Grace Point Church Global Development - Haiti

Severe Weather Concern

2011-08-21T20:40:00.001-07:00

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti

On Sunday the National Meteorological Center (NJC) issued a Red Alert as Saturday night the strong tropical wave became a tropical storm named Irene.

The path of the system is projected to threaten all the Greater Antilles, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico. The NJC found the storm to have a great potential to become a category 1 hurricane before reaching the Dominican Republic and traversing the island into Haiti, in the next 2 days.

A vigilance level of red has been issued by the National Risk Management and Disaster (PNGRD) which warns of a persistent threat of heavy rain, gale force winds, risks of landslides and floods

I'm Just A Kid, What Can I Do In Haiti?

2011-08-12T19:45:00.001-07:00

This was my first trip to Haiti. I knew last year after the earthquake that I was supposed to go to Haiti. The very first year my mom went to Haiti God promised her that she would go back one day with me. I have been so excited about this trip, but didn't really know what I would do there. My mom reminded me that if I was willing God would use me. Our first full day in Haiti we got to visit House of Hope. It is an orphanage run by Ms. Alice. My mom, dad, and I went there in the morning to see Ms. Alice and ask if the team could come back later. It was really cool to see my mom get to see her friend again. Ms. Alice hugged my mom hard and kept saying, "My friend, my friend." We went back to House of Hope with the team that afternoon. We took a bunch of crayons and pictures so we could color with the kids. It was so much fun. The kids loved having their picture taken.

I loved playing with the kids everywhere we went. It's kind of like that's what God called me to do, just love on kids and play with them. The team teased me saying everywhere we went the thing they heard the most was my name. I made a lot of friends. They really liked playing with my hair, even the moms did. I also helped my mom and Ms. Kay with VBS. I taught the actions to the songs. It was a lot of fun dancing and praising God. I even helped my mom teach the Bible story one day. I mostly sat with the kids and held the little ones on my lap. When we would come back to a church, the kids would start yelling my name. It was kind of funny.

Our last day in Haiti, we got to visit another orphanage. I loved it there. We sang songs and danced with the kids. We also blew up balloons. The kids would ask my mom if I was her daughter. There was one boy that asked my mom that and then said that she is his mom now too. Guess I have a Haitian brother named Demetri now. I loved holding the little ones. I really want a little sister, especially after playing with all the little girls in Haiti. I am praying extra hard that God will send me a sister soon. It would be ok with me if He sent her from Haiti.

I really learned a lot in Haiti. God took me out of my comfort zone. I even did the team devotion one morning. I taught the team a cheer from day camp. I am blessed…to be a blessing! It was just such an awesome experience. I made some really great friend. I really liked the guys at Joy House. They were so much fun and always watched out for me. I'm so glad I went to Haiti and that God showed me that I'm not too small to do stuff for Him. Even just holding babies and loving on kids is important. Anything we do for God isn't useless.

Written by Abby T.

Mountain Top Experience

2011-08-08T18:31:00.001-07:00

It's so hard to just pick one thing that happened in Haiti that left a huge impact on me. This is the 3rd year I've gone to Haiti and this year my 10 year old daughter, Abby, went with us. It was so amazing to see God use her and watch her walk grow, but I think I would have to say my mountain top experience happened on a mountain. This year the team built a house for a young couple that lived on a mountain. The trek up was very difficult for us Americans, especially with supplies. However, when we met the couple, it was well worth it. The young lady was 7 months pregnant and had the sweetest spirit. We were very lucky to have a nurse on our team, Laura, so we checked the young lady's blood pressure, asked how she was feeling, and gave her vitamins and stuff for the baby. (It was kind of like a mini baby shower.) While the guys worked on the house, Laura and I sat and visited with the young lady and some kids. The Holy Spirit prompted me to tell some Bible stories. Even though I had been teaching VBS to the kids during the week, I was not prepared.

I racked my brain for a story and thought of my son, Noah, and his favorite Bible story, so I told them the story of Noah's ark. (I'm sure that surprised you.) The kids were glued and hanging on every word. We talked about the rainbow and how God always keeps His promises. Next we told them the story of when God gave Abraham and Sarah a son. Yet another story of God being a promise keeper. Last we told them the story of David and Goliath. We told them that God uses the willing regardless of size or ability. After we were done telling stories, the young mother-to-be asked if we would name her baby. I have never been so honored. Laura and I talked for a bit and I said that she should name the baby David, so that she would always remember how big our God is. We headed back down the mountain for lunch. I fell twice on the trip down and decided I wouldn't go back up. (To be honest, I was sore and feeling too tired to go up again. I was relying on my strength and not God's.)

The guys went back up the next day to work on the house again. We were going to an orphanage, so most of us didn't go back up the mountain. We went to pick the guys up for lunch, but I stayed at the bottom of the mountain with my daughter and Laura. They came back with a message for me. She thanked me for the stories and said that she missed me. After lunch a small group of guys were headed back up the mountain to finish up the house. I asked if I could go along. When we reached the top, I waited by a tree. Pastor Benito told the young lady that I was back and she came running to meet me. She asked if I had received her message. We sat around and visited. I asked if they would like to hear another story. She was nodding her head excitedly and trying to get the kids to say yes. After they did, she told one to go get me a chair. We sat together and I told them the story of Jesus' birth. We talked about how it was unlike any other birth and how God was willing to humble Himself and be born in a stable for us. I told her that there is nothing special about me, but that God chooses to use me. I encouraged her to tell her baby stories from the Bible.

As we were getting ready to leave for the last time, she promised to have Pastor Benito send me a picture of baby David. I told her that baby David's picture would be hung up in my house when I got it. She told my husband that the baby would be named David even if it's a girl. We prayed for her and her little family and asked God to bless them and let them be a light on the mountain top. I am so thankful to have met her. I will never forget her. She was so thankful for everything we did, even though to us it didn't seem like much. I pray that God will help Baby David to grow strong and do great things for Him in Haiti.
Written by Sarah T

T.S. Emily Causes Little Damage

2011-08-07T16:15:00.001-07:00

Tropical Storm Emily thankfully caused very little damage and took only one persons life as it dissipated as it approached the southern shore of Haiti. Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area which were all affected by the January 2010 earthquake were spared the heavy rainfall and high winds which had been predicted. Only minor flooding was reported north of Port-au-Prince.

John R.

2011-08-03T19:18:00.001-07:00

Please pray for the people of Haiti as tropical storm Emily makes a bee line toward them. Many people are still living in makeshift shelters and tents which could be devastating.

John R.

