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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010



THEY ARE BACK! Our team of heroes is safely back in the states after a long day of traveling yesterday. They waited in the Port-au-Prince airport all morning for the delayed MFI plane. They boarded the plane (loaned to MFI by Hendricks Motor Sports- thank you!) at 1:00 p.m. and landed safely at Ft Pierce at 3:15 p.m. By 4:30 the team was in a caravan headed toward Jacksonville with an important stop for Pizza first! They headed to their individual homes last night exhausted and trying to absorb the incredible events of the week. Each vowed to continue their commitment to make a difference in Haiti with fundraising and return visits.

This was an anointed team. Each one continues to talk about how well they have worked together without any complaining, slacking, or confrontations. This was a team dedicated to give their best and they were a great example of individual people with different skill sets working together as the body of Christ. Oh that we would all follow that example in our daily lives.

Jim and I talked on the phone as they headed toward Jacksonville. He said he left Port-au-Prince with a heavy heart for the people but feeling encouraged about the work Christian Light Ministries is doing in the area. Kathy Brooks of Much Ministries has done a great job heading operations for this basecamp as Sherry heals her body and spirit here in the states this week. Kathy exudes the most beautiful joyous spirit of the Lord, and her fearless "can do" attitude is contagious. Early yesterday morning Kathy went to the airport with several men to pick up some more supplies. Jim laughed as he recalled seeing several big UN trucks filled with food pulling out of the airport with Kathy in the cab waving to the team! She led these trucks to the CLF compound and unloaded food which will continue to feed the thousands living in the ravine area and tent cities around the school. These tough UN guys were touched by the loving hugs of the many orphans being cared for at our site and were quite impressed with the successful system that is in place to distribute food, medical help, and supplies to the Haitian people. What a testimony this will be in showing the world what God can do when His people answer His call and trust Him. A new team of 4 arrived before our team left and were already hard at work cleaning up and rebuilding the school site. Jim was particularly impressed with one man with construction experience who had hired around 15 Haitian men to being moving the block and rubble from the grounds. This team was committed to get two more working bathrooms in place, the large gate fixed, and the security walls finised so that future teams will have a safe place to stay and a functioning base from which to operate.

You always return from these mission trips with one particular memory that touches your heart and motivates you to return. Jim said that he still couldn't process all that he had seen this week. It was just too much. Then he again told me about Erica, the young girl that had a bad arm injury, a possible compound fracture betwen her elbow and wrist. When they went back to pick Erica and her mom up on Monday to transport her to the hospital outside the Dominican Republic, she came out of the rubble dressed in a white dress holding her teddy bear. This beautiful young girl was dressed in her finest for this special trip with her heroes. She spoke no English, so communication was challenging during the 2 1/2 hour trip to the hospital. They do not have pain medicine to administer to these victims, and Erica cried out in severe pain as the doctors worked on her mangled arm. Jim knelt beside her and tried to keep her attention on him. She held her breath in silence as he prayed for her, but the pain was too great and the screams soon returned. Jim kissed her forehead and told her that he loved her, and Erica looked up through her tears and uttered back "I love you too" in broken English. That was Jim's moment. The power of love had broken the communication barrier. He cried again as he shared the story with me and said he would be putting Erica's picture on his thank you and follow-up cards this week. She was his reminder of the power of love over suffering. God's love will prevail.

Once I knew Jim and the team were home safe, I sat and cried in thanksgiving. The families of this team have been on alert and in constant prayer all week, and my own exhaustion has now hit me. As I read through Jonathan Grooms journaling on his blog again (see link in side bar), one picture tore me apart, perhaps because I was holding my new 3 month old granddaughter. It was the picture of Elmo in the rubble. These people have lost EVERYTHING. They have nothing but their trust in God to sustain them. No food, water, clothes, work, or shelter. They are in physical and emotional pain. The tremors continue (3 today!) and it is supposed to rain tonight in Port-au-Prince. The ground where they lay will be soaked as will be the clothes they have on and the sheet tent over their head (if they are lucky enough to have one). They are already weak, and this will surely result in many cases of pneumonia and bronchitis. May the wings of angels be outstretched over them in loving protection. Keep praying, my friends.

We scheduled the prayer chain through noon on Wednesday to cover our team for any delays and for their hours of physical and emotional transition upon their return. I will be posting recollections and prayer requests on the blog this week and will keep you updated on the next team leaving. Please don't give up now. There is so much to be done.

And now, we regroup. We schedule new medical and construction teams. We set up new prayerchains. We keep raising money and praying. And we watch God work.

Mwen renmen nou. (I love you)
Donna