March 10, 2010

It’s 8:30 p.m. and I (Brenda) feel like it’s time to go to bed! It can’t be that I am getting older (at least I hope that’s not the reason.) As we did our “Stretched and Blessed” tonight, it is apparent that we are all being blessed much more than we are being stretched. The lost camera is forgotten; the heat doesn’t seem quite so smothering; and the smells blend in with life. So many things happening…

Best of all is that 39 people have said “Yes” when asked if they want to ask Christ to come into their hearts. There were 16 yesterday, including a young woman who prayed with Donna; and then 23 more today. That is what we are here for, and so all the stretches cease to be stretches.

What was sad today – a little girl who looked about 8 but was really 14 and had what appeared to be club feet. Her left foot was horribly deformed and had an awful smell coming from it; but this wasn’t the worst – when we checked it out, we found that it was split on the bottom and was practically in two parts, with a gaping, infected hole that went to the bone (how’s that for a graphic description?) Her mother came with her, but seemed almost disinterested as if she had given up hope that anything would be done, or that her daughter would be better. We are not sure yet what we can do to help-we cleaned and packed and bandaged the feet, and gave her antibiotics, and now we’ll pray and seek God’s will. It’s tough because whatever the road in front of her, it won’t be easy. She is coming back to see us later this week and we’ll decide how (or if) we can help.

The children’s ministry was just incredible – we had to change it around some today because yesterday, it was chaos, with hundreds of children crowding around Ludmilla, who’s in charge of the children’s ministry. But today, we roped off a section at the tent city, and she worked with small groups at a time – they heard Bible stories, Aaron shared the gospel using a gigantic Evangecube, and they colored and played games. All of the schools here are still closed, so the children are free to roam around all day. Our ministry brought a little joy and the love of Jesus into their lives today.

Although it takes a while to buy supplies around here, we were able to get 2 wheelbarrows, and some rakes and shovels and begin clearing a large area to put up a shelter. We also bought tin and wood. In considering how best to help the people at the tent city, Pastor Jean Claude recommended that we build a large tin-roof shelter where several families can put up their tents to protect them from the rains that are coming. Right now, the people are simply “squatters,” – that is, the land where all the tents are pitched does not belong to them, so we cannot put up any permanent buildings. But we still need to get the people out of the weather. The wooden frame and tin roof can be removed and used in other locations, so right now, it is the best solution. But first, we made a plan to clean up, dig a drainage ditch, and also build a “waste disposal” area. This will help keep the area cleaner, and as a result, the people healthier. This is a challenge, because we’re facing many years of poverty, poor hygiene, and basically lack of education about the hazards of bad sanitation. But we are up for a challenge, and we’re excited that we are here, working together with team members from all over the world – literally. Hey, we named our team “Canaman” (Canada, America, Germans) – but we all are working for God’s kingdom, all of you included so thanks for being a part of our team!


For those who are praying, we ask that you put the following names on your prayer list – these are some of the people who received Christ so far. They need discipleship so they will grow in their walk with the Lord, and become committed and passionate followers of Christ. Then they can go out and reach their own country with the gospel.
1. Jose
2. Jesus
3. Dioline
4. Frantz
5. Jema
6. Stephranie
7. Antione
8. Rienne
9. Aline
10. Wislande
11. Derolus Marie
12. Lenene
13. Stephaine
14. Casandra
15. Josiane
16. Claudette
17. Alfonse
18. Steven
19. Josue
20. Waldine
21. Fabienne
22. Wilens
23. Mousssiac
24. Ester
25. Beatha
26. Ronald
27. Angel
28. Beatrice
29. Vivienne
30. Juleline


WE HAVE A LONG DAY TOMORROW, AS WE HEAD OUT EARLY TO TAKE FOOD TO ABOUT 65 ORPHANS, WHO USED TO LIVE HERE IN FONTAMARA, BUT WERE MOVED TO A CHURCH BUILDING IN THE MOUNTAINS AFTER THEIR ORPHANAGE WAS DESTROYED. We’ll be doing a community-wide medical clinic and also checking on the children.

God bless all of you for your hearts to help the people here – for reaching out in the name of Christ to show His love to a devastated country that needs to hear that there is hope.

Richard and Brenda and the Helping Hands team.