Home Again

2011-07-29T23:27:00.001-07:00

We have made it home safe and sound. I am sorry that our updates did not post during the week. It seems that there was some trouble with the cell towers in the area of Haiti that we were in. Expect to see an update soon with a trip overview.

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2011-07-29T15:58:00.001-07:00

We have arrived safely in Dallas and all bags are present. Waiting for a shuttle bus to take us to our vehicles. Wayne is flying on to Little Rock & the rest of us will be driving back to NWA. It will be a late night and we are already very tired so please pray for safe travels for all of us. We are looking forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.

-Phillip

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2011-07-29T12:24:00.001-07:00

Boarding flight to DFW. Everyone doing well but wearing down. Will drive back to AR tonite arriving home approx 1 am.

Back in the USA

2011-07-29T10:50:00.001-07:00

We made it through customs and into the right terminal. Found a Chilis and are having some lunch. Kind of disappointed that they don't have beans & rice or goat on the menu but I guess we will make do!

Thank you all so much for your prayers over this past week. God did amazing things in and through us. We still have 1 more flight to Dallas and then a six hour drive home please pray for alertness and safe travel.

- Phillip

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2011-07-29T09:07:00.001-07:00

Landed in ft lauderdale. Three hour layover till next flight. Customs, baggage claim, lunch and ice cream!

2011-07-29T06:14:00.001-07:00

Safely inside gate area of airport. Everyone tired but doing good. Flight leaves for ft lauderdale in one hour and fifteen minutes. John

2011-07-23T08:29:00.001-07:00

Everyone rested well. Sorting supplies and preparing for ministries to begin tomorrow. Hope to visit orphanage near Joy House this afternoon.

2011-07-22T15:07:00.001-07:00

Arrived in Haiti with all team members and bags in tact. Just started two plus hour bus ride to Joy House. Will send update once we arrive there. John R.

Destination... Haiti

2011-07-22T11:22:00.001-07:00

We have boarded our flight to Port Au Prince after a relaxing overpriced lunch at the airport. Updates from this point forward will be short and may be delayed as they will be submitted via text message. Thank you for your prayers! We are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us as we minister to the people of Haiti.

- Phillip

Location:Fort Lauderdale International Airport

2011-07-22T09:12:00.001-07:00

Arrived in Ft Lauderdale. Three hour layover then off to Haiti. Pray all bags arrive with us. Everyone doing well. John R.

2011-07-22T06:09:00.001-07:00

We made it to our first flight after an ordeal with our supplies. Thanks be to God for taking care of the details and getting all our luggage checked. Next stop - Fort Lauderdale!

-Phillip

Location:DFW

Flexibility & airport shuttles

2011-07-22T03:38:00.001-07:00

We are enjoying the last comforts of home as we fuel our day with honey buns & donuts. Our shuttle bus was confiscated by a bunch of airline crew members. I guess that might play a pivotal role in getting to Haiti assuming they are for one of our flights. Anyway, God is already giving us the chance to practice flexibility & patience. Thanks again for your prayers!

- Phillip

2011-07-21T20:09:00.001-07:00

The team made it safely to Dallas where we will hopefully get a good nights rest. It will be a short night as we are heading to the airport @ 5:30 am. Thank you for your continued prayers as we travel into Haiti tomorrow.

- Phillip

2011-07-20T18:44:00.001-07:00

Pray for team as we finish packing and hopefully get a good night of rest. Some are working in the morning and we leave tomorrow afternoon for DFW. John R.

GPC Haiti Team 2011

2011-07-19T17:54:00.001-07:00

Please pray for our team as we travel to DFW this Thursday, July 21. We will be flying out of DFW Friday morning and will arrive in Haiti early evening. In addition to the 11 team members in the photo above, Wayne will be joining us Sunday evening. The team will be working with two churches teaching Bible studies, sewing classes, conducting bible school for the kids and going Hut-to-Hut sharing the gospel.

In addition, we will be helping four families by converting their temporary shelters into a more permanent home. Between 500,000 and 750,000 people remain in tent cities following the January 2010 earthquake. The need for permanent housing remains a high priority.

Thank you to our church family for giving generously to the 2010 Christmas offering which is allowing us to meet multiple needs while we're in Haiti. Also, thank you to our friends and family for supporting us with your prayers, finances and encouraging words.

Please check this blog daily as we plan to send updates often. They will be short entries because we will be texting the updates from my phone.

John Rodgers

Life Will Never Be The Same

2011-07-09T18:08:00.001-07:00

As we have been making preparations for our trip to Haiti this year, we wanted to take a few moments to share some stories about a great friend who recently went home to be with Jesus. Sara Williams went to Haiti with us in 2005 and 2006 and although it has been a few years since she has been to Haiti, she has been a vital part of our prayer support team for each trip since. Even though she didn't go with us the past few years, she has helped with packing, hygiene kits, and saw us off at the airport (at 4am even!!!) almost every time. But, we wanted to share a little about her time with us in Haiti.

I don't remember Sara ever being afraid to do anything. She might mention being nervous, but never enough to keep her from trying. On her first trip to Haiti, she volunteered to teach the hygiene class to women. As we prepared for the class, she asked me to go first so she could get an idea of what she needed to do. We decided to "tag team" it and by the time she got to her second section of teaching, she was already adding the "Sara" flare. She was searching the room to find anything she could get her hands on to use as a prop to demonstrate what she was teaching. She had all of the women on the edge of their seat waiting to see what she would do next! After that first class…there was no stopping her and her enthusiasm grew with everything she did throughout the rest of the week. Whether it was carrying buckets of cement as we poured the roof on Joy House or hugging & kissing on babies, she poured every ounce of energy into it all!

It was hilarious to watch her with the kids. Speaking no Creole, she would say things to them in English, the kids would in turn mimic what she said. She would then laugh because of it and then they would mimic her laugh…which would cause her to laugh harder and the kids would mimic again…and so on! You never had to wonder where Sara was…you just had to listen for a few minutes and then you would know.

If Sara wasn't laughing or making others laugh, she was encouraging or praying for them, or sharing Jesus with them. In Haiti, her witnessing tool was the salvation bracelet using colors to share the gospel. She was passionate about sharing how much God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. She shared God's love with boldness and urgency no matter where she was. Galatians 5:6b says "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." And that is what Sara was all about.

Life will not be the same without Sara…but life will never be the same because of Sara! We miss her a bunch! Check out more stories about Sara at Sarastories on facebook or the blog at Sarastories.net.

Kay Rodgers

One Year Anniversary

2011-01-05T19:49:00.001-08:00

Just one week from today will mark the one year anniversary of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which struck Haiti leaving death and destruction at levels difficult for the mind to comprehend in the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Over the past year, the people of Haiti have also experienced downpours and winds from several tropical storms along with an outbreak of Cholera which has killed nearly 3,500 people to date. In addition, the results of their Presidential election are still uncertain and the runoff election previously scheduled for January 16 has now been postponed.

