Brother Ma and PPM Tents on the Mountain

I delivered Brother Mathurin's supplies from Promised Provision today. He is so grateful for the meal replacement supplement powder. As you can see, he has finally put on a little weight as the doctor told us he need to. Even in the wake of the earthquake, he is looking much better than the emaciated old man he was just a few short months ago. He was so tickled to have a new, clean pillow to sleep on, too. He says 'Sister Rebecca thinks of everything' and appreciates the special touches you add when you send things for him. He wants us to know that he prays fervently and in gratitude for God's provision through us every day.

The tents on the mountain have been erected in a sort of community and the families who received them are so grateful to have shelter from the elements. They are also relieved to be less vulnerable to harm than they were when they were sleeping out in the open.

We are so blessed to be able to see the results of God's blessings he is bestowing upon our brothers and sisters through our obedience. All for His Glory!!!

In His Service,
Roody

Arkansas Med Team Clinics - Darbonne and Leogane

I have been working all day yesterday and today with an Arkansas Medical group providing free clinics and medications to 170 people each day in Darbonne and Leogane. The team had a two-fold mission: to provide medical care and to witness to their patients.

Monday, a miracle took place for the Succes family. Father Lafontan came to the clinic with little Woodley Succes (photo at left) and his sister Jas. Woodley has a stomach hernia the size of a football and needs immediate surgery. The Arkansas group has taken up an offering of $105.00 to start Woodley on his way to this life-saving operation. Please pray for this family and about how we may be able to possibly help if more funds are needed.

While the doctors minister to people’s bodies, the clinics give me an opportunity to talk to people about Jesus and refer them to a local church. In the past two days, we have had twenty-three (23!) decisions to follow Christ!!

Praises to the Almighty!!
Roody

Visiting Jacmel

Today I travelled to Jacmel to meet with a young reporter who works for a Canadian newspaper, "The Globe and Mail". Her name is Jessica Leeder Jessica is in Haiti covering Jacmel and Pastor Marcelin’s ministry for the religion section of her report. Jessica and I discussed the many opportunities that coverage in Canada could hold for PPM – especially possibilities for our girls to gain acceptance in Canadian schools to complete their educations. To view her articles, visit www.globeandmail.com and look for the “Haiti” link.

I also visited with Pastor Marcelin who is the pastor of the large Tabernacle Baptist Church consisting of more than 800 members. He is the principal of one of the largest Christian schools in Jacmel (more than 750 children). The school’s classes are now meeting under tarps because the buildings were destroyed by the earthquake. I showed Pastor Marcelin the Proclaimer and he is amazed at the possibilities it holds for many of his older members who attend Bible study but cannot read or write. Please pray for Pastor Marcelin’s school and ministry in Jacmel.

Serving Christ,
Roody

Delivering Bibles and Proclaimers (Talking Bibles)

Had a SUPER busy two days! I traveled with Pastor Wayne and Jeff to meet Pastor Guilbert in Carrefour Dent. He is a young Pastor with a congregation of over 400 people and also has 4 remote preaching stations. Pastor Guilbert is really grateful to have the Creole Bibles and will use them as an evangelization tool. He also expressed the need for the Proclaimer to reach out to the believers who cannot read the Bible.

We also journeyed about 45 minutes farther up on the mountain, and met with young Pastor Gabriel. He has been the pastor of the Paillant Baptist Church since 2004. Paillant is just like Leogane in that it’s people are very heavily involved in voodoo and rara practices. Pastor Gabriel recalled that when he first arrived in Paillant the welcome sign at the entry of the village read “Paillant - The city of Rara”, but today the sign reads “Paillant for Christ, and Christ for Paillant”. Pastor Gabriel has a church, a school and 3 remote preaching stations. He will use the Proclaimer for teaching those who cannot read and the Creole Bibles for evangelization. He is still facing many challenges with voodoo in the area and is praying for major awakening and revival. Please keep Paillant and Pastor Gabriel, his wife and two small sons in your prayers.

Returning to sea level, we moved on to meet with Pastor Garnel in Petit Goave. He is the Pastor of First Baptist Church in that city. I explained to him how to use the Procleimer (talking Creole Bible) and gave him a box of the Creole Bibles for evangelization. He is so happy to have these gifts and asked me to thank everyone who made it possible for him to have them for him – so THANK YOU from Pastor Garnel. He has many people who attend his services who cannot read, so he plans to use the Proclaimer to allow them to hear the word of God. He is a very young energetic pastor reaching the lost for Christ.

We went on to our final stop in the city of Grand Goave to join the SP crew in devotions. Pastor Jeff from South Carolina led devotion and prayer. I had the opportunity to speak and challenged everyone to be champions for Jesus wherever their work might lead them in Haiti. I urged all of the workers to take every opportunity they had to tell someone about Jesus, give them a copy of the little Creole Bibles we received through the generosity of Victory Baptist Church in Valrico, Florida, and to urge them to continue to seek and learn at a local church.

Praying for revival,
Roody

Visiting Mussotte

I traveled to the city of Mussotte today. It is a beautiful town on the mountain side of Leogane. This little town reminds me of Georgia because it has beautiful pine trees and lush green pastures and is very clean.

