A New Partnership for Promised Provision

FROM REBECCA: Roody called this evening to say that, once again, he cannot get an internet signal, so he asked me to relate the following to everyone for him:

The past week has been full of challenges made somewhat easier by having my new cell phone. Thanks so much for this great tool! The other MAJOR improvement in life for me was being able to buy the motorcycle last week!!! I bought a huge heavy chain and a sturdy lock to protect it. As I said, I have been trying to send photos and will keep trying so you can see my new wheels. I feel very blessed and even stylish riding around on our little red beauty – can’t wait for you to be able to see it.

So many things have happened since I was last able to update you. I guess the biggest news is that I went to visit our friends, Marc and Lisa, last week to pick up some food they graciously shared with us. While I was there, Marc introduced me to Jeff (with me at right), a field director with Samaritan’s Purse. He and his people are based at Marc’s place and he took time out of his busy day to meet and pray with me.

Jeff was so excited to hear about our programs and our goals to mentor and empower people rather than just give them handouts that he suggested a possible partnership in Leogane.

This partnership would involve his organization building a village of temporary shelters for over 100 families if we could come up with a piece of land for them to build on. They will build the village complete with water and sanitation. What a surprise to go for a few boxes of food and leave with such potential!!!!

The land we helped Bethesda Ministry buy last year has already been planted for food, so we didn’t look to it for the answer to our search for land. My dad and I know some folks here in Leogane who have a nice piece of land that fits the requirements for this village, so we went to visit them. We were able to secure the right to use the land for one year if we can pay the owners $1600.00 for the year. WHAT A FABULOUS VALUE – WE CAN PROVIDE SHELTER FOR 100 FAMILIES FOR A FULL YEAR FOR ONLY $1600.00 COST TO US. Please do whatever you can to tell everyone about this need because it will give such a tremendous value for our dollars. PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER HELPING US PAY FOR THE USE OF THIS LAND SO WE CAN PARTNER WITH SAMARITAN’S PURSE IN THIS GREAT VENTURE.

In prayer for miracles…

Roody, PPM Team Haiti

PRAYER REQUESTS

FROM REBECCA: Poor Roody is bursting at the seams with news and still cannot get a signal to send messages or photos, so I’m passing along his news:

I have not been able to get an internet signal – AGAIN . It is now 10:30pm and I am giving up for another day. But so much happened today that I want to share with everyone.

I went to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince early this morning hoping for an appointment with the immigration people. The director had promised to see me about my return to the U.S. and several issues concerning our girls. When I got there, I was disappointed to learn that he was out of the office today. His people told me to try again in a few days. You just have to love it here – you travel for an hour to get somewhere only to be told to try again – it happens all of the time – you just have to get used to it..

The good news is that the people there took pity on me and gave me an appointment to see him on Friday morning at 9:00am. I humbly ask everyone to pray for this meeting – that the director will be moved to use his authority to bring about a waiver for me to come home and to bring resolution to the immigration issues pending for our girls, Darline and Sandra.

As you know, Darline traveled to the U.S. on 01/18/10 to be with her adoptive parents, Jerry and Rebecca, of our ministry. However, the U.S. government is now telling them that she does not have citizenship like they were told by Homeland Security when they delivered her home in January. PLEASE PRAY FOR DARLINE’S U.S. CITIZENSHIP TO BE CONFIRMED. She is already attending school in Florida, is a registered volunteer in the nursery at her church, is a member of a church youth group and a county sports league – in short, she is already on course to be a productive American citizen and neither she nor Jerry and Rebecca should have to have this type of bureaucratic confusion hanging over their heads.

We are currently fighting for Sandra to be brought to the U.S. to receive the medical care she needs as well as education and hope for a future. Sandra was almost fatally injured in a hit-and-run accident in 2008 and the earthquake has worsened her injuries. She needs medical care that is not available here in Haiti, so Robin with the support of Promised Provision is doing all that she can to have her moved to Florida for care. I have been told it seems Robin’s efforts are paying off because the Shriners Hospital in Tampa, Florida, is considering Sandra for their humanitarian program of medical care. PLEASE PRAY THAT A VISA WILL BE ISSUED FOR SANDRA TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. FOR CARE.​

As for me, I am hanging in there. Although I tire easily now, each day is filled with an abundance of blessings and I know the Lord will allow me to travel home to see a doctor in His perfect timing. PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR ME TO COME HOME SOON.