One organization which was actively working in Haiti prior to the earthquake and has been there throughout the past year is Samaritan's Purse under the leadership of Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham. When I arrived in Haiti less than 3 weeks after the earthquake, Samaritan's Purse tarps being used to provide shelter could be seen everywhere. They have since built hundreds of temporary houses, provided food for tens of thousands of people, taught basic hygiene classes, provided water filtration systems, and are now running several medical clinics treating thousands of Cholera patients.

This coming Sunday, January 9, Franklin Graham will be in Haiti and will be proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the National Soccer Stadium in Port-au-Prince. The stadium will hold 15,000 people but thousands of people live close enough to the stadium to hear the message clearly. Michael W. Smith along with several other Christian singers will also be taking part in the program.

Beginning at 12:30 central time on Sunday, people around the world will be able to take part in this incredible event via the internet. The website is: WWW. Samaritanspurse.org/Haitilive. I encourage you to be involved by watching this event and praying for the people of Haiti to open their hearts to the call of the Holy Spirit on their lives. Please pray for Franklin Graham, Michael W. Smith and the hundreds of Samaritan's Purse volunteers and employees as they make preparations for this life changing event.

Sincerely,
John Rodgers

Haiti Update

2010-12-14T16:44:00.001-08:00

For the first time in several days, American Airlines resumed flights in and out of Port-au-Prince today. Unrest over Presidential election results continues but with much less intensity. North American foreign ministers are pressuring the Haitian government to recount the votes from the election in order to verify the results.

As for the Cholera outbreak, the official death toll now stands at 2,323. However, the recent violence has hampered relief efforts, and as a result, there is some indication the death toll may not be accurate. Please ask God to be with the people of Haiti and return the sense of calm which had been prevalent for the past several months.

In an effort to assure the Haitian people they have not been forgotten in their great time of need, Franklin Graham of Samaritans Purse along with Sarah Palin visited Haiti over the weekend. One of their stops was one of Samaritans Purse cholera treatment clinics in Cite Soleil, an extremely poverty stricken area of Port-au-Prince.

John Rodgers

Pray, Pray, Pray

2010-12-08T20:27:00.001-08:00

The results of Haiti's highly contested presidential election were announced today setting off riots and protests all over Port-au-Prince. As a result, American Airlines canceled all flights for the next two days and now the PAP International Airport has been closed. The run-off election is set for January 16 to determine Haiti's next president.

Unfortunately, with the airport closed, it will be extremely difficult for aid workers to get into Haiti to help with the rebuilding efforts following the earthquake and to provide medical assistance with the Cholera epidemic. The latest counts indicate 2,120 people have died and over 93,000 have been infected.

John Rodgers

Death Toll Exceeds 1,700

2010-11-29T15:46:00.001-08:00

The official death toll has now reached 1,721 and nearly 76,000 people have now contracted Cholera since the outbreak began last month. The U.N. has asked for $160 Million in aid over the next year to attempt to keep the Cholera from spreading at a rampant pace.

As for the Presidential election, 12 of the 18 candidates have asked for the election results to be thrown out amidst questionable activities, lack of ballots, polling places not open, etc. So far, there seems to be no indication the election results will be thrown out. The official results are not expected to be announced until December 7th at the earliest. If none of the candidates attains 50% plus one vote, a run-off will then take place.

John Rodgers

Remember Haiti this Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T15:01:00.001-08:00

The death toll has now reached 1,523 from the Cholera epidemic. Of those lives lost, 140 of them have been in Port-au-Prince. Since the onset, nearly 28,000 people have been treated in hospitals for confirmed cases of Cholera. Some say the numbers are actually much higher due to those who never made it to a hospital or clinic for treatment and, therefore, have not been counted.

This Sunday, November 28 the presidential elections are scheduled to take place. There are 18 candidates in the running to replace sitting President Preval who is about to finish his two term limit.

Please pray for God's will to be done in all of the challenges facing the people of Haiti at this time.

John Rodgers

Cholera and Unrest

2010-11-19T05:13:00.001-08:00

Cholera continues to spread with 18,500 people hospitalized since the onset of the outbreak. The death toll has risen to just over 1,100. Medical experts are expecting the cholera epidemic to take from several months to even a few years to run it's course in Haiti.

Tensions remain high with the presidential election scheduled for November 28th. Protests aimed at the United Nations have now spread to the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Please pray for the people of Haiti to remain calm.

John Rodgers

Death Toll Reaches 1,000

2010-11-16T17:23:00.001-08:00

Several news reports now indicate the death toll from the Cholera outbreak has grown to just over 1,000. In addition, the total number of people hospitalized with Cholera since the outbreak began now stands at just under 17,000. Nearly $200 million has been committed to help with the outbreak with nearly $90 million being slated for permanent clean water distribution systems.

Tensions are high with reports of unrest in the north coast town of Cap-Haitien where demonstrators have began protesting against the U.N. The frustration with the U.N. is due to initial reports the Cholera outbreak came from a Nepalese U.N. camp's sewage system leaking into a river which provides drinking water for a large number of people in the surrounding valley. The U.N. camp has now been cleared from fault as the source of the outbreak.

Please pray for the people of Haiti to remain calm. Protests in Haiti have a history of getting out of hand. The last thing the country of Haiti needs at this time is to create a situation where the relief workers who are treating those who are sick find themselves in a dangerous situation and have to leave the country.

John Rodgers

Desperate Need for Housing

2010-11-13T16:22:00.001-08:00

The latest news articles are now showing the death toll from the Cholera outbreak has now grown to over 800 with the total number of people infected at between 11,000 and 12,000. Approximately 200 cases have now been recorded in Cite Sole which is an extremely poor area between the airport and Carrefour.

With more than 1.2 million people still living in tent cities, the conditions are ideal for the continued rapid spread of the disease. It is difficult for me to understand why only approximately one fourth of the over $5 BILLION dollars raised for the rebuilding of Haiti has actually made it there to date! It seems to me $3.75 BILLION would build a significant amount of housing to get the people out of the conditions they are currently living in.

Most of the organizations which were building transitional housing have greatly reduced or stopped in anticipation of a mandated shift to permanent housing construction which was to have began in January, 2011. However, the meeting between the Haitian government and several other governments & relief organizations to discuss housing requirements has been postponed numerous times. The meeting is now slated for next March!

Please pray these funds will be released and suffering peoples need for shelter will be met quickly.

