2/21 Haiti Update #5

The team got to worship (some twice!) with their Haitian brothers and sisters today, and then got busy! See the attached pictures from worship today.

Thirty five duffels weighing 50 to 70 pounds each went to Haiti with the team of 18 people, and all of their contents were unpacked, counted, categorized, labeled, sorted, and repacked today. After several years of doing this (and almost always having veterans of other trips on the returning teams) this massive doesn't slip into the kind of chaos that you would imagine! We are grateful for the generosity that makes a day like this necessary and even fun for the team, though probably a little daunting. There's a wonderful mix this trip of returning team members who have done this before and eager first timers who just jumped right in on this task. And all are excited to actually get startedtomorrow!

A few of our donor churches focused on shoes and socks for the kids of Cavaillon this trip, and man, were they successful! At least 200 pairs of shoes (play and dress shoes for each child) and 450 pairs of socks! How great is that? Kids who play and live without shoes in Haiti are prone to serious injury and parasite infestation, so this is really a big deal for their health care - although we don't usually think of shoes in that way! Thanks to the donor churches in Chicago and Las Vegas for these wonderful provisions. See a few pictures of the sorting work done today, attached.

The "water team" sent two representatives to Cavaillon to inspect things this afternoon, and reports were good. Also, ESMI (through other donors) had solar panels installed around the compound in addition to the solar panels that our donors made possible for the water purification system. Unfortunately, no training was provided for their use and it quickly went offline. Our team will try to trouble shoot that issue for ESMI while doing their own work, too, which DOES include intense, hands on training of Haitians who've been recruited for that training in order to avoid just that kind of problem with the water purification system once our team leaves. There are a few pictures of a similar purification system set up in Cambry and also a picture of the outside of the housing unit at Cavaillon attached.

The plan for tomorrow calls for all to go to Cavaillon, water team and medical team. Its a 45 minute trip via pick up trucks over some pretty bumpy roads and almost roads. They'll hope to leave about 8:30 and return about 6:00. The medical team's goal would be to see about 1/2 of the kids tomorrow, and the rest when everyone returns Tuesday. The water team will be spending every day this week at Cavaillon, but the medical team will be elsewhere Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully a little play time with the kids, too, and some time dedicated to showing some care to the housemoms, as well.

For prayer this evening and tomorrow:

• Refreshing sleep. There was electricity tonight, but the air conditioning is set to start only at 10:00 pm (which it did). Please pray it stays on to foster a good night's sleep in the stuffiness of small rooms in hot conditions.
• Continued health. All are well, and our team member with the cold is being well taken care of.
• For the tasks at hand tomorrow. So many pieces need to come together for the water system - literally, as it came to Haiti in pieces and needs to be installed piece by piece - including in depth training of Haitians who will keep it running once our team leaves. And also for the medical team as they take care of the 90 or so children living at Cavaillon.
• Safe travel, back and forth. No flat tires or other complications, which can shorten their days considerably. No AAA to call!
• In all, a unity and a joy in service so that they Haitians know that our team is there "nan nom Jesi", in Jesus' name. 

Thanks for your prayers and support of this team. They know they can't do their work this week without you!

Haiti Update #4 02/20/16

The team arrived safely at the Guest House in Cambry after a long but blessedly uneventful ride from Port au Prince. After settling in and having dinner together, they are navigating the realities of spotty electricity and figuring out the challenges of showering in the pitch dark, because when it's dark in the Haitian countryside, it's really dark. But the weather this evening in Haiti is delightful - a cool breeze and a clear sky. And they are happy to be at the close of what one trip veteran calls "the smoothest travel day ever, about as good as it could be".

A few pieces of good news:

• There is no zika virus in this part of Haiti as yet. Just to be safe, the compound was fumigated before their arrival, but there have been no reports of illness in the area. It seems to be active in the north instead. 
• Just today - today, after months of being in progress - Pastor Louis confirmed that the preliminary construction work in Cavaillon required for the installation of the water purification system is done. Talk about God's perfect timing! The Haitians have worked through difficulties of getting supplies and paying extra for them through the political unrest of the last few months. The team won't know until they get on site if the work matches the specs that were sent, but there's no question that the local workers have done their best under difficult circumstances. 

