Valentine's day

A day of hearts and flowers. Here in Haiti, many of those hearts and flowers are for loved ones lost. Many buried in mass graves, some buried by families, but many, many more, still buried without the family knowing where they are. Can you imagine how those people must feel? My heart breaks for those who have no idea where their loved ones were that tragic day. For a majority of people here, there is no closure. AND YET... "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would have said. There are those who are missing an arm, or a leg, or both, and they are praising God that they are alive.

These five days of prayer and fasting have brought an awesome thing to Haiti. Oh we did have one Catholic nun say, "for many of these people, fasting is a way of life." And that is true. But if you could see the churches during these five days, and the revivals going on now...it would change YOUR life. Most of the churches are overflowing...no sitting or standing room. People searching out the Lord who has helped them get through this first stage of a tragedy that could have killed them. There will be days, weeks, months of fear when the earth moves even a little. We have tremors often here. In fact, just a half hour ago we had another tremor. They are still going on. I just can't imagine how some of these people feel when they feel it. There are well over 200,000 people who have migrated to the north, out of desperation and fear. Even here, they have issues about being inside a building at night, for fear they won't be able to get out if a quake comes. And yet, they are reaching out to the Lord now. He is their only hope. And HE will be able to help calm their fears.

At English church this afternoon, we listened to some of the praises and miracles going on. We've talked to some of the survivors, we've talked with people who have many living in their yards, simply sleeping on the ground. Even the director of the airport told us his family (those who weren't killed) came to stay with him. He put them up in his house, but those who came with them (who he doesn't even know) are sleeping in his yard. He is trying to help them all, but it's so very hard. People are begging for just a piece of bread to survive the day.

No, we can't reach them all. Actually we will only be able to help a small percentage of those who are facing these horrors daily. But as the Lord showed Don years ago, concentrate on the grains of sand I give to you, don't look at the whole huge beach of sand. (In essence that is what Don felt the Lord tell him). So, those who we feel led to help, we do. It feels so good to be able to help out a family who was having a hard time making it themselves, and now have a yard full of relatives with them. But we can't do it on a daily basis...we don't have the means to do that. So, we keep on keeping on with what the Lord does provide.

I really am praising God for having Bill and Lauri here with us. What a tremendous blessing they have been. Our lives are still in a whirlwind here, and I have to laugh at Lauri. She said she wished she could write a book on "A day in the life of a missionary". I told her there are no two days alike. It shifts daily and different things keep popping up here and there. I think she is finally seeing that. But I also worry that we are working them too hard and they won't come back. We have been able to relax a bit in the evenings, and that is good. We've even played some games. (Good thing I'm a good loser...but I still enjoy it.)

We heard a rumor today that I want to pass on. Someone said that Preval asked some ministers to come and pray for him. We really have no idea if it's true, or what would come of it, BUT the way things are going here, with scores and scores of people turning to the Lord, it would not surprise me. Pray with us that if it is true, that his heart is open and willing to accept the Lord. And if it's NOT true, that it would become a reality. I've said it before, we should be praying for our countries leaders, not necessarily to be removed, but for God to work in them and change them, and if they do not accept Him, then to remove them. We serve a mighty and awesome God, and HE can do anything. No, He won't go against someones will, but He can bring them to a point of making that decision.

We had a really good service at English church today. Not many there, but the message was really good. And it was an uplift that we all needed. We need to be reminded that God is there, even when we stumble and fall. That He will reach down and help us up, and forgive us and keep us going. That childrens song, "His Banner Over Me Is Love", is one we need to remember and keep in our hearts.

It's been raining. We can use a bit of it, but I keep thinking of all of those who are sleeping outside on the ground. That breaks my heart...but we can't take them all in! So we are praying for the Lord to find a way to help them in some way. They ARE His people, even if they don't know Him yet. The evangelism going on is something else, too. God has taken this catastrophe and is turning the country around. It may be a long slow process, but it has started. Oh I imagine there are some really hard times ahead for all of us here. These things bring out the worst in some people, and the thieves are having a field day. But, again, GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!

Tomorrow starts another week of finding a way to sort and get things out to people. It also brings another day for YOU to pray for our container to be released and brought out here to get things moving. We covet your prayers and ask you to keep lifting the people of Haiti up to the Lord.

Until next time, let the light of the Lord shine in your lives so others can see and be drawn to the light of your salvation. Jesus is the bright and shining light in a dark and dismal world. Praise Him for being who He is, and for being ALL we need. Have a super great day.