John Rodgers

Hurricane and Cholera Update

2010-11-09T16:54:00.001-08:00

Hurricane Tomas brought far less damage than first feared. Approximate 30 people either lost their lives or are listed as missing. The city of Leagone which is located approximately 15 miles west of Joy House experienced significant flooding. This is the city where the mission church which the GPC team worked with is located.

As for the Cholera outbreak, the news is not good. The death toll is now approaching 600 with over 9,000 reported as being infected. The most distressing news emerged today - the first case of Cholera in Port-au-Prince! The infected child had not traveled to the area where the outbreak began nor been exposed to anyone from the affected area. The exposure to Cholera happened in the Tent City where the child lives!

Prior to the earthquake, sanitation was limited to non-existent. Since the earthquake, many latrines have been built but not enough to accommodate the 1.2 million people still living in tent cities. With the heavy rains from Hurricane Tomas, officials fear the sewage will spread the Cholera very rapidly through the city.

Please pray for the people of Haiti. Ask God to stop the spread of this terrible disease which could wipe out thousands of people in a very short amount of time.

Thanks for your prayers,
John Rodgers

Prayer for Haiti

2010-11-05T06:18:00.001-07:00

Please pray fervently for the people of Haiti today. Just 10 months after the devastating earthquake in January, a Cholera outbreak has taken the lives of over 400 people and infected approximately 7,000.

As I write this update, Hurricane Tomas is beginning to pound Haiti with 85 mph winds and torrential rains. With well over 1 Million people living in tents and makeshift coverings, the potential for increased death and destruction seems eminent. The likelihood of massive mudslides and further widespread destruction is mind boggling.

The potential for the Cholera outbreak to spread as a result of the Hurricane and destruction it may cause is frightening. Please ask God to be with the people of Haiti and show Himself for who He is. Ask him to bring comfort and peace to those who have experienced more pain and suffering than most of us will experience in a lifetime.

John Rodgers

2010-09-19T06:30:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the prayers. Roxanne has boarded the flight - scheduled to depart in 20 minutes.

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2010-09-19T05:53:00.001-07:00

Pray for roxanne clement. Stuck in pap traffic and flight departs in 1 hour. John

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Joyful Weddings

2010-09-17T17:00:00.001-07:00

Over the past several months, several people involved with Joy House Ministries have had a burden to see couples in the local Haitian churches who are living together to be able to get married. Most churches will allow unwed couples to attend services but are not allowed to be baptized or join the church.

As a result of a lot of prayer, donations of accessories (wedding dresses, men's suits, rings, etc.) and many hours of volunteer work under Norma's leadership, the Joyful Wedding project was born. Tomorrow, Saturday, September 18th, the first 4 couples will be married in a ceremony at Jesus Church at Santos. Following the wedding, each couple and 50 of their invited guests will be attending a reception hosted by Norma, Roxanne and Cheryl at Joy House.

Roxanne Clement, who was a member of our Grace Point Team in early August is in Haiti preparing for the wedding and sent the following message this morning: "Good Morning! Just a little update, the Joyful Wedding project is going great. I've spent the last 3 days doing dress fittings, decorating, and building relationships. Cheryl came yesterday and brought more wedding stuff, exactly what we needed. We're seeing God's hand all over this project already. Thanks for all your prayers!!"

Helping couples to be able to get married is a huge need in Haiti. Their culture requires them to spend a significant amount of money on their weddings and an elaborate meal for the reception. With Haiti being the poorest country in the western hemisphere, saving enough money for a proper wedding is virtually impossible. Therefore, most couples never get married. Please pray this ministry will be a huge blessing to the people of the Gressier area and beyond.

John & Kay Rodgers

Back in NWA

2010-09-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

We arrived back in NWA Friday evening. Even though we are glad to be home with Tim, we miss our friends and family in Haiti. We were able to follow-up on ministry done by the Grace Point Team in early August and explore new opportunities for teams in the future.

Kay and I will be updating the blog as we have time to get our thoughts together over the next few days.

Thanks for your prayers,
John & Kay Rodgers

2010-09-10T16:23:00.001-07:00

Leave dfw for xna in 10 min.

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2010-09-10T12:19:00.001-07:00

Boarded fll to dfw flight. Depart in 15 min.

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2010-09-10T08:39:00.001-07:00

Just landed in fort lauderdale ... Early. Waiting for ground crew to park us @ gate.

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2010-09-10T06:38:00.001-07:00

Just now boarded flight from pap to fll for 8:50 departure - too close for comfort !!

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2010-09-10T05:19:00.001-07:00

Just now passing the "recycle" pit. "We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there."

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2010-09-10T04:38:00.001-07:00

Traveling thru pap - very heavy traffic. Flight leaves in just over 2 hours!

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2010-09-09T09:20:00.001-07:00

Kay @ gran savon with daniel & team. Working with local mothers as part of the daniel project.

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2010-09-08T15:32:00.001-07:00

Back @ joy house. Very heavy rain storm in progress. Begin wrapping up to leave friday morn.

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2010-09-08T12:22:00.001-07:00

Traveling back to gressier. 2 hours to go. Great experience in l'azile w/ roland & benito's families.

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2010-09-08T06:44:00.001-07:00

Making 3 hour trip to remote mountain village of l'azile. Roland, benito, & samuel's hometown.

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2010-09-07T17:14:00.001-07:00

Watching lightning storm over the bay from roof of joy house ... Incredible!

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2010-09-07T11:56:00.001-07:00

House finished this morning. Plan to work on daniel project this afternoon.

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2010-09-07T06:47:00.001-07:00

Team working on second house. Kay and i are going to prepare donated items for distribution.

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2010-09-06T17:03:00.001-07:00

Team finished house this p.m. Kay and i worked on articles for joy house newsletter

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2010-09-06T09:26:00.001-07:00

Two people baptized identifying themselves with christ. Team now building a transitional house.

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2010-09-06T06:04:00.001-07:00

Cool night - great sleep. Headed to beach for baptism @ 9.

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2010-09-05T16:29:00.001-07:00

Revival service in progress @ jesus church @ santos. Praise and worship service is awesome!

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2010-09-05T09:13:00.001-07:00

Reginald's last day @ jesus church @ santos. Leaving to study in france for 1 to 2 years.

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2010-09-05T08:21:00.001-07:00

Gran savon church in midst of 2 week prayer vigil ... 6 a.m. To noon daily! Dedication.

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2010-09-05T08:08:00.001-07:00

Uninhibited Worship with 150 believers @gran savon church ... Priceless!

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2010-09-04T19:02:00.001-07:00

Safe and sound @ joy house. Just finished dinner ... Off to bed soon. Plan to attend benito's church tomorrow a.m.

