Four business ideas for Haiti

1) Potable Water Business in Verrettes

By March of 2011, we should be able to start selling filtered water to the community of Verrettes. Thanks to the donation of a water system by an NGO after the earthquake and the support of Crossworld’s Haiti relief fund, we have been able to build a small retail outlet to sell clean drinking water by the gallon.

The business will be overseen by a local committee and the profits will go to support the work of AIS in the area. The committee will take care of registering the business with the local authorities (i.e. getting a “patente”). Free drinking water will be given to the school that is located on the property, and a monthly rent will eventually be paid to the campus where the building is located.

We will also start selling the Digicel services mentioned below from this location.
If this business is successful, it may provide a model for future businesses.


2) Selling Digicel Services throughout Haiti

Digicel is the largest provider of cellular phone service in Haiti. Since it entered the country in 2006 it has taken the cell phone market by storm and now holds a greater market share than its largest competitor, Voila.

In Haiti the cell phone market is mostly a pre-pay system where you have to buy a card to put minutes of use on your phone or have it electronically credited for minutes using an electronic system called “Pap padap”. We have had a contract with Digicel to sell “Pap padap” under the name of Elysee Vaillant, one of the board members of AIS Haiti, for over a year now.

Digicel is now about to introduce a new service called “Tcho tcho mobile”. This service allows the electronic transfer of money to anyone who has a cell phone at a fraction of the cost of existing money transfer services. Traditionally in Haiti, money transfer services have been a very profitable niche for companies like CAM, Western Union and major banks who charge exorbitant fees. Digicel wants to take over this market in the same way it took over the cell phone market in Haiti. This money transfer service has the potential to revolutionize the money transfer business in Haiti by allowing safe and secure financial transactions anywhere in the country. For instance, farmers in the country could receive payment for their products directly from the person buying them in Port-au-Prince instead of having to go through a middle man. As an incentive to get people to sign up on this system, Digicel is offering a bonus of 40 gourdes ($1 US) for each person a distributor signs up.

We had a plan last year to start selling “Pap padap” last year in every place we had a soccer ministry, but could not implement it because of the challenge of how to safely transfer money. Digicel’s new system solves this problem and will allow us to offer a new service as well.

In general our plan is to train our volunteers in soccer ministry how they can make money by selling these Digicel services. Once they have proved themselves in this, we would like to offer them micro-loans to add on products and services to their business.

More specifically, we hope that by also training more experienced Digicel salespeople and by offering them insurance and other benefits, we will secure their loyalty and increase their sales production for the benefit of all involved.

Our initial markets will be outside of Port-au-Prince because we believe competition will be fierce in the capital. We already have ministries in seven out of the 10 departments, or states, of Haiti and plan to expand to all 10 in the next few years. In addition, under Haiti’s earthquake recovery plan the Haitian government desires more services to be offered outside of PAP to reduce the number of people who need to enter the city.

We will need to rent a small office in each of the places we hope to establish this business.


3) Standardized Guest houses in Haiti

At this time, there are no hotel or guest house chains in Haiti. There is no “Hilton” or “Holiday Inn” chain in Haiti. If you travel out into the country, there are few decent places to stay. Many “hotels” outside of Port-au-Prince also double as Brothels. This, coupled with the varying quality in accommodations, services, and security from place to place, make safe and comfortable travel in Haiti difficult.

Our idea is to build a guest house in each of the towns we have ministries in. The building would be a simple design with 6 to 8 rooms. Each guest house would have internet, modern bathrooms, hot water, air conditioning, and 24 hour electricity and security. We would market them not only to the international community that is working outside of Port-au-Prince, but also to the local Haitian population as well as the Haitian diaspora.

There is a Christian construction group called Lazarian World Homes that builds homes, hospitals and other structures using a mixture of a high tech foam and cement. They are interested in helping us with this project. They have the potential not only to help us technically, but with fund raising as well.

In addition to rooms for guests, the building would also have space for the office of AIS Haiti in the town and a cybercafé. The cybercafés would also sell the Digicel services that we mentioned in the previous business description.
These combination guesthouses and cybercafés would employ young men and women who are involved in our soccer ministries. It would give them hands-on training in the hospitality and technology industry, which has nowhere else to go but up in Haiti, particularly now with the high amount of foreign organizations in the country, but also in the future as tourism begins to make its rise in Haiti once again.


4) Developing a brand for Various Haitian Agricultural products

To date, there is no single brand under which a variety of Haitian products are marketed outside the US. There are various companies that sell Haitian coffee, dried mangoes, etc., but most of these companies are foreign owned, and they make the bulk of the profits by simply placing their label on the products. So far, to our knowledge, no one has made an effort to create a well-known brand specifically for Haitian products. Such a brand would increase local profits and encourage higher levels of agricultural production, which is the staple of the Haitian economy (employing 85% of Haiti’s workforce).

Since Bruce McMartin, a fellow Crossworld missionary, is already trying to develop a coffee business in the US, and we have several other contacts through STEP, etc. it would seem that trying to put all of our agricultural products under one brand name could be beneficial to all.

I am currently working with a young Haitian entrepreneur by the name of Gerald (Junior) Bataille who has this dream of creating a Haitian brand. He has his start in beekeeping and honey production, and he has created a model through which he can grow his company by giving away pollination services and a large portion of his profits (through grants and no-interest loans that recycle for various projects) to agricultural partners and communities. Because of the intrinsic link between agriculture and beekeeping, growth in one domain increases the potential for growth in the other, so he sees this giving as an investment. To further encourage production and to increase his profits, Junior’s company would also sell agricultural products produced by his partners (as well as similar products purchased nationwide) under his label at a Fair-Trade price.

If you have questions about, or would like to invest in any of these businesses, please feel free to contact me ar rich.mears@crossworld.org

The joys of Discipleship

The picture above is me praying with someone who just trusted Christ

Many times in this life, we wonder if it is "worth it all". Thankfully, we forget some of the hardest times, and usually remember only the best of the "Good old days".

But I received two phone calls recently that encouraged me greatly. One was from Charles, an orphan we befriended 10 years ago when we first came to Haiti. We helped and encouraged him in many ways. He was on the Lemuel soccer team and also attended the discipleship group I had back then. From time to time we also helped pay for his schooling as well. He called me to say that after the earthquake he had found a job as an accountant with one of the NGO's that came to Haiti to help, and that he was doing very well. He thanked us for our support, prayers and encouragement when he was young!

Another was from Croyance, another young man that I spent much time with during my first few years in Haiti. He is now married and has 2 children. He told me that he oversees a number of churches in Northwest Haiti and saw over 100 people trust in Christ through his ministry last year.

So we sow the seed and never know how God is going to make it grow!

Not much reaction to the election announcement yet...

Although very few parents sent their children to school on Thursday, not much happened as far as demonstrations. That evening, the school sent out an email stating that we would be having school Friday and attendance was close to normal. Again, not much reaction at all to the announcement.

This weekend we are at the Quisqueya Christian School staff retreat and we were especially happy that we could get here (no barricades in the roads). We've had a great weekend so far surrounded by the beauty of God's creation, good fellowship, delicious food, uplifting worship and challenges by a passionate speaker to see faith as something that must be manifested in our actions and to take rest seriously. To obey that second exhortation, I went to bed early both nights! On Saturday morning, Richard was getting up at about 6:30 to go have devotions by the ocean and at first I said I was going back to sleep...until I remembered that I had planned to get some exercise this weekend. So I got up and walked with praise music on the ipod. We also got to play tennis and volleyball. So far I'm not sore...it'll probably hit me when I get back home tonight and sit down to grade papers and prepare for lessons this week! But, it's still worth it :).