Pastor Luckner (at right) has a beautiful church and school and has devoted his life to serve Christ. Although he is a young man, he made a vow not to marry so his ministry would not be hindered by the responsibilities and cares of life with a family. His congregation has grown to 500 members. His primary and secondary schools serve the whole town.

He is excited to be able to have the Proclaimer (talking Bible) we gave him to use at his church and preaching stations because so many people in his congregation are illiterate. The Creole Bibles we provided are now his tools to go out into the community and evangelize.

Serving Him,
Roody

Helping Mississippi Church Distribute Aid on The Mountain

Because we are local and know the people and the terrain, God is continuing to use us in amazing ways to help humanitarian aid groups when they arrive in Haiti with supplies and loving intentions but no real knowledge of the area.

The week of April 11th on thru the 18th, I had the privilege to work alongside church members from a Baptist church in Mississippi deliver food to various churches in and around the city of Petit Goave and the mountain churches nearby.

It is only possible to reach the mountain churches on foot, so we had to load the food on horses and mules to get it up to the people. When we finally arrived on the mountain, we found out that we were the first relief they had received since the earthquake.

Also, we got to visit the highest mountain peak village in Leogane, (third highest in Haiti) called Seguin. It is about one and one-quarter miles high and the only assistance they had received arrived in the form of the amazing Dr. Mc Fadden, a seventy-one year old retired physician from Clinton, MS, who has been working in the village with only villagers as volunteer assistants from sun up to sun down providing vital care to the mountain people.

It was an awesome experience for all of us this week, and I was moved to see how God intricately connects people from various parts of the world to form effective teams to do His work.

All Praises to Jesus!
Roody

Helicopter to Mountain Clinic

I was finally able to rent a truck to use to pick up the boxes of Bibles from the airport. What a gift they will be to so many people!
While up on the mountain visiting some of our people, I met Dr. McFadden, a truly amazing 72 year old American doctor who, after the earthquake, purchased a one-way ticket to Haiti and has been selflessly working a relentless schedule to meet the medical needs of people way up on the mountain above Leogane. He recently fell off the back of a motorcycle and suffered minor injuries. He now says he is afraid to get back on one, so he just figures he will have to stay in shape so he can walk everywhere. I contacted Samaritan’s Purse on his behalf and they are arranging to supply him with some much-needed medical supplies. God is so good all of the time!!

Also, Dr. Kara from SP and I have been making plans to hold a medical clinic in the remote mountain area near Pastor Anetole’s preaching stations – another place up on the mountain near Leogane where Pastor Anatole’s church and other preaching stations are located. Last Wednesday I gave up my seat on the helicopter to Pastor Jeff from South Carolina so he could ride up there to evaluate the possible sites for a clinic.

Keep Praying,
Roody

Reaching the Lost Through Provision

I made deliveries of hygiene kits to two churches in Port-au-Prince today. The pastors of both Salem and Siloe Baptist churches died during the earthquake leaving their congregations struggling to recover their equilibrium while also focusing on the urgent need to use this time of turmoil and stife to reach out to the lost in their communities.

Please pray for transportation to get more of these important kits to more churches and preaching stations. We are encouraging local pastors and other church leaders to use tools such as these hygiene kits as a way to break the ice with people - to create an open door in the community to reach the lost for Christ.

Praises to our God!
Roody

2100 BIBLES ON THEIR WAY TO LEOGANE

Some days I can hardly contain my excitement at the tremendous things I see God doing as He moves through His people to accomplish His works. Rebecca told me yesterday that Bearing Precious Seed ministry and our friends at Victory Baptist Church are sending us 2100 of their little Bibles containing the books of John and Romans in Creole. What a blessing they will be to so many people!

I was so grateful to be able to distribute over 200 of these Bibles with U.S. Army Chaplain Capt Bilberry and his friends when they were here a few weeks ago. We were all so happy to have those copies to give to the people with whom we shared Jesus and what His sacrifice made possible for all of us.

This new shipment of Bibles will let me reach countless more people with God's Word. I have the opportunity to share the Lord with many people each and every day. To be able to spend time with them telling them of Jesus' love for them and then being able to leave them a copy of the gospel in their own language is such a gift to them and to me. I have told many of the people I previously left the Bibles with that they should read it and then if they have questions, we can discuss them the next time I come through their camp.

I have told all of the local pastors about these visits to the camps and suggested to them that they and members of their congregations conduct some follow-up with these people, too. It would be nice to invite them to church for further learning and fellowship with believers.

I feel there is going to be a true revival of the Holy Spirit here and the more people we can prepare for that time, the better.

Serving Him in Humility and Awe,
Roody

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY & HAPPY EASTER

This day is very special to me, made even more special when I can sacrifice my personal time to help others in need while giving all the glory to Jesus Christ. He, on a day like this, was offering Himself as a sacrifice for all of us on Calvary's cross for our sins.

