Connections

The other day on our facebook page I asked you to pray for "connections".  I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of trying to get some sort of immediate relief into Chaveneau.  I KNOW our God is able, but I also knew that there were a ton of little towns just like Chaveneau all over the southern peninsula of Haiti with people equally in need (or even worse).  I also knew that we only have Redgi, James and Magdiel on the ground to do the work that would take MANY (plus our regular ministry needed to continue).  I knew that we didn't have contacts for the food/supplies in the quantity needed for all the people we heard were displaced and staying in the church building in Chaveneau.  Many had not eaten since the storm a week earlier.  BUT.... we had gotten some financial donations and we had faith in Him- the one who could provide all that we didn't have.  So.... I asked you to pray.  And, you did.  This is what happened this past week and we have Him to thank.  THEY have Him to thank!

The water building is not operating because they lost the solar panels, tanks and batteries BUT it makes a great depot!  

(the "short version")..... Sunday night I put out a message on a private facebook group reserved for those ministering and working in Haiti that we were trying to get aide to Chaveneau.  I stated that Redgi made it to the community on Saturday and we would need a 4 x 4 pickup truck and anyone who could connect us with some food or supplies.  We had funds available, but not a great amount.

Sunday night I got the first message.  There was a group sending food to the south.  They had a large truck and the load was paid for, but it did not fill the entire truck.  Rather than leave with a truck 1/2 full, they offered to finish filling it Monday morning and send it on it's way provided Redgi met them at their secure drop off location near Les Cayes.  Since the load was already funded, we could have the excess (almost 1/2 of a truck load) food/supplies if we wanted them!

Monday morning a mutual facebook friend (met through that same facebook group) and I were talking .  I told her we were thinking of renting a truck to go to Chaveneau but it was going to be very expensive.  Our Montero needs some suspension work and is in the shop, plus a truck would haul more material.  Anyway, she had a few guys with her organization (Haiti Awake) who needed to get to Les Cayes so she talked to them.  In the end, they offered to pay for the truck if we took care of the gas!  How amazing!

These guys stayed with Redgi for four days and helped him with gathering other supplies, helped him buy tin and deliver it (3 different times), they invited him to join them to stay with a pastor friend they had in Les Cayes so he didn't have to find his own lodging, and they included him in their ministry as well- to a church that pastor friend has that was also affected by this horrific hurricane.  They even provided many of the photos we have been able to share with you- our faithful donors and prayer partners.

This guys, is the BODY OF CHRIST working together at it's finest.  So.... you prayed for connections and that is EXACTLY what God gave us!  God bless you all for your prayers and your donations that made all this possible.  Here is a listing of all that we were able to take to Chaveneau in the past week over multiple trips in and out of the village.

Food:  17 large bags rice, 2 bags beans, 2 bags sugar, 3 cases laundry soap, 2 oil, 1 clorox, 7 salami,
          2 milk, 4 huge bags corn flakes, 6 bulk packs of 1 # spaghetti packets, 1 large bag kotex packs,
          2 cases toilet paper, candles/matches, 1 case bar soap, large bags of Chikos (cheese puffs), etc..
                   (the food was put into bags equally and was able to serve 71 families!)

Water:  30 large bags of water were taken (60 single serving bags in each) = 1800 water bags total

Tin sheets:  320 individual sheets to do roof repair- the greatest need
Roofing nails:  161 pounds of nails were bought and distributed

Some of the food and supplies taken into Chaveneau!  

THANK YOU for your prayers.  THANK YOU to Haiti Awake and their partnership in this (and the people who provided the food-  Paulos Group).  This is far from over, but God has guided and directed us so far and we have no doubt He will continue to do so.  Stay tuned for further updates.