For now, I'll try not to think about going home until it's time to go....

Haiti election update

After a night of delayed announcements, the Haiti electoral committee officially said at 7:15am that Mrs. Manigat & Popular pop music star "Sweet Mickey" Martelly will be in the run-off election later this year. The incumbent party's choice, Jude Celestin was eliminated from the run-off because of election fraud.

At Quisqueya Christian School, there were only 9 high school students present today.

No evidence of demonstrations yet.

Up north you get snow days, here we get "demonstration days"

AIS Pro-bowl Team

Let me introduce you to the AIS Haiti starting line-up. Guess which one is me!

Next to me is Jean Paul Noel, who will graduate this year from Seminary in Port-au-Prince. He helps us train our Chaplains in central and south Haiti.

Next to him is Sylvain Nelson. Sylvain graduated from Seminary two years ago and oversees the AIS work in Northern Haiti.

Next to him is Ronald William, AIS Haiti's administrator.

Please pray for us as we make plans for 2011.

All of these three men are now on AIS Haiti's staff. If you would like to support them as indigenous missionaries in Haiti, please let us know!

Francoise and her 3 children move into their house

Thanks for the generosity of our brothers and sisters at Crossing Community Church, we were able to build a small house for the family that had been living with us since the earthquake. They moved in just before the end of the year.

The builders had to remove over 10 feet of earth to find a good-enough foundation, and now we have to build a retaining wall.

It is small, but solid and much better than the tent they were living in for most of the year!

Rich as Pied Piper

This week we went to Verrettes to check on the water purification project and also visit the Regional Committee there. While we were waiting for the meeting to start, we went to the school were we are doing the water project and soon I was surrounded by school children. So I decided to tell them a story. Can you guess what I am doing in one of the pictures? Yep, that's right - I was showing that I was crying about a soccer ball that was stolen! They loved my silly actions - and I held their attention enough to tell them about Jesus, and his love for them!

Happy Reunion of Earthquake Victims

Last Sunday we had a happy reunion with Venita, her husband and two children: Sarah and Gaeton along with Francois and her 3 children.

It was a joy to see little Sarah walking and jabbering since we had not seen her for about 6 months. She had scabies so we gave Venita some money to take her to the doctor.

Needless to say, it was a noisy, but fun time!

Ricky's First High School Basketball game!

Here are some pictures of Ricky's first High School Basketball game. He grabbed 15 rebounds and scored 5 points with only 2 fouls in a 55-40 win!

Baby Doc Arrested

I just heard that Baby Doc Duvalier (former dictator of Haiti) was arrested.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/18/proscecutor-police-meet-with-haitis-ex-dictator/

Suprise Return of ousted Dictator Baby Doc

He was kicked out of Haiti 25 years ago and is now returning.

I read that he and his family are accused of taking about 100 million $ from Haiti and putting it in Swiss bank accounts and that even the 4 million that the Swiss government is trying to get him to give back to Haiti, is being blocked.

A lot of people think he shouldn't be allowed to come back.

http://m.current.com/news/92924643_video-haiti-urged-to-arrest-baby-doc-duvalier-for-his-return-to-haiti-after-25-year-exile.htm

Ambassadors in Sport Int'l conference a little bit of heaven

The AIS International conference has officially ended, but the memories and encouragement and prayers lifted up will linger on.

Fifteen nations were represented with the following languages and more spoken: Czech, Albanian, Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Afrikaans, English, Thai and several African tribal languages.

When we prayed together, we prayed in many different languages, and when we sang, it sounded like the choir of angels in Revelation.

I fly through the night on Sunday to Miami and then fly to Haiti early on Monday morning.

It will take me a while to reflect on how to apply all the things learned and ideas discussed at the conference, and I have lots to share with my Haitian con-workers in Haiti.

Youtube of first Amputee World Cup game Haiti vs. England

Here is the link for a nice Youtube of the Haiti vs. England match of the Amputee World Cup in Argentina in Oct. 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERjXJVGzvas

Ambassadors in Sport International Leader's meeting in Brazil

This group of over 60 leaders from around the world has been meeting at a beautiful campground in Brazil for the past few days. We have two days more.

It has been so encouraging to see what God is doing through soccer ministry around the world.

There was a video played tonight from a closed country that reminded me so much of Haiti: Dani, A young 10 year-old player who is the 6th out of 10 children gets involved with the AIS program. Neither his Mother or Father have jobs, and last year he did not go to school because they could not afford to send him. Now he is learning soccer skills and getting help so he can go to school, as well as attending a Bible study.

This is the same situation most of the children we work with in Haiti are in! The main difference is that of freedom of religion. In Haiti we are free to share the Gospel even in public schools!

Please pray for us as leaders that God would help us encourage each other and share experiences that can advance His kingdom worldwide. Please pray for Dani and his family as well, and for the many Haitian children that are just like him.

January 3

Richard made it safely to Brazil for the AIS International bi-annual leadership conference. The conference starts tomorrow and he'll be back this weekend. If he gets a chance, he'll post pictures from there....Hopefully not just boring pictures of ministry leaders in meetings wishing they were out on the soccer field or the basketball court! ;)

School starts tomorrow for QCS, but we're not sure how things will go with political unrest. People are still angry, but took a rest for the holidays, so we'll see what this week brings...

Our daughter, Joy, whose trip to Haiti last summer was canceled when Richard was shot, is coming Wednesday. Please pray about the fact that the new election is scheduled for January 16th, the day she's supposed to return to Pennsylvania for Spring semester at Eastern U.

Good news! Francoise got moved into her new house. It's rough living for now, but hopefully we can get her set up with the essentials before long. Although it's common for Haitians not to have a kitchen, bathroom, electricity or running water, she still has to figure out how she'll make do in that neighborhood without them. Please pray that her close friend (& ours) Mme Jean Claude and her family can get their house rebuilt next door so they can help each other out.

Happy New Year & Update

We wish, and more importantly will be praying for a new year full of God's protection, presence and blessing in each of your lives.

I arrived in Haiti by myself yesterday and Richard is leaving from Philadelphia today for Brazil for the bi-annual international leaders' conference of Ambassadors in Sport. Our children, Joy and Ricky will arrive in Haiti on Wednesday morning, January 5th.

God did amazing things for us during this trip to see our oldest daughter, Grace, graduate from Biola University in California. The most important thing for her was for us to all be at the opening of her Senior Art Exhibition on December 13th.
We were supposed to fly on American Airlines December 10th so that we could help her set up the show. But, as most of you now know, from December 7-10 there were demonstrations going on in the streets of Port-au-Prince with barricades of burning tires to keep life from going on as usual. This was to protest the fraud in the Nov. 28th presidential elections.

So, American Airlines and other airlines canceled their flights starting Dec. 9th. But the fearless missionaries of Missionary Flights International, decided to try to reschedule their Dec. 9th flight for Friday, December 10th and we were fortunate enough to get on the list for that flight. Of course we still had the challenge of getting to the airport through or around the blockades and we weren't 100% that MFI would be allowed to fly. We had heard that the airport was closed.