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2010-09-04T17:33:00.001-07:00

Sitting in traffic in a very familiar spot ... In a thunder storm! More to come ...

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2010-09-04T14:48:00.001-07:00

All luggage made it. Now driving thru port-au-prince on way to joy house. Al is well.

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2010-09-04T11:40:00.001-07:00

30 minutes past departure time. Waiting for maintenance paperwork before we can leave gate.

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2010-09-04T09:59:00.001-07:00

Arrived in miami. Board port-au-prince flight in 10 min. Looking forward to seeing our friends in haiti.

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Travel Day - Saturday

2010-09-03T19:14:00.001-07:00

Please pray for us as we travel to Haiti tomorrow, Saturday, September 4. Joe Patterson and a team of 5 people from a church in Fayetteville will also be traveling on the same flights. We will be sending updates to the blog from via text messages from my phone and hope to be able to send more detailed updates once we arrive at Joy House.

John & Kay

All You Need Is God

2010-08-28T16:46:00.001-07:00

Well, I didn't really know what to expect when going to Haiti after the earthquake. But it was really just the same. All of the chaos and people going everywhere was exactly how it was. The only difference was that there was broken buildings and tents everywhere. The smells were the same and everything seemed basically normal in Haiti.

But what I noticed is that the people were still the same, which is a good thing. Most of everyone we came across was happy, like they have always been. I think it's awesome that people can be so joyful with all of the devastation that they have been through. That is pretty impactful to me, because it shows me that you don't really need anything to be happy. All you need is God.

(Written by Tim Rodgers - Team Member)

What Can Be Better Than That !

2010-08-27T16:11:00.001-07:00

The Haiti trip was simply amazing. One of the things that was a Blessing to me was the Churches we worked with while we were there. They might not have a Church building like we do in the U.S., but that doesn't mean that they are not working hard winning people to Christ. The Church we attended the Sunday we were in Haiti is up on a steep hill next to Joy House. The Church was destroyed in the earthquake, so they are meeting under tarps to at least shield them from the sun.

Despite the heat and not having a building or the fact they have to climb a steep hill to get there, the Church was packed with people. The service was much like a service we would have here with singing, followed by preaching, and then more singing. One of the things that struck me was when they got to the weekly announcements at the end of the service. They announced that Monday was the women's Bible study and Tuesday they were going out to visit those who weren't at Church that day, and it seemed that they had something planned for each day that week.

This is a living, breathing body of Christ kind of Church. These people want to worship, they want to learn more about God, and they are excited about Jesus. This Church doesn't have air-conditioning, a fancy sound system, praise band, indoor plumbing, or anything. They don't even have a building! But they came to Church because of Jesus and the love they have for Him! And apparently Jesus is enough.

There were so many special moments all during the week. One of my favorite moments was during the last Vacation Bible Class. It was the story of Jonah and the Whale. You could tell the kids were really enjoying it, except for the little girl from the orphanage who fell asleep on my lap. At the end of the story Kay Rodgers did a marvelous job by walking the kids through a message of salvation. When she asked if anyone would like to accept Jesus as their personal Savior, a woman shot her hand in the air. It was like she was sitting on a spring just waiting for someone to show her the way. A total of eleven people came to know Jesus that day. (10 kids and 1 mommy)

Our team was Blessed by participating in so many activities during the week. There were the Kids Bible Schools, a food distribution, a shoes and clothing distribution, and the building of temporary houses are just a few that come to mind. But if I had to choose one thing that was the most special to me, it would be the "hut-to-hut" witnessing. It was wonderful talking with the people, praying with them, and in a few awesome instances, leading them to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. What can be better than that!

(Written by Kyle C. - Team Member)

Taking Ownership of the Gospel

2010-08-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

I have gone to Haiti many times now. This time was very different for me. It seems after the earthquake the people of Haiti are changing. When, I talked to people about the Lord, I was told that they were going to a Christian church. Some people were even going out on the streets to tell people about the Lord. This is not normal in Haiti because of the Voodoo religion. It was good to see the people "Take Ownership" of the gospel and spreading the good news of Jesus in Haiti. This was the first time that I have seen the Lord moving in this way.

I have a strong love for my brothers and sisters in Haiti. We need more committed people to go and help out. There are two things that I find out on every mission trip:

1. God's work is so important!
2. Before I can serve God, I have to move out of the spotlight so the Lord can shine in me!

I am not a member of Grace Point Church but this is the second year I have been part of the Haiti mission team. You at Grace Point, are very blessed to have John and Kay leading your teams in Haiti. They have a "true love" for the people in Haiti. Last of all, I would be happy to talk with your church as part of a "Mission Day" program about Haiti. I have already started the wheels turning for a trip in January. God's work in Haiti has changed my life. Please don't be afraid to let God's work change yours!

(Written by Leon B. - Team Member)

Expanding Tents & God's Kingdom

2010-08-25T15:28:00.001-07:00

Two months after the earthquake my mom and I spent five weeks in Haiti. We hosted teams that worked tirelessly to rebuild Haiti's crumbled country. I saw the joy of each Haitian family as they moved into their temporary houses. Their joy was so amazing to me because the house that was built for them was a simple 12 x 12 wooden framed structure with a metal roof and tarps for walls. But you see the Haitians have hope, they have a vision and a promise for a future! These are the same people that struggled in a tropical storm to secure a single tarp as it whipped in the wind weeks ago, now they have the safety of a home. And six months latter those people have added on to that simple wooden framed structure by adding more rooms, metal, push out walls and lean-tos.

Haitians live in a community driven society. They take care of those without ... even the poor takes care of the poor! So a single family can push out the walls to their home to give them the ability to house family and friends. They live in tent cites so that they can all share things. And when it comes to food, one family may have rice and the other has beans ... and another has meat ... they pull everything together for one great stew.

Isaiah 54:2-4 says:

2 Make your tent bigger;
stretch it out and make it wider.
Do not hold back.
Make the ropes longer
and its stakes stronger,

3 because you will spread out to the right and to the left.
Your children will take over other nations,
and they will again live in cities that once were destroyed.

4 "Don't be afraid, because you will not be ashamed.
Don't be embarrassed, because you will not be disgraced.

I went to Haiti believing that I was going to help the Haitians ... and actually I learned so much from them about my Christian life. I learned to be satisfied with the gifts God gives me and use them to the fullest. I also learned the importance of working together as a group of fellow believers. God blesses each one of us with special abilities that he wants us to use to reach the world. The more we use those abilities the wider our reach is for Him. The more we reach out to the world the stronger we are!! The most important thing I learned is that our life is all about adding to God's kingdom!