Thank you, Betsy, for calling this morning and for making more tarps available for distribution today to those that are truly in need. We had rain the past two days – and LOTS of it last night. As we continue to make preparation to build the largest transition shelter facility in Leogane, I hope we can all seize the opportunity to proclaim Jesus' love to this community. Leogane is still a stronghold for voodoo practice, and the capital of voodoo for Haiti. It was also was the epicenter of the earthquake. I believe, strategically, God allowed us to be here in this day and time as a tool to make His name known to His children in this dark city.

My sincere appreciation to my team PPM and Samaritan's Purse for their prayers and support. Also to Patty, Ron and Caleb for working so hard this morning distributing a thousand (1000) tarps to our site.

As we celebrate our Risen Savior let this be a special day to serve Him.

Expect miracles,
Roody

WARRIORS FOR CHRIST TO THE RESCUE

Rebecca tells me that the Warriors for Christ are coming through for us once again! These guys and girls have been faithful, generous supporters of our efforts to help the children of Haiti. They are now intensifying their efforts to help raise funds for earthquake relief.

While media attention on Haiti has been waning, I am here on the ground and can tell you that the tremendous need still exists and will for a long time. We must continue to pray for Haiti and its people and to continue to make it clear to them as we provide their basic life needs that it is, indeed, Jesus' sacrifice that makes it possible for God to bless them as they try to put their shattered lives back together.

Baby Watson
Participating in this game or passing this information along to others who would like to join in the fun will help Promised Provision continue our work of ministering to and serving the littlest earthquake survivors.

SO GET OUT THERE AND PLAY! Come to meet new friends or bring some with you. If you can't or don't choose to play, Warriors for Christ will gladly accept donations of funds for Haiti or to be used as scholarship funds to enable someone else to play who may not be able to afford to otherwise.

See detailed event and Warriors for Christ contact information on their website at http://www.wfcpaintball.org/

EXPECT MIRACLES!

I can hardly contain my excitement today!! Our partnership with Samaritan's Purse and our ability and willingness to come up with a piece of property quickly has led to our being selected to be THE FIRST of their temporary shelter communities in Haiti. Having asked numerous government and non-government entities to partner with them to construct communities of temporary shelters (including water and sanitation), Vice President Ken Isaacs told me that we were the first to respond with a piece of property and offer to provide workers. He said even the city officials had not yet responded to their offer.

Miraculously, I was able to visit the area of Titanyen today to see the model temporary shelter. I have not been feeling well for the past two days, but Jesus is seeing me through the task at hand. Here is a photo of what will be built on the land we secured for this purpose.

Today, despite all the logistics problems, Jeff
and his crew delivered 845 more tarps to us in Leogane for distribution. The rainy season is here and people are scared. Tarps are very high end items for Haitians right now and we at Promised Provision are blessed to be able to help provide them.

While en route to Titanyen, I received a phone call from Samaritan’s Purse wanting Promised Provision to be the pilot host of the Cash for Work Program for the local churches. It will allow the workers to earn wages while helping to build a community for themselves.

We have a scheduled appointment to work out the details that will put 440 of our local people to work for a period of two weeks -- 250 of them will be women who will participate as part of a womens' empowerment program. This Cash for Work program calls for a two week rotations to allow more people to benefit from the program.

I am truly excited! This is the first real manifestation of the strategy we at Promised Provision have been yearning to implement – a program that empowers people to earn their own money, promotes a pride of ownership in what they have created, and offers them a sense of accomplishment and self-respect. This is what missions is all about -- not simply giving people handouts that keep them dependent on someone for the next handout but giving them the tools and encouragement to help themselves build better, independent lives.

I'll keep you posted...

To His glory,
Roody

TARPS & TENTS DELIVERED TO LEOGANE

Our friends at Samaritan's Purse promised to send tarps and they came through in a big way! A huge truck carrying nearly 2000 tarps arrived at our Bethesda Ministry distribution site today. The local police were on hand to provide crowd control and everything went smoothly. I am so happy that so many more people will be sheltered from the elements tonight.

After the tarp distribution, I traveled up the mountain to see the tents generously donated to us by our friends at Mountain View church and Crossing Cultures International. They are really nice tents! With the donated funds we received, I was able to buy a total of 22 tents (3 eight-person tents, 10 five-person tents, 5 three-person tents, and 4 two-person tents) so a total of 97 people on the mountain now have new homes!!! It was so good to see them being erected. The people there are so grateful to have a place to call their own after two months of not knowing where they belonged.

I also got word today from our friend, Jay, that we can expect a container of donations to arrive from California. He was told of a container full of donations that a generous group of folks had collected but were unable to afford to ship so he got on the phone and performed one of his networking wonders, arranging for another group to ship it to us. God never ceases to surprise and amaze me in how He uses His people to accomplish the most remarkable things!


Serving Him with Joy,
Roody

APPLYING FOR A TRUCK - PLEASE PRAY

March 20, 2010 - APPLYING FOR A TRUCK

I received word today from one of our partners that we could apply for a truck through the Clinton Foundation. Rebecca submitted our application, now we all have to pray for it to be accepted.

Praying Expectantly,
Roody