After asking some wonderful Haitian friends for help, we came up with this team. They got us safely to the airport (you can read Richard's colorful account of this below). Here's a picture of most of the team and the motorcycle that went ahead of us. It just didn't feel right asking everyone to gather together and smile for a pretty photo of the event. We were smiling at the fact that we had made it to the airport, but we still didn't know what would happen.

Here's the DHL warehouse where we waited for several hours:

Here's us on the floor of one section of the airport. We waited in a few different places and finally got on the plane at 3:30 pm.


We were so grateful to get on the MFI flight! And grateful for the volunteers and missionaries who are willing to do stuff like this!

Sarah Palin visits Haiti under tight guard | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Sarah Palin visits Haiti under tight guard | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Ledger-Enquirer.com | 12/10/2010 | Haiti protests ease, US senator pressures govt

This is a report of the situation on Friday, the day we were able to get to the airport and get on a Missionary Flights plane and fly to Florida. We made it to California in time for our daughter's art show and graduation!
Thank you for your prayers!
Click on the link to read and see pictures:

Ledger-Enquirer.com | 12/10/2010 | Haiti protests ease, US senator pressures govt

Candidates reject recount in sloppy Haiti election - Americas AP - MiamiHerald.com

Candidates reject recount in sloppy Haiti election - Americas AP - MiamiHerald.com

Made it to the airport!

I felt like I was on a commando mission: 6 AM: gloves, check; Shovel, check; Crow bar, Check; laptops, check; passports, check; Suitcases, check; Passports, check; Money, check; motorcycle with guide, check; driver and car, check.

All was ready as I surveyed my crack troops: 5 Haitians and the 3 of us. I reviewed the plan: The motorcycle and guide would go ahead and tell us if there was any danger, if there was, they would notify us and try and talk their way through the obstacle, with us behind, or take us on an alternate route.

We synchronized our Rolex's and, put black paint on our faces, put on our flack jackets but before we hit the road, we prayed for the success of our mission: Get to the airport through possible riots and street blockades with burning tires, etc.

As we set out, we did not know the danger that lurked behind every corner - what would the morning hold?

The guide on the motorcycle waved us to go faster - he was concerned that we keep moving through the dangerous streets.

Several times it seemed like he was lost, but he got his bearings and we forged ahead.

So far, so good.

But then it happened, a huge Dragon came out of no where, breathing fire. I held up my weapon, the Bible, and he backed down and let us pass.

We did not know what would be around each corner as we went on back roads I never even knew existed. But our driver assured us he knew where we were.

Then I looked up and saw a crossroad that I recognized, but it was blocked - we would have to take a detour.

This was the moment we were waiting for: We turned onto the main road and braced ourselves for screaming young men burning tires and yelling political slogans... But there was no one! Only the remains of yesterday's tire burnings and rocks and rubble strewn about the road.

When we saw a UN patrol heading in the way we were going, we knew we had almost made it to the finish line!

This is all a long way of saying that we had no problems getting to the airport this morning and hope to be in Florida by this afternoon. God answered our prayers even though our commercial flight on American Airlines was canceled and there are no normal flights going out today. We still have to deal with changing our flight to CA to tomorrow, but at least we will be in the good 'ol USA - maybe I will kiss the ground when we arrive!

Youtube about the demonstrations

Here's a youtube showing what's happening today. I don't really know if all that the reporter is saying is true, but, it shows a lot.

By the way, keep in mind this is not happening on every street. We are about a mile or more from a street where this is happening. Many people are just staying in their homes to be safe. However, those who feel they must, are out there protesting, hoping to have fairer elections in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRm9EDWxVoQ

Airport closed - please pray

The airport has been closed today and we are supposed to leave Friday afternoon to go to Grace's Senior Art Exhibition and Graduation from Biola University. We don't expect it to be closed for more than today, but...it wouldn't hurt to pray about it.

Listen to this on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/08/131902356/-streets-of-port-au-prince-are-in-flames?sc=fb&cc=fp

Riots - day after election

This is going on right outside our school campus. However, school was called off, so we didn't see it in person. It started at 7 am.

Elections

I heard a joke on Thanksgiving about the elections. I'm not sure how to translate the names of the birds, but it goes something like this.
The crow says to the hummingbird "Name your child after me." But the hummingbird says "What did you ever do for me that I should name my child after you?!"
Everyone understands when they tell it that the Crow represents Preval trying to tell the people of Haiti who the next president should be. But their answer to him is "what did you ever do for us that we should choose the one you name?"


PORT-AU-PRINCE | Wed Dec 8, 2010 12:13am EST

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Jude Celestin, outgoing President Rene Preval's hand-picked successor, took second place in the first round of Haiti's presidential elections on November 28, electoral authorities said on Tuesday.

But the top vote-getter, former first lady Mirlande Manigat, failed to win more than 50 percent of the votes needed for an outright victory so Celestin qualified for a run-off against her provisionally set for January 16.

-- A 48-year-old engineer and government technocrat, Celestin has the advantage of being the candidate of Preval's ruling Inite (Unity) coalition, which has given his campaign access to state-level support. His first round campaign was clearly well-funded, and in the capital at least won the contest of election posters -- Celestin's mustachioed face appearing against the green-and-yellow background of Inite colors predominated in the rubble-strewn streets of Port-au-Prince.

But there were signs his association with Preval, and his message of continuity, may have hurt his image.

Preval, who cannot stand for re-election after serving two terms in office, has faced widespread criticism for his low-key response to the January 12 earthquake and the current cholera crisis.

Celestin has promised to provide the country with technical schools and create jobs.

-- Although recognized as a hard-working technocrat, Celestin is nevertheless a political newcomer.

Preval's coalition picked him as its formal candidate in an apparent strategy to appeal to the younger voters after it dropped its original choice -- 63-year-old former two-time prime minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis, who went on to run as a contender for another party.

Nevertheless, with the help of the Inite party machinery and funding, Celestin's rallies have been well-organized and drawn crowds wearing the green and yellow party colors.

His own campaigning style has been relatively low key -- he told one foreign reporter he was "not a man of the media."

-- His leadership of the National Equipment Center (CNE), the main state construction company in Haiti which has built rural roads in recent years, gave him some visibility during the immediate rescue and debris-clearing after the January earthquake, although many have criticized the government recovery activities as slow and ineffective.

His backers have trumpeted his CNE experience as a concrete example of just what Haiti -- and its donor partners offering billions of dollars of reconstruction funds -- needs to rebuild after the devastating quake.

Critics accused Celestin and his campaign of shamelessly using state funds to promote his candidacy.

-- Born in Port-au-Prince in 1962, Celestin was educated in Haiti and studied mechanical engineering in Switzerland, according to his official biography. He is a divorced father.

Election results

Tonight the results of the November 28th presidential elections were announced. There were 19 candidates, and none of them got more than the 50% of the vote needed to win the election. Mrs. Mirlande Manigat, former first lady (about 20 years ago) political science professor and apparently voodoo mambo (witchdoctor)got 30% of the vote. Jude Celestin, a construction and vehicle businessman got about 22% of the vote. The two of them will be in a runoff election on January 16, 2011. Michel Martelly, known as Sweet Micky, an entertainer who performs rap and Kompas (popular Haitian music) came very close to Celestin with 21%.

There were a lot of rumors of election fraud and then tonight on television there was a police officer (probably someone in charge- but I didn't catch that) reporting on arrests made during the election. An article a few days ago said that the UN was concluding that there was more fraud than they originally thought during the election. I'm not sure what that means, but most people expect a lot of demonstrating (some has already started)tomorrow and in the next few days. Hopefully people will set their sights on a more fair election in January.