(Written by Daina K. - Team Member)

Norma Back in Haiti

2010-08-23T18:18:00.001-07:00

Norma returned home from Haiti for some much needed rest in early August and is now back in Haiti making preparations for more teams to arrive at Joy House. Please pray for Norma and the Joy House team as they ramp up to accommodate volunteer teams over the next couple weeks.

The Grace Point Team would like to formally thank Norma and the Joy House team for all of their hard work while we were there the first week of August. Thanks for all the great food, comfortable accommodations, safe transportation, accurate translation, and great Christian fellowship. Even though you were all very tired from having non-stop teams for several weeks before our arrival, you went above and beyond the call of duty and were a vital part of all God accomplished through the Grace Point Team.

John

Open My Eyes Lord

2010-08-19T14:10:00.001-07:00

This was my third trip to Haiti. I've gone with Grace Point on two of their previous trips and I've seen God do amazing things. However, it still didn't prepare me for what God had planned. He opened my eyes to things that I had missed over the past two years and even allowed me to face personal struggles that I had been dealing with for months. It really is amazing to see what God can do when you take away all of the distractions that you allow into your daily life. No television, internet, facebook, cell phone...It reminds me of something that I heard, although I can't remember where- "Americans are busy doing nothing." When I'm in Haiti, I feel purpose in everything that I do. Even in times of rest, we're so joyous! Spending time talking to your friends rather than watching a movie can do surprising things in friendships, as I learned very clearly. : )

One experience that I want to share is a conversation that I had with a young woman who was only a few years older than me. She had two babies sitting on her lap, one of which shared my name. : ) I asked her what had happened to her during the earthquake, and it turned out that she was actually giving birth to her triplets in a hospital. She said that when the walls started shaking, she began screaming for Jesus to save her. Although one of her children didn't make it, she told me that Jesus had saved her other two children, as well as herself. Hearing that she had called out for Jesus and that she now gave Him the credit for saving her, I assumed that she had a relationship with Him. I told her that I was so happy to hear that God had saved them, and that I knew that He had a special plan for her two children. As I was getting up to leave, she began speaking to the translator, who then told me that she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart. She was trying to tell me that Jesus had saved them from the earthquake, and so she now trusted Him and wanted Him as her Savior. I had failed to ask her about her relationship with Jesus. I assumed, and it was the wrong assumption. Had it been only me, I would have walked away. Fortunately, it wasn't only me. God was there, and He impressed upon the woman what needed to be done. Despite my own failures, I have a new sister in Christ!

I thank God that he allowed me to experience this. Talking to people about God is one of the most intimidating things in the world for me to do. However, what I learned is that although God uses me, He doesn't need me. What I mean is that God wants me to go, to witness, to encourage. And I want to do these things more than anything in the world, but there are times when I'm going to fail. Thankfully, God is sovereign, and my failure is not His failure. Even if I mess up tremendously, like I did with this woman, God will be there. What I am praying for now is that I can take this with me to college. I don't want to let fears or timidness or insecurities block me from becoming a young woman who tells of her love for God. So please pray for me. I really don't believe that this mission is supposed to end quite yet! : )

(Written by Mindi F. - Team Member)

Nothing Prepares You For Haiti

2010-08-18T16:08:00.001-07:00

No amount of preparation is enough, watching CNN or Fox News won't do it, nor will devouring everything on the Internet - not my mission trip to Africa – nor listening to the stories of those who have gone before me. Nothing could have prepared me for visiting the poorest country in the western hemisphere, after it was hit by a devastating earthquake. Nothing prepares you for Haiti. Nothing!

I wasn't prepared to see the small children living amidst the piles of garbage, to see them bathing in pot holes in the street –using dirty infected water for bathing and I certainly wasn't prepared for the children living in tents on the median – with cars flying by – smoke from burning plastic seeping into their tents along with exhaust fumes from vehicles. I wasn't prepared to see God's most precious children in such desperate need.

We met Madam Yvonne whose sister died in the earthquake and who now lives with her sister's five children along with her own three in what appeared to be a two person tent. It is hard to judge the age of children in Haiti because of malnutrition, but I would guess that these eight children were all under the age of 9. When asked what she needed most, Yvonne quickly said shelter for the children.

I also wasn't prepared for how happy these children are to see you, how much love they will offer you and how in such a short time, they will simply capture your heart. As we walked from hut-to-hut in Leagone – we had children happily chatting to us in Creole – holding our hands, arms and the wee little one with the big brown eyes who held onto my skirt because she was too small to reach my hand.

As I tucked my grand baby into bed last night, with his Land before Time movie and a glass of water, I thought of those small children in Haiti who have none of these items – most importantly they don't have the basic essentials – a dry place to lay their head – food – basic hygiene items – clothing.

I wasn't prepared to feel so helpless or for God to lay such a burden on my heart – these children will forever hold a piece of my heart. God has blessed me mightily by sending me to Haiti and I feel a great responsibility to continue helping in some capacity.

(Written by Mary B. - Team Member)

Overwhelming Joy

2010-08-17T14:48:00.001-07:00

At first glance, all I saw in Haiti were blue tarps, collapsed buildings, and four wheeler trails for roads. Trash was everywhere, and the smells made me sick to my stomach. I could not believe people could live there.

When we attended church on Sunday, I saw something you could never see in the States. Under boards and a tarp, 100+ people worshipped God for two and a half hours in the blistering heat. Mud from the rain the night before covered the children's feet. I wondered how far they had walked to get there, but their joy was inspiring. Everyone was smiling. I felt privileged to be there.

I saw the same joy in people's lives throughout the week. I could not understand why people seemed happy. I saw devastation, but everyone was content with the little they had.

My trip to Haiti changed the way I view my life. Could I be joyful in their situation? Honestly, I do not think I could. I went to Haiti to help the Haitians. I left thanking God for how they helped me.

(Written by Blake R. - Team Member)

All For His Glory ...

2010-08-16T15:31:00.001-07:00

When I know that I don't deserve anything from Him, God chooses to bless me beyond anything I could think of. I've never been more aware of that then while in Haiti. It was incredible to serve God in Haiti alongside some of the best friends I've ever had. One of the greatest blessings that He shared with me was a new friendship with one particular Haitian guy that began during that week.

I met Jin Johnny at the very end of our first morning of hut-to-hut witnessing in Leogane. My group was waiting on the other teams to finish when I saw a young guy watching us as he walked past. I called him over and began talking to him about his life. He is 21. His mom died when he was young and his dad died during the earthquake in January. He wants to be an engineer someday, but he is only at the 5th grade level right now. He said Haiti is a difficult place to live and he wants to move to the US or France, but he doesn't have the money yet. In turn, I told him about my life, and then, we discussed our relationships with God. He knew the Bible well and told me about his prayers and his church (about a 45 minute walk away). I encouraged him to be a leader around his family and friends and told him how glad I was that God led me to meet him. I saw him once more that afternoon at the bible study in Leogane, and we hated to say goodbye so soon.