Tomorrow is a day of worship, rest, and unpacking and organizing. The team leader, Ted, will preach at Bon Berger (Good Shepherd) Cayes first, perhaps accompanied by a few team members. Then breakfast back at the Guest House at 9:30 for all before a second service at Bon Berger Cambry, where Ted will preach again. This is the ESMI "mother church", the largest, and the service is televised throughout Haiti and around the world to Creole speaking ex-pats in numerous countries via the internet. They estimate that 2 million Haitians tune in. The service is about 2 hours long - joyful, loud, and full of music and praise.

After a bit of a rest, the team will tackle the massive job of unpacking and re-organizing the contents of up to 20 duffel bags stuffed with medicines, clothes, supplies - all of which has to be reorganized into daily "go bags" for each day of the week. It's an amazing production to be a part of, and is a tangible reminder of the generosity of so many who have donated materials or funds to stuff those bags with greatly needed items.

For prayer this evening:

• Good rest tonight and during the week, and continued health so that all can do the work they came to do at their full strength.One team member who says he hasn't had a cold in 25 years has one now...but he's also got a team of doctors at his disposal :) Pray that the cold symptoms not hinder him, nor spread to others. 
• For electricity. It makes a huge difference to be able to come back to a cool and properly lit sleeping space at the end of a long day of ministry. Even though the temperatures are not uncomfortable outside, it can be hard to be comfortable inside without air conditioning...and certainly a challenge to navigate in the pitch darkness. 
• For Ted as he preaches twice tomorrow - that the gospel would go forth, and that language and cultural barriers would not hinder that. Also for energy as needed after a long day of travel. 
• For good teamwork as things get organized tomorrow, and for good team dynamics to be built as everyone gets to know each other and begin to work together in this important and often stressful work. 

Thank you for your partnership! Your prayers are key to this week of ministry, and the team is grateful.

Haiti Update #3 2/20/16

Please join the team in praise! All of the concerns from yesterday have been answered in the ways that we'd hoped:

• Transportation to and from the airport last night and this morning went off without a hitch. The team got to the airport in good order, checked the bags, and met up with their two "red eye" companions from the West Coast. 
• The flight from Miami to Port au Prince was smooth, safe, and pretty much on time 
• All the bags made it on to the plane and were all retrieved from baggage claim (that hasn't always happened, either!) 
• And the biggest one - customs took only one hour (it has been up to three on past trips) and EVERY bag was passed through with no confiscations or "surcharges". 

Indeed, much to give praise for!

Here's a picture of the assembled team outside of the airport as bags are loaded for the trip to the guest house in Cambry, which usually takes 5 hours. It's a pretty nice "tour" bus, not a school bus, so they will be in relative comfort. They're in the capable hands of ESMI staff now until the week is over and they are dropped back at the PAP airport.

Still much to tell and prayer requests every day...but they are on their way. There will be a short update tonight with plans for tomorrow and the rest of the week. Well, as much as "plans" count in Haiti :)

Many thanks for your partnership in this adventure!

Preview attachment 0220 Team in PAP 2.JPG

Haiti Update #2 2/19/16

Everyone who is supposed to be in Miami is now in Miami :).

After some flight delays, most of the team is assembled and enjoying some pizza during a team meeting. Tomorrow will start early with a shuttle pick up at the hotel and a flight out at 9:50 EST for an arrival in Port au Prince at noon. The rest of the team will join them at the Miami airport to travel the rest of the way together, including a 5 hour bus ride from Port au Prince to the guest house in Cambry, their base of operations for the week.

Tomorrow will be a long day of travel and getting through customs at the Port au Prince airport with upwards of 35 duffel bags full of supplies is stressful. The team will appreciate your prayers for them through the day as you are able.

Thanks so much for your support!