This is difficult for our school, but especially Ricky and I as we are trying to finish up the semester early to go to Grace's (our daughter) Senior Art Exhibition and graduation from Biola University. We leave Friday. Ricky has taken 2 finals and has 4 to go.

Please pray for Haiti.
thanks,
Carol

The Water Filtration System "block house" going up

Election Results

No school again tomorrow because the election results are to be announced then. Many are calling for the elections to be annulled due to fraud. And we've heard that another election will be scheduled. Whatever happens, some people will most likely be angry and demonstrations may become violent.

Preliminary results offered by the website "Haiti election 2010" present Mirlande Manigat, a former first lady, professor of political science and a "Mambo" (voodoo witchdoctor) as having 30% of the vote; Michel Martelly, a Kompas and rap singer might be second.

We'll be safe at home, but please pray for Haiti.

Also, this is a very difficult time to miss school for our high school students and especially Ricky. This week is review time for final exams and since we're leaving a few days early to go to Grace's graduation from Biola & her senior art exhibition, Ricky has to find time to take 6 finals before Friday morning.

Thanks for your prayers,
Carol

Elections

Here's a link to a New York Times article on the election situation:

Basketball Clinic at Petionville Club Refugee Camp

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On Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving, we had scheduled a coaching clinic with 6 Christian Schools in Port-au-Prince so that our visitor Kevin Belmont could use his basketball skills in ministry.

I had also invited Art McMahon, the basketball coach of Quisqueya Christian School, the youth Pastor and Pastor of Quisqueya Chapel, Marc Williams and Bobby Boyer, and Ronald William the administrator of AIS Haiti to help out.

We all arrived a little late at the school, but then we ended up waiting and waiting until we realized that nobody was going to show up except the assistant coach of the school where we were holding the clinic.

So we prayed and God gave me the idea of going to a refugee camp close by and doing a clinic with the kids there. So I called my contact there and he gathered about 30 children. By the time we ended, there were at least 100 kids!

We split up into six "stations" - dribbling, defense, shooting, passing, etc. and divided the kids up.

Thankfully, I had brought a portable basketball hoop which Kevin carried on his back to the middle of the camp.

Of course the conditions were not ideal with the "court" being made of uneven hard-packed mud, but the children had a great time and were all smiles. Kevin overcame the language barrier by demonstrating the moves with great animation and the help of a Haitian coach working with him.

After the clinic I had the opportunity to share the story of how I got shot and share the Gospel with these precious young men. They listened in spite of all the noise and activity all around them. I left enough evangelical books for the camp recreation leader to give one for each participant. Only God knows how the message I spoke will affect the lives of those who heard it, but we are praying that we will be able to follow up with many in the days ahead!

He never earned more than $5,000 US a year, he lived in what we would call poverty all his life, his job was boring and mundane – a gate guard for the UEBH mission in Bolosse for as long as I can remember (over 10 years). In the world’s eyes he was not a man of importance and had very little in the way of material goods. But in the eyes of his wife and children, and I believe in the eyes of God, he was a man worthy of honor and many tears were shed at his passing. He wasn’t perfect, but he was loved by those most important in his life. He died in peace, surrounded by those who loved him – he died a rich man!

Frere Levy (Brother Levy) was a wonderful Christian husband and parent. He and his wife, whom we have known for many years, raised 5 children and instilled in them a love for God, for learning and for each other. He was a gentle man and a beautiful Christian example of praising the Lord in spite of difficulties.

Last week I was upset because I had an appointment to get a check, but the person who had to sign it had forgotten about it. I now had four hours to spend until he would come. God directed me to spend two of those hours with Frere Levy and his family, and now I am so glad I listened to the small, still voice of God.

When I got to the house I was greeted by Naomi and her newborn daughter: Frere Levy's only grandchild. I peaked in on Frere Levy to see if he was awake, but he was sleeping. So I took some time to hold the baby and talk to Naomi and her Mother. Their house had been damaged during the earthquake and thanks to the generous gifts of our supporters, we had been able to help them reinforce the house and enlarge it. So they took pride in showing me all the work that was done.

But Madame Levy was honest about how hard it was to care for her dying husband. She said he would sleep during the day and moan and be awake most of the night in extreme pain. He could do nothing for himself. This had gone on for over 3 months as each day he became weaker and weaker. There are no “Hospices” in Haiti that I know of. No “Nursing Homes”. Frere Levy spent a month in the public hospital in Port-au-Prince, but when there was nothing more they could do for him, he went back to his house, and it is there that he died.

During my visit the other day, four out of his five children appeared one by one. Joshua had come the farthest. He was studying Spanish in the Dominican Republic in the hopes of attending University there next year. He would like to become a Doctor. Then David and Moise came in from the local High School they attend where they are in their last year. Elysee, the oldest son, was not there, but has been with his father a lot. I had just seen him recently so I knew how he was struggling with his Father’s illness.

We all went into Frere Levy's room where he lay on a simple cot. No rich bedding, lizards running though the rafters, a bare cement floor, but it could have been the bedroom of a King as the love and respect his children and his wife had for him was palpable. We started singing hymns in Creole and French and his eyes fluttered open and he started to wave his hands. He was too weak to really move or sit up, but he recognized me during a break in the singing and then we prayed with him.

I will never forget the sight: His loving wife of many years on one end. Naomi holding the baby in the middle, three of his sons beside her, and an extra cousin and a young neighbor boy for added measure. They were all there showing their love and respect for this man who had provided for them and taught them so much about God and life. I realized that this is how I wanted to go.

Sadly, Frere Levy died of Prostate Cancer which in the US would might have been found early and have been treated. Unfortunately, by the time it was detected they had to operate right away and did not get all of it, so it spread rapidly throughout his body and he was literally a skeleton when he died. He suffered much over the past few months, but still kept his faith and would even try and sing along when we sang hymns for him.

But “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints”, and Frere Levy had shown his love for the Lord by being a diligent student of the Bible. Even though he had nothing more than a High School Education, he knew the Bible very well and had won a number of “Bible knowledge” competitions at his church of over 1,000 members. He had also been the President of the parents committee of the Lemuel Football Club that three of his sons were involved in. He encouraged the parents on his committee to visit the Moms and Dads of all the players and talk to them about Christ. In this way many parents of our players trusted in Christ.

So, farewell, Frere Levy. You will always be a great example to me of a man with spiritual riches, put poor materially. Rich in family love, who left a wonderful Christian legacy for his family, friends and church.

Denver Post publishes Photo essay of Amputee Soccer Team

Wow, these are great photos of the Amputee Soccer team taken by the talented Leah Mills. See the comments below for how they have affected those who have viewed them.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/10/27/haitian-amputee-football/2519/

These photos are will worth your time!

2 Exciting Things and 1 Scary Thing

Today is Ronald William's wedding day. Ronald has been a key leader in AIS-Haiti for a few years now. Hopefully tomorrow we'll post some pictures. Pray for him and Marie-France--for their future. Marie-France doesn't have a job and Ronald could use a second parttime job. Pray that Marie-France will support Ronald in his work with AIS-Haiti and that they will encourage each other to be closer to the Lord.