In the few minutes that we talked, God showed me that I could just as easily have been me in Jin's shoes struggling to live my best for him in the situation he had been born into. But for no particular reason, God chose for me to be in a very different situation. I have both of my amazing parents. I have more material things than I could ever use. I have money in my bank account, and I know that when I get hungry, food will be waiting. I take a shower or two everyday. There is gas in my tank, and I sleep between clean sheets in a soft bed under a stable roof that I don't worry might collapse each night. After being in Haiti, it's hard not to feel guilty about having so much.

I know now that I have more resources at my disposal than I could ever use efficiently. I don't know why God chose to bless me like this, but I am learning through His love that I want to do everything I can to use what He has given me to bring Him more glory and to continue to share my life with people like Jin. Please pray for him and all of Haiti while the number of people that seek to glorify God daily continues to grow there!

(Written by Mac H. - Team Member)

Overwhelming Peace

2010-08-15T06:37:00.001-07:00

Haiti captured my heart several years ago. Now, I feel as if I leave part of myself there each time I go - but, I also bring more and more of Haiti home with me when I leave. The relationships that have been built over the years are special blessings, and each trip brings more new friends.

Pastor Benito is one of those special people that we have worked with for the past six years. He has been our translator each trip, but the past couple of years we have worked with him to reach out to the people in the community surrounding his church. He is a very humble, quiet and gentle man, but he has helped us to proclaim the Good News of Christ with boldness.

A few weeks ago, Benito shared with us about a new church that he and another pastor helped start near Leogane after the earthquake. He asked us if we would be interested in working with him in this area. Of course we were excited at the opportunity.

We arrived at the "tent" church and Pastor Benito introduced us to Pastor Joshua. John and I had the privilege of sitting down with both of them and hearing their story of how this church began. Right after the earthquake, they had been preaching each night in the tent cities and several people gave their life to Christ. These new believers needed a church to help them grow in their relationship with Christ, so Benito and Joshua helped make that happen. This church began meeting in April and has been averaging 40 on Sunday mornings, and they have been meeting a couple of nights a week for prayer and Bible Study.

Before we finished, the four of us spent some time praying for our team, the ministries planned for the afternoon, and for the people of this church and community. This was one of the most incredible experiences of this trip for me. Benito and Joshua prayed in Creole, and even though I didn't understand every word they prayed, there was an overwhelming peace that flooded that tent. I knew that we were all one in heart and that God had great things in store for this church and its leaders. I thank God for a new friend and I pray His blessings on Joshua and his family. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of what God is doing through this new church. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Kay Rodgers

Thoughts on Haiti

2010-08-13T15:54:00.001-07:00

My favorite place to visit in Haiti is Gran Savanne, and Tuesday morning we were going home to home sharing the salvation of Jesus Christ. On the beaten path, a little boy grabs my hand and we begin walking through the village together. As we walk down the road, I am pointing to things I see and asking him the name of the objects. In my broken Creole I manage to ask him where other children are, so he takes our evangelism group from house to house looking for children to tell them of the Bible Club that we would be having later that day.

So here I am, walking with a little boy, hand in hand, on a dusty dirt road, thinking to myself, "This is what I've always wanted to do, and this is who I've always wanted to be." In my heart I've always dreamed of being someone who goes into the remote villages, tries to learn the language, and tells people about Jesus Christ. I almost came to tears on that road. God has made us all so different and with different giftings. If we were all feet, who would be the hands? If we were all eyes, who would be the mouth? God made me to be feet, and on our trip I truly was feet. Beautiful feet that went and shared the good news of Christ.

(Written by Kerrie B. - Team Member)

1 Timothy 4:12

2010-08-12T15:48:00.001-07:00

A song by Hillsong titled "Hosanna" seemed fitting for this experience. The song says "I see a generation rising up to take their place, with selfless faith. I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek, we're on our knees." The kids of Haiti will be the new generation whom I believe is going to change Haiti. The song continues "Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks yours, everything I am for your kingdoms cause, as I go from nothing to eternity." This trip opened up my eyes and broke my heart for the despair that this country and the people are in.

The children is where my heart is called to. Our last Bible school was one of my favorite parts of this trip. We went to Carrefour for this one and again had somewhere around 200 people in the church. We had done the story of David and Goliath at all the other Bible schools and decided we needed something different. It was put together all kind of last minute which really allowed God to work it all out instead of us. God pointed us to the story of Jonah and the whale. Jonah is about a man whom God called to talk to a city called Nineveh because they were not living for God. Jonah was too scared though so he thought he could get on a ship and run away. God sent a storm so Jonah was sent overboard. He was swallowed by a whale where he stayed for 3 days.

Jonah prayed and told God he would follow his will so God tossed him back on land and he went to Nineveh. So there's a little more to the story than that but this is my short version so you can understand what we talked to the kids about. I had felt a little like Jonah all week, being nervous about talking to people about God and praying a lot for courage and boldness and the right words to speak, which he always provides! That's why God placed me up there to talk to these people. I was honest with everyone about being nervous but stressed the importance of following Gods will and sharing Christ with others. We talked about how God wants to have a relationship with people and what that looks like. God is like a best friend. You talk to him through prayer, learn about him by reading the Bible, and spend time with him in church. Then Kay spoke about what Jesus did for us and how we can have a relationship with God.

That day 11 people made a decision for Christ. These hearts were healed and made clean and these people really are going from nothing to eternity. It is so exciting to know that those 11 people will never be the same, their lives are changed because they know God. They have the potential to change the people around them. 1 Timothy 4:12 says "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." These kids will set an example and I believe they will make a difference in many people's lives. Children set a great example of love, faith, and purity and I learned a lot from them while we were in Haiti.

(Written by Bridgett C. - Team Member)

They Blessed Me!

2010-08-11T15:29:00.001-07:00

I don't even know where to begin. I first want to thank John and Kay Rodgers
for the tremendous amount of time and effort they spent planning the trip,
training our team, and being incredible servant leaders to all of us. Their
heart for Haiti is very evident and I learned so much by their example. Each
day we were there was amazing in it's own way. It's hard to choose one
particular event to write about because there are so many.