Haiti Update #1 2/19/16

The Chicago based team (representing 5 CMP churches) has just departed from O'Hare, and others are coming from Texas, Washington State and Las Vegas, 18 in all. They'll meet up tonight in Miami for a team meeting, except for the few who are doing a red eye from the west coast; they will meet them at the airport tomorrow morning.

This trip has been complex to plan and greatly needs your prayer support. In our American culture's way of doing things, plans have been made, supplies purchased, extensive training completed, and bags stuffed with necessary supplies. But in Haiti, plans often need to change due to "on the ground" realities,such as:

• Building supplies necessary to install a water purification system have been hard to come by and expensive due to the current level of political unrest in the country. Supplies and deliveries are often interrupted as a way of protest. Even food is in somewhat short supply in some places. It is not known as of now whether work is sufficiently completed for the water purification installation to begin. 
• New government policies have been implemented relating to medicines brought in to the country. The team and ESMI have done their best to comply, but policies are so new that the customs agents may not know what the procedures are. Also, the team is not sure that they have all the necessary paperwork assembled and in their possession. 
• Even on the ground transportation in Miami tonight and tomorrow morning for a group this size with up to 35 stuffed duffel bags has been tenuous to secure. 

In all, after all of our human planning and effort, God is sovereign. His love for his children on the team and for his people in Haiti is much more powerful and important than all our human planning can accomplish. Ask God to be merciful and gracious, and that he'd take our best plans and bring them to the fruition he desires.

There will be a brief update tonight when all are accounted for in Miami, but even now, please pray as you are able today and tonight for these things. Some are very time specific over the next 36 hours.

Generally, pray that the Lord Jesus will be exalted in this week, that He by the Holy Spirit will work powerfully in and through the team, that we will be of real encouragement and assistance to the church planting and ministry efforts of El Shaddai, that Satan will be bound, and that the gospel will go forth with great grace and power during this week.

More specifically, please pray:

1. That all the bags will get through customs in Haiti without any fees being charged or bags/supplies being confiscated.
2. Pray for safe and timely travel throughout the week, especially with the significant amount of political unrest at this time.
3. That everything will go well with installing the water purification system at Cavaillon, especially that the team of six Haitian men will be responsive to the training and learn how to install, operate, and maintain the system.
4. For good team chemistry and for the safety and health of our team. 
5. For Ted Powers as he preaches Sunday at the churches in Les Cayes and Cambry.
6. Pray for the Medical Team as they provide care for some of the orphans and the surrounding community at Cavaillon (Mon and Tues), Savanne (Wed), Las Anglais (Thurs), and Cambry (Fri). – Our trip to Las Anglais will be the first time the 200 children in the school there and the community itself have received medical care.

We hope to have daily updates with some pictures of the day's activities. You will enjoy seeing the smiling faces and walking along with them as they week progresses.

Thanks for your support!

Welcome and Installation Services

Five RCA churches have voted to leave the RCA and join the PCA. The Chicago Metro Presbytery has met with, examined and approved the pastors and elders of these churches during 2014.

On October 15, 2014, the churches were officially approved by this Presbytery to join the PCA. On February 1, 2015 at 3:00 pm the pastors and elders will be installed at a celebration event at First Reformed Church in Lansing, IL.

All are welcome to come celebrate these five churches meeting together and joining the PCA.

Also, on Facebook.

39th Stated Mtng | Jan. 21, 2015 | Winnetka

The next Stated Meeting of the Chicago Metro Presbytery is Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at:

Grace Presbyterian Church
440 Ridge Ave
Winnetka, IL 60093 

Website: www.gracenorthshore.org
Office: (847) 920-9517

Schedule:

12:00 - Lunch
1:00 pm - Business begins
4:00 pm - Business adjourns

Please join us. 

38th Stated Mtng | October 15, 2014 | Chicago

The next Stated Meeting of the Chicago Metro Presbytery is Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at:

Living Hope Church

6414 South Cottage Grove Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637 [map it]

www.livinghopechicago.org 

Phone: 708-280-8779

Schedule:

12:00 - Lunch
1:00 pm - Business begins
4:00 pm - Business adjourns

Please join us. 

