This is an update on the ministry of our Crossworld Co-workers, Bruce and Cindy McMartin who led a dental team to Northwest Haiti last week:
"What's hurting you?" "Open your mouth wide." "You'll feel pressure, but let me know when you feel pain." These were phrases repeated hundreds of times during this past week with the dental teams.
Hello Everyone! Yes, we're still alive..exhausted, but thankful for a good week. Thanks for praying for us.
In 4 ½ days, my team alone saw 202 patients, did 85 fillings, 223 extractions, and made 17 people very happy with a gap now filled with a false tooth. The 2 dentists with me were so good in overseeing the students as they did all the work - coaching, instructing, and encouraging. It was a great experience for these students.
Two of the students with me were Iranians. They shared with me how much this trip had impacted their lives and they seem very open. One of the leaders developed a good relationship with them and he'll be following up with them. The Mormon students always ask a lot of questions. They give 2 years to do a stint somewhere, but they want to know why we would give our whole lives. Seeds have been planted and we pray that God will send others into these lives to continue the process.
The best news is that right now (from my team alone) 41 more Haitians will be in heaven! And hopefully that number will increase as a result of this past week's impact. Where before the people in the new area that Pastor Johny is trying to begin a ministry in were very closed, they are now open and even seeking him out. Seven individuals asked to be involved in a Bible study.
The team that Bruce was with also had a great week. Praise God with us for safety in travel and for good health for everyone. Bruce was with Pastor Zenas in northeast Haiti. A year ago Bruce and one of our Haitian workers, Robert, installed some solar panels for Zenas to provide electricity for a cyber café, their church and their home. The first night the team was there, 6 men came, 3 armed with automatic weapons, to steal the panels. When installing the panels, Bruce and Robert had taken measures to hopefully keep the panels from being stolen - the 5 panels all connected together in a steel frame bolted into the cement roof, etc., etc. But the thieves persisted and stole the panels. Bruce and Zenas were devastated (each panel cost US$900). After church the next day, Bruce prayed with Zenas and a few church leaders asking God to demonstrate his power and allow the panels to be retrieved for His glory and so all would know He is God and that this was His ministry and His panels. Bruce said he prayed stronger than he was feeling inside - solar panels are never recovered after being stolen. The community was in an uproar and many fanned out searching in the surrounding ravines, but it was a young boy who found them in a ravine closer to the church. The thieves hadn't expected it to take them so long - almost 2 hrs - to get the frame off, and didn't expect them to be so heavy - all 5 together in a frame and awkward to handle. So, they hadn't gotten far with them and hid them to come back later for them. There was a procession of 300+ believers and non-believers that marched through town with the recovered panels. Quite a testimony to the whole surrounding area. All are saying it's a miracle because being right close to the Dominican boarder, items stolen quickly disappear. God is powerful, He is sovereign, He answers prayer (even when our faith is weak), and He accomplishes his plan for his glory.
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