian operators will be praying and passing out gospel tracks in Creole to each individual they serve.

Supplies & Equipment to Construct New Water Purification Station
The plant, located on Pastor Joseph’s property directly across from one of the largest camps, will be used as a means to provide jobs for at least three (3) of our young people. We are praying the God will raise at least one of them to a position of service where, in the future, they may be considered for Living Water’s technician training program scholarships. From my vantage point here on the ground, I clearly see the value in our emphasis in networking with people and organizations who are doing things well here in Haiti and helping them do it better…either through providing sweat equity or other resources. We are helping to make already good programs and resources better and more accessible to the Haitian people rather than wasting time, money and energy reinventing the wheels.

We prayed today that the water from our purification system will be used for God glory in furthering His Kingdom in Leogane and that it the members of the community will be healthier because He is providing safer, cleaner water to them through us. May they also drink freely of the Living Word of God because of our presence here!!

We want to thank Chris Mc Rae and the Living Water Team for working so hard in making this dream a reality for us at PPM and the Chatuley community in Leogane.

In His Service,
Roody

Delivering Baby Formula to Les Cayes

Our trip to Les Cayes to deliver baby formula to an orphanage in need was exciting and educative. Eddy, Marie Michelle and Edwichge came along to learn and help. None of them had ever been to Les Cayes before, so you can imagine how excited they were. We stopped several times to get treats and we sat down for a full meal. This is comparative to taking your kids to a fancy restaurant in America – it was a very special treat.

Our trip took us to several towns. We passed through many towns on our way -- Dufort, La Cul, Focher, Grand Goave, Petit Goave, Miragoane, Saint Louis Du Sud, Aquin, then finally, into Les Cayes.

Due to poor weather conditions, we were not able to take the small boat to the island of Ile la Vache where the orphanage is, but visiting Father Oblah’s residence on the mainland where we left our precious cargo of formula was an eye opener for our kids. Everything there was neat and orderly. The landscape was beautiful and the warehouse nicely kept.

They rarely see such well-kept places in their country. Their ideas of orphanages are places that are not so nice and where kids are warehoused more than cared for. Fortunately, their experience with our girls’ home, places such as this and a few of the others that we are networking with are providing proof for our teens that such nice, clean places for children do exist here. We at PPM all share the hope that these types of experiences and exposure to quality endeavors will encourage them to want to reproduce quality like this in whatever they choose to do in their lives.

Our kids asked questions along the way, and it was worth noticing that the highway going to Les Cayes was freshly built or renovated except for two areas that was still under construction. The countryside of Haiti is beautiful along the highway. I just wonder if that is because not too many people occupy the areas. I also noticed the effect of cutting trees for cooking and not replacing them. Beyond Miragoane, the earthquake did not really do any damage. In Les Cayes, there was just one house in the whole city that buckled. No injuries or deaths were recorded there.

This trip had a lifetime impact on our teens. They had the opportunity to be part of a corporate decision and to understand the value of team work. In addition, now any of them could potentially take charge of delivering baby formula or other life-saving necessities to Les Cayes or any other area in the country should the need arise. Their voluntary involvement in the process from start to finish is so gratifying – I think they are finally “getting it” -- getting the idea that as they participate and offer their services unto God, their country and their fellow man, they will share in the special blessings God bestows on those who serve Him. We are counting our successes in baby steps…

In His Service,
Roody

Vital Area of Concern– Elderly & Handicapped

We have now distributed formula to more than 1000 babies in the immediate area of Leogane and an orphanage in Les Cayes. In addition to providing formula, we also provided each mother with instructions about using purified water to mix the formula and using clean bottles along with encouragement to start or continue to breast feed. We gave each literate mother an educational handout written in Creole giving viable instructions on how to restart the flow of their breast milk and dispelling the myths and lies of corporate campaigns against breastfeeding that were perpetuated upon Haitian women in the 1980’s by a leading formula manufacturer.