The time we spent at Lifeline Orphanage in Carrefour was definitely special
to me. I fell in love with the children there and didn't want to leave when
it was time to go. Although they have little in material possessions, their
smiles were contagious as they sang and danced for us. We gave them balloons
and blew bubbles with them and their laughter was like the sound of music to
my ears. I went there to bless them and instead they blessed me!

One moment that I can't forget is on Friday August 6th, our last full day of
ministry, we built a transition home for a lady who attends Jesus Church at
Santos. Some members of our team were talking with her and her family and I
noticed the lady kept smiling as she watched her house go up. Just as we
were finishing, I walked around to the back side of the house to take a
photo. As I came around the corner, there stood this lady with her hands in
the air, her eyes closed, and she was obviously praising and thanking God
for her new home, and dedicating it to the Lord! I stood there quietly not
wanting to interrupt her prayer meeting. When she opened her eyes she looked
at me and smiled and I gave her a big hug. Even though I couldn't speak her
language, there was an understanding between us and I felt God's presence so
strong. In my heart I was praising God with her! I'll never forget her
smile, the look of thankfulness in her eyes, and the love of God on her
face. Just like those children at Lifeline Orphanage, we were there to bless
her by building a shelter for her family, yet she blessed me far beyond what
she'll ever know!

(Written by Roxanne C. - Team Member)

Much Needed Shoes

2010-08-10T16:26:00.001-07:00

Thank you to the Grace Point Family for the shoes which were donated in the month of July. Our team was able to take 180 pairs on this trip. On our last full day in Haiti, we distributed not only the shoes but also many of the clothes which Grace Point members donated in the weeks following the earthquake. Between 80 & 100 families in the area surrounding Joy House were blessed by your generosity.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of many people who are struggling to put their lives back together following the largest natural disaster in recent history.

John & Kay Rodgers

Baby Blankets

2010-08-09T18:54:00.001-07:00

One of the things that really affected me on the trip to Haiti this year was during the Baby Blanket Ministry. As I gathered the blankets from the different women back home, I looked forward to seeing the babies' faces and how sweet the babies would look when we presented the blankets to them. All along I was focused on how it would affect the babies & small children.

But more and more I began to see how it impacted the mothers of these little ones as well. In a way it was a baby dedication for the mothers. The mom's whole expression changed from being excited about getting a free blanket, to realizing how important these little lives are to women in the United States who have never even met them. How women from another part of the world prayed for these little ones to make a difference in their lives. Something as simple as putting a little blanket together can express the unconditional love of our Lord & Savior.

(Written by Rita R. - Team Member)

Shelter From the Storm

2010-08-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

One of the ministries which our Grace Point Team had the privilege of being a part of was building transitional housing. During our 7 days there the team was able to build 4 shelters for families who desperately needed them. With hurricane season at hand, the need for adequate shelter is overwhelming.

Tent cities spread as far as the eye can see. Many people have built makeshift shelters in the median of an unbelievable busy highway, risking the lives of their family members in order to find shelter from the storms.

Joy House has an awesome opportunity for the foreseeable future. Another major Christian based ministry has agreed to provide materials for as many transitional homes as they have the manpower to build! Anyone interested in going to help with constructing these homes can contact me for further information.

Thanks,
John

Back in Arkansas

2010-08-08T00:05:00.001-07:00

The team arrived safe and sound in Northwest Arkansas at 1:00 a.m. this morning. Three suitcases failed to make the connection in Miami but should arrive Sunday afternoon or Monday. Once we've had a little rest, we will be updating the blog with highlights from this trip.

Thanks for all your prayers.

John

Almost Home

2010-08-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

I talked to John a little bit ago. They are now en route from Miami to Tulsa. We are in Tulsa waiting for them to arrive. Please continue to pray for safe travel, both air and ground. We should be back in NWA shortly after midnight.

A big thanks to John Sickels for driving one of the vans to help transport the team!

- phillip

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

2010-08-07T14:52:00.001-07:00

Landed in miami - 2 hrs. To get thru immigration, customs, eat & make connection.

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2010-08-07T12:42:00.001-07:00

We have boarded pap to mia flight. Scheduled to depart in 20 min.

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2010-08-07T11:01:00.001-07:00

Everyone checked in & waiting @ gate. Flight departs in 2 hrs. All tired but in good spirits.

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2010-08-07T08:11:00.001-07:00

Just left joy house for airport - 1 & half to 2 hour trip depending on traffic.

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2010-08-07T07:09:00.001-07:00

Rained for several hours last night - difficult to sleep knowing hundreds of thousands sleeping in tents.

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2010-08-07T07:04:00.001-07:00

Distributed clothing & shoes to between 80 & 100 families yesterday afternoon.

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2010-08-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

House finished. Mountain of clothing to be sorted & prepared for distribution later this afternoon.

2010-08-06T05:39:00.001-07:00

House # 4 to be built this morning. Will distribute clothing & shoes this afternoon.

2010-08-05T16:46:00.001-07:00

Great afternoon - 250 kids (& some adults) in bible school. Several prayed to receive Christ today!

2010-08-05T12:17:00.001-07:00

Walking streets of carrefour inviting kids to bible school. Will have sewing & hygiene classes for adults.

2010-08-05T11:08:00.001-07:00

Loading bus for hour drive to carrefour. Everyone tired & hot - pray for strength & wisdom.

2010-08-05T08:46:00.001-07:00

House completed in 2 hrs. 3 teams out witnessing in gressier. Pastor eddie's church in carrefour this afternoon.

2010-08-04T17:01:00.001-07:00

The team would like thank Sara T for spending a sleepless night writing notes for each day we're here. Each days note has been a huge blessing & very fitting for the specific day it was written for. God bless you Sarah.

2010-08-04T16:53:00.001-07:00

Everyone had great time with 70 kids @ lifeline orphanage. Plan to build another house tomorrow morning.

2010-08-04T09:36:00.001-07:00

Team completed house in one & a half hours this morning! Awesome experience during hut-to-hut!

2010-08-04T07:09:00.001-07:00

Building another house this morning. Going to orphanage in carrefour this afternoon for bible school.

2010-08-04T04:09:00.001-07:00

Sorry for short updates. Internet not available. Updating via text messages from phone.

2010-08-03T13:21:00.001-07:00

We pray safe travels for Leon as he returns to the States today. Thanks for your contribution to the team.

2010-08-03T08:22:00.001-07:00

First transitional house almost complete. Will have classes and distribute food this afternoon.

2010-08-02T19:01:00.001-07:00

226 kids, teens, adults packed into a 12 x 24 tent for bible school this afternoon. Divided bulk rice & beans tonight for distribution.

2010-08-02T11:50:00.001-07:00

Morning @ belval church went well - going back this afternoon for classes. Unloading 3 house kits which we plan to build this week.