The second exciting thing is that the foundation for Francoise's house is being built today. Construction on the house is supposed to start Monday or soon after that. Pray that the process goes well and that she and her children can be under a roof soon. Since we have visitors coming from France and right after that a friend from Crossing Community, they will be back in the tent in our courtyard again. Pray for no rain at night and no hard rain on her tent while they're in it! (They can come into the living room if it rains, but that can be a pain in the middle of the night :) ).

The scary thing is the cholera epidemic. At this point 800 people have died, 12,000 hospitalized and we don't know how many have had it. The worst aspects of it are: people not being treated because health workers are afraid to get (this isn't happening everywhere, but we've heard that it happens); people not getting to the hospital because the driver of the "taxi" (tap-tap) is afraid to get the disease; and people comparing this epidemic to one in Peru where 230,000 people died before it ended (if it gets much bigger the health centers won't have room for all those who need hospitalization and maybe there would not enough antibiotics in the country for it--however the government has said they have enough to treat about that many people). We pray several times a day about it. Please pray with us. We pray that no one else would die from it--it's treatable. Pray for people to have clean water and food, for them to follow the good advice given on the radio and for people to be able to get what they need quickly enough to get better. Cholera creates diarrhea that expels so much water, that a person can die within hours if not treated (according to Dr. Sanjay Gupta's blog).
thanks

Hurricane Tomas

Everyone's trying to prepare for Hurricane Tomas. Richard has been securing things around the yard and house, buying water, gas for the generator, etc. The Haitian government called off school for today and tomorrow. At QCS we still had school today and although it was gloomy and we had a little rain, it didn't really get started until this evening.

Although the government has called for evacuations of the tent camps, they are just asking people to go to the homes of friends and family. There are no places people are being evacuated TO.

Please pray for the people of Haiti. The storm's center is passing just west of us between tonight and tomorrow.

Time video about Amputee Soccer Team!

This is a video put together by Time Magazine about the Haitian National Amputee Soccer team. After watching it perhaps you will appreciate how far the players came from just to get to the World Cup in Argentina and compete.

Below is the original URL if you want to view it on the Time website:

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,645210272001_2027113,00.html

Discipleship Group

Tomorrow at QCS (where I teach) we are starting discipleship groups. I'm excited to start my group with 5 or 6 high school girls, but I'm a little nervous too because I really want this to make a difference in their lives. Pray that God will use me...work in spite of me, bless them through me, etc. And pray for me to grow along with them. Thanks,
Carol

Amputee World Cup - and the winner is.....

Here is a description of the Amputee World Cup final game:

Uzbekistan Repeats! Beats Argentina 3-1 for 2nd Amputee Soccer World Cup

by Fancisco Rodriguez in Crespo

Uzbekistan confirmed its supremacy in the sport of amputee football by defeating Argentina 3-1 in the final match of the 2010 World Cup. More than 10,000 fans packed the arena for a second straight night to watch a superior Uzbekistani team repeat as World Champions. Uzbekistan also won the World Cup in 2007.

Speed and accuracy were the keys to this young Uzbek team led by its fast front line of Haydarali, Kudrat and complimented by prennial star Azziz leading against a tough Argentine defense. Argentina performed well, but the depth and shooting attacks by Uzbekistan made the outcome a foregone conclusion.

The champions began with a steady pace, he gradually took charge of the match with a game based on skillful ball handling, sharp passing skills, and keeping the ball moving from sideline to sideline.

The Argentina defensive was forced to work increasingly harder, with three defenders close to the goalkeeper Miguel Lemos.

Turahujaef Kudrat, the Uzbenistani keeper, tossed aside all shots against him.

The second half started with a quick goal from Haydarali, then Azziz scored again for the Uzbeks remaining focused on the ball and driving his shot home after a series of blocked shots and rebounds.

Argentina got on tbe board thanks to a drive from midfielder Travagliante Montans which was picked up and slipped into the net by Argentine Captain Hugo Hereñú. A wildly cheering crowd urged its team to gain another goal to make the match even.

But Argentina's hopes were dashed by a great move by Haydarali on the left wing, resulting in his second gol of the night, and a 3-1 lead for Uzbekistan.

The final whistle of the Turkish Referee Huseyin Elberb started a wild celebration by Uzbekistan, which ended the tournament undefeated with 4 wins and 2 draws.

Amputee World Cup Scores

Here is a summary of all the games Haiti has played so far from the iisport.org website. You can also see the standings of the entire tournament at: www.worldamputeefootball.com


Wed, Oct. 21

The Haiti team played their first match of the consolation round against Iran at Viale Foot Ball Club in Viale, Argentina in front of a pro-Haitian crowd of almost 4000.

Haiti played a hard fought match but couldn't overcome their lack of experience as they lost 3-0.

The teams double arm amputee goalkeeper, Cesar, made his World Cup debut in the 2nd half and played solidly, despite a defensive breakdown that caused a goal.

After the match, the team spent a lot of time with the fans, especially the children, who have embraced this team as their own.

Oct. 19:

Haiti fell tonight to the experienced and skillful Russian squad this evening 7-0 in Viale, Argentina. The Russians displayed a total game, with skilled precision passing, ball control, and a very capable attack that the young Haiti team just couldn't contain.

The first half the Haitians tried to play a more defensive game, but the Russians broke the defense as the score at half was 3-0.

After half, with wholesale player substitutions, the Haiti team attempted to open up the match with a little more offensive mindset, however, this allowed the Russians more space and they definitely took advantage of it.

The pro-Haiti crowd at C.A. Arsenal Stadium was solidly behind the Haitian squad despite the final score.

Rick Hofmann, General Secretary of the World Amputee Football Association had this to say when he heard the score, "Your rookies held Russia to 7 !!?? That's a phenomenal performance!" He went on to say, "Being together as short as time as you have, and this being your first real competition, you have no idea of how impressive a performance that is. Holding Russia to 7 in your first international competition. That's truly remarkable! They are, after all, three time World Cup Champions."

Oct 18:

In the second game in two days Haiti did not play well. The men are still learning to adapt to this high-pace world and the emotional ups and downs of competition, and we had to reassure that even the best teams in the world can lose 2-0 under these conditions. Considering that this was only their second game ever and that they have been playing for less than two months, we are proud of their performance.

Oct 17

The Haitian Amputee World Cup soccer team played its first-ever game against the powerful team of England at Arsenal Stadium in Viale, Argentina.

When the final whistle sounded, Haiti lost a hard fought battle vs Eng 2-1. The Haitians overcame early nerves & ended the half 0-0. Eng scored a goal early in the 2nd, and Haiti equalized on what the Argentines call a Golazo. Eng scored the winner about midway in the 2nd. The team played with heart, grit, & determination, …and they all “got stuck in”! After the 1st match, Haiti is 3rd in their group on goal differential.

The lone Haitian goal was scored by Gustave Denis, and even though he let in 2 goals, Emmanuel Ladouceur was great in goal. Considering this was the first competitive match that they have EVER played, and the first time that this team was all together on the pitch was on Aug 14th, their first match was an overwhelming success.

Quisqueya Students help prepare uniforms for distribution

Medical kits being prepared


Uniforms being separated


This week QCS students earned community service hours by helping AIS Haiti group uniforms of the same size into bags of 18. We were given tons of “t-shirt style” uniforms by a town soccer league near Boston. These uniforms will be a great blessing to many teams during this coming year!

In addition, thanks to a generous gift of medical equipment by the Ciotti family at Crossing Community Church we were able to make up 40 first aid kits to distribute to teams far from medical help.