The good news is that I have met so many great networking partners since the earthquake. I am honored to be developing relationships with representatives from churches around the U.S. who have invited us to present Promised Provision Ministries to their churches. There are representatives from various governmental organizations and other non-profits that have learned of our programs and goals and have offered difference types of assistance so that we may attain those goals and better serve our people in Leogane. Each day is bringing an abundance of new friends and people who share our heart and vision for God’s children here in Haiti. It is very exciting!

I have high hopes of Promised Provision developing long-lasting, meaningful relationships with these folks for the sake of God’s Kingdom! I know God will work all of my time here to His perfect purposes and knowing that makes all of this worthwhile.

Fatigued and yearning for sleep, I leave you for tonight.

Expect Miracles,
Roody, PPM Team Haiti

UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS TODAY

FROM REBECCA: Sounding like a broken record, aren’t I? No internet for Roody so, on his behalf, I pass on to you this evening's news...

I have been sitting here at the internet café for over two hours hoping for a connection. I’m finally giving up. But so much happened today that I want to share with everyone.

First, I went to the embassy again today because they had told me before that the man I need to see would be back today. He wasn’t – BUT - I now have a scheduled appointment to meet with him at the embassy on Friday and am hoping he will actually be there and be able to do something to help with Darline and Sandra’s needs as well as help to clear my bureaucratic entanglements.

I met with a representative of a relief organization today who is going to help us provide for the needs of our elderly people. PRAISE GOD! Our poor older folks are not able to stand in long lines or fight for the provisions from the aid distribution trucks. This group says it is already conducting a head-count of the elderly in our area. They asked us to provide them with a listing of our people (names, ages, needs and exact location where they are staying) so they can deliver aid directly to them. This is truly the answer to our prayers. Thanks to our missionary Susan for hooking us up with this organization. What a blessing this will be to our older people!

I was also given contact information for a group that specifically provides relief for handicapped people. I will be contacting them tomorrow. I know we will all rest easier knowing our old people and handicapped people will be cared for now. I will be following up to make sure the aid they receive is adequate for their needs. If it isn’t, I’ll be letting you know.

The BEST THING about today was my failed visit (only “failed” to my purposes – not God’s!) to the embassy was that while I was there, I met U.S. Army chaplain, Captain Bilberry. We talked about why he was in Haiti and about my work with Promised Provision. When he heard about Sandra, he perked up and asked if it was possible for him to go see her. I told him, “Sure”, so we hopped in a truck together and took off for the trip to Leogane and up the mountain.

When he saw Sandra’s surgical scars and talked with her about the pain she is suffering now, saw her disgusting living conditions, met her 80 years old father who is unable to work to provide for his very large family, he was deeply moved. He will be presenting an official recommendation to the U.S. government and to the Shriners Hospital in Tampa, Florida, that Sandra be approved for medical care and education in the U.S. His willingness to make such an arduous trip and to personally place Sandra’s case before those who can help her was a HUGE blessing to my day!

God reminds me every day that He has plan for that day and that the plans I make are sometimes not of any consequence at that time. It truly takes the pressure off to be reminded that He is in control – I don’t have to be.

Yours in Christ,
Roody, PPM Team Haiti

Clean Water for Churches on the Mountain

While we are thrilled and relieved to be blessed by having the Living Waters water purification system here in town, we began to wonder how we could ensure that the people above us on the mountain could also enjoy this blessing.

I am never surprised by God’s wondrous provision, but am always amazed by it! Rebecca told me today that we were able to purchase four water filters for distribution to some of the pastor’s we network with up on the mountain near Leogane. What a blessing to know that each of these filters will provide hundreds of gallons of filtered water each day to provide for several hundred families.

All that is needed is a five-gallon bucket and the filter hose unit. The idea is to run water through this unit into other containers. It came with detailed instructions about installation, use and cleaning that had spaces in each section for me to write the translation in Creole. It is so easy to use and to clean and will make such a BIG DIFFERENCE in the health of the people in our neighboring areas who are too far away to carry water from our water station in town.

God’s provision continues…

In His Service,
Roody