Since we do not possess the resources to undertake a permanent solution to the need for baby formula, we were holding our fingers in the dike with regard to providing for the infants until the large aid organizations became established in our local area. The large aid organizations are now established in Leogane and will determine how they will or will not care for the babies.

Having been relieved of the responsibility of providing food for the infants, we are now focusing on a newly identified need – this serious need is care for our handicapped and elderly people. Our team is ready to head out into all the camps in Leogane to identify the elderly, handicapped and bedridden – all of those who cannot travel to distribution sites or stand in line to then have to fight for food.

To date, the large aid organizations have not determined the whereabouts or needs of these disadvantaged people. Although we are operating without a vehicle on the ground and with very limited resources, I and our team of young people consisting of girls from our girls’ home and boys from our Gideon’s Boys Club are developing our own Task Force that will survey the camps and surrounding areas of Leogane to prepare a spreadsheet documenting the location and needs of the elderly and handicapped living there We will compile a detailed spreadsheet listing these people by name, gender, age and special need(s). Then we will present our spreadsheet to one of the USAID agencies so that they can then know where these people are and can make arrangements to provide life-saving food and shelter to those who are unable to help themselves.

Haiti has a long history of not caring for children, handicapped and the elderly. If indeed, we are in the process of helping Haiti to rebuild, then areas of concern such as these need to be brought forth from the back burner. We have made it our mission to place the needs of these disadvantaged people before the large organizations with the hope that they will elevate them to positions of priority.

We need every voice and available resource out there to reach this milestone, to help bring life-saving food and supplies to those who cannot get it right where they are.

In His Service,
Roody

Note from Rebecca Williams

As if he weren’t already busier than a one-armed paper hanger (as my grandfather used to say!), Roody managed to help another agency transport an injured woman into the Dominican Republic today. They had a vehicle and an injured person but no driver with credentials to cross into the DR to take her to the hospital. So Roody volunteered to drive all the way to the DR to deliver her to the hospital and then drive all the way back to Leogane.

If you ask him how he manages to remain so dedicated and open to unconditional service through all of the challenges he faces each day, he very simply responds that everything is possible with God. He has truly succeeded in tapping into God’s mighty provision of power and strength – that’s the only way to explain what he continues to do. Wouldn’t you like to be like Roody when you grow up? I would.

Note from Rebecca Williams

So much is happening that it is difficult to know where to begin…

Roody just phoned and said he has had a GREAT couple of days. Although we still have been unable to provide a truck for him, he managed to find an SUV to rent for the day on Wednesday so he was able to deliver baby formula and fortified childrens’ powder to the tent cities in Leogane.

Here are a few photos showing two of our girls, Michelle and Edwichge, helping Roody make his deliveries to over 100 infants and children in those three camps in Leogane - Camp Caseus, Camp Monpelier, and Camp Ti Bassin'.

Roody asks that everyone PLEASE continue to pray for a truck so that he can deliver more formula to more babies. Thanks to a generous donation of formula from Meade-Johnson, the makers of Enfamil, AND shipping funds donated by our supporters, we were able to ship two pallets of baby formula to Roody for distribution. He should receive it by the end of next week.

As Roody always says…expect miracles!

Good Afternoon,

I am really tired but blessed by my trip to the city of Croix du Bouquets. Another ministry graciously shared some of their precious food supply with us so we could provide food for some of our girls. Louna, Emmanuella, and Sandra are especially in need because they live up on the mountain and no aid has reached their area.

It is also dangerous for them to travel down the mountain into the city. And it is especially dangerous for them to try to carry food back up. People carrying food are really likely to be mugged, shot or worse. Even though it causes a lot of extra work to get the food to them, it is safer and worth the extra effort. I have asked Ronald to e-mail some photos to you tomorrow.

The baby formula has not arrived in Haiti yet. Susan told me that it IS in Florida, but does not know when it will actually ship out. I still have to figure out how I am going to pick it up. I still REALLY NEED A TRUCK. I hired someone to drive me today because I absolutely HAD to pick up the food for our girls, but it is expensive to do that and even if you are willing to pay, there is not always someone who is willing to let you hire them to accomplish your work.