Police receive World Cup Evangelistic Booklets

The month of October is the end of the fiscal year for the Haitian government so this is the month when all of our official documents and car registration have to be renewed. As I was waiting at a police station to get my driver’s license, I saw a young boy who apparently had stolen something with two adults on either side of him, presumably his mother and the one who had been wronged. They were arguing with the policeman behind a desk. This helped me to realize that the Haitian police force needs the Gospel and God’s wisdom in making decisions just like anyone else. So when I had to go back the following day to pick up my paperwork, I took several cases of the World Cup evangelistic booklets I have been distributing as well as some cases of “25 Bible Stories for children” for those policemen/women who have children. When one of the police leaders saw the booklets, he thanked me and said that the whole police force needed the Word of God. I asked him how many police there were at his station and he said 350! So I gave him enough for everyone. Please pray that God’s Word would help the police govern justly and without corruption and that many will put their trust in Christ.

Training weekend in Jacmel

Rich training in Jacmel

On Oct. 16th Ronald, Rich and Jean Paul went to Jacmel to train about 30 volunteers how to start evangelistic soccer teams at 7 schools in the area. This was a follow up training to the work Ronald, Jean Paul and Sylvain did this past summer with the Unchartered Waters Sports Ministry team.

Each school sent a person to be trained as a coach, chaplain and team administrator. After the training, each person was given a certificate and enough soccer equipment to get the team started. In addition, each school received evangelistic booklets with a World Cup theme as well as Bible story booklets in Creole. We also gave each school 18 student workbooks for the “Young Peacemaker” curriculum that we have been training chaplains how to use for the past year.

Cholera Epidemic

This is a report from our fellow missionaries in St. Marc:

We’d like to call people to prayer for our city (St. Marc) and the countryside surrounding it. There seems to be an outbreak of some kind of a water borne disease where people who contract it come down with severe diarrhea resulting in death within 24-48 hours. We do not have concrete numbers of how many have actually died to date, only scattered reports from Haitian Messagers seek aid and purified water saying; “Many Many Many people are dead or sick!”. The hospital in St Marc is filling up with cases and our clinic down the road has been made ready for overflow. hospital ward.

Symptoms point to Cholera: With Cholera the problem isn’t medicine, they claim they have the cure, but getting it to the people in time. We are focused on three things, distribution of purified water, transportation of the sick and education on sanitation. The disease seems to have originate in the countryside (known as the 5th section) where the river has flooded several times over the last few weeks. The minister of health for our area is hot on the case and we are in good partnership and communication with him. We have made our Clinic in Balague (5th Section in the heart of the problem) available as needed, Nouveau Depart Health Center in St. Marc City available as needed and our Mercy Truck Ambulance has already been mobilized transport the most serious cases.

We are taking precautions at our campuses and outreach post, be prayerful for Lubin 4 where we have the Bosseutte family who have been leading a new church and school.

Prayer points at a glance:

* Pray for protection to all health workers and volunteers in the area.
* Pray for a quick diagnosis so that correct treatment can be administered immediately.
* Pray for those who have already lost loved ones.
* Pray for peace in the countryside and for protection for those who live in the high risk areas that may not have access to clean water.

Please pray for Micah and for Francoise

Please pray for Micah of Vapor Ministries who is sick. I haven't been able to get news about him today, but yesterday he had a fever that needed to come down. And pray for his wife, too.

Richard has been meeting with Vapor Ministries people who are planning on starting a center in Haiti. They were at our house for dinner and a presentation of their ministry to some UEBH leaders. They are inspiring people.

Also, Francoise and her three children, who have been living in our house with us really need a place to live. She is a hard worker, but housing prices have gone up since so many buildings were destroyed in Port-au-Prince. Please pray for her to find something safe and suitable by November 1st since we have visitors coming then.

Haiti Amputee Team Practicing in Dallas

Here's a link to an article in the Dallas Morning News about the Amputee Team:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/frisco/stories/101410dnmetamputees.2544f44.html

Praise God, enough money was raised for them to buy the tickets for Argentina.

We'll try to keep you all updated.

Yee Haw - Team arrives in Texas!

Inspite of the team's reservations not being finalized on Friday with the airline, they still let them on the plane and they arrived safely in Miama on Friday afternoon before changing planes and flying to San Antonion, TX where they arrived late at night.

This morning the whole team received a standing ovation in a large church in Texas.

They are staying in a nice hotel, thanks to the generosity of several donors and sponsors.

However, Dr. Fred Sorrells tells me that they still need financial support to buy the plane tickets to Argentina. If you would like to donate, you can do so through iisport.org.

Thanks for your continued prayers as they prepard for the World Cup that starts in just 6 days!

Party and Press Conference

In anticipation of the team getting their Visas yesterday, we planned a send-off party for the player's relatives and a press conference.

About 20 of the player's relatives showed up and we celebrated God's goodness to the team and thanked them for all the sacrifices their families made for them to participate in the World Cup.

Later a local television station showed up and filmed the team getting ready to go.

This was a great ending to a great day for the team!

Lea Mills, Freelance photographer

Thanks to Lea Mills, a Freelance photographer that has been documenting the team, we have some excellent pictures of the team's preparation for the World Cup of Amputee soccer in Haiti. If you would like to see her pictures and contact her, you can do so at leahmillis@gmail.com. You can also see more of her photos at:

http://leahmillis.sites.livebooks.com/

For more about the team, and to donate online, you can visit iisport.org

On Route to Argentina via San Antonio TX!!

The team in front of the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince

What a great miracle God did for us today!!

We were able to get all the Visas done in one day! Unheard of in a country like Haiti. This was only possible because we had the full cooperation of the US Embassy because Dr. Fred Sorrells had contacted the former US Ambassador to Haiti as well as his local congressmen.

It was a long process! Earlier this week we spend 10 hours filling in the applications on line, and then last night we spent another 4 hours filling out another form.

But it was worth it all as now the team is "on route to Argentina". They leave tomorrow morning at 10:30 AM.

Their first stop will be San Antonio, TX where they have been invited to train on the fields of Dallas' professional MLS team.

Then they will head to Argentina around Oct. 16th.

We will keep you posted on their progress in the World Cup Tournament.

Please check out iisport.org for some great photos and more news about the team!

Passports & Shipment Arrive

As an answer to much prayer and hard work, the team received their Haitian passports on Oct. 5th after waiting 6 hours after the time the government said they would be ready.

With the passports in hand, we started booking flights and applying for US Visas.

Yesterday (Oct 6th) Giscard, the administrator of the team and I spent almost 11 hours filling out the US Visa application online, complete with photos being rejected and re-taken, internet problems, and government system problems where all your work would be erased because of a "time out". I felt like putting the person who designed the computer program in "time out"!

On Oct. 6th we also got word that the shipment we had sent to Haiti this summer had finally cleared customs and was ready to be picked up. So while we were working on the Visa applications, we sent two pickup trucks out to Titayen to get the two pallets of equipment that we had sent the end of July. This is an answer to prayer because there is lots of stuff in the shipment that the Amputee Soccer team needs, such as long-sleeved shirts and sweatshirts (it goes down in the 30's F in Argentina at night in Oct.)

Today we go for the US Visas. Please pray that we will be able to get them today so that the team can fly out on Saturday.

