Pathfinder Mission March 2012 Update

Greetings!

Martie’s Health.  I am writing this in Alabama.  I returned to the States on the 2^nd of April to be with Martie during her surgery and recovery.  Martie had her hip replacement surgery yesterday, April 5^th . The surgery went well.   We are in a room in Jackson Hospital in Montgomery, AL.  As many of you already know she has been struggling with a degenerative hip condition for some time enduring considerable pain.  The hip replacement should increase her mobility and eliminate the pain.  She is excited about it because her hip has limited her ability to serve in Haiti.  We are already planning her first trip this summer. Thanks to all who are praying for her.  And thanks to John Turnbull from Mendocino California.  John is staying in  Jacmel until April 27^th to cover operations while I am in Alabama.  One question I am always asked by the Haitians when I return to the States is, ‘Are you coming back?’  My heart breaks when they ask because I know they ask in fear that my answer will be ‘No’. But my answer is always ‘Yes.’

While looking out the window of the MAF plane , as I flew into Port au Prince on my way back to Alabama,  I saw a patchwork of tin, concrete, and blue tarp roofing capping the humble houses below.  I thought about the thousands of lives those little squares represented.  People living in quiet desperation.  Sometimes not so quiet.  While waiting for my flight to Miami, I met a woman at the café in the airport from Calgary, Alberta in Canada.  She was searching through a baggie with coins in it trying to put a dollar together to buy a bottle of water.  Even though she hadn’t ask for it, I could see she needed some help.   I gave her a dollar and told her I never refuse anyone water or food.  That opened a conversation where we shared why each of us were in Haiti , which led to a discussion about the soveriegnty  and sufficiency of God.  She had come to Haiti as part of a missions team.   It turns out that she was originally from Nigeria.  I thought that it was curious that she was Nigerian.  The week prior I had met a “retired” missionary who was part of the missions team from Alabama in Jacmel. He had served in Nigeria for 35 years, was now 81 years old, still going on trips when he had the opportunity.  He told me that his philosophy was .. if the door is open, he is going through it unless God closes it.  You meet all sorts of interesting people that have said yes to God’s call.  I am  always greatly encouraged by their stories of how they heard God’s voice and then responded.

Partnered in Education.  I met with the teachers at Pastor Paul’s school and paid them their back salary through March.  Through the generous contributions, we have enough money to pay the teachers for the rest of the year.  The classrooms are not what you are used to, but they are typical of many classrooms in Haiti.  The church does not have a back wall and has a dirt floor.  There are plans to fix both of those deficiencies.  We also plan to initiate a school lunch program, probably next fall.  I have also been asked to help two other churches start schools for next fall.  Si Bondye Vle (If the Lord wills) we will be supporting three schools and about 200 children next year.  The support will include teachers’ salaries, books, uniforms, and lunches. 

Medical Clinic.  The medical clinic is up and running.  Two weeks ago, a medical team from Alabama came to Jacmel and used the clinic to treat over 550 local residents.  They dispersed over 1500 prescriptions.   It was like a grand opening.  The clinic is managed by Nickson, the Haitian I talked about in my last update.  The clinic is open 4 days a week.   On Friday’s the staff goes to the mountains to provide a clinic in areas that are not reached by the government or other medical clinics.  We are excited about what God is doing to reach the community through medicine and the Gospel.  About 15 people received Christ during the Alabama medical team’s visit.  We have an agreement with the Alabama State Board of Missions to purchase medicine through them, at least until we can establish another source of supply.  God continues to provide in ways that we never imagined.  We are paying 3 staff members (they had been working for free, believing it was better to serve than to just sit at home) and have rented the current facility for the next six months.

Bibles for Haiti.  We have received funding for 100 Bibles which Pathfinder Mission will match as part of our Bibles for Haiti program.  Our ultimate goal is to distribute 1000 Bibles in the Jacmel area.  We will be giving Bibles to local churches for members who can read as well as giving Bibles to local churches who agree to start a reading program for those members who cannot read as a way of improving literacy in their community.

Children’s Hope Construction.  We have been busy improving the septic system, running pipes for drinking water, and installing a water filtration system on the Children’s Hope well.  The work on the second phase of the orphanage will start picking up in early May.  We are going to build three structures, initially: the director’s house and two houses for the current orphans and care givers.  We are encouraging as much Haitian participation as is possible.  When we use North Americans it is for focused periods and for very specific purposes. 

Our ministry ‘bi-line’ is Haitians Helping Haitians (Ayisien Yo Ap Ede Ayisien).  Our intent is to enable Haitians to meet the needs of other Haitians.  We are doing that through the medical clinics, church schools, and construction with Children’s Hope.  We recently put a sign on the medical clinic (above), making Pathfinder Mission’s presence in Haiti, official.

That’s about it for now.  God bless you … Let your light shine!

Charley and Martie

 If you would like to support our work in Haiti visit our website to see how at   www.pathfindermission.org/donations.html