Greetings From Haiti

"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.' " Mark 10:21

Dear Friends and Family and St. Matthews Church Family,

Greetings on behalf of Chris, Ted and myself from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Briefly (on this very slow computer): all is well. Healthy, safe, well-cared-for by our host, "the Father" who oversees the mission work here. We are, by God's grace, accomplishing everything we were sent here to do, and are eager to give our report to the church back home. We have seen up close and personal the overwhelming, grinding poverty here; the end result of 517 years (since 1492: sound familiar?) of brutal oppression, rape, exploitation, corruption, war, 32 coups, disease, neglect, violence. We are beginning to see that realistically there is nothing our church can do to help Haiti; but realistically there is a LOT we can (and must) do to help Haitians! Thanks so much for all your prayers and support! Home Thurs PM.

~ Tim

The Haitian MD took the men through central Port-au-Prince today. The poverty was horrible. Then back to the orphanage for another great meal. The team fly home tomorrow. Please pray for a safe trip.

Compassionate Father, whose only Son became poor that we might become rich; help Chris, Ted, and Tim process and communicate clearly the needs and opportunities for our further involvement with this mission. Guide us and enable us to come alongside with our resources, our time, and our prayers, that more children can be helped, and come to know the richness of knowing you. For the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Day 1 - A Flat Tire

I will praise you among the nations;I will sing of you among the peoples For great is our love, reaching to the heavens;your faithfulness to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,let your glory be over all the earth.--Ps. 57:9-11

It was an adventuresome day for our team in Haiti: remote mountain road, rural poverty, flat tire, looking at property for future development. Tim's text: " 'road' nearly unpassable hence the flat, repaired with chewing gum adventure! :)"

Later he texted, "We're back at hotel; the chewing hum held! ;) Now beer with my boys & daily debriefing -- a lot to process each day. All safe & healthy. All 3 categories of prayer being answered." (see prayer on blog entry below regarding God's kingdom purposes) "Long term strategy, priorities. . . beginning to clarify: very exciting! Tomorrow I meet a local MD & we tour PAP city. Sleeping very well."

O most merciful God, we give you thanks and praise for all you accomplished today in Haiti. Thank you for keeping "the father" and our men safe, and for the bond of friendship that is forming. Thank you for the information and vision that will lead to our future involvement. We thank you for "the Father's" faith, his hard work and sacrifice as he shows your great love and faithfulness in this place. May you be glorified and your kingdom purposes be established in Haiti and in our hearts. Amen.

The Team Arrived Safely

"If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. --Psalm 139:9-10

Chris, Ted and Tim arrived safely in Port-au-Prince early this morning (Saturday). This evening Tim sent a text message: "Amazing experiences today: chaotic city, overwhelming poverty, cute kids, tons of photos, good food, exhausted, getting good info, 3 of us = good team." Tomorrow morning they will go to a remote mountain town for mass.

Almighty God, we give you thanks for the safe travel of our dear brothers. We pray that the things they observe and experience will allow us to better serve you and help "Father" in his ministry to the orphans and people of Haiti. Thank you for your strong hand of protection over them. We praise you for your power and your presence with them. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Team Has Left For Haiti

From today's Old Testament reading
"O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill ("Haiti" means 'land of mountains' ), and to thy dwelling." Ps 43:3

Chris, Ted, and Tim fly out tonight for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, landing early Saturday morning. Pray for their safety and for the details of their travel to go smoothly, and that they would be able to sleep on the airplane. The men will be entering a country that is different in so many ways, and also one where the spiritual darkness is more intense. As I have prayed the collects for grace and for peace from Morning Prayer (Book of Common Prayer, p.17), the prayers seem so appropriate for these men on this mission trip

A Collect for Peace
O GOD, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A Collect for Grace
O LORD, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; Defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings, being ordered by thy governance, may be righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Thanks from the Team

On behalf of the Haiti Team (Chris, Ted and myself) we thank you all for your prayers and support. It is a great privilege and humbling experience for each of us to represent Christ, St. Matthews, "The Father", and the ACC in this endeavor. We depart with every confidence that God will hear and abundantly answer your prayers and go before us. May God multiply the loaves and fishes that we bring to Haiti. To Him be the glory. Tim, MD.

Human Trafficking in Haiti

"Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." Isaiah 1:17

In preparation for our trip a friend recently referred me to a book called “A Crime So Monstrous: Face-to-Face with Modern-Day Slavery” by E. Benjamin Skinner.  The book provides a thorough and sobering review of the major centers of human trafficking and slavery in the world today.  I was surprised when I found that the first 40 or so pages of the book are dedicated to the issue of child-slavery in Haiti.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with per capita income according to the BBC of $560.  Faced with abject poverty many families, especially in rural areas, decide to send their young children to work as indentured servants for other families in urban areas.  The parents are often given a promise that the child will be provided food, shelter, clothing, and an education.  Sometimes this is the case.  Many times, however, the children immediately become a household commodity in their new homes and are looked upon as sub-human.  They are forced to work from before sunrise until after sunset and are often victims of beatings and rape.  They are known as restaveks, or “stay-withs” in Creole. 

This has been a practice since near the beginning of Haiti’s independence, which, ironically, was won as a result of a successful slave revolt.  There are approximately 300,000 restaveks in Port-au-Prince and they make up 10% of the child population in Haiti.  This gives us some context for "the Father's" orphanage ministry and the ACC’s place in Haiti. We are anxious to see how the church is responding to the restavek system and how St. Matthew’s can join "the Father's" ministry in this regard.

~ Ted

A Prayer for the Poor, Homeless and Neglected Folk 

O GOD, Almighty and merciful, who healest those that are broken in heart, and turnest the sadness of the sorrowful to joy; Let thy fatherly goodness be upon all that thou hast made. Remember in pity such as are this day destitute, homeless, or forgotten of their fellow-men. Bless the congregation of thy poor. Uplift hose who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all discouraged and unhappy people, and by thy heavenly grace preserve from falling those who in their misery are tempted to sin; though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they be perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the loe of him, who for our sakes became poor, thy Son, our Savious Jesus Christ. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, P. 599)

Pray for God's Kingdom Purposes to be Accomplished

"Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and unfathomable His ways! For from Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all thing. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" --Romans 11:33, 36

Thank you for praying for this trip. As planning continues, there is a sense that God is doing something far beyond the scope of this trip. God's kingdom purposes are bigger than just the safety and success of this trip. This trip is seeking to lay a foundation for future involvement. As these men work together it is clear that each one is uniquely gifted for this task. The mission has two churches, a school and an orphanage and a clinic. Chris is a teacher, Tim a doctor, and Ted grew up on the mission field and is a gifted intercessor. It appears that God is preparing the way for greater involvement with the mission in Haiti, and more personal involvement in ministering to the poor and disenfranchised.

The following prayer is offered with this in mind.

Holy Triune God, from whom unity and love originate, bless this mission effort with the gift of your love and grace, that a deep and abiding friendship with "The Father" and this team would grow and spread to all the church. We pray that the team would be able to grasp and communicate the vision of this mission to the church and that we would more clearly understand your heart for the poor and be moved to service. Give wisdom to these men as they seek to understand the needs and challenges of ministering to the poor and discern how we can best come alongside to help. Superintend the final planning and prepare them spiritually and emotionally for what they will face in Haiti. Go before them and bless their mission, that you may be glorified and your kingdom purposes be established in Haiti and and in our hearts. Amen.