Ricky and friends sell hot dogs to raise money for team

Ricky and his school friends helped us sell hot dogs after church to raise money for the amputee soccer team.

Thanks to their help, we ended up selling all the hot dogs and drinks and made a profit of $20 US which was enough to buy lunch for the team today when they went to sign for their passports.

Thanks QCS students!

First day of school

Today was the official first day of school this fall for children in Port-au-Prince.

It was also the first day of school ever for two of the children who have lived with us since the earthquake: Franclene and Kimberly.

They are both in First Grade, and have a lot to catch up on since they never went to pre-school. Carol has been working with them to learn their "ABC's" and numbers.

Many are struggling to pay for school this fall since tuition has gone up after the earthquake.

Pray for Passports and Visas

Dear Friends,

Yesterday the whole team fasted and prayed that we would get the Passports today, and the US Visas later this week.

Gone are the days when you could just hop on a plane or boat and go wherever!

We hope to have a press conference and going away party tomorrow with the players and some of their families.

This is crunch week, so please keep praying!

Dangerous Game

This morning I was called on early to go and take an injured player to a medical clinic. He had been wounded by the crutches of another player. He ended up getting some stitches, and is OK now, but it will take a few days before he can practice.

Please pray for the safety of our players!

Team gets Deluxe accomodations!

Group showers!

Beds for 15!

Since Wednesday night the team has been sleeping at Quisqueya Chapel in order to have 2 trainings a day. We have been feeding them 2 meals a day, which is all we can afford, and they have been doing a morning and afternoon training session.

We have been studying Gideon in Judges and how he defeated 120,000 soldiers with only 300 men.

As you can see, the accomodations are rustic: 15 thin mattresses and sleeping bags in the floor, and group showers to save water because it is scarce!

But the team is improving every day.

Today, however, we had a big disappointment. We were supposed to get the passports but there was a delay.

It turns out that the entire computer system of the Haitian government has been down this week, and that has caused delays in getting all the paperwork done.

We have decided to fast and pray on Sunday until 6 PM, just like the whole country did on Feb. 12th after the earthquake. Only God can unblock the process to help us get the passports and Visas we need to get the team to Argentina.

Please continue to pray for us and fast this Sunday with us if you can to implore God's help on the team's behalf.

Amputee goalies play to help raise funds

Cesar and Ariel with Georges, a former player on the Haitian National Team

This afternoon, two of the team's goalies and I went and played with the group of Haitian men that I play with each Thursday night on a lighted field. Many of these men are influential businessmen and of course they all love soccer.

I told them about the team and also asked them if Cesar and Ariel, the Amputee goalies, could play for a while.

This really helped the men get to see how well Amputees can play, and everyone was very impressed. Ariel even stopped one of the best players on a breakaway!

Today was also a good day for getting paperwork done. Hopefully tomorrow we will get passports for everyone!

Time Magazine to do a story about the Team!

It was the call fame-seekers wait for for a life-time. A reporter from TIME Magazine called us this morining and hopes to come and visit us today. Not that we are seeking our own glory, but we are seeking God's glory as he is the only one could take a group of broken men and form them into the Haitian National Amputee soccer team that has been invited to the World Cup of Amputee soccer in Argentina that starts on Oct. 17th.

Please pray for this effort. We still do not have the passports, the Visas or all of the money we need to send the team to Argentina. So this is still a prayer request. In addition, it has been raining Haiti for the past 3 days, which is very unusual. This is preventing us from training as we would like for these last few days before the World Cup.

The plan at this point is to fly the team to San Antonio, Texas for special training and last-minute fund-raising before they go to Argentina on Oct. 16th.

I will not be going with the team, but we all can support them from afar through prayer.

There has been much spiritual growth during the time of training for all of us involved, as we see God providing just-in-time each day for the team.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Great weekend for Amputee Soccer Team

Team being filmed on Sat.

(Team singing "Amazing Grace" at Quisqueya Chapel

On Saturday, a film crew from one of Haiti's top TV shows for Haitians outside of Haiti filmed the Amputee soccer team. They did interviews with the captain of the team, the coach and one of the players who was trapped under rubble for 4 days after the earthquake. They also filmed them singing "Amazing Grace" and the Haitian National anthem.

Then on Sunday, 5 members of the group and myself sang "Amazing Grace" at Quisqueya Chapel and it went very well,

After church we sold sweets and drinks and put out a can for donations and people generously gave us $190 US in gifts and sales!

We are very excited about what God is doing, but have a ways to go to get the team to Argentina in about 2 weeks!

Creating the first ever Amputee Soccer field in Haiti

Whereas most of the teams participating in the Amputee World Cup have been training on nice regulation fields for months if not years, Haiti’s National Amputee soccer team has not yet practiced on a proper field. Amputee soccer is played with six one-legged players and a one-armed goalie with 2 legs.

Today it took us 4 hours to properly line the field so that we can begin to practice on it Saturday. In addition, it took me 2 hours last week to purchase the proper sized goals and these will also be put into place on Saturday morning.
We are also praying that a Haitian TV show will film us on Saturday giving us valuable publicity at a time the team most needs it.

On Saturday afternoon, Radio Caraibe will interview Pierre Bruny, the captain of the men’s Haitian National Team (11 a side), who is also the president of the Amputee Soccer Association.

Thanks for your continued prayer for the team!

Meeting the Former Haitian Ambassador to the USA

On Sunday, Sept. 19th, Carol and I went to a Haitian church and met the former Haitian Ambassador to the USA. He had just resigned his post on August 1st so that he could run for President of Haiti, but they threw out his candidacy based on a technicality.

He is a fascinating person. He grew up at the mission campus of a Baptist denomination in the South of Haiti. He then emigrated to the US as a teenager and became a journalist for the Wall Street Journal in 1965 where he worked for many years. He broadcast anti-government protests into Haiti from the US which earned him a death sentance from the Duvalier regime. Later he helped to found Radio Lumiere, the biggest evangelical radio station in Haiti. He was also the first Haitian president of the Baptist denomination that he grew up in and is an ordained pastor. Now at At 70 years old, he feels he wants to give back to the country that gave him birth.

This got me thinking about the fact that those of us who are Christians are Ambassadors for God, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:20 . This is where "Ambassadors in Sport" got it's name from. As someone has said, our lives may be the only Bible people we meet will ever be exposed to.

Sometimes we will need to be brave and protest unjust governments and social structures like our new friend did when he protested against the Duvaliers. Sometimes we might have the opportunity to use our knowledge and experience to help many others and give back to the country that gave us birth, like the former ambassador.

I just pray that I will be a faithful ambassador for Christ, even twenty or thirty years from now. How about you?

Amputee Soccer Training Camp helps build the team

Thanks to the generosity of Mission of Hope, Haiti (www.mohhaiti.org,the amputee Soccer team enjoyed a week of concentrated training from Sept. 13 to the 17th.

They had two practices a day, ate 4 meals a day and had a great time of team-building in preparation for the World Cup that starts on Oct. 17th.

The Mission of Hope provided free lodging and daily transportation to the training field, in addition to serving two meals a day.

Ronald William, head coach of AIS Haiti stayed with the team day and night the whole week while the team's coach trained with the team 3 out of the 5 days. Ronald's fiance cooked the noon meal and also did laundry each day.

Rich drove out to be with the team on Thursday and helped them organize a exhibition match against a US mission team that was at the camp, as well as a local soccer team. About 300 people came to watch these games, and afterwards, Rich and Pastor Evens were able to talk to them about praying for the team, and also share the Good News of Christ with the spectators.