37th Stated Mtng | July 16, 2014 | Naperville

The next Stated Meeting of the Chicago Metro Presbytery is Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at:

Naperville Presbyterian Church
943 Sanctuary Lane
Naperville, IL 60540 [map it]

http://www.npchurch.org/
Office: 630-961-0579
Schedule:
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 pm - Business begins
4:00 pm - Business adjourns

Please join us. 

Haiti Mission Team | Update Feb 28

Thank you so much for supporting our team today. Although there was some physical discomfort for a few team members, there was much good done today in Maniche. You would have been proud of the way everyone threw themselves into the tasks they were given, even if not at 100% of their strength.

And it was a big job. It was very likely that doctors had never set foot into this town of 25,000 before. You'd think from the welcome the team got from the happy mob of hundreds when they rode into town that they were heros. Maybe they were.

One 22 year old walked 20 miles, catching rides where he could, when he heard doctors would be there today. He hurt his knee a few years ago and it had never healed. The swelling was described as "grotesque". But with some help from our team, the right medicines and clean bandages, this young man will be alright.  Another young boy had an infected cut on his finger, and the infection had moved all the way up into his shoulder. Without some simple treatment and antibiotics, it could very well have killed him. To these two patients and many more this team certainly is what heros look like. 

They saw 140 patients in just over 7 hours, rotating short breaks and never really slowing down. They used the four room cinder block school house as their clinic. Everyone was prayed for, or with, today as well.

The reaction of the pastors was priceless and touching. They were so elated that the team could care for their flock in this way that they, as well as the mayor, stayed with the team all day smiling and dispensing hugs to whatever team member happened by. Most of the pastors were at the training conference earlier this week, so they felt they were welcoming friends. 

It was sad and very difficult for the team to have to stop without seeing everyone who had waited their turn all day. There is a good chance that this town will become a regular stop for our teams in the future, though, as it is not too far away from the Guest House. It was a fulfilling and yet immensely draining day.

The pictures attached tell the rest of the story - faces, smiles...and a surprise for the team back at the Guest House. 

Tomorrow is a long day that starts early - they are scheduled to leave the Guest House at 4:00 am for a five or six hour trip back to the Port au Prince airport. Their plane leaves there at 1:30 EST. From there, customs in Miami and then connecting flights home. 

Please pray:

• For the people of Maniche, and the pastors who shepherd them.
• For the renewed health of the few on the team who are not well tonight. The medicines available to them from the best medical team in Haiti (their teammates!) will surely help. Time and rest will help, too. 
• For safe and smooth travel over rough roads, long flights, many miles...and yes, another Midwest snow event coinciding with the arrival in Chicago tomorrow night for many of them.
• For re-entry into the Western "first world". The team has immersed themselves in a very different "third world" environment this week, and it's astonishing how quickly that world becomes the "norm". Getting back into a groove here can be difficult in some ways. Perhaps they'll want to talk, perhaps not. They will be very tired. They will be sad to leave each other even though they will be very glad to be home.

Praise God:

• For the ministry done "in nam Jesi" in Haiti this week by your loved ones. Lives were touched, some changed, and some literally saved through medical intervention. 
• For the generosity of their supporters, including those who sent cash with them to use 'as needed'. Since it wasn't needed in the airport upon arrival, a large amount was used during the week to pay for hospital fees, modest helper stipends that will meet the helpers' financial needs for months, and outright gifts as needed - approximately $1500 in total. Some of that was left with Louis to use as he saw fit, but he was asked to see if he could help Vilia Seidi with rent, Jessica with schooling, and a couple in the church in Savanne for a micro-business loan. In these ways and others, the team's impact will be felt long after they go home. And yours, too.

This will be the last update unless there is some reason to communicate tomorrow. The team would ask that I convey their gratitude for your prayers, your donations, your financial support. Thank you!