One good thing about being in need is that it brings out the best in people who are willing to help you. Some wonderful people have contacted me – from California, from North Carolina, from Ohio…offering prayers and several different types of assistance. I am being blessed by each of them. Some of them said they heard my interview with Dick Gordon on National Public Radio and were led to help us reach out in love. God is most definitely moving in mighty ways!

Even with everything that is going on, I am hopeful. I know that many times God waits until the last minute to see if we will hold to our faith. I am holding!

Be Blessed,Roody

Note from Rebecca Williams

I am overwhelmed by the number of e-mails we have received expressing support for Roody and our work in supplying baby formula, bottles, and other infant care items in and around the Leogane area. Thank you so very much for your generous prayers and gifts toward our relief efforts in Haiti.

If your interest in our ministry is in response to our missionary Roody Joseph's radio interview, I know Roody will be humbled by the fact that his witness in how God is working in and through him touched your heart.

Above are some photos of several of the MANY little survivors Roody is serving. One is a photo is of the little girl he singled out during his interview. He was able to have two-year-old Marie Yolene Paulin seen by a doctor and the doctor said that, had it been left untreated, she most likely would have died within a week from the horrendous infection in her poor little burned arm.

She was pulled from the rubble the day of the quake and initial treatment consisted of wrapping it in a towel. The pain and infection remained untreated from Jan 12th until Roody found her on Feb 1st. She even got a new outfit out of the deal from orphanage that assumed guardianship of her from Roody.

We shipped a palette of baby formula and baby bottles to Roody this weekend. Since we do not have a truck in Haiti, he is struggling to find a way to pick it up from the airport. Please join us in praying for provision in the form of a donated truck , a “loaner” truck or someone with a truck to provide transportation so that Roody will be able to to pick up and distribute this and subsequent shipments of vital, life-saving supplies.

You are now a vital part of our team - supporting God's work in Haiti. Thank you again.
May you be abundantly blessed and may God continue to bless others through you.

P.S. 10:03pm Just spoke with Roody. He is spending the night at the orphanage near the DR border. You would think he was in a five-star hotel to hear him tell about it. He said the place is beautiful and we-equipped. They just received new mattresses so he is spending the night under the stars on a new mattress after having relished a warm shower (with real running water!) He’s in heaven.

Note from Rebecca Williams

Great News! Roody’s story is now on American Public Radio so you may listen to the interview and hear directly from him the amazing story of what he is doing since the earthquake. There is a link near the top of our Home Page or you can go to http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_965_Roody_Joseph.mp3/view from here.

Good morning,
I will be sending a few pictures of PPM joint rescue mission of orphans last week. Danita's Children orphanage is willing to provide temporary shelter to orphans 1 day old to 10 years old. In addition, we will consider the need and evaluate half orphans (having one parent but the parent can’t provide for or take care of them) of the same age for this mission.

My father made the trip with the children and Danita to Ouanaminte and commented highly on the facility and the care givers. With the help of Susan and PPM, fifteen at-risk children are now in a safe temporary shelter.

All praises be to God! Roody

Hello,

Yesterday morning a little girl two years old was rescued by Promised Provision Ministries and Danita's Children orphanage with Hope for Haiti's Children. The child was signed away by her aunt. She said her and the grand mother could not properly care for her. According to the aunt, the mother is alive but suffers a mental disease or retardation. The father of the little girl is dead or where about is unknown.

This little one was pulled away from rubble after the quake with a burnt arm. She was seen by a doctor once at one of the camp clinics, but was sent away with just a wrap for the burnt arm. When we made contact with her, she was in bad shape. But thanks to God and our efforts here on the ground with our partners, little Marie Yolene Paulin is getting the medical care and a safe temporary home until her aunt or grandmother are able to care for her.

Expect Miracles!!!
Roody