On Thursday Rich stayed the night with the team and showed a Power Point about Amputee Soccer and also an evangelistic film called "Le Combat".

The next morning the team had their final practice from 6 AM to 9 AM. After that was a trip to a local beach for 3 hours where the team had a great time playing in the water and adding one more memory to a great week.

Please continue to pray for the team as the still need to raise quite a bit of money before they will have enough to go to Argentina.

Amputee Soccer team arrives at camp

I spent the day taking the Haitian National Amputee Soccer team to the Mission of Hope campus outside of Port-au-Prince. They are graciously hosting the team and feeding them for free.

They are going to be there until Friday doing intensive training and also doing some Bible study in the evenings.

The woman who was to cook and wash clothes for the team had to back out at the last minute because her Mother got sick, but God provided another friend who could do the job at the last minute.

Preparing for a camp of 18 people is quite challenging in Haiti because you can't just go to the local shopping center and get what you need. This morning I spent 3 hours going across town just to get some cash so we could purchase a few items we needed.

Please pray that God uses the camp in the lives of the players!

I will return on Thursday and sleep overnight to take the team home on Friday.

Kimberly's Birthday

Kimberly’s first birthday cake and present



Birthdays are such a special celebration in the US that we forget that in many countries, there is just not enough to go around for a birthday celebration.



This has been the case for Kimberly since she was born. Her single Mom never had enough to throw her a birthday party. Kimberley was born on September 11th 2005, so yesterday Carol and I decided to throw her her first birthday party. She dressed up in her white dress and was dancing with excitement as Carol made the cake. Then we wrapped an African-American Barbie doll up for her.



Her Mom and her little brother and older sister and our family all sat down and sang “Happy Birthday” in French as she wiggled with delight. Then her eyes opened wide when we gave her the present. Francoise, her Mom was almost as happy as she was and laughed as Kimberly un-wrapped the doll.



These simple pleasures are what being a Christian community is all about!

A great week for the Amputee Soccer team!

God starts providing for the Amputee Soccer Team!

On Thursday, Sept 8th I took some of the leaders of the Haitian Association of Amputee Soccer to visit the Mission of Hope in Haiti. This organization has a large campus outside of Port-au-Prince and has offered to house and feed the team for 5 days of intensive training from Sept 13th to 17th. We were going out to see the campus for the first time and make final arrangements. Mission of Hope received us graciously and in addition to giving us free food and lodging for the camp, even is going to transport the team to a nice soccer field twice a day for training!

Friday, Sept. 9, was a big day for the Amputee soccer team.

It was the first day of fundraising in Haiti for the team, and we were anxious to see what God would do.

I decided to take Cesar, one of the goalies of the team with me to visit several businesses and present the opportunity. The first business we went to was a small store where I sometimes buy water. We explained the needs of the team to the owner and asked her for a donation of two jugs of water(worth about $3 US) and she gladly gave them. This was the first donation by a Haitian!

Next we went to a hardware store to buy the soccer goal posts for the team. The manager got so excited, he gave us a 25% discount worth about $20 US. Another customer in the store opened up his wallet and gave us about $6 US. In all, we visited about 8 businesses that day and were well-recived by most of them. Please pray as we follow up next week with them.

That afternoon the Amputee soccer team got all dressed up in Addidas uniforms donated by my High School Alma Mater, GA and played an exhibition match at Quisqueya Christian school (QCS). The students at QCS were excited to hear about the Amputee team from the captain of the Haitian National Soccer Team, Pierre Richard Bruny, who is the president of the Haitian Association of Amputee Soccer. The students then watched the game and were inspired by the effort both teams made and cheered like mad when the red team scored a goal.

After the game I handed out brochures about the team to many of the spectators, and later I got a phone call from someone who wanted to know how to contribute to the team.

The QCS student council had decided to raise funds for the team by selling hot dogs and soda and they raised $355! So during the first day of fund-raising in Haiti, the team received about $385 US in cash and discounts!


Saturday, September 11, 2010 started early when I received a phone call at 7 AM from a friend of mine who has a radio show. He called to tell me he wanted me to call him back so he could interview me on the radio via the phone about the amputee soccer team and the robbery. Even though I wasn’t quite awake, Carol said I did a good job communicating in Creole. In my closing words, I said that I forgave the gangsters who shot me, and that if they asked forgiveness of Christ, they would be forgiven by God as well and find power to change their lives.

Later that day there was a picnic at QCS, and Carol and I went over early to see if we could help. I noticed that one of the English-speaking churches in Port-au-Prince was having a men’s seminar at QCS as well. Since I knew the leaders of the conference, I asked them if I could make an announcement about the Amputee soccer team and they said yes! Not only did they say yes, but the pastor of the church wrote a personal check for $200 US, and made a pledge of $500 from his ministry!

After such an exciting morning, I enjoyed the picnic with Carol and Ricky, but also was able to make several other contacts for fund-raising.

After we ate, Ricky pulled together a boy’s soccer team to challenge the parents and teachers in a game. Unfortunately a player fell on my ankle while I was playing goalie and sprained it. It was the same leg that got shot, so right now I am back on crutches!

But I can’t wait to see what God is going to do next week as our quest to raise enough funds to sent the Amputee soccer team to Argentina continues!

Radio Interview reaches most of Haiti!

On Tuesday, Sept 7th we did a radio interview. It went really well and was heard by at least 100,000 people around Haiti via Radio Lumiere (www.radiolumiere.org), the largest Christian Radio Station in Haiti that covers 94% of the country. We were the invited guests on a radio program from 9 AM to 10 AM hosted by David Eliassant each Tuesday and Thursday. Myself, Ronald William and Cesar (one of the players on the Amputee soccer team) arrived just minutes before we were to go on the air and had very little time to prepare. David, the show host, started out with me and I described Ambassadors in Sport Haiti and our vision. Then he talked with Ronald a bit and then moved on to Cesar. Cesar did a great job explaining how he had lost both arms in an electric accident. David also asked him if he was a Christian and if he had ever felt like his life was over. Amazingly, Cesar said that, through Christ's strength, he never felt hopeless and now had a new vision for encouraging other amputees through sports.

I was also able to share how I had been shot, but that because Christ has forgiven me, I am able to forgive those who shot me. I encouraged those who make a living by stealing to allow Christ to change their lives and forgive them.

We had hoped that Bruny, the captain of the Haitian soccer team would be able to join us, as well as Pastor Evens of the Haitian Amputee Soccer Federation, but we had to leave without them in order to be on time for the interview. Praise God, they showed up at the break in the middle of the show and were able to share how they had gotten inlvolved with the Amputee soccer program.

I have attached a picture of Cesar at the microphone, telling his story.

We are having an exhibition match at 2 PM on Friday (Sept 10) at Quisqueya Christian School and hope that the media will come and cover this incredible story! Please pray that God will use all of this for His glory!

Please pray for my students

I've been praying every day for the safety of my students. One of my sixth graders was not there yesterday. I didn't put it together until now, but she has the same last name as a girl who was kid - napped last Friday night.

Also, I just realized that 3 girls out of 19 students in one of my 7th grade classes lost their fathers in the earthquake.

I thank God that the atmosphere has mostly been upbeat at school, but during prayer requests in homeroom, a young man asked for prayer for the anxiety that many of the students feel.