Update from Haiti Team

Paul, Carl, Raphael, Herb and Jason arrived from Hershey to Haiti on Saturday evening. Here is a report from Monday.

The team that went to do the water filter install still is out. My class this morning went very well. As it turned out, all the participants were fluent French speakers so I just spoke in French. The translator helped out by contributing to the conversation and doing some reading of Scripture. There were about 20 in the class. We spoke about the subject: "If God is loving, then why does he allow suffering." Tomorrow's topic is "How can we find healing for emotional woundedness." We will be doing a lot of talking about debriefing and listening with understanding. The class members participate eagerly and have asked and said some very perceptive things. While we were talking about God loving us and calling us his children (1 Jn 3:1,2) one of the class members commented that a man would do anything for his children. He noted that God did not call us his cousins or his brothers or sisters, but his children. I'm hoping that tomorrow the group will be able to be divided up into groups of 3 or 4 and tell each other their stories about where they were and what they experienced at the time of the earthquoke on Jan 12th. Prior to that, I'm hoping to coach them on the value of listening well and the importance of speaking about painful experiences.

In half an hour, the translator (Fednor) who now is not translating, will be coming by to take me to see the tent where he lives. His house fell down in the earthquoke and he is living in a tent. It is very warm here and he commented to me that it is impossible to stay in the tent during the middle of the day because it is unsufferably hot. One of the other workmen here at the centerl, Marko, told me his mothere was killed in the earthquake and that his own house was flattened. He and his young wife and 3 year old daughter were able to get out ok.

When the team gets back, I'll try to let you know how their day went. Thanks so much for the news that people are interested and praying. We want to be a blessing here and that will only happen if God does it.

Grateful for the opportunity to be here,

Paul